Happiness: New, easy formula

I got a pamphlet today, from the mysterious, local body that sends pamphlets. It was about saving the environment and it was printed on non-recycled paper. Worse than that, all it did was say we were not recycling and provided no solution whatsoever. I’d wager that whoever wrote it is quite proud of themselves for having done something good and praise-worthy. But apart from giving me something to recycle, I really don’t think it’s helped anybody. Sure we have to educate the masses, but what good is knowing that I should separate my paper and plastics if when the garbage truck pulls around, there’s only on hole to chuck it in?

Credit Unknown

I’ve always hated the phrase Ignorance is bliss. ‘Cause sure, it is, but it’s not dependable, lasting happiness. But in my years of meditation (read doing close to nothing) I have, in fact, worked out a formula: true, unquestionable, undeniable, eternal, immortal happiness. And the answer, is happiness.

Trust me on this. The simplest way to be happy, is to be happy. And really, it isn’t hard.

It does not for a second mean ignore your problems and they’ll go away, or blame someone else and you’ll get away free. It’s more a process of acceptance: satiated comfort and sunshiny warmth that advertising tries to sell you in a bottle. Since however, you aren’t going to just believe me on this, let me quote the Dalai Lama on problems:

That’s beyond our control. It happen. So then, our attitude should be realistic. Bad things happen. It’s reality. Beyond your control. Not too much worry, it’s self torture. Accept reality, have this fact. So there is one explanation, from a 8th century buddhist master, in India. He explains:

If some tragic things happen, then think. If there’s way to overcome that, then, no need worry. Make effort. If the tragedy, no way to overcome, then don’t worry. No use worry.

So, that’s much better. Realistic.

So why did I start with the garbage story? Because they’re trying to spread the blame, make more people responsible, so it’s harder to fix and you can try and convince people that they truly can make a difference. Bullshit. Worse than that, is people who say “you litter here, but if you go to a foreign country, you won’t litter there…”. Of course I don’t, it’s really hard to little when there’s a trash can every 25 metres! The government has accepted responsibility for a problem that is wholly theirs, and… wait, I lost track of the happiness argument.

Ignorance: bad.
Being happy: good.

PS. I’ve categorically avoided making this spiel in the first month of the year when everybody is busy making and breaking resolutions. So, if the new year gusto has worn off, sit down, and be happy.

Tax, Politics and why God killing kittens isn’t helping

I’m disappointed in the way the world works. Logic and clarity seem to give way to dogmatism and fanaticism far too easily. And we don’t even see the fights waiting to be fought. So much is wrong, but acceptance of mediocrity seems an established convention. It shows in the music and movies we make, in the conversations we have, and the subjects the news aims to follow. We’ve started to believe the fight is over, and this is as good as it gets; that visionaries are a thing of the past. Idealism has given way – this is how things work and if there is a better way, it was lost to drugs and rock and roll in the sixties.

I’m going to do the nerd thing and compare life to software and design. When we start, fresh, with clarity of idea and a concrete direction to head in, we are straight and true in our intentions and criticism is constructive. Then there’s the pinnacle. You don’t see it, but this is where everything has balanced perfectly; it’s right on the nose. And the client hasn’t realised it. Apparently it’s ‘almost there’ and just a couple of changes will make it perfect. And this is where it all goes wrong – the elementary purpose has been trampled in the barrage of tweaks: little things drawing focus away from the big picture. And like dominoes, everything collapses, slowly at first, but gaining momentum like a wild fire – making its way into all the other parts. No amount of adjustments can fix this. And you see it. You’re disheartened but have no words left. You can see there’s no saving this, and deadlines and budgets encroach and all you can do is blindly obey and hope it all goes away soon.

Where does life come in?

I’m sure the constitution was written with clarity, and a handful of additions where required got things fitting into place right. And then… the onslaught of control freaks wanting to turn people to sheep. From what I can see, it’s worked. The grit and bite that we keep hearing about from the sixties has been replaced by a flood of conformity. Simply because we can’t be arsed anymore.

We need blanket change. We need to rethink things at their very base; shit, maybe even rethink governance systems.

Tax got me started because I’ve recently had to start thinking about it. And now I’m hearing about ways to reduce the tax I pay. Fuck that! I have no problem paying tax if I see where that money goes. I’m willing to pay 200 bucks to see a movie, 300 for a great meal, 2000 for a pair of shoes, even 30,000 for a phone – because the benefits are visible and transparent; because I’ve been advertised to, and the personal gains are obvious. Paying to have a street to drive on, a nation to live in and the freedom to be gainfully occupied in a profession of my choice seems a no-brainer.

But tax doesn’t feel that way. The impression I get, and I’m sure I’m not alone, is that the government wants to take my money. And the harder I work, the more of it they want to take. What the fuck is going on?

My rant stops abruptly because Zepplin, Hendrix, Floyd and Cream have lead into Stones and Dave Mathews and I’m back at peace, but what do you think? Are we destined to wallow in self pity until war or some other natural disaster forces an enormous change (Watchmen?), or is there hope?

Cleaning Up the Clutter Online – Pogue’s Posts Blog – NYTimes.com

Read about this from David Pogue, who said this…

Readability has changed my life.

It’s a new button on your Web browser’s toolbar. With one click, it eliminates EVERYTHING from the Web page you’re reading except the text and photos. No ads, blinking, links, banners, promos or anything else.

via Cleaning Up the Clutter Online – Pogue’s Posts Blog – NYTimes.com.

Incredible Idea. So simple in it’s reasoning. I really have very little to add but, try it. If you read anything online, and hate how painful it sometimes becomes, this is for you.

It’s a bookmarklet, so it’s always there, and easy to use, and works on [any] browser that runs javascript (which is pretty much everything).

http://lab.arc90.com/experiments/readability/