Middle America's Worldview

Prior to widgets, everyone pretty much had to hardcode their website links on their pages. Now we seem to be utilizing the scripts more and more. This is not a bad thing, necessary. I like the fact, when I change this blogs 'links', it changes all of the post going back to the beginning. This helps in removing those dead links. However, this also means each group of links are easier to monitor by tools.


Let me provide an example. I am thinking of a interested group monitoring certain subjects.

Let's say you have a group of like minded individuals sharing their sites. They utilize the link list like everyone else. Rather than having many individual pages out there with hundreds of links to maintain/track. Now you have one widget to track. It's much easier to monitor for the monitor group. It would also be much easier to block.

I am seeing the once hardcoded webpages becoming much easier to maintain, and support. However, with that, much easier to control.

I recall Google had blocked online term papers from college internet access. This was a attempt to stop cheating. However, it also shows the ease of means to restrict information.

Given that, the net is becoming more fluid in how it is maintaining information. My concern is the ones controlling the pipes.

I just finished the book, "Louder than Words" by Jenny McCarthy. I must agree with Busy Busy Mommy regarding it as a good read.

Reading it, from a guy's point of view, I was fascinated to note most husbands deal with the issue similarly. I was also a bit ashamed to see the same similarity as well.
Fortunately, for the husband, she didn't bash him throughout the book. However, it's definitely noted. I will say, she stated 'a marriage on the rocks before a issue like this arises, only brings the problems in the marriage more clear'. This tells me she had problems with the marriage, before her childs problems emerged. So, case in point, if the marriage isn't on a good foundation from the start, your sunk.

She points out what helped her child progress, while reminding the reader, she's no expert nor are her steps a sure fire way to heal your own child. Yet, the book was a simple easy to read. I blew through it in less than 3 days, which is good for me. I tend to be a slow reader, not having much time to reading.

I would suggest the book.

I think I will also start to support Jenny in the best way I can. I think I will look for that "For Him Magazine" noted on page 52 of the book. Wasn't she also in that Maxim Magazine?

I must say, it was a really nice Christmas. We stayed in our P.J.s all day.

The kids had us up at 12:30 a.m. initially. We checked if Santa showed up yet. Yes, he had. So we let the kids see what was brought to them from Santa. But we had them go back to bed soon afterward. We then ended up waking them up around 7 a.m. LOL

My dad was over this Christmas, and it was really nice. Normally only my wifes family shows up for the Christmas Day.

All in all, everyone was pleased with what they acquired.

I do hope everyone haves a great, safe Christmas.

My beautiful wife provided me a gift early this year. She found an awesome deal for 320 gig My Book, external harddrive.





I have been going through my backup dvdrs this morning and creating a library of data. Too awesome. Definitely time consuming with all the files, but it will so good to have a concise data library.

Thanks Honey!!!

Tuesday, my laptop would not boot up properly. It would only get to the background then sit there humming. I had to Fedex it to corporate in the desparate attempt to pull the data from the harddrive.

Fortunately, I was only out of pocket 2 days. I Fedex it overnight Tuesday. PCLAN acquired it Wednesday and overnight it back that same day. It arrived around 2 p.m. local time Thursday. The bad news is all data lost. I mean a clean slate.

I posted before, my attempt to find the perfect organizing software, as I was also revamping my data structure to better my organization. However, after reading some online articles and David Allen's great book entitled "Getting Things Done", it became apparent that program doesn't exist.

I mentioned to my wife last night, gasp, I am seriously thinking of going to paper. I will keep my PDA and calendar, contacts, ect. but also utilize a notepad on my projects. I would still have to double my notes when I provide my electronic updates, but I would at least be able to keep those after a harddrive crash.

I am also looking to acquire a external harddrive for daily backups.

Back in August I wrote an article regarding Huckabee's need to ban smoking.

Now the overlooked possible Presidential candidate is looking to rise in the polls. I just read an interesting article written by Ann Coulter regarding Huckabee.

She does make some good points against the Arkansas Governor.

My kids watch Zoey101, among other tween shows. So it came as a surprise to hear Jamie Spears pregnant at the tender age of 16. Too compound this issue, the boyfriend is 18 or 19 (I heard both). I am sure the legal teams will diagnose the differencde of 'two consenting kids' or 'statutory rape'.

Why is this a issue? Well, first it was the nude picture of Vanessa Hudgens, star of High School Musical. Now this girl being pregnant. Unfortunately, it is tainting the clean scene for Disney and Nickelodean.

I have already heard from local parents, how do I explain this to my kid? Realistically, this is life. Kids do stupid stuff (I know, not just kids), and in this day, everything is posted live for the world to see.

The glass house metaphore doesn't work anymore. It's now a glass world, where it seems everyone is willing to share everything. We don't need big brother to broadcast our lives, we do it to ourselves.

I find it very unfortunate for the 16 year old girl. Not sure what will become of the Zoey101 show. I suspect a vacation time for the actress.

6 days till Christmas?

I find it continually fascinating how time flies anymore. As a kid, it seemed you would never get old enough to watch that movie (when the standards actually meant the age), or do that one thing. Yet, as I reach near 40, I can't seem to get off the fast lane of this time stream.

I was always told while I was a kid, 'the older you get the faster it goes'. Those same (that remains alive), state the same statement. I find myself saying it to my kids now as well. Yet, if it continually gets faster, I don't think I can handle it. It's going way too fast as it is.

So does everyone have their Christmas shopping done yet? We finished ours last week. Our biggest purchases were done months ago, yet the little things, ' oh that would be nice to grab', still lingers.

I am sure those last minute shoppers are still out there. They will cause the dread of the rest of us to even venture into the store for eggs.

Manhunt Stealth Kill FAQ Final - hosted by Neoseeker

Seems like these post lately have been pretty which whine and moan.

I wanted to post another kind of post. One of saying I am blessed and a bit of a rambling.

I am really blessed. I realize there are many who do not go with the idea of a God. However, my belief in such, is a blessing to me in itself. I actually find strength in God. I like many, unfortunately, tend to stray from the path at times, but find my self back on track. I find myself really blessed in family and needs. I couldn't do it without my family.

If you didn't know before, I tend to get on a particular subject interest really hard, then wean onto something else. The good thing is, I have a really good understanding of the subject once my interest dies out. The bad thing is, I have a tendency to not stick on anything concrete. I respect those people that spend a lifetime of one specific hobby. Personally, I don't see myself doing that. Once I figure it out, I move on. So I am basically a Jack of all cards, King of none.

Yeah, another busy week. As if.

For a 3 day weekend, it sure didn't last long. I couldn't sleep worth a flip last night. I am looking to have plenty of coffee and a mocha for the board meeting tonight.

Everyone seems to get spam in their email providers, but it seems to be getting worse.

I have 3 email accounts, not counting my work one. I have 2 of them synced to my outlook, and the third one requires an fee upgrade to allow it. So, it remains on a separate island.

I just went through 254 of that third email account, having only 7 valid emails for me to view. Crazy.


It doesn't seem like December 5th, but I will take it. This year is technically gone, in my view.

This week is half way done. Happy mid-week to all. I have been on call since last weeks Tuesday. Knock on wood, I get sleep tonight.

So glad it's Friday.

I was looking at my work schedule and I am actually on-call till next Thursday. Blah. Oh well.

This weekend the boy and I will be gaming it. I kept asking what does he want to do? Other than possible rent the Wii ( which no movie rentals, rent out consoles anymore), just stay home and play video games. Of course we will need to do an overnight in the living room. I hope my back will hold out the next morning. (wink)

We went to Choir last night to hear our daughter sing. I was impressed. We go again tonight as well.

I am still working on the Get Rid of Toxins
website. I am dipping my toe in PHP and SQL. I was able to get a really good book entitled "PHP and MySQL" by Larry Ullman. I must admit the book really walks you through the process.

