Middle America's Worldview

When I was younger, I was the prodigy of fixing the computer. No. I didn't know that much about it. I just happen to know more than the 'ahem' older generation. VCR's, cable setup, whatever it was, no match to my prowess of youth knowledge. During these times, it was simply commented "the kids these days know more than the adults". Yeah buddy.

Now I am the adult and ironically I find myself thinking the same dang thing. It started with the game StarFox. First off, the game rocks. The kids and I play together at the same time. Usually we war against each other. The last couple of weeks, simply put, the kids have been kicking my butt in the game. I use to knock them out or at least maintain a feasible battle.

Alas, the games now last a whopping 3 minutes 21 seconds maximum. The last 1.5 minutes is me running my A$$ off trying to get away. LOL

Today on our trip to Devils Den, we made a stop at Target. The wife's favorite store. We found the Game Boy Advance cable to allow them to link up the GBA's together. They have Fire Red and Green Leaf Pokemon games. Anyway, I'm looking all over the net trying to figure out how this is suppose to work. Connect them, they go to some location within their games and they are suppose to be provided a means to play "together". I couldn't find the specifics online. Most of my searches were cluttered with referrals to the GameCube link not the Game Boy Advance (GBA) link.

I then referred to the Green Leaf / Fire Red magazine, no go. At the end, my soon to be 9 year old daughter found the specifics adn proceeded to inform me how to do it.

Sure enough, the process worked. Now both are trading pokemon between games, battling each other. I am sitting here with thoughts of the past, where I was the kid outsmarting the adult. The tables are turning. Sigh.

Out of curiousity, I looked up the commands for netstat. Seems you can do a "netstat -n" from your dos prompt and it will show all your current IP's and ports in use. Think of the IP's as houses (pc's) and the ports as doors (ways in and out).

Anyway, I did this on my home pc. It came up to about 11 in use showing connected. Hmm, so what are all these foriegn IP's? Most were simply our cable provider. However, one came up as a RIPE. You see, I did a whois inquiry on some IP's. I didn't recognize that one. So I went onto their little link to do the IP inquiry again. The results are below.

Query the RIPE Database
Search for


Switch to the RIPE TEST Database


% This is the RIPE Whois query server #2.
% The objects are in RPSL format.
%
% Note: the default output of the RIPE Whois server
% is changed. Your tools may need to be adjusted. See
% http://www.ripe.net/db/news/abuse-proposal-20050331.html
% for more details.
%
% Rights restricted by copyright.
% See http://www.ripe.net/db/copyright.html
% Note: This output has been filtered.
% To receive output for a database update, use the "-B" flag
% Information related to '213.93.171.0 - 213.93.171.255'
inetnum: 213.93.171.0 - 213.93.171.255
netname: ROTTERDAM-CUSTOMER-CABLE
descr: Chello Rotterdam
descr: Cablemodems DHCP
country: NL
admin-c: HMCB1-RIPE
tech-c: HMCB1-RIPE
status: ASSIGNED PA
remarks: Contact abuse@chello.nl concerning criminal
remarks: activities like spam, hacks, portscans
mnt-by: CHELLO-MNT
source: RIPE # Filtered
role: Hostmaster Chello Broadband
address: UPC Broadband
address: Internet Services
address: Erlachgasse 116
address: A-1100 Vienna
address: Austria

The connection was on a very high port. Check out the address location (I bolded it)...Austria. No clue as to the who and the why. I did a simple Telnet onto the foriegn IP and that high port number. It connected right up. I don't know any Telnet commands. I just use it to verify ports are open for work. It wasn't connected for very long. The connection ended. I did another netstat -n command and low-behold, no more connection to that IP and high port from my home pc.

I just thought it was pretty interesting.

Today and tomorrow. That's the thought I have this morning. I am knocking out two interface lives today for work. I have church team-kids tonight. I will be apologizing for not going last Wednesday to the other girls. I guess I could whine about working but in reality, I could have pushed myself to do it. It's my fault for not going and I will have to own up to it.

We plan to go to Devils Den Friday. We initially considered to camp out Thursday night. Only 17 bucks will grant you a river bank spot. However, after consideration, we will only drive up to it Friday morning and do a hike. I am psyched to get out and do some walking in the woods. I haven't been to Devil's Den in years. My brother and I went when we were barely out of high-school. Just the two of us taking a brotherly drive. So long ago.

We had 30 percent chance of showers for tomorrow. However, drops are already falling outside. Thunder is rolling around as well. I have a couple of windows and the doors open enjoying the cool breeze.

Kel and the kids are having to go to Austin in about 3 weeks. I will remain home on this trip. I'm already planning on a couple of projects to do while they are away. (smile)

Today I thought I would run to the video store and grab Sneakers. I still wanted to watch it. I am just that type, get something going and want to run with it.

I caught the end National Geographics_Hollywood Science: Spy Gadgets. This only emphasized my desire to watch both Sneakers and Enemy of the State. Both great movies and both movies I do not currently own.

Anyway, I ran to the small movie place to grab the old movie, hoping to get the 5 movies for 5 dollars. But alas, no Sneakers. No way. I asked about it. They actually sold it. I guess it was in tape format. They did however have Enemy of the State. So tonight, I am watching it in the living room as my poor sick wife is already in bed with meds.

I can't help being fascinated with the idea of spy gadgets, hacking into other systems, ect.

Watching the movie Enemy of the State can scare the crap out of you. The actual possibilty is totally plausible.

As of 2002 Great Britain has installed more than 1.5 million video cameras in public places. That's alot of freaking eyes on the public.

Great Britain isn't the only ones going with the public video cameras. Check out
Public cameras accost privacy.

What's even more interesting to me is the fact there are probably more individuals out there with their phone cameras, ect uploading pics, videos ect on the net.

Kel and I went out Friday night without the kids. What does two wild and crazy kids do after 11 years of marriage on their own? Go Christmas shopping of course.

Actually, it was really nice. A slow walk down the aisles without the feeling of being rushed is a sad, but now enjoyable task.

We went into Toys-R-Us more as a why not then a actual dedicated store to hit. I am glad we did. Not only did we learn of the new Nintendo DS Lites, but we found a coveted movie, Lucario and the mystery of Mew.

Why is this blasted thing so hard to find? It was released September 19th. Being a Pokemon new dvd movie, I was expecting it to be everywhere. Or is my kids the only ones still hooked on these things like crack?

Last Thursday, I hit Blockbuster and picked up the new Barbie movie, but no Pokemon. The two girls (they are pretty much all girls anymore), had no clue what I was talking about, upon my inquiry. Walmart didn't have them. I went to my last resource in this area. I called up Best Buy. They normally have the et-all of animation. Nada. Not only did they not find it, but stated it was on backorder. They suggested I go online. Wow. So, we planned to buy it online.

This was one of those rare times my apathy paid off. I didn't buy it online immediately. When we were walking causaually walking through Toys-R-Us, I found the blasted movie.

This was found Friday night. I made the kids wait for me to watch it together last night. Yeah, I'm hooked on them too.

Gotta Catch them all
Consider this one caught!

One of the perks working for Pepsi is to grab some soda cheap. Their best deal involves their 20oz drinks. One case for $7.01. That's including tax. Below is 3 cases.

I am able to buy up to 3 cases per week. That's 24-20oz soda's for an easy $21.04. This is the first week I bit into it. I was expecting a plastic packaged type for the purchased soda. However, they came the same way I see them in the backroom.

Let me give you an idea of how much 20 ounce drinks Walmart churns out of those coolers by their aisles. I easily put in 5-8 cases in the mornings. I then put an additional 3-4 more before I leave that evening. This is one of their slow stores containing only 4 coolers. I kid you not. The biggest commodity in the store I merchandise? Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Diet Dew.

What's more is these babies are the most profitable in their soda selling venue. In this area, a cold 20 ounce drink goes for around $1.18. I can buy from the companies vending the same cold soda for .25 cents. Considering the giant industry probably contracted it for less than a quarter a piece, that's some major profit.

I was looking to watch Sneakers tonight. I looked all over the house for it, and could not find the blasted thing.

Sneakers was based off of the illustrous hacker Ian Murphy.
I didn't know Sneakers was based on the hacker Ian Murpy. Bummer, I was looking forward to watching it tonight.

I settled for Antitrust instead. I have it in dvd as well. Another great movie.

Man, yesterday I felt like doing nothing. I mean to really do nothing. I was just blah all day. I had woke up at 3 a.m. with the wide-a-wakes. I cruised the net for awhile and tried to get back in bed and have at least a couple more hours of sleep. No-go.

So yesterday, all day, I was in a blah. I fell out last night before 10 a.m., listening to the issue with Dog the Bounty Hunter. Unreal, that one is. Parts of our Government are pissing and moaning about listening in on terrorist, but a U.S. Citizen is forced out of our country because he is willing to "get the rapist", something is just wrong with that picture.

I'm not griping about the new job, yet. I actually love it. It's not brain surgery and it's providing me some excercise, without a beating. Kel and I was talking this morning and we counted up how many days I have worked since starting. It's been 28 days minus one (took that Labor day off), I have worked in a row. Wow. Time really does fly.

