Here is what they say about scoring Oprah tickets:

One of the most popular free things to do in Chicago is to take in an Oprah taping in the West Loop at her Harpo Studios. Audience reservations for The Oprah Winfrey Show are available almost exclusively by phone. As you can imagine, demand for free Oprah tickets far exceeds supply, so you may receive a lot of busy signals before getting through to one of the audience department employees. Periodically, you may be able to request last-minute reservations via e-mail.

The Oprah Winfrey Show taping schedule: Ms. Winfrey is much too important to be tied down to a production schedule like regular talk-show hosts. Therefore, your guess is a good as anyone as to what days the show tapes. A specific list of days is given to those lucky enough to get through by phone to…………  Learn more at   Free Things to Do in Chicago

Check it our now! Go to 20MillionMinutes.com

I came across the following and thought the facts and figures were worthy of sharing:

INDEPENDENCE DAY INFO FROM THE US CENSUS BUREAU

On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, starting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country.

2.5 million
In July 1776, the number of people living in the colonies. (1776 population from Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970.)

300 million
On this July 4th, the population milestone our nation soon will be closing in on.

Fourth of July Cookouts
150 million
Number of hot dogs (all varieties) expected to be consumed by Americans on this holiday. (That’s one frankfurter for every two people.) There’s more than a 1-in-4 chance that the hot dogs made of pork originated in Iowa, as the Hawkeye State had a total inventory of 15.2 million market hogs and pigs on March 1, 2006. This represents more than one-fourth of the nation’s total. North Carolina (8.5 million) and Minnesota (5.8 million) were the runners-up. (Data on hot dog consumption courtesy of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.) Data on hogs and pigs at <http://www.nass.usda.gov>.

7.3 billion pounds
Total production of cattle and calves in Texas in 2005. Chances are good that the beef hot dogs, steaks and burgers on your backyard grill came from the Lone Star State, which accounted for over one-sixth of the nation’s total production. And if they did not come from Texas, they very well may have come from Nebraska (4.5 billion pounds) or Kansas (4 billion pounds). <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

6
Number of states in which the revenue from broiler chickens was $1 billion or greater between December 2004 and November 2005. There is a good chance that one of these states — Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi or Texas — is the source of your barbecued chicken. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

Better than 50-50
The odds that the beans in your side dish of baked beans came from North Dakota, Michigan or Nebraska, which produced 60 percent of the nation’s dry, edible beans in 2005. Another popular July 4th side dish is corn on the cob. Florida, California and Georgia together accounted for 51 percent of the sweet corn produced nationally in 2005. <http://www.nass.usda.gov> 

Please Pass the Potato Salad
Potato salad and potato chips are popular food items at July 4th barbecues. One-half of the nation’s spuds were produced in Idaho or Washington in 2005. <http://www.nass.usda.gov>

More than 68 million
Number of Americans who said they have taken part in a barbecue during the previous year. It’s probably safe to assume a lot of these events took place on Independence Day.
See Table 1230, 2006 edition: <http://www.census.gov/prod/www/statistical-abstract.html>

Fireworks
$201.9 million
The value of fireworks imported from China in 2005, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported ($211 million). U.S. exports of fireworks, by comparison, came to just $14.9 million in 2005, with Australia purchasing more than any other country ($4.4 million). <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$17.3 million
The value of U.S. manufacturers’ shipments of fireworks in 2002. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i325998t.pdf>

Flags
$5.5 million
In 2005, the dollar value of U.S. imports of American flags; the vast majority of this amount
($5 million) was for U.S. flags made in China. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$993,000
Dollar value of U.S. flags exported in 2005. Mexico was the leading customer, purchasing $529,000 worth. <http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/www/>

$349 million
Annual dollar value of shipments of fabricated flags, banners and similar emblems by the nation’s manufacturers, according to the latest published Economic Census (2002) data. <http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0231i314999t.pdf>

Patriotic-Sounding Names
30
Number of places nationwide with “liberty” in its name. The most populous one is Liberty, Mo. (28,528). Iowa, with four, has more of these places than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty.

• Thirty-two places are named “eagle” — after the majestic bird that serves as our national symbol. (Places include cities, towns, villages and census-designated places.) The most populous such place is Eagle Pass, Texas, with 24,847 residents. There is also Eagle County, Colo., with a population of 47,530.

