So this guy walks up to a house and rings the doorbell. A woman answers the door.
“Ma’am, I’m a painter. I will paint anything.”
The woman thinks. . . “Why don’t you paint my porch. Paint it dark brown.”
So the guy goes to work an a few hours later, he rings the doorbell.
“Ma’am, I’m all done. By the way, it wasn’t a Porsche – it was a Mercedes Benz. . . .”
Joseph Addison – the 17th Century English writer – said “man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.” Sigmund Freud in his The Joke and its Relation to the Unconscious states that “jokes” release us from traditional inhibitions which make up the veneer of our personalities.
Historically, the earliest known “smile” is etched on the lips of a statue of Ebbeh – a Mesopotamian factotum who lived in 2400 B.C. (Ebbeh now resides in the Louvre). Four centuries later, we enter Biblical times. There were no Old Testament comedians, but the word “laugh” (or “laughter”) makes its debut in the Book of Genesis. When Abraham and Sarah are told they will have a son, both fall on their faces – laughing. Perhaps that is why their son was named “Isaac” which in Hebrew is “He [or God] laughs.” The word “laugh” or its derivations appear 43 times in the Bible (6 of those in the New Testament). The Koran chronicles 16 uses of the word but most relate to the faithful laughing at the inglorious fate of unbelievers.
The Veda in Hindu text records the word “laugh” 8 times. In Buddhist tradition, he “Laughing Buddha” was supposedly a real person – a wandering happy Zen monk named Pu-Tai who lived around 1000 A.D. The world’s first stand-up comedian was Aristophanes (see post of 8/28/11). He would lurch out on stage smeared with wine playing the Emperor – Cleon. It didn’t go over well with Cleon. . . . . The first joke book was The Philogelos (“Laughter Lover“) “published” in the 4th Century A.D. It was a collection of 264 jokes. One depicts a chatty barber. “How shall I cut your hair” he says to his customer. “In silence” the man responds.
On March 14, 2005, I delivered a paper to The Chicago Literary Club entitled “The Best Medicine” http://www.chilit.org/Petersen4.htm The paper delved into this history of humor. But it also discussed the healing power of humor. It works. And can help. A great deal. . . . .
During the French Revolution, 3 noblemen – a priest, a lawyer and an engineer – were condemned to die on the guillotine. As noblemen, they were afforded one final courtesy of rank. That of choosing whether to die face up – or face down – on the guillotine.
The priest was led up the steps where the black-hooded executioner stood. “How do you wish to die, face up or face down,” said the executioner. The priest thought, looked up and said “I wish to die face up – so I may see the heavens one last time and meet my maker face to face.” With that the priest was placed into the guillotine and the executioner pulled the rope. The heavy blade fell swiftly – but an inch above the priest’s throat, the blade screeched to a stop. It was jammed. Under French law, if someone was spared death on the guillotine, he was a free man. So the blade was raised and the priest walked away — free.
Then the lawyer was led up the wooden steps. “How do you wish to die – face up or face down?” The lawyer quickly looked up and said “Ohhhh I too want to die face up to see the heavens one last time and meet my maker face to face.” The lawyer was put into the guillotine and the executioner pulled the cord. Whoosh! The thick blade sped downward — but just over the lawyer’s throat, the blade came to a halt. And of course under French law, being spared death on the guillotine meant the lawyer was a free man. He hopped up and walked away.
Then the engineer was led up and the executioner asked — “How do you wish to die, face up or face down.” The engineer looked up and said “I too. . . want. . . to die . . . .face up to . . .” He stopped and pointed. “HEEEY! I think I see your problem up there!”
The only time I ever took out a one-iron was to kill a tarantula. And I took a 7 to do that. ~ Jim Murray
The only sure rule in golf is – he who has the fastest cart never has to play the bad lie. ~ Mickey Mantle
Sex and golf are the two things you can enjoy even if you’re not good at them. ~ Kevin Costner
After all these years, it’s still embarrassing for me to play on the American golf tour. Like the time I asked my caddie for a sand wedge and he came back ten minutes later with a ham on rye.
~ Chi Chi Rodriguez
Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the clubs and the fresh air. ~ Jack Benny
Professional golf is the only sport where, if you win 20% of the time, you’re the best. ~ Jack Nicklaus
The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course. ~ Billy Graham
If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf. ~ Bob Hope
If you think it’s hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball. ~ Jack Lemmon
You can make a lot of money in this game. Just ask my ex-wives.
~ Lee Trevino
I can’t take credit for these examples of “lexiphilia” but I can be given credit for selecting the ones that made me laugh the hardest.
I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.
42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.
99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
I feel like I’m diagonally parked in a parallel universe.
I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
Remember half the people you know are below average.
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
He who laughs last thinks slowest.
The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
I intend to live forever – so far so good.
Borrow money from a pessimist – they don’t expect it back.
Love may be blind but marriage is a real eye-opener.
Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
Success always occurs in private and failure in full view.
The colder the x-ray table the more of your body is required on it.
The hardness of butter is directly proportional to the softness of the bread.
