Melting Pot of Ideas

ARKIVE - Discover the world's most endangered species

2011-08-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

ARKIVE - Discover the world's most endangered species

ARKive is an ever-expanding multimedia database that contains a wealth of information about the world’s most endangered species.

Animal, plant, and fungus lovers can explore the site by zooming in on specific classes (mammals, reptiles, etc.), eco-regions (such as South America’s Atlantic forest), continents, and countries. A Google Earth interface helps users learn about threatened marine species, and the site’s educational resource pages are geared toward specific age groups (starting with preteens). But wherever you land, you’re sure to see a wealth of images and videos—each of which serves as a reminder of how much we stand to lose by letting any one of these species disappear. Gunnison sage-grouse male
displaying and calling

Visit Arkive here!

THE STORY OF TWO MEN IN ONE HOSPITAL ROOM

2011-02-07T05:49:00.000-08:00

THE STORY OF TWO MEN IN ONE HOSPITAL ROOM

A great note for all, it will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths, only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present."

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on..

Do not keep this letter.

Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish blessings

1895 8th grade final exam

2011-02-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895...

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA ... It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal ...

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina , KS - 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph.
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,' 'play,' and 'run'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6 What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time,1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet Long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs, what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs for tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7percent per annum.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft long at $20 per metre?
8... Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus .
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States ...
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton, Bell, Lincoln, Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication?
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals?
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u'.
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7 Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9.. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2.. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America .
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco .
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each..
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9.. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

HUH??? Are they kidding??? This is hard to believe....

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

2011-01-28T06:48:00.001-08:00

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven
Prepared By: William P. Kopp

From the conclusions of the Swiss, Russian and German scientific clinical studies, we can no longer ignore the microwave oven sitting in our kitchens. Based on this research, we will conclude this article with the following:

1). Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term - permanent - brain damage by "shorting out" electrical impulses in the brain [de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue].

2). The human body cannot metabolize [break down] the unknown by-products created in microwaved food..

3). Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.

4). The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual[long term, permanent] within the human body.

5). Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.

6). The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked inmicrowave ovens.

7). Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous
growths [tumors]. This may explain the rapidly increased
rate of colon cancer in America ..

8). The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.

9). Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and blood serum alterations.

10). Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.

After you throw out your microwave you can use a toaster oven as a replacement. It works well for most and is nearly as quick.

Microwaved Water/ What It Does To Plants?

2011-01-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

Here's some food for thought...

Microwaved Water - See What It Does To Plants

Below is a science fair project. In it she took filtered water and divided it into two parts. The first part she heated to boiling in a pan on the stove, and the second part she heated to boiling in a microwave. Then after cooling she used the water to water two identical plants to see if there would be any difference in the growth between the normal boiled water and the water boiled in a microwave. She was thinking that the structure or energy of the water may be compromised by microwave. As it turned out, even she was amazed at the difference.

I have known for years that the problem with microwaved anything is not the radiation people used to worry about, It's how it corrupts the DNA in the food so the body can not recognize it. So the body wraps it in fat cells to protect itself from the dead food or it eliminates it fast. Think of all the Mothers heating up milk in these "Safe" appliances. What about the nurse in Canada that warmed up blood for a transfusion patient and accidentally killed them when the blood went in dead. But the makers say it's safe. Never mind then, keep using them. Ask your Doctor I am sure they will say it's safe too. Proof is in the pictures of living plants dying.

Save this Winter

2010-12-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

The holiday shopping season can be a bit stressful: you automatically know who’s on your list, but what do you get them? What stores do you go into? What stores do you stay away from? There’s too much to choose from!

If you need some gift inspiration, you should check out BuyWithMe for discounts of up to 90% off some of the best local deals in your city this holiday season. You could also check their newly launched site: Holiday Gift Finder.

BuyWithMe is simple and easy to join, here’s how it works: daily deals are posted and stay on the site for a week, and each deal requires a minimum number of buyers before it expires in order for it to be processed. If for some reason the minimum isn't reached, you're not charged a penny.

Give your loved ones a gift they’ll never forget, and with BuyWithMe’s great deals, you can afford something twice as nice. As always, you get $10 for every friend you refer to so sign up now, and don’t forget to share!

5 Signs Your Resume Is Outdated

2010-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

5 Signs Your Resume Is Outdated

The workplace is not what it was five years ago. Neither is the job hunt.

The most successful candidates are those who are ready and willing to adapt to a changing landscape. But it doesn’t matter how ready you are for the modern workplace if your resumé’s straight out of 1994.

And sometimes, it’s the most minute details that make all the difference.

Does your resumé speak to the modern hiring manager? Or does it need a serious makeover?
Your resumé might be outdated if…

#1: You’ve forced it to fit onto one page

You’ve reduced your font size to eight, eliminated margins altogether and left out key information about yourself, all to conform to that age-old “one page resumé” rule. Big mistake. After all, would a recent college grad really need the same amount of resumé real estate as someone who’s been in the workforce for 20 years? Of course not. Don’t get me wrong: Your resumé should be concise. Recruiters are busy people – they don’t have time or the patience for long-winded career chronologies. But if your experience warrants two pages, by all means, don’t limit yourself to one.

#2: You list an objective

Of course you’re looking to gain more experience in the field/sector/type of company to which you’re applying. Your interest in the job implies that. Do you really need to say it at the very top of your resumé?

At this point in the selection process, hiring managers are far more interested in what you can do for them than what they can do for you.

If you want to explain why you’re applying for the job, say so in your cover letter. Resumé space is far too valuable to waste on information that is both redundant and inconsequential.

#4: You attach it to your email as a Word document

While you’re unlikely to be penalized for emailing a Word document, there’s a lot to be said for converting it to a PDF before sending.

A PDF document just looks neater. And even if you’ve gone crazy with the formatting, it will show up correctly on the hiring manager’s computer no matter what their settings, Word version, or font inventory. Besides, do you really want those squiggly red lines showing up under your former company’s name?

Stick to PDF. It’s the only surefire way to display your resumé exactly as you intended it.

#5: You list every job you’ve ever had in chronological order

In the olden days, the person with the most experience got the job.

Nowadays, the person who’s most talented, has the most relevant skill set, and has proven to be most valuable to his or her former employers gets the job.

If you want to be that person, make sure your resumé says so. Only list that jobs that are relevant to the one you're applying for, don't add up to the list just to fill up the save. Expand on the jobs that are relevant. Focus on measurable achievements in each role as opposed to a play-by-play of your daily responsibilities.

Source: Inside Tech

...sometimes...

2010-08-23T23:32:00.000-07:00

just from my old blog..l

"Sometimes it seems the harder you try to hold on to something or someone the more it wants to get away. You feel like some kind of criminal for having felt, for having wanted. For having wanted to be wanted. It confuses you, because you think that your feelings were wrong, and it makes you feel so small because it's so hard to keep it inside when you let it out and it doesn't come back. You're left so alone that you can't explain"

Henry Rollins

Will Life ever stop playin games with my courage? My coldness upsets many, but it is my only security. How fragile is my heart if I am to face the world alone? Thousands of smiles won’t brighten the mood that is forlorn. How doubtful the faces of others, when I see glimpses of fading lies in their eye? How much I wish to trust freely, like a silver boat on the wide ocean glides. How naive my mind is to believe..

Handbook 2010

2010-01-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

HANDBOOK 2010
This was sent to me via email by my friend.
This handbook is very useful in our everyday life.

Health:

Drink plenty of water.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
Make time to pray and read your Bible daily.
Play more games .
Read more books than you did in 2009 .
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
Sleep for 7 hours.
Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Don’t over do it. Keep your limits.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
Dream more while you are awake.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Smile and laugh more
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:

Call your family often.
Each day give something good to others.
Forgive everyone for everything..
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

Do the right thing!
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
GOD heals everything.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
The best is yet to come..
When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
Please share this to everyone you care about, I just did.

Ten Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee

2010-01-14T18:36:00.000-08:00

1. Avoid Alzheimer’s A 2009 study found that people who drank three to five cups of coffee a day at midlife were 65 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s in their later years, compared to those who drank little or no coffee.

2. Curb Cancer Risk The antioxidant compounds in coffee may help prevent several types of cancer. In a Japanese study, women who drank three or more cups of coffee a day had half the risk of developing colon cancer, compared to those who didn’t drink coffee.

3. Defend Against Diabetes Drinking coffee lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 60 percent in a 2006 study that included people at high risk for the disease.

4. Reduce Workout Pain A study of young women found that using caffeine before exercise can cut post-workout pain by nearly 50 percent. The caffeine in coffee may help by blocking the activity of a chemical called adenosine that activates pain receptors in cells.

5. Guard Against Gout Two studies from 2007 suggest that drinking coffee is protective against gout, a painful, arthritic condition of the joints (most commonly, the big toes). In one study, middle-aged and older men who drank four to five cups of coffee a day were 40 percent less likely to develop gout than those who abstained from the beverage.

6. Deter Death from Heart Disease A number of recent studies indicate that coffee drinkers have lower odds of dying from heart disease. For instance, a 2008 study concluded that women who drank two to three cups of coffee per day had a 25 percent lower risk of death from heart disease than those drinking less than a cup a month.

