I have read an article in Reader's Digest about some ways of how to channel our outrage with the government. The article basically is about how the leaders in America have let it people down.. The article contains ways on which people could use there voice in other countries, to fight for their rights or to let the government know about them.

I think the ways Michael Crowley wrote in Reader's Digest could also be used by people in other countries to make their voices be hear.


Here are five ways to channel your outrage.

1. Speak up.

• When ordinary citizens don't use their voices, special interest groups and their expensive lobbyists fill the void. That means we all have an urgent obligation to follow how our members of Congress are voting and let them know how we feel about it. Sure, the sausage making in Washington can sometimes be hard to understand. But technology is making it easier than ever to decipher and monitor the machinations of the backroom deal cutters and help keep them honest.
• One website, congress.org, lets you sign up for updates on how your representatives and senators have voted and what key votes are coming up. It also offers ready-made forms you can use to e-mail them your opinion.
• The nonprofit Sunlight Foundation posts the text of major bills, like the stimulus plan, as well as information on special interest contributions and a map of where congressional earmarks go.
• But you can go further than this. Why not talk directly to your representatives in Congress? Most hold regular open meetings with constituents and allow time for you to ask questions and raise concerns. Call your representatives and senators and ask when the next one is scheduled, then go speak your mind to someone with true power.

2. Fight the spin—fact-check.

• Get ready for masses of misinformation to fill the airwaves. Our country is weighing major changes in a number of areas, ranging from health care to energy policy. Special interests have billions of dollars at stake, and many of these issues are the subject of fierce political infighting.
• Expect everyone from partisan loudmouths to well-funded lobbyists to dominate the discourse in the media and to shell out millions to bend public opinion to their will.
• Be wary of pundits—on the right and the left—who act like they have all the answers. Be especially skeptical of advertising that doesn't make clear who's paying for it and what their larger agenda might be. If you see a tough ad about legislation on television, use Google as a weapon: See what key facts might have been left out and then decide for yourself. We can't afford to be passive anymore.

3. Be a watchdog.

• Don't just let the politicians know how you feel. Tell them what you're seeing.
  
• Washington recently passed a $787 billion stimulus bill, which offers unprecedented opportunities for waste, fraud, and abuse. The Obama administration has pledged to be the most transparent in history, so look to see if it follows through. Keep an eye on recovery.gov, the official website for information on the stimulus bill. Citizens Against Government Waste tracks abuses and is a tough critic of government spending. And monitor local news sources to see how the money is being spent.
• If something looks wasteful to you, contact your elected officials or watchdog groups like the Project on Government Oversight, which specializes in monitoring federal contractors. You can even keep up with the work of the special oversight panel Congress has created to monitor the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), the $700 billion financial industry bailout it passed last October. The panel's website, cop.senate.gov, lists its reports and public hearings and features a page where regular Americans hit by the financial crisis can tell their stories. If Washington knows millions of eyes are watching our money, it's much less likely to get wasted.

4. Keep it local.

• Although the massive stimulus bill originated in Washington, hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus spending will be handled by state and local governments, far from the eyes of the White House and Congress. As readers of this column know, statehouses and local government bodies are often rife with corruption. We can't afford to let a few favored contractors get sweet deals or stand by as dollars are wasted on stupid pet projects that don't create jobs.
• Fortunately, it's easier to have an impact on the local level. So contact your state legislator and ask how your tax money is being used and what he or she is doing to ensure that big-business excesses aren't repeated in your home state.

5. Join with others.

• A group of concerned citizens can have more power than one voice. Even a dozen people calling or, better yet, visiting the local office of a congressman or a city council member to discuss a specific issue can make a big impression. If you care about an issue, start a group on Facebook and invite others to join, swap news and tips, hold events, and take specific action.
• It's not just politicians who will take notice of a committed group of concerned citizens. You can get the attention of corporations. One way is to check in with the some organization, which can connect you with state and local groups that are working on issues—electricity prices, hidden credit card fees—that hit home for you and your neighbors.
• There's no silver bullet. But the only way to get your country on its feet without compounding our problems is for regular folks to speak up, get involved, and make it clear that we won't stand for the culture of greed anymore.

