A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

6 Number of artworks that will be awarded the title of "Best in Show" at a ceremony on May 14 at 7 p.m. during the 36th Annual Spring Art Show at the Gallery at Market East, which will run May 12-20 in the mall's Center Court. The show will feature more than 250 works from participants — ranging from toddlers to senior citizens — who have been taught in the Philadelphia Recreation Department's Recreation Centers and Playgrounds. Come marvel at how much more talented children are than you.

16 Minimum age students must be to participate in the city-sponsored Summer in the City high school internships , which will allow Philadelphia high school students to participate in a six-week paid internship with municipal government beginning in July 2008. Applications are available at phila.gov/experiencephila and must be mailed to WorkReady Philadelphia, Box 1169, Philadelphia, PA 19105-1169 by May 15. I have a feeling Nutter is just going to make you clean all summer.

50th Anniversary being celebrated in 2008 by the AARP, which will mark the occasion with a National Day of Service on May 8, including the West Shore Revitalization Project at 1341 S. 46th St. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is intended to make West Philadelphia's West Shore section more livable for people as they age and will include the rehabilitation of homes for senior residents and the addition of an accessible lift to the Southwest Community Enrichment Center. We can expect birthday cake, right, AARP?

100 Percent of the proceeds Cirque du Soleil will donate to the Mural Arts Program from the June 5 performance of its Kooza program, which opens in Philadelphia on May 8, under the Grand Chapiteau on the Avenue of the Arts. Don't be alarmed, by the way, on May 8 and May 10 when you see dancers, acrobats and gymnasts engaging in a public "kite action" to "theatrically announce the arrival of Kooza." Tickets at cirquedusoleil.com. Kite action? I don't even want to know.

6,000 Approximate number of students who "attend" the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, an "online K-12 educational provider" that "makes accredited curricula available to its students any time, any place, at a steady pace." Enrollment seminars for the 2008-09 school year will be held May 12 and June 17 at the Holiday Inn Historic District, 400 Arch St. More information is available by calling the Admissions Office at 888-PA-CYBER or visiting wpccs.com. I know this sounds cool, kids, but it's a trick. Never accept a workload described as coming at "any time, any place, at a steady pace."

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