This morning, I am sucking down the coffee, trying to get these silver dollars out of my eyes. I have to make a run to grab my check, and some needed grocery items later today. That's the plan anyway.

I totally changed my template out. I grew tired of the old one and was seriously cruising the net today in the hope of finding one that fits my current mood.

This came to the closest I could find. I still need to tweak it a bit, but I am currently satisfied with it.

I kept most of the blogs I read daily, due to the fact, I simply read them. LOL

I removed a bunch of my links of interest and added different ones. I never really went into the old list. I will be converting this blog to a portal for my blogging as well as a spring board of my interest. So that will probabaly mean my list of interest will change more often.

If you have any links that coincide with my current new list of interest, please let me know.

Work, eat and sleep. This is the mantra I have heard all my life. Many times, I find myself repeating this same mantra when asked "how are things going". I kick myself when I catch it afterwards. I think life should be more than the ant. But then again, perhaps I am wrong.

I'm the personality type, I need to work for someone else. Meaning, if I was not married and alone, I could pretty much live in a apartment all my life with no real goals. However, having a wife and children, I push myself to further my career, work two jobs to not only acquire the house we are living in, but working to remove excess debt. In short, making a better living for the family in whole, rather than living day by day.

I see what the t.v. ads push. 40 is the new 20, ect. To me this only tells me people are still getting older, but this generation doesn't want too. You can be 50 and feel like 30 with that new sports car. Oh well. What else do you really expect from a franchise wishing to sale you anything and everything for a profit.

I am glad I chose not to push for the boyscouts in town. I would be the one running the thing. I simply do not have the time for it. In order for me to do something, I would want it done correctly for the maximum benefit. That's just the way it should be. I realize that by not doing something half way, you essentially do not even allow it to get off the ground. However, it seems in this town, if you don't ho the row to the end, it won't get done.

The weekend went as fast as normal. It was my first solo run on my route with my new part time job. I think I did good. I wasn't late and I was told, nearly everyone's first time, they are always late. I get tired, physically, but hey that's the breaks. It's a extra 150 bucks per weekend.

I had to purchase two new Nintendo Gamecube controllers. We had four. One had broken (toggle) in the past. Since normally it's just the kids and I play it, it didn't hinder us. However, yesterday I received a call informing me another one had broke. So I grabbed 2 during my lunch. I was speaking to the gamers in the store and it seems Final Fantasy 12 is coming out. I remember playing Final Fantasy on super nintendo. Now there are movies and number 12 coming out. wow.

I have to mention this. I spoke with a Walmart supervisor this weekend and the rumour of Walmart to stop lay-a-way is true. The last day to put on a lay-a-way is around November 15-18 this year. You must have it out by end of December. They will not continue it starting next year. In addition, it appears they will begin to have their associates (everone working for walmart is considered a associate) to wear uniforms. They must start wearing slacks. I wonder why the 'new professional look' is being devised.

I recall when I was a kid, we use to always say "Jinx you owe me a coke." Of course we always had drank Pepsi when I was growing up. Regardless it was the saying.

This of course happened when two people said the exact same thing at the same time. Whoever made the Jinx statement would get a free drink.

My two kids have learned this somewhere, not sure where. For the last two months (at least) I have continued to hear "Jinx! You owe me a soda!" from the two of them.

The statement has been changed to soda, but the concept is similiarly the same.

Here is what I hear at least 3 times a day now.

Kids make a similiar statement (to them it doesn't have to be the same).
Both at the same time screams "Jinks! You owe me a soda!"
Then both very fast babbles..."jinx, jinx, jinx, jinx, jinx, jinx,"
This goes on for a full minute.

Sigh. I recall this when I was a kid, but not over and over and over.

Looking forward to Friday. The kids are going to their Nana and Papa's tomorrow night. I am still working the weekends. Yet, the fact I have some alone quality time with my wife brings me joy. Even though, we may do no more than the fact of being together. There is just something about being with her. Even after 11 years of marriage, I find her company great.

I have to put a plug in for Bluebird

Autumn is my favorite time of the year, and it's just right around the corner. To celebrate the beginning of the season, I'm having a contest for 2 lucky people to win a totally free, completely customized blog design from Bluebird Blogs.

Information on how to enter:
- Send an email with your name and blog address to bluebirdblogs@gmail.com.
- Your name will be entered into the drawing.
- Entries will be accepted from 7:00pm EST on Thursday 9/15/06 until 11:59pm EST on Friday 9/22/06.

*Bonus* - Mention this contest in a post on your blog and receive 5 extra entries into the drawing!

The winner will be announced on http://bluebirdblogs.blogspot.com on the morning of Saturday, September 23rd, 2006 . Good luck to everyone!

Thanks so much,
~Susie

Anyway, I am giving the kids a spelling test at the moment. Britt and I just finished watching E.T. I kept conveying to them, "it's a classic". So the daughter watched it with me but the son didn't want to have anything to do with it. I had to rent it, when I seen it at the video store. A cool buck for 5 day rental. Fortunately we have a 5 movie-5 day - for 5 bucks deal at a local video store.

Is it me, or is life flying? We are hitting the middle of this month already and 3 months it's Christmas again. Sigh.

Wednesday morning at 3:44 a.m. local time and I am looking at the clock. Unreal.

For the lack of sleep this week, one would think I would not be looking at the clock this blasted early.


Last night, I met the kids and wife in Fort Smith to eat. I took the kids off to the library. It provides the kids and I some time away from the house to study and also allow Kel some time alone.

I noticed this mornign my Q and A blog is back up and running. So now I have one blog with 20 posts back up and another one with 2 posts. Sigh. What to do, what to do. Maybe, I will make one a missionary site and another one retain it as the Q and A site. I don't know yet.

Kel was really impressed with Blue Bird blog templates we are looking to upgrade her blog.

I am looking into creating a Visual Basic program. Yeah, like I have time. It provides me something to put my mind on that is different and perhaps have some self satisfaction when it's complete.

Guess I better get the trash out since it's trash day and move around a bit.

As I commented in my last post, I didn't see either docu-drama. Sunday night, I took the kids to watch Cars on the big screen. It was playing at a 2.50 Mall Trio. Monday night I had a school board meeting. It lasted till nearly 9 p.m.
I guess I will have to catch it on a re-run (if they replay it) or most likely rent it on dvd when it comes out. I am sure it will hit your nearest blockbuster soon.

Regarding Cars, it was a good movie. My wife took our kids to see it shortly after it originally hit the theaters. I wasn't able to go at that time. Since it was only 2.50 and I wanted to spend some outside quality time, we went Sunday night. It comes out in November and this one will be another Pixar Animation we will own. Disney cannot make any story lines of their own, so by utilizing Pixar it appears they are keeping themselves afloat in the movie buisiness. Personally, I cannot recall any new movie Disney actually have created on their own for some time. I don't call these spinoffs of their original movies creative. If you notice most of the other movies, like Chronicles of Narnia have been adapted from other sources.

Regarding work, yesterday wasn't too bad at my primary job. I was officially certified at Pepsi last Saturday and ran my new dedicated route Sunday. There were four routes open and I quickly chose the one where Saturday and Sunday ended at 4:30 p.m. local time. It takes me into Greenwood. Next weekend I will be running it alone. I am actually glad I have a dedicated route. Now I can just get these store floorplans down, and I will be good to go. However, what will be nice is the fact Pepsi pays every Thursday. If I am looking at this right, I should be getting a bit over 100 bucks a week. This part time job should be working out. I don't have to be up till 3 a.m. and worry about getting only 3 hours of sleep at night during my weeks.

As I mentioned yesterday regarding the Path to 9-11, Clinton and his allies are really putting pressure for ABC to cut some of the movie out. Mainly showing the fallacies of the Clinton administration regarding the Terror War. He was too busy with the affairs.

On the flipside, CBS is showing a profanity show titled 9-11. It seems there are so much cursing on the show many affiliates and stations have requested the cursing to be removed.

Congress recently raised the maximum fine the FCC can impose for indecency from $32,500 to $325,000. Some complain that will lead to self-censorship, since many stations can’t afford to pay huge fines. Apparently CBS is not worried about the fines.

Piette isn't worried about getting slapped with big fines. Warnings about potentially offensive language will appear before and during the program, he said.

So we have the democrats and Clinton raising hell to remove some clippage from a film due to the fear of showing them weak on terror. Yet, no worries for another offensive language movie to air. Quite a contrast of interest.

Added comment:
Wow,I had heard the Dems and Clinton lovers were all over this, but I just now read the actual letter to Disney and ABC from the Dems. Check this out. I wasn't even going to watch this show, but after reading the letter provided by STOP THE ACLU, I will now watch it.

What's up with all the so called docu-drama's?

First we hear of the BBC docu-drama on the assassination of President Bush. In this docu-drama Bush gets assassinated by a sniper. Not hit, killed. It was created by a British film company and will be shown on BBC channel 4. The show is suppose to be set in the future and looking back on 2007 when the assassination occurred. Evidently the film maker Gabriel Range modified existing film of Bush to make it look like an assassination took place. It goes on to discuss the "polarisation of America in all the events post 9/11".

