Body Talk

Did you know you can communicate without using your mouth? Its true, in fact you're talking without using your mouth every day. You tell your friends how you feel about how things taste, smell and sound like before you even think to use your words. Your family can tell what you're thinking just by looking at you, and they're probably pretty good at it by now. You're probably wondering what on earth I'm talking about! I'm talking about the secret language of body language. Body language is communicating or talking without using words. It can be just by using your face by smiling, frowning, laughing, squinting your eyes, puckering your lips or even sticking your tongue out!! You can also use body language by well, using your body. You can do this by folding your arms, stomping your feet or dancing!! There are a lot of ways to talk with your body and not your words. You do it every day to express yourself and let others know what you think about something. Detectives in the police force use it to tell what bad guys are thinking or hiding, just like your parents do for you, and they're pretty good at it too. They both look to see what your body has to say during interrogation, which is when you get asked questions and the person asking has to decide if you're telling the truth or not. There are good and bad ways you use body language, and they have good and bad effects on you. Lets see how you use body language and how cops use it to catch the bad guys.

Most of the time you don't even know you are using your body to communicate and it doesn't need you permission. Sometimes your body will even start to talk without you wanting it to. Lets say Mr. Gregory Walrus Jr. is being interrogated by officer Mark Doodlesmucker for stealing all the apple suckers from the store, Mr. Walrus doesn't want to get caught because he loves apples but he is afraid of officer Doodlesmucker. Mr. Walrus is sweating and he keeps playing with his fingers. This is a form of body language, sometimes when you're nervous you play with your fingers or can't look someone in the eye if you know you're not telling the truth and if you're really nervous you might even start to sweat! These types of body language are because of anxiety. Anxiety is when you're really nervous or excited in a way that isn't always good, it can make you feel a little sick. You might get anxiety on the first day of school when you're about to be dropped of by one of your parents into a place with a bunch of smelly kids who you don't know. I know this used to make me nervous! Maybe you are on a sports team and you get nervous right before its your turn to race or take the ball, you might breath heavy and start sweating, this is your body telling you that you are nervous. You might be so nervous that your arms and legs get shaky and you fall or run slow! These types of body language are something you do without even noticing it and if it might help officer Doodlesmucker catch Mr. Walrus.

There are ways that you can tell your friends how you feel without talking, for example lets say you are coloring with an orange crayon, AND OF COURSE ORANGE IS YOU'RE FAVORITE COLOR BECAUSE ITS AWESOME. So your buddy next to you asks you if its your favorite color, and duhhh it is buddy! But you don't want to say all of those stinky words so you nod your head instead. This is like another way to say "YES!" or "Okay" and you don't even have to open your mouth! Now lets say you're listening to you favorite song with your mate and you love the song so much that you just cant explain it! So you get the wiggles and just have to start dancing and throw your arms in the air like you just don't care! This is another way you can express that you really like a song and its really fun too!!!

Now you know that you talk with your body every day. You can dance with your friends who all like the song on the radio. You can color everything orange and nod when someone asks if you did it. Maybe one of the best ways to tell someone something without using words is to tell someone you love them by giving them a hug. So when bad guys know that their bodies will tell the cops the truth and they just give up and tell the truth, maybe they can get a hug too.

References

C, Brandon. (25 July. 2011). Adventure Time - Dancing Baby Finn 480p. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45vnHPbFv_U

Kohn, E. (2013). Does the Obsessive 'Adventure Time' Fandom Overlook the Depths of Pendleton Ward's Cartoon Network Hit? IndieWire. http://www.indiewire.com/article/television/how-adventure-time-fandom-obscures-the-depth-of-pendleton-wards-cartoon-network-hit

Mudx0rz. (13 Jun. 2011). Call the police. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3xtv4gvQYA

Know your Rights!

Know your Rights!

Have you ever wondered what the First Amendment of the Constitution means to you? The answer is everything! A long time ago, when the Constitution of the United States was written, there were many people that believed citizens, like yourself, deserve certain special protections against the government. In a way, the amendments act as a "shield" against anyone who seeks too much personal information or control over you. As a citizen, you probably grew up in a house with your family. This "shield" is what stopped unwanted visitors from coming into your home without being invited. The First Amendment does this because it states everyone is entitled to a private life, separate from government watch or control. Could you imagine if someone monitored the posters you want to hang up in your own bedroom?