I did manage to find a recipe PHP/MySQL script for free on the web. I added the categories on this template. It's located on the bottom right column under the archive section. I already have additional ideas for the PHP scripts and HTML viewing. Just trying to find the time to incorporate them.

I nearly pulled one on my kiddos. This morning, Kel asked what I wanted for Christmas. I been really blessed in items, so I said, "to grow a mustache and goatee". When we first met, I had one, nearly 14 years ago. Since I shaved it, I haven't grown a mustache since. I was surprised she said if I get the kids to agree, so be it. Hmm. The kids having fed off the mom these years are adament for no mustache.

So during breakfast I simply said to the kids, Mom said I can have a Christmas gift if you guys agree." Without questioning, they both agreed.

But after they figured what the agreement was for, they quickly changed their minds. LOL

Oh well. I didn't think they would agree to it. Nor did Kel, as she made that stipulation. It's fun thinking about growing one again, though.

Midweek is already here. Son and I had a cub scout meeting last night. We were able to turn in the popcorn sales. At least that part is over. Next den meeting he will get his prize for selling. He is so excited to be getting a marsh-mellow air gun ( of all things ). He picked it out.

This weekend my son and I will be batching it for a bit. I am on-call this week and hope last night was not a precursor for the remainder of the week. I keep asking him what he wants to do, expecting at least some outside time. Alas, he only wants to do a sleepover in the living room, playing console games.

I suggested we rent a Xbox 360 and play Halo, being greedy. Of course that quickly turned into a "let's rent a Wii". Sigh.

Every week we have seems busy. I think I will suggest to the wife a change in busy busy mommy to busy busy life.

I can't complain too loud, since she does 85% of the running.

Tonight we have church. Thursday and Friday night we watch our daughter in Choir. Saturday night and nearly all Sundy, my son and I batch it.

I have heard more than once this year of some desire to pull Canada, Mexico, America together to form a "North American Union". This was in relation to the EU. The original excuse was to stop the American dollar continuance decline in worth. Here is just another article regarding this desired merger.

NORTH AMERICAN UNION 'A COUPLE YEARS AWAY'

Bilderberg author who 1st exposed plot in 1996 sees EU replication as imminent

Tell Congress YOU request Congressional Oversight on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America instead of White House backroom deal-making.

Alert: The next giant step toward world government will be integration of the U.S., Canada and Mexico in European Union-style merger in the next few years, says the author of a best-selling book on the power of shadowy international organizations promoting the move.

"I would say [it's just] a couple of years away," reports Daniel Estulin, author of "The True Story of the Bilderberg Group."

Estulin, a Canadian now living in Europe, says the original plans for a North American Union involved the U.S. and Canada as the prime participants. It was motivated primarily by the desire to harvest Canada's abundant natural resources.

In his new book, Estulin reveals the first efforts in this plan date back to 1996 when the elite Bilderberg Group first discussed plans for the dismantlement of Canada as an independent nation and proposed its merger – minus Quebec – with the United States into a Greater North America.

"Actually, the North American Union, or rather a Canada-U.S. merger, was initially discussed shortly after the Reagan-Bush candidacy won the White House," he says. "Upon taking over the reins of the country, George Bush and Ronald Reagan called in the presidents of the key trans-national companies and asked them for the real picture. The money people told them that if the United States were a corporation it would have to be shut down immediately. It was bankrupt."

The solution proposed then, according to Estulin, was merger between the U.S. and Canada.

"Canada is virgin country with a multitude of natural resources, water, mines, oil, gas, etc.," he explains. "They decided that it was going to take 14 or 15 years to put the whole project together. In the interval, the economies, social programs and laws of the two countries would be quietly harmonized as much as possible."

Back then, part of that harmonization plan involved the separation of Quebec as an independent state, he says.

"Actually, when all is said and done, it all comes down to money," Estulin says. "Money makes its own rules. If your goal is to make the most money possible using Canada's natural resources, what would you ask for? Number one, give me control over the sun. Number two, give me control over the air. Number three, give me control over water. Now, we know we cannot control the sun, nor can we control the air. But we can control water. Water, after all, is the most important element that can be controlled."

But the plot for a North American Union, as exposed in detail in Jerome Corsi's new bestselling book, "The Late Great USA," is but a prelude, Estulin says, to the ultimate merger – one-world government.

"Everything is in place," he says. "Europe is now one country, one currency and one constitution. North America is about to become one. The African Union has had its working model going for over a decade. Asia is openly discussing the near-future Asian Union, being sold to us as an economic inevitability beneficial to all its citizens."

Estulin sees the current focus in the U.S. on the presidential election of 2008 as something of a farce in light of this trend.

"Does it really matter who wins?" he asks. "As I make very clear in 'The True Story of the Bilderberg Group,' every politician of note and promise belongs to the Bilderbergers, CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) or the Trilateral Commission. Unless you are one of them, you can hardly hope to win the presidency. If we vote for the lesser evil, forced upon us by the secret oligarchies and the powerful men behind the curtain, we end up playing the game imposed upon us by them. Democracy, I guess what I really want to say, is a fallacy, an unattainable dream, a useless label trotted out and dusted off by the rulers every four years for the benefit of the great unwashed – us. There are two sides in this equation – the powerful elite who control the world's wealth and the rest of humanity."

Estulin "guarantees" today's Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani will not get the nomination of his party. With less certitude, he speculates the current mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, could still be positioned to head the GOP ticket.

"Bloomberg, according to my sources within Bilderberg, will emerge as a credible candidate of consensus for the discredited American political establishment, your virtual "People's Choice" candidate," he says.

What is the agenda behind these groups, which Estulin says are comprised of "self-interested elitists protecting their wealth and the investments of multinational banks and corporations in the growing world economy at the expense of developing nations and Third World countries"?

"The policies they develop," he writes, "benefit them as well as move us towards a one-world government."

Those questioning Estulin's conclusion as mere speculation need only recall organizational financer David Rockefeller's own words as recorded in his "Memoirs."

"Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure – one world, if you will," he wrote. "If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it."

Estulin's book, first written in 2005 in Spain, has been translated into 24 languages, most recently this English edition. He has covered the Bilderberg Group as a journalist for more than 15 years.

Why does he singularly devote so much attention to exposing their activities?

"They cannot survive the light, and they know it," he says. "This is why the powerful people have long insulated themselves from that possibility. You see, the greatest form of control is when you think you are free while you are being manipulated and dictated to. People have been disarmed through the greatest hypnotist the world has ever known – the oblong box almost everyone has in the corner of their living rooms known as the television. By persuading ordinary people that what they can see with their eyes is what is there to see, the men behind the curtain have ensured their own survival, because people will laugh in your face when you explain to them that there is a bigger picture they are not seeing."

What is his personal prescription for fighting back? He offers a five-point program:

1. Understanding that governments do not represent the people nor have their best interests at heart.

2. Understanding that corporate media's main job is to hide the transgressions of the most powerful people in the world not shine the light of truth on it.

3. Understanding that the corporate media forms part of the world's elite societies such as the Bilderbergers, the CFR and the Trilateral Commission.

4. Understanding how money works and how through intelligent use of money we can destroy the Bilderbergers of this world.

5. Getting out of debt now. (Source: WND.com)

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I and one of my wifes cousins camped out in front of Best Buy for the first time.
We had planned to hit it around 10 p.m., however, we ran by around 4:15 p.m to see if anyone was crazy enough to be there. Yes, there were.

We planted ourselves there at 4:30 p.m. and was the 56th in line. We found out the first person in front of the line was there since 4:30 a.m Thanksgiving day. He and 14 kids been there all day and had Thanksgiving food delivered to them. He was a shop owner from Tulsa, that grabbed some highshoolers to hang with him.

