Warning: this post references the concept of porn.

The meaning of words tends to change over time. A popular country song talks about "back when a screw was a screw, a coke was a coke, and crack's what you were doin', when you were crackin' jokes." Yup, things change over time. Interestingly enough, at one time it was generally accepted that conception was the moment a sperm fertilized an egg. That definition has been quietly changed too. But I digress.

I was reading an article about pornography statistics as part of my research for an English paper. About a quarter of the way down the page there is a breakdown of porn search terms by demographic. What I found interesting was that the terms "porn" and "xxx" were more likely to be used by older demographics, while "sex" was more likely used by younger demographics. Yes, even though this study only targeted online pornography searches, there is a difference in terminology. The younger generations don't see porn as "porn", they see it as sex. That, is tremendously sad.

Found a quiet, dark place to write

I took my computer to a vacant office with the lights off. I have been needing to write all day. Some things are just better expressed in written word than verbally. I'm feeling a bit down today, but not as bad as yesterday. Now, don't get me wrong, I think it's ok to be down once in a while. In fact, I think it's downright healthy - as long as we don't camp there.

Yesterday my boss called to discuss something with me. It was in regards to a conversation I had with another employee in the company which I felt was confidential. Well, in fact, it was in regards to three things, but the major one (and one of the minor ones) was something I thought was spoken in confidentiality. Well, I'll learn to be more careful about what I talk about with fellow employees now.

Hmm. Interestingly enough, just writing this out has helped me to mellow out a bit. And since nothing more is coming to mind for the moment, I'll have to leave it at this very unsatisfying ending. There will be more. Either appended to this post or in a new one. Cheers ;)

Tumbling

So, I decided to start using tumblr. It's kinda like a blog, but it's fun and social and all that good jazz. Right now it mainly has stuff I like from other blogs on it. I keep up with the blogs on Google Reader, then share stuff I like in reader, and it gets imported to tumblr. Cool huh? Anyway, it lives at http://matt.tennison.info/ if you wanna check it out. Enjoy!

Separation of the Internets

Sometimes I think it'd be a good idea to seperate the internets. Create one with porn on it and one without. I know it's been touched on before, and discussed by some in length. The problem is that the undertaking would be incredibly huge. Sure, some of it would be fairly straightforward. Some sites make it pretty darn obvious what their goal is. But the question comes when we look at those sites that like to straddle the line - portraying a "family-friendly" image on the exterior, but harboring adult content just below the surface.
With the right know-how, porn can be found in many otherwise "safe" places on the internet. A photography site, a search site, a writing site. All can look completely innocent on the surface, and you could visit them a thousand times and never know of the deep and unsavory undercurrents running directly alongside of you, or just under a thin surface.
My point is not to encourage you to go out and find it. It's unhealthy, and destructive, and it ruins lives. Porn affects the people who watch it, and the people who make it. The people in those movies are the equivilant to those giant foam character costumes you see in parades and at public events. They Look like they're thrilled to be there, when really the person inside is miserable, wanting to get out and waiting for that time, and thankful the face on the outside of the character doesn't show it.
No, seperation of porn and non-porn internets will take a decision in your own head. It'll take a decision in my own head. Choose to do what is right. No filter or seperation or blocker will keep porn away from someone determined to get it. The choice lies inside.

A Quick Note

Just a quick note to say that I'm still here, still breathing, and will return. Finding time to blog is difficult lately, as I make time for many many other things first, but getting on the site again was ina small way like coming home. It feels comfortable, and makes me remember some things. See you soon.

--Matt

Top Muskegon Blogger

Could I be the top Muskegon blogger?

Blogger has a cool feature whereby if you view a blogger's profile, then click on his city (like Muskegon) you'll find list of other people who use blogger in that city. When a person posts a new blog post or updates their profile, they move to the top of that list. So when I post this, I'm officially the Top Muskegon Blogger .... hehe

Other updates:

• Kelly is about a year away from being able to sit for her RN state exams. The classes are hard, but she's gotten good comments from instructors and coworkers. She's going to be a great nurse. She's also started making fabric crafts and opened up a shop on Etsy where you can buy things. She's really excited about it and wants to expand it further, but we're waiting for her first sale. Stop by and let us know what you think! (the address is http://tennisoncreations.etsy.com/ if the link doesn't work)

• Brooke finished up her girl scout events and meetings for the year. This was her first year and she really enjoyed it. I've been pleasantly surprised by it as well. It seems to be a really good group for her to be involved in. Next up is getting her involved in a sport or other activity. Sign-ups are happening this summer for cheerleading, but I have my reservations about that. Soccer and T-ball are also options we're considering.

