The Sweet Smell of ... Happiness?

Part Two

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But does happiness precede and encourage success? The evidence for that came primarily from dozens of longitudinal studies, which tracked changes in people's lives over time.

One of these studies focused on 30-year-old college yearbook photos. Researchers assessed each photo for what experts call "Duchenne smiles" -- a certain play of facial muscles that only occurs during truly happy, unposed smiles.

"Only very, very good actors can fake them," Lyubomirsky said.

"In these yearbook studies, women who showed Duchenne smiles when they were in college had happier marriages by age 52," she said. In another study, college freshmen tested as very happy in college made more money 16 years later, she said. Other longitudinal research mirrored these results.

Why might happy folks be rewarded with success?

According to Lyubomirsky, "they're feeling more confident, optimistic, more energetic," all of which are attractive qualities. In fact, studies consistently find that when people appear happy, total strangers rate them as sexier, too.

"They're also more sociable, and sociability is really important," the researcher said. "You get out there, you like people more. And people are more motivated to work with, and be friends with, happy people."

The new review should help change psychologists' view of the happiness/success relationship, said James Maddux, professor and director of the clinical psychologist training program at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Va.

"It pulls all the research together in a very compelling way," said Maddux, who specializes in the study of "positive psychology."

He and Lyubomirsky agreed that "happy" doesn't mean empty-headed cheerfulness. "The research isn't saying that happy people are naive Pollyannas, and it's not saying that being happy is incompatible with -- on occasion -- being critical and cynical, sad or angry," he said. "That's just part of being a healthy, emotionally well-rounded human being."

More mysterious is why some people -- even as infants -- are naturally happier than others. DNA is the most obvious answer. "Based on the research, there's a general conclusion that between 50 to 70 percent of the variation in people as to their level of happiness over time is genetically determined," Maddux said.

That doesn't mean genes are destiny when it comes to happiness and success, however.

STP & VR

Good Morning Satchland.....HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

A little humour to get you started on your day......

A 2nd grader asked her mother the age-old question, "How did I get here?"

Her mother told her, "God sent you."

"Did God send you, too?" asked the child.

"Yes, Dear," the mother replied.

"What about Grandma and Grandpa?" the child persisted.

"He sent them also," the mother said.

"Did he send their parents, too?" asked the child.

"Yes, Dear, He did," said the mother patiently.

"So you're telling me that there has been NO sex in this family for 200 years?

No wonder everyone's so damn grouchy around here."

Rob310...thanks alot....it's very appreciated!

Le Gato

Blue Moon

NIce geetars , left handed guitars are gr8 . Infact one of the ways 2 sound like Hendrix is 2 turn the pickups on a left handed guitar upside down !

Hey people wots hapnin out in satch land 2day . I am currently trying my best 2 avoid 2 assignments due in in the coming 2 weeks .

u wont make any1 sad by posting . Jus gotta let us know how u feelin sumtimes ? I know , read Zinc Masters jokes they'll cheer u up!

peace .

Gigot

Good afternoon fellow satch fans....

not long to go for me finnish work in 40 mins.....

Happy New year to all if i dont get on here befor then....

Greetings Joe!

I'm here to propose a merger of the minds!

BIOWARE (makers of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights, Jade Empire, etc.) are making an RPG set in the 24th century in the Milky Way galaxy...

The game is called MASS EFFECT ( http://masseffect.bioware.com/ ) and I've been on the forums at their site talking with some of the developers trying to get some of your songs, especially from the CRYSTAL PLANET album onto the soundtrack.

The game with its wicked setting and scale would be a perfect fit for some Satch! It's supposed to ship in late 2006 so there is still time to get set it up!

Sony spyware settlement pending

DEAL ON FLAWED ANTI-PIRACY MEASURE INCLUDES REPLACEMENTS, DOWNLOADS

NEW YORK - A proposed settlement of lawsuits against Sony BMG Music Entertainment would let consumers receive free music downloads to compensate them for Sony including flawed software on millions of CDs, lawyers said Thursday.

Lawyers said the deal requires the world's second-largest music label to stop manufacturing compact discs with MediaMax software or with extended copy protection or XCP software that could leave computers vulnerable to hackers. The proposed settlement was submitted to U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Wednesday. A judge is expected to decide in January whether to tentatively approve it.

According to terms of the settlement, Sony BMG will let consumers who bought the CDs receive replacement discs without the anti-piracy technology and will let them choose one of two incentive packages.

The first package allows consumers who bought XCP CDs to obtain a cash payment of $7.50 and a promotion code allowing them to download one additional album from a list of more than 200 titles.

The second package permits them to download three additional albums from the list. The court papers said Sony BMG would try to offer Apple Computer's iTunes as one of the download services available to the consumers. Those who purchased MediaMax CDs would receive additional compensation to allow them to download non-content-protected versions of music on their MediaMax CDs and to download one additional album.

Elizabeth C. Pritzker, a lawyer for the consumers, said the settlement provides for the compensation to be paid out beginning as early as mid-January, even before final approval of the deal is granted by the court.

In a statement, Sony BMG said it was pleased to have reached the agreement with the plaintiffs and added that it looked forward to the court approval process.

Sony BMG began including MediaMax on some of its discs in August 2003 and introduced XCP in January. Both software programs limited the number of copies of a disc that a user can make.

