Middle America's Worldview

I am finally on vacation. It officially started Thursday night, when I was able to get away from work. (smile)

Thursday we drove to Collinsville, Illinois. We stopped at Wilson's Creek National Museum. Sweeny Museum wasn't opened, but we were able to check out the main visitor center. I thought it was all fascinating. We were able to watch a LED show of the battle regarding "Bloody Hill" as well as a short 15 minute film. There were some artifacts we could view at the center. We didn't do the drive (45 minutes), but will definitely have to come back to check out the Sweeny Museum.

We left Collinsville this morning and made our way to Tipton, Indiana. The drive from Collinsville to Tipton was pretty dry. I seen farm land after farm land as far as the eye could see.

We met up with Anne and her husband. It was nice to find our destination. I had to dust off my pool experience (been a couple of years) and play her husband. We also purchased the movie The pursuit of happyness and watched it together. It was an awesome, character driven movie.

We hit Indianapolis tomorrow for the day.

I found an interesting search engine called Good Search.

Every time you use GoodSearch, they will donate one penny ($0.01) to the charity of your choice. It's an interesting idea.

The example the provide is the following.

For instance — if 10,000 people searched 5 times a day, that could easily multiply out to an amazing $182,500 a year in support for the charity! JUST FOR DOING SOMETHING YOU ALREADY DO EVERY DAY!

GoodSearch works just like Yahoo! or any other search engine. You don't need to download any software, sign any agreements, pay any money, or even give them your name. And GoodSearch is powered by Yahoo!, one of the most reliable search engines out there. So you can be sure it's reputable, safe, and secure.

Here is the link that shows how to use the Good Search Engine

You can also download it to IE or Firefox, via a toolbar.

I received a email for "Prison Fellowship" mentioning the Good Search Engine.

Another great find on YouTube!



The video is 5 minutes 43 seconds.

Today and tomorrow. That is my mantra today. I already have my suitcase packed and ready to head out of here tomorrow.

No surprise. My preconceived thoughts to have certain things accomplished while I am up here, did not come through. However, other items have. So I simply take what I can.

Tuesday is the only evening I actually did not stay over an hour at work. Last night, I didn't leave till 6 p.m. It's like that up here. I only have a empty hotel room to go to, so why not work? (shrugging shoulders).

I plan to leave on time (ha ha) today, due to a really early flight out tomorrow. This will allow me to get to bed early tonight.

A fascinating Evolution video I came across last night.




The video is 9 minutes, 59 seconds. Well worth the time.

Although, I do not enjoy leaving the family behind as I come up here in PA, I do learn more of the group I work with each time.

Yesterday, unexpectedly, both boss ladies and a peer came to lunch with me. Normally I only take a peer out to lunch. This becomes a one sided conversation as I listen to my peer's frustration, expectation, ect.

There is a different atmosphere when the group is together. Individually, they are more reserved in discussion. However, each (well 2 anyway) still discusses something about themselves, I didn't know before. I truly find it fascinating to listen to people's experiences, history. This puts a new facet of themselves out there that allows me to gleam a little more understanding about them. The more I know about them, the easier it is for me to understand their view and perception of how the world operates for them.

The lunch was unexpected, but enriching.

Yesterday, I was in the office nearly 12 hours. I didn't get out till 7 p.m., hitting TGIF on the way to the hotel.

I was able to watch "Enterprise" and "Digging up the Truth" before crashing last night. I also picked up some Tylenol PM to assist my rest while I am up here.

I also spoke with the boss lady and it does not appear I will be required to buy another pair of shoes while I am here. I am glad, because I just can't see buying some shoes when I have 2 brown shoes at home in the closet.

I touched down in PA last night around 10:30 p.m. est time. After I picked a car from National and drove to King of Prussia, it was around 11:30 p.m.

Since I drunk 2 cups of coffee on the plane, I didn't get to sleep till well after 1 a.m. During that time, I caught a bit of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO. I found myself actually enjoying it. He had Huckabee on the show for a bit. I was impressed with Mike's answers.

It was in the 60's for temperature at home, I came into snow on ever side of the road here in PA. Below is a quick shot (via phone) of the parking lot.

Believe it or not, I failed to bring my shoes. Bummer, I will be having to were the white tennis shoes today. I guess I will have to hit the mall this evening after all.

It's been awhile since a good post, so here it goes.

