Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan. ― John F. Kennedy
Welcome to “Thursday Numbers!” In case you are 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 Mega Million and Powerball lotteries, Trump and New York City, unemployment claims, deaths from coronavirus, security in Washington, D.C., Trump’s unlucky number, Brees vs Brady, ten Republicans, NFL Divisional playoffs, Trump’s record, and much more!
750,000,000
That’s the estimated lottery jackpot for the next Mega Millions drawing Friday evening. (Mega Millions)
Winning that would get 2021 off to a pretty good start.
640,000,000
That’s the estimated lottery jackpot for the next Powerball drawing Saturday evening. (Powerball)
17,000,000
New York City is severing its contracts with President Donald Trump’s eponymous company, a move that could cost the outgoing president millions of dollars in response to his role in inciting the Capitol insurrection. The Trump Organization pockets $17 million a year for operating the skating rinks, the carousel, and the golf course. (ABC News)
I predict there will be tough times ahead for the Trump family…
965,000
In the week ending January 9, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 965,000, an increase of 181,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised down by 3,000 from 787,000 to
784,000. The 4-week moving average was 834,250, an increase of 18,250 from the previous week’s revised average. The previous week’s average was revised down by 2,750 from 818,750 to 816,000. (DOL)
*Note: On Thursdays, this column is not published until right after 6:30 a.m. (Montana time), so I can post the latest unemployment numbers.
384,784
That is how many people have died in the United States from coronavirus, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 384,784 deaths and 23,078,350 cases across the country so far. The first death in the USA was reported on February 29. (Johns Hopkins)
Two weeks ago there were 342,414 deaths.
20,000
That’s how many National Guard personnel are expected to be in place for the inauguration in Washington, D.C. next week. (WaPo)
It’s a shame we need this much protection.
232
Jake Tapper of CNN tweeted the following information that I found interesting:
232 a rather unlucky number for Trump.
Number of votes to impeach him in the most bipartisan impeachment vote in US history
Number of electoral votes in his loss to Joe Biden
85
That’s the combined age of the starting quarterbacks Drew Brees (Saints) and Tom Brady (Bucs) who play each other this weekend. The previous playoff record for combined age of starting QBs was 78 when 41-year-old Brady outdueled 37-year-old Philip Rivers two years ago in the divisional round. (AP)
Someone tweeted that since the quarterbacks were so old, the game should be carried on the History Channel.
10
Ten Republicans — including Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 House GOP leader — voted to impeach President Donald Trump Wednesday over the deadly insurrection at the Capitol. (AP)
These people put their country above their party. I salute them.
8
Eight teams are playing in the NFL Divisional playoffs this weekend. Two games will be played Saturday and two on Sunday. Check out the schedule HERE.
Go Chiefs! 
2
President Donald Trump was impeached by the U.S. House for a historic second time Wednesday, charged with “incitement of insurrection” over the deadly mob siege of the Capitol in a swift and stunning collapse of his final days in office. (AP)
After the impeachment, I tweeted:
Waiting to see if Guinness World Records confirms the Trump record of two impeachments. I think he’ll get a framed certificate when it’s confirmed!
The Western Word 