Random stupid things on your mind. Post them.

[FightTheFuture]

Mister, I have no idea what you're talking about - none whatsoever. No sir, no way, nohow do we know anything about humping camels here, let me tell you. Or two girls and one anything.

Jubilation spread throughout the land, as the people's faith in that sublime state of old foginess was once again restored to it's rightful place.

[Nucky Nolan]

Look back.  Dare ya' to read those posts for more than ten real minutes without a break...

Oh, I've reads tons of tasteless jokes. I just wouldn't whack a guy for tossing word salads.

[Treading Water]

Oh, I've reads tons of tasteless jokes. I just wouldn't whack a guy for tossing word salads.

Ha ha ha ha...Point taken.   

[Flaxen Hegemony]

It is a bullshit study. Happy isn't quantifiable. Stability is. Safety is. I have a client that is happy whenever he has cocaine. What does that mean? It means happy, if the only measurement, is a poor target to judge anything of relevance.

Is happy a goal? sure sometimes, but at other times abstaining from pleasure can be much more healthy.

I am not saying a discussion over children isn't worthwhile. I am saying the study is hardly worthwhile. It is more of the same crap that existence has to be about one aspect of mood. If only life were that simple.

Sorry to pull a thread from a few days ago - just catching up on reading.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Onan.  Not only is happiness quantifiable, it is one of the most measured variables in all of human psychology, right up there with motivation.  Granted, it is usually more complex than a single concept, and I think this was one of the other points you made.  A lot of theories partition happiness by areas of life - e.g., satisfaction with work, life, self, relationship, etc. - and happiness in one dimension has no implications for another.

[onan]

Sorry to pull a thread from a few days ago - just catching up on reading.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one, Onan.  Not only is happiness quantifiable, it is one of the most measured variables in all of human psychology, right up there with motivation.  Granted, it is usually more complex than a single concept, and I think this was one of the other points you made.  A lot of theories partition happiness by areas of life - e.g., satisfaction with work, life, self, relationship, etc. - and happiness in one dimension has no implications for another.

Please tell me what happiness is? I can give you contextual situations where one may be happy. But describing happy is kind of like describing the taste of salt.

I think those in marketing look for a tangible happy but I doubt the depth of such a search. I think many in management attempt to measure a level of stability in their employees which is often called job satisfaction. But I don't find that to be a substantive understanding of what we believe to be happy.

I am trying very hard to stay away from metaphysical arguments and it is leaving me hard pressed to explain my point.

Yes, I agree there are happy people. But you use the term variable which by definition is at most a target area with no specific point. And now I get into the ethereal... bleh. I guess we will just disagree.

[HorrorRetro]

I happened to glance up today and saw a person rappelling down a building in Seattle today.  No idea why.  But I think it turned into a really cool photo.  I love the person coming down the building, the jet, and the security camera. 

[b_dubb]

that's not a man rappelling down the side of that building. it's a weather balloon. go about your business. nothing to see hear

[Flaxen Hegemony]

Please tell me what happiness is? I can give you contextual situations where one may be happy. But describing happy is kind of like describing the taste of salt.

I think those in marketing look for a tangible happy but I doubt the depth of such a search. I think many in management attempt to measure a level of stability in their employees which is often called job satisfaction. But I don't find that to be a substantive understanding of what we believe to be happy.

I am trying very hard to stay away from metaphysical arguments and it is leaving me hard pressed to explain my point.

Yes, I agree there are happy people. But you use the term variable which by definition is at most a target area with no specific point. And now I get into the ethereal... bleh. I guess we will just disagree.

Oh, I absolutely agree that two people will describe "happy" in different ways.  It is an emotion-laden word by its very nature.  I was just speaking to a scientific definition.  If you were to ask me "what is happiness?", I would say "a high score on a reliable and valid scale of generalized positive affect".  Whether that's an ideal measure of "happiness" is a fun discussion, but it would be objective and quantitative. 

(Admittedly, social scientists often give terrible measures a free pass just because they are an objective number.  The history of "intelligence" measurement is a good lesson in this regard.)

Sorry for any grammatical errors.  Hurry-posting.

[Juan]

For me, happiness is the absence of saudade.  In English, I guess the best word is melancholy. Typical musician.

[onan]

For me, happiness is the absence of saudade.  In English, I guess the best word is melancholy. Typical musician.

I can take two people give them the exact same situation and their responses will be different. How different depends on their experiences and context. I am tired of splitting hairs in this discussion. The original post had to do with whether having children affected the happiness of respective parents. One day it will another it won't. One family will be happy and another won't.

