Happiness, Hope, and Humor - Three Simple H's That Will Change Your Life

If you were a parent, grandparent, or small child during the past forty years, Sesame Street was probably a large part of your routine. Intentionally or sub-consciously, we all sang along, played along, learned along. Sesame Street was a constantly changing show. New faces, new Muppets, new themes - but one segment was guaranteed. At some point, someone would come forward and say "Today's show is brought to you by the Letter ____." Bert and Ernie would sing a song about the letter, or it would rise, gigantic, out of a pool filled with children. Regardless of the set-up, the moral was the same: one little letter can change your life. And, as it most often is, Sesame Street was correct. Focusing on, singing about, celebrating the letter "H" can change your life. As Ernie would say, "Think of all the lovely words that start with 'H.'" Today and every day are brought to you by happiness, hope, and humor.

Happiness has many definitions. Happiness is one of the "Big Six" emotions, according to many theorists (also: surprise, fear, disgust, anger, and sadness.) To the hedonists, happiness is simply the maximization of positive sensory input. Yet, according to cognitive therapists like Arnold A. Lazarus, happiness results from "making reasonable progress towards the realization of a goal." Happiness is thought to be physically caused by high concentrations of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in the brain, also attributed to waves of euphoria. Recent studies show that one's coping mechanisms can increase a person's happiness level, as can feelings of pride and self-efficacy.

Humorous Portrayal of Bad Values - A Review of the Adventures of Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey

George Beard and Harold Hutchins, the main characters of The Adventures of Captain Underpants, are pranksters of the first order. In this installment of Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants series, George and Harold pull an outrageous set of pranks at their elementary school football game. However, unbeknown to them their mean principal Mr. Krupp has caught all of their antics on videotape and he proceeds to use the tape to blackmail them into behaving well in school and serving his every whim.

After a few days of following Mr. Krupp's rules, the boys remember a comic-book advertisement for a "3-D Hypno-Ring" that will allow them to hypnotize Mr. Krupp and lay hands on the incriminating videotape. George and Harold follow through with their plan, and in the process have some fun with Mr. Krupp, making him believe he is Captain Underpants--George and Harold's favorite superhero in their homemade comic books--while he is under their hypnotic spell. Silly high jinks ensue.

This book has tremendous subjective appeal: kids will love it (mine do...). The chief thing that makes it appealing is humor. For example, Pilkey's turn of phrase itself is often hilarious. In the introductory chapter he describes George and Harold as kids who were "usually responsible...Whenever anything bad happened, George and Harold were usually responsible." Kids will also think the fantastic nature and scale of the boys' pranks is funny. For example, they put black pepper in the cheerleaders' pom-poms causing the cheerleaders to sneeze uncontrollably, they put bubble bath in the marching band's horns so the band's playing just ends up blowing bubbles, and they replace the football team's muscle rub lotion with "Mr. Prankster's Extra-Scratchy Itching Cream." And of course the potty-humor theme throughout the book appeals to a child's (seemingly natural, if my kids are any indication) proclivity for all things potty'ish.

The Girl Next Door by Brad Parks - Newspapers, Murder, and Bears! Oh My! - Mystery Book Review

Award-winning mystery writer, Brad Parks, returns with his third book, The Girl Next Door, featuring amateur sleuth and newspaper reporter, Carter Ross.

Nancy Marino was forty-two-years-old and single. She waitressed at the State Street Grill, delivered Bloomfield, New Jersey's Eagle-Examiner early mornings; and was a shop steward for the International Federation of Information Workers (IFIW), Local 117.

On a hot, Friday morning in July, a speeding Cadillac Escalade struck and killed her while delivering her papers. The driver disappeared onto the Garden State Parkway; confident he committed an untraceable crime.

Enter Carter Ross, an eight-year veteran news reporter for the Eagle-Examiner. Reading Marino's obituary, he decides to memorialize a fellow newspaper employee, even though he'd never met her. He plans to write a story portraying Marino as an ordinary person, who spent her life serving others, and, whose contributions to society went unnoticed until her passing. Attending her funeral, he learns that her death is being investigated as a homicide, which ignites his inquiring mind.

