October 2006
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: Stress Relief Techniques: The Healing Power of Laughter
Scientific
Publications on Laughter and Humor
A listing of recent Scientific papers
http://laughteryoga.org
Sun.Star Baquio
Dumaquing: Laugh your way to a healthy heart
By Dr. Vic Dumaquing
September 12, 2006
Results showed that for people viewing the comedy, the
PWV (pulse wave velocity) was on average, decreased by 0.39 m/sec compared
to those undergoing the sham procedure.
www.sunstar.com.ph
Citeseer
Embodied Agents: A New Impetus to Humor Research
By Anton Nijholt
2002
Abstract: In this paper we survey the role of humor
in human-to-human interaction with the aim to see whether it is useful
for embodied conversational agents to integrate humor capabilities in
their internal model of intelligence, emotions and interaction (verbal
and nonverbal) capabilities.
http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/
AATH in the NEWS:
Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror
Laughter therapist to speak at Starburst
luncheon Sept. 9
August 31, 2006
Fleming (E-zine Ed. note: AATH member: Melody Fleming) is
a popular humorist, writer and speaker. Her goal is to offer a laughter
therapy plan, with usable tips and ideas on how to create more joy and
laughter in everyday life.
www.newsmirror.net
6,000-member society promotes looking on the bright side of life
By
Margo Harakas
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted August 7 2006
The article is no longer available for forwarding on the
website, however, I (E-zine Ed. note: AATH member: Janet Sue Lifshin) do have
a copy of it. From that article, I was invited on THE TODAY Show for a story
about It's never to late to find happiness. The story was filmed here in West
Palm Beach this past Saturday with me sharing a program that I created
called, Access Your Inner Princess and my outdoor bubble playground.
2theadvocate.com
Speaker prescribes laughter to ease stress
By George Morris
September 6, 2006
Even in unpleasant situations — even devastating circumstances
like life-threatening illness and Hurricane Katrina — finding the
humorous aspect is a great stress-reducer, she (E-zine Ed. note: AATH
member Kathleen Keller Passanisi) said.
www.2theadvocate.com
MiamiHerald.com
Hospital clown helps ease aches
By Eileen Soler
September 10, 2006
Humor therapy expert and author (E-zine Ed. note: AATH
member and past president) Patty Wooten explained that unlike circus or
party clowns who perform prepared acts, hospital clowns have to ''read
the room,'' quickly assessing body language and emotion. They consider
the tone or silence of the family and the patient's pain and anxiety level
to improvise instantly or bow out gracefully, she said.
www.miami.com
Leader Times
Health Briefs
September 11, 2006
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania Center for Counselor
Training and Services will offer two experts as part of its fall 2006 workshops.
Dr. Leslie Sokol, the education coordinator at the Beck Institute, and
(E-zine Ed. note: AATH member and former President) Dr. Ed Dunkelblau,
director of the Institute for Emotionally Intelligent Learning, will
present one-day workshops in October and November at IUP and at CCAC-Boyce
Campus in Monroeville.
www.pittsburghlive.com
Columbian.com
Anatomy of a laugh – Amusing analysis
By Brett Oppegaard
September 17, 2006
As scientists amass quantifiable evidence of the health
benefits of laughter, humor-based social organizations such as the Laughter
Club are rapidly gaining members. It all plays into the Mark Twain remark: "The
human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter." (E-zine
Ed. note: AATH members, Glynda Hamilton and past President Steven Sultanoff
are mentioned and quoted in this article).
www.columbian.com
Cheryl Fell ( AATH member)"Nurse FUNshine " has
just learned that she was chosen as one of the
top five semifinalists
in the state of Louisiana for the 5th Anniversary Volvo
for Life
Awards, Volvo's national search for everyday heroes.