I am not sure if it will ever be viewed in the United States. But with the ability of tech such as Torrent, peer to peer, it can easily be acquired.

Meanwhile here in the United States, a docu-drama on Clinton is in play. Well it's actually called A path to 9-11. However, it's supposedly leans to Clinton as being too engrossed in his playtime with Monica Lewinsky to thwart 9-11. It plays on ABC this Sunday night without commercial interruption.

Irregardless, I wonder why now the docu-drama's?

A not so new search engine was show to us this week. The search engine is called Blingo and it's ran off of the Google engine. The difference on this one is the fact you can register to attempt to win something on it. From what I can gleam, the win is not based on the amount you search. Rather, it's setup to provide a prize on any given moment. If you happen to search on that moment, boom you win. THe prizes range from a $25 Visa up to a Apple Ipod.

It seems the key to winning would be to have as many people to register under you as possible. If someone registers under you, ie Join link and wins, you win too.

So basically, if you want to search, try out Blingo since it utilizes the same engine as google, and a possibility to win something.

The only concern, I would have is the fact you register your email. Just another means to have someone track you on the net.

And yes, I shamelessly put the join link on my blogs. (smile)

Since the elections are coming up, I thought I would post this survey I found. I also noticed Sean Hannity has now been pretty much stating, the Republicans could very well lose the house this year. Seems, the babble of both parties are increasing as we draw near to the vote. I personally wonder if the nearing of the vote is the reason for the drop in gas prices.

I spoke with a Liberterian on his thoughts regarding the Republicans losing the house or even (gast) worse, the possibility of a Demo getting the Presidency. Interesting enough, he didn't think either will be the case. This screaming from the media, democrats, ect. is just that. The far left have more outlets to be noticed. I hope he is right. I don't want to say, pick the lesser of two evils. Although, there are some things, I am truly not happy about regarding the Republican party, but realistically we cannot allow the far left to come into full power.

Churchgoing tied to November elections

By UPI Staff

United Press International

August 31, 2006

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- White U.S. voters who frequently go to church are more likely to vote Republican in November than white voters who do not, a Gallup survey said Wednesday.

Non-white voters are more likely to vote Democratic, regardless of church attendance, the survey said.

The number of white registered voters who frequently go to church -- meaning those who attend church services weekly or almost every week -- make up one-third of registered voters, the survey said. They are more likely to vote Republican by a margin of 24 percent.

The half of registered voters who are white but attend church monthly or less frequently are likely to vote Democratic by a 17-point margin.

The 16 percent of non-white registered voters, regardless of church attendance, intend to vote Democratic by a 59-point margin.

The telephone survey of more than 5,000 registered voters was conducted between June and August. It had a margin of error of 3 percent.

Since starting working part time with Pepsi, I am fascinated with the so called soda war. It appears those, in management, working for one soda company is totally against the purchase of the other soda products. How bad is it? If a Pepsi employee is caught buying or drinking Coke products, while on work, will be fired. On the other side of the coin, Coke actually informs their employees they cannot even eat lunch at a Pepsi serving food place. The first comes to my mind is Taco Bell, ect.

To me, this sounds pretty drastic. However, I can also see the implications of a employee wearing one brand and drinking the other. It sets a bad image to those viewing this spectacle.

Even if I find this drastic, I am told one long term employee will not allow his family to even bring into the house the competiter's items.

Like I said, it's interesting.

I found this to be interesting. Note the scientist are having a hard time understanding how well preserved this carcas can be, if it's really 77 million years old.

Mummified Brachylophosaurus holds secrets millions of years old
By KIM SKORNOGOSKI
Tribune Staff Writer


MALTA — The absolute latest in technology is helping solve a forensics mystery that is 77 million years old.

Five years ago in the badlands north of Malta, paleontologists uncovered a mummified duck-billed brachylophosauruses so well preserved that much of its skin and soft tissue parts remained along with its skeleton.

In the years since, scientists have wondered — if the skin was still there, what about its organs and tissues inside?

Technology has finally advanced enough to take a peek. And this week, 20 experts in various fields are X-raying and photographing Leonardo the dinosaur, even parts buried beneath thick sandstone.

"This specimen could be as important to the field of paleontology as the day Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon," said Nate Murphy, curator of paleontology at the Judith River Dinosaur Institute.

With just one of at least three days of X-raying complete, Murphy wasn't ready Tuesday to reveal the secrets Leonardo was whispering.

But the potential is amazing.

His stomach was filled with the fossilized pollen from 33 types of plants, enabling the paleontologists to recreate the world 77 million years ago.

Tuesday morning the scientists looked at the keratin forming Leonardo's beak, which, like cartilage, is usually dissolved in time.

Bob Bakker, whose theory that dinosaurs were warm-blooded revolutionized and invigorated the field, was on hand in Malta to analyze the recorded images.

He noticed that Leonardo's nose was incredibly hard and sharp, indicating that he used it like a machete to cut leafy branches off trees.

"For 130 years, we paleontologists have had a case of veggiecide," he said. "We suspected these dinosaurs were plant-eaters, but we didn't have the smoking jaws, the smoking gut."

Much of Leonardo remains covered in rock, to protect the fossilized skin, fragile tissues and bones. Until now, the technology didn't exist to look at what was beneath the sandstone.

Starting Monday, scientists and industry leaders donated their time and equipment to advance the study. Over the next 20 months, the Discovery Channel is filming the process for an extensive documentary.

Non-Destructive Testing Group shipped in more than 600 pounds of X-ray equipment for the scans.

The Michigan-based company normally uses the equipment for industrial purposes, like checking vehicles' steering controls for safety flaws.

CEO Bob Bills said this is the first time it's been used to look at dinosaurs.

The rays emit as much as 300 kilovolts on Leonardo. Each time the X-ray was used, the scientists evacuated the building, which was roped off as radiation reaches 30 feet beyond the steel walls.

Because the rays only damage living tissue, Leonardo's fragile remains will be completely unharmed.

The X-rays were combined with advanced imaging technology from Eastman Kodak that is 10 times as sensitive as film. In one shot, the plate collected the same images that would take dozens of cameras shooting different speeds of film to capture.

The computer then sifts through the layers of data, and for that matter sandstone, skin and bone, to Leonardo's insides.

"We might not have to uncover any more to see what's in there," said Kodak's Steve Mango. "Of course, Nate and Dr. Bakker were a lot more excited because they know what they're seeing."

The pair of paleontologists excitedly pointed at the black and gray blobs on the screen at what looked like an enlarged row of TicTacs lying on a mesh-like net. The images showed the top of Leonardo's vertebrae and the soft tissue that is buried under a layer of rock.

"This is really interesting," Murphy said, leaning to get a closer look at the computer screen.

"Oh! I can see it," Bakker exclaimed pointing.

"It looks so soft," Murphy said. "The images are getting clearer and clearer and we're seeing odd things."

One of the most important things discovered so far are half-inch specks that Bakker is jokingly calling blebs. Blebs are basically iron deposits left behind by bacteria.

The blebs are randomly spread throughout Leonardo's insides, and nowhere on the outside.

"This is telling us we have a hermetically sealed sarcophagus," Murphy said.

The evidence goes a long way to justify what many paleontologists are having a hard time believing — that Leonardo is as well preserved as Murphy says it is and how, after millions of years, that is even possible.

Beyond the blebs, Bakker is most interested in studying Leonardo's stomach and digestive system and his unusually long arms.

Unlike most Brachylophosauruses, his arms were long enough to touch the ground, but the joints weren't strong enough to support the dinosaur's weight.

Bakker theorizes that the arms may have been used to communicate with a wave or a dance. Or perhaps its fingers were sensitive enough to pick up sound waves from the ground, allowing the creatures to communicate with others miles away by stomping.

In October, Murphy plans to present his findings at a medical imaging conference in Houston.

Before that, other tests will be done. In September, scientists will be back to use an element scan to break down each type of atom in the bones and the dirt around them.

Art Andersen, an imaging specialist with Virtual Services Inc., said the scans could be used to examine forensic evidence that normally was removed to get to the bone.

That dirt could show the outline of flesh and muscles, helping better piece together what dinosaurs looked like.

Murphy hopes the studies will build interest and funding for more tests — particularly CT scans that could take three-dimensional images instead of the one-dimensional pictures captured in the X-rays this week.

"A long, long time after I'm pushing up daisies, scientists will be learning from this specimen," he said.

Reach Tribune Staff Writer Kim Skornogoski at 791-6574, (800) 438-6600 or kskornog@greatfal.gannett.com.


Originally published June 21, 2006

Well, it's Monday. The wife is already out of the house at work, sooooo early in the morning. I was able to read a couple of chapters in the book of James before the kids were also awake.

I went ahead and created an additional blog called Truth Sharer since my prior blog still does not allow me to get into it nor view it. Oh well. Perhaps this one will stay stable.

I managed to live through yesterday's work. I was surprised how sore my legs were by the end day at home. I am just not use to bending and lifting. All in all, it doesn't appear it will be bad. Just a matter of learning the ropes and being alert.

