Laughter

Sometimes they say it is the best medicine. And sometimes they are right (whoever “they” are). There are times when people could use a good laugh but simply don’t know where to turn. Now, the internet is an obvious source of nonsensical information that can provide the requisite dosage. But just what should you be looking for? I have listed below several things that generally make me laugh when I need to.

1. Watching people parallel park. I mean, seriously. This is real entertainment. There were times when Hayley and I were travelling in Europe and would sit down somewhere and watch people try to parallel park. No lie. It’s hilarious because most people can’t do it well. They make several attempts and then give up. Shortly thereafter, someone else comes along to give it a go. They too are unsuccessful. Below are links to some clips of people trying to parallel park.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYXbddoVjTY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmKEQ5QEbYU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppcdttEu3tU&feature=PlayList&p=ECC3D0217A36B5B7&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=29

2. Hearing people laugh in slow motion. I have no idea why, but this makes me laugh so hard. I know it’s kind of freaky, but it’s funny nonetheless.

http://www.todaysbigfail.com/view/20090914

http://www.todaysbigfail.com/view/20090829

3. Pranks. Of course, they have to be harmless pranks. But I was thinking this morning about a prank I tried to pull on a co-worker in London. We were nearing the tax filing deadline and had completed all of the returns. Everything was in order and all we needed was the signature of the senior manager. The senior manager was a nervous type which meant it would be even more fun to prank her. So here was the plan:

I was going to have the “final returns” lined up on a table in the conference room. In reality, the returns – with the exception of the top page - were the draft version (with our light blue pencil marks on them); the final returns (without any pencil markings) were in my desk drawer. I would have a cup of hot chocolate with me (it was October and chilly. Plus, the hot chocolate was delicious). After she had signed the returns, I’d put the cup down on the table, reach over to pick up the returns, and “accidentally” spill the cup all over the returns.

It went off without a hitch. Or so I thought. It turns out that another co-worker that was in on the prank had reprinted the returns so there were no pencil markings on them. When the senior manager started to “freak out”, I said “don’t worry, they are just draft”. I then proceeded to flip through to show her the pencil markings. There were none. And I started to freak.

In the end, the prank didn’t work out because my co-worker had told the senior manager and they decided to prank me. I learned it is more fun being on the pranking side than the pranked side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYsq4fqbMG8&feature=PlayList&p=61319F7BF7801323&index=0&playnext=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaPsMjyPMtU&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=61319F7BF7801323&index=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8QzDhKv4lk&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=61319F7BF7801323&index=8

4. The crossbar challenge!!! Most of you won’t find this amusing. I do. There is a weekend soccer show in the UK called Soccer AM. Every week they go to a different team and conduct the “Crossbar Challenge”. The basic idea is that the members of the team try hitting the goal’s crossbar from midfield with a soccer ball. I miss Soccer AM. Fortunately I found the clips below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxwRs7iXk88&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCFUhoftrGc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d80XLE3lJ4A&feature=related
(Note that this one also qualifies for the slow-motion laughter referenced above)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbYIsRaZtmk&feature=related