Summer

I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and enjoying not having to be in school I know I am. Summer brings back old friends, new things to try and do, being outdoors, family, and lots of sun. I will admit that I have gotten a bit sunburned but its since faded and of course I am some how managing to keep myself busy then again getting a new job does that for ya. I have enjoyed reading books both old and new, eating lots of ice cream, hiking and having fun with friends. Continue to enjoy your summer because why not!

6 Words, 6 Ways

We had one more assignment in class so I am posting that because it was interesting. I want all my readers to go over the bolded words they are the prompt using only 6 words describe each of these prompts. I'm excited for you to see what you come up with whether I find out or not. Enjoy mine.

Story of my life so far: Amazing, continuous, more school, just starting.

What I have learned about me this year: I’m persistent, hard worker, bad procrastinator.  

My favorite place: Timpanogos, beauty, long summer days, hiking.

Something I learned in this class (English): How to write, research, and teamwork!

My future-what’s next: School, graduation, a job, and family.

Why words are important: Show meaning, convey feeling, move readers.

So long for now

English is coming to a close and that was originally what this blog was for, so I may or may not continue to post things now that I don't have to do it for a grade. I'm fully ready for summer and the nicer weather and not having classes although I will miss my friends and classes. Hopefully we all stay in contact and can have a blast this summer. See you all soon!

Just for giggles here is Koro-Sensei to say good by to for now:

And a Calvin and Hobbes: 

Hopefully the TV will have better and newer episodes than repeats all summer and if not we can all enjoy the wondrous outdoors, like Calvin's father would say "It builds character!"

Ta-ta for now!

Blog Issue: National Monument Review

Here is one for today President Trump just announced an executive order that will take any National Monument established from 1996-2017 and more than 100,000 acres or more into review. So any park created over the last 21 years is now in question. The current status is that they need to be reviewed within the next 120 days and Bears Ears Monument in the next 45 days. After each of the Monuments fitting the criteria have been looked at there maybe some changes coming their way. They will still be considered a National Monument but the sizes might be changed and the parks modified in some way. Who knows what will happen to these places of beauty, hopefully nothing too drastic happens in the next little while.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/04/26/trump-executive-order-could-rescind-national-monuments/100914086/

Blog Issue: Money for the Parks

We all wonder where the money comes from to keep these parks up and running but little did you know that the money comes straight from us. Or at least some does anyways. Some of our money from taxes goes to the National Parks to help keep them going. Of course there is a bunch more from the federal government that is given but not as much as there used to be. Over the last few years there has been budget cuts and of course Trump is doing the same thing. Although these parks may be able to run on smaller budgets it does make it harder and of course that may mean fewer employee's or a shortened working season, or even less attention to things that need the most attention. Hopefully things will work out and things will be made even in the end and that the parks will be able to receive the full funding that they need. 

Blog Issue: Beauty

Have you ever just walked outside in the middle of spring when everything is in bloom and seen all the beautiful colors and flowers? Well more likely you will notice the bugs coming back and that your lawn needs mowing and that there is a bunch of dandelions in your yard that weren't there a few days ago. For me when I go to a national park I get the first example, I get to go and see everything in it's natural state and see it's beauty. I'm lucky to have a National Monument almost in my backyard. Living so close to Timpanogos Caves National Park is amazing I love going up the canyon to to the visitor center to start my journey up to the caves. Although a mile and a half vertical climb sounds daunting to some people for me it is the best thing ever because I get to see everything that comes with it. There is such amazing flora all around me, adorable and silly animals all around to watch and of course as I get closer to the top there are the beautiful views overlooking the canyon and valley below. I get to meet all sorts of amazing people and when I finally make it to the top the Caves. The Caves in and of themselves are worth the climb let alone everything else that comes with it. Getting to be there just is an amazing thing. Each of the parks is like this in some form or another we just need to find what it is and then we can enjoy it just as much as everyone else, and the people who created it knowing that it would be worth it in the end. 


This is the Heart of Timpanogos.

Girl Vs Woman: Why Language Matters

In this video it focus' a bunch on our use of the term "girl" and how in almost everyday life we see a woman and immediately tag her as a girl just because that is the way we seem to label the female gender. The author of the video makes a point of clarifying who should be considered a girl and who a woman. On top of that when she is with others and they slip up using the term of girl she will correct them by using the things that signify that they should be thought of as a woman rather than a girl. She has made a very good point and we should try our best to make it so that we don't help with the confusion. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHH3lhYwqcY

OpEd

Who benefits from this: Trump and others he is working with.
Who have you also heard discuss this: anyone who has ever worked for or with the park service as well as many people who have visited parks or ever seen the beauty that lies within each of these parks.