7. Preserve Your Memory Coffee may help to keep memory sharp, according to a pair of studies from 2007. In one study, older women who drank more than three cups of coffee a day experienced fewer declines over time on memory tests than those who drank one cup or less a day. Tea drinkers enjoyed similar benefits, so caffeine may be the beneficial component.

8. Protect Against Parkinson’s Several studies have linked coffee drinking with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. For instance, a 2007 study revealed that people who drank one to four cups of coffee a day cut their chances of developing the neurodegenerative disorder by nearly 50 percent. Scientists believe the caffeine in coffee may help defend against Parkinson’s by boosting levels of the brain chemical dopamine.

9. Sidestep Stones Coffee appears to reduce the risk of both gallstones and kidney stones. In a 2002 study, women who drank at least four cups of coffee a day were 25 percent less likely to need surgery for gallstones than nondrinkers were, and an earlier study showed that coffee drinking lowered gallstone risk in men.

10. Say No to Stroke In a 2009 study, women who drank four or more cups of coffee a day had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke, compared to those who had less than one cup a month.

(source: divinecaroline.com)

more about coffee: Coffee: The New 'Miracle' Health Drink

50 Nerdy Pick-Up Lines

2010-01-09T05:27:00.000-08:00

You’re like an exothermic reaction, you spread your hotness everywhere.
I wish I was your derivative so I could lie tangent to your curves.
You’re like a dictionary, you add meaning to my life.
If I was an enzyme, I’d be helicase so I could unzip your genes.
I’m attracted to you so strongly, scientists will have to develop a fifth fundamental force.
Baby, you overclock my processor.
Be my queen and mate me with your knight moves.
Baby, you make my floppy disk turn into a hard drive.
You make me want to calibrate my joystick without the latest drivers.
You defragment my life.
Do you think we can make it a step more serious and disable network sharing?
You must be auxin, cause you are causing me to have rapid stem elongation.
Baby, let me find your nth term.
I don’t have a library card, but do you mind if I check you out?
Baby I’ll treat you like my homework — I’ll slam you on the table and do you all night long.
Hey baby, can I see what’s under your radical?
If I were an integral, I’d fill you up.
I’m a fermata… hold me
I think my heart just lagged.
I wish I were your second derivative so I could fill your concavities.
Did you just combust? Because you’re HOT.
By looking at you I can tell you’re 36-25-36, which by the way are all perfect squares.
It doesn’t take a genius to see how gorgeous you are, but if it did, I would be overqualified.
Baby, if you were words on a page, you’d be what they call FINE PRINT.
What do you say we go back to my room and do some math: Add a bed, subtract our clothes, divide your legs, and multiply.
Baby, you’re a 9.999999999, but you’d be a 10 if you were with me.
Baby, every time I see you, my cardiovascular system gets all worked up.
I wish I were adenine because then I could get paired with U.
What’s your sine? It must be pi/2 because you’re the 1.
If my right leg was Christmas and my left was Easter, would you like to spend some time between the holidays?
You have nicer legs than an Isosceles right triangle.
You’re so cute you make my zygomaticus muscles contract. (Muscles that make you smile.)
When you and me get together it’s like superposition of 2 waves in phase.
Want to meet up so I can excite your natural frequency?
If I was sin^2 and you were cos^2 together we would be 1.
You know, it’s not the length of the vector that counts. It’s how you apply the force.
If I move my lips half the distance to yours, and then half again… and again… etc; would they ever meet? No? Well in this specific case I am going to disprove your assumption.
Your name is Leslie? Look, I can spell your name on my calculator!
If I was an endoplasmic reticulum, how would you want me: smooth or rough?
I wish I was an Ion so I could form an exothermic bond with you.
If my right leg is the cell wall and my left the membrane, do you want to be the cytoplasm?
Our love is like dividing by zero… you cannot define it.
Let’s meet somewhere… you bring your beaker and I’ll bring my stirring rod.
Baby let me be your integral so I can be the area under your curves.
Hey baby, what’s your tanx cosx?
Let’s get together and test the spring potential of my mattress.
Let’s discover our coefficient of friction.
Baby, you’re so gneiss I’ll never take you for granite.
I less than three you.
I heard you’re sin because you’re always on top when we make tangent.

source: my tumblr

You've Got Mail: Paperless Post

2009-10-25T02:37:00.001-07:00

PAPERLESS POST

There’s always been something rather satisfying in receiving a card in the mail (that’s right, remember good old-fashioned snail mail?). Invitations sent via e-mail or Facebook, while convenient, just haven’t been able to carry the same amount of thoughtfulness and personalized touch. Until now—Paperless Post takes the e-invite into a civilized age, letting you design and send custom invitations and announcements expediently online.

Created by siblings Alexa and James Hirschfeld, the site cleverly allows subscribers to choose among a dizzying array of card styles, fonts and design flourishes that perfectly mimic the heft and look of elegant stationary, complete with envelopes that open with a click. In addition to feeling good about your carbon footprint, you’re also easily able to monitor as recipients receive their invitations, and manage their replies. Who says you can’t bring formality and manners into the 21st century?

PAPERLESS POST

Drop 5 Lbs! (Tips and Tricks)

2009-08-31T01:53:00.000-07:00

Tips on How to Drop 5 Lbs!

Tips and tricks to try today

You Snooze, You Lose

Add one hour of sleep to your schedule, and you could drop up to 14 pounds this year. New data from the University of Michigan shows that you'll likely eat 6 percent less if you replace 60 minutes of awake time (when you may snack) with an hour of shut-eye. And a Harvard study that tracked around 68,000 women found that those who clocked only five or fewer hours of rest a night had a 32 percent greater chance of gaining more than 30 pounds over a 16-year period than those who got seven hours of sleep.

Drink Water, Lose Weight

You've heard it again and again — H₂O, at zero calories, is the best diet drink. But if you're still hooked on high-cal beverages, check out these numbers: Researchers who tracked 240 overweight women found that those who replaced sweetened drinks with water lost five more pounds, on average, than those who didn't. Why these sips add up: A can of Coke is 146 calories; a cup of grape juice, 154 calories.

Laugh It Off

A fit of giggles doesn't just boost immunity and cut stress levels, it burn calories too. Researchers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee locked up 90 people in a room to watch comedy clips on TV, and found that those who laughed used 20 percent more energy than those who didn't laughed. Laugh for 10 to 15 minutes a day, and you could burn off 2.2. kilograms a year.

Listen to Lose

Exercising to the right song can help you get fitter, report researchers from Brunel University in England. They found that music helped participants work out longer. The key is to find tunes that get you going (think James Brown's "I Feel Good"). Once you sit down to eat, however, silence is best. A study from Georgia State University showed that people munched more when music was playing.

Healthy Glow

Get glowing with an all-over self-tanner. Darker Skin can give you the appearance of shaving shaved-off 5 to 7 pounds by slimming problem areas like your belly and thighs. Bonus: Self-tanner also masks stretch marks and cellulite.

Portion Patrol

Tired of cooking? We hear you. But consider this before you order a takeout: A recent study showed that restaurant meals have at least 60 percent more calories than dishes prepared at home. Portion size may be a factor. In a survey of 300 chefs, many of the cooks copped to serving 12-ounce-or larger-steaks (the recommended portion is 3 ounces), and one to two cups of pasta (one serving is half a cup.)

Chew on This Slowly

If you always rush through meals, watch out. A study from the University of Rhode Island showed that women who raced through a pasta lunch in nine minutes ate 646 calories. Those who took their time (about half an hour) consumed almost 70 fewer calories. And not only did they eat less — they felt fuller.

Source: Good Housekeeping, 2007.

OPRAH's ENERGY POLICY

2009-08-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

Oprah's Energy Policy

Reserve. Restore Take - Off Sundays....

Energy is the essence of life.
Everyday you decide how you're
going to use it by knowing what
you want and want it takes
to reach the goal, and
maintaining the focus,
That means asking yourself,
Is what I'm doing part of my
overall plan-and can
I release the energy I'll need?

* OPRAH WINFREY. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE (2005)

~ Different cultures have similar notions of a vital energy from people draw life. It's called 'Chi' in Chinese, 'Ki' in Japanese, and 'Bayu' in Balinese. Norman Vincent quoted a foremost scientist on this universal energy: "The most powerful energy one can generate is prayer. Prayer, like radium is luminous and self-generating form of energy.

Developing a Positive Attitude That Will Lead to Happiness and Sucess

2009-08-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

How can you develop a positive attitude

that will lead you to happiness and Success!

Choose to be happy
Look at the brighter side of life
Choose to be and stay optimistic
Find reasons to smile more often
Have Faith in yourself and in the Power of the Universe
Contemplate upon the futility of negative thinking and worries
Associate yourself with happy people
Read Inspiring Stories
Read Inspiring Quotes
Repeat affirmations that inspire and motive you.
Visualize only what you want to happen
Learn to Master your thoughts
Learn concentration and mediation

Following even only one of the above suggestions, will being more light into your life

* REMEZ SASSON The Power of Positive Attidue: www. sucessconsicousness.com

Fair Share?

2009-07-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

Fair Share?

Are you and yoursis forever battling it out over precious space in your room? Here's how to keep the peace.

It's something we've known since kindergarten: sharing is good! But it isn't always - easy - especially if you ave to share a room with a sibling. Solve these common rommie dilemmas with a few nifty tricks!

