March 2006
Important Notice:
Members who consult the AATH E-zine know that the editor regularly states that the association of laughter and endorphin release has not been scientifically proven. This may be changing. In a recent study, Dr. Lee Berk of Loma Linda University in Southern California demonstrates endorphin release in a group of subjects who watched a comic video. This study has gone through peer review and has been presented at a major medical meeting, however it has not yet been published nor have these findings been independently repeated by other investigators. Both need to be done before we should fully embrace this finding. However, in light of Dr. Berk’s findings, the E-zine editor will no longer be correcting authors and speakers claiming the association of laughter and endorphins. Still, we advise caution in stating this until Berk's research has been reviewed and published.
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:Laughter in Education
Laughter Research
"Dr. Allan L. Reiss of Stanford University in California claims that laughter activates the same area of the brain that is affected by amphetamines and cocaine. Experts hope that isolating the effects of laughter on the brain could lead to better treatment of depression. http://www.1worldeducation.com 
AATH in the NEWS:
CNN News
February 16, 2006
…there will be a five-minute segment about the Bumper "T" Caring Clowns on CNN Headline news on Thursday, Feb. 16th. It will be shown at 11:55 am, 4:55 pm and 9:55 pm. www.bumpertcaringclowns.org/
Belleair Bee
Laughter is the best medicine
By Marianne Klingel,
February 9, 2006
The pair (AATH member Grace Peay and her service dog, Ackerman) will be featured speakers at the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor Conference in Austin, Texas, Feb. 16 to 19. www.tbnweekly.com
WNZK 690AM Radio, West Bloomfield, MI, every other Tuesday, 8:30-9:00 AM
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF AGING "HEALTH, WEALTH, WISDOM & HUMOR"
The host, Ike Engelbaum R.PH., is a pharmacist and a member of the Association for Applied & Therapeutic Humor, who interviews interesting guests that have tips on how to live healthier, wealthier, longer and if you've inherited bad genes - how to outwit them with simple lifestyle changes. All the information is intermixed with a good dose of humor.
To join the discussion call 248-557-3300
News 8 Austin
Conference promotes benefits of laughter, humor
February 25, 2006
This weekend health experts, teachers, counselors and other professionals are at the Austin Marriott for an annual conference hosted by the Association for Applied Therapeutic Humor. www.news8austin.com
MySA.com
Laugh till it doesn’t hurt
By Nichol Foy,
February 19, 2006
…the field of humor therapy has been striving for legitimacy. That's what the AATH, with its almost 600 members from 10 countries, is all about. www.mysanantonio.com
Austin American-Statesman
African American Heritage Celebration in Austin; awards deadline extended
February 22, 2006
Will Conant, a fourth-grader at Barton Creek Elementary, is one funny guy. Now he has the essay to prove it. Will won a national humor essay contest, sponsored by the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, addressing the ways humor can help in daily life. His composition, titled, "What Are YOU Laughing About?" won the kindergarten through fifth- grade division. www.statesman.com
Austin American-Statesman
New Orleans residents finding humor the best medicine
By Bob Dart,
February 25, 2006
The parade of pointed humor, which outsiders might view as odd in a city still crippled six months after being hit by the historic storm, "is a remarkably good sign of healing," said Steven Sultanoff, past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. www.statesman.com
Los Angeles Times
The Joke Is on Katrina
By P. J. Huffstutter,
March 1, 2006
Some national crises are too serious or tragic for most people to ever find amusing, even years after they've occurred, said psychologist Ed Dunkelblau, past president of the Assn. for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, which supports research into the use of humor as therapy. www.latimes.com
HUMOR in the NEWS:
The Jerusalem Post
Dealing with Hamas through humor
By Khaled Abu Toameh,
January 29, 2006
While world leaders are continuing to express deep concern over the victory of Hamas, many Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are competing among themselves to see who can come up with the best joke on the new regime that will run their day-to-day affairs. www.jpost.com
MetroWest Daily News
‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the White House’
by Charles Bergeron,
February 2, 2006
"We need humor badly. I think in a democracy we have the blessing of being able to laugh at our government," Bernstein said. "Of all our countless blessings, surely none is more precious than our freedom to laugh." www.metrowestdailynews.com
blackamericaweb.com
Commentary: Children’s Laughter Reminds Us How Powerful—and Fleeting—Innocence Is
By Joseph C. Phillips,
January 31, 2006
We are focused on paying the bills, preparing dinner and getting projects for work finished on time and forget to revel in the healing power of our children's laughter. www.blackamericaweb.com
Cantonrep.com
Does God have a funny bone?
