Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.


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Published: Jun 25, 2008

427Number of friends, as of press time, that Fourth District Philadelphia Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. has on MySpace — apparently the only page maintained by a City Council member. Jones will host the first-ever Block Captains Boot Camp — to remind Fourth Council District Block Captains that "Homeland Security Begins on Your Block" — from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 28. To register, call 215-686-2812 or e-mail morgan.cephas@phila.gov. Or I guess just message him.

92 Number of commencements that have been celebrated over the years by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, which will officially change its name to Salus University — after the Latin word meaning health and well-being — on July 1. According to the school, the application for university status was made in part because "recruitment of students for our non-optometric programs increasingly was handicapped by the name and structure of the College." Come on, PCO, you don't see Beaver College changing its name just because everyone thinks it's a taxidermy school, do you? OK, bad example.

60 Number of feet competitors will have to pull a flatbed truck loaded with 65,000 pounds during the Truck Pull event at the Strongman Competition on June 28 and 29 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum as part of the kick-off of the Sunoco "Welcome America!" festival. I hope all the competitors maintain their salus!

3.98 Percent of the new wage tax rate —for Philadelphia residents —that will take effect July 1 as a result of City Council Bill No. 080161, which will also reduce the rate to 3.5392 percent for non-residents. Questions about the new rate should be directed to revenue@phila.gov or 215-686-6434. Or the Revenue Department's MySpace page, which has some hilarious yet instructional animated gifs.

3 Number of categories — nonprofit or volunteer organization; business and industry; and state, local or federal government agency — in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will present its first-ever Mid-Atlantic Environmental Achievement Awards at the regional office in Philadelphia on Sept. 18. Nominations of "individuals and groups making significant contributions to help public health and the environment" in the Mid-Atlantic region are being accepted until June 30 at epa.gov/region03/eaa.html or by mail to Bonnie Lomax, US EPA Mid-Atlantic Region (3EA00), 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107. I nominate Salus. At least they're going to save some ink on letterheads.

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.