PLN 1

In the article CSU botanist finds new plant species in Four Corners by the Denver post what matters is how easily important things can be missed. This article talks about a new plant species that was found and how they almost didn’t see it. If they had missed it then a discovery might have never been made. A lot of things are missed throughout our lives because we simply move too fast and don’t take the time to stop and look. My friend once told me a story of a day when she and her family were driving along the highway and they noticed a few cars pulled to the side marveling at something. They decided to pull over and there they directed their eyes toward the most beautiful double rainbow they had ever seen. After staring at it for awhile she realized how many cars were flying by on the highway and how many people were missing the breathtaking sight in the sky. It is the little things like rainbows that bring us back to reality and help us realize what life is really about. It is these little things that put a smile on your face and remind you of the people you care about. But most people that day were too focused on rushing to their next stop to take a minute and look. If everybody took a few minutes out of their day to smell the flowers and appreciate the little things I think we would all learn to value not only the world around us but the people around us and maybe even reduce the amount of constant harm we cause each other. If you slow down and look you might be surprised by what you find maybe even a new species of plant.

PLN: Lost Generation

In the video “Lost Generation” what matters is inspiring a generation that was said to be lost to rise up and create a destiny for themselves and change the world. The clip proposes that this generation will end up at the bottom of the current downward spiral of society unless they choose to reverse it, and if they reverse it then they can change the world completely. Why would this concern me? Because I am a part of that generation that is doomed to be lost unless we do something about it. As I walk through everyday I see people just like me all around, enjoying life, and having fun. But as I watch closer I realize just how selfish, lazy, heartless, and mindless we all are, and that is where we will fall. As I watch I see people walk right by the handicapped person struggling with their car door, or toss their fast food cup on the ground because they are too lazy to hold it until they find a trashcan. I see people snatch the last cookie because they realize someone else was about to take it, or the most common one are people talking behind others back saying things that didn’t need to be said and only hurt more people. To reverse these acts would take only a minute or two but our generation has become so accustomed to acting this way that it wouldn’t even cross their mind to do the opposite. Could it be that if we as a generation can’t find a way to reverse our downward spiral that we will be lost? And could it be that the first step to changing the world takes place in our own backyard? Could it be as simple as helping some or choosing not to talk when you know it will only hurt people? Just the thought of a whole generation being lost and being known for allowing society to fall completely is dreadful. But there is hope. We can choose to choose our destiny, we can choose to make a different decision, and we can choose to change the world starting with our own backyard.

PLN: I Remember When

In the video I Remember When what matters is how we have and can keep changing technology to make our world better. The video shows lots of young kids remembering times when technology wasn’t as advanced as it is today. They talk about remembering when you had to be at a computer to check you email where as now you can check it from most cell phones. The kids in this video mention that they like it when we change the way the world works. Why would they say it is a good thing to keep changing the world with technology? Because when technology is improved and created not only does it change the way we do things that already exist, like communicating or connecting with friends and family; but it also opens new opportunities for discoveries, communication, travel, and new thinking. But all these opportunities aren’t worth anything if they aren’t shared with the world, and that makes a new kind of education. Technology is always being improved and invented and it is always changing the way we live, and learn. By providing so many opportunities technology is making our world a better place.

three item introduction

Emily Kelley
Three Item Introduction
My first item is a leather bound Bible. Being a Christian has made me who I am. It is the basis of my life, my decisions and my actions. I have learned all my greatest life lessons from it, and it has taught me how to live.
My second item is a big oil painting I did of a red barn in a field, with mountains behind it and a stormy sky. This painting is most of my favorite things. The first is painting; painting has taught me to see the world, color, light, shapes, and texture as beautiful, and taught me to create, and see what is around me. The second is the barn; I love the country, and being on farms, because they are such a free place, and there I learn to be free. Thirdly there are the mountains; I am so blessed to have grown up in Colorado with the mountains right there, I simply love their beauty. Lastly is the stormy sky which has two meanings. The first meaning is I just love weather, rain storms being my favorite, because of the way they change the scene and even the feeling of the day. The second meaning is that symbolizes the stormy times in life and how I made it through, and it reminds me I can make it through.
My third item is a bouquet of dried red roses. These are something I have always loved to have around. Because they have thorns they remind me of two things. One is that beauty comes from the inside because they are a prickly plant but produce the most beautiful flowers. Secondly they remind me that beauty comes from pain, and the hard times in life only make you stronger and more beautiful.

PLN 16

In the article “Shocking numbers” by the Rocky Mountain News what matters is how we are going to survive the crashing economy. The article explained the nation’s unemployment rate has increased to 6.7%, with 533,000 jobs lost in the month of November. That’s the highest jobless rate in 15 years. My brother lost his job a couple months ago as the company he worked for went out of business literally just closed its doors. My uncle was laid off from his job three months ago, and at my dad’s office they laid off one employee last week. The Rocky Mountain News was put up for sale last week but is likely to be shut down. So there are another 500+ employees whose jobs are in jeopardy. I live on a cul-de-sac street. There are approximately 30 homes on the street each with two working people. As I look down the row of houses, I can figure that about 4 people on my street are unemployed. The unemployment rate is up 42% from a year ago, and it seems to me it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. President elect Obama is quoted in the article as agreeing with that prediction. Yet President Bush and President elect Obama cannot come up with any solutions to this problem. Therefore it is up to us. So what can we do? We all need to have some compassion for each other. Help each other out how ever we can. Now more than ever we should observe one of the greatest commandments and love our neighbors. During the great depression the only way people survived was by relying on those around them and helping when they could. The economy now is nearly as bad as it was then but there are still quite a few people who are struggling. I heard a story of a woman who went to a place where they were auctioning off foreclosed houses a bought one of them in full then simply gave it back to the family that was living there. Not every one has that much money to spare however every little bit helps. And by pulling together and helping each other we will all be able to make it through the bumpy times.

PLN 15

In the article Teacher Sells Ads on Test Papers by 2 cents worth what matters is how this school is problem solving and therefore giving their students more opportunities. In the article it talks about how a teacher has sold advertising space on the bottom of tests. The advertising helps pay for printing and basic supplies, leaving more money for other things. It is good that the school has figured out a way to help pay for what they need. By figuring out how to make extra money they have opened up new possibilities, and with the extra money they can fund new programs. Other schools should followed their example then kids all over would have more opportunities. If more schools problem solved like this one did our education system would be much better off because with extra opportunities kids have a greater chance of being prepared later on in life. This school sold advertising on their tests solving the problem of not enough financing, creating new opportunities and setting an example for other schools.

PLN 14

In the article Man found dead outside Colorado Springs home what matters is why the man is dead. The police haven’t figured out why the man died however they plan to perform an autopsy to try to figure out what killed him. This article worries me because I have a brother that lives in Colorado Springs. It makes me wonder how safe he is down there he was already nearly shot when a gun man showed up at his church about a year ago. Even though my brother wasn’t killed or even injured in this shooting it greatly affected him. Everyone in the church had a hard time because they now knew that it could have been them that were killed. This guy could have died of natural causes, or he could have been killed by someone who is now still on the loose in the city. If somebody did kill him then it would be dangerous for everyone in the city to have someone like that still running around the city. I think that people these days have to much access to many ways of killing others and it has become so common that it is hardly a big deal when someone dies. It is unfortunate that this man died, hopefully it was of natural causes because if it someone did kill him then everyone in Colorado springs could be in danger.