Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

0 Number of Hoop It Up games I won during my fairly extensive youth career. Teams must register for this year's tournament — July 26-27 at Fairmount Park on the North Concourse between Belmont and Memorial Hall — by July 21 at hoopitup.com. If you want a better record than me, try using the team name I used during a three-on-three tournament in high school: "Bye." Trust me, it looks great on the tournament bracket.

3 Number of days, according to organizers, in which participants will be able to "conduct months' worth of research" during the American Chemical Society's 2008 National Meeting and Exposition at Pennsylvania Convention Center Aug. 17-21. Early registration — available at acs.org — ends July 25. And no funny business on the registration form this time; chemists have about the same sense of humor as my high school administrators.

15 Number of years of experience, according to its Web site, that YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School has in "helping young people rebuild their lives" with its one-year high school diploma program. Philadelphia residents ages 18 to 20 are encouraged to complete an application in person on the third Floor of 1231 N. Broad St. between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. before July 23. Maybe the chemists also have advice on how to finish the one-year program in just a week.

941 Name of the theater — located on 941 N. Front St. — that is hosting Philly Beer and Movie Weekend, featuring two "homegrown Philly Cult Classics," Space Girls and Superhero Excelsior, during parties starting at 7 p.m. on July 18 and 19. Each night's $20 admission gets attendees unlimited free beer and supports the theater and local filmmaking. Philly Beer and Movie Weekend. No offense, but I'm guessing that's redundant for most of you.

1,500 Number of U.S. competitors — along with teams from Canada and England — that will participate in Hurling and Gaelic Football during the 2008 Continental Youth Championships July 24-27 at Greater Chester Valley Soccer Associations' Line Road Complex in Willistown. The event, organized in part by the Philadelphia Divisional Youth Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, will kick off with a parade through West Chester on July 24. Hopefully without any premature hurling.

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.