YOU
my have a chance to vote in the awards -- and your vote
could help her become eligible to receive up to $50,000 in funding
for Nurse FUNshine programs and workshops, a chance to attend the 5th Anniversary
Awards Gala in New York City -- and maybe even a Volvo for life!
www.volvoforlifeawards.com
Memphis Commercial Appeal
‘I truly believe there will be a cure’
by Leanne Kleinmann
September 21, 2006
McRee (E-zine Ed. note: AATH member Pat McRee) also gets
a big nod from the king of healing humor, Bernie Siegal, MD, author of "Love,
Medicine and Miracles:" "... This is a resource filled with
a wisdom which can only come from someone who has lived the experience
... Pat's Unbook can guide and inspire you into creating a work of art
using your life, mind and body."
www.commercialappeal.com
News 10 Now
Humor Therapy
By Diana Palotas
September 23, 2006
Nurse (E-zine Ed. note: AATH member) Debbie Nupp started
the therapeutic program after her grandmother got sick. Nupp said, "Rehab
was coming in, but it just wasn't enough. She was so depressed."
news10now.com
Press Release
National Humor Association Wins Grant to Help Military
Families Reduce Stress through Laughter
By Gary Carr
Laughter is a great stress-reducer – and no one needs
laughter more than the families of military personnel shipping out, serving
in Iraq, or returning home with permanent injuries. So says the Association
of Applied and Therapeutic Humor (AATH) who recently won a grant from
the National Speakers Association toprovide training
in stress-busting, morale-boosting, laughter-filled therapeutic programs
to the families of military personnel.
HUMOR in the NEWS:
VOA News
Red Hat Society Challenges the Conventional Perception of Older
Women
By Elaine Lu
August 29, 2006 Watching Sue Ellen and these red hat daughters,
mothers and grandmothers hit the dance floor people may have reason
to anticipate old age with excitement after all.
www.voanews.com
EastValleyTribune.com
Let us entertain you -- daily
August 30, 2006
Humor remains the best antidote to a bad news day.
www.eastvalleytribune.com
FederalNewsRadio --WFED
You’re Funny!
By Mike Causey
August 31, 2006
And laughter really is the best medicine. Especially
in this "lost" week
when Congress is (still) taking a break and before we return to September
which is always more serious.
www.federalnewsradio.com
BattleCreekEnquirer.com
How hard you laugh depends on whom your with
By Sue Jopek
September 3, 2006
I live by the term "surrender to silliness" because
it's how I've spent my life living. No matter what trauma or drama
I have endured during my lifetime, it has been laughter that's been
my saving grace.
www.battlecreekenquirer.com
Turkish Daily News
Heard the one about Hitler? Book busts myth of
blind Germans
By Cyril Julien
September 4, 2006
The project by German director Rudolph Herzog, son
of the veteran filmmaker Werner, explodes the myth that the Germans
were so hypnotized by Adolf Hitler that they were blind to the brutality,
and at times absurdity, of his rule. "They saw through the propaganda," Herzog
told AFP. "They saw the ridiculous and ludicrous aspects of
the regime."
www.turkishdailynews.com.tr
Statesman.com
Austin author kept sense of humor through pain
By Miguel Liscano
September 1, 2006
Her son said Cox, who in 1994 wrote the Liz Carpenter
biography "Girl
from Salado," had a sense of humor that stuck with her until
the end and an intelligence that helped her build a writing career
and help others along the way.
www.statesman.com
International Herald Tribune
In Myanmar laughter is the only medicine,
but a dose can be dangerous
September 5, 2006
Although the regime denies human rights violations,
the crackdown on comedians is part of a larger government effort that
seemingly scrutinizes everything from obituaries to cartoons for any
hint of dissent — and imposes harsh punishments on supposed offenders.
www.iht.com
Citizen-Times.com
Author makes peace with the Big 50 by facing facts
in humorous book
By Susan Reinhardt
September 7, 2006
"Pain is never easy," she writes, "but
it's made more bearable with the healing power of laughter."
www.citizen-times.com
Readingeagle.com
Answer given about life, laughter, and global warming
By John C. Morgan
September 2006
I simply mean that people who can laugh at themselves
seem to have a healthier view of life and are better equipped to deal
with their own shortcomings. Serious people seem to do a great deal
of serious damage.
