Eugene Byrne's blog

In this week's Friday funny, journalist and author Eugene Byrne tells the story of the Coolidge Effect, a term used by biologists and psychologists to describe a particular behavioural phenomenon in mammals, and one named after a former US president

The story

The Coolidge Effect is a term used by biologists and psychologists for a behavioural phenomenon common to most species of mammal. The sexual activity of both males and females increases when they are introduced to a new and receptive partner.

In this week's Friday funny, journalist and author Eugene Byrne looks at an amusing urban legend much beloved of engineers, and frequently used in management seminars because of its powerful moral about overcomplicated solutions.

The story

In the 1960s, the story goes, NASA realised that astronauts would need a special pen for recording data, instrument readings etc. when in space. This pen would have to be capable of writing upside-down, in zero gravity, and in extremely high and low temperatures.

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a historical joke about one of England's most famous court jesters, King James I and a religious controversy in 17th-century England, and investigates the story behind the humour.

The joke

King James I was complaining that one of his favourite horses was too lean. He swore upon his soul that he could see no reason why it should not be as fat as any other horse in the land. It was well-fed, well-kept, and he did not ride it hard.

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a historical joke published in an American joke book in 1916 about Marcus Alonzo Hanna, a once colourful figure in American politics, and takes a look at the story behind the joke.

The joke

Mark Hanna was walking through his mill one day when he heard a boy say: "I wish I had Hanna's money and he was in the poorhouse."

When he returned to the office the senator sent for the lad, who was plainly mystified by the summons.

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a British left-wing historical joke dating back to the 1960s, based on antipathy to Max Aitken, First Baron Beaverbrook, and investigates the story that lies behind the joke.

The joke

In the deepest recesses of Hell there is a special pit of boiling oil reserved for the special torment of the greatest liars in history.

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a political joke about Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1964–1982, and investigates the joke's history and meaning.

The joke

In late 1982, an elderly woman walks up to one of the guards at the Kremlin in Moscow.

"I'd like to see General Secretary Brezhnev," she says.

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a historical joke about a social activist in Edwardian England, and takes a closer look at the impact such people had on the lives of the poor, and how the role of the 'do-gooder' was often ridiculed by the rest of society.

The joke

In Edwardian times, the charitably-minded wife of a London magistrate thought it would be a nice gesture to invite poor children to Sunday tea. She contacted a vicar in the East End and asked him to send her one child each week.

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a historical joke with a moral message about the holy man Nasreddin Hoca, thought to have lived in 13th-century Turkey. Eugene takes a closer look at the legends surrounding both the story and Nasreddin Hoca himself.

The joke

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a historical anti-establishment joke popular during the 1980s about an East German Communist leader and his mistress, and takes a look at the history behind the laughter

The joke – popular in the 1980s

It is 1989, and East German Communist leader Erich Honecker is hosting a dinner for a large number of party officials. His mistress is sitting next to him.

"Erich," she whispers in his ear, "please open the border with the West."

In this week's blog, journalist and author Eugene Byrne shares a historical joke popular during the 1970s about the Christmas wish-lists of the British, Chinese and French ambassadors, and investigates the story behind the humour

The joke – heard on a TV show during the 1970s