Quote of the day:

If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. ― Joseph Campbell

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 rescue payments, unemployment claims, voter turnout in Montana, COVID-19 deaths in the USA, Zoom, man wears a thong, Trump’s disapproval rating, 2020 Census, Sean Hannity, George Floyd, and much more!

267,000,000,000

Americans have received more than $267 billion in rescue payments from the government in an effort to pull the economy through the coronavirus crisis, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. (CNBC)

That may not be enough…

1,877,000

In the week ending May 30, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 1,877,000, a decrease of 249,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 3,000 from 2,123,000 to
2,126,000. The 4-week moving average was 2,284,000, a decrease of 324,750 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 750 from 2,608,000 to 2,608,750. (DOL)

381,163

That was the total turnout for the 2020 Primary Election in Montana. That beat the previous record of 293,548 votes cast four years ago. There are 696,174 registered voters. That’s a percentage of 54.75. (SOSMT)

This was an all-mail ballot election, so it seems the Republicans who are against an all-mail ballot election might want to change their tune. More people voting is a good thing, right?

106,202

As of Wednesday evening, the U.S. had recorded 1,827,425 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 106,202 deaths. That is according to the CDC. (CDC)

Last Thursday the deaths numbered 100,047.

169

Zoom reported revenue growth of 169% from the previous year in its first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, and nearly doubled its revenue guidance for the full year, as the coronavirus pandemic drove millions of new customers to the video calling service and turned it into a household name. (CNBC)

Zoom, Zoom…

61

Scott D. Thompson, age 61, of Belgrade (MT) has been charged with felony DUI after witnesses reported seeing him naked – only wearing a straw hat – at a fishing access site. Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy arrived at the site, the witness said Thompson had gotten into a pickup truck. When questioned, Thompson reportedly said he had been wearing a thong but was not naked. (MTN)

In other words, it’s a typical Tuesday in Montana…

53.6

That is President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating. His approval rating is just 42.7%. (FiveThirtyEight)

Last week his disapproval rating was 53.7%.

45

That’s Montana’s rank in the 2020 Census self-response, which is the same as last week. Montana has a 51.6% response rate that makes it rank #45. Last week Montana had a 51.2% response rate. Minnesota leads the nation with a 70.3% rating. The national average is 60.6%. (Census)

Montana may miss out on millions in federal dollars and another seat in the U.S. House. Get counted!

20

Sean Hannity and his wife Jill Rhodes have divorced after over 20 years of marriage. (People)

I left Hannity many years ago when Alan Colmes was booted from the show.

8:46

All protest movements have slogans. George Floyd’s has a number: 8:46. Eight minutes, 46 seconds is the length of time prosecutors say Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was pinned to the ground under a white Minneapolis police officer’s knee before he died last week. (AP)

Rest in peace…

3

Prosecutors charged three more police officers Wednesday in the death of George Floyd and filed a new, tougher charge against the officer at the center of the case, delivering a victory to protesters who have filled the streets from coast to coast to fight police brutality and racial injustice. (AP)

These will be interesting court cases.

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