By Charita M Goshay,
February 4, 2006
At a time where religion is being applied to everything from politics to terrorism, is there for room for faith-based humor? www.cantonrep.com
The Digital Collegian
Good Humor Day Promotes Laughter
By Kelsey Maxin,
February 8, 2006
"Good humor has serious implications," Thies said. "Laughter can help the heart valves, medical research has shown." www.collegian.psu.edu
MCALL.com
Joke might be on those who think Muslims lack humor
February 8, 2006
Many Muslims — let alone non-Muslims — are unaware that the Prophet Muhammad (may God bless him and keep him) had a generally lighthearted and even (at times) humorous disposition. We have books of sacred sayings (hadiths) that include chapters with titles such as ''The Book on The Laughter of the Prophet,'' and ''The Book on the Joking of the Prophet.'' www.mcall.com
The Digital Collegian
Good Humor Day Promotes Laughter
By Kelsey Maxin,
February 8, 2006
Good Humor Day is designed to promote laughter, which has many health benefits, said Anita "Toot" Thies, president of Happy Valley Alley. www.collegian.psu.edu
Mercola.com
January 23, 2006
Having a Good Sense of Humor Really is Attractive
Two recent studies have confirmed that women like men who are funny, whereas men like women who laugh at their jokes. www.mercola.com
East Bay Express
It’s No Laughing Matter
By Justin Berton,
February 8, 2006
Berkeley researchers categorize our chuckles. Laughter, like a handshake, says a lot about a person. www.eastbayexpress.com
Book:
Inspirational humor illustrated by sick children
By Marsha Jordan
This uplifting book of inspirational and humorous essays, illustrated with drawings by critically ill children, will encourage anyone dealing with the difficulties of life - and that's EVERY one of us! http://i-newswire.com
Centre Daily Times
Help spread laughter on Good Humor Day
February 23, 2006
We've seen what bad humor can do. Real rioting linked to offensive cartoons is no laughing matter. If bad humor can incite violence, can good humor help bring healing? www.centredaily.com
MyrtleBeachOnline
The five-second rule: Safe or scuzzy?
By Lisa Heyamoto,
February 16, 2006
Indeed, the five-second rule is part guilty habit, part old wives' tale - a popular conviction that food is still clean if snatched off the ground within five seconds. www.myrtlebeachonline.com
News 14 Carolina
Laughter keeps the heart healthy
By Casey Taylor,
February 14, 2006
Dr. Miller says, "I think [stress] is the most underrated factor that promotes heart disease. At the very least, we know that laughter helps to reduce stress." How much laughter do you need? Dr. Miller says, "A good 10 to 20 second laugh" a couple times a day is all. www.news14charlotte.com
The World of HUMOR
HUMOR IN THE NEWS: RELATED ARTICLES
The Financial Express
The hippies were right all along about happiness
By Andrew Oswald,
February 2, 2006
Research last year showed that happiness levels depend inversely on the earnings levels of a person's neighbours. Prosperity next door makes you dissatisfied. www.financialexpress-bd.com
The Navhind Times
Hope for Happiness
By Anita s Velingker,
January 31, 2006
We hope for progress. Expectations and desire followed by achievements help our progress. Progress gives us happiness. Thus hope indirectly gives us happiness. Hence why not hope? Because it is the key to happiness. www.navhindtimes.com
The News Gazette Online
Researchers find ties between activity and health, happiness
By Greg Kline,
January 29, 2006
When the battery of tests and surveys were applied again after six months in one of the exercise programs, the UI researchers found that the participants weren't only physically fitter but also more confident and content. www.news-gazette.com
the Daily Mail
Happiness is key to a long life
By Zoe Catchpole,
August 16, 2004
Optimists live seven and a half years longer than those who are gloomy or depressed, a study at Yale University in the U.S. found.
