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. |
July 2005
Humor Research: Laughter Research - Information Technology Services
Discuss Laughter research Here, Free! Become A Member, Free! Galatea - Laughter
research.
(Ezine ed.: great L&H research source here)
http://www.physicsforums.com
Laughter: Medicine For Good Health
By Dr. John H. Sklare,
eDiets.com Psychologist
June 16, 2005
Summary of the medical and psychological benefits of laughter and humor
http://www.ediets.com
Colorectal Health Book "Jokes from the Hole" Shows Laughter Is the Best Medicine to
Prevent Cancer
Dr. Gene L. Syn Offers Practicality & Prevention
Author Dr. Gene L. Syn, a Colon & Rectal Surgeon, believes that humor can break through the
embarrassment and taboo people have about discussing their nether-regions and digestive
systems to reduce these diagnoses.
(e-zine editor note; Dr. Syn does not claim L & H prevent cancer directly, but that they can reduce the
embarrassment that blocks patients from getting necessary testing like colonoscopy. www.marketwire.com
Spontaneous Humor Among Right Hemisphere Stroke Survivors.
Heath RL, Blonder LX.
Brain Lang. 2005 Jun;93(3):267-76. Epub 2004 Dec 7.
PMID: 15862853 [PubMed - in process www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Laugh Off the Extra Pounds
Researcher: 15 minutes giggling = 50 calories
Saturday, June 4, 2005 Posted: 10:38 PM EDT (0238 GMT) ATHENS , Greece (AP) -- Dieters
looking for another edge might want to consider exercising their sense of humor -- scientists have
found that a good laugh is a calorie burner not to be ignored. www.cnn.com
AATH in the News What a Laugh: Humor Really Can Heal Bottom Line Secrets/Health News
June 6, 2005
Allen Klein, MA
Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor
When things are looking bleak for your health... at work... or in your personal life, it's difficult to
see anything funny about anything. But there's a school of thought that says that's just what you
should do -- use humor to reduce stress and encourage physical and emotional wellness and
healing. www.bottomlinesecrets.com
Survivors, Patients Come Together To Fight Cancer Laughter helps speed healing By Taylour Burton
THE EXPONENT
June 20th, 2005
Summer Reporter
The keynote speaker of the event was Leslie Gibson, a cancer survivor and Purdue nursing graduate. There was a follow-up TV appearance as well. In her speech, she said that even though cancer is a scary thing, it is important to focus on the joy in the journey. A sense of humor is the key to survival. www.purdueexponent.org/
HUMOR in the NEWS:
And You Will Know Them By Their Red Hats
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 6/8/2005
The Sabathani Senior Center has announced a newly formed Red Hat Society chapter www.spokesman-recorder.com
Laughter Is the Best Medicine
WTOC - Savannah , GA , USA
You've probably heard the saying "laughter is the best medicine." That's one of the things nurses
are learning at a medical conference www.wtoctv.com
Laughter is Good Medicine
Researchers at a European conference on obesity the other day said they have found that strong
laughter for 10-15 minutes every day can increase your energy consumption by 10 to 40 calories
per day..increasing your metabolism by 20 percent. www.13wham.com
Hong Kong Seeks to Make Laughter the Best Medicine
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong , a city best known for its serious pursuit of money, will
hold a laughing contest in July as health experts worry over rising incidence of mental depression
and urge people to lighten up. www.uspharmd.com
Katie Couric Makes Special Appearance On QVC to Promote Colon Cancer Prevention
Wednesday June 15, 9:00 am ET "Humor can be a great way to get people talking about a serious - and previously taboo - subject
like maintaining their colon health. http://biz.yahoo.com
Author of Book on Fatherhood Wins First Place Humor Book Award
Emediawire (press release) - Ferndale , WA , USA
Jared Fiel, author of "Fumbling Thru Fatherhood" won first place in humor books at the
Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) EVVY Book Awards ...www.emediawire.com
Laughter School Opens in Germany
Ananova News, England, U.K. The world's first laughter school has opened its doors in Berlin to teach serious minded Germans
to lighten up. www.ananova.com
Give a Day to Grouching by Earl McCrea
Ottawa Sun, Wed, June 22, 2005
Irene Martin, an Ottawa nurse, got yesterday declared Laughter Day in the city because she says
people don't laugh enough and laughter's good for the health. www.canoe.ca
