At the very least, it should add to the sources of innocent merriment already available to the observing citizenry.

BBC: Planning for the future

Normally, I would tell a joke, but I'm told that we have to get out of here pretty soon and I have a longer than usual talk, so you'll have to suffer the absence of any merriment here because the tidings I bring in my talk are very grim indeed.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Norman Podhoretz receives the Center's Mightier Pen Award

There are intimidating fugal choruses, sublimely extended operatic arias, frenzied instrumental interludes, weird chords galore, episodes of almost irreverent dancing merriment.

NEWYORKER: The Book of Bach

The subject of Ms. Harris's merriment: those rare souls who actually recognize her by name, no less.

WSJ: Cultural Conversation: Harriet Harris Loves Playing Bad Girls

Amid the merriment and the information exchange, the adolescents develop eyes for one another, in view of their elders and peers.

NEWYORKER: Looking for Someone