Syria Special: To Lighten the Day --- Jokes, Breakdancing, and Assad on Freedom of the Press

It's been a long 10 months for those of us following the crisis in Syria and a far longer 10 months for those going through it. One need go no further than Tuesday's (or any day's) live coverage for the latest reports on dead civilians and on battles between defectors and the regime.

If laughter is the best medicine for this, and EA has three jokes and totally bloodless videos to lift the day.

SIRI AND SYRIA

Fit this under the funny-because-it's-almost true category. As journalists are imprisoned, cartoonists are beaten, and protesters are shot, Samir tries to find out the truth in Syria. As he finds out, there's an app for that...sort of:

DANCING IN HOMS

A lighthearted moment at an enthusiastic rally in Khalidiya in Homs --- actress and activist Fadwa Suleiman leads the crowd, but she is soon joined by a break-dancing Japanese journalist:

ASSAD TELLS A JOKE (WE THINK)

An excerpt from President Assad's speech on Tuesday, in which he explains that freedom of the press exists in Syria --- nobody laughs at the joke, however: