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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: humor

humor stories: 43 news summaries

1 - 20 of 43 Stories | 1 2 3 Next >>

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pop culture

 Why We Love Fat TV 

Zaftig reality stars make us feel better about our bulging waistlines: Dumenco

Sep 27, 09 2:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - America's obsession with "fattertainment" has become a form of catharsis for an obese nation, Simon Dumenco writes for GQ. Shows like The Biggest Loser and Dance Your Ass Off were at least ostensibly about getting their contestants in shape. But on More to Love, “the participants... More »

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obesity • obesity epidemic • fat • humor • the biggest loser

 Franken Gets 
 Funny Again 



Senator has crowd chuckling at Iowa fundraiser

Sep 14, 09 8:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - As a latecomer to the Senate this year, Al Franken’s been playing it straight—but he loosened up enough to venture a few jokes at an Iowa fundraiser yesterday, CNN reports. Discussing Sen. Tom Harkin’s new post as head of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,... More »

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Iowa • politics • Senate • comedy • humor • fundraiser • Al Franken • Tom Harkin • comedian • senator

 Website Fires Back  
 at 'You Lie' Rep 




SC Republican accused of sins from beer-spitting to newspaper theft

Sep 10, 09 11:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - A website born overnight fires back at Rep. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican who accused the president of lying, the Huffington Post reports. The site makes shocking accusations consistent with its slogan: “You dissed America, we’ll dis you right the f--- back.” A few gems from... More »

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Congress • Republican • politics • South Carolina • humor • website • health care reform • speech • President Obama • Joe Wilson

OPINION

How Should Wal-Mart Handle Blog Ridicule? Ignore It

No right move on 'People of Walmart' pics of fashion misses

Sep 9, 09 6:09 PM CDT
(Newser) - A wildly popular new blog mocks Wal-Mart and its customers, and encourages others to join in by uploading their own photos and comments. So what should the retail giant do? Nothing, writes BL Ochman in Advertising Age. The site—People of Walmart—isn't “likely to do lasting damage... More »

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social networking • humor • photograph • website • retail stores • Wal-Mart • shoppers • People of Walmart

analysis

'Pull the Plug on Grandma'? That's GOP Policy

Republicans, not Obama, willing to let elderly die off: Weisberg

Aug 30, 09 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser) - Chuck Grassley’s warning that Obamacare will “pull the plug on Grandma” has become a rallying cry for the GOP’s anti–health reform efforts. But looking at past policies, it’s the GOP that's out to get grandma, Jacob Weisberg writes in Newsweek. A wide range of Republican... More »

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Clean Air Act • GOP • humor • Charles Grassley • health care reform • Social Security • estate tax • George W. Bush

COMMENTARY

 Why Facebook Booted My Baby 


Aug 21, 09 5:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Joel Stein’s 3-month-old son Laszlo wasn’t a model Facebook citizen—“he threatened to pee on some, cut others,” and would routinely comment “I’d hit that” on other babies’ photos—but that’s no reason to kick him off the site, right? Turns out Baby... More »

MORE ABOUT:
social networking • Internet • Facebook • humor • baby • Joel Stein • terms of service • underage

(Newser) - Those convinced that health care reform is just a step away from invading Poland may enjoy a new website devoted to certain undeniable comparisons between Adolf Hitler and one Barack Obama, reports Gawker. Obama Is Literally Hitler shows how encouraging greener cars, holding giant political rallies, and holding beer summits... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Adolf Hitler • humor • Third Reich • Nazism

sunscreen overkill

 A Guide to SPFs, From 4 to 233 

Honestly, is 100+ really necessary?

Aug 3, 09 1:26 PM CDT
(Newser) - The development of SPF 100+ sunscreen has led to confusion for some consumers—or at least that's Zev Borow's excuse for a tongue-in-cheek guide to the wide world of sun protection, in the New Yorker:
  • SPF 4: “You’re joking, right? This is some kind of joke?
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
health • humor • sunscreen • Jay-ZTV

(Newser) - What’s so great about “Three Wolf Moon,” a T-shirt that’s shot to the top of Amazon’s sales chart? Let top reviewer B. Govern explain. “Pros: Fits my girthy frame, has wolves on it, attracts women. Cons: Only 3 wolves.” That review went viral,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Internet • humor • Amazon • viral marketing • t-shirts

(Newser) - One minimum-wage worker farts on a salami sandwich, and suddenly the president of Domino's is issuing a public apology? “This is the world turned upside down,” writes Garrison Keillor in the Chicago Tribune. In the actual world, the salami fart is nothing. “The night manager just says,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
YouTube • brands • fast food • humor • Domino's Pizza • pizza • Garrison Keillor

 Colbert Fights 'Gay Storm' 


