The Climate Fixers

Here's the link to the article in The New Yorker that I mentioned in class this morning:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/05/14/120514fa_fact_specter?currentPage=all 

Enjoy.

Can Money Buy Happiness?

I was intrigued by today's conversation in lecture about whether money could buy happiness.  I come from an affluent town in southern California where one could argue that most of the residents never need to truly worry about money.  I was amazed growing up by how many children, who could have almost anything money could buy, seemed so unhappy with life.  Their unhappiness seemingly stemmed from perceived body issues, fitting in the high school social structure, or most commonly love.  The absence of money may cause happiness but the presence of money cannot buy or guarantee happiness. 

Why were these rich, smart, beautiful young adults set on being unhappy?  I am not sure.  Maybe the norm is for humans to be unhappy.  If we are always happy and content with life, what reason is there to strive for more?

Would You Steal Hitler's Wallet?

A friend found this interesting thought experiment online. Not sure what the source is, but it does raise some questions about desert and morality.

Spiritual But Not Religious

I just found this article online about being spiritual but not religious. It's the author's point of view that basically labels this type of ethical reasoning as wrong. I found it a little off but that's just me, check it out...

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/29/my-take-im-spiritual-not-religious-is-a-cop-out/?hpt=hp_c2