www.readingeagle.com
Newsday.com
A laugh a day keeps the doctor away
By Kathy Wollard
September 11, 2006
But laughter can even ease pain, according to a study
of kids ages 8 to 14. Kids who put their hands into icy-cold water
tolerated the chill longer while they giggled at a funny video.
www.newsday.com
The Journal
Finding laughter through healing
September 11, 2006
Ed’s healthy, and he’s a prostate cancer
survivor. And that’s not something to laugh about, but it sure
makes you smile.
www.journal-news.net
Washingtonpost.com
Amid Tears the Hope of Laughter
By Doug Hecox
September 11, 2006
http://www.journal-news.net/Living/articles.asp?articleID=36For
weeks after 9/11, humorists of every stripe struggled with knowing
when it was safe to joke again. David Letterman was the first of
the late-night comedians to go back on the air after the attacks,
and he not only waited a week but also did shows that were full of
emotion and joke-free. Like many comedians, Liebman didn't perform
for several weeks. Comedians found it difficult to strike a balance
between levity and grief, irreverence and solemnity.
www.washingtonpost.com
Nashua Telegraph
At least the high cost of health coverage includes
humor
By Mike Morin
September 12, 2006
If it’s true that laughter is the best medicine,
I should be around for a while. Can’t wait till my health-insurance
coverage starts charging a $10 co-pay for doctor-prescribed laughs.
It could happen.
www.nashuatelegraph.com
TheTribune
A dose of giggles
By Millet Birhanemaskel
September 13, 2006
And, happy patients generally respond more favorably
to treatment and recover faster than do cheerless, complaining ones,
the topic of "The Laughter Prescription: How to Achieve Health,
Happiness and Peace of Mind through Humor."
www.greeleytrib.com
The News-Sentinel
Woman fights cancer and pain with a will
By Michael Granberry
September 15, 2006
One might be surprised to learn that Di Giacomo is
a naturally funny person who has managed to turn such egregious suffering
into her own laugh-out-loud humor.
www.fortwayne.com
AZcentral.com
Bra purses support good cause
By Lynda Hammond
September 15, 2006
"You have to find humor when you look at breast
cancer and the bra purses can add some laughter to the whole situation.
www.azcentral.com
Newsday.com
Cancer survivors gather for inspiration
By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher
September 16, 2006
Elizabeth Dama-Travis, 57, of Holtsville, said she
uses humor to cope with her breast cancer, which was diagnosed in 1999. "Cancer
cells hate the sound of laughter," she said.
www.newsday.com
Currant.com
Ha Ha For Health
By Joann Klimkiewicz
September 18, 2006
And in California, the nonprofit Rx Laughter project
- a joint effort among the fields of entertainment, pediatrics and
psychiatry - has been conducting research on the impact of comedy and
humor in patients recovering from emotional and physical trauma. Their
studies have so far found laughter induces a relaxation response
in the autonomic nervous system that helps patients undergoing painful
procedures. The group has recommended, and spearheaded, various projects
to incorporate laughter therapy as a part of traditional medical
treatment.
www.courant.com
The Oxford Press
Humor often marked Richard’s zest for
life and country
By W. Gardner, Mike Ward
September 19, 2006
From her private burial in a morning drizzle to a
celebratory memorial before a cloud-clearing afternoon, Ann Willis
Richards was remembered Monday as an incandescent governor and grandmother
whose zest for life and country often came with laughter.
www.oxfordpress.com
Newsday.com
Lighten up: Club uses laughter to ward off stress and
disease
By Joanne Klimkiewicz
September 21, 2006
A host of studies in recent years have shown laughter's
vast physical and emotional benefits, drawing links to management of
depression and anxiety, healthy heart functioning and coping with pain
in chronic illness.
www.newsday.com
Washingtonpost.com
The Best Medicine Minus the Humor
By Anita Huslin
September 24, 2006
Humor, after all, is a reaction to the absurdity
of life. So the idea of a roomful of people standing around laughing
for no reason is kind of funny. Sort of. But as a concept, laughter
without humor is not new.
www.washingtonpost.com
United Press International
Humor helps Ivans deal with cancer
September 24, 2006
Since being diagnosed with cancer seven years ago,
U.S. columnist Molly Ivins has used her sense of humor to deal with
the disease.