Apr 17, 09 11:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - Stephen Colbert has taken up the cause against gay marriage, the Huffington Post reports. A recent web ad from the National Organization for Marriage—which apparently was serious—featured a “rainbow coalition” of actors solemnly declaring, “A storm is coming.” That, and New York's move toward legalizing... More »

MORE ABOUT:
television • gay marriage • satire • humor • Stephen Colbert • National Organization for Marriage



 No Joke: 
 Funny Guys 
 Score With 
 Women 

Study shows women think humor equals intelligence

Apr 1, 09 8:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - Go ahead and play that April Fool’s Day prank, guys: Women are attracted to funny men and think they're smarter than sourpusses, a new study shows. Though humor is not actually linked to smarts, “women use humor as an indication of a guy’s intelligence,” said the... More »

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study • sex • humor • love • romance

Congo Con Joins Madoff Victims' Chorus ... Sorta

Standard 'foreign investment' scam email made it past US Attorney's office

Mar 23, 09 3:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - The federal prosecutors collecting testimonials from victims of Bernard Madoff for the judge slated to sentence him don’t appear to have been too discerning, Josh Marshall reports for Talking Points Memo, after a standard-issue “African businessman” spam email made it into the pile. And though the promised $3.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fraud • email • spam • humor • sentencing • Ponzi scheme • Bernard Madoff

opinion

 Book of Tweets Is No Big Feat 

Gawker writer calls out colleague for effortless idea

Feb 26, 09 9:35 AM CST
(Newser) - It takes very little work to put together a book nowadays, Gawker's Ryan Tate observes. He slams former colleague Nick Douglas for collecting a five-figure fee to "write" Twitter Wit, a book of his favorite tweets. Douglas retorts: "Reading a thousand jokes is like watching five hours of... More »

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social networking • Internet • humor • Gawker • Twitter • book deal • Bill Maher Grid

Obama Roasts DC's Starstruck Elite at Dinner

Celebuprez surprised to see Palin 'palling around with this crew'

Feb 1, 09 10:00 AM CST
(Newser) - Washington's elite came out for one of its swankiest events last night, but even political royalty got slightly starstruck by new crown prince Barack Obama, reports Politico. The new prez regaled some 200 DC bigwigs at the Alfalfa Club with a speech that roasted friends and rivals, including Sarah Palin,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Joe Lieberman • BlackBerry • humor • Rahm Emanuel • Washington, DC • Sarah Palin • political elite • President Obama • Alfalfa Club

super bowl

 How to Be a Super Heckler 

Start by doing your homework, and be sure to get loud

Jan 30, 09 2:02 PM CST
(Newser) - Sunday’s the last chance to get your heckling in this NFL season, and Eddie Matz of ESPN the Magazine has timely tips on getting the most bang for your buck:
  • Do your homework. Knowing a key statistical weak point or personal peccadillo can get you inside your
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
NFL • Super Bowl • football • humor • Super Bowl XLIII • sports fans • heckling

 Physics Fuels Santa's Magic 

Nanotechnology, space-time distortions enable Christmas miracles

Dec 15, 08 4:15 PM CST
(Newser) - New research has shed light on the amazing ability of Santa Claus to deliver presents to children around the world in a single night, Reuters reports. Santa is able to distort the space-time continuum, says a North Carolina State expert: "He understands that you can stretch time, compress space... More »

MORE ABOUT:
humor • physics • holiday • Christmas • gift • Santa Claus • nanotechnolgy

ANALYSIS

 How Comedy Turned Serious 

A funny thing happened on the way to the election—politics and comedy swapped roles

Nov 29, 08 7:53 AM CST
(Newser) - Politics and comedy are trading places, Lee Siegel writes in the Wall Street Journal, as the antics of politicians get more outlandish and comics are increasingly the people speaking truth to power. Fake newsmen like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, with their stern commentary, lean more towards the "... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • comedy • humor • Jon Stewart • The Daily Show • fake news • Stephen Colbert • Late Night • The Colbert Report • comedian

Iman Crosson for Prez...
on SNL: Bloggers

Should he be Fred Armisen's replacement?

Nov 27, 08 12:09 PM CST
(Newser) - The race to find a new comedian to impersonate president-elect Barack Obama on Saturday Night Live continues, reports ABC News, and bloggers such as Andrew Sullivan and Anovelista have the man for the job. Meet Iman Crosson, whose Obama imitations can be found on his YouTube AlphaCat channel. More »

MORE ABOUT:
Saturday Night Live • Barack Obama • politics • parody • humor • Andrew Sullivan • comedian • Fred Armisen • impersonator • Iman Crosson

(Newser) - Lolcats are as funny as their fans believe, but it's the sadness of this kitty sub-genre that makes them special, Jay Dixit writes in Salon. On Icanhascheezburger.com, which attracts millions of hits a month, lolcats yearn and comfort each other, inspiring a teary eye in us human visitors. There... More »

MORE ABOUT:
satire • humor • LOLcats • nerdiness • animal • geeks

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