Happiness Strategies | How to be Happy

If you haven’t yet taken a tour on the Worldwide Telescope don’t wait another minute to hop aboard for this astonishing experience.

It’s like a best-of clip show from the world’s greatest telescopes, with the images merged into a seamless spatial panascope (I know there’s no such word, but you get what I mean).

It brings to life our humble place in this spectacular universe and ignites our sense of wonder. You can’t be jaded too long watching this.

If you can, Download this TEDTalk in high-def (recommended!) >>

Otherwise, watch the low-def version below:

There’ll be a free download later this year.

I still haven’t gotten over the demise of Borat and Ali G, two characters who brought me great, chunky wads of happiness.

But I think it’s time to mark their passing with a little blog vigil. Two of my passions are science and technology, so this clip where ‘Ali G talks to some geezers about science and techmology (sic)’ seems a fitting farewell.

Even if you aren’t a fan, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better argument for evolution than the one so eloquently made here. And I challenge you not to laugh at the ‘geezers’ as they try to make sense of the yellow enigma that is Ali.

Enough intro. As Ali would say, ‘Can we see the muff please?’

Farewell, yellow-rapper-suited one. Respek.

Technology can be overwhelming and sometimes it feels more like work than a way to save time or improve productivity. But other times you find tools that really do make life easier.

Here are 3 of my favourite (free) downloads:

1. For searching – Desktop Toolbar

Desktop Toolbar is a nifty, movable toolbar that lets you launch searches across a range of categories:

It automatically opens a new tab or window in your browser, goes to the relevant site, and executes the search on the term you typed in. Destinations are customizable to the ones you use most often – so for instance, my toolbar has Google, iTunes, IMDB, FaceBook, Amazon, Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com and Wikipedia.

I keep it open at the bottom of my screen while I’m working on a document or post to launch searches quickly and easily, and minimise it at other times.

2. For blogging – Live Writer

Live Writer is a Microsoft blog writer. It lets you write your post offline yet see exactly how it will look in your blog (WordPress, TypePad, etc). You can create new posts, edit drafts, add tags and categories, schedule posts, insert videos and images and spell-check before you post direct to your blog.

It’s super simple and much nicer than working in the blogging software.

Formatting options are poor, but the other benefits make up for this frustration.

3. For downloading – LeechGet

I’m not exactly a power-downloader, but I do get the odd thing and I find LeechGet a handy tool. It’s especially good for capturing those elusive MP3s that open a new window and start playing without providing a download option.

The personal edition is free. But if you want support, updates and the ability to download more than one file at a time, you’ll need to register for LeechGet Premium.

Got a favourite download of your own? Please feel free to share it by making a Comment – the link is just above the next post down.

“What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?”
From the film High Fidelity, based on the novel by Nick Hornby

Of course the misery follows the music, Rob! It’s SISO – sadness in, sadness out. You ingest misery, and you give your brain lots of negative stuff to process.

I used to listen to sad songs and let the melancholy move me – just as I used to read earnest, but usually depressing, books (especially Booker Prize winners and short-listers) and watch serious-minded films with pointlessly tragic endings. And I used to feel very sad. Way sadder than I feel these days with my generally gloom-free diet. There’s a lot of genuine tragedy in the world that should be faced. But for me, I’ll have my pop culture misery-free, thanks.

If you’re looking for a dose of feel good music video, here are my three faves. (You can view them from my vodpod at the bottom of the sidebar.)

No Rain (Blind Melon).
I just love love love how the little tap-dancing outcast finally finds the place where she belongs. How many of us take off the bumble bee outfit and quit dancing instead of enduring the blank stares and persevering in expressing who we are? I totally identify with that little girl. She’s one of my role models.

Digging in the Dirt (Peter Gabriel)
OK, so if you’re halfway through and watching decaying bodies and angry family holidays you may be questioning my sanity about now. But stick it out and you’ll see how the pain of life eventually gives way to something better. The final image [HEAL] is my favourite.

Teenage Dirtbag (Wheatus)
If the third-act turning point of the girl asking the boy to an Iron Maiden concert doesn’t melt your stone-cold heart, then I hope you’ll at least appreciate the subtle wit of using fruit for percussion. A flash of genius, wouldn’t you say?

iPac (named Xac)
I take this everywhere. It’s my diary, to-do list, address book and post-it pad. It’s old now and no longer available, but I’m waiting for HP to bring out a mobile PDA using Windows on a 3G network (Optus?) before I upgrade. I’ve added SPB Pocket Plus, which makes it look way pretty and allows one-handed navigation. I’ve also set it up for one-click to record audio memos (which, although a great idea, I never seem to do) and another to open a new note (which I do all the time – think I’ll do one now: another goal list, perhaps?). I feel like producto-Girl. Just need a geeky cape.

iPod (named Xiggy)
I have a black 30G video. I rarely use the video, but I’m pretty much at capacity with music and podcasts. I listen to podcasts whenever I’m doing brainless stuff – making the bed, brushing my teeth, loading/unloading the dishwasher, doing errands. I feel like I learn heaps without taking any time out of my day.

Laptop (named Xander)
I’ve had my XPS for about a year. It helped me write my thesis on happiness last year and it’s helping me turn that into a book this year. It’s like the perfect amanuensis – assisting me to plan, executive and review all my projects. Apart from Microsoft Office (love 2007), Word (so don’t love2007 – have they dummified it?) and OneNote, I use iTunes for music and podcasts, LeechGet for downloads, SPSS & AMOS for stats analysis and I have a mindmap program that I won’t mention because I think it’s overpriced and overfunctioned.

These are my 3 amigos. Just looking at them and thinking of all the good times we’ve shared makes me smile. Now where’s that cape?