What in another perspective: Trumps and the oil rig, or the nps and others, and saving the parks.“Here’s a suggestion: Go rogue, you lovable park rangers and biologists; tell the truth about science, you nerds in funny hats and badges. Let Trump’s thought police come after you at Golden Gate for tweeting that “2016 was the hottest year on record for the third year in a row.” Oh, the audacity of science!” (Egan) and this has happened there is now the AltNPS which is a group rebelling against Trump and wanting to do what is best for the park's, many rangers and parks have joined this movement.

What is getting in the way of our action: Trump and the fact that as president he can do anything.

Where in the world would this be a problem: anywhere there is a park that people visit to learn or enjoy the sights and learning opportunity.

Where can we get more information: online by talking with others following news and Trump.

When would this cause a problem: NOW!!! It’s a problem now and will continue to be as things progress.

When can we expect the change: it’s working on currently but the full change will be in the future we don’t have a for sure date as to when exactly or we would try to postpone it as much as possible.

Why is this a problem/challenge:  it’s not necessarily a change for the better just a change for a personal reason and gain.

Why should people know about this: to help combat it and see what we can do to change as well as informing others about it so that they can help as well.

How does this disrupt things: habitats of animals, the beauty, the overall work style of the parks.

How do we see this in the future: no longer protected parks oil rigs and drills where ever Trump wants them or we could try to get these things stopped so the parks can stay as they are now.

“But what are we to do when the edict to lie or suppress is about a foreign threat? A reason to go to war? Or job numbers that don’t fit a rosy scenario? When that happens, look to the Park Service to clarify that those are tears, not raindrops, on the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty.”(Eagan)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/opinion/park-rangers-to-the-rescue.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FNational%20Park%20Service&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

TED Talk: The Danger of a Single Story

Start with the secondly because then you will come up with a completely different story. If you listen or see the single story of another place this will cause us to have a singled view point of these people and the way they live when in reality it is not true for all of that place and those people. Our view points start with foreign literature and what the stories label these other places as one way, if we find literature from the source and that place it will bring about a new view point and a new idea. By listening to a single story we create the bias's and prejudices that hurt our society because we don't have a full understanding of the situation.  If we only look at one piece of the whole picture we have a flattened experience we need to look into everything the good, the bad, happy, sad, the expected and unexpected this makes it so we can have a full experience and give us the way we need to be think about life to have a great life. 


https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story

Picture for inspiration

Now I can't wait till I can be helping them do nothing too! We are getting closer, spring break is upon us and then only a month or so left in school. YAY! Hopefully it will warm up in time for summer, other wise we might end up with similar thoughts just like Calvin in this one.

Blog Issue: Voicing our opinion

On the subject of the National Parks we need to have a voice in this topic even if it is just a little one. We should learn as much as we can so that way when someone asks us what we think we will know what they are talking about and will have a say in the matter as well. For me I have a very strong thought process on this issue if you asked me about it get ready for me to sit you down and voice my thoughts on the subject for a good amount of time close to an hour or more. I can do that because I am informed and I have a very strong opinion that I'm not against sharing. So go learn, and speak your mind. 

Blog Issue: AltNPS

There is a new group on social media calling themselves the AltNPS. They post things to help us keep in the loop about what is going on with Trump and the National Parks as well as their opinions. Although they are informative they seem to be a bit one sided and try to make it hard to see what it the real truth rather than fabricated thoughts and words from both sides. Although they do give some good insights from the park perspective on how things will change and what damage will be done if Trump continues with plans he has right now. But we should keep an eye out for both sides of the issue and see what doesn't match up then we know something is going on. They post telling the readers to call up their statesman and are always informing us of which parks are now joining the resistance. They did it they are the ones that have started the resistance who would have guessed that it would be park rangers. 

Americans Ignoring Facts

Due to "alternative facts" or misinformed ideas people aren't getting the correct information and then are creating their opinions on the wrong things. But when given the correct information they are so dead set in their ideas that they don't take the correct info and change their ideas even when they are wrong. One of the examples they gave was crime rate in the U.S. it has been decreasing in the last few years and yet when a poll was taken a majority of the people being polled thought that it was increasing, this was due to misinformation. We need to take the time to really study out the information and make sure that it is correct before making wild assumptions and having a dead set idea because you never know when it will be wrong and then cause a problem when talking with others.


http://www.businessinsider.com/sociology-alternative-facts-2017-2

The Truth is Hard

These are just some of my thoughts that I had while looking at this.