Keeping Them Honest

Wost the website that magazine gave is for USA...If you lived from another country, and you want to channel your outrage on your dislike about the government in your area, follow the 5 ways, and look for some organizations / groups that will help you know more about how your country performs, may be it through the passed laws, bills, and etc...Don't just know what's happening in your country, make yourself part of it by action.
From Reader's Digest - June 2009

Iced tea is more than just cool, especially if it's freshly made green tea. Brew some up to get:

• HELP WITH YOUR WEIGHT. Overweight or obese exercisers burned off three more pounds and 7 percent more belly fat when they drank green tea instead of another beverage with the same calories, according to a new multi center study.

• PROTECTION AGAINST CANCER. Regular drinkers were 12 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than nondrinkers, according to research in 6,928 Chinese women.

• REDUCED RISK OF STROKE. A UCLA review of nine studies found three cups a day cut the risk of stroke by 21 percent (black tea was protective too.)

• HEALTHIER GUMS. In a study of 940 men, the more green tea a man drank, the less likely he was to gum disease.

• Numbers That Count: 25% Increase in the number of snack calories people consume when they sleep 5 1/2% hours a night instead of 8 1/2 hours...
  

Source: Janis Graham, Reader's Digest 2009

• Choose the right group to celebrate with. If you have friends who act really exclusive with their significant others (think tons of PDA), don't hang with them.
• Plan you own-get together, whether it's cocktails at your place or mellow movie night where you and some pals forgo the requisite (and often overrated) festivities.
• If you want to party hard, try to arrange to attend more than one bash. You'll be exited knowing you won't be stuck should one gathering turn out to be a dud for unattached chicks.
• Decide ahead of time what you'll do when the ball drops and couple's start kissing. Call your best friend or sister who is celebrating elsewhere or uncork a bottle of champagne at the start of the countdown.

• Getting the cold shoulder isn't just saying. Being socially excluded can actually make people feel chilly, according to new research.
• A study found that when puppies play, males often let the females win. The opportunity to play is more important to them than winning is, plus acting like a gentlemen may encourage females to choose them as a mate later.

• Step 1: Grab the handle of the suitcase with your right hand, and pull it hallway out of the compartment so that it's balanced on the edge of the bin and tipped slightly toward you. At the same time, take s small step back and lean backward a bit. This ensures that your legs - rather than your back - are supporting the majority of the bag's weight.
• Step 2: Slide you left hand under the bottom of the suitcase, and slowly lower it onto the closest aisle seat (wait for one to be vacated)
• Step 3: Readjust your feet so they're hip-width apart and parallel to each other (to give you stability.) Bend your knees as you lift the bag and lower it to the ground.

• Tell the host it's a special occasion like a birthday.
• If it's in your budget, preorder a nice bottle of wine - you'll look like a big spender
• Dress up

• Once a month on say a Friday afternoon or evening, stop by a local salon for a blow-out. You'll instantly feel more gorgeous, and it will set off the weekend on the right food...

• It's a treat to be able to stretch out, so take advantage of the entire bed - savor the sensation of the soft pillow and smooth sheets... The physical acts of stripping off layers is mentally and emotionally freeing too. So concentrate on letting go of stress. It won't be long before you discover that the more solo time you spend in the buff, the more comfortable you feel in your own skin..
  

If you run a windows computer, you'll know like many others than after a while your system will in no doubt start running slow. Most people will restart their computer to remove idle processes. But if there is a simpler way, why restart every time windows decides it doesn't like you today?

1. Right click on an empty spot on your desktop and select New Shortcut.

2. Type

%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe advapi32.dll,ProcessIdleTasks

in the box.


3. Click Next.

4. Give your shortcut a nice name like Clear Memory.



5. Click Finish and you're done.

Now whenever your computer starts running slow, click this shortcut to clear out your memory and get your computer running at a normal pace again

It's great when you haven't rebooted in a few days or so.