Sitch (Situations)

Sitch: SPACE HOGGING
solution: DRAW THE LINE: Divide the room in half. You don't literally have to paint a line on the floor, just use a rug to mark your territory.

sitch:VARYING INTEREST
solution: COMPLEMENT YOUR SPACES: You may be a girly girl while your roomie's an edgy chick, but your room doesn't need to look like one big mess! Pick prints that reflect booth styles but make sure to use similar hues. Another trick is to put your choice movie posters (no matter what genre in indentical frames.

sitch: CLUTTER MAGNET
solution: KEEP IT SEPARATED: Assign one type of storage box per person to make sure your things don't get mixed up. And gently remind her to keep her knicknacks hidden away in boxes

sitch:NO PRIVACY

solution: DIVY (DIVIDE) IT UP.: When buildin a wall isn't an option, go for the next best thing - a divider that you can set when you need some "me" time. The bonus? You can fold it right back up when you want to hang out with your sis or roomie.

Soda and Your Kidneys

2009-07-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Soda and Your Kidneys

There’s just nothing to be gained from drinking soda. Think about it -- people don’t hesitate to drink what is basically a bubbly brew of water, sugar (mainly high fructose corn syrup or HFCS), food coloring and assorted chemicals, packed with calories and lacking in nutritional value. Carbonated soft drinks are the single largest source of calories in the American diet, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, providing about 7% of our total calorie intake. In addition to staining, eroding and decaying our teeth, soft drinks are associated with an increased risk of obesity, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and possibly osteoporosis. Now there is a new health problem to add to that list -- kidney damage

MORE SODA = MORE SUGAR = MORE RISK

In a study of 9,358 adults (mean age 45), women who reported drinking two or more sugary sodas within the last 24 hours were nearly twice as likely to have albuminuria -- excess levels of a protein in the urine that is a possible sign of kidney damage. More research is needed to determine if the association with kidney damage is due to sugar in general... HFCS in particular... or some shared lifestyle characteristics of soda drinkers.

Here’s what we know so far...

The widespread use of high fructose corn syrup -- popular with manufacturers because it is cheap, sweet and extends shelf life -- has been prevalent over the same time period there’s been a significant rise in diabetic end-stage renal or kidney disease. The body processes HFCS differently than regular table sugar, and in so doing may cause harm to the kidneys.

Mercury has been detected in many products containing HFCS. Mercury is involved in the manufacturing process for most commercial HFCS -- and mercury is a risk for kidney disease. (Too read more on this new identified hazard, see Daily Health News, April 27, 2009 : Dangerous Treats: Mercury In Sweets Made with High Fructose Corn Syrup)

Other ingredients in soda, such as phosphorus in colas, may contribute to kidney stones, which are a risk factor for chronic kidney disease.

Men did not have this problem (more research is needed to learn why). Neither did people of either gender who drank diet soda, which is one reason why investigators believe HFCS may be responsible. Results of this research were published in the October 2008 issue of PLoS ONE.

DRINK WATER
According to researcher David Shoham, PhD, MSPH, of the Loyola University Health System in Illinois, in order to protect your kidneys, in order to protect your kidneys, your best bet is to simply drink water instead of soda. Soda just isn’t worth it.

Source(s):

David Shoham, PhD, MSPH, assistant professor, department of preventive medicine and epidemiology, Loyola University Health System, Maywood, Illinois.
BOTTOM'S LINE, DAILY HEALTH NEWS (JUNE 2009)

Too read more about Water and Soda (Coke), and some facts and trivia about the two, go here:

Water VS. COKE
http://myworldly-life.blogspot.com/2009/05/water-vs-coke.html

Cheat Sheet To A Healthier You

2009-07-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

Cheat Sheet To A Healthier You

There are no shortcuts to healthy living, but a busy person can always do the next best thing...

It's no mean feat to be the poster girl / boy for All Thing Healthy when you're plunked in the chaos that is school (high school, college, etc) In between rushing to finish your homework, splitting time among family and friends, and being active in your clubs, you're lucky if you're able to devote any time to a good fitness and wellness plan. However there are always ways to stay on top of your health - quick alternative doses that cost next to nothing.

Real Thing: Hit the treadmill a day.
Next Best Thing: Sneak in your Cardio - wherever, whenever.

Get your heart pumping every day by getting off the couch. It isn't too difficult - the places you frequent often offer great oppurtunities for cardiovascular activities. Take the stairs instead of the mall escalator or exert more effort during your next PE class.

Real Thing: Drink eight glasses of water a day.
Next Best Thing: Down water regularly.

Recent findings have shows that eight glasses of water isn't the optimum amount - it's more of a figure that reminds people to stay hydrated.
Listen to your body and down some more H2O when you're thirsty and on a regular basis. You know you're getting enough water when your pee is a very pale yellow.

Real Thing: Sleep eight hours day.
Next Best Thing: Take a nap / siesta.

Napping is a great picker - upper after burning the midnight oil! A 20 - to - 40 minute nap is enough to give you the extra jolt of energy you need to last the day. Schedule your nap any time before 4 pm so you won't have a hard tome hitting the pillows come night time.

Real Thing: Build muscle through strength training.
Next Best Thing: Train sans the complicated weights and machines.

A lot of exercises are dosable with stuff you already have.
Stack up encyclopedias to make a bench for step-ups that'll target your butt and legs.
Strengthen your calves by setting the balls of your feet on a thick book and slowly rising your toes.

Real Thing: Eat healthy dishes.
Next Best Thing: Go for the lesser Evil.

You can't always avoid canteen / cafeteria foods.
Work around it by choosing grilled instead of fried, or eating yogurt instead of ice cream. It's all about making the healthier choice.

(Summer) Foods That Make You Sexier

2009-07-18T17:56:00.000-07:00

(Summer) Foods That Make You Sexier

Strawberries, blueberries, peaches-your favorite in-season fruits taste awesome,
but they're also beauty products in disguise. Here's why!

Besides keeping you healthy, summer fruits deliver major beauty benefits, according to experts. According to dermatologist Jeannete Graf, "Brightly colored picks in season now contain high levels of nutrients that improve your skin, protect your hair, and even undo some UV damage,". You can also amp up the results you get from eating these natural beauty boosters by applying them to your body with DIY masks and scrubs. The antioxidants help peel away dead skin and add moisture to hair. Don't have time to mix up anvthing? Slacker' Just kidding. We offer store-bought substitutions that do the trick too.

BEAUTY BENEFITS
1) Finner Skin (Strawberries)

Supernutrient: Vitamin C. According to Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, " Vitamin C is essential for the production and formation of collagen, the skin's support structure." Unlike some antioxidants, your body does not produce C on Its own, so it's key to pack it into your diet.
Best summer Source: A cup of whole strawberries (about 8), says nutritionist Jackie Newgent, author of Big Green Cookbook. Pop them in your mouth whole (if you slice them, eat fast since vitamin C breaks down when exposed to air). Or make a crushed-berry cooler: Blend a cup each of strawberries and ice. Pour into a glass, and garnish with mint.

Fresh beauty fix:
- Try a vitamin - C treatment to tighten pores sun spots every few weeks, says Dr. Alexiades-Armenakas.
- Puree a handful of strawberries, the juice of 1 lemon and 1/2 cup plain soy yogurt (It helps fade brown patches).
- Let in the fridge for 30 minutes, then apply to your face and neck. leave on for half an hour, and rinse off.
- Follow up with SPF since applying C makes you ultrasensitive to harsh rays.
Store-bought swap: Rub on a vitamin C serum nightly. Try Avon Anew Clearly C Seum.

2) A Glowing Complexion (Blueberries)

Supernutrient: Vitamin E. It reinforces your skin's natural barrier, helping to keep it hydrated and dewy. In the summer, you might think you have more than enough dew on your face, but sweating actually depletes your internal H20 levels, so it's important that your skin stays replenished to avoid flaking.

Best summer source: A cup of blueberries has tons of antioxidants, including some hydrating vitamin E, says Newgent. Mix them into your yogurt in the morning or sprinkle over a grilled-chicken salad along with a handful of almonds (a great source of vitamin E)

Fresh beauty fix
- Seal in moisture with a fruity blueberry mask once a week.
- Put 2/3 cup of blueberries in a blender, and mix for a few seconds.
- Add in the juice of 1 lemon, a handful of sliced almonds, 1 tablespoon full-fat plain yogurt, and 1 tablespoon honey.
- Continue to blend until everything turns into a medium-thick paste.
- Remove from the blender, and transfer to a small bowl.
- Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes; it will be easier to app
- ly on your skin after it's chilled. Spread the mixture evenly onto your face and neck, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse off.
- (Note: Do a patch test on your arm first to make sure your skin isn't reactive or allergic to any of these ingredients.)

Store-bought swap: Slather on Rouleau's Tripple Berry Peel with blueberries, once a month

3) Strong Hair and Nails (Avocado)

Supernutrient: Essential fatty acids.These help your body produce healthy oils-the kind that keep your hair strong and your nails from turning brittle. (And as an extra peril, these good fats moisturize skin too.) Without an adequate supply, your body chums out an irritating form of sebum, which can clog hair follicles and slow the growth of nails, explains hair doctor Philip Kingsley.