Below is just a couple questions to see how well you understand the strength of your "shield." Answer the best you can and at the end, your answers will reflect how well you understand your rights under the First Amendment. Be sure to pay attention to the answers located throughout the rest of the post so you can retest friends and yourself at the end.

1. Does the First Amendment protect you while you are at school?
a) yes b) no c) only some days

2. At what age does the First Amendment start protecting a citizen of the United States?
a) birth b) 16 c) 18

3. How many words are in the First Amendment (make sure to look around for a clue)? a) 45 b) 46 c) 26

4. What are the "freedoms" given to the people under the First Amendment?
a) speech, press b) owning guns c) none

5. Does the First Amendment protect song lyrics that most people find offensive?
a) yes b) no

6.Does the First Amendment protect students who want to pray in class before taking a test?
a) yes b) no

Have you ever heard of the "I Heart Boobies" bracelets that support breast cancer research and raise awareness? If your friends or family have worn these bracelets to school, they were dealing with a controversy under the First Amendment. The conflict actually went all the way to the Supreme Court, the highest courtroom in the United States. Later, a federal district court, still important but lower than the Supreme Court, ruled that high school students were not mature enough to understand the message of the bracelets and banned them from schools in the state of Indiana. 

If you disagree with the state banning these bracelets, then you have a reason to understand the First Amendment. Your "shield" can protect you when you believe the government is too involved with your private life, however, there are restrictions. For example, the court system was able to ban these bracelets because the public schools fall under regulations of the state government. For many more court cases that involve the first amendment, go to the link below and continue to expand your knowledge of your rights. Click here for more.


The First Amendment includes freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, the right to peacefully assemble, and the right to petition the government about disagreements. If your teachers have ever gone on strike and walked around in front of your school with signs, they were allowed to be there because of the First Amendment. When groups get together to peaceful demonstrate what they want, it is protected by the right to peacefully assemble. If your teachers decided to chant certain words to get attention for their cause, such as "No chalk, no class," they are also protected by freedom of speech.

Even in times when people disagree with what you have to say, or what others are saying, they still have the right to speak whatever they please. Although, remember earlier when I said there are restrictions to these rights? Some types of speech are not protected because it may pose threats to others or incite violence among people. This kind of restriction is meant to protect all citizens and make sure protesting does not erupt into violence.

Are you ready for the answers to the little pretest you took? The answers are all A's!!! If you chose all of the "A" answers then you defiantly know how strong your shield is. If you answered with 4 or fewer A's, then go ahead and try them again. Then once you have the answers down pat, quiz your parents at home or classmates sitting next to you. And remember, the "Click here" link at the end of the fourth paragraph can tell you even more about interesting First Amendment cases that affect you! 





Sources:
First Amendment Quiz. (n.d.) Student Press Law Center. http://www.splc.org/page/first-amendment-quiz

First Amendment. (n.d). Cornell University Law School. 

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

Toppo, G. (2014). Supreme Court declines to hear 'boobies' bracelet case. USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/03/10/breast-cancer-bracelets-supreme-court/6253017/

Colors and Nature

(figure 1)  tomato plant

     The super heroes that fight crimes around the country are know to wear red and blue and they are superman and Spiderman. so whenever thinking about the color of what super human wears we can see color red is popular among our favorite heroes but at the same time bad guys can chose the same color. in real life there thins has the same color and some are good and some are bad for us because if we touch, eat ,and smile them they may hurt us but at the same time we think of some thing is bad just because of the color of it and for that we have story to tell about one fruit thought to be poisonous for long time. 

(figure 2 )inside of a tomato 

Long ago there was a fruit called tomato yes a fruit many of us think of it as vegetable but in fact it is a fruit and the reason we call a fruit because it has seeds inside it and scientist classify every thing that grow seed inside as fruits and tomato is one of them. our friend tomato have lived for  a long time as bad guy not because it wanted to be like that but we as human thought of tomato as bad guy and can hurt us if we eat it and that because a lot of the bad guys have the same color which is red like the English Yew.

(figure 3)English Yew 

    

      

Moreover tomato wasn't known to us until the discovery of both south and north America and people started to sail the big ocean to get to the new land. Our friend tomato was a stranger to the newcomers because they had an idea about color red is a bad one and that came from other bad fruits that has the same color as our friend tomato.

