# What Makes You Smile? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 4, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340 "2005-02-04T08:20:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/1 "2005-02-04T08:20:36Z")
What puts an involuntary smile on your face, or gives you joy no matter how down you are? For me, it’s: [ul] [li]the title theme to The Great Escape. (I’m not especially an Elmer Bernstein fan, but this just works.)[/li][li]the opening monologue in the film Adaptation.[/li][li]a clear, stary night in the mountains, where the Milky Way is clearly visible.[/li][li]Duane Allman’s slide guitar work in the extended coda in _Layla_.[/li][li]the opening narative in _The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy_ (“Far out in the unchartered backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.”)[/li][li]_Lasagna Angeli_ from [Angeli Caffe](http://www.angelicaffe.com/).[/li][li]the entire film Rear Window, particularly Thelma Ritter’s lines.[/li][li]a nice roaring fire in the fireplace and a glass of Jameson.[/li][li]Porgy and Bess.[/li][li]George C. Scott’s performance in Dr. Strangelove: Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb.[/li][li]just about any P.G. Wodehouse short story.[/li][/ul] What does it for you? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/2 "2005-02-04T14:01:28Z")
In the Pink Floyd song “Us and Them” there’s a part that has people talking. They get gradually unintelligble, and then a guy says “Hey” followed by one of those I’d-give-my-left-nad-to-play-this-well sax soloes. It never fails to make me smile. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/3 "2005-02-04T15:40:22Z")
> [@williamweigand](#): > > In the Pink Floyd song “Us and Them” there’s a part that has people talking. They get gradually unintelligble, and then a guy says “Hey” followed by one of those I’d-give-my-left-nad-to-play-this-well sax soloes. It never fails to make me smile. Yes, this part of the song makes me smile as well…“hey (something, something), if you give him a quick, sh-short, sharp, shove, he’ll never do it again” . . .drivels off something I can’t recall… followed by that great piano/sax bit… the whole album gives me goosebumps if I’m in the right frame of mind. And no that doesn’t mean on an acid trip. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/4 "2005-02-04T15:49:46Z")
A great steak. When my daughter says, “Thank you, daddy” in that super-sweet voice only a three-year-old has. That first gulp of beer after a long day. The second and third gulps as well. Remembering some of the dumb crap my friends and I did years ago. Thinking of when I proposed to the missus - and of our favorite vacation spot (hope we get back there soon; it’s been too bloody long.) ---
**Author:** ![Rock\_n\_Roach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Rock\_n\_Roach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock_n_Roach)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/5 "2005-02-04T16:27:17Z")
Another person’s smile while saying hi in passing. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/6 "2005-02-04T16:32:56Z")
Zygomaticus muscles? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/7 "2005-02-04T16:32:57Z")
Cute little children. Though the smile is bitter-sweet. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/8 "2005-02-04T16:46:21Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > Zygomaticus muscles? Well-crafted, witty answers. ---
**Author:** ![sweetfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@sweetfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweetfreak)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/9 "2005-02-04T16:51:12Z")
The sunrise Warm sand sifting between my toes Watching animals play Star Wars and Star Trek The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind Tom Robbins novels Pizza, chocolate, and all kinds of potato My SO My own creativity ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/10 "2005-02-04T17:34:46Z")
A good movie, book, or favorite song. Friends. Thoughtfulness. ---
**Author:** ![Elret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Elret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elret)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/11 "2005-02-04T17:49:48Z")
Alex, who sits two cubicles down. He’s always in a cheerful mood, and he says the kindest things to people - and he really means it. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/12 "2005-02-04T18:11:37Z")
[This](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/TentacleMonster/c5b5746a.jpg) picture. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/13 "2005-02-04T23:41:12Z")
The [Greatest Picture Ever](http://i.somethingawful.com/goldmine/01-07-2003/Reverend_Sam.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![neisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4bbf92/32.png) [@neisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neisha)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/14 "2005-02-05T00:06:23Z")
An orgasm. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![laurelann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5daacb/32.png) [@laurelann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laurelann)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/15 "2005-02-05T02:59:13Z")
the song “the luckiest” by the ben folds five a kiss on the forehead the smell of popcorn taking part in a great performance friends (in general) the movie and the music of “newsies” ---
**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/16 "2005-02-05T05:59:03Z")
My own stupidity (ie, I was reading the post before mine and thinking newies, my roommate loves that movie. Then I read the poster’s name :smack: , that is my roommate) Hearing Ruby Soho, RENT, anything by Voltaire or some other songs I can’t think of Being at a club and hearing one of the dozen or so songs that gets everyone out onto the floor Seeing a familar, friendly face at work Waking up and not having to get up yet Walking into a home and smelling freshly cooked food Good NMR data ---
**Author:** ![LtningBug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/73ab20/32.png) [@LtningBug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LtningBug)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/17 "2005-02-05T08:57:19Z")
Little kids doing little kid things. Really good bits of music. (Some Pink Floyd, Sarah McLachlan, etc.). The video for Zero 7’s [“In Time”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=273237) (combines both of the above to tremendously great effect). Beautiful women (so much more in the smile than anything else). Beautiful sights (red sunset streaking through clouds that are on fire, big trees swaying in the wind as the clouds roll over). Cheesy romantic comedies (_She’s all that_, _Return to me_). I’ll be sitting there on the couch with a goofy lame grin on my face, wiping it off whenever I realize it’s there on my face. One of my secret shames. ---
**Author:** ![Zonyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zonyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zonyx)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/18 "2005-02-05T15:12:45Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > [This](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v496/TentacleMonster/c5b5746a.jpg) picture. Yep, that did it. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/19 "2005-02-05T15:24:38Z")
[ul] [li]Large gatherings of (non-pigeon) birds on or near the sidewalk when I’m walking around town.[/li][li]Hearing a song I used to listen to a lot after it’s been a long time. Especially if it’s on the radio.[/li][li]The end monologue of _American Beauty_.[/li][li]The introduction of the cast of characters in _The Royal Tenenbaums_.[/li][li]Pirate jokes.[/li][li]Parents being silly with their babies and toddlers.[/li]Thinking of some little thing my BF said or did in the past, or how he’d react to what’s going on around me, or just the way he smiles.[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2005, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340/20 "2005-02-05T15:27:08Z")
Oh, and bad puns. …you’d think I’d spend more time smiling, given all that stuff. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-smile/288340.md?page=2)