By Holly Berman

Chuck Colson — Watergate felon, born again culture warrior — thinks we need more laffs, and after more than four decades of growling threats, warnings, and what might very charitably be called “tough love” at the world, he means to provide them. Like that time he and his assistant dragged a stuffed bear into a buddy’s hunting cabin? Ha! All right, take a breath and pull yourself together. Because Chuck is as serious as Christ on the cross. “If anyone had cause for being a bit down, it was Jesus. His was no easy life, facing satanic opposition and human scorn.”

But Jesus turned his frown upside down, says Colson, with the only thing funnier than hunting cabin humor — puns! Did you know that in Aramaic, the words for camel and gnat are almost identical? Oh, Jesus, please stop — you’re killing us! But seriously, folks, there’s a message here: after decades of preaching a gospel of free market fundamentalism and personal accountability — and decrying any systemic attempt at market regulation as interference with God’s invisible hand — Chuck “Chuckles” Colson is responding to the collapse of the economy with a prescription for the best medicine of all, laughter.

In days like these, it’s hard not to get a sour expression—or to succumb to stress. And too much stress, as you know, is harmful to the health. One surefire way to reduce stress is laughing—which reduces stress hormones, stimulates the immune system, and helps stabilize blood pressure. In fact, one medical expert says laughing 100 times a day has the same cardio benefits as a 20-minute aerobic workout!

I believe, Chuckles! So here’s 100 laffs for the health — a giggle per every 10,000 jobs lost in recent months.

Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha! Ha-ha!