Quote of the day:

I can explain it to you, but I can’t comprehend it for you. ― Edward I. Koch

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 new unemployment claims, new coronavirus projections, COVID-19 cases and deaths, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Aunt Jemima, Gallup polls, Trump’s disapproval rating, 2020 Census, U.S. Senator Jon Tester, Congressional approval ratings, John Bolton, a new bump in COVID-19 cases, and much more!

1,508,000

In the week ending June 13, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 1,508,000, a decrease of 58,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 24,000 from 1,542,000 to 1,566,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,773,500, a decrease of 234,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 6,000 from 2,002,000 to 2,008,000. (DOL)

200,000

A coronavirus model once used by the White House now projects more than 200,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 by October 1. The prediction went up by more than 30,000 since last week. (CBS News)

I wonder if the projections include all the MAGA rallies…

116,862

As of Wednesday evening, the U.S. had recorded 2,132,321 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 116,862 deaths. That is according to the CDC. (CDC)

Last Thursday the deaths numbered 112,133.

500

That’s how much a pilot has been fined for landing a helicopter in a federally protected wilderness area in Montana. Samuel L. Schwerin, 48, landed his helicopter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex May 16. The Bob Marshall Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness area in Montana. (AP)

It looks like he got off very easy.

130

The 130-year-old Aunt Jemima brand of syrup and pancake mix will get a new name and image, Quaker Oats announced Wednesday, saying the company recognizes that “Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype.” (NBC News)

Good move by Quaker Oats…

66

As of June 4, about 3 in 10 Americans remain very worried about coming into contact with the COVID-19 virus, with 66% either very or somewhat worried, a percentage that has remained between 63-67% since mid-March. (Gallup)

Wear your masks when in public, people!

55.3

That is President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating. His approval rating is just 40.8%. (FiveThirtyEight)

Last week his disapproval rating was 54.9%.

45

That’s Montana’s rank in the 2020 Census self-response, which is the same as last week. Montana has a 55.0% response rate that makes it rank #45. Last week Montana had a 51.8% response rate. Minnesota leads the nation with a 71.0% rating. The national average is 61.5%. (Census)

Fill out your damned forms…

29.99

That’s the hardcover price of “Grounded: A Senator’s Lessons on Winning Back Rural America” by U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). The book is to be released on September 15, 2020. It is 416 pages in length. (Amazon)

This should be interesting…

25

The small bump Congress received in its approval ratings after passing the $2.2 trillion relief bill has faded. Currently, 25% of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing, down from the recent peaks of 30% and 31% in April and May — the latter of which marked the legislative body’s highest rating since 2009. (Gallup)

Maybe they better send us more money…

19.50

That’s the hardcover price of former National Security Advisor, John Bolton’s new book, “The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir.” (Amazon)

The book is set for release on June 23, 2020. It is 592 pages in length. Most people seem to know what’s in it already.

10

Just as much of the United States was improving, 10 states are seeing their highest seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per day since the pandemic started months ago, according to a CNN analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University. The data includes new cases reported by Johns Hopkins through Tuesday. The states seeing record-high averages are Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, and Texas. (CNN)

We may not have a summer break from the coronavirus…

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