Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

0 Number of Election Day shenanigans reported by blogging duo "Je & V" during their Nov. 7 stop in Philadelphia as part of their "In Real Life" project. The blog chronicles their road trip meetings with members of the social networking Web site Consumating.com. You can check out pics, videos and stories from their Philly stay at consumating.com/irlproject.

1 Number of days — namely Nov. 16 — that Great American Smokeout organizers want you to go without a cigarette. The press release from last year's kickoff event in Philly innocently noted that the American Cancer Society "is actively engaged in a local campaign to pass a comprehensive citywide smoke-free workplace law," but I sincerely hope it doesn't get any worse for all of you quietly suffering in your Nutter-produced hell. I'm just glad there isn't a sarcasm ban.

8 Number of video genres categorized at Ziddio.com, a Web site currently being beta-tested by Comcast that will feature user-generated content solicited by contests and, according to the "about" section, hopes to entice users with the fact that "the top-rated videos and the prize winners will be available through Comcast ON DEMAND. That's right, TV. The kind you, your parents, your boss, your teachers and your ex's [sic] all watch." The tone of that sentence makes me think it was probably followed by "... and pay for, and will now produce content for ... by using the Internet services that we provide ... and that you also pay for. Mwahahaha!"

19 Number of years that have passed since the closing of "Philadelphia's last remaining regional brewery," which will be discussed during "The Rise and Fall of the Schmidt's Brewery," a PowerPoint presentation by local brewery historian Rich Wagner at Yards Brewing Co., 2439 Amber Street, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. Keep whining, smokers — Schmidt's drinkers haven't had a drop in two decades and you can't even step outside without bemoaning your sad lot. One ban and everyone's a libertarian.

35 "Tech scorecard rank" of Pennsylvania in CNET's 2006 Technology Voter Guide, compiled to indicate the most tech-friendly senators and members of Congress. Don't worry, Pa., that rank will surely improve as soon as breweries and smoking are extinct and computers are the last remaining facilitator of social interaction. And when that time comes, Je, V and Ziddio will be ready.