August 2007
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. |
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
Humor Research Why Older People Don’t Get the Joke
By Ben Quinn
It's no laughing matter, but the reason why grumpy old men behave in just such a way may finally have been pinpointed. Older adults have a harder time getting jokes as they age because of memory and reasoning problems, according to a new study. www.telegraph.co.uk
Hindu - Chennai, India
How often have we heard the phrase "Laughter is the best medicine"? Well, from what psychology researchers say, laughter may well be more the symptom. www.hindu.com
HUMOR in the NEWS:
Humor and Customer Service
By Jason Rakowski
www.goodcustomerserviceblog.com
Why Children Need to Play
By Laurie Toupin The Christian Science Monitor, July 18, 2007
"Play is a basic human drive," says David Elkind, author of "The Power of Play." "It is simply a shorthand for imagination, curiosity, and fantasy – our creative dispositions." Dr. Elkind is perhaps best known for writing "The Hurried Child" in 1981.
www.csmonitor.com
Laugh it off
Times of India - India
Laughter is the best medicine ," they say. It's no joke - a good laugh can actually improve your health. Generally, a sense of humour is what you look for. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Suppress or Express?
Healthy Wealthy n Wise - Kearneysville, WV, USA
The laughter-release is used frequently in tense situations. "Comic relief" in the middle of a super-serious situation often tempers overwhelming tension. www.healthywealthynwise.com
A funny way to treat patients
St. Petersburg Times - St. Petersburg,FL,USA
Morton Plant Hospital is one of the few hospitals regionally exploring laughter as an approach to health care. "Our hope is to expand on the literature and www.sptimes.com
This club won't mind if you laugh at it
Anchorage Daily News (subscription) - Anchorage,AK,USA
Because of laughter's health benefits, these clubs have been embraced by recreation therapists, social workers, psychologists and support group facilitators. www.adn.com
Laughter as a Cure
Javno.hr - Zagreb,Croatia
Did you know that when we laugh, apart from feeling great, we do wonders for our health? Laughter makes us healthy because it enrichs our bloodstream with www.javno.com
Support group stresses laughter to fight disease
Juneau Empire (subscription) - Juneau, AK, USA
But I've been a mental health professional for 40 years, and the two most certain indicators of good mental health are a good sense of humor and an easy www.juneauempire.com
Learn to Laugh
Christian Post - USA
Laughter is life's shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances. Somehow, you must find the fun in the www.christianpost.com
LINDA TEEPLE: "H" is for Humor
Anderson Herald Bulletin - Anderson, IN, USA
(Billy Graham) Laughing Matters magazine, a publication of The HUMOR Project, Inc., highlights these benefits of humor: n "Jest for the health of it" to www.theheraldbulletin.com
Baby Boomers Just Want to Have Fun, and Retire Healthy and Wealthy
Emediawire (press release) - Ferndale, WA, USA
She has a sense of humor that is contagious and obvious in her title "Head Boomer." Ann chose that title because she was born on January 1, 1946 www.emediawire.com
The Curative Power of Laughter
- South Korea
... of humor and the importance of laughter can never be underestimated. It is a part of life. "On the scientific front, laughter makes for good health. www.ohmynews.com
Laugh It Out, Las Vegas
CNNMoney.com - USA
It's surprising then that only 13 percent of Las Vegas residents let it out -- or freely express their emotions -- with laughter, the lowest of any city http://money.cnn.com
Laughter and the detection of deception
Police News - San Francisco,CA,USA
The reunion forces classmates to reveal occupational and marital failures, the success or disappointments of raising a family, health problems and the www.policeone.com
The Decline of Laughter
American Spectator - USA
A society that does not laugh is one without an important safety valve, and a society in which people interpret crude humor not as the first step toward www.spectator.org
Laughter as medicine
WKYC-TV - Cleveland,OH,USA
She teaches class participants how to simulate laughing as a way to not only reduce stress, but also help a number of other health issues. www.wkyc.com
'Happy Wednesday Lady' to host workshop on balancing personal and ...
SouthCoastToday.com - New Bedford, MA, USA
The healing properties of laughter and chocolate have both been investigated by science. Even without medical research, centuries of human experience have www.southcoasttoday.com
Know More About Yoga
PR-GB.com (press release) - Sofia,Bulgaria
What could be best possible medicine than 'Laughter'! All over the world Laughter Yoga is becoming known and sought after. The fun and the health benefits http://pr-gb.com
The World of HUMOR
HUMOR IN THE NEWS: RELATED ARTICLE
Is that positive pride or arrogance on your face? It's obvious
Houston Chronicle - United States
But since then, the preponderance of research in emotion has centered on primal emotions such as happiness, sadness and fear. Nevertheless, pride is an www.chron.com
31 days, 31 ways
Buffalo News - NY, United States
Laughter and fish tanks benefit our emotional and physical health. (Thirty Days to Better Health) 26. Drive to a neighboring community and tour its main www.buffalonews.com
Happily ever after
Brisbane Times - Brisbane,Queensland,Australia
It is easy to attain a certain level of happiness by pursuing pleasure (hedonism). But according to research conducted by Seligman and his colleagues www.brisbanetimes.com.au
Being happy at work shouldn't be a full-time job
Annapolis Capital - Annapolis,MD,USA
Use your sense of humor and knowledge of the areas you may have in common to engage in conversation when it is appropriate. Whatever time and effort this www.hometownannapolis.com
Make yourself happier and you may get richer, as well
The Courier News - Elgin,IL,USA
The latest psychological research concludes that happy people are more likely to succeed, that happiness has little to do with a person's circumstances in www.suburbanchicagonews.com
Couple Celebrates 70 Years Of Wedded Bliss
KSDK - St. Louis,MO,USA
"As long as one of us has a good sense of humor ... he's always saying, 'Are you kidding me or not?'" added Phyllis. If Phyllis was the one who brought www.ksdk.com
How to be Happier by the End of the Day: Your Menu of Options
Huffington Post - New York,NY,USA
Do you need a happiness boost -- right now? If so, take a look at this menu of options and make your choices. Remember, the more you tackle, the bigger the www.huffingtonpost.com
Why are children today so unhappy?
Daily Mail - UK
That, in turn, creates a generation of mini-consumers who want everything they see on screen and equate happiness with materialism. "Safe" in their bedrooms http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=468866&in_page_id=1879
Happiness still eludes Americans
Berkshire Eagle - Pittsfield,MA,USA
By Colleen O'Connor, The Denver Post Millions of Americans are training for happiness by wearing "A Complaint Free World" bracelet because, they say www.berkshireeagle.com
Resilience: Build skills to endure hardship
MayoClinic.com - USA
Use humor and laughter. Remaining positive or finding humor in distressing or stressful situations doesn't mean you're in denial. Humor is a helpful coping www.mayoclinic.com
Machine built to spread happiness
CBBC Newsround - London,England,UK
We all like being told nice things, so passers-by in an American city will be extra happy, as an artist has installed a machine there to hand out praise. http://news.bbc.co.uk
Will Saying Thanks Make Us Happier?
AlterNet - San Francisco,CA,USA
New research suggests gratitude is a key to health and happiness, but one writer wanted to test that research for herself. www.alternet.org
Health, wealth and a skilled job is the way to happiness
Independent - London,England,UK
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor A skilled job, good health and financial security are the keys to happiness, a government survey has found. http://news.independent.co.uk
Humor Quotes
Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die. – Mel Brooks
A sense of humor is part of the art of leadership, of getting along with people, of getting things done. – Dwight D. Eisenhower
Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious. – Peter Ustinov
If you ever fall off the Sears Tower, just go real limp, because maybe you'll look like a dummy and people will try to catch you because, hey, free dummy. – Jack Handy
Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law. – Dick Clark
He who laughs last has not yet heard the bad news. – Anthony Burgess
