Laugh Hard, Die Young

As per Intelligent Life magazine, chortling too hard may shorten your time on the planet:

"One popular field of research is the effect of humour on health, which is widely assumed to be positive. The results so far are inconclusive, and slightly disturbing for anyone who likes to laugh. Rod Martin points out that if humour is good for health, then it should be associated with longevity. Yet it appears that cheerful people live less long than their gloomier peers, perhaps because they are too jolly to worry about their aches and pains. It may be true, as the proverb says, that he who laughs last laughs longest. But it seems that he who laughs longest does not last."

Well, that's as may be. But who are you going to believe -- a bunch of "doctors" or Eric Idle? Because I'll take the less-scientific and more Python-esque approach every time:

"For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow."

So which theory do you accept?

My long-suffering spouse has agreed to play "Always Look on the Bright Side Of Life" at my wake -- so you know where I stand.

Love, Rabbit