    

   The first people who met tomato were the Spanish and the called it tomate and the were the first people to take tomato out side the new land of south America. later on our friend tomato have been known to every on this world is a safe fruit to enjoy.Furthermore tomato had told a story that every one of us should remember by showing that color is not good way to till if something is bad but at the same time being safe is better than sorry.also many things were made from tomato like ketchup which most of us loves.So what we have learned from our friend tomato are lot never to place a judgement in your life  based on one thing always look further and if this happened to our friend tomato it can happen to anything.

      That story has lot of sad facts to it but at the same time helped us to tell the difference between bad and good and not to stop at one position and keep looking forward.From the story if we didn't know about tomato that it is safe we would not have famous food like pizza and Lansingh both are made with some sort of tomato products ether a sauce or a pest and many more food would not be existed without tomato. 
      
     Life is full of thing that have same look but they differ from each other . In other words imagine if you have twin brother or sister and both of you go to same school in the one classroom . One day your sibling  was asked a question in the class and could not answer your teacher made a mistake and took some points off you instead of him or her.

(figure 4) twins

What have happened to you will not be something you like because you have nothing to do with it your brother or sister looked like you but for sure he or she is not you and that shows you how other things in life can get complected too just like our friend tomato . 

click here so you can learn more about tomato . 

images sources:

figure 1 tomato plants retrieved from
http://www.clker.com/clipart-29009.html

figure 2 inside of a tomato retrieved from
http://imgkid.com/clip-art-tomato-slice.shtml

figure 3 English yew retrieved from
http://pixgood.com/pacific-yew-tree-wood.html

figure 4 twins retrieved from
http://pixgood.com/4-siblings-clipart.html

Unsung Stars (Final)

When you walk into the Kehr Union building on Sundays or Mondays around 8 o'clock, you can faintly hear laughing, singing, and loud footsteps like someone's moving around or causing a commotion. Well that would be the cost and crew of BUSTED. Busted is an ongoing musical comedy about college life, which was started by George Kinzel in 1998.  "I started BUSTED because of a theater troop, I helped out at IUP before I came to Bloomsburg University. I worked and wanted to create a way for students to get involved in Drama without being part of the drama department at Bloomsburg University." "I didn't want to create one show, I wanted to combine different stories over a course of multiple shows."

When auditing for BUSTED you’re given a number and you’re asked to fill out a personal sheet telling them about yourself. When you walk in, you’re put in the audience behind the judge table where current cast and crew sit, along with George Kinzel himself. During the whole audition you are your number, your name in that audition is your number. As auditions start GK (George Kinzel) introduces himself along with the current cast and crew. GK will then call up random numbers and will give those people certain senses to work with and show character to the judges. While the numbers take notes of how they feel the numbers are doing with their acting. After every number was given a chance to act, GK spills the numbers up by even and odd and assigns a choreographer to both groups. When the choreographers are assigned they take each group into a different room and teach them a dance. After each group learns their dance they perform it in front of the judges. The judges take notes on all of the performers. Of course that's not the end it, each of the numbers will have a sit down interviews with a small group of the cast and crew. During each interview the same questions are asked, but each time a new answer arises. For some, after the interview is done, their audition is over, but for others they still have one more part. That part is singing in front of GK, the number singing can sing any pop song of their choice and the Star Spangler Banner. After you sing in front of GK your audition is over, you no longer are a number. You should get an email a week later to see if you made it or not and if you did not make it don't be afraid to come out again for auditions next semester.

Overall there are three vital steps that go into producing and presenting the BUSTED shows. Writing a script for the show is the first step. The director, George kinzel, writes the script and comes up with the characters. This means that he writes every characters’ backstory, dreams, emotion, and voice. Then GK writes up story lines involving the characters mentioned before, as well as what songs Kehr Union Ball Room, the kids put their hearts and souls on that stage and it is not hard to see.

are sung in every show. Next the lovely Jenna Lynn and Jenny Cornell, the BUSTED musical choreographers, create dances for the shows that GK selected written in the script. After they create a dance number they teach the cast how to correctly perform the number, which results in about five dances to the cast each show. GK sometimes directs numbers, however not as much as Jenna and Jenny. While Jenna and Jenny are teaching numbers to part of the cast, GK is helping the actors with their scene work for the show. So this way they can perform as their character and get what they need to get done in their scenes. Lastly the cast and crew of BUSTED puts on the show in the

The cast is a joyful group, each one different in their own way whether it be their voices, hair color, or even their personalities. Each character has a different story to be told, as well as that characters adventure to get to their goal. You as an audience can see the characters ups and downs, weaknesses and strengths, and what makes them, them. "The story lines of BUSTED changes from semester to semester, with every senior leaving and every new comer that comes out for the cast, it's never ending." Says George Kinzel.

