Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

8 Number of Pennsylvania students who were state finalists to have their design displayed today, May 22, on Google's home page as part of the Doodle 4 Google competition, which invited K-12 students to reinvent Google's home page logo. Unfortunately, no Pa. kids made it to the final round, so don't bother visiting Google ever again.

13 Age of Penn Alexander School eighth-grader Hannah Schill, the only student who will represent Philadelphia at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., from May 25 to 30. The event semifinals will be broadcast live from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 30 on ESPN, and the final round, from 8 to 10 p.m. that same evening on ABC. No pressure, Hannah.

20 Number of pounds infants should weigh before riding face-forward in a car. Even if your porkers are pushing 10 kilos, they should still be in safety seats, which can be inspected for free by the certified car-seat technician who will be at the Babies "R" Us store at 770 Baltimore Pike in Springfield on May 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments are required. Call 610-544-9806. Someone bring Britney.

70 Number of years since the Philadelphia Zoo became the first in North America to open a special zoo just for children. The focus on youngsters continues on May 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Children's Zoo Kick-Off Weekend, which is free with admission and features activities, live animal talks and sheep shearing demonstrations. Just so you know, adults love sheep shearing, too, Zoo.

392 Number of pairs of shoes Mothers United Through Tragedy will display on the Art Museum steps on May 25 to symbolize the lives lost to violence in Philadelphia in 2007 as part of their Footprints of Life program. Afterward, the shoes will be donated to a homeless shelter in the name of the children lost to violence. In the group's words: "How many more of our children must die before we unify?"

Hey ... 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.