Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

3 Rank � in the bottom 10 � of Comcast in a recently released customer-service survey compiled by Zogby for MSN Money. Of those surveyed who had an opinion, 30 percent rated it "poor." Comcast is expected to issue a press release shortly stating that the irony of being labeled "poor" in a customer service survey � while they get rich gouging their customers � is not lost on them.

15 Number of tons of items, according to the Philly Freecycle brochure, that find a new home each month through the Freecycle Network. Visit www.phillyfreecycle.org just in case I decide to part with my beloved abacus collection.

10 Current number of Pennsylvania towns � the most of any state � ranked in the top 100 of Amazon.com's Harry-est Town in America promotion, which tracks which towns, per capita, are preordering the most copies of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from Amazon.com. The Web site says it "will donate a $5,000 Amazon.com gift certificate to a charitable organization of its choice that serves the winning town," which will be announced after the July 15 deadline. Five thousand bucks?! I hope you're able to stay in business after this, Amazon. Seriously. I'm considering ordering a pity Potter.

25 Maximum percent of each display car's gas tank that can be filled � due to fire regulations � during Hot Import Nights, May 12 from 5 p.m. to midnight at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It's pretty much a car show with scantily clad women and goofy spoilers. Classy. (But not gassy!)

359 Number of years it took the Vatican to pardon Galileo for teaching that the sun was the center of the solar system. So, all things considered, official Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno shouldn't be too mad that you missed his presentation, "Astronomy and the Search for Elegance," last night at The Franklin Institute. As penance, you can catch tonight's session of "Night Skies in the Observatory," featuring views of Venus, Saturn and Jupiter with FI chief astronomer Derrick Pitts from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Don't worry, Pitts is all about heliocentrism.

Can I get your digits? I want to hear about the numerals you need to see. Let a number runner know at runningnumbers@gmail.com.