I was to grab for a $229.00 laptop for one of Kel's aunts. Her cousin wanted a $629.00 laptop. I didn't get that laptop, but another one for her. He acquired his.

It was an interesting experience. Fortunately, the car was in line with the waiting line. Most of the night we just sat in there. There was also 2 kids behind us that stayed in the car with us, for the most part of the night. The temp had dropped in the 20's.

Around 1 a.m., everyone started to put their stuff up to get closer to the door. Fortunately there was only a bit of a drama. The ticket/coupons were passed out after 3 a.m. to about 4 a.m The doors were opened at 5 a.m.

It was my first time actually camping out. I could tell most were there for the purpose of getting one item and simply the experience. There was one guy in front of us having done this for the 14th year. He only wanted the TOM TOM. Yes, that was it.

When it neared 5 a.m. and the tickets/coupons were already passed out, the music started to blast from Best Buys outsides speakers. Right before the doors open, "Welcome to the Jungle" was blaring. So true had it become.

The crowd merged closer and closer till the doors parted like the Red Sea. I was swept quickly ahead. I soon realized how many can be trampled as I struggle to freaking stand upright as I was swept inside the store. The cousin just disappeard from my side replaced by a 12 year old from no-where banged in my side. I held her shoulders to keep her from being underfoot.

Once we passed the barriers, it quickly opened back up to allow breath

Monday's are always difficult around here. However, not being on-call and having that hover over me helped yesterday.

Here is a taste of yesterday. Fortunately also, the kids were out of school as well.

• Kel was in the office all day yesterday and didn't get out till around 6 p.m.
  
• Went to speech therapy at 3:15
  
• While son in speech therapy, the daughter and I ran to the post office.
  
• After speech therapy, ran the daughter to choir practice.
  
• While daughter in choir practice, ran the son and I to chiropractic.
  
• Managed to run to Best Buy with son to jot down notes on digital tvs (more on that later), while daughter still in choir practice.
  
• Pick up daughter from choir practice, the three of us back to together again.
  
• Ran to Walmart to pick up pictures. They could not be found.
  
• Ran over to my dads to drop of cheat codes for his PS2 game he is working on.
  
• Then finally home again.
  

Tired yet? We made it home a bit after 6 p.m. Fortunately, Kel is very organized (unlike me) and we had chili in the crockpot before all the running. So supper was waiting on everyone.


Regarding the digital tv's; I went by Best Buy to try to decipher the best outcome, plus my wifes side of the family is looking to get her dad a new tv.

I was thinking the required conversion to digital was next January (2008), but after a lengthy discussion, it was conveyed "Nah man, not till 2009" by the kid at Best Buy.

Looking online this morning sure enough.

"Early in 2009 all over-the-air TV stations must switch the way they transmit their programming, bringing a number of changes not only to broadcasters and viewers, but to emergency responders and digital innovators as well.

"Since the advent of television, stations have sent their programming via analog signals. As a result of legislation passed by Congress in 2005, they will have to convert their transmission to digital signals by February 17, 2009."

Well, that gives us another year.

I also found out, what exactly does that mean. We currently have Cox Cable in this house. We use it, partly because we get all the lower channels in the kids room and my office, without having to have a digital box. I view it as getting the lower channels free. Especially since with Dish, you are required to have a box to get anything.

Well, when the cable companies go to digital, these lower channels will also be digital. Thus, if your setup like I am, all those rooms pulling the lower channels will be gone. You will be required to have a cable box or the tv themselves will require a "internal asc tuner". This will allow you to view the digital signals. Most tvs' on the market now have this internal tuner. But if you are like me, you have the 13 year old tv in the living room.

I had known the new cable standards were to be in place next year. All analog signals will go away starting next year. This means, if you have a tube tv, you will not be able to pick up non-digital cable any longer. If your tv is old enough ( like mine ), then you will be required to

• Buy a converter to pick up the digital signals or
  
• Buy the new digital tv's
  

I was in Walmart the other week, inquiring about all this. Since they did not currently have this converter, I was curious how much this was going to be, he looked it up on walmart.com. At that time, the converters were not even online availible.

Considering the lowest cost digital tv I can see is around 200-300 bucks for a 17 inch, I think its a rip-off.

Another aspect I have conveyed to others, some may not be thinking about is this.

Once this goes into effect, our choices continue to go down. Since the free analog (picking up off those nice rabbit ears) goes away next year, this means if you don't pay, you don't see. So we are again forced to pay-per-view.

We are looking at the early black Friday ads, online. I find it funny all stores seem to be OK with these ads, except Walmart. Going to possibly take legal action Walmart? Give me a break. I would think they would desire the incentives. Not that they need any more. I can't go in there anytime of the day/night with more than enough people mlling around.

Here are some links to the ads.

Gotta Deal

Offical Black Friday

I thought this was too funny. I know she's nuts, but who would had thought of selling these?

This week is as busy as always. Kel had to be at work most of the day, so I was the substitute teacher. I actually liked it. Kel makes it so easy with her agenda, ect. it's pretty easy to follow. Kel kicks back in tomorrow. I was told by the kids, "I was a great substitute teacher".

Glad the week is half-way over.

I can't believe this month is already nearly half down. I have to remind myself next weeks Thanksgiving. This year is just flying.

In the hype of the new movie "The Bee Movie", one wonders why there are no news regarding the real bees.

There are signs that the immune systems of infected bees are collapsing, again for no known reason, causing some to call it “bee HIV/AIDS.” With weakened immune systems, the bees are unable to fight off diseases. In fact, found in the stomachs of infected bees are traces of nearly every disease that has affected bees over the last 100 years.

Honeybees, contrary to popular belief, do not simply make honey. They are also a crucial element needed to pollinate fruit and vegetable crops—amounting to a $14 billion share in the United States’ fresh produce. Farmers rent hives from beekeepers to ensure widespread pollination and, in turn, a good harvest. The success of crops such as almonds, apples, cranberries, and many other fruits and vegetables are all linked to bee pollination.

The vice president of the American Beekeeping Federation said, “Every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent on a honeybee to pollinate that food” (International Herald Tribune).

This is alarming, considering we are speaking of our own food resource.

A Nascar fan was confirmed this weekend. I was hesitant to go, when my wife asked me to go in her place. The concern of our son to be there for 12 hours, plus, will I really personally enjoy it? I am not much of a sports guy.

I actually enjoyed it.

I learned alot, simply listening to the conversations of the other fans. I was amazed the size of Texas Stadium. There were reported 200 thousand in the stands viewing the race. I believe it. As the stadium filled and constant view of moving people. I could only think, 'this must be what the Colliseum was back in the days of Rome.'

Here is a shot of the race coming around the bend.

One car caught on fire during the race.



But it was quickly put out.



Overall, my son did absolutely great. There was alot of walking. I was stiff the next day. The traffic out was horrific, but manageable.

We decided to head into Texas Thursday evening, after work. We made it all the way to Sherman, Texas. We found an availible room at La Quinta. The others were sold out, except the 139 dollar room at Holiday Express. I don't think so.

While finding a hotel with a room, we ran across Bobby LaBonte's trailer!!

Since, I had chosen him as my driver of choice for Nascar, it was a very cool surprise.

We are heading to Irving to watch the Nascar this Sunday. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Too bad, I couldn't have met him personally.

The Pocola Football is scheduled to play Panama tonight. We really wanted to see it, since Kel was from Panama. However, we set this trip up back in March. Oh well. I wish the Pocola team good luck.

It seems only 2 candidates are posing for the Democrat candidacy. At least if you only hear the main media outlets.

Seems Obama had a gospel concert tour for support in South Carolina over the weekend to add to his treasury. The tour was entitled "Embrace the Change" in the hopes of showing Obama's desire to show his family value and faith as well as "bringing all people together around his movement for fundamental change". Obama didn't attend the tour.

