November 2007
Printable Version of this E-zine (pdf) Dear AATH E-Zine Readers, Please email me at ezine@aath.org if you have an article, quote, etc. for future issues. Thanks! Chip Lutz, Ezine Editor
The monthly, members-only, e-zine keeps AATH members updated on the latest developments in the world of applied and therapeutic humor. Each link will open a new window for anything outside the AATH website. All web links below have been carefully checked and worked at the time of publication. If the link does not take you to the listed article, please contact the owners of that website about finding that article. Disclaimer: Published by Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. AATH accepts no responsibility for any claims, either expressed or implied, in this publication. The information and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of AATH, its officers, directors, staff, or members.
Humor Research
New device set to unlock secrets of laughter
— The Daily Yomiuri - Osaka,Japan — The university has conducted research on laughter from different perspectives, and offers lectures on laughter for both undergraduate and graduate students… http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20071005TDY03104.htm Just one piece of the jigsaw — Times Online - UK — In our research, we found that the positive emotions and moods associated with “mirthful laughter”, which is not bitter or sarcastic... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article2710131.ece Watching Funny Shows Helps Children Tolerate Pain for Longer Periods — Newswise (press release) - USA — Although there are many programs that bring humor into pediatric hospitals, little research had been done on the utility of humor...
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/534511/ The education revolution — Mail & Guardian Online - Johannesburg,South Africa — Laughter is contagious and the more teachers laugh, the more open our brains are to learning. Laughter creates the necessary neurotransmitters... http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=322896&area=/the_teacher/teacher_features/ Watching Funny Shows Helps Children Tolerate Pain Longer, Study Finds — Science Daily (press release) – USA — Laughter has long been viewed as good medicine, and although there are many programs that bring humor into pediatric hospitals, little research has been... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071024100905.htm
MEMBERS in the NEWS:
Patch Adams to appear at workshop — Urbana/Champaign News-Gazette - Champaign,IL,USA — Some of the subjects will include Adams' Gesundheit hospital project, redesigning medical school admissions, design-ing a humor-health kit, eliminating rank... http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2007/10/06/patch_adams_to_appear_at_workshop Laughter is the best medicine! — Liverpool Echo - UK — Stephanie Davies, 28, has been invited to speak at the Health Care and Humour conference in Chicago this week on using laughter and humour to improve... http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2007/10/08/laughter-is-the-best-medicine-100252-19912528/ Harvest of Hope offers more than just information -- occasion ... — Gainesville Times - Gainesville, GA, USA — She has worked with Patch Adams, a physician who has promoted the health benefits of humor, and with Norman Cousins, the author who wrote about his attempt... http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20071013/localnews/197532.shtml Making Noise — Carnegie Mellon Today - Pittsburgh, PA, USA — Throughout the year, he says he will research what he calls the "healing power of laughter." To do so, he expects to create plenty of laughter along the way... http://www.carnegiemellontoday.com/article.asp?aid=481 Patch Adams: Heal with love — Binghamton University Pipe Dream - NY, USA — “Humor is a context in which to do good medicine,” Adams said. “If you want people to come to a meeting, make it funny, and they will come... http://www.bupipedream.com/pipeline_web/display_article.php?id=6091
HUMOR in the NEWS:
Counselors: Laughter, it's good for you — PARKERSBURG — Laughter and a sense of humor can affect health and wellness, mental health counselors say... http://newsandsentinel.com/articles.asp?articleID=21617 Integrative Way: Go ahead and laugh – it's good for you — Sacramento Bee - CA, USA — There have been a number of studies in the recent past looking at health outcomes with laughter therapy... http://www.sacbee.com/107/story/454398.html Wallace beats breast cancer with laughter — Mount Vernon News - Mount Vernon, OH, USA — Her first experience with breast health was in her 20s, a lump caused by a fibroid cystic condition. The physician urged her to have a lumpectomy... http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/07/10/26/wallace.html Humorous