Best summer source:Half an avocado, make a delicious guacamole dip: Dice the flesh of half an avocado, and mix with a small handful of diced red onions and a dash each of minced jalapeño, Iime juice, and sail.
Fresh beauty fix:
- Try this weekly luster-enhancing remedy: Combine 1 mashed avocado (1/2 for short hair), I egg Yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Work into damp hair. and leave on for 30 minutes, then shampoo.
- For nails, combine 1/4 avocado,1 egg white. 2 tablespoons oatmeal, and 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, Apply to nails and cuticles for 20 minutes, then rinse.
Store bought swap: Burt Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment

4) A Smoother Body (Peaches / Apricots)

Supernutrient: Vitamin A. It promotes cell production and tum over, ridding dead skin so your body feels more supple. Research shows it may also reduce damage caused by overexposure to the sun.
Best summer source: One to two peaches or apricots. Look for ones with a deep orange flesh and skin to get the most vitamin A. Dice up a couple, sprinkle with lemon juice, and toss on top of grilled fish or poultry.

Fresh beauty fix:
- Whip up a weekly body scrub to slough off built-up skin.
- Puree 2 pitted peaches.
- In a bowl, mix puree with 1 tablespoon olive oil and enough brown sugar to make a thick paste.
- Lightly scrub all over, and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing with warm water for instantly polished skin.

Store Bought Swap: Caress Daily Silk Body Wash with Peaches

5) Fewer Breakouts (Tomato)

Supernutrient: Lycopene. It helps fend off zits and redness by reducing inflammation that can lead to pimples and clogged pores. Adding more to your diet can actually deliver clear·skin results comparable to those of anti acne Rx's, says Dr. AleKiades-Armenakas.
Best summer source: A large tomato. The deep red fruit, particularly the skin, is a tasty way to get lycopene. Site the whole, fully ripened fruit, and top with a little balsamic vinegar and basil for an appetizer. Or chop and saute with olive oil and garlic to create a pasta sauce-the nourishing fat along with the heat of cooking help make the l lycopene more available to the body.
Fresh beauty fix:
- Do a weekly tomato mask.
- Place thin tomato slices over your face, and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes so the juices seep in.
- Follow up by slicing another tomato in half and rubbing the smooth side of both halves in small circles over the skin, Rinse with warm water.
- The Iycopene declogs pores and acts as a natural astringent to eliminate acne-causing bacteria.

Store bought swap: Massage in a YES to Tomatoes Total Treatment Facial Mask,

Want to get skinny, by eating the right food, visit this site: The Comfort Foods That Make You Skinny : http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Comfort-Foods-That-Make-You-Skinny

* Cosmopolitan, August 2009

A new blog in the making....

2009-07-16T11:28:00.001-07:00

A new blog in the making....

After having hubpages, as my second blog... i decided to make a new one in blogspot.. a blog where i will put mostly about my studies, thoughts on politics, and etc.. I have also placed there the various essays and papers i submitted in class.. there are more to come.. I want to share my ideas... My third blog is here: http://xstudentbluesx.blogspot.com/.....

I will posts my thoughts on health, fashion and beauty, computer bitz mainly here on Melting Pot of Ideas...

OMG...Got, so much ideas, i do not know where to put it...My blog, (MELTING POT OF IDEAS) here is a bit crowded with ideas of fashion, health, computer...But i still love it...

If you want me to post something else or have an request, like a download of something...just comment here.. New ideas are appreciated...

To check out my other blog, go here: http://xstudentbluesx.blogspot.com/...

Fight the Flab Workouts

2009-07-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

Fight the Flab Workouts

Get lean and mean with just 15 minutes of exercises everyday!

1)Arms

WORKOUT: HAMMER CURL FOR BICEPS

GRAB: Two full 500 ml water bottles

Hold a water bottle in each hand with your palms facing each other. Bend your arms at a 90 degree angle.
Keep your elbows close to your body as you slowly curl the weights up to your shoulder.
Slowly lower weights back to your starting position. Do three sets of 15 repetitions (reps).

2. ABDOMINALS

WORKOUT: BICYCLE CRUNCH (TONES ENTIRE TUMMY)
GRAB: a mat

1. Lie flat on mat and place your hands behind your neck. Lift legs and bend at a 90 degree angle.
2. Slowly move your legs in a bicycle motion; as your left knee nears you, bring your right elbow close to it - as if to meet it. When it' your right knees that moves close to you, reach your left elbow to it.
Do two sets of 30 reps. Count entire motion (left and right) as one repetition.

3. Arms

WORKOUT: TRICEP EXTENSION

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Hold weights with both hands. Raise your arms over your head.
Keep your elbows in the same positions as your lower your arms behind your head as far as you can - or until the weights touch your back.
Slowly return arms to starting position. Do three sets of 15 reps.

4. Butt

WORKOUT: SQUATS (TARGETS BUTTOCKS AND THIGHS)
Grab: a chair

Stand straight (in front of a chair with your feet shoulder width apart - don't lock your knees, keep them them soft.
Tighten your butt and tights as you slowly dip your body down (as if to sit on the chair). Right before your butt touches the seat, lift your body back up to starting position (keeping muscles tight.)
Do three sets of 15 reps.

5. Legs

WORKOUT: LUNGES (TONES ENTIRE LEGS)

Stand with feet slightly apart. Take a step forward with your left leg and bring your right knee down until it almost touches the ground.
Return to starting position and repeat on the other side.
Do two sets of 30 reps per leg.

Simple Pleasures: Turn Regular Shower into Spa Experience

2009-07-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Simple Pleasures

With these tips from Candy Mag 2008, i can now enjoy my free time pampering myself even when i am at home. I can also have a spa experience even though i am busy in school. This is so cool...

Turn your regular shower into a spa experience with these four easy steps.

1. THE HAIR SPA

Work a revitalizing treatment into your locks after shampooing, make sure to squeeze excess water out of hair before applying product.
Concentrate on the ends of your hair, but don't forget to massage your scalp too. Leave product in hair for at least 10 minutes.
This will give you time to work on other parts of your body.
TRY: Hair Treats Lavender Hair Spa.

2. THE FACIAL

Give yourself a salon-like facial by applying a cleansing masks onto your face. Apply product evenly throughout your face and neck, and then gently massage your face, using gentle pressure. Leave mask on for a few minutes to soak in its nutrients.
TRY: The Face Shop Aesthetic Face Mask
* You could use some cucumber along with your face mask, which will help minimize eye bags, and let your eyes relax...

3. THE FOOT SOAK

Cover the drain of your shower with a bowl or something similar, then turn on the hot water full blast. While the water is running, dribble a few drops of aromatic foot oil or scatter a small handful of foot salts onto the shower floor. Your peds will enjoy a nice, warm treat - just like sauna.
TRY: Foot Treats Soak in Citrus

4. THE BODY RUB AND RINSE

While your hair, farce and feet are in their final moments of being treated, turn to caring for your body. Whip out a body brush and apply your favorite body wash onto it.
Gently exfoliate your skin in a circular motion, boosting circular. Rinse yourself from head to toe, and voila! Your shower spa is done. You can use a bath brush , or a wet cloth.

Damage Control

2009-07-13T03:11:00.000-07:00

DAMAGE CONTROL

Tips on how to stop stress-induced imperfections from taking over with these easy-to-do remedies.

These tips are very useful...I am very busy in school, so sometimes i usually get eye bags, and pimples because i stay late at night.. and sometimes i do not have time to pamper myself..But with these tips, i could minimize their appearances, and etc.. I am glad i started following this...

1. EYES

Studying late into the night can wreak havoc on your peepers (eyes). A good night's rest and some eye drops are sure remedies. But instead of stopping there, try a lightening treatment for your eyes.
After you wash your face, gently massage a whitening cream onto the under-eye are for maximum comfort and care.
TRY: L'Oreal White Perfect Eye

2. SKIN

Thinking about your paper's looming deadline? Don't let anxiety rule the roost and cause a tiny zit to evolve in a volcano. An acne-fighting skincare regimen is great. But why not try a good concealer with healing properties as well?
Dab the product directly onto the pimple and watch your zit disappear into oblivion.
TRY: Tea Trea Oil Cover Stick, BodyShop

3. HAIR

High levels of stress due to project deadlines can cause your hair to act just like combination skin, becoming extra oily at the roots and dry at the ends.
Washing hair everyday may do the trick, but why not care for your hair with a regimen specifically for the problem? Spray your roots with a scalp-healing treatment to get your tresses back in shape.
Try: Biolage Oil Oil Control Treatment

4. LIPS

Cool weather and less humidity tend to dry out everything, including your pucker. Everyday application of regular lip balm is a fine habit to keep.
But why not indulge in an intensive lip treatment to fully condition your pout and make it ultra-kissable? Dab on this balm at night and first thing in the morning. You'll be glad you did!
TRY: Kiehl's Tinted Lip Balm

So Busy Yet Still Pretty

2009-07-07T22:03:00.000-07:00

So Busy Yet Still Pretty

Don't let the busy season stop you from looking your best. We give you, a week of fast, easy-to-do-looks...

Monday: Event day ~ If you are attending a couple of events today, and want to to stand out and make an impression..

How to: Make an impact by playing up your eyes in a fun, tinsel palette. Apply the silver eye shadow on your top lids. and draw on black eyeliner to prevent the colors from washing out your eyes...

