Middle America's Worldview

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I would suggest the book.

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

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

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

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

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

I do hope everyone haves a great, safe Christmas.

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





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

Thanks Honey!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She does make some good points against the Arkansas Governor.

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

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

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

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

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

6 days till Christmas?

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

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

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

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

Manhunt Stealth Kill FAQ Final - hosted by Neoseeker

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

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

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

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

Yeah, another busy week. As if.

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

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

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

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


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

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

So glad it's Friday.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NORTH AMERICAN UNION 'A COUPLE YEARS AWAY'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Looking online this morning sure enough.

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

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

Well, that gives us another year.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some links to the ads.

Gotta Deal

Offical Black Friday

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

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

Glad the week is half-way over.

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