Bringing the discussion to a specific definition although interesting probably won't fit into the parent/children/happiness study. Since having children implies a great deal of time, measuring happiness would be very difficult to plot along a straight line. So is happiness for this study at a specific time or is it when children are grown and the parent is entering a generative time of life? To add, how does one separate other life factors out of this happiness study?

Yes put me on a amusement ride and I will be happy... you can measure my happiness. But tomorrow I may not measure the same. Take 10,000 people and measure them, and yes, you will get a number and it will be accurate. Accurate for what I am not sure.

[ItsOver]

I happened to glance up today and saw a person rappelling down a building in Seattle today.  No idea why.  But I think it turned into a really cool photo.  I love the person coming down the building, the jet, and the security camera. 

That IS a very nice photo.  Looks like the drone "jet" is about to penetrate a dreaded chemtrail. 

[HorrorRetro]

That IS a very nice photo.  Looks like the drone "jet" is about to penetrate a dreaded chemtrail. 

Thanks.  It looks better and has more detail when you view a larger version of it.  I have the color version of it as well, but I prefer the starkness of the B&W.  Here is the person coming down the bldg. closer up.

[jazmunda]

Australia is home to an estimated one million feral camels.

And an estimated 2 billion Cane Toads that were brought in to eradicate the cane field pests in the 30s but have since become an even bigger pest that is starting to kill off native animals.

http://travel.cnn.com/sydney/visit/cane-toad-invasion-reaches-south-and-north-communities-fight-back-027094

[Usagi]

I happened to glance up today and saw a person rappelling down a building in Seattle today.  No idea why.  But I think it turned into a really cool photo.  I love the person coming down the building, the jet, and the security camera. 

Meant to mention that I like this photo, too.  Nice job.  Last week I was dealing with some window washers who repel off the sides of the buildings just like that.  Those dudes were lean and mean.  Four of them, kicking off each side of the building, knocked out a mid-rise in one day.  This person... I don't know.  Looks like she's taking a break.  Perhaps regretting her decision? 

[HorrorRetro]

Meant to mention that I like this photo, too.  Nice job.  Last week I was dealing with some window washers who repel off the sides of the buildings just like that.  Those dudes were lean and mean.  Four of them, kicking off each side of the building, knocked out a mid-rise in one day.  This person... I don't know.  Looks like she's taking a break.  Perhaps regretting her decision? 

Thanks!  I've since found out it was a charity event for Special Olympics.  People who raised $1000 had the option to go down the building. There was a story about it on KOMO a few days ago. 

[ItsOver]

Thanks!  I've since found out it was a charity event for Special Olympics.  People who raised $1000 had the option to go down the building. There was a story about it on KOMO a few days ago.

What?  That's nice it was a charity BUT the reward was the option to GO DOWN THE BUILDING???  I think I'd rather have the sole option of keeping my two feet on the ground. 

[ItsOver]

Please tell me what happiness is? I can give you contextual situations where one may be happy. But describing happy is kind of like describing the taste of salt....

Happiness is listening to Art Bell.  Misery is listening to a wannabe Elvis impersonator pose as a talk show host.

[onan]

Happiness is listening to Art Bell.  Misery is listening to a wannabe Elvis impersonator pose as a talk show host.

Well sure, if you want to go for the easy answer.

[ItsOver]

Well sure, if you want to go for the easy answer.

I held off for as long as I could, 'O. 

[HorrorRetro]

What?  That's nice it was a charity BUT the reward was the option to GO DOWN THE BUILDING???  I think I'd rather have the sole option of keeping my two feet on the ground. 

I think it looks kind of fun.  I've never done anything like that, but I'd like to. 

[ItsOver]

I think it looks kind of fun.  I've never done anything like that, but I'd like to. 

Go for it!  Just be very careful.  I'm still too traumatized by the opening tragedy in "Cliffhanger." 

[stevesh]

I don't ride a bike anymore, but if I did, I'd definitely get some of these lights. Better than a playing card in the spokes.

http://imgur.com/sQ4qGlq

[Eddie Coyle]

I'm still too traumatized by the opening tragedy in "Cliffhanger." 

        Stallone's acting in that film put me in therapy.

[stevesh]

From a Rolling Stone article on student loans - truer words ...

