"Now," he said, "what would 8 percent of 250 be?"
There was a long silence. Eight percent of 250? How would one even begin to divine this mystery? Davidson looked down at his overhead projector, preparing to reveal his secret, but as he did, a single adolescent voice rose up from the crowd.
"Twenty," it said.
"I got the chills," Davidson recalls. It was a 12-year-old boy who, just two years prior, had been living in a small village in China. His name was Sheng Kai.

For CP's annual writing contest, it's imperative to honor that silent pact with your reader: I'm not making this up.

by Duane Swierczynski

The life of a city depends on its immigrants.

by Nathaniel Popkin

What was the Duchess of Dotage doing at StoryCorps?

by Bruce Schimmel

What You Say

The story starts to sound like something out of a Green Lantern comic book. According to Sly, each Slyly is responsible for finding the next, and it has become a tradition to fill the position with an American.

Well, the consensus is in and the majority of y'all talking about that Aussie children's toy stuffed with 1,4-Butanediol — the chem that metabolizes into ol' anesthetic GHB — were of two minds. One: If this were the '90s, Aqua Dots parties would be on, and raging and raving with Wink and Level 13. Two: Have you seen 'em? Could I give you 20 bucks for one?

I assume I inspired  Benjamin Franklin's Numbers: An Unsung Mathematical Odyssey (Princeton University Press), which details Franklin's less-chronicled interest in mathematics, namely his fondness for so-called "magic squares," which I gather are kind of like Sudoku, but less pointless.

"He died of a heart attack while waiting for a train." So reads Andrew Burke's makeshift memorial, which is posted on the front door of El Azteca II.

Locals hope a pair of City Council bills will bring peace to Manayunk.

by Jason Tomassini

If you don't think cop killers deserve to die, there's something wrong with you.

by Brian Hickey

Why a house vote about the transparency of government documents won't be happening. Plus, the latest on the Kelly/Oh race.

by Mary F. Patel

Jeb Kreager of New Paradise gets physical in Mr. Marmalade.

by A.D. Amorosi

Good Eats | Charles Bronson | The World Without Us | West River Drive

A lot of Mr. Marmalade is shocking and hilarious. But its concept wears thing.

by David Anthony Fox

There are many reasons to revive An Empty Plate in the Cafè du Grand Boeuf, but the Arden's new revival misses the most important one.

by Mark Cofta

by Mark Cofta

The Martha Graham Dance Co. presented a retrospective montage that covered Martha's artistic career, from its beginnings right up to her late works

by Janet Anderson

It is not entirely inappropriate that the musical score was the star of this beautiful sounding production.

by Peter Burwasser

Opening reception, Cerealart Project Room Presents Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz, Fri., Nov. 16, Cerealart, 6-9 p.m., 149 N. Third St., 215-627-5060, cerealart.com, martin-munoz.com.

by Kelly White

Fri.-Sat., Nov. 16-17, 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 18, 3 p.m., $10-$12, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911.

by Deni Kasrel

Dom's Drive-In and Ice Cream | My Biology | Group Exhibition

Book, Paper, Scissors: Artists' Book Fair

by Dana Henry

Identity: An Exhibition of You

by Tami Fertig

Galleries are usually open Tuesdays through Saturdays; please call the gallery for exact days and hours. Receptions are denoted with Reception 222 GALLERY , 222

Museums and exhibits have varying schedules; please callfor exact days, hours and prices. ABINGTON ART CENTER , 515 Meetinghouse Rd., Jenkintown, 215-887-4882. INSIDE/OUTSIDE: HABITAT, Features

Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information. dance SPIRITUAL ENCOUNTER This performance art piece by Marcie

ALINA WHEELER The author reads from her new book, "Designing Brand Identity," an artist's guide to marketing her art, herself or a product through the

This is the way the world ends: not with a bang, or with a whimper, but with the whoosh of air out of a whoopee cushion.

"I read about the incident, and I said to myself, 'This is Casualties of War all over again,'" De Palma recalls. The parallel to the incident behind De Palma's Vietnam drama pointed up differences as well as similarities between the two wars.

"Welcome to the oven," narrates Pfc. Angel Salazar (Izzy Diaz), "aka Camp Carolina, our home away from home in this godforsaken country."

There was a time, strange as it might seem, when short Jewish men dominated the world of basketball. "It's not just that Jewish players were instrumental in the evolution of basketball, but basketball was an important part of Jews' evolution as Americans," says Vyorst.

Send repertory film listings to tami.fertig@citypaper.net.

With virtually every three-block subsection of the city sneering with hipster civic pride/superiority, residents have long borne witness to the Balkanization of Philly.

"There are no Roscoe Holcombes on porches," he explains with a laugh. "There are still casualties and characters lurking around in the trees up there, but they are for real, no romance."

Rodney Anonymous vs. the World

by Rodney Anonymous

Sat., Nov. 17, 9 p.m., $15, with Orphan Family and Charlie Wadhams, North Star Bar, 2639 Poplar St., northstarrocks.com.

by John Vettese

Sat., Nov. 17, 9 p.m., $10, with Bernard Dolan, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

by Drew Lazor

Fri., Nov. 16, 8 p.m, Christ Church, Second and Market streets; Sun., Nov. 18, 7 p.m., Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, 8000 Martins Lane, $30-$40, 215-487-2344, philomel.org.

by Peter Burwasser

Sat., Nov. 17, 10 p.m., with Certain General and Bunnydrums, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475, tritonebar.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

If I were gay, single and only mildly interested in dinner, I'd probably be milling around the bar at Knock right now instead of writing this review right now.

On one visit, we were presented with a multipage menu that tempted us with mentions of goat curry, pholourie, baked macaroni and cheese and jerk chicken. Then we were told that the kitchen had been wiped out by a large party the night before so our choices were limited to baked and barbecued chicken.

Popular Science magazine calls John B. Carnett, its veteran photographer of almost 20 years, a "DIY madman" due to his obsessive drive to customize. His 100-year-old home in Philly's Graduate Hospital neighborhood is a testament to his desire to build things by his own specifications.

>> NOW SEATING Academia del Caff

Get Out!

by Felicia D'Ambrosio

Burnt Sugar Fix

by Carolyn Wyman

The James Beard Foundation's Celebrity Chef Tour: Jose Garces and Christopher Lee | Adopt-A-Turkey | "Thanksgiving" at Noshery | Keller's Butter Turkey Sculpture

Q: I love a good deal. Where can I get some non-steam-table all-you-can-eat in the city?

Though the turkey is the de facto star of most holiday meals, the beverages and side dishes that accompany the Thanksgiving bird are the real keepers of family tradition.

When the menu morphs due to diverse cultural inputs (lasagna at the Italian gathering; a nice brisket for a Jewish family; a zesty tom yum soup to start in the Thai household), there's only one happy solution — serve lots of different wine and hope for the best.

Lewis gets to the root of it.

by A.D. Amorosi

Le Affaire

by Monica Weymouth

Omniana

by Dana Henry

Elizabeth Santry Note Cards

by Eileen Talone

Climbing Mount Olives

by Ptah Gabrie

Vinyasa Yoga Benefit

by Felicia D'Ambrosio

V.I.P. Fashion Show

by Luke Sirinides