First, I am glad it's Friday. It has been a long week, with everything going on. I had a special school board meeting Monday night, an additional 3 and 4 year old 24/7 all week, the same raw busy running as usual (speech, church, ect.), and a unexpected call from work to top it all off. Seems, I will be running up to Corporate the week of the 19th. This was unexpected but hopefully a good trip.

The nephews should be picked up today before 3 local time. Last night one of them fell out of bed and had a bad dream. I am thinking it is probably due to having to leave today. They tell us, they miss and want to see their dad (nothing for their mom), but do not want to go home. They want to spend the night again, again, again, .....
You get the picture.

I have the regular school board meeting next Monday night. I will be taking a friends daughter with mine to a irish dance class this evening. I will have the son tag-a-long with us. Kel has to prepare for a float tomorrow while we are away.

Tomorrow holds for us a annual cub scout derby, the float, and a irish dance. A busy Saturday to say the least. Our regular church visit will be Sunday. So essentially the weekend is shot already.

Next week looks just as busy.

So, if I resort to only one good updated blog per week, hope you 5 readers will understand. (smile)

We had a great weekend away at Tulsa. The kids and I were able to play a game of LaserQuest. There were 26 players involved (2 birthday parties were happening) in the game we participated. Out of 26, guess who actually won? Yeah, I actually had the highest score. I was surprised at that as well.

Our daughter participated in the Jr. Vet class at the Zoo. I think she really enjoyed it. She was able to, among other things, dissect a chicken wing. LOL

In other news, I ran across this article involving YouTube and BBC. Since I have become addicted to YouTube, I found it interesting.

YouTube Strikes a Deal with the BBC
Joe Lewis | Staff Writer

In a move that seems to run contrary to recent trends, YouTube has
actually come to an agreement with a major content provider. The
BBC announced on Friday that it has struck a deal with the popular
video-sharing site that will see the UK based broadcasting company
share in advertising revenue generated by YouTube traffic.

After highly publicized breakdowns in negotiations with CBS and
Viacom, it looks like Google and YouTube have finally managed to
court a suitor into the video-sharing fold, avoiding any potential
copyright snares that might ensue with current BBC content on the
site.

The BBC's Tim Weber has more on the particulars of the agreement:

"One of the BBC's two entertainment channels will be a "public
service" proposition, featuring no advertising."

"It will show clips like trailers and short features that add
value - for example, video diaries of David Tennant showing
viewers around the set of Dr Who or BBC correspondent Clive Myrie
explaining how difficult it is to report from the streets of
Baghdad."G

I remember the song "Working for the weekend" by Loverboy back in the day.

Seems that is what we do anymore. At least for those that have a weekend off . Time is flying so fast anymore, we turn around and the weekend is among us already. I know I will blink twice and the weekend will be over.

Irregardless, I am looking forward to the weekend. We plan to go to Tulsa to visit family. Our daughter has a Jr Vet class scheduled for tomorrow. I also plan to play a laser tag game with them as well.

So today will fly like norm and I will working for the weekend.

It's been real nice to actually have a weekend off without the worry of going to work. My primary job still enters my mind, but it's the first full weekend in quite some time to not have to be somewhere for 10 + hours.

I was able to enjoy sleeping in till nearly 8 a.m., play with the kids, straighten the garage, move one of the kids furniture around in their bedrooms, enjoy some time with Kel's family, and that was only Saturday.

I know Kel is looking forward to being able to go to church with all of us (me included ) today.

I finished up reading Biblical Demonology: A Study of Spiritual Forces at Work Today. It is a fascinating read with detailed information.

I have started a new one entitled, The Believer's Guide to Spiritual Warfare: Wising Up to Satan's Influence in Your World. It also looks to be a good book.

I have also been attempting to learn some additional freebie programs. One is called VirtualDub. I am trying to get the best out of video making. I guess we will see where it goes. I have some ideas, but as you know putting those ideas into action, is another thing.

All in all, I have and continue to enjoy my first weekend off.

I should also mention (though not the least importance), Kel and I actually had a nice date Friday night. We went to see the movie Music and Lyrics.I thought it was cute. I really cannot recall the last movie Kel and I went to see. It's been that long.

I watched this vid yesterday and it really hits to the heart of the matter with America church today. The video is 24 minutes long, but well worth the time. The speaker does not babble around as many do, but keeps driving home the message.