I hope all have a good day.

Last night I was able to go to a Men Believers group. It is a group of fathers that homeschool. A first for me as well as a first time 'men' gathering. We watched a dvd of Crown Internation regarding finances. It was only 3 segments, but it was very interesting. I was at first hesistant by not knowing what to expect. It was a pleasant surprise.

Today was the first day of my new part-time job wasn't bad today. I was there 6 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. today. Most of it was orientation, so not too much physical work today. I was able to run with the supervisor today on errands to the stores, ect. While he did his errands he also showed and informed me some stuff. I will be going into tomorrow at 6 a.m. as well. Tomorrow I will be on an actual route with a full-timer.

When I arrived home, the kids and I played some games and had some time together. So far so good.

On a side-note, my Q and A for the Christian blog is not happening. I posted a good post, in my opinion, Friday and the crazy thing now only gives me "We're sorry but we were unable to complete your request". Sigh, I only posted 11 times on it, but frustrating.

I ran across this interesting subject yesterday and had to share it.
The subject is bump keying. Personally, I hadn't heard about it till I read it at Gadgets Engadget. After reading their article, and watching the 2 minute video on the 11 year old at Defcon, I did a search on google out of curiosity.

Here is a 7 minute you tube on it that many will find surprising.


Basically, bump keying is just that. You modify the key (doorlock, padlock, ect) and place it in a similir lock. You tap the key while turning and walah, the lock opens. No picks, no hidden key code, just bumping and it opens. The 11 year old girl at Defcon opened a lock in 11 seconds flat. The 7 minute video goes into more detail on how and the seriousness of the issue. Primarily, the thief that uses it in houses an apartments leave no trace of burgarly. Insurance companies are not willing to compensate on the owners losses.


Seems England is attempting to thwart this with magnetic locks, ect. while America remains uneducated on the subject. Hence, my post today.

The bump key making does require a special machine or a steady experienced hand to file it down.

Out of further curiosity, I had to check Ebay. Sure enough people are selling them

I found this article to be of interest. Seems all demonstrations are being clamped down.

Minister Arrested at Mormon Pageant

The Daily Herald has this report of a Christian pastor being arrested for trespassing on PUBLIC property because he upset the mormons.


SALT LAKE CITY -- For the second week in a row, an evangelical Christian minister has been arrested outside a Mormon-themed pageant in northern Utah.


Daniel "Chip" Thompson, the 47-year-old director of Solid Rock Christian Fellowship, a campus ministry at Snow College in Ephraim, was arrested for investigation of criminal trespassing by the Cache County sheriff's office Friday night at the Clarkston Pageant. The pageant depicts the life of Martin Harris, an early follower of Joseph Smith, founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Thompson was with eight others handing out religious tracts that compare Mormonism with the beliefs of other forms of Christianity. He said the Clarkston City cemetery's amphitheater, where the pageant is performed, is public property, so he should not have been arrested.


"The Mormon officials started saying this was against the law -- 'you can't be here,' " Thompson said Monday. "We just said, 'Sir, this is public property and we're within our legal rights to express our freedom of speech and our freedom of religion. This is America.' "


On Aug. 11, Brigham City pastor Joel Kramer, 39, of Living Hope Ministries was arrested at the same pageant for investigation of disorderly conduct in a dispute over Kramer's taping of the pageant for use in Christian videos he produces.


Both Kramer and Thompson have court dates set for Sept. 13 at the Justice Court in Clarkston.

I am not sure if it was the best thing for these two pastors to do. It doesn't seem appropiate (to me) to be taping a activity in order to denounce it without some form of consent.

I posted awhile back on my kids being addicted to the world of Pokemon. That actually waned a little bit. First it was Teen Titans, recently the new craze has been Xiaolin Showdown. Low and behold, a new series comes out and boom, Poke-craze all over again.

We had our friends kids stay over last night. The other friends kids came this morning. Last night 4 kids (2 are mine) watched and played Pokemon. Today, pretty much all day, 6 kids played Pokemon. Sigh.

I guess it's partially my fault. I found a new (new to me) video store near by. The kids and I checked it out this last weekend and they had 5 Pokemon VHS tapes my kids had not seen nor own. A miracle in itself. Fortunately, the video store old movies are 5 movies, for 5 days at 5 bucks. Not a bad deal at all. Needless to say, they have been watching and re-watching the tapes before we return them.

I guess a new Pokemon Chronicles is now on tv?

This Pokemon empire is 10 years old.

I took the kids to watch BarnYard this weekend. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

The film was good and had a good underlining message. There were some hidden funnies the kids didn't catch, but overall it was a good movie.

I asked the kids if they enjoyed it. They both liked the movie. The only part they did not like was the scenes with the coyotes. It was a bit scary for them. I won't post any spoilers here. However, I am recommending the movie.

I will have to say the message was at some point the kids have to put away the toys and parties and grow up, taking responsibilty. There is also a message of leadership that can be found in the movie.

Personally, I liked the songs in the movie. Ben, the leader, plays Tom Petty's song "Don't back down" as he beats the coyotes off.

You can view other reviews here regarding the movie.

I am reminded of First Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I become a man, I put away childish things.

The other night at Church, I had a thought come to me. Yes, believe it or not you do not leave your brain at the door when you enter a church. (smile)

I have noticed more and more discussion is being made on ideology and theology regarding the actions people currently take. The Middle East war is based on theology. While more and more crime is being committed, people are viewing their ideology on the 'why'.

Anyway, back in the 60's the big Civil Rights movement made waves. The fight was to stop segregration in schools (which imho is not a bad thing). This movement continued up to 1971. Take Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education case. They forced busing to be carried out in the South, where school segregation had once the force of law. So irregardless of the childs wishes, they were forced to mix.

My point is the courts and government made a point to mix the people based on skin color. The emphasis in the 60's and 70's seem to be based on physical attributes.

Fast forward to the present. It appears a similiar war in culture is being made. However, this war is based on idea's and theology.

Check out the controversy with intelligent design vs evolution. Look at the war in the Middle East. The terrorist are taking action based on their theology.

It's just a thought.

Man, is it really Wednesday already?

Yesterday evening I had a new and wonderful experience with the kids, I just have to share. In the attempt to provide a new enviroment and allow Kel some quite time, I took the kids to the local library. I am now officially in charge of the homework. This also provides a break for Kel and allows me to participate in the education of our kids. (Gee, didn't mean for it to sound like a commercial there).

Anyway, the kids were for it. We gathered our stuff up and headed to the library. We found a room not being used and were provided privacy and a big table, plenty of room to do our work. Basically, I had one read to me, while the other did their math, writing ect. I would help the other one as necessary. Then we switched. The other read to me their required reading as the sibling did their writing. It worked out well and allowed me to feel some one on one time with the kids.

I think the kids liked it and it was a different enviroment to work in. Personally, I throughly enjoyed it. I mistakenly left my cellphone, but it allowed no interruptions for us. After we did the homework, the kids picked out a book and I treated them to a ice-cream on the way home.

Some things I noted in each child that needed to be worked on. I also found out quickly, I in turn need to work on a bunch of stuff personally. I knew the teacher would need to know much more to teach the student. I was actually looking forward to that. However, I didn't realize how long it's been since I did cursive. Being on a PC all day for communication and having to only sign my name in cursive (all my written notes are done non-cursive), I found out real quick how much I suck in it.

I always believe in what you teach. So, this homeschooling is not only benefiting the kids in the one on one education, but myself as well. There is a feeling of accountabilty when the full responsibility is placed on you day to day.

Another thing, I am noticing as well. The amount of time that is wasted in public schools. We have doubled some of the kids work and they still manage to get it done earlier than a regular public school day. I found this to be an eye-opener.

The only complaint I had last night was the library chairs grew hard after an hour sitting in them. ( laugh )

I simply was not able to blog yesterday. Work was busy all the way through, compounded on having to get some things done at home. I also had a school board meeting last night till nearly 9 p.m local time. So yes, it was definitely a Monday.

I couldn't sleep (duh). So, I caught up on the reading of my blogs of interest. Yes, another two shout-outs to those still not posting to their blogs.

I am also running a script I neglected at 10 p.m. for work. We had thunderstorms that ran through for awhile. I know it rained, due to it hitting the windows, but how much, no clue. In this area of Oklahoma, we have hit above 100 every day the past 2 weeks. It was 103 yesterday, over 100 the weekend and last thursday was 106 not counting humidity. Unreal. You would think the yard would be a freaking dirt mound now.

Not much to report on. The weekend was nice and relaxing. I didn't even have one call over the weekend due to being on-call. I made up for it during Monday's support.

I actually slept in till 7 a.m. local time. Woo hooo! Plus it's a Friday to boot. So that has to be a good thing.

I was trying to mess with our cable modem this morning. For some unknown reason, it appears the modem will not work off of a cable splitter. If I do a direct connect from the wall outlet, it works fine. The nice little green light over 'cable' comes on. But if I attach a splitter (as it had been setup for over a year now), low and behold no green light. The only purpose of my splitter is to provide me the ability to watch the news on a small tv in the office during my day. Oh well. Maybe someone else has an idea. No. I really don't want to buy another modem.

