Middle America's Worldview

I think I will start a new Friday's download each Friday. All of the Friday's download will be freeware of usefull (or non-usefull) tools.

Today's Friday download will be PDF Creator.

PDFCreator is a free tool to create PDF files from nearly any Windows application.
Key Features:

Create PDFs from any program that is able to print
Security: Encrypt PDFs and protect them from being opened, printed etc.
Send generated files via eMail
Create more than just PDFs: PNG, JPG, TIFF, BMP, PCX, PS, EPS
AutoSave files to folders and filenames based on Tags like Username, Computername, Date, Time etc.
Merge multiple files into one PDF
Easy Install: Just say what you want and everything is installed
Terminal Server: PDFCreator also runs on Terminal Servers without problems
And the best: PDFCreator is free, even for commercial use! It is Open Source and released under the Terms of the GNU General Public License.

I had heard there was a quiz out there to show which president wantabee best aligns with your way of thinking. Thanks to Kel I was able to take it.

The site can be found at here. If you want to take it yourself.

However, in my opinion, what the candidates believe and what they can actually achieve can be a dichotomy. Still it's an interesting quiz.

Here are my results.

We have a local non-blockbuster rental place that has good deals on the rentals. Namely Monday nights are one dollar rentals (that includes new releases).

Another great thing is their TV series. They started to rent these full box series together, cheap. If the set contains 1-3 disc, it's 3.99 for 5 days. If the set is more than 3 disc, it's basically 5 bucks for 5 days. What makes it really nice is you get the full season, without having to rent individual disc for 2-3 bucks a pop.

Awhile back, I snagged the first season of "Heroes". I had never watched it, but heard plenty about it.

I was immediately hooked on the storyline.

Unfortunately, the store didn't have season two. However, perusing the net, I came across this find. It's the full season 2 of "Heroes" online.

Can you really believe this January has already hit mid-month? Didn't we just have New Years? Sigh.

I came across a cool free application to calculate your BMI. Not only does it provide your Body Mass Index, but informs you what your ideal weight should be. Can we say, lose 15 pounds?



You value your height and current weight. It calculates the rest.

A bit narrow victory for Clinton. During yesterday morning, nearly all the news were discussing a Obama victory. The early reporting of the polls would seem to have suggested that. However, by a narrow margin (39% to 37%), Clinton pulls it in at the last. A much needed, if nothing psychological, boost for the thought to be political mongul.

On the Republican side, it's Mccain over Romney (37% to 32%). A bit more than the Democratic side.

New Hampshire Democratic results
39% Clinton
37% Obama
17% Edwards

New Hampshire Republican results
37% McCain
32% Romney
11% Huckabee



South Carolina is next.
The Republican Primary is set for 1.19.08.
The Democratic Primary is set for 1.26.08.

I was surprised of the margin of Huckabee's winning last night. I feel the same way regarding Obama.

Republican outcome
34% Huckabee
25% Romney
13% Mccain
13% Thompson

Democratic outcome
38% Obama
30% Edwards
29% Clinton

I was actually expecting Romney to win. Especially since he poured in millions of dollars to win Iowa.

I wasn't really expecting Clinton to be so low, regarding who she is. I guess the media push for her didn't work. Also, looking at Obama with so little experience in politics to be so high in the polls, is a surprise to me as well.

Next is New Hampshire to choose their primaries on the eight.

I didn't watch the new much yesterday, but from what little I seen, it was mostly about the Presidential race in Iowa.

If you listen the the news, you would think it's already down to 4 candidates, 2 on each side.

For the Republicans, Mitt Romney vs Mike Huckabee.
For the Democrats, Barack Obamba vs Hillary Clinton.

Yet, a recent poll from Fox News shows Ron Paul winning Iowa. Not hearing much about him in the news.






Honestly, I haven't looked into Ron Paul. Yet, I know in a nearby Arkansas city, there were alot on the corners holding up signs for him recently.

I guess I will have to turn on the tv, now and then to see what becomes of Iowa.

As part of the new year, we (as the family in whole) agreed to eat healthier. My wife had purchased the book “Deceptively Delicious” to give it a whirl. We spent a full evening pureeing alot of vegetables.

This morning, I started off by making scrambled eggs with puree cauliflower I noticed there seemed to be more eggs than usual, due to the added 1/2 cup puree cauliflower. I will see how the kids like it. I have already tried it, and do taste the cauliflower in the eggs, yet I do not see any difference in the way the eggs look.

I scrambled 4 eggs with 1/2 cup puree cauliflower.

Find more recipes at Get Rid of Toxins.com.

I also have a bowl of organic trail mix on the table for snacks today.

My wife and I watched "The biggest loser for couples" last night. I admit, I never seen any of these shows before. However, I found it interesting. The stats regarding obesity were staggering (to me). One of the things I found interesting on the show was the discussion of detoxification with Water. They do not use herbs, products, ect. Rather drink, water, water, water. That and work your a$$ off. So, it's time to start hitting that water again. I will probably pee my brains out, but I guess that is what it will take. (wink)

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.