Catherine's Laughter Blog

1. One interesting tip I found is to try answer yes/no questions with the opposite answer of what is expected. For instance, when people think they already know the answer you will give try responding with the opposite; then of course laugh and give your real answer. The magic in this tip is that you have surprised your audience with a reversal of expectation which is always quite funny. (this really only works when there is a strong expected answer), but nevertheless a clever tip. 2. Use real-life stories not jokes. Most people rely on observational humor to make people laugh, but I think a good tip is using personal experiences for humor instead. Much like our uncontrollable laughter blogs I think the personal stories are much more humorous than an expected joke.   3. I’ve always liked a good pun and most of the videos I watched play up that tactic as well. Using words the wrong way is funny – again, like the little green book we read each week; we never fail to laugh. S...

My favorite cartoon character is from the cartoon series Looney Tunes. The Tasmanian Devil has a special place in my heart; I grew up watching Looney Tunes and I have fond memories from watching the show with my twin brother and dad. Per my dad, the Tasmanian devil experiences many meltdowns throughout the series much like I did as a child. The Tasmanian devil has a short temper and notoriously little patience; he can be devious but also sweet; he has an enormous appetite and will eat anything in his path. My dad used to say he couldn’t tell the difference between Taz and myself. The Tasmanian Devil’s only weakness is that he can be calmed by almost any music. Again, something quite similar to myself when I was little. My dad still today reminds me that the only way anyone could calm me down was for him to play the piano; I would immediately stop crying or screaming or whatever it was I was throwing a fit about. Although my dad named me after a cartoon character with the name ‘devil’ ...

Day 10 of Social Distancing and I’m not sure what to think. 10 days ago, I was the most bitter person alive…regretfully so. Everything was about me – why I can’t finish MY senior year the way I want, why I can’t see MY friends unless it’s virtual, why did I lose MY job, why ME. I had never been so cynical and COVID-19 had just rained on the rest of my senior year turning me into somebody I couldn’t recognize. However, social distancing and quarantining myself alone for the past 10 days has allowed for a ton of reflection. I’m not the only one (not even close) to be going through this time of uncertainty. Many individuals across the world have a thousand more difficulties they are facing; maybe they’ve lost a loved one, maybe they don’t have a place to go home to, maybe they don’t have enough money to buy groceries, maybe they don’t have anyone to call to simply just talk to. Being in quarantine, although quite lonely at times, has taught me how to be grateful – truly grate...

Arbuckle’s video was actually quite humorous. I liked when he flipped the pancakes with the broom and when the fake house fell on him while playing the ukulele. When he dressed up as a girl doll and danced around, I laughed out loud. His facial expressions helped tell a story and his body language was intentional. The background music also made the experience more enthusiastic and light-hearted since it is a silent film. So for me, I actually muted the audio just to see what it would be like without music; I liked it better with music.  Lloyd’s compilation was similar especially at the start with the unexpected twist of him not actually painting the picture. I also appreciated the train scene where you think he’s going to be hit but he actually isn't. His characterizations were more unique than Arbuckle’s as well; he played with mirrors, props, and had people tricked with reversal of expectations. I enjoyed the careful thought and consideration he put into entertaining his a...

5. Bridesmaids 4. National Lampoon’s “Animal House” 3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 2. Napoleon Dynamite 1. National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation”

This is me holding my favorite book (for this week) which is appropriately titled Left For Dead.  The book is about the 1996 Everest blizzard that killed nine climbers. The writer, Beck Weathers, details the events of that day and its aftermath. :)

Learning Experience Blog 7 I don’t know how I can express all the feelings I’m currently experiencing during this period of uncertainty. It feels like everything I’ve worked so hard for is sinking sand.  Just a week prior, I never imagined that all classes for senior year would be cancelled (online can never be the same); I never imagined being offered my dream job and not 24 hours later receiving a phone call that said they had to rescind my offer; I never imagined, weeks before graduation, that I wouldn’t have a plan. I’ve always had a plan. Now, I sit here alone in my apartment away from family to seemingly start over. I have two weeks to study for the GMAT, write graduate application essays and apply to graduate school in less than a month. Not only do I not feel prepared, I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it all. I’m afraid I’m going to go insane. I need people, I need interaction, I need to stop being overwhelmed.  Suddenly switching 15 hours of class t...

Learning Experiences Blog 6 The interview process. I hate it. I mean, what’s there to like, anyway? You’re being asked to expose yourself to people you know nothing about while they sit there and judge every last movement you make. They read your body language, they whisper to each other about subtleties in your words that they’re trying to make sense of, and they ask you to talk about your weaknesses. I don’t know about you, but I would rather not straight up admit I’m not the person they should be hiring. I know hiring managers would never admit this, but it’s like they’re looking for something wrong with you – some way for them to not hire you. This is madness. I’m already not one to brag about myself, but it’s prevalent even more so in settings whereby my insecurity is exacerbated. For starters, there can’t be one right answer to every question; everyone is different, and those differences should be celebrated not judgmental. Interviews in my opinion are the most flawe...