I still plan on going into the Pepsi interview this morning. At least I have a better idea of what questions to ask. I guess we will see how that pans out.

It was 106 degree's in Oklahoma yesterday. That is not counting the humidity. High today (as of yesterday) is 103 and tomorrow 102. Nice eh?

I was reading the book of James the other day and another passage hit me. In James chapter 3 it goes into detail about a persons tongue. Not a Phys Ed anatomy class, rather what you do with your tongue. A quick analogy, 'even though a large ship is seen, the small rudder drives it'. It also refers to the fact the same tongue that blesses God also curses man. Man, don't I know that one. I have a bad problem of cussing at times. So, again, another stark look in the mirror and not liking what I see. Perhaps that is why people are put off reading the bible. It simply provides a clean mirror to take a good look at yourself.

I was able to take the kids to church last night. Normally, we don't hit Wednesday nights. However, one of our new things we are attempting is to go on church more often.

It was good to go. I personally needed it and the message was very good.

Interesting enough, when I returned from church, I received a call from Pepsi. They are now interested in having a interview with me for a job. The job is suppose to be part time over the weekend. But, 20-30 hours for those 2 days. According to the one setting up the interview, I would run to the stores and set out the merchandise. So, it doesn't sound like unloading trucks, but it does sound similiar to using a jack to pull the carts and stock the shelves. The job was quoted to be around 8 bucks an hour. I went ahead and setup the interview. I don't really know if logically, it will be worth it (especially with gas 3 bucks a gallon). It will depend realistically how many places I will need to go to stock, the hours (nights or days), ect. I guess we will see.

I was woke up around 4:30 a.m. locally by work this morning. Yes, I am on-call again this week.

I did my thing for work and tried to get back to sleep. But alas, I am one of those, once up-stay up. I couldn't get back to sleep. So, I caught up on my blog reading this morning. Some will note my comments on your articles.

I was saddened, but not really surprised, to read Joe Lieberman didn't win the primary. On one side of the argument, the right is saying "See, see, Democrats have out-ted their last and only moderate." On the left, they are saying "Good riddance you Bush clone." Sigh. To think the democratic party has turned so far left to ostracised their once candidate for Vice-President gives me shivers. Let's face it, people and groups will use you when they need you and dump you when they believe they don't.

While I was lying in bed this morning trying to get back to sleep. A frustration came over me. We had a discussion on my last Sunday School that really got me thinking. The discussion correlated with Angel's article on a church going to laughter. I guess after reading that, it simply re-emphasized my frustration. As most know, many churches have clicks. This can be seen inside as well as outside members. This hampers the Gospel message to the people in general. So on top of that, I am seeing more and more preachers and churches in general changing their 'good news' messages about Christ to 'good news to make the ears tickle'. They are only saying what the people want to hear.

Simply put, preachers are becoming motivational speakers, not men of God.

This is becoming ever more frustrating for me. So now we are having churches watered down, misconstruing the real message. Those that actually believe accepting Jesus as your personal Saviour are now left fighting the world and their own church's. So what's the deal? Can't anyone handle the truth anymore?

On top of it all, scripturally, we (as people) cannot save anyone. Yes, that is what I said. I, the church, the preacher, the singing choir, cannot save anyone. Only God can save someone. SO that person you are speaking to about Christ, can only be saved by 1)God actually touches them and 2)that individual accepts that gift. So what are we left to do as believers? 1)We are commissioned to spread God's word. The real word, not a laugh track, let me make you feel good about yourself message. 2)Pray.

I personally have a hard time praying. I am working on this. This is one of my greatest weapons, that I do not fully utilize. So that's my current frustration. Sorry for the diatrab.

Over the past month (3 months if asked my wife ((smile)) I have been cranky and just down-right, well down.

Speaking with other, ahem, elder gentlemen, asking on their thoughts as to the why. Interesting enough, both on separate occasions have conveyed the same message.

"Your body is getting older and you cannot do what you could do as before. Your mind is dealing with that fact."

Man, that's tough. I don't think of myself as 'old'. I mean get real, I see the shows and the actors having the 'bod' all pumped up and able to go that extra mile. I don't mean falling out of helicopters and bouncing up and sprinting along. But then again, I am not making a few million for a movie while having extra time enhancing my body either. Rather, I am stuck in front of a computer all day and unwilling to work my body in the evenings.

Oh well, so that must be the answer. I think my inability to hold up on the 10 hour work at Walmart was a crushing blow to my man-hood as well. So with the acceptance of 'my spirit may be willing, but the flesh is getting weaker' I will have to put on a new attitude. Simply put, accept it and move on.

In other news, I have decided to create an additional blog. One called Q and A for the Christian. I need to start reading my bible again. In order for me to do that, I personally enjoy finding answers to sought out questions. I spoke with Kel about it last night, and her worry was people commenting dumb stuff or going into a argument. Both will probably be true. But the purpose is not debate, rather a means to create simply a question and answer blog. It will allow me to be accountable to read and research, but hopefully more importantly provide some answers to the reader. So if you have any questions that was never answered, shoot them my way and I will research them for you.

I placed the new blog on my right panel as well.

I haven't blogged much lately, due to being busy and all. It's easier to notate on already written articles, then creating your own.

I was able to play with the kids today. Once in the pool and then some games later. We also watched two new ( new to us anyway ) VeggieTales shows. The movies were Sheerluck Holmes adn the Golden Ruler along with Larry Boy and the bad apple. I rented them for tonight. Something new to watch and VeggieTales always have a good message in their theme.

After the show the family attempted to put together a b-dazzle puzzle? Has anyone seen these? Ours was the 3 firetrucks. After about 10-15 minutes of frustration, the family quite. I messed with it for a bit longer alone. I actually put the thing together. There are no cheats that come with it. Kel said they would be a good stocking stuffer. I informed her, they would drive me crazy. I start on them and wouldn't be able to quite till I get it.

During the week I have also been listening to a new station, on the net, of all places. Christian Rock.net plays, obviously, Christian Rock 24/7. You can listen to it for free. Needless to say, I have been having it on in the background continously.

Another noted online station is 1160. From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. eastern time, Bauer and Rose is on. Again, all free and this one is informational.

So there are two new things, free, that I found to be enjoyable.

Next week, we will plunge into HomeSchool. Kel has been getting everything ready on paper regarding organization, schedules, work-list, chores, ect. She is a God-send of such things. However, she drives herself nuts to get it just right.

Found this link on Stop the ACLU website. This is important legislation and needs to be approved by the Senate. Make the call to your Senate and Representives and have your voice heard.

There are two out there I am requesting all to call upon.

Senate Bill 3696 and the companion bill H.R. 2979.

S 3696 (PERA), sponsored by Sen. Brownback (R-Kan), a companion bill to H.R. 2979 (PERA), sponsored by Rep. Hostetter (R-Ind.), would amend all relevant federal laws to eliminate the authority of judges to award taxpayer-paid attorney fees to the ACLU, or anyone else, in lawsuits under the Establishment of Religion Clause of the First Amendment against veterans memorials, the Boy Scouts, or the public display of the Ten Commandments of other symbols of America’s history with a religious aspect.

This bill will stop the judges in awarding groups like ACLU the taxpayers money for their legal fees. Please note this is the bread and butter for groups like the ACLU.

Not only does the ACLU use this provision to fund their agenda of secular cleansing and threaten small schools and towns, they also use it as a tool of punishment for those that resist their agenda. They have accumulated literally millions of taxpayer funded attorney fees when in fact they have no actual attorney fees.

Many wonder where groups like the ACLU get their funds. Most are from frivolous lawsuits and then have the losing party pay for their legal fees. These fee's are not only atrocious, but ridiculously high.

Check out this webpage provided by Stop the ACLU showing how much ACLU alone has acquired from the taxpayers. Note it does not list them all.

Find your Representives here and Find your Senators here.

Contact them and ask them to support PERA.

You certainly know by now that the world is flat. And if you haven't yet heard, you will soon that we're in danger of falling off the edge.

New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman sparked a national discussion about workforce readiness and U.S. competitiveness in a new, global economy with his 2005 best-seller, The World Is Flat. And concern over math and science achievement among U.S students has been at the forefront of much of this conversation.

The recently-released results from the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress science tests seem to support the increasingly persistent arguments that students are falling behind in math and science, to our detriment. Scores for high school seniors were down, and those for mid-dle-schoolers were flat. The rise in fourth-graders' scores suggests that the advances made by younger children are erased by the time they get to high school.

Intel Chairman Craig Barrett has joined those sounding the clarion cry for better math and science education. His approach is unapologetically uncompromising: If we don't turn it around, our economy will suffer.

"The blunt truth is: The new global economy is technology-based," Barrett told a group of education writers and reporters in New Orleans in June. "Everyone else is educating scientists. And if we don't start doing the same, we'll lose our lock on the innovations and markets of the future."

Barrett cited these statistics as examples of how our education system is broken:

• U.S. students rank 18th in science and 19th in math among developed countries.
  