However, homosexual activist groups opposed one of the entertainers within the tour.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) homosexual advocacy group released a statement last week calling McClurkin, "an ex-gay gospel singer and minister who has called homosexuality a 'curse' an has 'repeatedly' stated his opposition to homosexuality as being against 'the intention of God'

HRC went on to say "There is no gospel in Donnie McClurkin's message for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people and their allies," added HRC President Joe Solmonese. "That's a message that certainly doesn't belong on any presidential candidate's stage."

Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, used a news release urging Obama to "part ways with this divisive preacher who is clearly singing a different tune than the stated messsage of the campaign".

Donnie McClurkin wrote a book entitled "Eternal Victim, Eternal Victor, where he told of his rape at the age 8 and 13 years of age by adult male relatives. He states "The abnormal use of my sexuality continued until I came to realize that I was broken." Once he accepted Christ, he became "a saved and sanctified man" In a telephone interview last week with the Associated Press he stated, "Sexuality, everything is a matter of choice," He went on to say, "What people do in their bedrooms and who they are as human beings are two different things."

With a view like that, one can see why the homosexual groups are against Obama having McClurkin attend. Rather than dissing McClurkin by the Obaman campaign, he chose to add Rev. Andy Sidden,a openly homosexual South Carolina pastor, to the list of participants.

I must admit, the ideology of accepting all points of views, is admiring. However, it is also unrealistic in today's world. We are bombarded everyday to accept every one's view point. Ironically, these same groups that push the idea of acceptance (accept me for who I am), are the same ones fighting to not hear of others beliefs.

Obama came out to say "I strongly believe that African Americans and the GLBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights,"

He basically is toting the same idea of being African American is the same framework as being gay, lesbian, transgender or transexual.

"And so, I strongly disagree with Rev. McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division," he added.

So basically it appears Obama is against the idea of a person to choose their sexual interest, or that homosexuality is actually a choice.

The question now is, will voters understand what this candidcy stands for?

I had the day off today. It was one of those take it or lose it days. Since, I was able to do this, I took the kids to the Police Station for their Homeschool field trip. There were about 60 in the group. I thought it was interesting, as well as the kids. The new building was 2 floors. The hot spots for the kids were the CSI (Identification room) room, gun room (the kids took the most time here with questions, and the radio room. The tour lasted for one hour and 40 minutes.

Our daughter also had a girlscout ceremony tonight. We arrived there a bit before 6 p.m. This lasted for nearly 1.5 hours as well. It was interesting to watch the lighting of the candles, ect. Unfortunately, I didn't know hardly anyone there, so I kept mostly to myself, picking with our son.

I had planned to use most of the day to view movies. However, the day flew as they all do. Seemed we were basically running all day, from one place to another.

Next weekend, we travel to Texas.

I posted an article back in August entitled Illegal Immigrant murders spotlight grows describing Oklahoma adopting new laws to lessen sanctuary for the illegal immigrants. It also mentioned the percentage of crime in relation to illegal immigrants.

As the Republican President want-a-be's continues. Seems Fred Thompson is narrowing in on this same issue.

Here is a quick article by Gary Bauer describing the claim.

Thompson For
"Law & Order"

Is illegal immigration the issue that could determine the 2008 election?
For several weeks, Senator Fred Thompson has been going after Rudy Giuliani
and Mitt Romney on the issue. He has been particularly critical of so- called "sanctuary cities" that blatantly refuse to enforce immigration
laws.

Yesterday, Thompson unveiled a tough new "law and order" plan that would
withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities and crack down on employers
who knowingly hire illegal aliens. He made his announcement in Collier
County, Florida, where 22% of crimes are committed by illegal aliens, and
40 percent of the county’s arrest warrants are for illegals.

Thompson told his audience that, "Taxpayer money should not be provided to
illegal immigrants." Thompson believes that ending sanctuary cities, which
by definition invite and encourage illegality, and getting tough on hiring
will lead many illegals to return to their country of origin.

To help that along, he would massively increase immigration enforcement,
not just at the border, but in the interior of the country too. He also
asserted that, "A country that cannot secure its borders will not remain a
sovereign nation, and you cannot have national security without border
security."

Finally, the Thompson plan makes English our official language and severely
restricts so-called "chain migration" that permits an illegal immigrant to
bring in at times, dozens of extended family members.

The conservative Washington Times newspaper said today that the Thompson
plan goes further than any other.

I believe this issue could determine the 2008 election. While they are
saying the right things now, other leading Republican candidates have major
vulnerabilities on this issue, and certainly Hillary Clinton is very
vulnerable on illegal immigration, as is her pro-amnesty party.

The concern I have for the GOP candidates in whole, is the fact, what they say and what they can actually do, may be a dichotomy.

Most of these candidates are already within the political system. So they know their limitations. I hope if they indeed promise anything to the would be voter, they can produce it.

I have an interest in the Social and Cultural Landscape that defines us as a Nation.
I ran across a article, having NewsMax picking the top 25 most influential radio host. I wasn't too surprised to see the most knowing people. But some actually did surprise me. For example, I have heard Opie and Andie while in Pennsylvania. I have to say, they are definitely shock jocks. Demented would be another term. : )




Here are our editors' selections for the most influential talk-radio hosts in America, in order of their influence:

1. Rush Limbaugh
2. Bill O'Reilly
3. Don Imus
4. Michael Savage
5. Sean Hannity
6. Laura Ingraham
7. Glenn Beck
8. Dr. Laura Schlessinger
9. Neal Boortz
10. Al Franken
11. Mike Gallagher
12. Mancow
13. Howard Stern
14. Bill Bennett
15. Opie and Anthony
16. Ed Schultz
17. Michael Medved
18. Randi Rhodes
19. Jim Bohannon
20. G. Gordon Liddy
21. Diane Rehm
22. Larry Elder
23. Michael Reagan
24. Tammy Bruce
25. Tom Leykis

Last night, we played our second game of "Littlest Pet Monopoly". The last game our son won (with the wife's help). This time we played the long version, no freebies. It started out fun, till it became painfully obvious, I was ganged up on (again). Rather than paying me their property, they hawked them between the 3 of them, till they had nothing left but blood. Sigh.

The weather dropped yesterday. Sunday it was 89, yesterday and today, I would say in the high 50's.

My little girl turns 10 today. Sigh. They say the older you get, the faster it goes. I am here to say, it's going faster already.

I remember the times when the little face would look upon me so questioningly. Now, I get the full interviews from her. I recall the time when she loved to wrestle and I would be oh so gentle. Now I have to ask her to be gentle on me!

I love my kids so much, it really does hurt at times. I want so much for them. More than I can even begin to provide. I look at how my childhood was and try not to compare it too much with theirs. Yet, in all the new benefits God has provided, it never seems enough for your kids.

Has it really been 15 days, since my last post? Sigh.
It's been busy, what can I say.

The cable company called me today, offering a great deal.
Yeah, OK, what is it?
HBO and Cinemax channels for 5 dollars more. ( For 6 months, anyway )After 6 months, it goes back to the regular prices of 18.95. I guess they are hoping many will simply forget about it after 6 months. I went ahead and bit.

I figured, if I can watch at least 2 new movies within each month, it would be the same as rental. We had HBO when I was a kid. I recalled how they basically acquired 2-5 new movies a month and play them over and over again. I am curious if its the same way, after 20 years.

Regarding TV viewing, I am getting interested with a couple of the new shows. Namely, Bionic Woman. I recorded the last 2 weeks and watched them when I have a chance. Not bad, not bad at all. I also recorded life, but haven't had a chance to view it yet. Both were recommended. I have to say, Bionic Woman looks pretty good to me.