*Also check your task manager, using alt + ctrl + del, to find out which program is using more memory...sometimes, when i close a program, i check my task manager, because there are some programs that still runs even you close them..You can end the process of the program, but please be careful because some processes in the task manager, are system / windows files..those programs that are safe to close, are not labeled as system, it is either labeled the name of your computer, like pc user, user 1. etc...

I just found a new workout that fits my lifestyle, since i do not have alot of extra time... THE Stait Climbing Workout worked for me... its convenient, and it's not expensive to do this workout.. We can do this anywhere..

..

• Stair climbing is an increasingly popular way to squeeze a great aerobic workout into a short period of time. It is the most According to fitness expert Wayne Westcott, PhD, author of Get Stronger, Feel Younger, climbing stairs is among the most vigorous cardio workouts you can find. He explained that with this exercise you're lifting your of mass vertically, since our body weight is not supported -- as it is with, say, swimming or rowing -- you expend greater effort and burn more calories.
• Athletes have a long tradition of training by dashing up sports stadium bleacher stairs... You can also workout using stairwells in your home, office place, etc.. This workout id very inexpensive, and is a nice alternative to the gym..
• Stair climbing increases cardiovascular fitness as well as muscular endurance and strength. It works most of the leg muscles, especially the quadriceps (front of thighs) and buttocks, and requires a tremendous outlay of energy. Some "tower runners" (as those who compete in events like the Empire State Building Run-Up race are called) use their arms on the stair rail to help pull themselves up, which gives the upper body a bit of a workout as well.
• Additionally, stair climbing delivers a good core muscle workout -- this, in turn, improves posture.

TIPS FOR STAIR CLIMBERS

Intrigued? Here are a few tips to help step up your workout:

1. Wear running shoes or those designed for cross-training.

2. Take a few minutes to warm up first by walking around on level ground before you start your ascent... and cool down the same way afterward, followed by stretches (described below).

3. Stretch the quadriceps, hamstrings and calves after your workout, not before.

4. As you climb, lean slightly forward from your hips while keeping your back straight.

5. Place your entire foot on each step. Allowing your heels to hang over the edges may injure your Achilles tendon. Look forward, keeping your head up. Don’t let it droop, which can cause neck strain, though it is fine to glance down when necessary to get your bearings.

6. Don’t lock your knees as you climb up.

7. Vary your pace for maximum fitness benefit. Start by walking... walk faster... then slow down and speed up again, and again.

8. Stay safe. Just as you wouldn’t jog in a dark alley alone, don’t use stairs in a remote stairwell where calls for help wouldn’t be heard.

9. Drink plenty of water before and after. Stair climbing is intense, so you should plan to rehydrate just as you would during a jog or a race on level ground.

PREPARE FOR DESCENT

• Walking down stairs or running downhill puts incredible stress on the joint structure -- in particular the tendons, fascia and ligaments..However, you can minimize this stress by descending slowly, perhaps even stopping for a moment on landings.
  
• Resist the temptation to bound down two or three stairs at a time and instead come down purposefully. Or, you could take the elevator down -- but first, walk around up top to let your heart rate return to normal.

NEXT STEPS...

• There are plenty of ways you can change-up stair climbing workouts. You may feel a bit breathless when starting out. If so, walk around the landing (or down the hall of whatever floor you are on) and then return to the stairwell and climb some more.
  
• You can create an interval training program by alternating spurts of high intensity (climbing up fast) with periods of "active rest" (walking on flat ground). Vary your workouts by climbing higher, faster and/or longer between rest stops.

Another benefit:

• You don’t need to work out for long periods of time to take your fitness to a higher level. According to Dr. Westcott, climbing 10 flights of stairs at three different times over the course of a day is actually preferable to going up 30 flights all at once. The reason? "Some of the most important physiological adaptations, such as improvement in aerobic capacity, take place during the recovery period," he explains. "With three separate bouts of exercise, you get the benefit of three recovery periods." Also, you may find it easier to push yourself to do 10 flights at a time, rather than having to take on all 30.
• A stair-climbing machine can deliver many of the same benefits, of course. Dr. Westcott noted, however, that the classic StairMaster machines aren’t as intense, since you’re not working against gravity -- they don’t require you to lift your feet off the steps but rather shift your weight from one leg to the other. He said that a better choice for gym rats is the type of machine that features an actual revolving staircase...
• If you are interested in this workout, and want to take it to a higher level, you could compete at some "tower running" events www.towerrunning.com/english/races.htm, which sorts the races by number of stairs. Also, the American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org) has a list of stair climbing fundraising events.