One part about BUSTED that cannot be forgotten would be the crew. The crew of BUSTED is always working on something for the show. They put a lot of effort into the show just like the actors do. They make all of the posters and flyer material. They also perform with the cast when needed, alter scene changes, hand out microphones and they help hand out props for the cast. If it were not for the stage crew there would not be that great of show to see. Without the stage crew, the overall performance of BUSTED would lack in a huge component.

Over the course of seventeen years the BUSTED cast and crew has had close to two hundred alumni. It seems as if this amazing show is never ending. When asked about future plans of BUSTED GK said, "Hopefully we will hit episode 100 the next three to four years and have alumni come back and perform with the current cast at the time." The BUSTED cast and crew did the same thing for episode 50, and it was a big success. In that show, the cast and crew preformed 20 minute melodies and mashups about one character throughout his or her whole career in BUSTED.

In conclusion BUSTED is an ongoing musical comedy that works because of everyone who puts effort in, loves the show and cares about BUSTED. The director GK puts a lot of work into making the shows and making a place for college kids to get involved in drama without being in the Drama department. So I hope a BUSTED show will be on your checklist here at Bloomsburg! It’s an experience that can never be forgotten.

 

BU track

 The BU Track and Field

 

Most people don't try out for track and field because of the skills you would need to obtain for running. Even though some people don't mind or maybe love running, the sport isn't all about running. There's also different kinds of field events that don't require running, like jumping and throwing. For example: discus, javelin, pole vault, shot put, long jump, and plenty more that don't involve enduring amounts of running. But the first couple of weeks of trying out and training, everyone has to put up with endless amounts of running work outs.  

 



 But Heather Homola was talented at the events javelin and pole vaulting in high school. And she was very dedicated to running and training with the rest of the team at every practice. Running is not and never has been a struggle for her. In fact she does it frequently on her free time, especially during stressful times. All her teammates adored and appreciated her as a friend and as a captain. With the help of her teammates and coaches, Heather wanted to further herself by joining and being apart of a college team. She came to the conclusion that Bloomsburg University had the right track team for her.

Coming to this conclusion wasn't easy for her. But the track field and track team won her over.
She knew this was the best possible university for her, educational and team wise. She adored the field set up and how welcoming it felt. It was easy for her to imagine herself supporting and being apart of the Bloomsburg Huskies track and field team.

Looking at Robert B. Redman field, it looks like a normal track and football field with the normal extremely large bleachers. Grass always cut and pampered for the good look. "I could sleep on this grass" chuckled Heather. They paint the lines on randomly, but always painted fresh for the track events. "Most of the time the grass is muddy, lucky you", trying to give the impression that its a good day to come. Walking on the grass, you feel divots in the ground. Heather mentioned "watch your step." You later realize that you're walking through the shot put event area, easy to figure out by the different sectors of the field. Heavy balls being thrown as far as possible could leave some distinguishable holes in the field. On the side of the field is the Nelson Field house, where the track teams equipment is located. In reality, this field was just another comfortable football field that's shared with track and other sporting events.

Humbly walking on the field at 3pm, Heather was eager to start practice. They started their work outs with their typical warm up laps. They run 3 full laps around the field. Which looks breathtakingly hard, trying to keep up with the team as you're controlling your breaths. After that, everyone gets together and starts to stretch using dynamics. Across the field you see athletes doing lunges to high knees. All of them look kind of ridiculous but its good to stretch every muscle before a decent work out. Heather then breaks off with the group of javelin throwers and starts to practice flicks with the javelin. While performing flicks, the javelin throwers aren't actually throwing their javelins. This works on the handling and formation of their body and javelin. Then each of the javelin throwers take turns practicing throwing with different steps each time they throw. Heather takes one step during the first step, takes three steps the second throw, and five steps for the last throw. Giving her practice with her steps, throwing, and handling of the javelin. By the end of the day and after the long practice, Heather no longer feels eager but she does feel fulfilled and accomplished.