I was able to watch "The Condemened" last weekend. It was a bad*ss movie. I recommend it, for a guy movie. I think this was the first movie Stone Cold played in. I thought he did a good job. Vinnie Jones plays one bad guy. My favorite part was the ending, regarding the op center with Vinnie.

Kel and I also watched "Lucky You", but it was a bit of a drag.

My daughter came up to me the other day asking if she can register for another website. First there was Trollz, then Webkinz, Disney, Hannah Montana, 4kids, Polly Pocket, ..... the list goes on. Seems nearly every toy or dvd now has it's own site to register. Oh they offer free online games as enticement, but how many can one really keep up?

I actually struggled with this same question only 3 weeks ago. How many sites can one person maintain? Currently, I have 7-8 personal sites I try to maintain. This isn't counting those sites of "friends" or others I help maintain. It's to the point of enough is enough.

The other night, I caught a bit of Attack of the Show discussing this similar topic. The discussion was 'how many social networks', regarding how much is too much. During the discussion the question was how many sites do most really maintain. Most answered about 3. your personal page, social page and a hobby page.

So, now the question is, which sites to keep and which sites to do away with. Makes sense, the less to maintain the more you can dedicate to make it better.

In an earlier post I pointed out where human and animal dna are being mixed creating a hybrid embryo. Of course by legislation, they cannot keep them alive for more than 14 days. Nor are they 'suppose to' implant the living entity in a womb.

I then came across a great (but sad truth)site showing human traffic. This site shows the how children are being used in prostitution around the globe. Sigh.

Now, ACLJ is going on the offense for children. They have created a petition to stop taxes from going to planned parenthood.

I received the notification today. As of 1:20 p.m central over 2400 have signed the petition.

ACLJ states:

Every year, the federal government hands over millions of our tax dollars to Planned Parenthood under the guise of Title X funding — a program that provides an enormous influx of money for "reproductive health activities." It is a travesty of justice that you are essentially being forced to fund the largest abortion promoter and provider in America. The ACLJ is determined to STOP this offensive misuse of our tax dollars — by standing in support of legislation that calls for an end to government funding of Planned Parenthood — but we must have your help to do it! Please read the form carefully and declare your membership with the ACLJ by signing our online Petition to Defund Planned Parenthood.

Within the email, we are told...

Over the last two years, America's #1 abortion provider has been funded with more than $500 million of taxpayers' money through Title X.

Title 10 is ....

The Title X program provides public funding for family planning and preventive health screening services. Established by Congress in 1970, the aim of the program is "to assist in making comprehensive voluntary family planning services readily available to all persons desiring such services."1 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administers the Title X program through its Office of Family Planning. Approximately 4,600 public and private entities, including non-profit family planning clinics, hospitals and public health departments, receive Title X funds each year.2

It was established 1970 "to assist in making comprehensive voluntary family planning services". The program was setup to assist those families below federal poverty level. It was created to allow those families to receive services at no cost. The Title X facilities are provided on a sliding scale based on income. No-one is refused services, if they were unable to pay.

However, in 1978, Congress amended Title X to place "a special emphasis on preventing unwanted pregnancies among sexually active adolescents," adding services specifically for teenagers."




According to a Planned Parenthood site....

By law, no Title X funds have ever been spent on abortion (Sollom et al., 1996). The family planning regulations require that women who face unintended pregnancies be given nondirective counseling on all of their legal and medical options (Federal Register, 2000).

So why the petition now?

Seems Congress is trying to increase tax payer funds to Title X.

Efforts intensify on Capitol Hill to increase Title X funding which would likely result in more taxpayer funds going to Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.

Our legislative affairs team in Washington is reporting that the Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee has approved an increase of almost $28 million for Title X funding, up from $283 million to almost $311 million. This is an increase of about 10%. Planned Parenthood requested this increase and will almost certainly benefit from a large number of these dollars.

Additionally, this bill still has two more stops to make in the House – the full Appropriations Committee and the House floor. If the Democrat majority continues with their current strategy, look for this increase to grow even larger.

Title X is already funded at $283 million annually and is intended to be used for family planning. Tragically, in reality, it is used almost exclusively for abortion-related services, most often by Planned Parenthood. This year, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Planned Parenthood are asking for an additional $100 million in Title X funding. While the Hyde Amendment (if renewed) would prohibit these funds from directly funding abortions, the additional funding would certainly free up other funds to be used for abortions.

So the call has been made to sign the petition and contact your representives to stop funding to Title X.

Talk about a sweet deal. Check this out!
Now were talking.

Fortunately, we survived another Monday.

I was able to finish up the cement work over the weekend. So at this point the backyard should be deemed, done.

We also had a freaking downpour Saturday night around 3 a.m. The news stated we received 3 inches within the less-than 12 hour span. I know it hit so hard, it woke me up.

I will give you a glimpse of our Monday (which incidentally seems to be ever Monday, anymore).

• 5 a.m. Kel is up and does her work
  
• 7 a.m I begin work
  
• 8 a.m. kids begin school
  
• 11-12 (somewhere around there) lunch
  
• 2 p.m. Kel takes kids to chiro
  
• 4-5:30 p.m daughters choir practice
  
• 3:30 sons speech
  
• 6-7:30 p.m daughters Girlscout
  
• 7 p.m. I attend school board meeting
  

This time around, Kel takes the kids to the chiro at 2 p.m. I picked our son up after speech. He and I ran to get some groceries on the way home (with a couple of other errands). I then take him to one of our friends to watch the cheerleaders (our friend's daughter is one of them), while I attend the school board.

That was pretty much our Monday.

Tuesday looks just as busy. My son and I will attend cubscout at 4:30 p.m. and then the boyscouts at 6:30 p.m. Kel and our daughter will be in a basketball meeting from 6 p.m till who knows. It will be another evening of get some food as you go.

OK. Here was the plan.
Thursday night get the backyard ready to pour the cement.
Friday morning.

Kel to hit and assist in the yard sale (someone else's home this time)

Kel's brother to be dropped over at our house to assist in the cement

Kel's mom to switch vehicles (so we can have the truck)

I would drop the kids over at the other house having the yardsale

I would grab the cement from Triple A, about a yard of it.

Kel's brother and I would get the cement done.

I would then drop said brother off at home (after returning the cement truck)

I would then shower, meet up with kids (after their tennis)

I was then planning to take them to Chuckee Cheese as a surpise.

Kel was to work at the law office till 4:30 while I had the kids for the remainder of the day.

I had taken off this Friday to not only run the kids over to a surprise, but also planned to drop some things off at Goodwill. I was also hoping to check out this nearby church's library. It was suppose to be open to the public and very impressive. Just hanging with the kids in town.

In short, the plan didn't work. We made it up to getting the cement done. On the way of taking the cement trailer back to Triple A, the truck was crapping out on us. We learned quick the ballbearing went out on the 4x4. Sigh. That stalled us. It also made us pull Kel's dad off his work to pull the trailer back to Triple A. Pulled Kels' mom home from work to meet us at our house. She called a friend who had another truck and trailer so they can take the vehicle to the shop. Since, we exchanged vehicles, I simply told Kel's mom to take the van home. This way they wouldnt be a foot. That left the kids and I home alone without a vehicle.

Kel still made it to work and will be there till 4:30. So, the kids and I have been home all day. At least the concrete work is done. I will need to clean up the surrounding dirt, but the bulk is finished. The patio work is done.

Maybe I can take the kids in the morning. Bummer man.

I saw a tickler last night speaking of placing human genes in a empty animal embryo. The tickler mentioned the hybrid would be 99.9% human and .1% animal. The scientist would be required to destroy the embryo before 14 days and it is banned to be placed in a womb.

I thought 2 things when I seen it (after my wow).

1)Why 14 days?
2)Have we really gone this far?


