In what might be America's greatest 4th of July tradition (and certainly it's most gluttonous) competitive eaters from around the globe congregate at the original Nathan's hot dog stand in Coney Island, N.Y. to stuff their faces with as many hot dogs as possible in a ten minute period. 

The Nathan's hot dog eating competition is in it's 94th year running and has become increasingly popular in the last decade as larger than life, face-stuffers, Joey Chestnut and Japanese arch rival Kobayashi have taken this sport to a new level with their unparralled abilty to eat humungous qualities of Nathan's famous nitrate-filled, sodium laden, tube steaks. Last year, Joey Chestnut beat out Kobayashi by wolfing down a whopping 64 hot dogs in ten minutes -- in case you're wondering, that's about one hot dog every ten seconds for ten minutes!!!  Awesome? Disgusting?  Disgustingly Awesome???  This year, Chestnut says he hopes to put down seventy hot dogs (although Vegas has its doubts and has set the over/under at 61).

While, just watching the competition gives me heartburn, personally, I have to admit I am pretty intrigued and in awe of these "athletes", which leads me to the question:

Is competive eating a sport or just a disgustingly intriging display of gluttony?

Check out this video of Kobayashi in a hot dog eating contest against a bear...and then vote sport or non-sport.

My vote - Definitely sport!!! Happy Birthday America!!

Yesterday morning I was supposed to run in a 5K out in the suburbs of Chicago.  I woke up at the butt-crack of dawn (5:45 am) so I could take the purple line express train out to the race.  I got to the EL station and it turns out the train wasn't running that day.  WTF???  I ended up missing the race, so I pretty much woke up at 5:45 am for nothing.

This whole escapade might have been the straw that broke this camel's back.  With Nike's Beat Gas challenge in my mind, I had already been thinking about ditching public transportation entirely during the summer months and relying solely on peddle/foot power to get around.  Don't get me wrong.  I fully believe public transportation is a great alternative to driving, but nothing is more RELIABLE than hopping on your bike or walking to get some place.  Think about it -- you never have to deal with traffic or "unexpected delays" like you do on a bus or train. You just hop on your bike or strap on some running shoes and get where you want to go.

Working Bikes, an awesome bike co-op in Chicago, feels the same way. The Working Bikes Cooperative is a volunteer driven non-profit organization that takes bikes headed for the garbage dump, repairs them and then either sells them to the public or ships them to countries like Ghana, Tanzania, Angola Peru and Guatemala where people use the bikes to get to work.  Each year, they ship over 5000 bikes nationally and internationally.

It's remarkable how much a reliable means of transportation can make a difference. In the countries to which Working Bikes ships, bicycles are the primary means of vehicular transportation for the majority of the population and can often mean the difference between work and unemployment.

 
What's even more remarkable is that a small investment here can make a huge difference overseas.  According to the organization, due to wage differences, a bicycle worth $20 in Chicago can be worth the equivalent of $1,000 in Africa. 

So moral of the story:  Skip the public transportation this summer.  Instead, take your old clunker of a bike to Working Bikes, trade it in for a fixed up, usable bike (for about $40-$50) and use peddle power to get you places this summer.

In the process, you'll be reducing your carbon footprint, getting fit and helping someone overseas secure gainful employment to get out of poverty.  It's a win-win-win situation!

To find out more visit the Working Bikes Co-Op website at www.workingbikes.org

Happy Independence Day!  On this date in 1776, the Second Continental Congress was hard at work finalizing the American Declaration of Independence. 

Now, over 200 years later, the nation they wanted to build is probably larger and older than politicians in the eighteenth century ever could have imagined.

 
Fireworks are a major part of Independence Day celebration around the country-- they're beautiful as long as they're being used safely!
Image from Public Domain, captured by SSGT. LONO KOLLARS.

There are two major ways that we commemorate this occasion-- one, through the outdoor preparation of food on a grill, and two, through the ignition of fireworks.  The first 4th of July firework display took place in 1777, years before the American Revolution was complete, and years before anyone could have been certain that it would even be successful.

Fireworks are a display of bravado and energy that appeal to American sensibilities, and for some people pyrotechnics (that's the fancy name for fireworks technology) are a way of life.  There are competitions where fireworks enthusiasts show off their skills at designing and launching precision fireworks routines both on the ground and in the air.  A good fireworks display on the 4th of July can wow people from far and wide and get them all thinking about just what America means in their life.

Fireworks displays definitely aren't just limited to those organized by professionals, however.  In a number of the states, fireworks are totally legal for the general public to purchase and set off-- and even in states where consumer fireworks aren't actually legal, people shoot them off anyway.  In my neighborhood of Brooklyn, the neighbors have already been setting off mortar shells and roman candles for weeks, even though they're not really allowed to be doing so.

So this 4th of July, make sure you're being as safe as possible.  The National Council on Fireworks Safety has a convenient website where you can look up fireworks laws by state, as well as a section on safety measures to take when handling fireworks.  According to the council, fireworks injuries have been on the rise for the past decade, even though many of the fireworks being sold in stores are actually becoming safer, and less likely to misfire. 

Fireworks can be very fun-- they can also be unpredictable and dangerous.

This could be due to people using unlicensed, home-made or less-than-legal fireworks which are not as safe as those being sold through legitimate channels.  The rise in injuries could also be cause by something as simple as a lack of education.  It's possible that children simply aren't being einformed about fireworks safety until it is too late. 

Fireworks are a part of American culture though, and they aren't going away any time soon.  Instead of trying to pretend that consumer fireworks don't exist in our communities, we should educate our friends and neighbors on how to use them safely while celebrating!

In my experience, even the most seemingly simple fireworks can be highly unpredictable.  I've seen low-key fireworks cause all kinds of unexpected damage, from fires to holes in the ground.  You can never be too careful with fireworks, so it's best to stand far away from them, wear protective eyewear, and avoid using one's hands as much as possible. 

Fireworks injuries are no joke!  But you can do things to prevent accidents, too.

Don't hold on to fireworks any more than you absolutely have to!  And if it isn't already totally obvious, it would be wise to avoid mixing fireworks with alcohol.  If you wouldn't drive a car under the influence, I don't think that playing with explosives is any smarter.  That said, have fun!  We can be safe and have a good time.

 Happy Fourth!  Enjoy the fireworks and be safe.

Brooklyn's Fully Focused celebrating their victory in Step It Up 2009.

Last night was the final battle for Step It Up, and what a battle it was.  Every team came out strong, clearly having used the time between round one and the finals to tighten their moves, work on their outreach projects, and present their causes in innovative dance routines.

Teams were competing both for themselves and for the community outreach projects  and important causes they chose to represent.  The winners received not only a customized set of Nike team sneakers, but a boatload of donations to their local community center.

The performers were amazing, but the audience had some moves of their own!

And in the spirit of the event, audience participation was a must.  Just before the judges revealed their final decision, members of the audience were invited to dance in a battle of their own.  Even Kia Vaughn, our WNBA-star celebrity judge got in on the action!

Just like a change in our world starts with the participation of regular people like you and me, this event would not have been quite the same without the talent and support of friends, family, and audience. 

 After the audience battle, Team Fully Focused from Brooklyn was announced as the winner of Step It Up 2009 for their work against domestic violence.  It was a memorable night, and every team danced like champs. 

If you haven't already, you should check out the Step it Up team pages to see the Public Service Announcement videos that each team produced and read more about their causes. 

Only one team walked out with prizes, but everyone involved is a winner, from the dancers to the audience to the communities that the teams represented.