www.upi.com
The Standard
Lacking spark? Laughter helps
By Liz McKinnon
September 25, 2006
``Doing laughter and music therapy for a day will
instantly make someone feel good... When you feel good you can operate
better and make wise and better decisions.''
http://the.standard.net.au
The World of HUMOR
HUMOR IN THE NEWS: RELATED ARTICLE
The Reflector Online
Happiness can only be received by love
By Laura Rayburn
August 29, 2006
Love is where we humans find our happiness. Some of us love
people: family, friends, boyfriends and girlfriends. Some of us love things:
philosophy, football or waffles, for example. And some of us love
God (or gods, as the case may be). It does not seem to matter from
where we derive our love. Love always seems to make us happy.
www.reflector-online.com
IT Week
Work life balance: slow down
By Diane Pringle
August 31, 2006
Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living.
He challenged people’s ideas and beliefs and asked them to reconsider
their values and priorities. To live well we must examine ourselves
and be willing to see how we create our own difficulties through the
attitudes we hold. When we see this we also see where we have freedom
to make changes and where there are limits we must accept.
www.itweek.co.uk
24 Hour Vancouver
Finding happiness is all in the mind
By Ross Freake
September 1, 2006
The body is always eavesdropping on the mind. What
we focus on expands; if we really believe we deserve the best, it will
show up, but if we think we'll never afford anything better than a
1983 Volvo, we know what we'll be driving.
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca
HealthNewsDigest.com
Change Your Mind: A Neurologists Guide to Happiness
By Dr. D. V. Pasupuleti
September 4 2006
Dr. Pasupuleti believes anyone can create their own
happiness by understanding themselves and letting go of negative thoughts
and preconceived ideas.
http://healthnewsdigest.com
The Advocate
Miles of smiles: Happiness Club founder spreads positive
message
By Alexandra Fenwick
September 6, 2006
The realization that you can determine your own happiness
is empowering, Ketchian said. "When you start to see the logic
of happiness and utilize it to deal with problems in life, it becomes
a very commonsense approach to handling problems. There's nothing wacky
about it, it's not a miracle or anything, it's just taking ultimate
responsibility."
www.stamfordadvocate.com
LewRockwell.com
Are Conservatives Happier Than Liberals?
By Brad Edmonds
September 7, 2006
The Pew
Research Center has found in recent polling that "conservatives" report
being happier than "liberals." I put the terms "conservatives" and "liberals" in
quotes because they mean different things in different eras: Today, "conservatives" is
taken to mean Republicans, and "liberals" Democrats. www.lewrockwell.com
TorontoSun.com
Happiness vs. money
September 9, 2006
A recent survey by Men's Journal found many workers
would take less money if their jobs satisfied them more. The poll showed
55% of readers would take a pay cut and 6% would take as much as 20%
less for job fulfillment.
http://torontosun.com
Ottawasun.com
Leader stresses happiness
By CP
September 10, 2006
The Dalai Lama, the jovial leader of millions of
Buddhists worldwide who believes the purpose of life is to be happy,
joined scientists today to discuss how stress can affect health.
ottsun.canoe.ca
Star-Telegram
Success may not bring health, happiness
By Paul Raeburn
September 11, 2006
Brian's downfall seems counterintuitive: Shouldn't
success bring happiness, boosting the immune system and improving overall
health? Not according to research from psychologists at Duke University
in Durham, N.C. Enormous success is healthy only for people with self-esteem
to match, it turns out…Too much optimism may be an immunological
drain. And health improves when self-esteem and success stay in sync.
www.dfw.com
CHINAdaily.com.cn
Measuring happiness
September 14, 2006
The drafting of the happiness index, however, is
risky. It must be based on solid statistics and surveys. And it must
be independent, free of any influence from political forces or vested
interests.
www.chinadaily.com.cn
Public Agenda
An Experiment in Happiness
By Sarah Lake
September 15, 2006
What does it take to be ‘happy’ for more
than just a brief or transient period? Until we can answer these questions
we are effectively ‘stabbing in the dark’, going from
one thing to another hoping to find that elusive goal!
