Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

$5 Price you will pay for admission to the Philadelphia Ceramic Doll Show — Aug. 8 to 9 at the Philadelphia National Guard Armory, 2700 Southampton Road — when you present the $2 discount coupon that can be printed at ceramicdollshows.com/philadelphia.html. Look at this way: It'll be cheaper than going to a horror movie, and far more horrifying.

25 Number of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program murals that will be exhibited as framed prints during the program's 25th Anniversary Preview, which will be held during the opening of the aloft Philadelphia Airport hotel, 4301 Island Ave., on Aug. 8, 8 to 11 p.m. The launch bash will include an auction featuring celebrity-signed and -designed pillowcases benefiting the Mural Arts Program, and, more excitingly, an appearance by DJ Jazzy Jeff. Hopefully the event will also include the unveiling of plans for a long-overdue Jazzy Jeff mural.

260 Number of "intercessors" from Philly pro-life activist group Bound 4 Life who plan to "build a wall of prayer" in front of the Planned Parenthood on 1144 Locust St. on Aug. 9 from 8 a.m. to noon. Any chance you guys want to go to the ceramic doll show instead? I can hook you up with discount coupons.

5,000,000 Number of Americans who are affected by Alzheimer's, according to a release by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, whose recent study revealed a link between the disease and the brain's "dysregulation" of calcium. Of course, if you read the June 26 issue of Neuron, you already know this.

888-299-4099 Toll-free number that one must call in order to participate in the "Telephone Briefing on the Beijing Olympics" — a panel discussion on "how the Olympics may affect international politics," featuring three experts from the University of Pennsylvania — that is being held by the Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute on Aug. 7, 11 a.m. to noon. Enter passcode VR57758 after calling and press *1 to ask questions. Call 215-732-3774 ext. 303 or e-mail lux@fpri.org for more information. Please, no "U-S-A" chants.

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.