Seems the Government previously agreed stem cell embryo's have a 14-day limit. I guess you have to start/end somewhere.

Legislative references to the 14-day rule cite ethics committee reports. The most influential of these reports were sponsored by the U.S. government (1979, 1994, 1999, 2004), Britain (1984), Australia (1984), Canada (1994), California (2002), the leading U.S. IVF medical association (the American Fertility Society, 1986 and 1990), and a leading U.S. biotech company (Advanced Cell Technology, 2000). If you read these reports, the first thing you'll notice is that they refer to each other. We've agreed to the line because we've agreed to it—and could just as easily move it. The next thing you'll see is that many of them admit that the date is "arbitrary." The British report, from which others copied the rule, concedes that "biologically there is no one single identifiable stage in the development of the embryo beyond which the in vitro embryo should not be kept alive."

A fact of prenatal development.

Pregnancy begins at conception, the time at which the male sperm and the female ovum unite. What results is called a zygote, a one-celled biological entity, a stage in human development through which each of us has passed (just as we have passed through infancy, childhood, and adolescence).

It is a misnomer to refer to this entity as a "fertilized ovum." For both ovum and sperm, which are genetically each a part of its owner (mother and father, respectively), cease to exist at the moment of conception. There is no doubt that the zygote is biologically alive. It fulfills the four criteria needed to establish biological life:

• (1) metabolism,
  
• (2) growth,
  
• (3) reaction to stimuli, and
  
• (4) reproduction.
  

Second fact of prenatal development

Second, not only is the conceptus human insofar as being caused by humans, it is a unique human individual, just as each of us is. Resulting from the union of the female ovum (which contains 23 chromosomes) and the male sperm (which contains 23 chromosomes), the conceptus is a new -- although tiny -- individual.

It has its own unique genetic code (with forty-six chromosomes), which is neither the mother's nor the father's. From this point until death, no new genetic information is needed to make the unborn entity a unique individual human.

Quote

This is why French geneticist Jermoe L. LeJeune, while testifying before a Senate Subcommittee, asserted:

To accept the fact that after fertilization has taken place a new human has come into being is no longer a matter of taste or opinion. The human nature of the human being from conception to old age is not a metaphysical contention, it is plain experimental evidence.

It is vital that you -- the reader -- understand that...

You did not come from a zygote.

You once were a zygote.

You did not come from an embryo.

You once were an embryo.

You did not come from a fetus.

You once were a fetus.

You did not come from an adolescent.

You once were an adolescent.

But have we gone so far as mixing DNA to create hybrids? We have attempted pig heart transplants in the past.

I recall a bible prophecy stating "37 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.38 "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,39 "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. "

It is found in the book of Matthew chapter 24. The coming of the Son of Man refers to the rapture of the true church. Noah was found to be righteous with God. He with his immediate family were saved by the Ark. We recall the story from Sunday school.

The Noah story is found in Genesis chapter 6. The chapter makes reference to 'sons of God' taking the 'daughters of men' as wives, creating offspring referred to as 'giants' and men of name.

Some scholars believe Noah not only found grace, but was also pure in genetics. These sons of God and daughters of men had created a different gene pool.

This thought came to me as I watched the tickler, referring to 99.9% human and 1% animal. With the stem cell research, we could easily begin to change our gene pool.

You can view some videos of embryos here.

"What we've found is not normal, based on either observational studies or on computer simulations of the large-scale evolution of the Universe," Williams said.

I found this quote very interesting in the full article. University of Minnesota astronomers have found an enormous hole in the Universe, nearly a billion light-years across. The empty space is void of stars, galaxies, gas and the mysterious unseen dark matter.

"Not only has no one ever found a void this big, but we never even expected to find one this size," said Lawrence Rudnick of the University of Minnesota astronomy professor. Rudnick, along with grad student Shea Brown and associate professor Liliya Williams, also of the University of Minnesota, reported their findings in a paper accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.

The finding surprised the Astronomers. As quoted by Williams, the finding is not normal with their idea of 'large-scale of evolution of the Universe'.

The article goes onto trying to explain the absence of anything in roughly 6-10 billion light years from Earth by using 'dark matter' as the cause.

Members of APEC are to be in their yearly meeting to discuss free trade, ect. However, this year, it seems terrorism, free trade, security will not be on the forefront of discussion. Rather, the big concern is the weather. Yes, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, is pushing for the climate change to be the hot topic (pun included).

The countries that make up APEC are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. India is keen to join.

Climate Expected to Top Asia-Pacific Meeting Agenda
By Patrick Goodenough
CNSNews.com International Editor
September 04, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - World trade and security will be on the table, but as Asia-Pacific leaders gather in Sydney, Australia, this week the issue of climate change looks set to dominate the headlines.

Some of the 21 nations whose leaders will attend the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting are unhappy with the environmental focus at a forum historically aimed at promoting free trade.

But Australian Prime Minister John Howard is set on achieving some kind of climate agreement, noting that the leaders of the world's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) -- the "greenhouse gas" many scientists blame for climate change -- will be attending.

With the presidents of the United States, China and Russia among those around the table, progress on the issue was vital, Howard told a press conference in Sydney.

He noted that the APEC meeting comes ahead of two major climate events -- a conference of major economies called by President Bush in Washington later this month, and the annual meeting of the U.N.'s climate change body in Bali, Indonesia, in December.

"Nobody is arguing you can fix climate change at the [Sydney] meeting," he said. "If we can get some consensus on a way forward on climate change out of a body including America, Russia and China, that's a huge step forward."

President Bush, who was due to arrive in Sydney later Tuesday after a surprise stopover in Iraq, said ahead of leaving Washington that climate change would be an important part of the APEC meeting.

"If you're truly interested in dealing with greenhouse gases, people need to focus on the development of technologies that will enable us to, on the one hand, grow our economies, on the other hand, be good stewards of the environment," he said.

Bush said the Australian prime minister would take the lead on the issue, "and the United States will play a constructive role."

Bush and Howard have been berated by environmental activists for years for their antipathy towards the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 international treaty that requires industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by set amounts by 2012.

Arguing that legally mandated emission curbs would harm their economies, the U.S. and Australia -- a major coal exporter -- were alone among industrialized nations to reject the protocol. They also criticized the fact that countries like China and India, although major emitters, were exempt from mandatory reductions under Kyoto because they are considered "developing" nations.

The U.N. meeting in Bali in December aims to discuss a successor agreement to Kyoto for the post-2012 period.

Howard's proposals are believed to involve goals to reduce "energy intensity" in the APEC region -- not Kyoto-style mandatory emission cuts.

On Monday, the Australian leader reiterated his view on Kyoto.

"We do not believe that continuing down the Kyoto path is going to provide a solution to the problem," he said. "We think that will be a recipe for a partial and ultimately ineffective response to a growing problem. What I would like to see the APEC meeting in Sydney do is develop a consensus on a post-Kyoto international framework that attracts participation by all emitters."

Speaking in Washington late last week, Dan Price, deputy national security advisor for international economic affairs, said the climate-related topics for discussion in Sydney would include energy efficiency, forestry, technology development, alternative energy and efforts to reduce barriers to trade in environmental goods and services.

'Undermining Kyoto'

Howard's plan to have climate change on an APEC forum agenda for the first time has drawn some opposition.

Malaysian Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz was quoted as saying neither Australia nor the U.S. had the credentials to use APEC as a forum to address climate change since they are not Kyoto signatories. Officials from several other Southeast Asian countries have also voiced unease.

Environmental activists in Australia are skeptical of Howard's agenda too -- and not only because he faces an uphill re-election campaign in the coming months.

Greenpeace called on APEC countries to reject Howard's "efforts to undermine the Kyoto Protocol."