"Not every practice is this practical" Heather said. Then she started telling a story, "One time our coaches had us running circuits." Then she explained, "Circuits are when people run drills that the coaches give to us. Started with high kneeing over ladders, then flipping a tire, performing hurtles, jumping rope, and finally finishing with running through cones." After pausing and kind of giggling, "one of the girls on the team trip and splattered into the mud." Trying not to laugh,  heather admitted "I had to hold my laughter, but I felt her pain and embarrassment."

 

But beeing an college athlete is one of the hardest ways to spend your stressful four years of college. Through exams, papers, and everyday practices. It has to be exhausting trying to have good time management skills. But Heather formally wakes up every morning and finds a ride to her 7am practices. Sometimes she has two practices a day, one at 7am and another 3pm. She expresses how these two a days are time consuming, leaving her with a little to none of free time. At the end of these days, she mentions how all she wants is a hot shower and a few episodes of her favorite show on Netflix. She also says how she knows that its not going to happen because school work is more important. So I asked her "Why do you stay on the team when you could have some extra free time for studying or other activities?" She replied "Being apart of a team is the best feeling, especially this team. And I love running and staying active!"

Bloom Bounce

Ever hear of a pro bouncer? I know I haven't. And if you're like me then you've probably never heard of it in your life, unless you're attempting to get into a club or bar at eleven at night, standing in almost zero degree weather along with the its-not-that-cold-out girls in their outfits that would make their grandfathers turn in their graves. Well for starters a pro bouncer does not work at a club, well not the ones Ill be discussing. A pro bouncer watches children, but not like that.. In fact to be a pro bouncer, one undergoes a series of tests including an FBI background check. The pro bouncers that I will discuss work at your very own bloom bounce. But lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, you might be thinking; whats a pro bouncer? He still hasn't told me. What is a bloom bounce? What happens there? Why do they watch children there? And are there inappropriately dressed women there as well?

           One thing at a time, in regards to women wearing clothing equivalent to loin cloths. No, bloom bounce is located far out of reach of a good time on a Saturday night. Located in the New Columbia Mall in Buckhorn, Pa. Or the New Columbia Ghost Town if you've ever paid it a visit. Easily accessible for many parents in the Columbia county along with adding much needed business for the mall itself. Or a high school or college student looking for work which is the vast majority of people employed there. As for what bloom bounce actually is, to put simply its a glorified bounce house or a complex of bounce houses, one can imagine the tremendous fun that is. Unfortunately its for children twelve years of age or younger. Costing 4.99 for children 3 and under, for over 3 years old its 7.99 and if you're an adult lucky for you, its free however you cant bounce so unlucky you. The complex of bounce houses includes a whopping 6 bounce houses and a safer less exciting course for children under 2 but I'm positive that a 16 foot inflated beach inspired, bouncy, rubbery thing is all the excitement a 2 year-old needs. Along with this, the complex includes two party rooms for birthday parties, a lounge with cozy S shaped chairs, a TV for parents and a sit-in car machine. Bloom bounce is a place to take your children to well, bounce. The Bounce houses consist of the double slide, which as the name states has two slides and a small tunnel like obstacle course. The baby bounce, as explained earlier is a safer course for younger children with nothing they can really tumble down and break off of. It resembles a beach with palm trees and a serpent snaking out of the blue, water looking rubber of the inflated course. The Castle, this bounce house resembles a castle and is what I would go straight for if my mother came to Bloomsburg and took me to bloom bounce. It is your average bounce house, blue and green, pretty normal except it looks like a castle! The new double is almost exactly like the double slide with the customary tunnel leading to the two slides and in addition to that, its new.  The slide combo is a small series of slides and tunnels. The corner combo, is another average bounce house with a spacious chamber to bounce and go crazy in. And the obstacle course, a long obstacle course that takes up the majority of space along the far end of the complex. For the aspiring parkour children. Bloom Bounce is generally a large fun house for young children, but this is only the tip of the iceberg of what goes on there.

