March 28, 2012 by darin

Laugh Your Blessings

In some of the world’s most dangerous, politically-stifled geographies — from Azerbaijan to Russia — activists are using comedy to say publicly what would otherwise be unspeakable.

In all the recent debates about whether social media was responsible for movements like the Arab spring or the Tea Part [sic], we’ve forgotten that sometimes humor matters more than the straight news and information, especially in closed media environments. Those who have the ability to make fun of their leaders have the ability to lead a free life in many more aspects.

Here are six key examples from around the world to demonstrate how satire can move the needle on difficult issues that are otherwise unmovable.

December 7, 2011 by darin

Pronoiac Pranks Are Good Medicine

Improv Everywhere: The shared experience of absurdity. Bizarre, hilarious, and unexpected public scenes that bring people together.

Charlie Todd causes bizarre, hilarious, and unexpected public scenes: Seventy synchronized dancers in storefront windows, “ghostbusters” running through the New York Public Library, and the annual no-pants subway ride. At TEDxBloomington he shows how his group, Improv Everywhere, uses these scenes to bring people together.

August 3, 2011 by darin

I Told You There’s a Conspiracy to Help You

On any given day, the average person’s life is entrusted to more than 2,000 different people who are complete strangers.

The report, which shows how any one of these anonymous individuals making a single mistake can easily cause another person’s death, concluded that it is only through sheer luck that anyone ever makes it through a 24-hour period alive.

April 21, 2011 by darin

Fight Back Against the Sober-Minded Oppressors

Funniest women on the planet?

In honor of International Women’s Day and the upcoming Women In Comedy Festival in Boston, we wanted to put together a list of some of our favorite female comedians. The only problem is we ran out of time to add the couple hundred more we wanted to include. So, we admit that this list is by no means complete. Nevertheless, we hope it puts a little bit of a damper on the notion that funny women are few and far between. As you click through, you’ll see some faces you recognize as well as, possibly, a lot that you don’t. But all are worthy of your immediate attention.

March 30, 2011 by darin

Innovative Healing Strategies

Finally, a Cure for Homophobia?

During a widely publicized press conference at the Boston University School of Medicine Friday, researchers announced a breakthrough new technique that cures homophobia by immersing patients in a large glass tank overflowing with gays. “Rather than avoid one’s fear of homosexual men, we believe it’s crucial to face it head on,” behavioral psychologist Dr. Dolph Kleineman told reporters…

September 29, 2010 by darin

Healing Through Maniacal, Lustful Laughing

Association For The Betterment Of Sex

Shouldn’t we all be laughing more while we have sex? (May not be safe for work))

Sex has notoriously been a difficult, dare we say “touchy,” subject to discuss, so for generations there have been guidebooks about human sexuality such as the classic “Our Bodies Our Selves.” Now, from writer Mike Sacks (McSweeney’s, Vanity Fair) and his comedy-writing group “The Pleasure Syndicate”, consisting of Scott Jacobson (“The Daily Show”), Todd Levin (“The Tonight Show”), Jason Roeder (The Onion), and Ted Travelstead (Esquire) comes “Sex: Our Bodies, Our Junk,” a humorous sexual guidebook for the 21st century.