jens work

Isn't it funny?

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:38:53 GMT

Facebook and all of those social networking sites you don't expect to have any of your old friends remember you because you've changed. But you have the same thought going through your mind.

Maybe it's only me but in life you expect everybody to look as you last remembered them. For me some of these people I haven't seen for over 8 years and then I see them and think, "That can't be them." But they were like what 13 or 14. Now we're 22 and 23 it's like not the same.

People in life change so much. We tend to throw it to the other side. Maybe this is the point in my life that I need to look at myself and realize, "Hey maybe things aren't as they seem because we change." But maybe again I'm insane. It's always a possibility.

a change in heart?

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:13:52 GMT

Well now this will be a surprise. I'm going to have to remove that side banner that says what I'm going to write and when. I'm not going to do that anymore. It felt too constricting and I couldn't write what I felt like. So I'm going to write whatever comes to mind everyday. So what if it's the same thing or something that happened during the day? I'm a writer and I can have fun with it.

Today's topic is one that's driving me nuts. I was checking my yahoo groups today online. I wish I didn't people in the Siberian Husky group were getting on PETA because of how we're supposed to be this heartless group that pretends to care about animals or something like that. I had to read the 1 out of 300 animals being saved story. I don't want to hear it. This is a group about dogs not about animal rights I think it was very rude.

That's what I hate about people we have to realize there's certain places and times for things and when to say them. That was an uncalled for time at least in my opinion. Maybe I'm the heatless one, but if that's case. Screw it.

Sorry I would write more but I'm tired.

Think of yourself first please

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 06:17:26 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (CNN) -- The nation's economic crisis is now playing a role in the debate over same-sex marriage.

Philip and Randi Reitan, with son Jake, have been fighting for years for marriage equality.

1 of 3

Supporters of same-sex marriage point to its economic benefits, both for those getting married and for states that sanction it. Opponents, however, say same-sex nuptials will actually "devalue" the institution and cost society more in the long run.

In Minnesota, the issue has even split two openly gay lawmakers, and for the purposes of this story, the two men agreed to sit down together for a joint interview.

Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble is one of those lawmakers. Dibble, a Democrat, is proposing one of two marriage-equality bills in the state Senate and says now is as good a time as any to propose gay marriage legislation because there is also an economic aspect to the debate. Legally married couples, he says, are generally in better financial shape overall.

"We're in a time of economic crisis, and it's difficult for everyone," Dibble says, "more difficult for those families that don't have access to those basic provisions for economic security."

He says examples include the joint ownership of property; joint credit; the ability to share health-care benefits with a partner; and inheritance rights.

"People are beginning to understand that the rights and benefits and responsibilities and economic relationships that couples have with each other as a result of marriage or marriage-type laws are really basic to our ability to be able to provide for each other," he adds.

"It's really coming to light in context of this economic difficulty that we're in the midst of."

State Sen. John Marty has also introduced a bill that would create gender neutral marriage laws. He agrees on the timing aspect.

"The bad economy makes it more important than ever that we address this," Marty says.

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"We want to be doing this now because of the fact that it's not only the right thing to do but because a same-sex couple needs the health-care benefits. They need the equal protection now because their families are hurting just the same as every other family is."

Amy Johnson, executive director of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality group OutFront Minnesota, says that in the long run, routine rights that married couples may take for granted amount to all sorts of hidden costs for coupled but not legally married homosexuals.

"There are real costs to not being married that take away our disposable income," Johnson says, but she stresses that first and foremost is the argument of basic fairness.

"It really is a civil rights issue and an equality issue," she adds. "I would love for the conversation to stay focused on that. [But] to the extent that dollars resonate with some people, fine, I'll take your vote, even if you're not really understanding [the larger argument]."

But that's not the only way the economy has been leveraged in the debate over gay marriage.

Gary Gates, a demographer at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law who researches sexual orientation law and public policy, says the state itself would see a "noticeable economic benefit" from legalized same-sex marriage.

Since a specific analysis of Minnesota has yet to be completed, Gates uses findings from other states and compares them to Minnesota's roughly 15,000 same-sex couples. He guesses the state could see as much as $10 million in additional revenue over the first three years.

"Right now, so few states provide for marriage for same-sex couples that there is a kind of marriage tourism that goes on," Gates explains.

In other words, states that legalize same-sex marriage -- and that are among the first to do so -- would see the biggest uptick in tourism due to couples from neighboring states making the trip to say "I do."

"Assuming that people buy rings and rent halls and cater food and all of those things that go with weddings and, for tourism, that they bring some people along with them and they all stay in a hotel and all of those kinds of activities -- we try to take [that] into account."