hands-on style could win teacher top honor — Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription) - Minneapolis, MN, USA — Plus, he brings humor to the classroom. He understands how to use humor without it getting away from him. Beyond that, he has a passion for kids... http://www.startribune.com/north/story/1511460.html The Power of Play — Metapsychology - Oakdale, NY, USA — According to the author, one should make time for the family and, whilst doing so, engage in good humor. In the section on schools, Elkind gives us a... http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=book&id=3883&cn=396 Laughter Is Good Medicine; It Helps Relieve Pain for Kids Having ... — Associated Content - Denver, CO, USA — Their research reveals that laughter can also dull the pain associated with many medical procedures. The UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center worked in... http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/421357/laughter_is_good_medicine_it_helps.html Your Dog May Look Like You, But Does He Have Your Sense Of Humor? — Inventorspot – USA — Now it's time to find out if your human also shares your sense of humor.... Research has already shown that humans who own purebred dogs tend to chose dogs... http://inventorspot.com/articles/your_dog_may_look_you_does_he_ha_7505 Laughter Is The Best Medicine — CBS News - New York, NY, USA — She said that laughter, and the well of happiness it's drawn from, creates good health, and that a smile is actually good for you... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/14/sunday/main3365523.shtml Virtual road to recovery: Sick and disabled heal online — The Virginian-Pilot - Norfolk, VA, USA — And laughter heals." Susan Brown of Richmond began using her avatar after suffering a stroke that left her in a wheelchair. Today, the 57-year-old credits... Virtual road to recovery: Sick and disabled heal online Psychology of jokes — PR-GB.com (press release) - Sofia, Bulgaria — Laughter, the intended human reaction to jokes, is healthful in moderation, uses the stomach muscles, and releases endorphins, natural happiness-inducing... http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28779&Itemid=9 Laughter to help burst barriers — Footscray, Yarraville, Braybrook Star - Pakenham,Victoria,Australia — LAUGHTER will help to connect the community and break down the stigma associated with mental illness next week during World Mental Health Day...
http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/49200 How to Improve Your Health: Small Changes Get Big Results — Imperial Valley News - Holtville, CA, USA — Studies show that deep laughter can greatly benefit our health by lowering levels of stress hormones, relaxing muscles and reducing anxiety... http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=9 Laughter sustains breast cancer survivor — Youngstown Vindicator - Youngstown, OH, USA — 1 piece of advice I can give is to research all the possibilities, said Beckwith, who said she is not only grateful to be here but lucky to be here... http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/295182170855814.php Top Health Tips for the Elderly to Start you Off in the Right ... — PR-GB.com (press release) - Sofia, Bulgaria — We were always told that laughter is the best medicine and now we know it to be true it raises the serotonin levels in the brain and gives you that feel... http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24588&Itemid=9 Bernard Mendelman — He who laughs — lasts! — The Suburban - Montreal, Quebec, Canada — Studies have shown that humour and laughter can improve your physical and mental health. A chuckle takes your mind away from your cares... http://thesuburban.com/content.jsp?sid=50074151314321567136508673815&ctid=1000004&cnid=1013051 Comics prove laughter really is the best medicine when it comes to ... — Scotsman - United Kingdom — Yesterday saw the launch of Scotland's first Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. As well as films, debates and exhibitions, comedians are using... http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1589742007 Did you hear the one about the comic therapist? — Sunday Herald - Glasgow, Scotland, UK — By Bridget Morris IT'S BEEN said that laughter is the best medicine, and one of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's mental health teams is proving exactly that... http://www.sundayherald.com/news/heraldnews/display.var.1741594.0.0.php Health Q&A on handling stress — Appleton Post Crescent - WI, USA — Laughter also stimulates the heart, lungs and muscles and boosts your resistance to infection. If you laugh for 20 seconds, your body gets the same amount... http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071006/APC0404/710060605/1428 Breakthrough Studies: Laughter Reduces Stress, Peaks Work Performance — Emediawire (press release) - Ferndale, WA, USA — .. . believed that laughter sessions were beneficial," said Dr. Kataria, "but I was surprised how conclusive the results of this scientific research are... http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2007/10/emw558896.htm Clinton's laugh may do us some good -- no joke — Chicago Tribune - United States — Laughter, as any 3rd-grader knows, is contagious, and the mere sound of all that laughing made me laugh. I realized I had just undergone laughter therapy... http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-schmich05oct05,1,2076494.column?coll=chi_news_local_util Laughter, Humor and Pain Perception in Children — Although there are many clinical programs designed to bring humor into pediatric hospitals, there has been very little research with children or adolescents concerning
the specific utility of humor for children undergoing stressful or ... — Complementary Medicine News - http://www.mdlinx.com/NPLinx/news.cfm?subspec_id=449 Laughter club uses humor to entertain — SCSU University Chronicle - St. Cloud, MN, USA — The Laughter Club, one of SCSU's newest groups, encourages laughter not only as a means of entertainment, but also for its many health benefits... http://www.universitychronicle.com/home/news/2007/10/18/News/Laughter.Club.Uses.Humor.To.Entertain-3041813.shtml Laugh yourself into better health — Mail Tribune - Medford, OR, USA — Think of laughter as an internal massage or a brief but rejuvenating aerobic workout. Research (University of Maryland, Vanderbilt University) tells us... http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/LIFE/710160302 Prof's book offers advice on how to chuckle in the face of rejection — The Athens News - Athens, OH, USA — Well-known on campus for teaching a popular humor-writing course and advertising courses, Helitzer also wrote the best-selling textbook, "Comedy Writing... http://www.athensnews.com/issue/article.php3?story_id=29544 Talk on reducing stress starts 3-lecture series — Tucson Citizen - Tucson, AZ, USA — Certified health education specialist Liz Barta will discuss stress reduction techniques, healthful pleasures, the power of humor and energy ]management... http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/64192.php Humor, optimism help breast cancer patient cope — The Southern - Carbondale, IL, USA — Chemotherapy ends in early December, but Waddell must continue hormone therapy once every three weeks for a year. Sometime after December - she doesn't know... http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2007/10/11/top/21802457.txt Candidates say funny things - on purpose — St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg, FL, USA — By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor Republican presidential candidates used humor as they wooed Florida GOP stalwarts at the party's state convention... http://www.sptimes.com/2007/10/21/State/Candidates_say_funny_.shtml Facing Awareness — Waxahachie Daily Light. Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie held a “Pink Pie in the Face” pie throwing contest Tuesday to raise breast cancer awareness and to support Baylor Health Care System’s breast cancer outreach initiatives. http://www.waxahachiedailylight.com/articles/2007/10/10/dailylight/news/01-10-10-baylor.txt It’s No Joke, Laughter is Awesome Medicine — PR-GM.COM ou go right ahead! Laugh and cackle to the point of losing your breath! Laughter has enormous amounts of health benefits ranging from affecting diabetes to lowering risks of heart attacks and everything in between! http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28781&Itemid=9 The Health Show — October 4, 2007. Then we’ll introduce you to Leslie Gibson...a registered nurse who works with the seriously sick and the dying...and tries to crack them up! http://www.healthshow.org/archive/week_2007_09_30.shtml#002320 Comedy Sex Ed Presentation Discusses all Aspects of the Female Orgasm — The California Aggie. "It's a really fun sex ed show, really a comedian version of sex ed," said Adrienne Wonhof, assistant WRRC director. http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/10/03/CampusNews/I.3-Female.Orgasm.Presentation.Tonight-3007658.shtml
Laughter Best Medicine at Women’s Night Out — Mount Vernon News. Women’s Night Out on Thursday was an evening of chuckles, guffaws, giggles and belly laughs when motivational speaker Karen Vadino entertained the crowd, after they had imbibed a gourmet meal and lots of chocolate cake. http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/07/09/28/womens.night.out.html Care Clowns Spreading Mission to Shelburne — Novanewsnow.com A brigade of colourful clowns plan to pile out of their tiny vehicles into the Roseway Hospital with the mission of blowing bubbles, being silly and perhaps wrestling a smile from a patient. http://www.novanewsnow.com/article-143418-Care-clowns-spreading-mission-to-Shelburne.html
