2014-07-16 Structure: humor and tipping (misunderstandings)

p. 164 exercise 3
1 I don't know what a pun is.
2 I'm not entirely sure what 'hyperbole' means.
3 I have no idea what the humor of the unexpected happening is
4 I don't have a clue how repetition works in humor.
5 I don't know what the humor of the incongruous situation is.
6 I have no idea how sarcasm differs from other humor.
7 I'm not entirely sure what endorphins are.
p. 167 exercise 4
2 by what you tell
3 yourself if the joke you want to tell is vulgar
4 remember what the key details are
5 Make sure that you have everybody's attention
6 Be certain that you remember
7 The fact that you can remember
8 Whether to laugh at a joke... (no 'if' before infinitives)
(Also: no 'if' when the clause is the subject)
* If you should laugh at your jokes is a question. (wrong)
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I don't know whether    to    laugh.
I don't know whether I should laugh.

I don't know how   to  get to the bank. (much more common)
I don't know how I can get to the bank.

I dont' know whether you should laugh. (can't use infinitive)
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1 A pun is a kind of humor where the similarity between words is used.
2 'Hyperbole' is exaggerating things.
3 The humor of the unexpected is when all of a sudden something unexpected happens, and it's funny.
4 The punch line happens at the end of three repetitions.
5 An incongruous situation is when common things appear in unusual places. (It's a subset of #3.)
6 Sarcasm is often biting and hurtful. ('dry' humor)
7 Endorphins are chemicals in the brain that make you feel good.

Where does Napoleon keep his armies?
In his sleevies.

bare feet / bear feet
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http://waitbutwhy.com/2014/04/everything-dont-know-tipping.html
(article about how much of a tip different workers in New York City expect)

Boston prepared meals tax: 7% (other sales tax: 6.25%)
                     tip: 18% (pretty good, between 15-20)
                         =25%
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Homework: p. 181