"For this story, I interviewed people who developed crippling mental and physical conditions, who considered suicide, who had to give up hope of having children, who were forced to leave the country, or who even entered a life of crime because of their student debts. ... Because the underlying cause of all that later-life distress and heartache â€" the reason they carry such crushing, life-alteringly huge college debt â€" is that our university-tuition system really is exploitative and unfair, designed primarily to benefit two major actors. First in line are the colleges and universities, and the contractors who build their extravagant athletic complexes, hotel-like dormitories and God knows what other campus embellishments. For these little regional economic empires, the federal student-loan system is essentially a massive and ongoing government subsidy, once funded mostly by emotionally vulnerable parents, but now increasingly paid for in the form of federally backed loans to a political constituency â€" low- and middle-income students â€" that has virtually no lobby in Washington. Next up is the government itself. While it's not commonly discussed on the Hill, the government actually stands to make an enormous profit on the president's new federal student-loan system, an estimated $184 billion over 10 years, a boondoggle paid for by hyperinflated tuition costs and fueled by a government-sponsored predatory-lending program that makes even the most ruthless private credit-card company seem like a "Save the Panda" charity. Why is this happening? The answer lies in a sociopathic marriage of private-sector greed and government force that will make you shake your head in wonder at the way modern America sucks blood out of its young."

[onan]

From a Rolling Stone article on student loans - truer words ...

"For this story, I interviewed people who developed crippling mental and physical conditions, who considered suicide, who had to give up hope of having children, who were forced to leave the country, or who even entered a life of crime because of their student debts. ... Because the underlying cause of all that later-life distress and heartache â€" the reason they carry such crushing, life-alteringly huge college debt â€" is that our university-tuition system really is exploitative and unfair, designed primarily to benefit two major actors. First in line are the colleges and universities, and the contractors who build their extravagant athletic complexes, hotel-like dormitories and God knows what other campus embellishments. For these little regional economic empires, the federal student-loan system is essentially a massive and ongoing government subsidy, once funded mostly by emotionally vulnerable parents, but now increasingly paid for in the form of federally backed loans to a political constituency â€" low- and middle-income students â€" that has virtually no lobby in Washington. Next up is the government itself. While it's not commonly discussed on the Hill, the government actually stands to make an enormous profit on the president's new federal student-loan system, an estimated $184 billion over 10 years, a boondoggle paid for by hyperinflated tuition costs and fueled by a government-sponsored predatory-lending program that makes even the most ruthless private credit-card company seem like a "Save the Panda" charity. Why is this happening? The answer lies in a sociopathic marriage of private-sector greed and government force that will make you shake your head in wonder at the way modern America sucks blood out of its young."

Thanks, for the article.

I don't see all that many people considering suicide due to school loans. But I do work with several advanced level mental health professionals and many of them are under financial water to such a degree I do worry about them. Many times working two full time jobs to make ends meet.

I work with one doctor almost exclusively. He has been practicing now for almost a decade and still has a huge debt to repay.

Now that interest rates are even higher... well it can't be fun.

Considering that other countries have much lower fees... it does make one say WTF?

[Marc.Knight]

Thanks, for the article.

I don't see all that many people considering suicide due to school loans. But I do work with several advanced level mental health professionals and many of them are under financial water to such a degree I do worry about them. Many times working two full time jobs to make ends meet.

I work with one doctor almost exclusively. He has been practicing now for almost a decade and still has a huge debt to repay.

Now that interest rates are even higher... well it can't be fun.

Considering that other countries have much lower fees... it does make one say WTF?

Especially when new MDs and other doctors from Canada and India are flooding the US employment market.  They have little or no debt due to government funded education and get paid the same as an American MD with +300k in school debt. 

[guildnavigator]

I am looking forward to Art's new program.

[PB the Deplorable]

Chubby Checker to sue HP

http://www.examiner.com/article/chubby-checker-suing-hp-over-the-chubby-checker-penis-measuring-app

[aldousburbank]

Happy isn't quantifiable. Stability is. Safety is. I have a client that is happy whenever he has cocaine. What does that mean? It means happy, if the only measurement, is a poor target to judge anything of relevance.

My thoughts- While doing my work (I love what I do), mostly moderate to heavy physical labor, I face exhaustion, hunger, melancholy, sometimes depression.  Also, I experience a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of health, joy, and sometimes absolute ecstasy. What makes the diff?  I dunno but if forced into a corner for an answer, I would say that my happy is directly related to my feeling connected.  Connected to what?  Myself, the land, the family, the moment, and/or something beyond the temporal; something more macro than I.

[Treading Water]

Aldous!!   
Welcome back.  Missed you.