Beginning in November, more than 20 lawsuits were filed after a computer-security research specialist a month earlier traced a hidden software program on his computer to an XCP disc he had purchased and installed, the settlement papers said.

According to the court papers, the software program made the user's computer more susceptible to unwanted intrusion from third parties and effectively disabled any firewall and anti-spyware protection programs previously installed on a computer.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott also had sued Sony. The company has said it has provided consumers with a one-click ``uninstall'' application that lets them remove MediaMax from their computers. MediaMax was loaded on 27 Sony BMG titles, including Alicia Keys' ``Unplugged'' and Cassidy's ``I'm a Hustla.''

Pritzker said as many as 20 million CDs containing MediaMax were sold.

The label recalled the discs with XCP in November and released a way to remove the files from users' computers. Some 4.7 million CDs on 52 Sony BMG titles had been made with the technology and 2.1 million had been sold.

SO, these G3 thingies. I had the cd of the one with Joe, Vai and Johnson but I didn't enjoy it at all and ended up selling it. Maybe good seeing it on tour but I didn't think it translated too well to cd. I've no intention of buying the latest one with Malmsteen as I've got no time for the guy. His first album is good, but everything else I've heard by him - and the hilarious live DVD I saw of him high kicking and widdling away aimlessly - just made me dislike him intensely. I'm a HUGE Joe fan, and I like some of Steve's stuff, but these G3 things don't seem worth the money for me on cd.

Stevee T

You are welcome for the update.

Mari - The thing with Robert Fripp - He does have a huge following actually and there are many people that would come to see him. I think though that there is a little mismatch between Fripp and G3 and that Fripp fans may not be into Vai and Joe as much. But Fripp does have a dedicated cult following.

Ronnie

A Little Happy New Year's Jig

A little Happy New Year's Jig I whipped up...hope you guy's like it!

Ronnie..... I couldn't agree more on your Fripp comment. Fripp has his following and I love King Krimson. My fav is Disipline. But I don't think he belongs in a G3 enviroment. I saw the G3 with Fripp in Chicago. I didn't recognize him untill Mike Keneally came out and sat in with him. I was bored. Sorry. Now you put Robert in the King Krimson enviroment all of a sudden what he's doing makes sense and I'm entertained. Just my opinion..... great musician....and I repect his talent. Just not G3 material...again my opinion.

SteveeT.......Nice song. I wont be satisfied untill I hear you're signed from a Taxi contribution. I love your music. It's awesome. Happy New Year to ya bro.

Joe....Bless you and your family. Have a safe holiday. Say hey to the band and crew.

Jon..... Thanks again for all you do. Thanks for the chat room fix. Had blast with my lady friends last night...They know who they are. It's between us girls....lol....

On G3: To have Gary Moore play a concert with Joe would be....unbelievable.I,d love to see a full on "get the hairs on the back of the neck stand up" end of gig impro jam live with the 2, to give young shredders something t think about, like FEEL!

Report: Donald Trump Considering Run for Governor

ALBANY, N.Y. - Could Donald Trump's next big project be political?

The New York Daily News, citing unnamed Republicans, reported Friday that Trump, the billionaire real estate developer and TV personality, is considering a run for governor as a Republican.

The report came after Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno on Thursday suggested a big-name candidate could be waiting in the wings to enter the 2006 governor's race on the GOP side.

"When it gets public, you are all going to become excited, interested, and will want to write about it," Bruno said.

Bruno, however, wouldn't name the mystery office seeker and Trump's office in New York had no immediate comment. State GOP Executive Director Ryan Moses said neither he nor state party Chairman Stephen Minarik have had any discussions with Trump about running.

Trump flirted with a possible run for president on the Reform Party ticket in 2000. He has also given money to Republicans and Democrats alike in state races.

Republicans are looking for a candidate with name recognition and money to take on the only announced Democratic candidate, state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer is far ahead of all candidates for governor in the early polls.

Bruno earlier this year successfully urged billionaire B. Thomas Golisano to become a Republican. The owner of the Buffalo Sabres hasn't announced whether he'll mount a gubernatorial campaign for the GOP nod after failing to win election in three attempts as the Independence Party candidate.

Will '06 bring more good news than bad?

USAToday - "Happy New Year" wishes this weekend should have special meaning because 2006 is likely to bring us closer to the legendary "peace and prosperity." But it will be a mixed bag in politics and sports. Predictions for five of the top headlines:

• President Bush declares "victory" in Iraq in mid-year, with sharp troop reductions before the November elections.

• Republicans lose some seats but retain majorities in both the House and Senate.

• The economy and stock market start slow but finish strong, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average approaching 12,000.

• "Stop the Sox" becomes the cry from New York to California, as the Chicago White Sox repeat their World Series championship.

• Notre Dame regains its glory days, finishing the football season rated No. 1.

The surest bet is Bush on Iraq. Keeping most troops in Iraq for now and bringing many home before the election is as premeditated as was his "pre-emptive" invasion in 2003.

That political trick should save the Republican congressional majority next year. But in 2008, if Iraq remains a mess and Osama bin Laden remains at large (both likely), the GOP will lose both the White House and Congress.

While heartland sports fans in Illinois and Indiana will have plenty to cheer about, the curse returns to Boston. The Red Sox will miss the playoffs for the first time in four years.