A video well worth watching.

I had a brief moment at Walmart during my pepsi run today. I usually like to check out the electronics to see if anything came out on dvd's. I was checking out the new music cd's when I see a new cd put out by Ashley Tisdale.

Ashley Tisdale plays on "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody", on the Disney channel. I have seen it enough times with the kids to recognize the name. I wasn't aware of her putting a cd out. I knew she played in 'High School Musical'. Yes, we own both The Suite life and High School Musical dvd's.

Anyway, I kept looking at the picture on the cover, because it didn't look to be the same girl. I ran the cd under the barcode to listen to a piece of her song. It actually played a piece of a video of her singing. Let's just say.....It definitely didn't look like the same girl I am use to seeing on Suite Life.

Not being naive, I know sex sells. But, come on. She was born in 85 making her (counting fingers), wow 22? I didn't realize she was 22. Well, that explains it.

Ashley's official site

Tuesday was vote day for Pocola. A new school board term came up. There were only 2 candidates to choose from. I personally do not really know either one. I was (I guess should not be) surprised neither really campaigned. I only seen one (the one that that won the term) put a ad in Spiro paper, the other did nothing. Rather, I was told he did nothing. Neither called nor contacted me. Personally, I contacted the board members during my campaign.

It does sadden me candidacy puts so little effort in creating a platform of "why I want this responsibility", rather than lean on whoever is better known in town.

I called the Election Board today to get the final vote. 102-80. Not much of an outcome for the town either, if you consider there was nearly 4000 in population for the year 2000.source.

Oh well. We have a special board meeting this next Monday night. Looks like we will be bringing in the new guy.

I took a snapshot while I was at work today. Notice the arrows pointing to the security.



I am sure you see them at the front entrance, but they are also in the back doorways as well. Eventually they will be so sensitive, they will be able to auto-log the products going through the security scanners.

Check out RFID in Clothing and Anti RFID for some interesting reading regarding RFID.

Think of every product having an RFID that provides the necessary information to identify it. Then pass the products through the security sensors.

You see the greeters when you come into the Walmart. They normally say hello, ect.

However, if you happen to leave, you might have been one of the customers been stopped with the loud "We're sorry, there must have been a mistake....an associate will assist you momentarily". Then the greeter becomes the security agent. They check the bags ect. to determine what might still need to be scanned.

Yesterday, I came back from my route and had the unfortunate sight of one Walmart associate on either side of some girl, with a 3rd associate following. The poor girl was bawling and crying. She kept saying over and over "Please no. It was my first time." I am sure she was caught stealing. sigh.

With all the hype of illegal music download, especially in college campus, I thought this gem was interesting.

Ruckus makes free, legal music downloading available to all college students
Date: 01/07
Ruckus music announced this week that due to the overwhelming number of requests that they receive on a daily basis from students at universities not affiliated with Ruckus, that they will provide their free, legal music download service to all college students.

In a recent communication to OSHEAN members, Mairin Brzica, Director, Campus Sales for Ruckus Network said:

“While we do not want to turn all of these students away, it is important we make clear that our business will continue to be based on strong partnerships with universities. We will continue to sign on new schools - upcoming new partners include Texas Tech University, Oregon State, University of Illinois Chicago and many more - and as an affiliated partner your school will continue to receive several important benefits.”

Brzica continues, “First, our video library, which will soon be available with an expanded offering, will only be available to students at your school and other affiliated schools. In addition, the cache server at OSHEAN that provides media locally across your campus network will provide you with significant bandwidth savings and much faster download speeds. Students will have a far better overall experience. “

Get more information

Ruckus Music Service Subscription Levels at OSHEAN Partner Schools

It continues to amaze me how the week flies. It's already the 9th of February. I am up once again before 5 a.m. At least today, I have a foreknowledge of when my day will end. Yesterday lasted longer than expected.

I have another school board meeting next Monday night. Looks like a large agenda. Most shouldn't take long though. Seems whomever wrote it, still did not get it down correctly. Sigh.

In some way, I am looking forward to this weekend and next being my last Pepsi weekends. I look forward to sleeping in till 8 a.m. for at least one morning.

Not much to comment. Just work, school, more work this week.

This week sure did fly by. Not that all do anymore.

I will run to grab my Pepsi check today. We all stayed home yesterday due to the weather and we simply didn't want to travel.