Ross is an unpretentious thirty-two-year-old. Educated at Amherst College, he lives in a two-bedroom, ranch-style house with his black-and-white, domestic, shorthaired cat, Deadline. He ubiquitously dresses in Khakis and button-down shirts; and drives a five-year-old Chevy Malibu.

Using Hi-Lo Books With Struggling Readers and ESL Students

A hi-lo book is a title that offers highly interesting subject matter at a relatively low reading level. Publishers take different approaches to producing and defining these books in their product line. Some produce books which have a large gap between the age of the intended reader and the reading level; others are one or two grade levels below the expected reading level. The concept behind a hi-lo book is to encourage struggling readers or readers who are learning English as a Second Language (ESL). Readers are more likely to try a book which is about a topic of great interest to them especially if it has features designed to make it easier to read.

The high interest is generated by subject matter that appeals to readers in a particular age range. The content is what readers would read on their own without any input from adults. Readers aged 10 to 13 are often interested in sports, adventure, animals, humor, mystery, magical or fairy tales, and natural disasters. Teen readers are often interested in tough, realistic circumstances like bullying, suicide, teen pregnancy, sexuality, and drug use. They also enjoy science fiction, fantasy, adventure, graphic novels, comics, and Manga, the Japanese version of comics. Hi-lo books are like any good book with a compelling story line and fascinating facts.

The Everyday Housewife - By, Bryan Foreman - Book Review

What does an Oklahoma City housewife and mother of two teenagers have in common with a New York City feminist author, drug user, murderer, and Mafia accomplice? When you find out, you'll be as impressed with "The Everyday Housewife: Murder, Drugs, and Ironing" by Bryan Foreman as I was. Foreman wrote an iUniverse Editor's Choice award winning, out-of-the-box literary novel going far beyond just being called creative. In fact, the old adage about not judging a book by its cover actually set the bar high for me as I adored his choice of cover art, graphics and comic overtone. "Wow," and "Over-the-top" is all I can say about his work - a definite home run piece of wordsmithing genius.

"The Everyday Housewife" truly is a multi-dimensional novel, as Bryan Foreman created his character, Katharine Beaumont as being an author herself. He brings her writing within his novel, creating a "book within a book," so to speak. Then Foreman interleaves Katharine's thoughts, her morals, her steadfast fortitude and uniquely individual decision making reasoning into ancillary tangents within his story, creating a reading experience guaranteed to entertain and inveigle the most sophisticated of audiences into overwhelming accolades of praise. As for the details of the storyline, perhaps those are best left undisclosed; however the sequence of events, the people of New York City, their attitude and personalities are cleverly depicted with terse and focused character development, credible circumstances, and enjoyable moments of interaction. The book moves along at lightning speed, with a contemporary stylized attitude of a maternally mature woman acting out what can be called childish behavior; however it is postured as being understandable and even justified. These remarks may be considered "riddles" to some reading this review, but it is for your own enjoyment to read this book with an impressionable mind, not knowing the synopsis.

Funny Comic Strips Are Stress Reducing Tools

You cannot deny the importance of wit and humor in our day to day lives, which is just like breathing fresh air for prompt relief. We crave for joy and happiness through all such aspects, which are available around us. Funny comic strips play a vibrant role in the right moment when we require the desired relief. Trivial activities are highlighted by characters with funny sketches with equally humorous text to create moments of joy and delight for the reader. It has added advantages, which helps get rid of stressful time in our lives. The present competitive world is a stressful place and we need a break from the monotony once in a while to maintain the balance. Stress, in the present age is unavoidable and we must learn to keep it at bay for sometime so that we are less exposed to the harmful effect of stress. There are different ways to be away from stress, which are adopted by people according to the suitability. Exercising, watching television shows or movies, indoor games, reading and hanging with pals are some of the ways to get rid of stressful moments. You need to choose the way that you find comfortable. It has been proved by researchers that laughter is a potential antidote to stress. The feeling of laughter is generated by funny comic strips online, which is a great accomplishment for the modern man in the present social condition.