"Real action on climate change means moving away from coal and shifting to clean, renewable energy -- and we don't have the luxury of time for expensive talkfests that have no concrete outcomes," said Ben Pearson, energy campaigner for Greenpeace.

In an open letter to APEC leaders, the Climate Action Network Australia urged them to embrace Kyoto.

"To avoid dangerous climate change, a post-2012 agreement must be built using the architecture of the Kyoto Protocol: absolute emission reduction targets for developed countries, and expanded mechanisms that facilitate contributions from developing countries," said the group, a branch of the international Climate Action Network.

"The very best way for Mr. Howard to demonstrate international leadership at APEC would be for him to get together with President Bush and ratify the Kyoto Protocol," said another organization, the Australian Conservation Foundation.

'Support, don't attack'

During his four-day visit to Australia, Bush will also hold one-on-one talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and several other leaders, a three-way breakfast meeting with Howard and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and a meeting with the leaders of Southeast Asian nations.

As has become commonplace during such gatherings, demonstrations are expected by various groups campaigning against free trade, globalization and U.S. foreign and environmental policies.

Howard has taken the unusual step of posting a clip on the video-sharing Website YouTube urging protesters to refrain from violence at the summit.

Anyone planning to be disruptive, he said, should "stop for a moment and consider that if they really are worried about the issues such as poverty, security and climate change, then they should support APEC and not attack it."







Major security precautions put in place in Sydney include a steel and concrete fence designed to keep protestors -- and terrorists -- away from the 21 leaders and their delegations. Some 5,000 police and troops will be on duty.

Members are APEC are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. India is keen to join.

I was a bit surprised to see this post on Stop the ACLU.

A video shows Presidential nominee Mike Huckabee, speaking about a Federal law ensuring a smoking ban in all public places.

I seen some other sites commenting on this discussion of public smoking ban.

Most feel this same way. Note this comment I found.




"Last month I saw Mike Huckabee give a talk. I was impressed, especially because Fred Thompson spoke directly after Huckabee and Huckabee's talk was head and shoulders better than Thompson's. But I will never, ever vote for Huckabee. Huckabee wants a national ban on smoking in public places . I don't smoke. I never have and I never will. But there is no change I will never consider voting for a candidate that wants to limit freedom like Huckabee wants to. People should be allowed to decide what workplace, restaurant, and public place they want to create."

Conservatively, I think Huckabee would be the best Presidential Candidate. However, do we really want to go toward federal laws regarding people's choice of consumption?

I can understand the thought process of 'helping' people by putting up these kind of things. However, too often, a good intention turns the wrong way for the outcome. I can see the federally mandated smoking ban eventually happening. Already, we see Disney stating they are removing smoking scenes from their movies. This national push to remove smoking seems to be a unstoppable snowball effect.

Yet, we don't see similar pushes for other health issues. (shrugging shoulders)

I have to travel via the airport once a quarter to Philly. I noticed in the news tighter scrutiny is being done by the TSA. Not so much regarding those possible hidden weapons, rather apparel.

Take this poor chap.




He wasn't allowed to board due to his shirt stating "We will not be silent" written in arabic and english. The full story is found here. Of course he filed a lawsuit with the ACLU. You can view the whole thing here

Recently in the news, talk of new restrictions by TSA include pulling those aside with headgear. Yes, this includes cowboy hats, berets, ect. However, one religion is more none for headgear than others.

No not this one.



This one.



And they are not happy.

Respectively, I agree all the non-essential body wear should be removed and scanned. I have to pull my shoes, jackets, ect off. Why not add a hat?

But I am concern with the t-shirt issue. As my 5 readers know, I normally wear christian t-shirts, even through the airport. If they were to pull or delay someone wearing a shirt with "We will not be silent", why not doing the same with a shirt stating "Jesus is the only way to heaven" ?

I fear to see the airport to become more and more 'religion/free speech sterile'.

I went ahead and ordered two new christian movies. I found a site that sells Christian Movies. They should be in 2-5 days. I will post a review on them, most likely.




I originally found this one. It doesn't look to be long, but I am fascinated with the spiritual warfare.

This movie was named the number one movie of the whole website. Since I use to be into UFO's, I figured I would check it out as well.

A blogger by the name of Zombie had posted a really detailed post regarding te Al-Harmain case against the Bush Administration. I passed over some of the legal mumbo jumbo. I would plead to all to take a read. It was very interesting. It regards to the charity front Al-Harmain found to be supplying funds to terrorist. It shows to be a complicating legal case asking, 'should the government be allowed to eavesdrop on anyone suspected of terrorist acts'.

I was so impressed,I am adding Zombie to my list of Need to Read.

Seems the homicides, murders, and arrest_release of illegal immigrants are getting more and more attention these days.
I can't really blame United States frustrated with this issue. I am just glad they are becoming more aware of it.

I suspect the regular politics will be played on either side, depending on the agenda.

The States are frustrated Congress cannot pass a federal legislation bill regarding the illegal immigrants. So more and more states are proposing tougher proposals against them.

"By the time most legislatures adjourned in May, at least 1,100 immigration bills had been submitted by lawmakers, more than double last year's record total, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This year's total is expected to grow as the issue continues to dominate debate in statehouses still in session."
source June 25, 2007.

In Oklahoma HOUSE BILL 1804 was passed and will go into effect November 1, 2007.

I won't duplicate it here, but if you have time it's a good read. Basically, it makes it unlawful to harbor, employ, ect. with illegal immigrants. It also cuts out funding, services to illegal immigrants.

It's a tough bill, that removes Oklahoma from the possible "sanctuary cities".
I will be curious to see if the bordering states will follow pursuit. Now if only they will stick to the new laws.


News from the Loft.

Triple murder in NJ by an illegal immigrant couldn't have happened in Arizona
Posted by Rachel Alexander
August 23, 2007 at 11:45 pm

The triple murderer in Newark, NJ, who had been released on bail previously for sexually assaulting a minor and an assault in a bar wouldn't have been freed on bail to commit those murders had he lived in Arizona, thanks to a law Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas helped draft and get passed last fall prohibiting bail for illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes. It's overdue for other jurisdictions to follow the lead of Phoenix and pass laws like this to prevent this from happening again.

The three execution-style murders that occurred on August 4, 2007 in Newark, New Jersey by an illegal immigrant and other suspects has set off an outcry around the country against local authorities who ignore the status of illegal immigrants who commit serious crimes. These authorities allow them to remain in the country where they may commit more crimes or flee punishment by escaping the country.

Here in Arizona, thanks to the passage of Proposition 100, which I helped draft and campaigned for last year, tragic situations like this are being averted. Illegal immigrants arrested for serious crimes are held without bail, and Immigrations & Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) is notified.

The illegal immigrant responsible for the Newark triple homicides, Jose Carranza, was indicted earlier this year on 31 counts relating to the sexual assault of a girl under age 9 that took place over a span of four years. He was indicted again last month for an assault in a bar. Yet both times he was released on bail.

The Newark authorities didn't bother to notify I.C.E. about Carranza. Carranza was released on $50,000 bail in the assault case and $150,000 bail in the sexual assault indictment. While out on bail the second time, he allegedly shot four victims execution-style, forcing them to their knees and then shooting them in the back of the head. Only one survived.

Arizonas Proposition 100 prohibits bail for illegal immigrants accused of serious crimes. A separate constitutional provision approved by the voters prohibits bail for defendants accused of rape or child molestation. Had the Carranza case occurred in Arizona, both Prop 100 and the second provision would have denied him bail. His immigration status would have been flagged and he would have been held without bail until sentencing and inevitable imprisonment. And in the future, upon release from prison, I.C.E. would be notified to pick him up and deport him.

Local authorities are slowly reacting to these types of grievous crimes and taking steps finally to prevent these situations from happening in the future. Newark city councilman Ron Rice says he will propose legislation which would require the police to notify I.C.E. immediately when a suspected illegal immigrant is arrested for a felony. I encourage all local authorities around the country to follow the lead of Arizona and pass measures similar to Prop 100.