www.ghanaweb.com
Canadian Business Online
Professor of happiness
By Duncan Hood
Summer 2006
Based on a wide reading of the psychological literature,
Montier concludes that we're all born with a base level of happiness
that we can't change. That, taken with life circumstances such as our
age, personal history, income and status, accounts for about 60%
of our happiness. The remaining 40% of our happiness depends on intentional
activity, or things we can actively do to make ourselves happier.
www.canadianbusiness.com
Indystar.com
Pursuit of happiness becomes scientific
By Don Mayhew
September 15, 2006
Q: Laughter -- the best medicine? A: Laughter
is not a bad thing. There are some emerging data that show that laughter
has some good effects on people. It does counter stress response.
. . . You have to be careful of these people who say laughter is
a magic answer. Because beyond laughter, you need meaning and purpose
in life. I'm very suspicious of any answer that's simplistic .
www.indystar.com
The Australian
The socialist who would regulate your happiness
By Janet Albrechtsen
September 20, 2006
Last weekend The Sydney Morning Herald splashed with
a new survey that found 77 per cent of those polled believed that "a
government's prime objective should be achieving the greatest happiness
of the people, not the greatest wealth". This segued into a full-scale
push for government to get involved in the happiness industry.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Wisconsin State Journal
Pursuing peace through meditation
By Amanda N. Wegner
September 18, 2006
Dr. Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at UW-Madison
and director of the university's Lab for Affective Neuroscience, pioneered
some of the world's first research on meditation and its affect on
the brain. With meditation, says Davidson, a person can train his or
her mind to improve attention and regulate emotions; it can also
improve a person's level of happiness and well-being.
www.madison.com
PJStar.com
Choosing happiness through pain
By Terry Bibo
September 24, 2006
The idea of "taking advantage" of cancer
to enrich your life seems peculiar at first. Then again . . . to paraphrase
a wise priest, you may not choose pain, but you can choose to be happy
or miserable while you endure it.
www.pjstar.com
The Capital
Achieving Happiness: Friends keep you healthy
By Tom Muha
September 24, 2006
Scientists can even see how it works when they look
at an MRI scan of the brain. Every time you engage in a positive interaction
with another person, your limbic system sends life-affirming messages
throughout your body, thereby improving immune functioning and recovery
from illness or operations.
www.hometownannapolis.com
dailypress.com
Guest Columnist: Happiness is mind, body, heart, and
soul
By Rabi Rosalin Mandelberg
September 23, 2006
Peak experiences don't last; it's the many moments
every day, when we connect with those we care about, which endure and
bring us real happiness.
www.dailypress.com
NWItimes.com
Don’t worry, be happy…
By Melanie Csepiga
September 25, 2006
"A recent Mayo Clinic study found that individuals scoring
high in optimism on the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory)
were 50 percent more likely to survive the next 30 years than pessimists
were. "These optimists also had fewer physical and emotional
difficulties, were less limited by pain, enjoyed higher energy levels
and were generally happier and calmer."
www.thetimesonline.com
Out In San Diego
The Center to Present Seminar on Humor and Health
August 30, 2006
The San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community
Center (The Center) will present a special seminar, Humor: The Prescription
for Happy Health, on Wed., Sept. 13 from 2-3pm. This free event will
be presented by Dr. Sheryl Dagang at The Center, 3909 Centre St.,
San Diego.
www.outinsandiego.com
PharmaLive
Chugai Hosts Charity Event to Support Cancer Patient Association
September
1, 2006
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo;
President: Osamu Nagayama (hereinafter, "Chugai")] and Cancer
Patients' Network announced today that they will jointly host the charity
event Medicine and Humor on October 29 (Sun.) at Zendentsu Hall, starting
at 1:00 p.m. The event will combine a lecture on palliative care
with laughter aroused by rakugo comic storytelling
www.medadnews.com
If you see something you would like to share in our E-Zine, send the lead to
Bob Nozik, E-zine Editor ezine@aath.org
