Never let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game. – Babe Ruth

Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you’re a first-time visitor, this is the weekly column where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary sometimes sprinkled with sarcasm and humor.

This week’s topics include the Powerball lottery, Trump’s golf hobby, unemployment claims, impeachment trial witnesses, Mizzou basketball, Roe v. Wade, Trump’s job approval, Senate Impeachment Trial, Zion Williamson, a blistering rebuke, and much more!

373,000,000

It’s getting humongous! That’s the Powerball lottery jackpot for Saturday night. (Powerball)

I might advertise if I win…

115,000,000

With his Thanksgiving vacation, President Donald Trump’s golf hobby has now cost Americans an estimated $115 million in travel and security expenses ― the equivalent of 287 years of the presidential salary he frequently boasts about not taking. (Huff Post)

You can see what Snopes says about that by clicking HERE.

204,000

In the week ending January 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 204,000, a decrease of 10,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 214,000. The 4-week moving average was 216,250, a decrease of 7,750 from the previous week’s unrevised average of 224,000. (DOL.gov)

Thursday’s data is released at 6:30 a.m. Mountain time, well after this column is published. Click HERE to see Thursday’s unemployment data.

72

That’s the percentage of Americans who believe the impeachment trial “should allow witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the impeachment charges to testify,” including 84% of Democrats and 69% of Republicans. And 70% of the public, including 80% of Democrats and 73% of Republicans, said senators should “act as impartial jurors” during the trial. (Reuters)

There won’t be witnesses. This circus should end as soon as possible, not because Trump is innocent, but because he won’t be convicted. The Democrats will have to wait for Trump to shoot someone on Fifth Avenue to convict him.

54

The University of Missouri men’s basketball team made 54 consecutive free throws and broke the NCAA record of 50 set by Wake Forest in 2005. (Fox Sports)

That’s about all that has gone right for Mizzou this season (9-9, 1-5 SEC).

47

In case you missed it, Wednesday marked the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. (CBS News)

The number of abortions per year in the U.S. has declined in recent years. (Wiki)

44

As the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump begins, 44% of Americans approve of the job he is doing as president. Trump’s approval rating has been steady in the past three polls — between 43% and 45% — slightly above the 39% to 41% ratings he received as the impeachment inquiry started in the fall. (Gallup)

It’s going to be an interesting election…

23

New York Daily News reporter Michael McAuliff reported the following on Twitter during the Senate Impeachment Trial:

Just counted 21 empty seats on the GOP side of the Senate, 2 on the Dem side, a couple hours into Schiff’s presentation. Some are just stretching their legs, but most are not in the chamber. Some of them have been out of there for a while.

The Chief Justice should notice this and put a stop to it.

22

Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans made his NBA debut Wednesday night with 22 points and seven rebounds in a loss to the San Antonio Spurs. (CBS Sports)

I watched part of the game and Williamson looked fat and slow.

21

The attorneys general of 21 states have come forward with a blistering rebuke of the impeachment of President Trump, asserting that it “establishes a dangerous historical precedent.” (Fox News)

Guess what? They are all Republicans! Fox reported that the GOP letter was signed by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.

 

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