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A Joke Can Cure a Bad Mood - But Why May Surprise You

TresSugar — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:00:00 -0700

We all know that when we're in a bad mood, a joke can temporarily lift our spirits. But Dutch researchers set out to figure out precisely why. And although you may think, as many researchers do, that it's because positive emotions counteract negative ones - the researchers set out to prove that it's more than that.

They showed a group of men and women a series of pictures. First, they were shown negative images, and then two kinds of positive stimuli - funny and nonfunny. More people said that their moods were lifted by the funny stimuli (the jokes) than the merely positive stimuli.

The reason, according to the researchers, is in the actual cognitive work it takes for us to "get" a joke. Take this joke, for example. A terrified father calls a doctor and tells him, "Doctor, my child just swallowed a fountain pen!" When the doctor tells him he'll rush right over and asks, "What are you doing in the meantime?" The father replies: "Using a pencil."

Figuring out the punch-line is the kind of distraction that can make us feel better. "What they are suggesting is that humor," says Ed Dunkelblau, PhD, a psychologist and past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, "is an effective way to redirect anxiety."

So let's toast to (corny) jokes that make our brains work a little harder!

Book of the Day: The Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes

GiggleSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:45:00 -0700

In the mood for a corny joke? An offensive joke? A thought-provoking joke? Or just a really funny joke? Well step right up to The Friars Club Encyclopedia of Jokes. (More than 2,000 of them from folks as disparate as W.C. Fields and Wanda Sykes.) When I think of The Friars Club and their celebrity roasts, I think of a red-faced Dean Martin smoking a cigarette and insulting Don Rickles with off-color humor. Turns out, the private club that's been a haven for entertainers has been around since 1904, and they've been holding their roasts since 1950.

Although you'll find old-school jokes in the encyclopedia that might make your PC meter go haywire, you'll also find such gems as the following from Mae West: "I like two kinds of men: domestic and foreign." Rrreow!

Joke Confuses Model

GiggleSugar — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:05:35 -0700

Some punk ass with a mic was in the mood to ridicule (or flirt with) a model, so he pulled this chick aside and told her one of the oldest jokes in the book. She knew the joke was on her, but that's about all she knew. To be fair, she mumbled something about being a stupid model- a wise assessment, indeed! So we'll give the gal points for self-awareness.

Have Your Cake and Blow It, Too

GiggleSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Who doesn't love a custard-filled cake?

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It's Austin Powers, Baby!

GiggleSugar — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

He may be the biggest douche evah, but there's something about Austin Powers that keeps me coming back for more. It sure as hell ain't his oral hygiene, or his Swedish-made penis enlarger (which he denies, denies, denies ever owning), or his insistence on reducing women to infants. It's . . . his middle name. Yeah, baby, yeah!

An Off-the-Cuff Knock-Knock Joke

GiggleSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:30:00 -0800

We have a couple of cutie comedians in the house, but there's just one problem: they have no clue how off-color their punchline is. At least, I hope they don't.

Justin Timberlake Hits the Links and Jokes With Leno

PopSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 05:00:00 -0700

Justin Timberlake smiled for the cameras in Las Vegas over the weekend and yesterday for his second annual Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. He found time for a few practice rounds last week, but he unfortunately missed out on the three chances at a hole in one to win a $1 million donation for Shriners. He was still in good spirits saying, "This would be like Phil Mickelson trying to sing Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden. Only, we’re going to get Rolling Stone and all my press peers to watch him do it." The charity tournament continues this week and the singer filmed a quick appearance on The Jay Leno Show last night. Justin joked about meeting Peyton Manning, his phobia of "possible future in-laws," and members of *NSYNC hitting him up for cash. Justin didn't sneak in a mention of Jessica Biel to confirm they're still together, but his cheeky sense of humor took center stage during the interview.

To see more photos of Justin just read more.

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She Doesn't Get Paid Enough

GiggleSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Look very closely: The writing's on the wall.

Thanks, College Humor!

Surely Some of the Planet's Funniest Animals!

PetSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:30:47 -0700

This compilation from Planet's Funniest Animals seemed especially appropriate for today's holiday. Whether it's a dog being totally silly or totally natural, these clips gave me a good giggle. Happy April Fool's Day!

Flashback: Old Kotex Ad

GiggleSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:04:17 -0700

And by "old" I mean 83 years old! There was a time when ladies who were ~~on their periods~~ having a "lost daintiness" moment actually had to launder their "cotton pads." (Click on gallery below.) So when Kotex came along, it was probably the equivalent, for women, of a man walking on the moon! (There's a joke in there somewhere, but it's late in the afternoon, I have a cold, and the caffeine's wearing off.) Anyone?

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