• Wayne Westcott, PhD, exercise physiologist/fitness director, South Shore YMCA, Quincy, Massachusetts, and author of Get Stronger, Feel Younger (Rodale).
• Bottom Line's Daily Health News

There's more than one way to make your rooms look all net and pretty!

You've been living in the same room for years, but not much has changed. Your parents can't complain because you keep it nice and clean, but someone you feel like your stuck in a rut. Time to shake things up a bit. It's out with the old, and in with the new. With a few tweaks, you can put a totally different spin on your room!

1. Fixing your bed.

• Old way: A plain, hotel-like arrangement in a monochromatic color scheme and matching pillow.
  
• New Way: Funky mix of colors and prints, and plush blanket thrown over the foot of the bed,

2. Displaying your pictures.

• Old way: Photos in matching frames all evenly line up on a wall.
• New way: Different frames in complementing colors and styles - unify everything by having a "theme wall" of photos (in this case, baby pictures of family members. You can also try family pics or pics with your friends)

3. Arranging your Books on Shelves

• Old way: Books are standing at attention, simply arrange by height with no other items mixed in
• New way: A more free-form arrangement, where some books are upright while others are on their sides. Throw in unusual bookends, some knickknacks, and travel finds to make it more interesting.

1. TREAT BACK PAIN WITH BED REST.

• Bed rest is no longer recommended for treating back pain. Experts agree that you should stay active and take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (aspirin, Motrin, Aleve) as needed.
  
• In most people, lower back pain goes away in about a month. For severe pain or back pain that lasts longer, see your healthcare provider.

2. A BLAND DIET IS THE BEST WAY TO TREAT AN ULCER.

• Are you self-treating a gastric ulcer by sipping on cream or milk or eating a bland diet? That’s no way to manage the problem. Ulcers are most often caused by Helicobacter pylori, a type of bacteria that lives and reproduces in the stomach’s lining and the small intestines, causing inflammation.
  
• Ulcers may best be healed with an antibiotic to kill the bacteria and drugs such as acid blockers, antacids or proton pump inhibitors to reduce your digestive system’s acid level.

3. A DEGENERATIVE DISK IS THE NECK IS BEST TREATED WITH SPINAL FUSION SURGERY.

• Spinal fusion used to be the standard operation to correct a diseased disk in the cervical spine, or neck. But spinal fusion leaves you unable to bend your neck normally after surgery. That’s because the surgeon removes the damaged disk, and then fuses together the surrounding vertebrae using bone grafts and metal plates with screws attached.
  
• Fusion corrects the disk problem but raises the risk of damage to neighboring spine segments.New disks allow for more natural neck movement, which reduces the risk of damage to surrounding disks. Talk with your physician to find out if you’re a candidate for this newer technology.

4. EXERCISE ISN’T SAFE FOR SOMEONE IN MY CONDITION.

• Exercise is good for almost everyone, no matter how old you are or what shape you’re in—even if you have a chronic condition such as high blood pressure, arthritis or diabetes. In fact, exercise may improve your condition.
  
• Talk to your healthcare provider for help finding exercises that are right for you. Start slowly and build up to at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise, five days a week, or as your provider recommends.

5. INCONTINENCE CAN’T BE TREATED.

• Though bladder control may be embarrassing to talk about, you don’t have to suffer in silence. Incontinence isn’t a normal part of aging and can be treated— even cured. Weak or overactive bladder muscles, an enlarged prostate, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and arthritis can all cause long-term bladder control problems.
  
• Your healthcare provider can recommend treatment based on the type of incontinence you have and its severity. Treatment options include Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic muscles, bladder training (scheduled urination) and medicine. If your incontinence is more severe, surgery can help.

