Outrage over Coca-Cola commercial.

For those of you who have not seen it, Coca-Cola's Super Bowl commercial showed shots of various Americans living their lives with "America the Beautiful" playing.  The song is sung beautifully by several girls singing in different languages.

This has caused an outrage among bigots, who claim that you can only sing "America the Beautiful" in English, because English is the language of America.  I'm sure Native Americans appreciate that.  You can see the remarks, along with the video here.

These people need to wake up and realize that English is not the only language that is spoken in America.  It never has been, and it never will be.  Just because it's the only language you understand, does not mean that everyone needs to speak it around you.  Grow the hell up.  Or move to England.  But even there, you will be disappointed.  Many people in England speak multiple languages because of the relationship that European countries have with one another.

Yes, learning English in America will definitely make an immigrant's life a lot easier, but how is their language choice affecting you negatively?  You can't understand what they say when you go into their store?  Instead of complaining about it, go to another store.  That's your right as an American.  You can shop where you want and give your money to whomever you want.

Just like it is everyone else's right as Americans to speak whatever language they choose; to sing in whatever language they choose; to worship or not worship as they please; to wear clothes that they pick out themselves.  That's what is so great about this country!  We can choose!  An American who does not look like you, sound like you, or act like you is not any less of an American.

The last line of the Pledge of Allegiance is "...with liberty and justice for all."
For all.  Not "for white people," "for English speakers," or "for Christians."  For. All. People need to get off of their "English speakers only" club and remember what country they live in and what it was founded for: freedom.

15 Ways to Burn Extra Calories without Changing your Daily Routine

You're already eating healthy, but you're having trouble finding time to work out between work, kids, and maintaining your househould (if you're doing this last one, then you're already doing better than me).  Well, believe it or not, there are small ways that you can burn extra calories without having to find time to do them.  Yes, you can burn calories without changing your daily routine.

1. Park farther away.
Whenever you get to work or the grocery store, park farther away than you normally would, even if it's only by a few parking spaces at first.  Those extra steps add up.  Try working your way up to to moving farther and farther away from the entrance.


2. Return the buggy.
Instead of leaving your grocery basket in the parking spot next to you, return it to a designated buggy corral.  Or, if you're feeling froggy, bring it back into the store.


3. Swing your arms.
The more parts of your body that are working, the more calories you are burning.  Adding a little swing in your step can subtract a few more calories.


4. March while you sit.
This is great if you have a desk job or are a student who spends a lot of time sitting.  Lifting your legs up and down in a marching motion can not only work out your leg muscles, but also help with circulation.


5. Do heel raises while you brush your teeth.
Start off doing 15 every time you brush your teeth.  Increase by one every day (or every other day) until you get to doing 50 standing
heel raises every time you brush your teeth.  This small workout tones all of the muscles in the back of your leg.

Img src: http://www.coastrehab.com/blog/wp-content/images/2011/08/heelraises1.gif

6. Work out your arms while you cook.

While you're waiting for the water to boil or the lasagna to bake, grab a couple of canned goods from your pantry and experiment with different ways of toning your arms.

7. Dance and clean.

Turn up the music, and shake it while you work.

Img src: http://mlblogsjaneheller.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/dancing-woman21.gif?w=327&h=537

8. Prepare your own meal.

Believe it or not, cooking and food preparation burns calories.  Just ask MyFitnessPal.  As an alternative to frozen dinners and fast food, chop up your own veggies.

9. Chew gum.

Yes, this actually burns a small amount of calories.  It also helps you resist the urge to snack.

10. Laugh.

Tell a joke.  Listen to a comedy station on your drive home.  Laughing not only burns calories, it works your ab muscles and helps you unwind after a long day.

11. Leg exercises while watching TV.

Or even when you're reading.  Do this as an alternative to just sitting still will help you burn more calories for the day and tone your legs.

12. Do jumping jacks before every shower.

What are you doing while you're waiting for the water to get hot?  Nothing.  Do some jumping jacks (or push-ups).  No matter how many you do, you're already burning more calories than you were before.

13. Tighten your core.

Every time you think about it, suck in your belly and tighten your abs.  Do it every time you stop at a red light, or every time you hear a commercial on the radio.  Just whenever you think about it, tighten it.

14. Fidget.

This burns more calories that you would think.  You know your friends who have a naturally high metabolism?  Not the ones who work out, but the ones who can eat like crap all the time and still manage to stay thin?  Watch them and see how often they actually sit still.
Tap or wiggle your feet when you sit, roll your chair back and forth, move around.

15. Wear heels.

Anyone who has ever walked a flight of stairs in heels can tell you that that is much more of a workout that climbing stairs in flats.  Wear the highest pair of heels you own (carefully, of course) to vacuum in, to do squats in, or clean the kitchen.

Burning calories does not have to be awful, and you don't have to take extra time out of your day to do any of these things.  No more excuses.