The earliest recorded joke in human history is about flatulence, made thousands of years ago by the Sumerians. This joke showcases how humans have always found crudeness funny. Flatulence and general toilet humour have been found as a common element in jokes across cultures and time periods. Martha Bayles posits that this is the case for fart jokes because flatulence shows our “uncontrollable physicality”, and because farts — a universal bodily function — represent equality. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
