Mariannes Motifs

Money Can't Buy Happiness, But it Helps

I was just reading the April 2010 issue of Women's Day magazine, and there was a good page about the relationship between money and happiness.  Some really good point they made are to consider if what you spend your money on fosters relationships with the people you care about.  The quote they use is "experiences make us happier than stuff."

They also not that one of the most important things money can help buy is a sense of security.  So when you are paying on your credit card debt, or contributing to your savings account you should remember that this will bring you future happiness and security.

Money can't buy happiness, but it can sure help give you a secure environment to work on the rest of what really does bring happiness - relationships, experiences, security, etc.  And as they taught me in business school, cutting costs effects the bottom line the same as increasing sales.  So when you go out and find a deal on discount auto insurance, it may just help make you happier.

Is It Possible To Be Content?

The grass is greener on the other side of the fence, right?  It's human nature to want to achieve more.  That is why we have built cities, create art, work for charities, and make inventions and innovations.  However, never really being satisfied with what you have itsn't necessarily going to give you a calm happy life.

Is it possible to be content with what you have, while still striving for more?  I think there can be a balance.  By moderating your ambition and moderating your sense of inertia it you should be able to get to a state of treading water, swimming, treading water. 

I would like to be happy where I am and live in the moment a lot more than I do.  I don't always want to be thinking about what is not perfect in my life, but to enjoy the imperfect but great set of circumstances I have.

People with straight hair want curls, people with curly hair want straight hair.  Slim people are shopping at www.weightgainsupplement.org and chunky people are looking for weight loss solutions.  Again, its just human nature.  But wouldn't it be nice for one day to just look in the mirror and feel like you are alright just the way you are?

Service for Pets "Left Behind"

Many people in the U.S.—perhaps 20 million to 40 million—believe there will be a Second Coming in their lifetimes, followed by the Rapture . In this event, they say, the righteous will be spirited away to a better place while the godless remain on Earth. But what will become of all the pets?

via www.businessweek.com

Gotta love America! This guy in New Hampshire is charging people money for so they can have an Atheist come care for their pets after the Christian biblical rapture.

I am pretty sure, as a Jew, I should also be eligible to make a few extra dollars for anything you need done after the rapture - so let me know.

10 Interesting Facts About WGU

While researching affordable online education, I have come across an interesting school called Western Governers University.  This organization is very young at about 10 years old, but already has amassed quite a list of "firsts."

1.  WGU's teachers college was the first online school to achieve NCATE Accreditation.

2.  WGU is the only university accredited by regional accrediting organizations in four separate regions of the country.  This is because the school was formed by the Governors of 19 different US States.

3.  The distance learning programs of WGU were instrumental in getting Congress to approve government financial aid to be allowed for online education.

4.  WGU also was involved in getting the GI Bill benefits to be able to be used for  an online degree.

5.  One of the 19 Governers to work on the formation of the school is Arnold Schwarzenegger.

6.  Bill and Melinda Gates' foundation is also a major funder ofthe school, along with a larlge number of corporate sponsors.

7.  WGU's competency based program allows students to receive course credit for measurable life and career experience.  This program is even approved for VA benefits.  If you can complete the assignments and pass the exams, you can accelerate your pace and not have to re-learn what you already know.

8.  WGU's online teaching degree is still the only exclusively online school to have NCATE Accreditation.

9.  WGU's tuition is charged by 6 month term and for most programs basic tuition is $2,890 Per Six-Month Term.  At under $6,000 a year it's one of the most affordable options for college out there.

10. You can follow WGU on Twitter at twitter.com/wgu.

Make A Yarn Lampshade

via lifehacker.com

Lifehacker has an interesting set of instructions for making a lamp shade out of yarn. Basically you blow up a balloon, coat it with vasoline, then wrap yarn soaked in white glue around it.

When it dries you pop the balloon (popping things without worrying about any acne scars removal) and wham you have a funky retro lampshade.

I happen to have a scad load of yarn so this piqued my interest. Not sure I would actually make it but its an interesting idea. I bet you could go in some other sculptural directions with this as well...

Like perhaps you could use different shaped balloons and get some sort of vase shape.

4 Simple Principles of Getting to Completion

If your project has been dragging on, or you’re having problems completing, try simplifying, and stop trying for perfection.

via zenhabits.net

I've written before about the paralysis of perfectionism. When you wait for the perfect time, the perfect setup, the perfect funding, the perfect support, the perfect plan... what ends up getting done is nothing at all.

