Pump Up the Laughter

Did you know that by simply telling a joke you are exercising 72 different muscles in your neck, throat, mouth, and tongue? Laughing uses over 100 muscles. No wonder some people say they “laughed 'til they hurt.” They just had a workout without even realizing it!

A Joke a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Dr. Lee Berk of the Loma Linda School of Public Health in California discovered that laughing increases the body's antibodies and T cells, which help fight off infection and alien bacteria.

Dr. William Fry of Stanford University says that laughing 200 times will burn up the same amount of calories as 10 minutes on a rowing machine.

Does that make Dumb and Dumber a workout video?

Funny Bone

Your funny bone isn't actually a bone, it's a nerve — the ulnar nerve, in fact. This nerve is exposed as it travels over the medial condyle of the humerus, er, the bony knob at the end of your upper arm. Some clever (and unknown) medical student saw the punny resemblance between the words “humerus” and “humorous” and created the notion of the funny bone. Hitting your funny bone, however, is no laughing matter!

COMIC BIOGRAPHY

Quick on Her Feet

Carol Burnett, the former queen of prime time comedy (1967–1979), was getting out of a taxicab in front of the TV studio. She accidentally slammed the door shut on her coat and the oblivious cabbie took off. Carol was forced to run along side in order not to be dragged off her feet. After running several blocks, she was finally rescued by a pedestrian who hailed the cab and brought the vehicle to a stop.

The cabbie, now realizing what had happened, jumped out of his car and ran to Carol's side. “Are you all right?” he asked.

“Fine,” panted Carol. “But how much more do I owe you?”