• U.S. 12th-graders rank below the international average of 21 countries in general knowledge of math and science.
  
• Students in 11 out of 15 countries recently outperformed U.S. students in an advanced math assessment.
  
• 30 percent of students in the U.S. do not graduate from high school.
  Barrett's solutions were uncompromising, as well. We need to change the way we train and pay our teachers, he said. Accountability must have teeth, and schools should have competition. (He deftly sidestepped a reporter's question about whether he'd hire a qualified foreign worker over an equally qualified U.S. worker if the foreign worker would take a lower salary.)
  
  

Schools should stop comparing test results with their neighbors or with schools in other states, said Barrett. Instead, they should be comparing results internationally.

"Education is a human and a civil right," said Barrett. "To say we don't have the money, to say it costs too much, it'll take too long, it's too hard-these are excuses, and it's outrageous for us to keep making excuses."

Kathleen Vail, Managing Editor

I have been meaning to read the book called 'the world is flat' ever since I heard about it. I have it reserved at the library now.


Essentially what I am seeing is the students are being taught to take the tests rather than the how in logically to learn on their own. It has been a concern of mine for some time.


Personally, I do not think throwing money at it, is an answer. I think it takes the teacher to do it. However, yes, you need to give the teacher the means to perform her duties. However, having 30 kids in one classroom without support doesn't help. On the other side, having no accountability from the parents or teachers is not answer either.

I find it interesting for those that cannot accept the Bible as factual historical documents. They continue to view the bible as a reference of religion as opposed to written documents in history.

I pulled some resources and quotes on the reliability of the Bible.

The oldest Bible versions available to us today are millennia old. The Masoretic Text, written in Hebrew, became the standard authorized Hebrew text around 100 AD. It existed prior to the writings of the New Testament, confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls as early as 168 B.C., and was used as the official Hebrew Old Testament at the time the biblical canon was established.

Source

Few accept the significance in finding the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Notice how no other ancient book's text is questioned or maligned like that of the Bible. For instance, Aristotle's Ode to Poetics was written between 384-322BC. Our earliest copy of this work dates 1100AD, and we find there are only 49 extant manuscripts. Note that the gap between the original writing and the earliest copy is 1400 years. A second example is Plato's Tetralogies, written 427-347 BC. Our earliest copy is 900 AD, and there are only 7 extant manuscripts to study. The gap between the original and the earliest copy is 1200 years. What about the New Testament? Jesus was crucified in 30 AD. The New Testament was written between 48-95 AD. The oldest mss date to the last quarter of the first century, and the second oldest 125 AD. This gives us a narrow gap of 35 to 40 years from the originals written by the apostles.

Source

We see the bible as opposed to any other historical document has the least amount of time gap from event to writing.

So other than the above, shouldn’t we also have some outside sources to back the Bible’s writings? Other than the obvious writings of the great Josephus.


Here is a great link depicting some archeological finds that support the events of the Bible.

Here is another link on the same above website showing additional sources backing certain biblical events.

The above doesn’t even touch on the many prophecies written in the bible that have come to be.

One quick example is the following.

Daniel 11:3-4: "And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded, for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them."

[The "mighty king" was Alexander the Great (336-323 BC) who, shortly after conquering the Persian Empire, died abruptly at the age of 32. His empire was not bequeathed to his children (who were murdered) but instead was divided up amongst his generals (the Diadochi). Four lesser kingdoms emerged from the rubble of Alexander's empire: Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt.]

Source

For me relying on the Bible as fact doesn’t really take much faith as much as logical findings.

Another night of little sleep. I know the cause of my unrest. Primarily it's stress regarding the School Board. Initially it's the unknown of the climate you will enter into. The last two I entered into was pure fiasco and a show, arguments, ect.

I had an idea of what I was going to enter into last night. I had intended to suggest one way; with the information I currently had. However, while I was there with provided new information, I began to change my mind.

I realize I am not providing specifics. This is done purposely. It boils down to this. I had a perception of what I was going to do. While I was acquiring more information during the process, my perception changed. I think I surprised some (myself included)and disappointed others. But, unfortunately, in this arena I cannot make everyone happy. You have a 5 panel board. Decisions are made as a group. At the end of the meeting, you hope your decision will be the best for the kids.

Now that this is done, perhaps I can get some sleep in the future.

I couldn't get sleep due to my worry of how the meeting will be. Now I cannot rest due to my worry I made the better decisions.

I guess I actually care too much.

I couldn't sleep worth a flip last night. The wife woke up around 4 a.m. this morning. I was in bed till around 5:30 a.m.

Last night in my later hours of selfish pity me, I watched episodes 4,5,and 6 of Travel the Road. It's about 2 young missionaries traveling around the world doing the great commission. I found the dvd at Lifeway store in Fort Worth for 2 bucks. It was very fascinating. Watching these types of documentaries, witnessing how others live in the 3rd world country puts a different view on our lives here in United States.

It makes your realize some kids and parents literally not eating one good meal a day where-as in America you have many families throwing away their food (ours included) every week. It re-opened my eyes once again just how good we have it in the United States.

So with pride swollen, today I will apologize for being cranky and try to get a new attitude.

"Your a cranky old man." These words from my wife tonight.

Yeah, I felt like a woke up in a bad mood this morning. I thought I was keeping it pretty reserved to myself. It's just one of those days you wake up and pretty much emotionally and physically tired.

Unfortunately for my wife, when I am tired, I tend to be short. So, the less conversation the better. I made it through work fine and the kids remain with their heads today, so I wasn't all that bad, right?

Sigh.

Perhaps it's due to having 4 additional kids over for a sleep over while we are not even in 48 hours of being home. Yes, being home after gone for a hell of a week of work.

Perhaps it's due to the realization of my body not able to withstand 10 hours of hard work per night on top of the regular work during the day. It's hell getting old.

Perhaps it's due to frustration with the School Board. There is only a limited amount one can do, irregardless if it's with the best of intention.

Perhaps, its due to some other stuff I would rather not blog about.

Gee, I am cranky today.

Since I was cranky the wife sent me to the bedroom. I watched a great documentary showing archeological findings to validate the Exodus across the Red Sea. I combed Google and found this website here that pretty much shows the same but not all what was on the DVD.

I think there are some wine left over from the weekend in the fridge. Perhaps that will help.

I have always been fascinated by lost civilizations and objects of history.

(June 29) - Texas archaeologists believe they may have located the remains of Noah's Ark in Iran's Elburz mountain range.

The Bible places the Ark in the mountains of Ararat, a mountain range theologians believe spans hundreds of miles, which the team says is consistent with their find in Iran.

The Bible also describes the Ark's dimensions as being 300 cubits by 50 cubits -- about the size of a small aircraft carrier. The B.A.S.E. Institute's discovery is similar in size and scale.

300 cubits by 50 cubits is equivalent to 437.5 feet by 72.9 feet in hebrew.

A good description of Noah's Ark can be found here

The ark has the same cargo capacity of a modern cargo ship. The above figure shows a comparison with a 550 ft long cargo ship. The ark had a volume of 1.4 million cubic feet and a gross tonnage of 14,000 tons. This is the equivalent of 522 railroad box cars. The ark could have carried over 125,000 sheep-sized animals. Interestingly, there are less than 18,000 species of land animals alive today. Also, the average size of most animals is less than that of a sheep.

"There's this idea, if we can prove that the ark existed then we can prove that the story existed, and more importantly, we can prove that God existed," said Bruce Feiler, author of "Where God Was Born."

I agree, this would be as significant of a find as the lost Ark of the Covenent. Nearly every culture has some form of flood story ingrained in its history.

Sumerian King List describes a flood. The sumerians ruled in Mesopotamia before Abraham.

The Gilgamesh Epic of Babylonia is a long saga of an ancient king. It includes a massive flood which contains several similiarities to the Genesis account.

Incan legends of a great flood also tells of a great flood and the events surrounding it.

Some other interesting facts regarding the Genesis account.

How did Noah round up all those animals?
God brought the animals to Noah and they entered the ark.

Didn't Noah just take two of every kind?
No. Noah took two of most kinds of animals, but he took seven of the kinds of clean animals. here is a list of unclean animals per Wikipedia.

How many rooms were in the Ark?
There could have been over 500 large rooms of 10x10x14 plus aisles. If many of the 14-foot high rooms were divided into two levels, there could have been nearly 1000 rooms or stalls. Some rooms were for animals and some rooms were for food.

The word "ark" means "box" in Hebrew.

Noah lived another 350 years after the flood began. He died at the age of 950 (Genesis 9:28,29)

Abraham, David and Jesus came from the line of Noah's son Shem.

Jesus speaks of Noah in Matthew 24:35-39 and Luke 17:26-30.

Peter writes about Noah in 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:1-5; 3 1-13.

It rained 40 days and nights. All the springs of the great deep burst forth. The waters flooded the Earth for 150 days. Afterwards, God sent a wind and the waters receded (Genesis 7:24)

To put the dimensions of the ark in perspective.