• Ethan is now, and potty training. Most of the time he's good about telling us when he has to go, but some days he doesn't at all. We're also STILL waiting for him to tell us when he has to poop. He hasn't done that on the potty at all yet (and we all know how much fun those pull-ups are to change). He's also just seeming much older and more mature to me. It's like he's recently grown 4 inches and doubled his vocabulary and comprehension. Very cool, but makes me realize it's going fast!

• I'm enjoying work more lately. I'm traveling during the day about 4 days a week and home every night. I work with customers and sales agents throughout the day and enjoy it. For a while I was doing sales trainings and I really enjoyed doing that, but I'd hate the regular overnight travel that being a trainer would come with. In my spare time I've learned quite a bit about creating websites using css. There was a lot about websites that I forgot, and much has changed too, but I'm fairly with it for now ;). I'm enjoying the summer, and bicycling, and being outside. It's going too fast though! On top of its break-neck speed, all of my auxiliary interests get in the way of relaxing outside and enjoying it too...but it's who I am.

So now you're up-to-date on what's going on with Muskegon's Top Blogger ....hehe

Oh yeah, my sister is going to have a baby in December or January. It'll be strange being an uncle, though my other brothers have had that title for 7 years now. She and the baby don't have an easy road ahead, but with God's grace they can make it through.

Coffee in Winter

     Today's post comes to you from the Grand Traverse Pie Company in Muskegon, MI. I'm sitting on a stool looking out one of their wall-sized windows, watching the snow fall. Today's snow is the light and fluffy variety. It's the kind that gently falls to the earth, unlike the sleet that crashes down as quickly as possible. :)

     Sleet comes down the way that I ski. I like to downhill ski. Once I took lessons on how to ski, and it turns out there is more to it than just pointing the skis down the hill and staying on your feet. You have to learn how to move back and forth, and stay in control. Yet, to this day I still prefer to get to the top of the hill, point the tips straight down the hill and move as quickly as possible to the bottom of the slope.

     I love the speed of downhill skiing. In fact, I'm a pretty big fan of speed in general. I think it would be awesome to travel somewhere with no speed limits just to see how fast my car can go and what it feels like. Darn speed limits.

     The snow is letting up now. The store is fairly busy. The coffee is still good - getting a little colder though.

     Trying to find the motivation to get to work. I like what I do, but it doesn't get me out of bed in the morning. I desire to be one of those people who is passionate about their work. I don't know if that requires a change in me or a change in my work. I'm certainly passionate about some things. I'm becoming more passionate about communicating. I work for a "Communications" company, but honestly, they are not the best at communicating in the sense that I'm passionate about.

     I'm passionate about quality video. I'm passionate about training people. I've gotten to train people before, and I think my passion shows through, and makes me a better teacher. See, I'm kinda addicted to information. When I'm assigned something new, I want to learn everything I can about it. The thorough knowledge I gain puts me in a position to help people. I help people understand the thing I'm good at. It could be a product, or service, or compay, or idea.

 
     Here's an example: last night our dryer broke. Actually, I suppose you could say I broke the dryer. I was cleaning the inside of it after a red pen found its un-timely demise in the last load of laundry. I was turning the drum by hand and something snapped inside. Now, I like to fix things like that myself. They have a system, and I believe that the average consumer should be able to understand and fix their own appliances.

     Long story short, I found the problem - the belt had slipped of the motor. BUT there is a piece laying in the bottom that is not attached to anything. I don't immediately know where it goes and I can't figure it out. I'll look up a manual online today to figure it out and get it fixed. But I don't just stop at fixing the problem. My mind is constantly absorbing extra information while the dryer is apart. I'm looking at the felt the drum rides on. I'm noticing the setup and positioning of the heating element. I noted how many btu's the gas burner was, and how it was shielded. I even looked at the extra holes in the chassis - how one body could be used for several models by reconfiguring where the panels are bolted.

     Some of this information will come in handy later and some will not. I take it all in because I enjoy it though. I want to be able to understand and visualize it when a friend has a question with their dryer. I'm not going to hang a dryer repair sign outside my house, but it's handy to know. It's my nature.

     Not sure if there is a point to all of this :) Maybe it will encourage you to evaluate what you are passionate about. Maybe it just helps you to get a better idea of what makes me tick (scary thought) ;). Maybe it's just the ramblings of a young man in a coffee shop on a winter's day.

     It's snowing again. Time to warm up the coffee. Then, my journey begins.