• $36.4
  million the amount the Chamber of Commerce (which represents businesses) spent on political campaigns in 2008, mostly Republican Senate campaigns
• $30.7
  million the amount the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (a major union group) spent on mostly Democratic campaigns source

• $13.4
  billion in profits through all of 2009, which is pretty much a record year for them; freaking showoffs
• $16.2
  billion in bonuses given last year, which sounds high but is the lowest they’ve given since 1999 source

• Updated: Big money for Conan. Others, not so much. Conan’s reportedly close to a $40 million deal to get out of his contract, but he wants more than the $12 million in severance being offered for his employees (reportedly $600,000 more). Before you think that severance is a ton of money, we just did some math:

How many employees does he have?:

• 200the number of employees Conan has, roughly source

The way that splits up:

• $4.5
  million the amount that would go to executive producer Jeff Ross
• $7.5
  million the amount that would go to everybody else. Jesus.

How this breaks down for Conan’s people:

• split Based on the number given by MTV today, that’s exactly $37,500 a piece per employee. Not too huge at all, guys.
• seniority Our number doesn’t account for salaries of sidekicks like Andy Richter and Max Weinberg, nor seniority.
• taxes It’s also before the 40% or whatever they take out of severance before they give it to you. It’s kind of a raw deal. source

The silver lining:

• In the end, Conan was appreciative of the steps NBC made to take care of his staff and crew, and decided to supplement the severance they were getting out of his own pocket. Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible.
• Gavin Polone • Conan O’Brien’s manager, regarding the deal NBC reportedly struck with the comedian last night. Conan’s not only a rich man, but apparently he’s a prince, because he’s taking care of his workers when he doesn’t have to! Good show, old red-headed chap! source

• $7.6 billion to be rid of federal pressures source

• $500 million in aid from the European Union source

• two seconds the amount of time it takes to send a text message donation to the Red Cross (or other sources)
• three months the amount of time it could take for that donation to reach its destination; WTF? source

• $30 million in golden parachute money for the redhead source

• $145 billion in dollar-shaped middle fingers source

• $35
  million has been donated to the Red Cross since the earthquake struck Tuesday; that’s better than Katrina and the 2004 tsunami
• $5
  million in donations have come from text messages from mobile phones – which is easily a record and a genius way to donate source

• $90 billion in bank taxes over the next ten years source

• So what happens if the banks overpay the bailouts? Simple. The money goes back to the U.S. to help strengthen the financial position that was screwed up by the bailout crisis. Did someone say “win-win” situation, kids? The banks don’t think so, by the way, and angrily responded to the new charges like petulant children who didn’t get a Nintendo 64 for Christmas.