Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle viewed laughter as “a bodily exercise precious to health.” But 1 some claims to the contrary, laughing probably has little influence on physical fitness. Laughter does 2 short-term changes in the function of the heart and its blood vessels, 3 heart rate and oxygen consumption. But because hard laughter is difficult to 4, a good laugh is unlikely to have 5 benefits the way, say, walking or jogging does.

6, instead of straining muscles to build them, as exercise does, laughter apparently accomplishes the 7. Studies dating back to the 1930s indicate that laughter 8 muscles, decreasing muscle tone for up to 45 minutes after the laugh dies down.

Such bodily reaction might conceivably help 9 the effects of psychological stress. Anyway, the act of laughing probably does produce other types of 10 feedback that improve an individual’s emotional state. 11 one classical theory of emotion, our feelings are partially rooted 12 physical reactions. It was argued at the end of the 19th century that humans do not cry 13 they are sad but they become sad when the tears begin to flow.

Although sadness also 14 tears, evidence suggests that emotions can flow 15 muscular responses. In an experiment published in 1988, social psychologist Fritz Strack of the University of Würzburg in Germany asked volunteers to 16 a pen either with their teeth—thereby creating an artificial smile—or with their lips, which would produce a(n) 17 expression. Those forced to exercise their smiling muscles 18 more enthusiastically to funny cartoons than did those whose mouths were contracted in a frown, 19 that expressions may influence emotions rather than just the other way around. 20, the physical act of laughter could improve mood.

The ethical judgments of the Supreme Court justices have become an important issue recently. The court cannot 1 its legitimacy as guardian of the rule of law 2 justices behave like politicians. Yet, in several instances, justices acted in ways that 3 the court’s reputation for being independent and impartial.

Justice Antonin Scalia, for example, appeared at political events. That kind of activity makes it less likely that the court’s decisions will be 4 as impartial judgments. Part of the problem is that the justices are not 5 by an ethics code. At the very least, the court should make itself 6 to the code of conduct that 7 to the rest of the federal judiciary.

This and other similar cases 8 the question of whether there is still a 9 between the court and politics.

The framers of the Constitution envisioned law 10 having authority apart from politics. They gave justices permanent positions 11 they would be free to 12 those in power and have no need to 13 political support. Our legal system was designed to set law apart from politics precisely because they are so closely 14.

Constitutional law is political because it results from choices rooted in fundamental social 15 like liberty and property. When the court deals with social policy decisions, the law it 16 is inescapably political—which is why decisions split along ideological lines are so easily 17 as unjust.

The justices must 18 doubts about the court’s legitimacy by making themselves 19 to the code of conduct. That would make rulings more likely to be seen as separate from politics and, 20, convincing as law.

As many people hit middle age, they often start to notice that their memory and mental clarity are not what they used to be. We suddenly can’t remember 1 we put the keys just a moment ago, or an old acquaintance’s name, or the name of an old band we used to love. As the brain 2, we refer to these occurrences as “senior moments.” 3 seemingly innocent, this loss of mental focus can potentially have a(n) 4 impact on our professional, social, and personal 5.

Neuroscientists, experts who study the nervous system, are increasingly showing that there’s actually a lot that can be done. It 6 out that the brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental 7 can significantly improve our basic cognitive 8. Thinking is essentially a 9 of making connections in the brain. To a certain extent, our ability to 10 in making the connections that drive intelligence is inherited. 11, because these connections are made through effort and practice, scientists believe that intelligence can expand and fluctuate 12 mental effort.

Now, a new Web-based company has taken it a step 13 and developed the first “brain training program” designed to actually help people improve and regain their mental 14.

The Web-based program 15 you to systematically improve your memory and attention skills. The program keeps 16 of your progress and provides detailed feedback 17 your performance and improvement. Most importantly, it 18 modifies and enhances the games you play to 19 on the strengths you are developing—much like a(n) 20 exercise routine requires you to increase resistance and vary your muscle use.