• Eleven places have “independence” in their name. The most populous of these is Independence, Mo., with 111,023 residents.

• Five places adopted the name “freedom.” Freedom, Calif., with 6,000 residents, has the largest population among these.

• There is one place named “patriot” — Patriot, Ind., with a population of 195.

• And what could be more fitting than spending the Fourth of July in a place called “America”? There are five such places in the country, with the most populous being American Fork, Utah, population 22,387.
  <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005268.html>
  <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/006563.html>
  <http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en>

Coming to America
34 million
In 2004, the number of foreign-born residents in the United States; they accounted for 12 percent of the nation’s total population. Another 30 million Americans were “second-generation,” meaning that at least one of their parents was born abroad.
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html>

53%
As of 2004, the percentage of the nation’s foreign-born population born in Latin America. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/foreignborn_population/003969.html>

946,000
Number of immigrants granted legal permanent residence in the United States during fiscal year 2004. More than 1-in-4 settled in California. <http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/yearbook/YrBk04Im.htm>

537,000
Number of people who became naturalized U.S. citizens during fiscal 2004 (Oct. 1, 2003 to Sept. 30, 2004). Mexico contributed the highest number of naturalized citizens in 2004 (63,800), followed by India (38,000), the Philippines (31,400), Vietnam (27,500) and China (27,300). <http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/publications/NaturalizationFlowReport2004.pdf>

The winner for the past five years — in the sport that we invented — has been Takeru Kobayashi of Japan. Last year, “The Tsunami” Kobayashi, claimed his fifth straight Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title, downing 49 hot dogs in 12 minutes, short of his personal best of 53-1/2 hot dogs. 

The 5-foot 7-inch, 144-pound Kobayashi, also known as “The Prince,” was the clear winner, scarfing down 12 more hot dogs than the runner up, 5-foot 5-inch, 100-pound American Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas. The highly overrated 420-pound Eric “Badlands” Booker did not place in the top three. We need to find a champion! That someone just may be Joey Chestnut, a 6-foot-1, 230-pounder from San Jose, Calif., who holds the U.S. wiener-eating record of 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes. So the stage is set for the Fourth of July. We cannot lose again. So eat, Mr. Chestnut. Eat for all of us. But from a strategy point of view, hold the ketchup!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO EVERYONE — TRY SOME DAKOTA BEEF 100% ORGANIC BURGERS, AVAILABLE ON-LINE AND AT COSTCO

That is how life is ………..yet, many of us exert all of our efforts on the short term win, rather than the long term prize. Why is that? We know life is a long race, yet we always use huge bursts of energy and focus on short term things…. What do you think?

As an aside, I am feeling less confident about Floyd Landis and Levi Leipheimer (maybe its early and I am expecting too much in the first two stages) – can either of these guys win?

Mayor Richard Daley is solidly behind initiatives to create a 500 mile network of bike paths and bicycle-friendly streets in Chicago. He wants chicago to be the most bicycle friendly city in the United Stwates.  The Bike 2015 Plan is the City of Chicago’s vision to make bicycling an integral part of daily life in Chicago. The plan recommends projects, programs and policies for the next ten years to encourage use of this practical, non-polluting and affordable mode of transportation. The Bike 2015 Plan has two overall goals:

• To increase bicycle use, so that 5 percent of all trips less than five miles are by bicycle.
• To reduce the number of bicycle injuries by 50 percent from current levels.

These are the sorts of steps that need to be taken by all global cities to ensure that the city continues to remain livable.  There are a number of environmental benefits to bicycling, including:

Did you know that: 

·  A short, four-mile round trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air we breathe. (WorldWatch Institute)

·   Air pollution contributes to the deaths of 60,000 people nationwide. In urban areas with poor air quality, asthma is becoming a more significant health concern. (Harvard
University School of Public Health).

· The health benefits of regular physical activity are far-reaching: reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases; lower health care costs; and improved quality of life for people of all ages. Regular exercise provides a myriad of health benefits for senior adults including a stronger heart, a positive mental outlook and an increased chance of remaining indefinitely independent – a benefit that will become increasingly important as our population ages in the coming years.