This post from Zen Habits is good because it adds a few more concepts to the "Just Do It" mentality. For example, kill extra features, keep the scope as simple as possible, and make it public quick.

I like the idea of keeping this simple. It is too easy to become overwhelmed by complexity or a set of tasks that is too large to be accomplished in one step. By taking small steps one at a time it is possible to accomplish some pretty cool stuff.

It's like expecting diet supplements to magically make you lose weight.  Or waiting for the perfect low stress time in your life to start a radical new diet.  The best way to accomplish weight loss is a change of your habits in general, and that takes time.  For example, start by giving up soda.  Then move on to cutting down your portion sizes.  Then add in one r two days of exercise a  week.  You get the idea - don't worry about a perfect plan or going overboard with a strict diet that you can't keep up.  Change one lifestyle feature at a time and see where your small steps can take you.

Interesting Slate Article

Decoding the confession of Joseph Stack. - By Dave Cullen - Slate Magazine

I've been thinking about the guy who flew a plane into the Austin IRS building. I have an essay formulating. Some of the themes I would like to explore are the expectation that terrorists are Islamicists and how that relates to the very strong tradition of US domestic terrorists such as the Unibomber, the Olympic bomber, etc.

This Slate article compares the writing from the suicide note left by Joseph Stack, to some of the other domestic terrorists writings. In fact the Author Dave Cullen goes so far as to describe 7 elements of personality that come through the writings of mass murderers. This is based on research he did as part of a book on the Columbine school shootings.

The article is very interesting. It doesn't say what I want to say, but I have to let my thoughts come together.

There seems to be a special flavor of US terrorism based on a sort of anti government militia-inspired paranoia. Each psychopath has their own version, but there seems to be a discernible pattern.

Happy Friday

Well, I made it through the week.  Tomorrow we are going to take the CNN tour with our little cub scout's troop.  That should be fun!  Then two good friends are coming over for dinner.  My friend just got laid off from the company I was laid off from last year.  (They are going down the draiiiiinnnnnn.) Now I have two good friends looking for a job.  I am so sick and tired of this terrible economy.

I think we all need to start our own company.  I have this idea about a company that installs inexpensive solar panel systems on commercial and residential roofs.  Here in Atlanta we have so much natural sunshine which is going to waste if we don't have some panels out there to capture it.  With the prices of solar coming down, some tax incentives in the works, and some nice southern facing roofs out there it makes a lot of sense.

That and I really think Alpharetta needs a 24 hour Denny's restaurant.  Just putting that idea out there in case anyone wants to run with it.  I don't want to run a restaurant, but I just know a Denny's would have a lot of business here as there is nothing in that type of place here except Waffle House.  And really, there's only so much Waffle House a person can handle in this world.

Moview Review - Whip It Starring Ellen Page

Last night I watched the DVD of Whip It.  Starring Ellen Page, of Juno fame, the movie is Drew Barrymore's directorial debut.  It's kind of a cross between Bend It Like Beckham and Juno.

Bliss is a teenager in small town Texas, who's mother is pressuring her into competing in beauty pageants that she frankly has no interest in.  During a shopping trip to nearby Austin she comes across a flier for a Roller Derby event and convinces her friend to attend with her.

Pretty soon she is trying out for, and joining the Roller Derby team the Hurl Scouts.  Lots of hilarious fun ensures, along with some poignant moments.  I won't spoil the viewers fun by going into more detail, as I strongly recommend this movie.  Both my husband and I enjoyed the movie, so its an all around good pick.  It is also fairly PG and suitable for actual high school students to watch.

There's also a great soundtrack to enjoy as you're watching.   And I've got an idea - instead of weight loss products - try roller skating.

Musing On Sundays

For me Sundays take on a bit of a pattern.  The kids will inevitably get a bath.  (I am a firm believer in starting the week of clean and shiny).  As well, I will do the laundry throughout the day and get all my work clothes clean and hanging up for the week and the kids outfits laid out.

Tonight feels like a Sunday night even though it is Monday, because I had the day off for President's day.  As a matter of fact I enjoyed a 4 day weekend.  Bliss!  Careers are important, but there has to be more to life than the hamster wheel of Monday - Friday.  And then when the weekend or long weekend is over, you have to be able to put a smile on your face and give it your best.