Looking into the truth a little bit more:

We are all directly affected by this as we each need to find a way to find the truth and see what it is. 

This is a good way of putting it and I'm not sure if there is another way to describe it better than the way it is written out here. 

To watch for the truth and see what we can do to change with it.  

Now and always definitely in politics especially now with Trump and his "alternative facts". 

Because it can be hard, it is hidden and we must pursue it in order to understand it and find its depths. 

Happens we are a part of the truth.  

Truth hurts when told blatantly. 

Blog Issue: Change in Park Possession

One of the things that Trump is trying to do is change who has possession of the parks as of currently the National Park Service does and they are considered protected property. But if he were to change that and make the states take care of them instead then they would no longer be considered protected lands and Trump would then be able to make plans to drill in the parks or do whatever he wanted to. Hopefully this doesn't happen because we want the parks to stay as they are and continue to be protected but we never know. 

Thanks for speaking for Utah women

Reading this was really interesting to see a woman's point of view on something that really does need to be dealt with and how we might do that. I really enjoyed the questions that she asked as they were an interesting point of view and made a good point. These are things that really do need to be considered and possibly dealt with. Women's rights aren't going to change much unless we create a big enough stink about it and make them really realize what is going on and what to do about it. Equal pay is definitely a big problem and needs to be dealt with currently. Hopefully some of these problems can be taken care of and worked towards a good resolution that will satisfy everyone.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/thanks-gop-guy-for-speaking-for-utah women_us_58a658d6e4b026a89a7a2909

She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.

She was warned to quiet down and not interfere, was given an explanation as to why she was wrong, but nevertheless she persisted. 
She was warned to give up her ideas, she was given an explanation of the rules, nevertheless she persisted she shouted out her thoughts, she let them carry across the world let others know what she wanted them to.
She was warned what was to come if she persisted, she gave her explanation, and yet they all persisted to make things "right" in their own way.

Picture of inspiration

If this isn't true then I don't know what is. Especially with school and all the homework and other things needing to be done, there is never any time for me to sit and do nothing. That is what breaks are for though at least there's that. There is also weekends unless homework calls and says it's due then. Oh well eventually there will be time for the doing of nothing.

Blog Issue: Hiring Freeze

When Trump was put into office one of the first things that he did was created a Federal Hiring Freeze. This makes it so that anyone who is trying to get a job in a federal position wont be able to until the freeze is lifted. This has made it so National Parks and Monuments can't hire their seasonals for the upcoming season. This has also made it hard for those of us that applied and were hoping to get a job can't any time soon. Until the freeze is lifted things are at a stand still and places that planned on opening on certain dates all of a sudden will most likely have to push back opening dates. Hopefully this freeze will lift soon so that people can start hiring again and people will hear back from their jobs.

Simon Sinek Millennials

 These four things were listed as the causes that make millennials different from others parenting, technology, being impatient, and the environment around them. Starting with parenting he said that there is a form of "bad parenting" being done that millennials are told they are special and can get whatever they want when they want it, or that their parents will do anything for them from getting them good grades and into good honors classes to everyone gets a medal for participating. When these kids then grow up and enter the real adult world they realize they aren't special mom or dad can't get them a promotion or help them the same way they did when they were a kid. And this has a very big and bad effect on their self confidence and self esteem, causing it to plummet and create depression for many kids. Another thing he talked about was the use of technology and specifically cellphones. Most teenagers have a cellphone and some form of a social media account that they can access from their phone, having this so accessible hasn't helped with depression especially those that use Facebook or Instagram as they have become really good at using filters to hide what is really happening and can cause that much more depression. Or that when we are waiting for a meeting to start instead of socializing with each other and seeing how other co-workers are doing we are on our phones till the meeting starts, then we periodically will glance down at it to see if anything new has shown up or if a phone call comes through we will look at it and ignore it or want to answer but wont. Although this is a problem I will admit to being the kind of person that when I get bored I will get out my phone and waste time looking at Facebook or Pinterest when I could be doing other better things like socializing with my family doing homework or reading a book, but since it's there it's such an easy distraction but I have noticed that it makes me even more bored when I get on looking to get rid of the boredom it makes it worse not better. Something else he talked about is being impatient and that we look for instant gratification whether it be wanting someone to text us back or someone to like what we put on social media or even using the internet to find something we might not know a lot about. We may use our resources but it has made it so we are a bit more lazy as we know things are right there and within our reach rather than putting some effort and hard work into it. We can look up movies on Netflix and watch them right then and there rather than having to look up a show time, or find the movie at the local library or movie rental place, or even off our own shelves at home, because of this we just expect a certain level of gratification. The last thing that he mentioned was the environment around us. It's true the environment that we live in really does make a difference, especially if we have those around us that seem to think that the world only works in the one way and is horrible and nothing ever goes right. That isn't true yes there are the bad things but there are the good things like having hot water to shower with, or transportation to school of some sort, or friends that you get to see and talk with, family that loves you, that random bird you hear singing it's heart out as you walk to school in the morning, or whatever else is going good. It's the little things we need to enjoy and cherish. 

