PLN #5

                                                                                                                                           Sarah Jenkins
                                                                                                                                           Period 3



   In the story, A Single Lucid Moment, by Robert W. Soderstrom, a man and his wife, whose names are never revealed, are working with the peace corps, living in a small town called Maimafu, and the story accomplishes telling the reader about the people living in the town, how they live their lives. They are surrounded by kindness and generosity from these people. There is even a man with Down Syndrome who goes from home to home to work or play. They all know each other and take care of each other. During the day, the women would plant and cook throughout the day, and men would harvest the coffee trees. When they arrive, the bamboo-hut that had been built for them had a beautiful garden out front and flower petals on the walk to the front door. Later that night, they shared their stories with the people, and showed them pictures. One of them was a picture of 2 homeless men, begging for food. Curious and rather disturbed by this picture, the tribe offers them a kind home. They offer to even plant another coffee tree in their name. The husband sends a letter to America, requesting them to be sent there, but America never writes back. Disappointed and hurt, the people of Maimafu continue on. But it makes the American couple realize, as said in the story, “...that the worlds purest form of brotherhood can often be found in the smallest of villages.” 
    The story, A Single Lucid Moment, by Robert W. Soderstrom was an emotional story for me. It almost sounded unreal me to hear that there were actual people out there who would take in a stranger they didn’t even know and take care of them! Imagine how much that would mean to someone.They are so kind and loving to the husband and wife. I would love to go there, just to meet them (and to get some of that coffee ;) People here in America would walk right past them or throw them some change. There in Maimafu, they would probably be sick to think about them shivering. This article is well written and descriptive of everything, the setting, (the coffee the teaser!), and all the characters. I recommend this to anyone who wants to be moved.

PLN #4

   In the intriguing article, "High School Only Shorter", written by Sue Shellenbarger, she describes how easily students have graduated from high school early. For example, Nicholas Myers of Fishers Ind., graduated High School in only 3 years. All he did was take senior classes early and finished extra courses online. Unfortunately, he had to pass up on Senior Prom and a special trip to New York. But now, at 18, he says it was all worth it. He was awarded $4,000 from the state of Indiana to be used at a state-approved college. In 2002, 2.9% of students graduated in 3 years. In the 1990's, it was only 1.5%, says Elise Christopher, a scientist and researcher for the National Center of Education in Washington. Jenifer Dounay Zinth, a senior policy analyst with Denver-based Education Cummision, says that Proponents are eliminating "senioritis", when students are lazy. Of course, there is a down side to a 3 year diplomacy. Critics aren't sure if students are ready to go to college at 17. Mrs. Zinth says that a lot of people think 4 years is best. Roland Priebe helped his son, Luke, graduate in 3 years. He says that his sons' learning level was faster than what school was giving him. And the 3 year diplomacy was perfect for them. Luke had to take a lot of extra courses and exams beyond his level, but he got through it, and went to Brown University. He said it was a lot of pressure and stress, and he was so happy for the break after graduation. But then there was a Laura Paul. She wanted to graduate early for a different reason. She wanted to move to a more diverse, cosmopolitan school. But her mother said no, she said her daughter was too young and she didn't want her to move so far away. So Laura went to nearby Boise State University. She was actually pleased. There were a variety of people there. A breast cancer survivor, people from Pakistan, Africa, and a man in his 50's. She says it was the best decision she ever made, to graduate early.
   The article, "High School Only Shorter" is a very interesting read. Sue Shellenbarger does a fantastic job telling others about 3 year graduates. When it comes to 3 year diplomas, I don't have a lot to say. I dont believe it is wrong, people can do what they want with there lives, but in a way, 4 years brings more of a future. It brings more opportunities and better pay. It would be nice to get out of school one year ahead of everyone, but they built school to be 4 years. I mean, if this "3 year diploma" was realistic, wouldn't they have made High School 3 years instead of 4? I think we are meant to be in school 4 years. But if some people want to work harder and exhaust themselves, they can go ahead. But I believe that being in school for 4 years is better for students futures as responsible adults for our future.

PLN #3 (Is Google Making Us Stupid?)

                                                                                                               

   The article "Is Google Making us Stupid?" written by Nicholas Carr, they enlighten the reader how much the world has changed thanks to internet and computers (electronics). Mr. Carr explains and proves how the world has changed since the 1800's. He interviews and researches over 10 people, stories and books that speak about the same topic. Maryanne Wolf, writer of Proust and the Squid: The Story And Science of the Reading Brain, says, "We are not what we read, we are how we read." She is stating that your life depends on the way you learn. Such as, if you read on a nook, you like and believe in technology. If you read hardbacks, or paperbacks, you are more traditional. Friedrich Nietzsche, a writer back in the 1820's, use to hand write his work. After type writers came out, he bought one, and his friends noticed a change in his writing. "Your writing is already graphic and 'terse prose' , but now it is even more so." He explains that working on the type writer made his eyes tired and he didn't have near as much patience as with his own paper and pen. Carr believes that, "The brain is almost infenitly malleable. People use to think that our mental mesh work, was largely fixed by the time we reach adulthood." A Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer scientist, observed that in the book, Computer Power and Human Reason, written 1976, states that even timekeeping has gone electronic, in to sleep, to eat, to work, to rise, we stopped listening to our senses and listened to the clock. Fredrick Winslow Taylor celebrated his 1911 treaties, The Principles of Scientific Management,was to identify and adopt, for every job, the "one best method" of work and thereby to effect "The gradual substitution of science for rule of thumb throughout the mechanic arts." Overall, the article clearly states how the internet has affected our country's, our cities, our lives, and the world. 
   I strongly agree with this article. Total 100% is correct in my opinion. I'm not saying that internet is bad... "Ban Internet!" No! I wouldn't be me without the internet. But, it has affected millions of lives. People never can sit through  book anymore. I even find myself putting down books sooner than I normally would. As Maryanne Wolf says, "We are not what we read, but how we read", tells me that in a way, we have become electronic. No, we have not become robots. I am simply stating that it is crucial now to have some sort of entertainment. People now have to depend on other things to stay occupied. People are losing there imagination slowly, letting it die and rot as you become older. Except for those who still read. I have spoken to people who say, "I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but I love to role play! I love to be the dragon banished for being good. Or the mermaid who makes peoples life miserable, or a pirate, or...". Those are the people who don't spend 3 hours a day in front of a computer or IPhone. I love the internet and couldn't live without it... there you have it. I just proved in that statement that I, and all the million's out there couldn't survive without Google.

PLN #2

                                                                                                                                           Sarah Jenkins
                                                                                                                                           Period 3



        In the story, A Single Lucid Moment, by Robert W. Soderstrom, a man and his wife, whose names are never revealed, are working with the peace corps, living in a small town called Maimafu, and the story accomplishes telling the reader about the people living in the town, how they live their lives. They are surrounded by kindness and generosity from these people. There is even a man with Down Syndrome who goes from home to home to work or play. They all know each other and take care of each other. During the day, the women would plant and cook throughout the day, and men would harvest the coffee trees. When they arrive, the bamboo-hut that had been built for them had a beautiful garden out front and flower petals on the walk to the front door. Later that night, they shared their stories with the people, and showed them pictures. One of them was a picture of 2 homeless men, begging for food. Curious and rather disturbed by this picture, the tribe offers them a kind home. They offer to even plant another coffee tree in their name. The husband sends a letter to America, requesting them to be sent there, but America never writes back. Disappointed and hurt, the people of Maimafu continue on. But it makes the American couple realize, as said in the story, “...that the worlds purest form of brotherhood can often be found in the smallest of villages.”