There are always consequences to your actions. Before you act, make sure you are prepared for them. –Anonymous

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 MacKenzie Scott, Trump/Obama & Twitter, unemployment, coronavirus deaths in the USA, troops in Germany, Baghdad, kneeling, Trump’s disapproval rating, 2020 Census, MLB suspensions, three former presidents & John Lewis, plus much more!

1,700,000,000

MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon.com Inc’s billionaire Chief Executive Jeff Bezos, has donated $1.7 billion of her wealth in the past year to causes including racial equality, LGBTQ rights, public health, and climate change. (Yahoo)

84,334,032

That’s how many Twitter followers President Donald J. Trump has @RealDonaldTrump. Former President Barack Obama (@BarackObama) has 121,026,869.

I follow Trump waiting for the next wreck. I also follow Obama. I imagine not having as many followers as Obama probably hurts Trump’s feelings.

1,434,000

In the week ending July 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 1,434,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 6,000 from 1,416,000 to
1,422,000. The 4-week moving average was 1,368,500, an increase of 6,500 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised up by 1,750 from 1,360,250 to 1,362,000. (DOL)

150,034

More than 150,000 people have died in the United States from coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 150,034 deaths and 4,396,030 cases across the country so far. The first death in the US was reported on February 29. (CNN)

There are many Trump supporters who still believe this is a hoax.

12,000

The U.S. military said on Wednesday it would move its headquarters out of Stuttgart, Germany to Belgium, as it outlined broader plans to shift 12,000 troops out of Germany on orders from President Donald Trump. (Reuters)

I imagine Putin likes this move…

125

The week got off to a blazing start in Baghdad, Iraq, with a temperature reading of 50.6 C (123.1 F) on Monday. But on Tuesday, the temperature climbed even higher. According to preliminary reports from the area, the temperature reached 51.7 C (125 F) in the afternoon, surpassing the all-time record high temperature of 51.2 C (124 F) for the city. (Yahoo News)

So hot you could…

58

Most Americans (58%-42%) view professional athletes kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial discrimination as an acceptable form of protest, but there are divisions along political, racial, and generational lines. (CBS News)

Before we had Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the anthem, we had several athletes who did not respect the flag by talking during the anthem or not putting their hand over their heart. We have the right to protest in this country, but some protests may affect people more than others. Kaepernick hasn’t played football for a long time.

55.6

That is President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating. His approval rating is just 40.4%. (FiveThirtyEight)

Last week his disapproval rating was 55.7%

46

That’s Montana’s rank for the 2020 Census self-response. Last week Montana ranked 46. Montana has a 56.5% response rate to rank #46. Last week Montana had a 56.1% response rate. Minnesota leads the nation with a 72.1% rating. The national response rate is 62.7%. (Census)

Fill out your forms, people!

8

Major League Baseball has laid down punishments after tempers flared between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros on Tuesday night, the first bit of justice from MLB players we’ve seen carried out against the Astros after their cheating scandal rocked baseball this past offseason. Joe Kelly, who threw pitches near the heads of Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa and then taunted Correa, was suspended eight games. (Yahoo Sports)

The Astros should be renamed the Houston “Cheaters.”

3

Three former presidents are expected to attend the funeral Thursday for civil rights icon John Lewis, a remarkable nod of respect from the highest level of government. Former President George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend, sources confirmed to USA TODAY. So will Barack Obama, who is expected to deliver a eulogy, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. (USA Today)

Trump wouldn’t even pay his respects at the Capitol.

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