 ·  Many of the trips that Americans make every day are short enough to be accomplished on a bicycle, on foot or via wheelchair. The 1995 National Personal Transportation Survey (NPTS) found that approximately 40% of all trips are less than 2 miles in length – which represents a 10-minute bike ride or a 30-minute walk. In fact, a 1995 Rodale Press survey found that Americans want the opportunity to walk or bike instead of drive: 40% of
U.S. adults say they wouldcommute by bike if safe facilities were available.

However, at the Tour de France, I marvel at the pure physical punishment that these riders take day after day for the 21 days of the race.  To think that Lance Armstrong won this race 7 times in a row is unbelievable — all the potential pitfalls, (sickness, heat, nutrition, bad tire (think about Floyd Landis today)

The Americans started very well yesterday and the Tour should be wide open this year — George Hincapie has the lead after the first stage and it should be an exciting first week.  Maybe it’s time to

Take a look at some awesome Tour photos, already loaded to the web! I also found an excellent historical perspective on the Tour from the 1930′s-2006!  Check it out.

Women of Faith held its first conferences in churches in 1996. By the next year, demand was so high, they moved into arenas. In Charlotte, N.C., a 22,000-capacity arena sells out a year ahead each year. The group now holds about 35 conferences a year, has visited 80 different cities and has welcomed more than 3 million women.  “‘We want to encourage women and inspire them,” said Mary Graham, the group’s president. ”I would like every woman to leave the arena knowing for sure that she is loved by a God of grace and that she can have a relationship with Him in the hardest moments of her life and in the best days of her life.” During the two-day meeting, speakers and special guests shared motivational stories with attendees and led them in song and prayer. This is a great event for Women’s Ministry folks, for women in the city or urban ministry, and for all who want to grow in their walk with the Lord

What is passion?  Webster’s defines it as…… “

1. A powerful emotion, such as love, joy, hatred, or anger.
2. 1. Ardent love.
   2. Strong sexual desire; lust.
   3. The object of such love or desire.
3. 1. Boundless enthusiasm: His skills as a player don’t quite match his passion for the game.
   2. The object of such enthusiasm: Soccer is her passion.
4. An abandoned display of emotion, especially of anger: He’s been known to fly into a passion without warning.
5. Passion
   1. The sufferings of Jesus in the period following the Last Supper and including the Crucifixion, as related in the New Testament.
   2. A narrative, musical setting, or pictorial representation of Jesus’s sufferings.
6. Archaic. Martyrdom.
7. Archaic. Passivity.
8. Synonyms: passion, fervor, fire, zeal, ardor
   These nouns denote powerful, intense emotion. Passion is a deep, overwhelming emotion: “There is not a passion so strongly rooted in the human heart as envy” (Richard Brinsley Sheridan). The term may signify sexual desire or anger: “He flew into a violent passion and abused me mercilessly” (H.G. Wells). Fervor is great warmth and intensity of feeling: “The union of the mathematician with the poet, fervor with measure, passion with correctness, this surely is the ideal” (William James). Fire is burning passion: “In our youth our hearts were touched with fire” (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.). Zeal is strong, enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance: “Laurie [resolved], with a glow of philanthropic zeal, to found and endow an institution for… women with artistic tendencies” (Louisa May Alcott). Ardor is fiery intensity of feeling: “the furious ardor of my zeal repressed” (Charles Churchill).WHAT IS YOUR PASSION? Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’ contribution to the computer-software industry is nothing short of astonishing. He didn’t invent the PC, he revolutionized it.
   He had a passion to be the best in the computer software business.  Now, having conquered the industry, Gates is turning his attention — and a large portion of his personal fortune — to the charitable foundation he and his wife, Melinda, started in 2000. He recently announced that he intends to give up his day-to-day duties at the company over the next two years to concentrate on his foundation, which focuses on education and global health needs. He shows uashis passion with the next line fo his interview……”I’m very lucky to have two passions that I feel are so important and so challenging,” Gates said. “As I prepare for this change, I firmly believe the road ahead for Microsoft is as bright as ever.”  Bill is passionate about focusing his time and efforts on education and global needs.Each of the nations represented in the FIFA World Cup play this month are passionate about their team.  Cycling fans are passionate this month about about the Tour de France.  as we try to be salt and light, how do we use our passions to further the Kingdom’  I love Erwin McManus’s talk at teh 2004 Passion COnference — as he exhorts people to get up, engage with God, he finishes with “I don’t care what you do……JUST DO SOMETHING!”  What do you think?  Give me your thoughts……..