Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

In anticipation of the imminent arrival of my IRS stimulus check, the Running Numbers Economic Best Practices Think Tank Task Force is already working overtime calculating the best way to rejuvenate the economy with $600. Here's the plan so far.

10,000 Average annual number of people, according to organizers, who attend the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers' Cable-Tec Expo, the industry show that features the latest cable technology and products. The 25th annual expo will take place June 24-27 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, but I'll be hanging around their hotels, waiting to slip one of the cable engineers a fifty. Am I talking about offering a bribe for illegal cable? I don't know, am I?

$1,395 Cost of registration for the International Tax Aspects of Foreign Currency Transactions course to be hosted by Atlas Information Group at Philadelphia's Doubletree Hotel on June 23-24. According to Atlas, the course is suited for "structured financial professional and foreign legal and tax counsel and executives from domestic and foreign trust companies and commercial banks," among others. Since our government decided to pay me to stimulate the economy, it sounds like I'm slightly overqualified, but it also sounds like they'll teach me how to get other nations to trust me with the same responsibility. Register at atlas-sfi.com/currency.

999 Maximum number of $50 entries that will be allowed in the 2008 Pennsylvania Environmental Council benefit raffle. The winner of the grand prize — a 2008 Toyota Prius — will be drawn at 6 p.m. on June 26 at the Southeast Office, 123 Chestnut St.. Information and tickets are available online at pecpa.org/raffle or by calling 717-230-8044, ext. 21, or e-mailing comalley@pecpa.org. FYI, not using your stimulus check on a raffle is about as un-American as it gets.

15 Number of years Avery Gilbert spent investigating human odor perception before founding Synesthetics Inc., a company that provides "innovative sensory science" for product marketing and development. Gilbert will discuss his new book, What the Nose Knows: The Science of Scent in Everyday Life, at 7 p.m. on June 25 at the Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St. Look for me — I'll be the one rolling up in a cable-equipped Prius. Smells like stimulus to me.

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.