It also found that simply being happy added nine years of life. www.dailymail.co.uk
International Herald Tribune
Materialism is bad for you, studies say
By Carey Goldberg,
February 9, 2006
In recent years, researchers have reported an ever-growing list of downsides to getting and spending - damage to relationships and self-esteem, a heightened risk of depression and anxiety, less time for what the research indicates truly makes people happy, like family, friendship and engaging work. www.tbnweekly.com
PRNewswire
GfK NOP Identifies Most and Least Happy Countries Across the Globe;
Australians Most Happy, Hungarians Least According to Happiness Study ,
February 7, 2006
…its global Happiness Study finding that Australians have the happiest population with 46% saying they are 'very happy.' The United States is the second happiest country in the world at 40% followed by Egypt (36%), and India (34%). The UK and Canada share the fifth spot with 32% claiming to be very happy. According to the study, Hungary is the least happy country, with 35% of its citizens saying they are either 'disappointed' or 'very unhappy', followed by Russia (30%), Turkey (28%), South Africa (25%) and Poland (24%). http://sev.prnewswire.com
GlobeandMail.com
Got the blues? Blame the kids
By Scott Deveau,
February 8, 2006
Researchers have found that adults with children are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression than those without kids. And the blues don't go away when the kids do either. www.theglobeandmail.com
Excalibur
Neurotransmitter can block the pleasure associated with drugs
By Tessa Vanderhart,
February 22, 2006
"Because the action of a dopamine neuron is responsible for the presence of naturally occurring [responses to] events such as food or sex," noted Zhang, "it is possible our peptide could make people unhappy, because it can suppress happiness or pleasure." www.excal.on.ca
Washingtonpost.com
Smile if (and Only if) You're Conservative
By George F Will,
February 23, 2006
A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that conservatives are happier than liberals -- in all income groups. www.washingtonpost.com
Austin American-Statesman
Happiness: It’s up to you, February 16, 2006
Research, especially his own, generally shows that happy people live longer, enjoy their careers, make more money and create networks of family and friends, said Diener, an author of more than 180 publications. His newest book, "Handbook of Multimethod Measurement in Psychology," was published in December. www.statesman.com
The Harvard Crimson
The Science of Smiling
By Leon Netfakh,
February 15, 2006
845 students sat in Sanders Theater last Thursday watching an online trailer for the movie “Pay It Forward.” The lecturer, Tal Ben-Shahar ’96, had screened it to illustrate just how far one nice gesture can go—how easy it is, as they say in the film, to change someone’s life by taking “the things you don’t like in the world and [flipping] them upside down.” www.thecrimson.com
HUMOR MEETINGS
MoroccoTimes.com
Humour International Festival of Laughter to be held in Casablanca
February 14, 2006
The third International Festival of Laughter will be held on March 16-19 in Casablanca. The event will see the participation of a number of Moroccan and foreign artists and humourists, reported MAP news agency. www.moroccotimes.com
Jesters, Jokes, and Laughter.
The Politics of Humour in the 20th Century.
Conference: Toronto, Humor and Politics, 3/16-18
Conference the Munk Centre for International Studies, Toronto University. E-mail:HUMOUR-RESEARCH@JISCMAIL.AC.UK
Bob Nozik, E-zine Editor ezine@aath.org