"[Gay marriage] creates some positive revenue for the state because it simply means that people who could not get married now can."

And Gates even argues that more jobs would be created.

"If you have this much tourism revenue, it supports this many jobs in the states. So we argue if you get this much additional tourism revenue, then you would expect this many additional jobs."

With an issue like same-sex marriage, dissenters are plenty -- but none perhaps more talked about than Republican state Sen. Paul Koering, an openly gay man.

Since voicing his opposition to the marriage-equality bills just weeks ago, Koering has received hundreds of hate e-mails. But he says he still isn't convinced to support the measures, citing other "pressing issues," such as the economy. Watch Koering discuss his hate e-mail �

Koering says that, politically, it takes the focus away from the budget and the people who have lost their jobs, homes, or both and compares it to asking for a new football stadium in this economy when the old one is still usable.

"I know that's not a good analogy [and] the gay community is saying it's equal rights and it's the right thing to do, and I understand that. But you have to understand how politics ... works," Koering says. "The electorate will say, 'My goodness ... What's wrong with these people? Why are they talking about this issue (gay marriage) now?' "

Koering also feels the constituents he represents -- a large number of whom are conservative traditionalists -- don't want him to support the legislation.

"Do I want people to have equal rights? Of course I do. Do I think that there will be gay marriage down the road? I think there eventually will. I know that there are some people that ... want it right now. Well, that's not the way things work."

Koering thinks the state on the whole is not ready to accept same-sex marriage and that before he can support it, he'd have to see that others are more willing to approve.

"I think if the gay community really wants to change things they need to go out and change the hearts and minds of people," Koering says, adding that he doesn't see himself as a gay rights "activist."

He also says that, personally, he isn't sure how he feels about the issue.

"This is a tough issue that people are trying to wrestle with and they're trying to accept it, and I'm even trying to wrestle with it myself."

"Just because I'm gay that doesn't mean I have to be for gay marriage." Watch Sens. Dibble and Koering together �

Tom Pritchard with the conservative Minnesota Family Council also isn't buying the money line. He says the primary argument against gay marriage is that it would de-value heterosexual marriage. He compares it to counterfeit money de-valuing real currency.

"We put in place subprime loans thinking it was going to be a great boon to the economy. Well, there was a big bust and the government has been paying the consequences," Pritchard says. "Well, I think the same thing with marriage."

"Basically we've got a crisis now with divorce, but now we're going to be adding into it counterfeit marriages -- same-sex marriages. And the problem with that is it dilutes the currency -- the value of marriage -- such that I think you're going to have more family breakdown and problems resulting from that."

Pritchard says that breakdown of families would be bad for the economy overall. Watch Pritchard state his case �

Bringing the economy into the fray has even caused some die-hard gay rights activists to wonder if it's really the best way to go about accomplishing their common goal.

Philip and Randi Reitan have been fighting for equality for their son Jake for years and have even been arrested during peaceful protests. They want nothing more than to see their gay son walk down the aisle just like each of his three siblings did before him. Watch the Reitans discuss the issue �

Randi Reitan says the economy argument, while it may be true, trivializes an issue so near and dear to them.

"So many times things get back to the money issue, and I think maybe they're trying to get people to understand it," she says. "But for us it's just a matter of the heart."

"It's so frustrating for me as a mom to know that my child does not have equal rights. It's just unbelievable that we can live in America and still have people fighting for their right for equality."

In response to Koering's comments that there are more pressing issues to worry about, Philip Reitan simply shakes his head.

"There are pressing issues, but how in the world does having equality in marriage affect our ability to work on solving our issues?" Philip Reitan asks. "I don't think there's ever a wrong time to pursue justice. Martin Luther King certainly said that justice delayed is justice denied and that there's never a more right time than today, or yesterday."

While the bills have been introduced, the general assumption is they won't go anywhere this year -- and could possibly even sit there for years before any action is taken on them.

In the meantime, the two senators who don't exactly see eye to eye on this say they'll be cordial.

"We don't always agree, but we disagree in a respectful way," Koering says.

The sad thing is when did this all start I mean seriously? Why did we have to worry if Johnny is dating Tommy or Jill dating Tammy? We're too caught up in what other people are doing and who they're dating that we're forgetting that we need to be in love or don't care that we aren't? But shouldn't we worry about ourselves first then same sex couples getting married.

Here we are in this world that's supposed to be civilized and we're looking at people who are in love with the same sex. How civilized is that really? Use your mind about this. We group up with hippies and whatnot and it seems like they've taught us nothing about being able to love everybody. That went right down the hill into a stream of forgotten memories. That's what scares me half to death. How can we just put what the hippies and great people in history said behind because of what our minds says is right?

drugs? mental illness

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:05:26 GMT

You Scored as None!