Tuesday : Agency Visit ~

How to: Lining your eyes with a green eye pencil instantly gives you an artsy, bohemian looks. The best part is there's no need to be too precise because the chunk tip is perfect for smudging.

Wednesday: Date Night

Hpw to:

Bright red lipstick can get your date-ready in a snap!
Top it off with gloss to prevent your lips from cracking.
Avoid getting lipstick on your teeth by sticking one finger in your mouth and pulling it out while puckering your lips around it.

Thurday: Casting Call

How to: Layer and blend easy-to-apply creme eye shadows in a great color pallete. These are crease-resistant, plus, they glide on smoothly and stay on all day. Sweep all over your fingertip for a soft, warm glow.

Friday: GET-TOGETHER

How to: Update your look with one of the hottest trends this season: winged eyeline! Simply dtaw on black liquod liner in short sweeping motions and extends just past the outer corners of your eyes.

Saturday: Shopping

A day of running doesn't require full-on makeup! Wear a lightweight, sheer foundation to keep you looking fresh. A high SPF (preferably a minimum of 15) can protect your skin from the sun's harsh UV rays.

Sunday: Reunion

How to: Spread cream blush over the apples of your cheekcs and blend with your dingers. Dab a bit of blus on your lips to match the color of your cheeks.

Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily

2009-06-24T01:40:00.000-07:00

Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily

Giveaway of the Day gives you a different commercial software application, free of charge, every day. Yes, there's a catch, but it's a simple one: each program is made available for only 24 hours, and you have to install it the day you download it.

The software will be available for download for 24 hours (or more, if agreed by software publisher) and that software will be absolutely free. once you download and install it, it's yours to keep forever (or at least until you reformat your hard drive).The software you download doesn't expire after 24 hours.

To check the softwares available for today go here: http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/

We're Done with Greed...

2009-06-23T08:34:00.000-07:00

We're Done with Greed...

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.

The only way to get your country back on its feet for regular folks to speak up.

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

Going Green Pays Off

2009-06-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

Going Green Pays Off

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

The Single Girl's Bible

2009-06-22T07:49:00.001-07:00

The Single Girl's Bible
"According Cosmpolitan January 2009"....

Have a Blast on New Year's Without a Date

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.

Convo Starters

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.

Get a Heavy Bag Down From the Overhead Bin

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.

How to Score a Great Table at a HotSpot

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

Solo Ritual Stuart

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...

The Pleasures of Sleeping Naked Alone?

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..

How To Clear Your Memory Without Restarting

2009-06-21T15:31:00.000-07:00

How To Clear Your Memory Without Restarting

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...

A Banana a day, keeps the doctor away!

2009-06-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

A Banana a day, keeps the doctor away!
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in Vitamin B that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking & Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassiu! m and ma gnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, 'eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.

The Great Stair Climbing Workout

2009-06-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

The Great Stair Climbing Workout

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.

Source(s):

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

A Father's Gift

2009-06-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

*A friend sent me this story years ago, this is very inspiring, and since this month is Father's Day, i think its nice to put this story on my blog....

Fathers Gift
(Many a times, the father is a misunderstood man especially by his growing sons/daughthers etc... )

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat Disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bhagavad Gita, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, " With all your money you give me a Bhagavad Gita? And stormed out of the house, leaving the Bhagavad Gita. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bhagavad Gita, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bhagavad Gita and began to turn the pages.

His father had carefully underlined a verse, "Lord Krishna would give whatever his devotee asks for, do that son whenever someone comes to you for help" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bhagavad Gita. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words... PAID IN FULL.

*******

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected ? I trust you enjoyed this.

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only for...!

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKED THE WAY YOU WANT IT ,

IT'S BECAUSE IT IS

BETTER PACKED THAT WAY!

ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS;

THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO ATTACHMENTS!

Old way, new Way

2009-06-07T21:47:00.000-07:00

Old way, new Way

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.

7 Medical Misconceptions

2009-06-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

7 Medical Misconceptions

What you don’t know can hurt you!

Think you're too savvy to fall for these old wives' tales? Medical Misconception, prevents some people from getting the medical attention / care they need. Maybe you’re suffering needlessly because of a widely held belief about your ailment, not realizing old treatments have been improved upon. If more people would know more about the truth, there ailments or diseases would be easily be cured, since they will know the truth about the myths in medical world that they are following....Here are seven common misconceptions or fears that should be put to rest:

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

2009-06-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

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....

2009-06-04T22:11:00.000-07:00

I just got a second blog....

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...

Space Makers

2009-06-04T04:25:00.000-07:00

Space Makers

Got a tiny bedroom? Here's how to claim your pace and stretch it?

1. Take Cover! An often-overlooked space is the area under your bed. Dump all the little things that clutter up your room into storage baskets and stash them under your bed.

2. Get a sneaky nightstand. Stacked storage boxes can work as a makeshift nightstand. And they're great for stashing your clutter, too!.

3. Live Large. An instant way to double your room's size? Mount mirrors on one wall - they've visually expand the space.

4. Give your bed a secret identity! Pile on the pillow in the day and use as a sofa - perfect for having friends over. At night, remove some pillows and drift off to dreamland!.

5. Mount it. Shallow, built-in shelves will take up less space than bulky - store brought shelves.

6. Go Vertical! You can have shelves installed near your ceiling to hold all your books. Just make sure you have a sturdy stepladder on hand. Also, lose the stand fan - opt for a ceiling fan to free up some precious floor place.

7. Lighten Up. Paint your room in cool hues such us blues and whites to make it seem larger.

8. Be Ceiling Savy. If you paint your ceiling a shade lighter than your walls, your ceiling will appear higher, and your room will seem larger and airy.

Mom's medicine manual

2009-06-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

Mom's medicine manual

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

by: Awi Curameng M.D

Adults on medication can accidentally overdoses, experience side effects, or get confused with their doctor's instructions. If medications are tricky for adults, what more for children? What is the best way to give children their needs? Ask your child's pediatrician for detailed instructions, and be obsessive about checking that your giving the right drug at the right does at the right time.

Here are some tips from the United States Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to administer medication to your child:

THE BASICS
1. If your child is sick, take him to his pediatrician. Don't try to diagnos his illness yourself an more important, don't try to figure out what treatment to give.!

2. Never give your child medication prescribed for another child, even if they seem to be sharing the same symptoms.

3. Never give medication prescribed for an adult! Children are not small adults; some drugs safe for adults maybe harmful to kids.

4. Never give aspirin for fever. This may lead to Reye's syndrome, which can result in coma and death. Give paracetamol instead.

5. When your doctor prescribes medication be absolutely clear on:

Its name and purpose
Its dosage and schedule - how much, how often, and how long to take it
Its administration / application (by mouth, in the rectum, or on the skin, etc)
If to be take with food
How to store it
What do if your child displays side effects
Possible interactions with other drugs being taken whether it may trigger an allergic reaction
What to do if a dose is missed
If there exists a less expensive generic version

6. When buying medicines from a drugstore, always check for signs of tampering: cuts, tears or other package defects. Check the expiration date as well.

7. Follow storage instructions: Some drugs will need refrigeration, while others need to be stored in a cool dry place. It's best not to store medicines in the bathroom cabinet, as the humidity can cause spoilage. Choose a location that is out of reach.

The Actual Administration

8. Each time you give a dose, always check the drug label to make sure it's the correct medication. Call your pedia for any questions or concerns about the package label. Don't give medication unless you understand what's on the label.

9. Measure out your pedia's prescribed dose exactly. The numbers on mesuring devices are small, so dispense liquids at eye level. Don't be temped to give more to hasten your child's recovery.

For babies, you can pour medicines into a calibrated syringe with the needle remove, then squirt into the mouth.
For babies and young children who can't drink from a cup, you can use a calibrated plastic dropper.
If a child can drink from a cup without spilling, use the measuring cup that comes with the medication.

10. Never use teaspoons or tablespoons to measure out a dose; use the measure device that comes with the medication.

11. What if the medication tastes "yucky"?

Crush the tablets or capsule and mix into a small amount of liquid or soft food, but make sure that your child eats it all.
Squirt the drug with a syringe or dropper at the back of the mouth or the inside of the cheek, where taste buds are fewer.
Buy flavored version. Confer with your pedia or pharmacist that the technique will not reduce the efficacy of the drug.

12. After giving a medication, observe your child for any side effects, including rashes, vomiting and diarrhea. In such cases, call your doctor for instructions. However, if your child starts wheezing, has difficulty breathing or talking, or is in severe pain, take him at once to the nearest hospital emergency department. He may be experiencing a severe reaction to the drug that needs immediate medical treatment.

CAUTION: Never say that a medication is candy! Your child can accidentally overdoes on a drug that he finds particular tasty. Call it as it is and explain what it is for.

SOURCE:
Awi Curameng M.D, Mom's medicine manual. MOM'S TODAY, 2007

Things Not To Say in a Facebook Status Update

2009-05-30T00:22:00.000-07:00

I as just reading one of my old magazines, Wired Mag August 2008 edition, i found that i skipped a page before. I haven't encountered anyone posting them, but i guess this list is pretty hilarious. I have Posted in my facebook once, that i am watching a certain movie again, except that it's not "The Notebook"...