Think of this, the arks width would be 75 feet in length. A semi-truck with a trailer would be a mere 70 feet in length. So when you get nearly ran over by a semi-truck going 80 miles an hour down the highway, the width of the ark would be 5 feet longer. This isnt the length or height, but the width.

The length would be 450 feet in length. A football or soccer field is only 300 feet in length. So when you watch the superbowl and see that green field, the ark would be another 150 feet in length.

The height of the ark would be 45 feet. This cruise ship is 45 feet in length or The original rules stipulated that the pitching rubber be 45 feet from the plate

It was hard and busy last week. Essentially we had to get to Enid, Oklahoma for a new ordering system to be installed.

We made it there Sunday evening fine. Monday morning I hit the hospital as if on a regular schedule. Unfortunately, I didn't receive a quote, unquote time schedule, so it was a come in and be told how long to stay per day. One day, I was there nearly 20 hours straight. It sucked but hey this is a live.

Needless to say it was a weary week. Compound this on Wednesday night to find out I had to work on my dedicated travel day, did not set well. But alas, we worked through it.

We drove straight to Fort Worth, Texas early Thursday morning. It was about a 5 hour drive from Enid. I had to basically jack in and work the remaining day.

The Friday, I worked from the hotel, as I did the remaining of Thursday. I kept my regular hours on that day.

Friday night was quaility time with my wife. Some of Kel's friends watched the kids as she and I hit a fancy place called Texas De Brazil. I never been to a place like this one. The food was to die for. I was so stuffed, it wasn't funny. I thought it was cool. They had these simple circle green/red cards. You would flip it over to the green side if you wanted them to bring you the meats on skewers. Place it on red, when you had enough. You could easily had a feast on the salad bar alone. Afterwards, we simply walked the mall near the hotel as well as some bookstores. Ahh the simple things in life.

Saturday it was our turn to watch the kids. We took them to Chuckie Cheese (blah) to burn some energy off. On the way, we hit a new store (new to us) called Mardel. Man, I could spend some money in there. We acquired 2 christmas gifts there for the kids. Among other things.

Sunday we left for home later than I wanted too. After being away from home for a week, with or without the family, I simply want to get home. On the way, I was fortunate to be able to listen to "Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace" CD's. Simply put, they are awesome.

Now I find myself home, Monday morning. I have already mowed mine and the neighbor's yard. Made my necessary calls and followed up with work. Yeah, all that before 11 a.m. local time.

I still need to get some work done, some house stuff before I take the kids to speech this evening. I better stop blogging and get back to work. Later.

SAN FRANCISCO — Researchers at Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) have developed a tiny wireless data chip that can store up to 100 pages of text and could ultimately be used in a variety of consumer and commercial applications, HP said late on Sunday.

Developed over four years by HP Labs' campus in Bristol, England, the chip is about the size of the head of a match and could potentially store a patient's medical chart on a hospital band, said Howard Taub, associate director at HP Labs.

"There's no question that it has long-term potential," said Tim Bajarin, president of market research firm Creative Strategies of Campbell, California. "But keep in mind this is a technology announcement. It's difficult to predict what applications will be developed and what we would call the 'killer application' for this."

Consumers could store audio commentary, music or short videos on such a chip, affixed to a printed digital photograph.

Devices to read and write data on the chip would then eventually be embedded in cell phones, handheld computers, personal computers, printers, or small standalone readers.

"This really bridges the digital and physical worlds," Taub said. "The digital data is attached to the physical object it's related to."

Palo Alto, California-based HP plans to take the technology to industry standards bodies in hopes of it being welcomed across the technology sector, Taub said.

While broad commercial applications are at least two years away, HP will license the technology to partners, customers and rivals well before that.

"Licensing will almost definitely be part of it," Taub said of HP's plans to cash in on its investment in the technology, which was developed by the "Memory Spot" team within HP Labs.

While similar in some ways to RFID — radio frequency identification — chips, there are key differences in Memory Spot technology in data transfer rates, storage and security.

The chip can transfer data at 10 megabits per second, 10 times faster than Bluetooth wireless technology, comparable to Wi-Fi rates and far faster than RFID.

Also, HP has managed to store up to 4 megabits — 512 megabytes, comparable to flash-memory-based "thumb" drives — in working prototypes of the chip, far more than an RFID chip can store.

HP said the chips could be embedded in paper or stuck to surfaces, and may be sold eventually as self-adhesive dots.

"At a buck a piece, that could be a really good business," Taub said, noting that at production volumes of millions of chips, a dollar per chip would be a reasonable cost.

The chip is comprised of a capacitor array, modem, loop antenna, a targeted microprocessor, memory driver and memory, all fabricated as one piece, which helps cut production costs.

It needs no battery or external electronics, getting its power via inductive coupling from the read-write device, Taub said.

Inductive coupling is an energy transfer from one circuit component to another through a shared electromagnetic field.

The reader must be touched to the chip or placed within a millimeter for data transfer to occur, which could render it safer than typical RFID chips, whose range of up to about 10 feet exposes them more to data thieves, Taub said.

Since I have been reading Dave Ramesy's Money Makeover book, I have been wanting to get a second part time job. Note part time. I had applied to Walmarts ever growing 'opening positions'. Low and behold I was hired. The first night was a simple orientation and cover some cvl's. These are basically watch videos and answer them accordingly. Some are required 100 percent scores while others are not. Not too bad. This was Wednesday night.

Friday night, I hit my official first night as a Unloader. It went fast and very manual driven. I was to be there 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. I made it in early enough. I admit, it was tough. I don't mind working, I never did. But for this guy who have been sitting at a PC during work for the last 5 years, going to tough physical labor; well it wasn't easy. I was proud of myself to keep up with the kids (I felt older than most back there)compounded to the fact it was shorthanded. I found out later we do not get to leave till its all done. Needless to say, it wasn't till 1:40 a.m. when we are done. That night, in sweat dripping clothes, I went home, took a cool shower and a tylenol p.m.

Saturday, I was up early but sore and stiff. It was freaking over 100 degrees, but the yard had to be done. We were leaving for Enid on Sunday, and would be gone for a week. So in the heat of the day, I did the yard.

That Saturday night, I cruised in with only one leg sore. They had 5000 items to unload. Fortunately, one of the three trucks was done before we arrived on our shift. However, it took them 4 hours to do it. All those items were already on pallets. Even with my newbie eyes I could tell how some looked like they were about to fall over. There were only 3 unloaders scheduled (yes one was me). Needless to say, they had to pull some ISC (I found out later these were your cart pullers, assistance, ect.) just to help us unload the remaining trucks. This was miraculously done by 7:30 p.m. However, those ISC guys split after it was unloaded. So that left the 3 of us to pull the 5000 items out on the floor, sweep the unload area, ect. Some of the department personell did come back to pull their stuff out. This helped, but again it was 1:50 a.m. before we could accomplish everything.

So, home again, this time two alieves with my shower. Sigh. I hate to admit it, but I don't think I can cut it. I think this over carefully as I drive us to Enid on our 2.5 hour drive. Realizing, I spent 10 hours at Walmart each night which included one hour mandatory lunch without pay. So 9 hours paying 6 bucks equal $54. After taxes, I probably made $50 for 10 hours away from my family in a hot box working my a$$ off. I don't think I can really justify this.

It's now 5:30 in Enid, OK and I am about to drop. I had maybe 4 hours of sleep last night and I am feeling it.

I simply cannot afford to work myself down to being sick and complicating my main day job. Perhaps, I can find another means of extra income.

Check out this Cool Ad!
If only it was true for all our Representives.

I finished my 1863 book the other day. Rather than grabbing another Civil War book I had on my personal shelf, I found another one. I dropped off the library books today and briefly searched on the shelf. I was in luck finding The Church of Liberalism Godless by Ann Coulter. I only have read one other book called Slander from the same author. I was excited to find it, due to the coverage on it awhile back.

Swhickers World has a good post on the book.

Opening the book you hit with this on the first two pages.

They exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator. . . . Therefore, God gave them up to pas¬sions of dishonor; for their females exchanged the natural use for that which is contrary to nature.—Romans 1:25-26

Liberals love to boast that they are not "religious," which is what one would expect to hear from the state-sanctioned religion. Of course liberalism is a religion. It has its own cosmology, its own miracles, its own beliefs in the supernatural, its own churches, its own high priests, its own saints, its own total worldview, and its own explanation of the existence of the universe. In other words, liberalism contains all the attributes of what is generally known as "religion."
Under the guise of not favoring religion, liberals favor one cosmology over another and demand total indoctri¬nation into theirs. The state religion of liberalism demands obeisance (to the National Organization for Women), tithing (to teachers' unions), reverence (for abortion), and formulaic imprecations ("Bush lied, kids died!" "Keep your laws off my body!" "Arms for hostages!"). Everyone is taxed to support indoctrination into the state religion through the public school where innocent children are taught a specific belief system, rather than, say, math.
Liberal doctrines are less scientifically provable than the story Noah's ark, but their belief system is taught as fact in government schools, while the Biblical belief system is banned from government schools by law. As a matter of faith, liberals believe: Darwinism is fact, people are born gay, child-molesters can be rehabilitated, recycling is a virtue, and chastity is not. If people are born gay, why hasn't Darwinism weeded out people who don't reproduce? (For that, we need theory of survival of the most fabulous.) And if gays can't change why do liberals think child-molesters can? Pedophilia is a sexual preference. If they're born that way, instead of rehabilitation, how about keeping them locked up? Why must children be taught that recycle is the only answer? Why aren't we teaching children "safe littering".