The activity of comic strip is to entertain the reader or visitor with visual presentation of humorous sketches with matching text full of wit. It has gained tremendous popularity over the years and has created a permanent space in daily newspapers across the world with huge fan following as well. Some of the carton characters have earned worldwide name and fame, which are transcribed in various different forms of presentation to entertain the public with solid commercial success for the promoters. You will get renowned comic books, which contain collections of funny comic strips and are in enormous demand. You will find dramatic story lines, enchanting sketches, and interesting characters with witty dialogue for pure fun and enjoyment. It helps break the grueling monotony of daily life full of stress and anxiety. You will be free of the feeling of difficult times for a small period, which is the ultimate gain in reading these artistic displays to produce humorous moments in life. The form of comic strips is so popular that you will definitely find the presence of the tool in every country in the respective language for the entertainment of the common mass.

Stress Relief Through Humor - How it Works

You have heard the catch phrase "laughter, the best medicine for stress". The experts say that a good sense of humor can mentally lighten up your load and cure ailments, but add in a good laugh and it actually activates physical changes in your body. Lets see how and why this works.

Short Term Benefits Sooth stomach tension from stress. By activating better circulation and easing digestion, laughter relieves some stomach tensions due to stress.

Oxygen for your organs. By laughing, your intake of oxygen is multiplied thus stimulating your heart, lungs and muscles. In turn this increases the release of a pain relieving hormone from your brain called endorphins. Endorphins also affect emotions.

Stress response. Laughter increases your heart rate and and blood pressure and heats up and cools down your stress response. Like a good workout the results will leave you in a calm, relaxed state.

Longer Term Benefits Healthier immune system Having positive thoughts your body actually releases Neuropeptides to help fight stress that weaken your immune system and potentially more-serious illnesses. On the reverse, negative thoughts turn into chemical reactions that impact your body with more stress and reduced immunity, which leave you open for more ailments.

Comics 101 - What is the Comics Code Authority?

The Comics Code Authority is a self-regulatory body that governs content in comic books.

In 1954, psychologist Frederic Wertham published Seduction of the Innocent,  a scathing book discussing how the media in general and comic books in particular corrupt young minds. The book was such a sensation that it catapulted Wertham into celebrity, and the US Congress convened the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile Delinquency to address the issues brought up in the book. The primary target for both Wertham and the Senate was EC Comics' horror and crime titles. EC had established a strong niche for itself in the industry for publishing what would be considered "mature" titles today. But since comic books at the time were considered solely as children's entertainment, Wertham considered EC Comics as especially dangerous for children.

In a proactive move, EC Comics publisher William Gaines gathered together the other comic book publishers and suggested they create their own governing body to regulate content, in order to not be officially censored by the government. In an ironic twist, the body that was formed, the Comics Code Authority, created guidelines that were so strictly enforced that EC Comics was not able to publish the kinds of comics they specialized in. Gaines and EC Comics were all but forced out of the comic book business. Their final title, MAD, switched to a magazine format to bypass the restrictions of the Comics Code Authority. It has been in continuous publication since 1952.

Humor in the Classroom: 4 Ways to Engage Even If You Are Not Funny

Today's generation of student has been granted thousands of satellite channels, iPods, iPhones, video games, and millions of websites to surf at their leisure (or in the back of your class). All of these items are the competition of every faculty member attempting to GRAB HOLD of the attention of the A.D.D. students of today.

Alas, here are a few great tips for faculty to incorporate humor to better engage today's generation of students (even if you don't think you're that funny):

You can easily locate funny jokes, cartoons, blogs, and pictures relating to your field or subject through using Google and Google Images. Simply search under keywords such as "biology humor," "accounting jokes," or "funny marketing", and you can stockpile weeks of material at your fingertips. This same search can also be used for YouTube video clips, which has seemingly captured every funny moment in the history of mankind (or, at least, their mankind).

Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen - Book Review

Irresistibly irreverent. The title of Carl Hiaasen's novel Sick Puppy, says it all really. Having just come from reading some dystopian fiction, this novel's black humour was a real 'cleansing of the palate' for me. While black humour is not everyone's cup of tea, I think Carl Hiaasen does in his novels what we all wish we could do in everyday life once in a while - say what we really think, politically correct or otherwise! In Sick Puppy, Hiaasen's main character is an eco-enthusiast (or eco-terrorist, depending on your one's point of view) who has a short fuse when it comes to litterbugs. He sees it as his duty to teach the ignorant and narcissistic of society a lesson. When Spree crosses paths with Palmer Stoat, a self-absorbed political fixer, teaching a litterbug a lesson soon turns into an adventure of grand and comical proportions. While the title Sick Puppy is a euphemism for many of the outrageous characters introduced to the reader in the story, the tale does actually feature a Labrador named Boodle who becomes ill. How does the dog become ill you might ask? You'll just have to read the story for yourself to find out...