Things Not To Say in a Facebook Status Update

1. ROCKIN'S FREEBIRD!
2. Rubbing cream on that thing that I noticed last weekend. Doesn't seem to be working.
3. Buying DC Universe Classics Wave 5 the Atom at Wal-Mart! Build-a-figure Metallo is complete!
4. Feeling trapped in this male body.
5. Jesus, I'm lonely.
6. D'oh! Accidentally trimmed my pickin' nail.
7. Watching The Notebook again.
8. Quick! does anyone know the age of consent in Kentucky?
9. Just came up with a new emoticon for sanguine [:<≠>
10. Thinking about maybe talking to someone

Urgent Warning about Gardasil Vaccine - (Anti Cervical / HPV VACCINE)

2009-05-22T11:35:00.000-07:00

Recently, i kept hearing this commercial on TV, regarding anti-cervical vaccine or hpv vaccine for women.. I thought it was a good idea, since the chances of getting cervical cancer would be lessen. But my thoughts changed when i read an article and watch a video about Gardasil. The Gardasil Vaccine is being introduced in the Philippines, but they are not giving much information on what does the vaccine, other than it would be a vaccine that would prevent cervical cancer that is often cause by HPV...

Gardasil is the new vaccine being intensely marketed to the parents of young girls from the age of nine. The vaccine is said to protect against two strains of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which it is believed, cause about 70 per cent of cervical cancers. However there are many facts concerning this form of cancer that are not being presented to the now fearful public.

According to those administering this vaccine, the side effects include pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting. But these side effects are minor. "Foaming at the mouth, shock, seizures, paralysis, coma-even death have been reported as a result of taking the vaccine Gardasil from Merck & Co., widely advertised to protect women from some cancer associated with sexually transmitted HPV.-Associated Content: Warning - Gardasil May Be Hazardous to your Health, Carolyn Scheidies."

this video explains all about it

The 10 Biggest and Deadliest Heart Myths

2009-05-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

The 10 Biggest and Deadliest Heart Myths

Myth #1—Heart disease and heart attacks are an inevitable part of aging. Truth #1—Your risk of a heart attack does NOT have to increase as you age. (In fact, keep reading and you'll learn how to completely eliminate it!)

Myth #2—Cholesterol is the main cause of heart disease and heart attacks. Truth #2—Most people who die of heart disease have low or normal cholesterol levels. Focus on cholesterol and you can easily overlook much more important risk factors.

Myth #3—Blood pressure drugs help you avoid heart problems and live longer. Truth #3—Blood pressure drugs usually don't help you live longer or lower your heart attack risk (unless you follow the advice in this Special Report).

Myth #4—Aggressive, "type A" behavior increases your risk of a heart attack. Truth #4—Being an aggressive, "type A" personality is perfectly harmless to your heart. But certain overlooked emotions do skyrocket your risk.

Myth #5—Low-fat, low cholesterol diets are good for you and your heart. Truth #5—Low-fat, lowcholesterol diets are even worse than useless (and so depressing). They can actually harm you. (We'll tell you how.)

Myth #6—Any exercise is always good for your heart. Truth #6—Strenuous exercise can actually increase your risk of heart disease by 10,000 percent.

Myth #7—There are two kinds of cholesterol: Good and bad. Truth #7—There's good, good cholesterol and bad, good cholesterol. Likewise, there's bad cholesterol and REALLY bad cholesterol. (Many die because they don't know this information.)

Myth #8—You should eat less salt. Truth #8—Only some people benefit from eating less salt. Eating too little salt can actually be harmful.

Myth #9—You should lose weight if you're "overweight." Truth #9—Likewise, only some people considered "overweight" really need to lose weight for their heart health. It depends on one factor.

Myth #10—There's no way to absolutely, positively avoid a heart attack. Truth #10—You can absolutely, positively eliminate any risk of a heart attack for yourself and those you love—thanks to the groundbreaking work of Dr. Mogadam that's revealed in the pages that follow.

In fact, what Dr. Mogadam has discovered is so revolutionary that this usually modest doctor now unequivocally claims: "Every heart attack is now preventable."

Positive Ways to Deal with Negative People

2009-05-21T10:08:00.001-07:00

Positive Ways to Deal with Negative People

Every time, i encounter pessimist, complainers and other negative people, it just draws my energy out of me. Sometimes, it just makes my day worse, or make me irritable too. It's better to stay with people who encourages u and uplifts our spirits in some way., but it is not easy to avoid negative people. Sometimes you just need to deal with them because of work, many others. These people could be your friends, family, coworkers, neighbors, and etc...

According to Jack Canfield, there are eight strategies to deal with negative people.

Concede the negative's person's point quickly and completely. Whatever he/she complains about, tell him that you agree, then take his argument even further. This leaves the complainer with nowhere to go on the subject, and it might shut him up or elicit an admission that the situation is not really that bad

Set conversational boundaries. Some people become negative only when certain topics are broached. Tell them that you do not wish to discuss these topics with them in the future, and ask them to agree that this is okay. (You may have to provide occasional reminders of this agreement in the future.) Do not tell them that their poor attitudes are the reason you want this restriction -- that might lead to arguments. Just say that you feel uncomfortable talking about these topics.

Share inspirational stories. Some negative people truly believe that success is impossible. Sharing stories about the victories of others might open them up to the possibility of success in their own lives. Use stories from your own experience, or find material in biographies, memoirs and articles about successful people

Turn complaining sessions into strategy sessions. Sometimes negativity can be transformed into a mandate for action. Tell the negative person that his complaints have merit -- so let's find a way to improve the situation. *Note: If the person complaining says that there is no point in making actions, since they will not be heard or nothing will change. Explain that things are not guaranteed to change, if they will just sit, and complain... If they take action, at least they have a chance. An example of this is on elections, if people would just vote for the right leaders, they will not complain if they made the right action... Example: A student complains endlessly about the school administration of not taking action of the problems in school. Encourage him to voice out his opinions or concerns by writing an editorial in the school paper, forming an organization that would check the admin, or etc..

Use humor. A joke can help lift the dark cloud that a negative person can bring down upon a room. Just make sure that your jokes are about yourself or the situation and never about the negative person. Making jokes at a negative person's expense will worsen his mood.

Separate the past from the future. Negative people often are negative because they have suffered past defeats. These people tend to shoot down ideas with statements such as "We tried that five years ago. It didn't work." Respond that while past experience is worth considering, it is not always a guarantee of what will happen in the future. The world has changed... the economy has changed... technology has changed... and the people involved have new skills. An idea that failed five years ago might succeed today. Try to explain to them that mistakes that they have made in the past, will not be made because they already know what to do. In this case, history does not repeat itself, if everyone would just be positive...

Press for solutions. Negative people are good at telling us why our ideas will not work, but they are very bad at telling us how to overcome these problems. Whenever a negative person mentions a perceived problem, immediately ask him (and anyone else present) to come up with three potential solutions. This encourages people to focus on a solution rather than the problem. Over time, this can become a new way of thinking for them.

Cross out the problems. When you are making plans, meetings, etc, ask each of them on what plan do they think will not work, so that you could help them focus on more meaningful, and positive ways to make a presentation or etc.. Tell them to focus on what they can accomplish..

Down For Everyone or Just Me?

2009-05-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Down For Everyone or Just Me?

I just loved this website, since it is every useful in checking if the website is still existing or not, it will tell if i am the only one having problems with the site or not.. It's very useful since, i am following some forums and blogs that i liked very much, and when i can't access some of them... And it's very easy to use, just put the url of the site you want to access...

If a site is down, you will get this message: "It's not just you! (Site) looks down from here!.

If its up, you will get this... "It is just you. Site is up..

Here is the link to the site: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com

Meditation for People Who Hate to Sit Still..

2009-05-17T04:04:00.000-07:00

Before, I have trouble mediating, i am distracted by a lot of things like computer, television, loud voices, etc.. Sometimes, i cannot just keep still when something is troubling me, but when i read this article, my friend emailed to me, i followed the steps, and it help me mediate easily... The Article is entitled "Meditation for People Who Hate to Sit Still" by Judith Boice, NC..

Meditation for People Who Hate to Sit Still
Judith Boice, ND

Meditation is good us, it can relieve tension by shifting brain activity away from the stress-prone right frontal cortex and into the calmer left frontal cortex. But some people have trouble finding time to meditate -- or just can't seem to sit still.

Solution: Combine exercise and meditation through rhythmic, repetitive motions, such as walking, swimming or rowing, so you simultaneously strengthen the body and soothe the mind.

Bonus: "Meditation in motion" makes exercise easier, because while you do it, you won't be thinking about tired muscles or tasks that await after your workout. Begin with walking meditation..

Steps

Pick a spot. Find a secluded outdoor area where you won't feel self-conscious... or an empty hallway where you won't bump into furniture.
Begin walking. Start slowly, focusing on the rhythm of your heels striking the ground and your toes pushing off. Keep your eyes open for safety, but don't get distracted by the sights around you.
Recite a mantra. Choose or invent a rhythmic chant, such as "I am one with the world, I am filled with peace." Repeat it over and over, out loud or in your mind, melding its rhythm with the movement of your feet. I recommend not listening to music -- it may distract you from your mantra.
Try to stay focused. At first you may succeed for only a few minutes before thoughts of daily life intrude. Work your way up to a 30-minute session daily.
Meditate at the gym. Once you've mastered walking meditation, try the technique while using a treadmill or elliptical machine or while swimming laps.

