Welcome to the first “Thursday Numbers” of October – the government shutdown edition!
If this is your first time reading “Thursday Numbers,” this is where I take a look at the numbers that are in the news (in descending order) and provide commentary (sometimes spiked with a little sarcasm).
This week I write about a new retirement cottage, healthcare website visits, the top landowner, Montana’s federal employees, rat complaints, blame, wedding anniversary, unemployment, a dog’s expensive taste, Halloween Park, 19 shots, House Republicans, F-15s, and much more!
30,000,000
Guests received a first look at the Grandview at Benefis retirement cottages this week in Great Falls (MT), which was a $30 million project. They look wonderful.
The last couple of years my father received information (mailed to my house) about the exciting living arrangements that were planned at the Grandview. Unfortunately he died in 1996. Yes, 1996. He died in Missouri and never lived in Montana.
I hope the Benefis folks did not pay too much for that senior citizen mailing list…
4,700,000
The White House tweeted that there were 4.7 million unique visits to their healthcare website in the first 24 hours, plus there were more than 190,000 calls.
While there were some glitches in the system that opponents of Obamacare want to cheer about, the number of visitors in the first 24 hours was pretty amazing (I guess nobody wants it).
2,200,000
American businessman John Malone is the top landowner in America, owning 2.2 million acres. Ted Turner ranks second.
12,000
The Associated Press reported, “The effects of the U.S. government shutdown were beginning to be felt in Montana on Tuesday as federal offices closed. Most of the state’s more than 12,000 federal employees were sent home.”
Shameful.
308,000
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 308,000 new claims for unemployment filed last week – an increase of 1,000 from the week before.
If the shutdown goes on very long, this number will increase.
500
The Helena Independent Record reports, “It took five months, but Wayne Klinkel was reimbursed $500 Monday by the federal government for his dog’s expensive taste.”
His dog ate five $100 dollar bills.
202
That’s how many “rat complaints” have been received in Columbus, Ohio, so far this year.
Tastes like chicken?
48
The Great Falls Tribune asked readers “Who is to blame for the government shutdown” and 48% of those responding said “House Republicans.” President Barack Obama was blamed by 34%.
It’s becoming more and more apparent to people that House Republicans are to blame for the shutdown.
21
Today is Barack and Michelle Obama’s 21st wedding anniversary.
Have a great one! I bet Senator Ted Cruz will send a card…
20
That’s how much it will cost visitors to go through a Pennsylvania Halloween park naked.
I wonder how much it costs to watch….
19
There are 19 House Republicans who “say they would vote for a so-called ‘clean’ continuing resolution — as the Senate has already passed — to end the shutdown.”
Patriots!
19
According to the Huffington Post, “After telling a group of three Jehovah’s Witnesses to get lost, Centeron, Ark., resident John Baldwin, 35, fired about 19 shots at the group as they were leaving, police said.”
Fortunately he missed.
There are many people who own guns who can’t hit a barn from the inside…
6
The transfer of the final six F-15s from the Montana Air National Guard to Fresno, California, was halted by the government shutdown.
Good. Apparently the shutdown has more clout than Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, Congressman Steve Daines, and Governor Steve Bullock in keeping the F-15s in Montana.
1
The City of Great Falls commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to raise their sanitation rate $1 per month. I guess they need to make up for all the money they lost in the electricity business.
It’s unanimous here at The Western Word, too; I won’t be voting for any of the incumbents on the current commission.
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