6. GETTING THE BLUES IS NORMAL AT MY AGE.

• Occasionally feeling blue is one thing. But a loss of interest in people or activities that lasts more than two weeks is a sign of depression, which can strike at any age. Other symptoms of depression may include fatigue or lethargy, prolonged or excessive worries, weight changes, new aches and pains and feeling hopeless and worthless.
  
• If you’re experiencing any of these changes or feelings, don’t accept them as “normal.” Talk with your healthcare provider. Counseling and medication may be needed to get you back on a brighter path.

7. I’VE SMOKED FOR SO LONG, QUITTING WON’T DO ME ANY GOOD.

• Quit smoking right now and in 20 minutes or less, your blood pressure and heart rate will start to go down—no matter how many years you’ve been puffing away. Within a few hours, carbon monoxide will leave your bloodstream. Keep it up and within two weeks to three months you may be breathing easier— even if you already have mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  
• By the end of your first year, your excess risk of heart disease is cut by almost half; your stroke, lung disease and cancer risks are also reduced. Ask your healthcare provider about the best way for you to kick the habit

10 Tips to Reduce Stress

• How do you if your stressed?: Your body is the best indication of stress. Most often, headaches, body aches (neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, etc) stem from stress. In many cases, stomach aches, acid reflux and gastroinstestinal problmes are signs of stress as well. So the bottom line is: Listen to your body!

1. Write it out. Anything creative can help. Writing works because you channel the energy from something that's negative into something that's positive and satisfying. Keeping a journal, diary or blog could work in this case.

2. Pamper yourself. Take care of your-self - or go for a spa day!

3. Change your Focus. Go to a museum, read a book, see a movie, - focus on what makes you happy.

4. Calm Down. ~ Do those things that could help you to calm down...

5. Get Back to Nature ~ Reconnecting with nature helps decrease stress..

6. Me Time ~ Go for a quiet walk or sit in the park for a few minutes. In the stillness, you'll fell better.

7. Hit the Gym ~ Working out is good for the body and soul, and it's a great way of realeasing stress and tension. You release serotonin and dopamine when you exercise / work out.

8. Mediate. Take five to 10 minutes to close your eyes and clear your head of all thoughts. Think about breathing in good energy and breathing out whatever is causing the stress.

9. Laugh A Litte ~ Don't takr yourself, or life in general, too seriously. If it's not a life-or-death situation, relax!

10. Get creative ~ Cooking, sports, games, etc., makes use of our creative energies.

Note: The key warning to stress relief is to be aware that you are tense and to take not eof the unhealthy ways you to tend to deal with it. Eating too much, drinking alcohol, smoking and shopping are some of the common ways women deal with streess. Once you recognize that there are merely a temporary satisfaction and an automiatic response to stress, you change it. If you really must munch on something, opt for an apple, fruit, etc. instead of a box of chocolocates, donuts, etc. Reach for a bottle of juice instead of alcoholic drinks, and call your friends up for an afternoon of ranting and raving instead of breaking out your waller.

I just got a second blog, but its on hubpages.. I will make a new one here in blogger.com, when i think of other things that i want to post. But for now, my blog here in Blogger, will be my main one, and the one on hubpages will be my second one... I have joined hub pages this past few days, and i have already posted 8 hubs so far. I like it as much as i like blogging here.. I am still learning more about hubpages. A friend told me, that i could earn money there, which would be nice, and i could use my blog here and hubpages to generate traffic..But i enjoy posting here and hubpages, even without earning...lol...

I will post the articles that i posted there here, but not just yet....

Here are some of the articles that i have placed on my hubpages...please give them a visit, if some of these topics interest you...

Make Me Over! - tips in cleaning your house

Eye Love - ways on how to get perky eyes, eye care tips

Say Cheese! - do's and don'ts in taking pictures and posing for pictures

Tips in Finding the the Perfect Dress

Let's Go Shopping! - shopping easily even your kids are with you..

How to Save Energy in the Kitchen - tips on how to save energy in the kitchen area...

"Even minor mistakes in dispenses drugs to kids can be dangerous. Learn how to do it right."