Ready, Set, Laugh!

Personally, I love laugh tracks.  It reminds me of all the older shows I love and most of the time, I find myself at least cracking a smile.  Nick at Nite would not even be the same if every show did not have a laugh track.  I don't even think it makes what is going on funnier, but it does sometimes help bring the point across.  It just seems appropriate.  Honestly, Fran Fine's character in The Nanny would be the most obnoxious person ever if it weren't for laugh tracks.  With the laugh tracks she's a little, very little, less obnoxious.
I disagree with most of what Klosterman said in his writing.  Are laugh tracks dumb? Perhaps. Is what we laugh at funny everywhere? Absolutely not. Laugh tracks though are a part of what we are used to.  They were created a long time ago and they seem to be working.  If they were that terrible they wouldn't be used on shows like Two and a Half Men.  They impact us and we all notice it.  I laugh at them.  Some people find them annoying.  Regardless of what you think, you're still watching the same show.

Here's a few of my favorite "old time shows" that just wouldn't be that great without a laugh track.

What to write...

I want to write about trends.  A large part of Marketing in sales and one of the most interesting parts of sales is figuring out what to sell.  Trends come and go and I think it is interesting to find out where they start.  Do they start in selections children make?  What we see a movie star wearing in a tabloid?  Or do companies start making an item and it suddenly becomes popular?  I think there are a lot of different aspects behind trends and I want to learn more about it.  I think it is a topic that a lot of people can relate to and find an interesting point within it.  We all give in to trends.  From how we wear our hair, to appropriate clothing companies, to even the types of music we listen to.  It all in one way or another comes from a trend. Therefore, some questions I have about my topic are how to determine where these trends start.  I am curious to see if I will be able to find posted information from sources about how decisions are made to promote "the next big thing."  From clothing to accessories, cars and the dogs we want to rescue, everything comes from sales and even more so a trend. I haven't decided on a specific trend or even an age group.  That will come after I do a little more research.
Until I find more time to write,
Ashley

Annotated Bibliography

Kerin, Roger A., Steven W. Hartley, and William Rudelious. Marketing. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin,    2011. Print.

The authors of this book create a summation of information about the marketing field.  Throughout the text, various types of marketing are demonstrated and explained.  Sales, web designs, labels, and customer demands are all crucial topics within the book.  Referred to me by my marketing advisor, this text is not only an introduction to marketing aspects but also gives some detail about the field.  This book is designed for students so examples within the book are relatable and make the information comprehendible.   When researching the marketing field, this book will provide information and examples to further expand my knowledge and become a backbone in my research. 

Maybe we really are paying a price...

Matt Richtel's article, Attached to Technology and Paying a Price, uses examples to show how attached people are to technology.  I think maybe we are attached.  But don't some of us like living this way?  I like having my iPhone when I'm on a long car ride, sitting in an airport, or lost and need to look up directions.  It definitely has countless benefits but then again it does have some downsides.  When my roommates and I are done with classes at the end of the day, we typically are all sitting in our living room with our laptops in our laps and our cell phones on the arm rest of our chairs. 
I think technology is taking over a little but at the same time everyone needs to work to find that balance.  There needs to be a time, whether it's a hour every night for dinner or a week to go on vacation, that we are unplugged.  I was interested to read that multitaskers can do multiple things at once but have a harder time focusing.  I consider myself a multitasker but never really thought about how it is hard for me to focus sometimes. 
I liked this article because it provided a lot of truth.  We do surround ourselves with technology.  We constantly have our cell phones out, multiple tabs pulled up on the computer, and playing Wii every night before I go to bed is something I enjoy doing with my friends.  This article made me think about how much time I spend with technology and how it affects my concentration.
I'm going to switch back over to my Facebook tab now...
Until I find more time to write,
Ashley

What do you want to know?

My name is Ashley Mullican and I am a sophomore at IUP (academically, I'm a Junior).  I am a Marketing major with an English minor.  I'm from Yardley, PA which is a suburb northeast of Philadelphia.  I love to travel and have a burning desire to go to Greece.  Maybe a study abroad is in my future?  My younger sister and I have been raised to practice what we believe so my family does a lot of community outreach.  I personally work hard to fight hunger in my community and around the world.  I spent most of my time in high school as a competitive dancer.  I started dancing when I was 2 and became competitive by 5.  It was basically my part time job for a big chunk of my life.  As for now, I'm in retirement.
Honestly, I've always wanted to start a blog.  I consider myself a pretty decent writer.  Typically I always have something to say or an opinion to make so putting it on paper never really seems like a challenge.
Until I find more time to write,
Ashley