here's the video in case you want to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hER0Qp6QJNU

If gender stereotypes didn't exist

It's really interesting to see what guys would do if they weren't considered so feminine. Wearing dresses or skirts, painting nails, being a florist, or wearing yoga pants or leggings for comfort. I don't see why they can't do these things know if your a guy and want to do it DO IT!! Enjoy it don't let what the world says ruin your sense of comfy and what you want to do or be. It's okay to be different as long as you are comfortable with it, it doesn't matter or at least it shouldn't. I mean girls get away with wearing pants all the time because they are "comfortable" so why can't a guy wear a skirt because to him its comfy? We need to change our look on things so they aren't seen as stereotypical to guys or girls.

https://www.the-pool.com/news-views/opinion/2017/2/what-men-would-do-if-stereotypes-didnt-exist

Blog Issue: Oil Rigs

Trump wants to dig for oil in many places and many of these places just so happen to be National Parks. He wants to either go straight through them or very near them. He has talked about putting a drill right out side of Zions National Park, this would be seen from miles within and without the park (National Parks Traveler) it would disrupt the beauty and possibly the wildlife as well. The average Oil rig lasts around 12 years (McKinney) so that might be handy for the time it operates but afterwards not so much. Who knows what kinds of trouble and oil spills it would cause that isn't something that we want for our parks but in our current situation it just might happen because Trump has the higher say on these things. 


Sources: National Parks Traveler, Cami McKinney

Death Sentences

The phrase "Are you Deaf?" gets thrown around all the time now and can be really offensive to those who really are deaf. If you really think about it, the phrase "are you deaf" has two different meanings. The idea that someone might not have been listening or preoccupied and that's why they didn't hear you. Also that someone might not have understood what you are meaning no matter how many times you describe and explain to them. If we would stop just flinging it around casually though it could be understood as these meanings rather than just a mean way of saying others really aren't listening.So it’s really up to us to truly decide how we see this phrase and  how to substitute it for something else that might work better and be less of a wrong or rude phrase.

Revenge poem

It was really interesting to see her views on  different situations and how they might need to change or be acknowledged as  a "problem". Honestly when I was reading through this the first time it really kind of surprised me and startled me a bit at how open and blunt she is with her wording. It definitely gets the point across though.

http://www.seattlereviewofbooks.com/notes/2017/01/03/revenge/

picture for inspiration

Stuck while writing an essay or just about anything else? Calvin and Hobbes might have an idea that could help or it might just be worse.


Now if this would only really work. Maybe if we don't think about it and come back to it later we will be able to write again. This could be very helpful insight. Thanks Calvin. Time for a snack break from homework.

Maybe I really should take this advice while I'm having problems with coming up an issue to use for my blog and research paper I really didn't realize how hard it was going to be until I started thinking about it. Too bad there isn't a way to use a writers block on my computer (well there is always the internet that calls when on a computer) maybe time to think of something to break with coloring perhaps. If only it wasn't so hard to come up with things to write in an essay if it were easy like a story well then we'd be going places.

Blog Issue: National Park History

Here is a little bit of history on the National Park Service for those who didn't have much prior knowledge. 
The National Park Service was originally under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior but in 1916 was given to congress that is what marks the Park Service as we might know it now. The National Park Service just celebrated their 100th birthday back in August of 2016, so for many people this was a really big thing. There was events all over to celebrate the NPS and the Parks although not every park is a hundred years old some are getting close so they enjoyed the celebration just as much as anyone else. Here is something that you might not have known: there is a difference between a National Park and a National Monument can you guess what that might be?
If you guessed that a Park is established by congress and a Monument signed over by the president than you would be correct. The president can create an executive order that signs a place over to become a National Monument. But if congress does the work then they get the proud title of Park. Although there are two different names because of the way they are created they are still important and a big part of the National Parks. 