To succeed in politics, it is often necessary to rise above your principles.
Mondays are an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
Change is inevitable except from vending machines.
Plan to be spontaneous – tomorrow.
Why are there 5 syllables in the word “monosyllabic”?
So there’s this single guy living at home with his father and working in the family business.
When he found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided he needed to find a wife with whom to share his fortune.
One evening, at an investment meeting, he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her natural beauty took his breath away.”I may look like just an ordinary guy,” he said to her, “but in just a few years, my father will die and I will inherit $200 million.”
Impressed, the woman asked for his business card and three days later, she became his stepmother.
Women are so much better at financial planning than men.
Two large robins were sitting in a tree. It had been raining hard and they were hungry. The pair looked down and there on the ground were dozens of large thick worms. One looked at the other and gave a nod – “let’s go” he said in robin language.
The two flew down and began devouring worm after worm after worm. The sun came out and it warmed. And the pair ate more and more worms until they finished the feast. They smacked their beaks and tried to launch. But the two had eaten so many worms that they could not get off the ground. “Let’s just sit here in the sun and rest” said the one. The other – eyes glazed over nodded in agreement and sat back to rest in the warm sunlight.
Meanwhile a huge alley cat was skulking through the bushes. He saw the two robins and slowly crept — and pounced. He ate both birds with a smile. “I just love baskin’ robins” he thought.
So this guy sticks his head into a barbershop and asks “how long before I can get a haircut?”
The barber looked around the shop full of customers and says “about two hours.” The guy left.
A few days later, the same guy stuck his head in the door and asked “how long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looked around the shop and said “about three hours.” The guy left.
A week later, the same guy stuck his head in the shop and asked “how long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looked around the shop and said “about an hour and a half.” The guy left.
The barber turned to his friend and said “hey, Bob, do me a favor, follow that guy and see where he goes. He keeps asking how long he has to wait for a haircut but he never comes back.”
A little while later, Bob returned to the shop laughing hysterically. The barber asked “so, where does he go when he leaves?”
Bob looked up and wiped tears from his eyes and said . . . .
“Your house!”
So this guy is up delivering a speech to a large group of people. He begins to rant “All lawyers are jerks!” [Or you may select your own epithet]
From the back of the room a guy raises his hand and yells “I really take offense at your words.”
The guy giving the speech asks “are you a lawyer?”
“Absolutely not,” the guy says defensively. “I’m a jerk!”
Lawyers do get a bad rap from the public. In a 2013 Pew research poll, lawyers ranked at the bottom of ten professions. Only 18% of responders felt that lawyers contributed “a lot” to society’s well being. And that’s down from 23% in 2009. In a December 2013 Gallup poll on “Honesty/Ethics in Professions,” lawyers were at the bottom of the list — just above members of Congress, lobbyists and car salesmen. While there are a lot of good lawyers, I tend to think that much of the criticism of lawyers is deserved. We don’t police the profession as we might and. . . . wait . . . shhhh. . . .sorry – gotta run! I hear a siren. . . . .
On March 14, 2005, I delivered a paper to The Chicago Literary Club titled “The Best Medicine.” The paper is a mildly academic study of the history, styles and benefits (even healing power) of humor. See http://www.chilit.org/Papers%20by%20author/Petersen4.htm
Joseph Addison – the 17th Century English writer – said “man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.” Sigmund Freud in his The Joke and its Relation to the Unconscious states that “jokes” release us from traditional inhibitions which make up the veneer of our personalities. Ol’ Sig’s book also contains a host of jokes, puns and one-liners. His book ain’t Planes, Trains and Automobiles but it’s worth a look. . . .
Historically, the earliest known “smile” is etched on the lips of a statue of Ebbeh – a Mesopotamian factotum who lived in 2400 B.C. (Ebbeh now resides in the Louvre). Four centuries later, we enter Biblical times. While there were no Old Testament comedians, the word “laugh” (or “laughter”) makes its debut in the Book of Genesis. When Abraham and Sarah are told they will have a son, both fall on their faces – laughing. Perhaps that is why their son was named “Isaac” which in Hebrew is “He [or God] laughs.” The word “laugh” or its derivations appear 43 times in the Bible (with only 6 of those in the New Testament). The Koran chronicles 16 uses of the word but most relate to the faithful laughing at the inglorious fate of unbelievers. The Veda in Hindu text records the word “laugh” 8 times. In Buddhist tradition, he “Laughing Buddha” was supposedly a real person – a wandering happy Zen monk named Pu-Tai who lived around 1000 A.D.
The first stand-up comedian was Aristophanes (see post of 8/28/11) who was known for his political jabs. He would lurch out on stage smeared with wine playing the Emperor – Cleon. It didn’t go over well with Cleon. . . . . The first joke book was The Philogelos (“Laughter Lover”) “published” in the 4th Century A.D. It was a collection of 264 jokes. One depicts a chatty barber. “How shall I cut your hair” he says to his customer. “In silence” the man responds. Some things don’t change. . . . .
Renaissance Hombre 