While this novel is very accessible, don't be fooled into thinking the story itself is simple or lacking message. I was impressed to find a complex web of characters and story lines that drew me in and really made me think. Everything that happens in the story happens for a reason, no matter how innocuous. While this story is taken to the extreme for comical effect, as with any black comedy, it reflects and spotlights the human character traits that we all observe, but in this politically correct world we live in, seldom acknowledge. I enjoyed this book immensely, and highly recommend it for those needing a cathartic laugh after a long day at work.

Best Seller Gujarati Books

Books are resource of knowledge. Books are our best friends. In free time when no one with us at that time Books are become our friend. It is a great source of enjoyment and the best means of utilize time. Every book that a person reads leaves a deep impression on him. Books will never cheat us. Books give information about everything. Now a day most of the children are sitting in front of TV. Every program is not so good. So children pursue bad habit by watching T.V. Children watch these low quality serials, movies - with excess of action, movies which show violence. To deter this activity a child getting addicted to TV- inculcates the habit of reading. Give them good humor books. So they can enjoy and get some knowledge with it. There are so many good author books are available in the market.

Reading also keeps your brain healthy. A man needs a good friend. A book is as like as friend. Book reading is good time pass in the traveling. He never feels bored. He feels happy in the reading. Reading gives the kind of pleasure. Some books we read simple for pleasure and amusement for example, good novels and books of imagination must have their place in every body's reading.

International Perspective on Humor

United States public speaking audiences are becoming more and more diverse. It is your responsibility as a public speaker to be aware of and acknowledge significant portions of the audience that come from differing backgrounds. If you are speaking in a different country, again, it is up to you to find out about local customs and types of humor that are appreciated in that locale. The response to humor is quite different for different cultures. Paying close attention to this fact will give you a greater chance of connecting with international audiences in and out of the U.S. You will also be more aware of etiquette and customs that will make you a welcome speaker anywhere you go.

If you are not familiar with your intended audience, in your pre- program research you might ask, 'How diverse is your group? Or do you have members from other countries?' The answers to these questions will help you plan your strategy for connecting with a particular audience.

I was doing my planning for a speech in Baltimore, Maryland and found out that twenty-five percent of the audience was Asian Indian. I knew nothing about the Indian culture and didn't have long to plan. What I did know was the Dunkin' Donut store near my home was owned and run by Indians. That was a good excuse to stop in, down a few eclairs, and do some research. I told the proprietor what I was trying to accomplish and he was glad to help. Out of all the information he gave me about humor in India, I only used one line. That was all it took to connect. The line was, 'I want to tell all my new Indian friends I'm sorry Johnny Lever couldn't make it.' Johnny Lever was one of the top comedians in India. They lit up and I went on with the program.

Book Review - Publish This Book by Stephen Markley

While searching the Internet for publishers, I recently stumbled upon an interesting book promotion by SourceBooks in Naperville, Illinois. Their promotion is for a book entitled, "Publish This Book" by Stephen Markley. They are offering a free critique for up to 5000 words of a manuscript when you purchase the book. I thought it would be worth the $10 (after the 35% discount) to purchase the book which appeared to address a topic of interest for me while meeting the promotional requirements allowing me to submit a portion of my manuscript for a fiction novel. So, I bought the book and obtained the required proof of purchase.

I looked at the cover art for Markley's book and I chuckled as it shows a young man holding what appears to be a broken piece of sheetrock with the title of the book, "PUBLISH THIS BOOK", along with the pitch line, "THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUE STORY OF HOW I WROTE, SOLD, AND PUBLISHED THIS VERY BOOK". The young man has torn pieces of paper taped to his jeans with footnotes. His face is obscured by an adequately sized red label with "A Premature Memoir" written on it. I can appreciate good cover design, so I was immediately intrigued enough to give it a few minutes of my time. After all, I paid for the book so I thought I might as well give it a chance.

I began reading this interesting concept book with every intention of putting it down as soon as I reached a point of waning interest. It didn't happen. I found the book interesting, irreverently funny and candid.