H1N1 Swine Flu Tracker using Google Maps

2009-05-16T00:19:00.000-07:00

H1N1 Swine Flu Tracker using Google Maps

Besides from the updates from the news, and WHO, You can now track if there is H1N1 Virus in you area or any country you wish to know. You can track it by going here. The data on the map is compiled using from official sources such us WHo, news, user-contributions, is updated multiple times per day...

Originally, the swine flu tracker could be found here, but it was moved to Rhiza Labs, which contain the updates on what countries have known to have the disease, and the number of people who contracted the virus..

You could also check other statistics from here: http://theairdb.com/swine-flu/heatmap.html

Latest updates:

http://flutracker.rhizalabs.com/

Plagiarism Checker

2009-05-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Plagiarism Checker

I have been using Plagiarism Checker for a while now to make sure the projects and assignment i turn in school is genuine and , its very handy for me as student.. It's very easy to use too, since all you need to is copy and paste your project or easy into the text box and click on the check the paper button.. It will then checked whether its plagiarized or not.. This tool is also beneficial for teachers who want to check the papers of the students if its plagiarized or not. This tool will check if your document is similar to those that are found in the Internet. This tool is intended only to correct some in your documents that are plagiarized, it will not check all the sentences or paragraphs that you submit.. I still use it thought, because it helps me know what parts of my assignment is the same with those already presented in the net, so that i can rephrase it or use my own words..

Here is the link to the site:

http://www.dustball.com/cs/plagiarism.checker/

Poladroid - Polaroid Image maker

2009-05-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Do you miss your old Polaroid cameras? or Do you miss seeing photos like this one? There aren't much Polaroid cameras on the market today, because digital cameras have taken over.. Some may still sell them, but the film used in polaroid cameras are a bit expensive sometime, or not widely sold at all..

But do'nt worry, because there is Poladroid... Polardroid is a software that turns any regular picture on your computer into an old fashioned Polaroid picture. You just need to download the software, and install it your computer, and voila! Your set..And one thing is for sure, its free..

You can visit the homepage of the site here:

http://www.poladroid.net

Here is the download link

http://www.poladroid.net/download.html

I am so glad i found this software, its one of my favorite software right now.. I can now my put the polaroid images into my facebook and friendster account...

If you still want to have a Polaroid of your own, i saw a digital Polaroid camera being sold in some computer stores in our area, i am not sure how much it cost.. But the software is cool enough...

Enjoy!

~Diamond Kelsch~

wePapers - Largest study group

2009-05-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

wePapers - Largest study group

I found a really cool site, while i was surfing yesterday. It's called wePapers, where you able to find papers / documents (thesis, books, articles, etc) on any subjects that you want to learn under some of this categories, such as science and engineering, social sciences, arts & humanities, computer sciences, education, and many more...Like the site has said wePapers is the easiest place for students to find academic papers, collaborate and create study groups and discuss with others also.. In wePapers you can also read what other people whave written such as their thesis, comments, and other materials....the materials in wePaper can expand our knowledge, and enlight others as well..

Here is the link of the website: http://www.wepapers.com

The Seed

2009-05-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

I received this one from my Dad, he just like sharing alot of inspirational stories, wisdom and etc.... I was amazed by this one, its great and very truthful...

The Seed

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, 'It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. 'The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued.. 'I am going to give each one
of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.'

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted
the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing..

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot.. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. 'My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,' said the CEO. 'Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!'

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, 'The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!'

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, 'Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!' Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

'How could he be the new CEO?' the others said.

Then the CEO said, 'One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!'

Lessons Learned:
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
If you plant hard work, you will reap success
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
If you plant faith in GOD, you will reap a harvest

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

'Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back'

Coffee: The New 'Miracle' Health Drink

2009-05-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

Coffee: The New 'Miracle' Health Drink

According to the latest research of Peter Martin, MD from Vanderbilt Universitym coffee is an extremely healthful drink. Recent studies have found that coffee...

Reduces risk for cardiovascular disease.
Helps the liver -- reducing risk for liver cancer (by up to 50%, in one study) and protecting against chronic liver disease, such as alcohol-related cirrhosis.
Reduces risk for Parkinson's disease by as much as half.
Is the number-one source of antioxidants in the American diet -- ahead of fruits, vegetables, tea, wine and chocolate.
Contains a high level of soluble dietary fiber, reducing risk for gallstones (by up to 25% in one study).
Contains elements that are known to help prevent colon cancer.
Reduces soreness in muscles after exercising.
Improves mental ability among seniors. In one study, people over age 65 who drank coffee 30 minutes before a memory test scored higher than those who did not.

How much to drink: Experts suggest two to four cups a day, but many say there is no need to worry about an upper limit. In general, if you can sleep at night, you are not drinking too much. If you enjoy coffee, drink it.

The Positive Side of Life

2009-05-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

I received this message from my friend years ago, i just want to share to you all since its very meaningful, and it would also be a nice message to send to your friends, family, loved ones. etc.

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF LIFE:

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year.
How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on. are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?
Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us.
If Wal-Mart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet?
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they all exist very nicely in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have an awesome day, and know that someone who thinks you're greathearted thought about you today!.. "And that person was me.".....
Please don't keep this message to yourself.....send it to those who mean so much to you.... "NOW"..
Working for God on earth does not pay much, but His Retirement plan is out of this world.

What somebody would do with expired credit cards.....

2009-05-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Switch

Scene 1
What somebody would do with expired credit cards.....

Friend goes to the local gym and places his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, comes out, sees the locker open and thinks to himself "Funny..I thought I locked the locker...hmmm" dresses and just flips the wallet to make sure all is in check. Everything looks ok, all cards in place.

A few weeks later...his credit card bill comes...! A whopping bill of $14k! Calls up the credit card company and starts yelling at them saying that he did not make the transactions...customer care personnel verified that there is no mistake in the system and asks if his card had been stolen.

"No" he says...takes out wallet and pulls out card....and.....yup! you guessed it......a switch was made!! Another similar (same type Master/Visa from the same bank) expired card was placed in the wallet. The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict? Credit card issuer says since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to still pay the amount owed to them.

How much does he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9k!

Why were there no calls to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' in some credit card companies. It just so happens that the small amounts amounted to big ones!

Scene 2
My dad at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. The bill came, he signed it and the waitress folds the receipt and passes the credit card along. Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, he actually just took a look at the card and lo and behold...wrong expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed. She took it back, apologized and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of my dad.

All the waitress did whilst walking to the counter was, she waved the wrong expired card to the counter cashier and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card. No exchange of words...nothing.... She took it and came back to my dad with apologies.

Verdict: make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours! Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and it is taken away for even a short period of time. I believe many of us would just take back our credit card without even looking at it, thinking that it has to be ours.

For your own sake, DEVELOP THE HABIT TO CHECK YOUR CREDIT CARD, EACH TIME YOU TAKE IT BACK "BETTER SAFE THEN SORRY."

Water V.S Coke

2009-05-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

Water V.S Coke

This is really an eye opener! We all know that water is important but I've never seen it written down like this before.

WATER

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half world population.)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50%less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

COKE

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.

3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous China.

4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynold's Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for sumptuous brown gravy.

8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.

2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous Material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials.

3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would YOU like a glass of water or coke?

Blood Car - Save Gas, Drive Bloodcar

2009-05-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

I just watch Blood Car - Save Gas, Drive Bloodcar!..

It was shown last 2007, but i just got the chance to see it this year..The movie shows thecar is is fueled with human blood, because the rich people are only ones that could afford it(future). But looking back at our time now, oil / gas prices keep increasing, and more people will have a hard time to afford it (commodity as they say).. It affects everything, if its increases the cost of goods and services will increase too. Making people work harder more so that they can have the basic needs for their.. Who's to blame? the goverment? the people? the demand? Everything! Everything in the world is treated as a commodity.. Even the simple values / emotions that people have, like love, intelligence,....etc....Oil is an commodity, and or at least one of the basic needs of the people now.. its an addition to the basic needs such as clothes, food, air, water, house...etc..

For those who have not seen the movie yet, here is just a snippet on what you can find about it...

About the movie:

In the near future gas prices have reached astronomical highs nearing $40 a gallon. One man, Archie Andrews, an environmentalist elementary school teacher, is trying to discover an alternate fuel source. While experimenting with wheat grass, Archie accidentally stumbles upon a solution. That solution turns out to be blood. HUMAN BLOOD!

Politically Correct Way to Talk About Men

2009-02-23T21:09:00.000-08:00

I just found this from one of my files, its interesting, and i want to share it you guys..

its also a bit funny and true at same time...

HOW TO TALK ABOUT MEN

This is a list of how to talk about Men and be Politically Correct:

This is a list of how to talk about Men and be Politically Correct:

He does not have a beer gut; he has developed a LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY.

He is not quiet; he is a CONVERSATIONAL MINIMALIST.

He is not stupid; he suffers from MINIMAL CRANIAL DEVELOPMENT.

He does not get lost; he DISCOVERS ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS.

He is not balding; he is in FOLLICLE REGRESSION.

He is not a cradle robber; he prefers GENERATIONALLY DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS.

He does not get falling-down drunk; he becomes ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL.

He is not short; he is ANATOMICALLY COMPACT.

He does not constantly talk about cars; he has a VEHICULAR ADDICTION.

