Walk With the Doc Saturday April 1st, 8:00 am Laughter is Good Medicine April Fool’s Day has a history of being celebrated by fools, would-be-fools, and soon-to-be fools, which likely includes most of us. The origin of the celebration is uncertain but often attributed to mention of foolishness in ‘The Canterbury Tales’ by Geoffrey Chaucer (1392). The origin of the custom is arguable since the setting aside of a day for harmless pranks is recognized in many cultures. In 1931, The Los Angeles Times ran a front- page exclusive reporting that Hamburg scientist Dr. Eugene Lirpa had discovered good health to be caused by bacteria, "Bacillus sanitatis." Sick people were lacking this "germ of health," but they could be cured simply by breathing in the same air as healthy people. In 1957, The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) ran a TV program about people in Switzerland harvesting spaghetti. It was presented as a normal farm with 3-foot long spaghetti. The program was so convincing people called in for information about how to grow it. More than a few gullible souls are believed to have followed the instructions given - “Just, put a sprig of spaghetti in a can of tomato sauce and wait.” In 1976 Patrick Moore, an astronomer of Carl Sagan’s stature, explained in detail how the planet Pluto would be passing behind the earth, causing a gravitational alignment that would temporarily nullify the earth’s gravity. At the appointed time Moore shouted on the airwaves – “Jump!” and most of Great Britain did. The surprise was how many reported feeling a sensation of weightlessness. In 1998, Burger King ran a full-page ad in USA Today, announcing the addition of a new menu item called the left-handed Whopper. Burger King claimed to have rotated all condiments 180 degrees so they would drip out of the other side of the burger. Many ordered the left-handed burger. In 2009, The Swiss Tourism Board released a video that revealed the secret of why their mountains look so clean. It was due to the hard work of the Association of Swiss Mountain Cleaners, whose members daily scaled the Alps, scrubbing the rocks of unsightly bird droppings. Millions of people watched the video, and 30,000 took the online test to determine whether they had what it took to become a mountain cleaner. Need more endorphins rushing in to lift your spirits? A history of memorable April Fool's Day humor as judged by creativity and historical significance might do the trick. A list of the 100 best April Fool’s Day hoaxes was first created in the 1990s. Over the years it's been revised a number of times, based upon reader feedback and ongoing research. If you do nothing else for your health this April Fool’s Day, do have a good laugh and of course don’ t be too mischievous with your pranks. Laughter is good medicine and works instantly. In case you were wondering, this April Fool’s Day walk isn’t a prank. I look forward to having you join me. Nancy Neighbors, MD Influenza Activity Continues Are You Protected? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive an influenza vaccine every year. People 65 years and older are at a greater risk of serious complications from seasonal influenza. It is not too late to get vaccinated – to protect you, your family and friends. Let’s take a walk Date: Saturday, April 1st Location: Jones Family Park (see map) Time: 8:00 am (Meet in front of Yogurt Mountain) Yogurt Mt. is the last store at the end of Valley Bend Shopping Center). If cloudy, bring an umbrella, we walk come rain or shine. Click here for Dr. Neighbors’ 2017 news page |