Laughter Is Good Medicine Wednesday, June 29, 2005
By JAMIE YOUNG
Shelbyville Times Gazette
I read that the average adult laughs four times a day. Let's just say I am above average. www.t-g.com
`Laughing Three Times Less Than We Did 50 Years Ago'
The Huttersfield Daily Examiner
June 29, 2005
In the 1950s, we laughed for an average of 18 minutes a day, while we now laugh an average of
only six minutes a day. (E-zine ed.: Scientific evidence for this? Also claims endorphin release
for which there is no scientific evidence) http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk
Laughter Helps Woman Recover From Stroke 'Positive Psychology' Is Emerging Field In Medicine
UPDATED: 1:08 pm PDT June 27, 2005
Garrison is getting the last laugh, having made a remarkable recovery after a massive stroke. She
says humor and positive thinking got her through, reported WCVB-TV in Boston. www.nbcsandiego.com
In All Their Clowning Glory By Joel Poiley, Special for USA TODAY (June 21, 2005)(pg 7D)
In all their clowning glory: Emmett Kelly Jr. and his son are helping to keep a legacy of laughter
alive. www.usatoday.com
Student Humour: The Hidden Message book by N G Patil, Pamela P W Lee, Christine S Lo
Source: The Clinical Teacher, June 2005, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 5-9 (5) www.theclinicalteacher.com
The World of HUMOR
HUMOR IN THE NEWS: RELATED ARTICLES
Happiness Is In Our Hands
Scotsman - Edinburgh , Scotland , UK
We have been designed to pursue happiness because that keeps us moving towards things that are
good for us, biologically speaking, such as sex, good food, and pleasant surroundings, and away
from things that are bad for us. http://news.scotsman.com
The Way to Happiness Navhind Times - Panjim , India
by Cedric Silveira.
It may sound strange, but those who have mastered the art of accepting things in life which cannot be
changed, are indeed the happiest people. www.navhindtimes.com
THE MEANING OF HAPPINESS
Meaning of happiness is elusive; authors weigh in
LESLIE GARCIA
The Dallas Morning News
Posted on Sat, Jun. 18, 2005
Review of current concepts and science of happiness www.bradenton.com
Happiness Is ...
South Bend Tribune - South Bend , IN , USA
Research shows that happiness and its related mental states, optimism and hopefulness, seem to
limit the severity or reduce the risk of such health problems as diabetes, hypertension and even
the common cold. www.southbendtribune.com
Happiness At Centre of Nova Scotia Conference by Alison Auld
We're bringing all these people together to try to say, 'what would a sane, decent, good society
look like when you put all of these parts together?' " said Colman. http://cnews.canoe.ca
The Search for Happiness in Antigonish ( Nova Scotia ) By SCOTT DEVEAU
Monday, June 20, 2005 Updated at 3:48 PM EDT
Globe and Mail Update
The delegates have become fascinated by the development model set by a small Himalayan
country, which has put economic prosperity behind its general happiness and are bringing input
on how their own countries have tried to do the same.
The concept of Gross National Happiness was developed 30 years ago by the King of Bhutan. www.theglobeandmail.com
Mental Health Experts Weigh 'Recipe For Resilience' Written by USA Today, June 30, 2005
Mental health experts are paying more attention to robust survivors such as Meili (e-zine ed.: the
mauled Central Park jogger) in light of a rapidly growing "positive psychology" movement that
focuses on how to build human strengths and happiness. http://wusatv9.com
New Exhibition Aims to Enhance Britains Happiness Ranking 29/06/2005 10:10:00
the Government''s Strategy Unit has published a white paper recommending policies that might
increase the nation''s happiness. http://www.onrec.com
TV's Biggest Crime - It's a Thief of Time
Television viewing can make you happy - but only if you can afford it, writes Peter Martin.
Fairfax Digital
June 29, 2005
I f y ou really want to be happy, throw away your television set. That's the bizarre finding of new
economic research completely at odds with traditional assumptions. www.smh.com.au
MEETING NEWS
Conference Brings Big Laughs.
Kilcawley Center hosts International Society of Humor Studies conference
By Eric Grosso and Carrie Swansiger
Published: Thursday, June 16, 2005.
Youngstown State University 's Kilcawley Center is "comedy central" this week for the
International Society of Humor Studies' 17th annual conference on humor, featuring speakers
from YSU and more than 20 different countries. http://www.thejambar.com
Bob Nozik, E-zine Editor ezine@aath.org