The World of HUMOR
HUMOR IN THE NEWS: RELATED ARTICLE 21 new ways to be happy — Mirror.co.uk - London, UK — Our brains produce lower levels of serotonin, "the happiness hormone", in autumn and winter. But new research from Dr Chris Lowry at Bristol University... http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/yourlife/2007/10/26/21-new-ways-to-be-happy-89520-20012932/ Lighten up on the job — NorthJersey.com - Hackensack, NJ, USA — Unfortunately, the day-to-day tedium of paperwork, deadline stress and office drama can take their toll on health and happiness. "If you work eight hours a... http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxNjcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcyMDM1MjQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3 Happiness Is Habit-Forming--The More You Have, the More You Need — Reason Online - Los Angeles, CA, USA — Oishi's research also provides an intriguing window into why very few people are very happy most of the time. Getting to "very happy" is like climbing an... http://reason.com/blog/show/122757.html Retaining Employees and Customers Is A Family Affair — PR-GB.com (press release) - Sofia, Bulgaria — Humor is the shortest distance between people. Families play together. At SW Airlines, they have ice cream parties on the spur of the moment... http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25193&Itemid=9 Whistle while you work: Happy workers are more productive — PR-GB.com (press release) - Sofia, Bulgaria — YouGov/Employee Benefits research on 'The role of reward in happiness in the workplace' found that employee happiness has an impact on levels of commitment... http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25099&Itemid=28 Find out what makes you happy — UK Parents Lounge - Reigate, Surrey, UK — "Happiness is a very individual state of mind but everyone can achieve it. This research highlights the importance of humour and love as foundations of the... http://www.ukparentslounge.com/index.php?pg=104&utwkstoryid=1151&title=Find+out+what+makes+you+happy&ind=0 Century Club: Centenarians are one of the fastest-growing ... — Eagle Tribune - North Andover, MA, USA — Bradley and Mitchell share some of the character traits common to centenarians, such as humor and the ability to accept
change and loss... http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_287093935 ECU Notes: Humorfest to serve up laughs — Greenville Daily Reflector - Greenville, NC, USA — "Humor as an art form rarely attracts the serious attention it deserves," said Tom Douglass, an English professor and event co-chairman... http://www.reflector.com/local/content/news/stories/2007/10/15/ecunotes.html PEOPLE WE KNOW: Clowns lift spirits with smiles — Beaumont Enterprise - Beaumont, TX, USA — By JANE MCBRIDE, The Enterprise That's why four Southeast Texans don the goofy clothes and paint their faces in bright colors - to bring a little happiness... http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18914002&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512551&rfi=6 Barbara Bova: Smile and you will feel a lot better — Naples Daily News - Naples, FL, USA — The important fact that research on happiness found is that happiness doesn’t come from without. We make our own happiness from fulfilling our realistic... http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/oct/21/barbara_bova_smile_and_you_will_feel_lot_better/?neapolitan Just 1 in 5 workers are 'engaged' -- and most want more from ... — MarketWatch - USA — Engagement is not satisfaction or happiness, but the degree to which workers connect to the company emotionally, are aware of what they need to do to add... http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/few-workers-engaged-work-most/story.aspx?guid={F43DB94E-797D-4D26-9593-0B0C65948F76}
Thanksgiving Jokes - Tastefully bad and Seasoned Just Right
What's the best way to stuff a turkey? Take him out for pizza and ice cream! How can you make a turkey float? You need 2 scoops of ice cream, some root beer, and a turkey Which side of the turkey has the most feathers? The outside Asked to write a composition entitled, "What I'm thankful for on Thanksgiving," little Johnny wrote, "I am thankful that I'm not a turkey." Why did they let the turkey join the band? Because he had the drumsticks Why did the police arrest the turkey? They suspected it of fowl play What's the key to a great Thanksgiving dinner? The turKEY What did the turkey say before it was roasted?
Boy! I'm stuffed! A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, but couldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked the stock boy, "Do these turkeys get any bigger?" The stock boy answered, "No ma'am, they're dead."