            So lets talk about, why watch children? Because safety is priority at bloom bounce. The well Trained pro bouncers undergo drug testing to be hired, as well as an FBI background check to make sure the bouncers aren't convicted of anything that would raise a red flag of a potentially dangerous person, basically babysitting a large amount of children. The pro bouncers undergo on the job training which as Haley Bennette, a pro bouncer states was the easiest part of getting the job. She only spent two hours training in all. She and her fellow pro bouncer Tate Patora and the other pro bouncers do every job in the facility including; running the register, check people in, monitor the bounce houses, run parties, clean, close and open the business. So lets take a look into a day of work for a pro bouncer. If the bouncer is opening then they will go in a half hour before the gates are open to customers at ten am on week days and weekends, save Sunday where as they open at noon. So upon arrival the bouncer will get everything fired up by starting to inflate all the bounce houses which are deflated at days end everyday. Then they will make sure everything is in good order from the night before. Once the gates open and costumers begin to come to bounce the pro bouncers will walk through a series of steps to check the children and parents in then proceed to run the register or are assigned to a certain bounce house on the map where names are written next to the assigned house. A pro bouncer who is watching a bounce house assures that the children bouncing are safe and not locked in an imperial battle for dominance of the bounce house. If assigned to a party room for a birthday party then the bouncer will set the room up for the children and parents, making sure there is enough room, food, snacks, drinks and fun. Sometimes the pro bouncer will be not be assigned to a specific bounce house and will proceed  to "float", walk around the entire complex, inspecting and observing, making sure everything is good. Throughout the day the pro bouncers will switch houses on the hour, all the while helping children. When the day comes to an end at seven pm on weekdays, nine pm on weekends and Sunday at five pm. Once closed with the gates down the bouncers will deflate all of the houses and vacuum all of the carpeted floor and clean up any debris left behind by the children. After everything is ready for the next day the pro bouncers call it a day and hit the bricks.

       
         So how does one attend Bloom Bounce? Well its not as simple as just walking in, there's a lot more to the place than that. One can imagine the rules and safety protocols in place in a business that requires background checks upon employment. You start by getting in your car, on your bike or camel then arrive at Bloom Bounce after parking and entering the mall. Walk to bloom bounce, avoid awkward eye contact with venders, once this is initiated you're pulled in. Once at bloom bounce with you're child(s) a waiver is required which you sign on kindles that are used specifically for signing in purposes at the counter, the contact information of both parent and child are required to sign in and access the complex. After you have successfully signed in you pay for your children who then receive a stamp that will match the one you will be stamped with. Then you're free to go as long as you've remembered socks for all of your children, this is expressed in kind, soft text at the very bottom of bloom bounce's website,  http://www.bloombounce.com/. And if you forget socks then they've got your back, behind the counter where you check in along with a wall of snacks ranging from sugary candy worms to flavored popcorn from a local shop, are socks for the occasion. If you are in the need for the ultimate party for a young child then the party rooms the place for friends and family. Spacious with a long table running through the center of each party room, the pro bouncers work to keep the kids supplied with pizza or even subway hoagies. After all of the bouncing is said and done the stamps of parent and child are checked to assure they match, the protocols set in place work and well, there's never been a single child who's accidentally, or purposely left with the wrong group of kids or parents nor any sort of issue of missing children, lawsuits or any other fun things besides tantrums, unfortunately those are at times unavoidable.
         Bloom bounce doesn't only offer opportunity for children who've had a long day at work and just need to bounce. It is a great place to work for students in high school and college. According to pro bouncer Tate Patora, its a relaxed job because for him and his co workers, getting to work with little kids is fun and easy. He admits that it does have its stressful times for example when a kid doesn't listen or follow the rules set in place. Tate was recommended to this job by friends that worked at bloom bounce prior to him that got good hours and made good money. The pro bouncers start at making seven seventy five an hour and get paid every two weeks. In addition to that the bouncer receives a bonus of twenty five cents every hour that they work and that's not a bad deal. Working at bloom bounce Tate reports can be hard for adults because its more of a part-time job and younger kids can more easily relate and get along with the children. In addition to this it can be a tiresome job because while working the bouncers are constantly on their feet all day, never sitting and watching children. Its a great place to work in all but like any job must be taken seriously, employees must switch shifts with another if they need off of work. With poor behavior a point system is in place, one can acquire three points before they are reprehended for their behavior. Only two people have ever quit because of the stress of working and no one has been fired there before. For Tate the only negative feelings he has for his work is the point system, while pro bouncer Haley says that the job can get a little boring and would prefer not to stand all day. "it just can get a little boring you know, standing all day." Pro Bouncer Haley admits.
           In all bloom bounce is a safe, clean and also fun environment for both child and parent. The atmosphere is very friendly which is accommodated with warm smiles, vibrantly colored bounce houses and honestly carpet. The fact that the entire complex is carpeted adds a comfortable, playful effect to the place. Both parent and child seem to enjoy the fun happening there as it is suitable to meet the needs of both. The pro bouncers at bloom bounce not only meet the needs of every size of customer but also can be seen guarding the entrance as the bouncers of a club or bar do, for both don't attempt to enter intoxicated but go and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and let your children run free to bounce and make friends, just don't forget your socks!