You've either done a good job of avoiding drugs, aren't interested in trying them, or have had an experience that chased you away. Stay safe. :)

None!

75%

Inhalents

69%

Marijuana

69%

Mushrooms

63%

Ecstacy

50%

Alcohol

50%

Cocaine

44%

Thank god my drug of choice is nothing. But that's normally not the case with people. What goes on my mind is the fact that being mentally ill and drugs go hand in hand if you wouldn't believe it or not. At least that's what goes on in my mind.

Being Bipolar I know sometimes when I'm depressed I look at drugs and go, "Possibly they'll make me feel better." I'm happy that I'm strong enough to look at the drugs and say they're not my friends. But not everybody is strong enough then they end up spiraling out of control with their addictions. It's sad to think that I could be one of them. I don't know why people see that as okay. But that's what happens sometimes.

People don't seem to realize that they're going under before it's too late and people are leaving them because they're far too gone. I think it's sad and depressing but what can we do? We're lost in this fight for everything.

That's what makes me believe addictions and drugs are related to mental illnesses

Stop about the skin color please

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 05:29:17 GMT

You Scored as WHITE

YOU ARE WHITE!!!

WHITE

67%

BLACK

67%

MEXICAN

33%

JAP

33%

                Today I'm talking about. Women who get bothered because of their skin tone. So what if you're black white, or maybe an alien that has no skin tone at all does it really matter?
                Women don't need to be looked down on because they're different. We're all in this world, well this universe and we're going to have to get over the fact that there is no way around women of different color. If I was blue (smurf blue and not dying blue) would you actually talk to me like I was human and treat me like a woman? Probably not because you're afraid of whatever it may be. which is sad.
         That's all I am going to say on this I could repeat the same things over and over and they'll be the same.

mindfreak!

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 06:34:03 GMT

You Scored as you love him

congrats. you love Criss, however, too bad for you, becasue he's MINE!

you love him

100%

You're a fan

60%

who is Criss Angel???

20%

you hate him

You Scored as Yes you are!

That's pretty sweet cuz he's pretty hot! It's good to know there are hot people out there. Rate this quiz ok,please.

Yes you are!

90%

So here's the thing. Yes I am a Criss Angel Loyal meaning I'm a fan of his an extreme fan yes I guess you'd call me that. I love his work and love everything he does. Yeah you're probably thinking that what I'm talking about isn't weird or paranormal but honestly? Where would I put a blog about Criss at? Sure could put him under music he's a musician as well, very talented musician at that.

Some people have labeled him as 'fake'. That's one thing that really pisses me off. How can he be fake? He's a magician, an illusionist, of course what he does isn't 'real' it's common sense people can't walk on water. But it doesn't mean what he does is fake. It's like calling a chef fake if he buys store bought pasta for his spaghetti. I think the problem is people are afraid of magic and don't understand what he's doing is for art purposes and entrainment. He's not there to prove to people that we can really walk on water.

I've heard people tell me over and over again it's wrong to like him? Why is it wrong to like Criss Angel? Am I supposed to like these men that have their "t's crossed" and their "I's" dotted? I like a guy who strives to do what he loves. I can't figure out a better guy than Criss himself. Alright? Sorry for all you haters out there because this is what I strive for.

He's actually my idol believe it or not. His main motto is to 'believe'. He says if you can believe and work hard enough anything is possible. Guess what? I've for awhile turned my back on that thought before I knew of him. I thought that I was living this life and unable to climb up the hill to my life and what I believe. That's so not the case anymore. Thanks to Criss.

So guess what? I'm a loyal until I die.

Meow

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 06:18:27 GMT

You Scored as Tabby

You should get the affectionet tabby. They will love you forever.

Tabby

100%

Siamese

Should cats really get viewed differently than dogs? I mean really? They're not the same species and cats are a bit moody. So should we give them the same treatment?

My answer to that would be yes. Would you really treat a dog different if you were into Huskies and a Boxer came into your life? I'd sure hope not. That's the same thing if a cat came into your world instead of a dog it should be the same philosophy all animals behave differently. Nobody would expect my cat Rain to be as sweet and playful as she is. Most cats run away scared and don't lick you in the morning to wake you up. Yeah so what if she's very dog like. It never phased me to see her as different than any of my other pets. She's just a cute little cat with a lot to offer.