Last night, I worked with the kids to catalog all their dvd's and movies. I had them open every one of them to ensure a) a dvd was in the case and b) the right one was in there.

We did nearly all the tapes as well. I need to finish up some remaining in brae's room.

Unbelievably, we logged nearly 260 dvd's and over 70 tapes. I wanted to do this for some time, but never got around too it. This will now allow us to know exactly what we have and which remaining tapes (those that we really want) we need in DVD format.

We will catalog the games today.

Speaking with Kel the other day, we decided on my last day to work at Pepsi. It has been troubling me more than usual lately. I will be giving them my resignation today.
Yes, I will actually miss it. I really enjoyed working on the weekends. However, with additional activities coming up and my realization the kids will not be getting any younger, I know I need to spend more time at home with the family.

One thing is for sure. I still intend to utilize my time on the weekends with the kids and projects.

I will have to be checking this book out and look forward to seeing the dvd.

Daryl Hannah, Sex Slaves & the New Global Sex Trade


Every year, an estimated 14,000 girls are smuggled into the United States from Eastern Europe and Asia and forced into secret sex slave rings. Actress Daryl Hannah, who recently revealed her own near-miss with a sex-slave ring, is now hoping her experience may help spotlight an issue that is long over-due to get American and worldwide attention.

Daryl Hannah

Actress Daryl Hannah is hoping to bring awareness to the devastating effects of global sex trafficking going on around the world -- after revealing her own near-miss with a sex slave ring.

Hannah, now 46, revealed that in the late 1970s she was offered a chance to model for an album cover in Las Vegas. However, she soon realized the offer was actually a scam to force her into a sex slave ring. Upon the realization, she and another girl were able to escape from a window and get back to Los Angeles unharmed -- however, thousands of other girls are not so lucky.

Hannah is hoping to bring awareness to this issue through a low-budget film that's in the works. The former "Splash" actress will be going undercover with hidden microphones and cameras to document what's really going on in brothels around the world.

"The more I learn, the more I am moved to take action," Hannah said.

"The Natashas" Reveals the Shocking, Dark Reality of Global Sex Trade Rings

In all, an estimated 1 million young women are sold worldwide for sex every year. In the Middle East, the women are known as "Natashas" (regardless of what country they came from), and they're the subject of an eye-opening and highly recommended exposé, "The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade," by Canadian investigative journalist Victor Malarek.

The book reveals that girls as young as 10 are sold into this "21st century slavery," and forced to work in brothels, massage parlors, strip clubs and in apartments as private sex slaves in just about every corner of the world, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the United States and Canada.
Malarek reveals how women are smuggled into various countries under false pretenses, only to be beaten into submission, raped repeatedly and sometimes murdered.

A Necessary, Yet Shocking, Wake Up Call

The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade

"The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade" is an eye-opening investigation that reveals the uncensored truth about the fates of over 1 million women and children sold into secret sex rings every year. Truly a riveting and important book worth your time!

"They think they're going to be waitresses, nannies, work in a hotel, that kind of thing. Then they get busted and broken," said Malarek. "Once women are beaten into submission, they never question their pimps after that. They do as he says or he will kill them, and the other girls see it."

A $12-Billion Industry, Supported by Officials

Sex trafficking, though hardly ever talked about, is the third most profitable black-market commodity.

"This is a $12-billion-U.S.-a-year industry, and it represents the world's third largest criminal money-making venture behind drugs and weapons," Malarek says.

While the women receive nothing (and are lucky to even get food), the gangs behind the sex rings earn huge profits, selling women for $500 to $10,000 (and the pimps that buy them easily make back the money, Malarek says).

Adding to the already desperate scenario, the people who are supposed to be rescuing the women are often in on the scam. In some countries, Malarek says, "the largest number of users of these trafficked girls, these slaves, are United Nations peacekeepers, international aid workers and international police officers, who come to bring freedom and democracy."

"You had people being arrested for war crimes, including on charges of rape, and then in comes this international group which is essentially doing the same thing, but calling it R-and-R -- rest and relaxation. That's the irony," he says.

Malarek has uncovered many of the scandals reported in "The Natashas" first-hand, by visiting countries from Bosnia to Isreal to the Ukraine. Though what you will read is shocking, "The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade," is an indispensable cry for help from women and children forced into sex rings, and represents a major call to action for people worldwide.