The Comedy Career of John Mulaney

University student Matthew (Matt) Kafker enjoys watching stand-up comedy in his free time. One of Matt Kafker's favorite stand-up comedians is John Mulaney, a former writer for Saturday Night Live, who has had a long, circuitous career in comedy.

Mulaney established himself in comedy after he graduated from Georgetown University, where he studied English and theology. After a successful run as a stand-up comic, he joined Saturday Night Live's writing staff, where he helped create the popular character "Stefon." 

Mulaney left SNL in 2014 to perform in a self-titled sitcom, but the series was unsuccessful. He blamed himself for many elements of the show's failure, though he also attributes some of the sitcom's weaknesses to creative changes made during its move to a different television network.

After his show was canceled, Mulaney returned to stand-up comedy, honing a reputation for the precise use of language and a bitterness that seemed unusual for a comedian under 40. While his success has come primarily from comedy enthusiasts rather than the mainstream audience, Mulaney returned to SNL in early 2018, but this time as the week's host. He remains optimistic about his long-term prospects in comedy.

How to Prepare for Mindfulness Meditation

Matthew (Matt) Kafker, a dedicated university student, divides his time between coursework and research. In his free time, Matt Kafker practices mindfulness meditation.

Helping practitioners reduce stress, increase their productivity, and boost their feelings of happiness, mindfulness meditation sessions should last only five to 10 minutes in the beginning. These sessions can be performed in the morning and evening, or just once a day, depending on each person’s schedule. From there, the length of sessions can gradually increase to an hour.

Before starting, practitioners should set the desired length of their session on a timer. This gives them the ability to clear the mind and focus only on the meditation. 

Practitioners then should find a quiet area and sit in a comfortable position on the floor, a cushion, or a chair. Once seated, practitioners can focus on their upper body. 

The spine should naturally curve and the shoulders and head should be relaxed, not stiff. The upper arms should be parallel to the upper body, and the chin should point slightly downward. From this position, practitioners can begin their meditation.