I see animals all the same, the playing field is level. Them and dogs are the reason why I don't wear fur anymore. Most countries use dog and cat fur and don't tell the consumers that they're really using dog or cat fur. How gross to think that your cat or dog is actually made into a jacket (yes they do steel the dog or cat from people's yards in those countries to make jackets).

So yes cats should get the same respect as any other animal.

Punk Rock!

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:00:28 GMT

You Scored as punk rock

you got punk rock. that's okay, you're not pop punk. you have some clue what punk rock is. you're rebellious and obnoxious.

punk rock

63%

pop punk

56%

hair metal/rock & roll/heavy metal

50%

experimental rock

50%

indie rock/elitist

47%

classical

41%

emo

38%

hardcore.

28%

pop

19%

rap.

You Scored as R&B

THE GENRE ABOVE BASICALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR ACTUAL MUSIC PREFERENCE! THE POINT IS:You: Are deep.Tip: Don't dwell on the past.

Country

83%

R&B

83%

Classical

50%

Hip Hop/Rap

50%

Rock

50%

Pop

50%

Blues

50%

Folk

17%

Jazz

17%

Silent

So here's the thing. Punk rock is my baby, but I have no problem with Country, Pop Punk, Emo or anything else. I think the thing is people need to be open about music and other people's taste. Why? Because in life we tend to look down at people who are different musically and forget that, "Hey we're all different." I know tons of people that do that. To me it's just a sad form of thier reality. I don't know what it is about people being upset that somebody listens to metal, and the other person's all gangster so they can't be friends. That's just an excuse.

Okay off of the being friends with people like that. I don't care. I'm here to talk about music. Not how people get along with each other. Music should all be one sided the way I see music is it's either good music or it's bad music. There is no genre to me. Why do I need to put a label and a neat little bow on all of the stuff I do anyways. We don't need music to be there doing that to us.

People just need to be quiet and rock on.

unexpected for open minded jen...

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:34:06 GMT

Personality Test: How Open Minded Are You?

Open Minded

Your mind is open. You aren't at all judgmental, you accept differences in others.. You're definitely willing listen to others opinions with respect and may even change yours if your opponent can offer you the proof you need.

Fun quizzes, surveys & blog quizzes by

You Are 68% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded.
Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints.
But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line.
You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

You Scored as Still too closed from the world

Oh you poor baby. People will feel sympathy for the simpleton. Hope you like pity sex.

Closed mind, you poor schmuck

100%

Still too closed from the world

100%

FREAK!!

63%

Average, nothing more, nothing less

50%

Halleluya

38%

You Scored as Open Minded

Open Minded

94%

Closed Minded

13%

So I was actually close minded on one of the quizzes? Fine let them believe that because I don't think I'm as close minded as every body thinks. Sure there are a few things that I won't go for but they're not anything really bad, it's the leagization of pot and what not.

This isn't a talk about pot at all it's a talk about being open to human sexuality and who people are. The fact that we should accept for people about who they are. Nothing's really going to change. They're not magically going to change color, or change their sexuality and for us to think they are is a bit selfish. If some gay guy walked up to a straight guy and asked them to become gay. The straight guy would freak wouldn't they? Don't you think they see a problem with how we live? I mean truly?

I've seen people feel so bad about their sexuality and the fact that they weren't straight and it bothered me. It wasn't that they were insecure it was the fact that people didn't accept them for who they were and acceptance is a great thing in this society. As a whole we don't accept people for who they are most of the time.

that figures everything.

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:53:06 GMT

I'm back yet again my people I won't leave again I promise. I've been preoccupied being retarded but you won't have to go without hearing my blog entries.

You Scored as Strong Catholic

You are a strong Catholic who seems to know what they're talking about. Go and be an example to others through love and self-awareness - not force, bigotry, and attempts at conversion. Conversion will come when you are leading the life God wants you to, not through any of your own acts. Peace be with you.

Strong Catholic

30%

It's nice to know that I haven't forgotten some of my roots. I went to Catholic Church when I was younger. Yes you heard me the Pagan went to Catholic Church. The thing is I'm 100% not Catholic anymore and it's obvious. Does it bother me? No not at all it just proves to me that I'm finally accepting what I believe is right. Thanks to that quiz I know I'm going the way I should.

Does it bother me if somebody is 100% Catholic. No not at all. It's actually cool. I have a friend (I won't use his name). He wants to be a Catholic Priest, though he might be kicked out of whatever they call it. What a bad boy. Ha! But I have no problem with him. That's what he believes. He's awesome and a great friend. Thanks to him I'm a bit more accepting, not that I wasn't before but now I"m understanding it's alright for anybody to be who they want to be.