Not only have I began to change this template around, I have created 5 additional pages on my Video site!

I found a site that had a real cool way to pull in a number of videos in a small horizontal bar. I have taken it and modified it a bit for my own means. Yeah, call me a hack.

If you want to check out the new pages, check them out here.

• Ask A Ninja


• Sexy French Maids


• HAK 5


• Lonely Girl 15


• Hacking

I plan to create additional pages, as I find the time. I am not totally satisfied with this template on the blog, nor the new pages. However, it's a start.

I enjoyed the weekend with the family, even though half of the family was sick with the allergies. I am looking forward to next weekend. I should be off Labor Day, without being on call! I had call all this week, but knock on wood, it wasn't that bad.

I have also been trying to learn this adsense phenomena. Hopefully, I won't be too far behind the eight ball.

I am attempting a new template for the Blog. I had to upgrade the template in the dashboard, then chose another template. I noticed now they are all XML files.

How To Share Videos With Your Friends And Get Paid! Click Here.

IPCONFIG

See more videos Tutorials

I was pleasantly glad to be home yesterday. It was great to see the kids and wife.

I had been awaken 4 a.m est ( 3 my regular time ) and bounded out to the airport. I arrived plenty of time for the ticket and security line. Fortunately, both were open when I arrived.

The one food stop in the airport that was open that early had plenty of customers for their coffee and bagels.

No issues on the plane or trip home. I grabbed a protein shake in Dallas Airport on my connecting flight.

I guess the two difficult things occur when I get home after being gone for a week.

• 1) I get into a mindset when I am surrounded in my corporate work enviroment. This is difficult for me to break on my first night home. Up there, my focus is on my work and I have a small amount of flexibility to do exactly what I want to do. That may be something as simple as working on my laptop as I push through the channels. The point, is my environment surrounds me and I have total control of it. When I arrive home, my focus is on the family and I do not have control of my environment.
  
• 2) I get so freaking tired. While I am up there, I am constantly driving my body and mind to stay sharp and keep moving. I get so hyped while I am up there. The massive amounts of freely availible caffeine also helps. However, when I arrive home, I start unwinding and my energy high, goes down. I know it's part of that calming down due to being in a safe environment, but it doesn't hold well when I am falling out early.
  

Man, I am ready to get home. I had the opportunity to go out with some friends this evening. We hit Trader Joes and Whole foods to check out the organics.

I am already packed and ready. I have the wakeup call for 4 a.m. est. My flight out is 7:45 a.m.

I believe of the full day today, the most interesting was our KeyNote speakers this morning.

One of them was Chris Gardner. This is the guy where the movie 'The Pursuit of Happyness' was base of. Very good speaker. I plan to ask Siemens if I can get a copy of the speech.






I hit the hotel before 5 p.m. and caught up some of my work, since we were in classes all day.

It's already 8:30 p.m. I must admit. My thoughts regarding the School Board that is to happen tonight back home also lays on my mind.

I was up by 6:22 a.m. est this morning. I didn't really want to be up that early, just happen that I could not sleep. The hotel breakfast wasn't too bad.
It allowed me to get some things done for work while I waited for the time to be able to register for the convention.

Since I had chinese last night, I was looking for a philly cheesesteak or something like it. Around 10:30 a.m. I walked around and everything was freaking closed. I finally backtracked to the hotel and asked for a nearby sandwich shop. They suggested the train terminal. sigh.

I walked back the 3 blocks and a 7-11 happen to be there. I went in and grabbed a salad and sandwich with a couple of snack items. At least it was open. By the time I was back in the hotel it was after 11 a.m.


8 p.m. and I am already back at the hotel this Sunday evening. I was able to see a friend from the company, I haven't seen in more than one year. It was good to see him. I also was able to see a few other friends in which I haven't seen in over a year.

Looks to be a fast week now that we have started the convention. I noticed in the mirror I have a bit of s sun on my neck and face from all the walking.

I thought I was going to be on call this week, but it seems its the following. That is a bit of a relief. Seems last week and this weekend, on-call has been pretty bad.

I made it in Philly around 5 p.m. est.

Taxi was 26.50 just to get to the hotel. I unloaded the suitcase and headed to china town for some decent food.



It wasn't too bad. I was filled to the gills before I left.

I backtracked to the hotel then off to 13th and Market Street in search of the Galleria mall. It ended up under 10th street.

What I found fascinating was the walk to and fro. On the sidewalk to 10th, a couple of guys with Mic's were addressing the street about the second coming of Jesus.
In front of Kmart a guy had two very large boa constricters allowing anyone to have them to hold them for pictures. On the way back to 13th street on the opposite side of the 'second coming of Jesus Christ, with the new heirarchy', another guy was addressing the white man taking over the black communities. It was interesting to say the least.

I forget how quickly one can get around when so desired.

I set my alarm for 6 a.m. so I can get up and around this morning. I didn't want to be late to the airport. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep last night. I just don't before I travel. At 5:22 a.m. I am looking at the clock on my own. Oh well.

I already went through the house twice, and packed my elecronics (laptop aside). It is now 20 minutes before 7 a.m. and I am considering to leave already.

My wife will be glad to know, I have accomplished everything on my list (wink).

I was planning to watch "The Bourne Ultimatim" last night, but didn't make it. My dad had plans to watch something at home, so the night at the movies fell through.

That's OK, I caught up on my shows I have been recording all week. Most of them anyway.

I did manage to see the new SciFi FlashGordon show. I was disappointed to say the least. During the first part of the show, I was thinking it might get better. However, when it leaked a hint of intrique, it was over. the commercials hinted the old 80's movie theme song. Yet, it never played during the pilot episode. I could see where the writers attempted to keep some of the plot lines of the movie. However, a remote associaton is at best. Sigh. Oh well. It's not a show I will keep up with.

At this time, I am officially hooked on 3 shows; Deadzone, Mind Control with Derren Brown, and Burn Notice. I have my DVR set for each. (smile).

I am having to go to Philidelphia this weekend for work. I leave Saturday morning. I will be gone for the most part of next week.

In the past, when I travel, something normally comes up at home. Usually one of the family members becomes sick, or family drama happens.

This time, Kel decided to take the kids to Amarillo, while I am gone. This way, it will be less likely to get hit with something, plus a nice visit with her family is added.

Work, eat, sleep man. Work, eat, sleep.

I have been cruising the net to see if I can find a means to pull in some extra dough. I ran across this software called Keyword Elite. It's a software showing you how to capitalize on your adsense, adwords, meta keynames, ect.

It looks like a good software program. Has anyone else checked it out? I pulled one of their free ebooks and posted it here if you want to check it out.

The book in entitled "Google Adwords Made Easy".
Some things the Free Ebook offers are "10 Minutes to instant Web Traffic", Adwords Keyword Strategies", "Finding Profitable Keywords'.

I plan to read it and check it out.

You can also simply right click this link and download a free copy yourself.

Well, I didn't actually rent a guy movie for the weekend. Rather, I caught up with my shows.

I had "Burn Notice" recorded from the last two weeks and about 4 "Enterprise" shows recorded. I also was able to check out the new Derren Brown show Mind Control. I think the most fascinating part of Mind Control was the showing of 'how' ideas are implemented in peoples sub-conscience.

I was able to view Mind Control, both Burn Notice shows and one Enterprise. I also managed to drink a cold Corona. Yes, it was good.

Even though I was up till nearly midnight last night and awoke 6:30 this morning, I actually feel refreshed.


Yesterday, Kel repainted our bathroom, while I repainted the bedroom ceiling. We started early and completed it by 1:20 p.m. That pretty much wiped us out. : )