We aren't allowed to ask. Believers in the liberal faith might turn violent—much like the practitioners of Islam, the Religion of Peace who ransacked Danish embassies worldwide because a Danish new paper published cartoons of Mohammed. This is something else they can't be taught in government schools: Muslims' predilection for violence. On the first anniversary of the 9/11 attack, the National Education Association's instruction materials exhorted teachers, "Do not suggest that any group is responsible" for the attack of 9/11!

If a Martian landed in America and set out to determine the nation's official state religion, he would have to conclude it is liberalism while Christianity and Judaism are prohibited by law. And not just in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it's actually on the books, but throughout the land. This is a country in which taxpayers are forced to subsidize "artistic" exhibits of aborted fetuses, crucifixes in urin and gay pornography. Meanwhile, it's unconstitutional to display a Nativity scene at Christmas or the Ten Commandments on government property if the purpose is to promote monotheistic religion. Nearly half the members of the Supreme Court--the ones generally known as liberals...

(Copyright of Ann Coulter)

Wow. This is only on the opening of this book!

This one caught my eye yesterday.

By Andrea Lafferty
Executive Director, Traditional Values Coalition

July 12, 2006 - Defenders of the institution of traditional marriage were encouraged by three state court decisions in the past week. The Supreme Courts of Georgia and New York came down on the side of judicial restraint in legal challenges to bans on same-sex marriage. And, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court actually ruled correctly on a marriage amendment.

In Georgia, the court ruled that a marriage amendment passed by 77% of the voters in 2004 was constitutional and overturned a lower court decision violating the clearly expressed will of the people. Georgians have the right to amend their own constitution to define marriage as a one-man, one-woman union.

In New York, homosexual activists had challenged a ban on same-sex marriage, claiming that the New York Constitution mandated such marriages. The 4-2 decision declared that there is no constitutional right in New York for homosexuals to marry. The court also noted that such decisions should be in the hands of the legislature, not the courts. The New York Court of Appeals displayed judicial restraint, a welcome change from judicial activists who routinely impose their political agendas upon the American people.

In writing about the New York decision, Newsday described these judicial activists as individuals who view the U.S. Constitution, state constitutions and laws like Etch-A-Sketches. Noted Newsday, "These judges ignore what actually was intended and written, turn things upside down, shake and then write whatever they want."

This is an apt description of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, which found a "right" to homosexual marriage in the 1780 Constitution of that state. A review of history shows that sodomy was a criminal offense in Massachusetts in the 18th century (and elsewhere), so it is unlikely that the state Constitution mandates same-sex marriage. The Supreme Judicial Court obviously viewed the state Constitution as an Etch-A-Sketch and eagerly imposed homosexual marriage upon Massachusetts.

Fortunately, this same court recently ruled that the Massachusetts state legislature and the people could vote on a marriage amendment to overturn this tyrannical decision. It was good of them to acknowledge the democratic process. Perhaps, there is hope for Massachusetts after all.

Judicial restraint is an alien concept to many judges, who view themselves as the real rulers of our nation. Judge Robert Bork has described these judges as “our robed masters” and has warned against the dangerous anti-democratic values that motivate these men and women.

A decade ago, Bork warned about judicial activism on the Supreme Court, noting they are " our masters in a way that no President, Congressman, governor, or other elected official is. They order our lives and we have no recourse, no means of resisting, no means of altering their ukases. They are, indeed, robed masters."

This is why it is so important for the Senate to confirm judicial conservatives to the federal bench "including the next vacancy on the Supreme Court. We must have men and women on the bench who understand that their role is to interpret, not make the laws. We must confirm judges who believe in judicial restraint and are not motivated by a desire to impose their own wills upon the American people.

Our choice is clear: We will be ruled by the people and their representatives or by unaccountable robed masters. Americans must demand that the Senate confirm judicial conservatives to our courts" or we will continue to lose our democratic freedoms to judicial tyrants.

Although the above article is obviously on the conservative view, it brings in light a current issue. There's an issue of proper legislation vs interpretation. I think the sentence "The court also noted that such decisions should be in the hands of the legislature, not the courts." nailed it on the head.

In my opinion, put it in the hands of the people to vote on and see what occurs. This allows the people, not higher ranks to choose. Yes, there is a possibility it could go on either side of the fence. However, the media can make hey day and the networks can gain alot of money for the advertising of both sides.

This would allow the proper legislature process to occur. Those that lick their finger and stick it in the air (view polling to make their decisions) might find themselves running in circles.

I was told there were 9 out of 20 sex offenders found within the Dept. of DHS. Doing some digging around on the net, I tried to see if this was indeed the sad case.

I never did find an artcile speaking of it. I did run across the National Sex offender public registery
If you have any info, please comment on it.

I really need to get my desk organized. Awhile back, my desk at home was falling apart. We moved it out (piece by piece) and acquired 2 new desk. Kel is working more at home with her work as well. The office definitely looks more efficient, but I still lack in organizing my new desk. The problem I am having is, I don't exactly know how I want it setup yet. I have ideas, but as of yet, I have not implemented them yet. Once I have it organized, I feel I can get alot more done effectively.

Another busy week ahead. Although, yesterday was only Monday (a real monday, if you know what I mean), it sure seemed it was more than one day. I woke up early to get some stuff done at work. I had to run an errand that morning and when I returned to work, it wasn't till 5:30 p.m. est before I could look up. Unreal. This on top of a stressfull Board Meeting last night, called for a glass of wine. Yes, the glass was good last night.

Next week, I have to run to Enid, Oklahoma. A facility will be going through a new order system install. I will leave that Sunday and return home the following Sunday.

I see Kel's schedule going down, and my schedule of running going up this summer.

I am actually enjoying a lazy day this Saturday. I was able to play in the pool with the kids and Kel's dad. We played a tournament of chicken. Basically, one kid on each of our shoulders and they wrestle to pull each other off. I have a blast playing it (as the kids do). However, my shoulders and neck are now sore and tired. LOL

We live near Backbone mountain and I keep driving by a "historical marker" when I head into Poteau. I finally caught the monuments words today. It's a marker dedicated to the battle of backbone mountain. I am nearly finished with my reading of 1863 The Rebirth of a Nation by Joseph E. Stevens. The book is written as a narative, yet the timeline is factual. I found it totally fascinating. It covers month by month, broken in 3 segments of the last year of the Civil War. Ever since I read Politically Incorrect - American History, I have grown fascinated with the Civil War. I have Team of Rivals and "Civil War Curiosities" to read next.

I'm off to enjoy the rest of my day.

My wife passed along this online news article describing a new Witch school was being implemented in Hoopeston, Illinois.

I recall attending a district school board meeting held in Oklahoma recently. During the meeting one of the district leaders commented on many witch covens springing up in Oklahoma. I found that tidbit interesting. When you think of the bible belt of America, you really do not consider other non-christian religions flourishing.

I had to check out the Witch Schools website. They claim "The school has roughly 120,000 active students who enroll in Witch School's Internet courses, which range from Druid and Celtic history to crystal and gem magic,..". That's quite a number of active students (thinking of the 80-20 rule) for one site.

The main website link is found here

Starting July 1st, 2006, we will be open from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm, Six Days a Week, through October 30th. You can visit us everyday this summer of fall. It is a way to visit, and discover the wonders of magic.

In Witch School , we have a lot to offer a visitor, once we know ahead of time. We conduct classes on a daily basis, if three or more paying students are available. We also offer Initiations, Dedications, and even Rituals. We are a six day a week operation, so we can always accommodate you no matter what your schedule might be.

They definitely have their doors open for new recruits. Too bad christian churches were not this dedicated.

Today, Hoopeston is a town of Six Thousand People, and the Pagan population totals in the area of fifty people, who live or visit Hoopeston regularly. We have more than a hundred visit on any given weekend. We are developing our own press including the Daily Spell and Magick TV, our own shops, and our own way of doing things. We have dedicated ritual space, a library, and other things that we are hoping for. We are steadily integrating ourselves with this small community.

I find it fascinating there are only 50 out of 6000 people, yet outside travelers are probably keeping the town alive with their purchases and tax.

We are also the World Headquarters for the Witch School as well, with members on over 80 countries. Also the World Headquarters of the Correllian Nativist Church , which encompasses over 120 groups across five continents. So local, nationally and internationally, Hoopeston has become a hub for the Pagan community. It’s also very humble and modest as you would expect for Pagan people.

This is why it's referred to as the Pagan Community. Not because of only 50 out of 6000 people, rather the hub of a major distribution of pagan theology.

I would have to say, if I was near the place, I would have to check it out. Not because I believe or support the theology. However, given the continued growth, it would behoove others to learn from their process.