He is not unsophisticated; he is SOCIALLY MALFORMED.

He does not hog the blankets; he is THERMALLY UNAPPRECIATIVE.

He is not a male chauvinist pig; he has SWINE EMPATHY.

He doesn't have a dirty mind; he has INTROSPECTIVE PORNOGRAPHIC MOMENTS.

He is not afraid of commitment; he is MONOGAMOUSLY CHALLENGED

The Road to Sucess is Under Construction

2009-02-23T20:27:00.000-08:00

i have always heard this from Dad...he had this poem, even when i was still a child... i asked him before where he got it, but he said a mysterious person mailed it his mailbox. he has it written before.. i have not known that it's a poem until now..

The Road To Success is
Under Construction
by Author Unknown
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way.
Life is not no much a matter of position as of disposition.
The best vitamin for making friends, B-1.
If you don't care where you're going any road will get you there.
A pint of example is worth a gallon of advice.
He who throws mud loses ground.
Nobody raises his own reputation by lowering others.
Nothing ruins the truth like stretching it.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
Ideas won't work unless you do.
The future is purchased by the present.
One thing you can't recycle is wasted time.
Lost time is never found again.
A hard thing about business is minding your own.
Triumph is just "umph" added to try.
Caution is not cowardly, Carelessness is not courage.
He who forgives ends the quarrel.
Children need more models than critics.
Frogs have it easy, They can eat what bugs them.
The pursuit of happiness is the chase of a lifetime.
If the going gets easy you may be going downhill.
Dieters - People that are thick and tired of it.
Jumping to conclusions can be bad exercise.
The best labor saving device is doing it tomorrow.
A turtle makes progress when it sticks its neck out.
Failure is the path of least persistence.
Hard work is the yeast that raises the dough.
Patience is counting down without blasting off.
Have a backbone not a wishbone.
Some folks won't look up until they are flat on their backs.
If you want your dreams to come true, don't oversleep.
Friend - One who knows all about you and likes you just the same.
Money talks and often just says, "Good-bye".
Birds have bills too and they keep on singing.
Forbidden fruit is responsible for many a bad jam.
God's retirement plan is out of this world.
A good example is the best sermon.
The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice.
Well done! is better than, Well said!
Minds are like parachutes - they function only when open.
Live as you wish your kids would.
Swallowing your pride seldom leads to indigestion.
If you can laugh at it then you can live with it.
People don't fail, they give up.
When looking for faults use a mirror, not a telescope.
Smile, it takes only 13 muscles; A frown takes 64.
Kindness, a language deaf people can hear and blind can see.
Heaviest thing to carry - a grudge. A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.
A small leak can sink a great ship.
You can't direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.
We lie loudest when we lie to ourselves.
Tact is the ability to see others as they wish to be seen.
A bad conscience has a very good memory.
Hug your kids at home - Belt them in the car. One thing you can give and still keep - is your word.
A friend walks in when everyone else walks out.
If you must cry over spilled milk then please try to condense it.
Behavior is the mirror in which everyone shows their image.
Make friends before you need them.
It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.
The smallest good deed is better than the grandest intention.
Success is … more attitude than aptitude.
Our favorite attitude should be gratitude.
The greatest of all faults is to imagine you have none.
Too many of us speak twice before we think.
Some people develop eye strain looking for trouble.
Everyone has 20/20 hindsight.
The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.
It is much easier to be critical than to be correct.
Feed your faith and doubt will starve to death.
It is no crime not to be perfect.
If others have sinned you need not mention it.
No man knows less than the man who knows it all.
Patience carries a lot of wait.
One who lacks courage to start has already finished.
A quitter never wins, A winner never quits.
Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.
Break a bad habit - Drop it.
Don't learn safety rules simply by accident.
Failing to prepare We prepare to fail.
Past failures are guideposts for future success.
There is no right way to do a wrong thing.
There can be no rainbow without a cloud and a storm.
If your dreams turn to dust…vacuum.
Money is a good servant but is a cruel master.
Seek joy in what you give not in what you get.
Procrastination is the thief of time.
Success comes in cans Failure comes in can'ts.
Anger is one letter short of danger Greatest remedy for anger is delay.
2/3 of promotion is motion.
Having a sharp tongue can cut your own throat.
Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important .

Starting classes soon...

2009-01-03T02:46:00.000-08:00

My classes is stating in two days.. And i got alot of things to do, i did not get a chance to do them since, i was kinda enjoying my vacation.. i got too study for my exams, since i have two special exams.. Why special? I was sick, when i supposed to take my exam... I have to report about "Bhutan"...I have to do my requirement for my thesis.. School is killing me... But i love learning about new stuff, and the knowledge is get from all the lessons... I know that even do i graduate from college, i will still continue learning lessons abom life, it is..

Many Books

2008-11-10T21:05:00.000-08:00

I am a bookworm... i love to read books whether its the hard copy or soft copy...But what I love more are free books.. And at Many Books, you can download free e-books to your iPod, PDA, eBook Reader and your PC!

You can also register for free, so that you can monitor the books that you have downloaded. You can browse through the books according to its Author, Title, or Language.. Choose the fortmat you want, and then Click Download... It will provide you a link, that you can use to download the ebook.. The link would expire in five minutes, so better be quick.. But its find because the file sizes are not to big...

There is about 20, 000 or more in Many Books, they are all free. enjoy...

Link:

http://manybooks.net/

Tricks on how to make pictures dance

2008-11-10T09:31:00.002-08:00

My friend sent me this through email.. its just a simple trick that will make pictures on website spin or dance...

Go to the website where you want to see some dancing photos, then copy this code into your address bar, then it will load the website...voila.. you can now experience the newest sensentation of dancing photos...

Code:

R=0; x1=.1; y1=.05; x2=.25; y2=.24; x3=1.6; y3=.24; x4=300; y4=200; x5=300;
y5=200; DI=document.getElementsByTagName('img'); DIL=DI.length; function
A(){for(i=0; i-DIL; i++){DIS=DI[ i ].style; DIS.position='absolute';
DIS.left=(Math.sin(R*x1+i*x2+x3)*x4+x5)+'px';
DIS.top=(Math.cos(R*y1+i*y2+y3)*y4+y5)+'px'}R++}setInterval('A()',5); void(0);

killing time

2008-11-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Just another picture of me.... I actually wore a bit of eyeliner and mascara, when i went to school... i showed the picture to my Mom, she said its scary...

Does my Pic look scary?

well there be more pics of me in my whole world, when i get to my senses....lol. i'll just post more later when i get home...

i am at the internet cafe for almost 5 hours already... my classes will start later about an hour.... i still have 1 hour to go...

a speech?

2008-11-09T20:14:00.000-08:00

zup guys.. its seems like ages ago that i have a blog.. but i never posted on it anything... just had no time to post anything that would rock the world...

i'm just moved by something, to make a change on myself.. to speak out for what i think is right and know.....

woah... i sound like, i am going to give a speech... i am still coming up to things that i should put here... may be it about fashion... politics.... tech.....making money...and other stuffs that others might not think that i can put here... lol....(secrets..perhaps..)

Melting Pot of Ideas

ARKIVE - Discover the world's most endangered species

THE STORY OF TWO MEN IN ONE HOSPITAL ROOM

1895 8th grade final exam

Ten Reasons to Throw out your Microwave Oven

Microwaved Water/ What It Does To Plants?

Save this Winter

5 Signs Your Resume Is Outdated

...sometimes...

Handbook 2010

Ten Surprising Health Benefits of Coffee

50 Nerdy Pick-Up Lines

You've Got Mail: Paperless Post

Drop 5 Lbs! (Tips and Tricks)

OPRAH's ENERGY POLICY

Developing a Positive Attitude That Will Lead to Happiness and Sucess

Fair Share?

Soda and Your Kidneys

Cheat Sheet To A Healthier You

(Summer) Foods That Make You Sexier

A new blog in the making....

Fight the Flab Workouts

Simple Pleasures: Turn Regular Shower into Spa Experience

Damage Control

Top 10 Question Every Girl Must Ask

So Busy Yet Still Pretty

Giveaway of the Day - free licensed software daily

We're Done with Greed...

Going Green Pays Off

The Single Girl's Bible

How To Clear Your Memory Without Restarting

A Banana a day, keeps the doctor away!

The Great Stair Climbing Workout

A Father's Gift

Old way, new Way

7 Medical Misconceptions

10 Tips to Reduce Stress

I just got a second blog....

Space Makers

Mom's medicine manual

Things Not To Say in a Facebook Status Update

Urgent Warning about Gardasil Vaccine - (Anti Cervical / HPV VACCINE)

The 10 Biggest and Deadliest Heart Myths

Positive Ways to Deal with Negative People

Down For Everyone or Just Me?

Meditation for People Who Hate to Sit Still..

H1N1 Swine Flu Tracker using Google Maps

Plagiarism Checker

Poladroid - Polaroid Image maker

wePapers - Largest study group

The Seed

Coffee: The New 'Miracle' Health Drink

The Positive Side of Life

What somebody would do with expired credit cards.....

Water V.S Coke

Blood Car - Save Gas, Drive Bloodcar

Politically Correct Way to Talk About Men

The Road to Sucess is Under Construction

Starting classes soon...

Many Books

Tricks on how to make pictures dance

killing time

a speech?