Act 101 and U

 

ACT 101 (figure 1)

well to start off many don't know what ACT101 maybe or that it may be a part of their school programs. It's a state funded program  that assists disadvantaged students complete a post secondary study. Bloomsburg University is one of the most notable schools in Pennsylvania having this program. In 1971 Pennsylvania responded to the needs of disadvantaged Pennsylvania residents who were denied the opportunity to pursue a higher education due to common social conditions. In the past couple of years the number of students accepted into ACT 101 doubled and the graduation rates of these students increased.

My friends tell me that other people think that ACT101 students are "dumb" because of their low SAT scores or ACT scores. Sitting in the DDI lab located in room 10 at the student service center where many students in different programs and Classes come to study (figure 2).The DDI lab are for students in developmental course. I couldn't notice the difference between any of the students whether they were ACT 101, standard student, deans list. All there doing seemed like work maybe printing papers or doing homework but I just can't the difference. After sitting there for a couple of hours I noticed that there was always a PA (program assistant) available in close proximity to the ACT101 office and at least two PA's in the DDI lab and one PA at the ACT101 desk.

DDI Lab (figure 2)

 Students in this program come in hundreds all around. Some of the upper classmen PA's get involved in various activities because they wear shirts representing there Greek group. I think having a job helping other ACT101 students and maintaining the everyday life of an Greek club plus classes should be a high accomplishment for a minority student. They help others students if needed at the DDI lab or in torturing services. The ACT101 office can help you with directing you to a service that you need.

During the days of summer students admitted into the ACT101 program attend meetings for a week, introducing the school, giving procedures during emergencies, requirements needed to pass the summer program. It starts of with going to sign in at the commons between 7 and 8 in the morning. Then having the option of leaving or actually staying to eat after swiping in and signing your name. Everyday there's study hall at 5 pm which is mandatory and if your  late or missing from any class, meeting, study hall or sign in three times that's a automatic dismissal (figure 3). Some of the class that are taken during the summer don't count toward college credits so your still behind and might not graduate within 4 years. Passing your classes with at least a C average guarantees a spot in the fall semester.

ACT101 mandatory meeting(figure 3)

Michelle Vera an graduate assistant of Bloomsburg University and a former ACT101 student of Bloomsburg university who encountered many obstacles through her stay at the University. "2009 I never even had a graduate assistant helping me into my transition to becoming a successful student". Her comment suggests that their more services now than before to help students. Tears felt her eyes as she share her experience. "When I had  a major surgery during my sophomore year recovery was brutal. I didn't want to go to class because I was still in so much pain, I got depressed, and stopped going outside. So I failed classes my classes of course". There's a slight pause. "ACT101 still believed in me when I thought for sure I was going to be kicked out. They talked to me to figure out what was happening, gave me tutoring and counselling. I slowly got back on track with my grades because guess what they're here to help you not hurt you"

I asked a random hallway in Ellwell Hall if they knew the ACT101 program . 8 said no and 3 Said yes. I asked Callie Smead a non ACT101 member if she could describe it. Her answer partially valid. "It's when people choose to come to a program before there freshman year to better prepare them for college". "Where'd you get this information?" from I asked."ummm I think my old roommate talked about it". I also asked the difference between college and high school. "College is more own your own time and high school I skipped a lot of class and half the time I made up the work. So I was used to doing work outside of the classroom and I took a course to prepare for college writing".

ACT101 lab sheets

Current sophomore ACT101 student Kierah Fredrickson says "I feel like a normal college student that has to do a little more work than others. I still do the same things typical college students do". when I asked Kierah about the summer part of the program, she made a cringing face like she's thinking about her answer. Her response. Uhhh. At first it was a little annoying to take so many developmental courses and fill out those lab sheets (figure4). but after all that, I think about all the friends I made and my high GPA and it was worth my summer and time.