The 3 A's Of Awesome

It was really interesting seeing what he had to say and what he thought of as the 3 things that can make life awesome. They are Attitude, Awareness, and Authenticity. I really enjoyed watching this and seeing how in his life each of these came into play and that they did work together to make is so life wasn't so bad. Maybe I need to try this see if this can make my life better.

https://www.ted.com/talks/neil_pasricha_the_3_a_s_of_awesome

I AM. . .

I am Different.
I am afraid of losing more family.
I am working on becoming fluent in ASL.
I am a very good listener.
I am enjoying my summers by hiking and volunteering at Timpanogos Caves.
I am still slightly dependent on my parents.
I am still looking into my self and finding new depths, then trying to learn about them.
I am very talkative when I want to be.
I am artistic.
I am amazing!

George Orwell

 a quote from George Orwell:

"...if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."

If this is really true then we all need to think about our language and focus on a better use of language and making it so it is less corrosive and hurtful. 

Issue for Blog: Trump and the National Parks

My issue is on Trump and the National Park Service. Trump has created a national hiring freeze which has affected many parks in their ability to hire on new help for the coming season as well as made it really hard for potential candidates to get a job. He has also mentioned wanting to sell the national parks back to their home state so that he can dig for oil in some of these places. He can't do this currently because the parks are under protection, this is why he wants to sell them so he can then legally drill. Currently he is focusing on Zions park and hoping to put a drill outside the park that can be seen from inside and out of the park. Doing this will destroy the beauty of Zions and potentially in other places it could harm wildlife.

Blog mascot

This is Koro-Sensei my blog's mascot.

He will just show up every once in a while to make sure the things being posted are awesome, and comments are great.
See ya around Koro-Sensei.

Betsy DeVos hearing

As I am reading through this my first and continual thought is that she doesn't have a clue to what she is doing. She may have worked with education but definitely not the kind that she would be doing if she were to be confirmed. There are very big gaps in her knowledge and what she would be expected to do. So to me this doesn't inspire confidence in her or her possible methods. Reading over the transcript given I noticed that there seemed to be a few times where she didn't answer the question presented that she seemed to dodge it and try answering something else, or that she didn't know completely what something was like the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Because of it only gave half answers until she was asked again later and had completely changed her answer on it saying she hadn't understood what it was when they asked earlier.
This is not the type of person we would want in our government because they don't understand what our needs are and how to properly take care of things.

In case you wanted to read the hearing portion I did here is a link to the page it was on.
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/01/18/510417234/the-devos-hearing-in-their-own-words

Brene Brown TED Talk

As I was listening to the TED talk these are what I found interesting to me or things that just popped out at me then stuck till I wrote them down.

We are all vulnerable to what we see in the media.

In order to create, innovate we need to be vulnerable.

Shame and vulnerabilities are connected.

Now connecting this to the magazine activity, we are all vulnerable in our own ways and sometimes that might come in the shape of a magazine. What we see on the covers might pique our interests or have an interesting word that makes it so we pick it up, but it then shows us (or at least the girls magazines I feel) what is wrong with us and how to fix it. Maybe showing us in our state of vulnerability that we aren't perfect and this is how things need to be or should change to. Then that gets us thinking and worrying and hating that one piece that we've been told is broken or not pretty enough that needs to be fixed, when in all reality we are perfect! Just like in the song "Scars to your beautiful" By Alessia Cara "You should know you're beautiful just the way you are. . . Let me be your mirror, help you see a little bit clearer The light that shines within There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark You should know you're beautiful just the way you are And you don't have to change a thing". Because it's true we are all beautiful and sometimes we just need a reminder of that fact, whether it be from a loved one or a friend sometimes even hearing it from a stranger helps us feel a bit better. So from me to you YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!! So from me know that you are enough and you are awesome stay beautiful and yourself. Don't change for someone else if you really want to change starts with you! Change because you want to not because someone said you should or needed to. Become comfortable in your own skin. I know I am so I hope you can be too.

A link to the video in case you want to watch it.
https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame

About Me

This is McKenna's insane life where everything happens, and we save the world daily before lunch, and twice on Mondays.

Well most of the time. Realistically I just do homework, work and imagine what life would be like if it were one of my books that I love so much. I am a very avid reader and love doing just about anything creative or artistic. That goes from reading to drawing to writing my own stories. If you want to know more about anything I have posted feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer any questions or concerns you might have. Enjoy the posts and pictures that are added. (Just for a bit of comic relief, because who doesn't need that.)