How to Improve Your Happiness, According to Science – CNET

There are things you can do every day to improve happiness.

By Alison DeNisco Rayome, June 28, 2022 6:36 p.m. PT

man in white crew neck t shirt sitting beside woman in blue denim jacket
Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

In 2014, two psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley, launched an online course with a lofty goal: teaching students how to be happy, through both science and practice, in just eight weeks.

No big deal, right?

The amazing thing: It seemed to work. Thousands of students took the Science of Happiness course (which is still free to audit on edX, a provider of open online courses) and learned about the science of connection, compassion, gratitude and mindfulness. Perhaps more importantly, they also completed a series of simple activities that research suggests increase happiness.

Those who fully participated saw their positive feelings increase each week. They reported feeling less sadness, stress, loneliness, anger and fear, while at the same time experiencing more amusement, enthusiasm and affection, as well as a greater sense of community. During the course, students’ happiness and life satisfaction increased by about 5%. And that boost remained even four months after the course ended (though it’s difficult to fully untangle that result; it could’ve been from doing the activities, the students’ new understanding of the psychology of happiness, or something totally different).

Source: How to Improve Your Happiness, According to Science – CNET

The 10 Best Places to Retire in the U.S., From Denver to Charleston | Condé Nast Traveler

Start planning now.

By Caitlin Morton, June 29, 2022

summer building house roof
Charleston Photo by Paige on Pexels.com

We dream of the day when we can put our OOO notification on forever and settle down in the sort of place previously reserved for vacations. But where to go?

WalletHub recently released its annual Best & Worst Places to Retire list—a ranking of 182 cities across the United States (including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state) based on affordability, activities, quality of life, and health care.

Each of the four metrics took several factors into consideration. “Affordability” looks at adjusted cost of living and taxpayer-friendliness (among others); “activities” looks at golf courses and art galleries per capita; “quality of life” looks at weather and strength of elder abuse protections; and “health care” looks at vaccination rates and quality of public hospitals.

Not surprisingly, Florida continues to prove itself as a retiree hot spot, occupying 4 slots in the top 10. But the list really runs the gamut of geography and demographics. (In case you’re wondering, WalletHub considers San Bernardino, California, to be the “worst” city for retirees, followed by Newark, New Jersey.) 

Read on for this year’s top 10 best places to retire in the U.S. and decide where you’d like to hang your hat…or, more accurately, park your vintage convertible. (Hey, you deserve it.)

Source: The 10 Best Places to Retire in the U.S., From Denver to Charleston | Condé Nast Traveler

Retirement advice from actual retirees, tested in the real world | USA Today

By Catherine Brock, The Motley Fool, June 28, 2022

people on seashore
Photo by Huy Phan on Pexels.com

The best advice you can get about preparing for retirement might be from those who’ve already done it: retirees.

In a new study from the independent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), called Retiree Reflections (PDF), retirees share insights about their past financial decisions and current financial worries like inflation.

For instance, more than two-thirds (70%) of surveyed retirees regret not starting to save for retirement earlier. You might be able to use these insights to improve your retirement plan and head off some financial stress in your senior years.

Read on for three retirement plan action items inspired by real-world experience.

Editor’s Note: Read more, see link below for original item…

Source: Retirement advice from actual retirees, tested in the real world

Americans United: Supreme Court Ruling Is Greatest Loss Of Religious Freedom in Generations – Americans United

Jun 27, 2022 by Site, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

From YouTube…

The U.S. Supreme Court today gutted decades of established law that protected students’ religious freedom, undermining our country’s foundational principle of church-state separation in the landmark Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case. The court ruled 6-3 against the Bremerton School District, which was trying to protect public high school students from a coach who violated their religious freedom by pressuring them to join his public prayers at the 50-yard line at public high school football games.

Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which represents the school district, issued the following statement:

“Today, the court continued its assault on church-state separation, by falsely describing coercive prayer as ‘personal’ and stopping public schools from protecting their students’ religious freedom. It is no coincidence that the erosion of the line between church and state has come alongside devastating losses on so many of the rights we cherish. As that line has blurred, public education, reproductive rights, civil rights and more have come under attack.

Source: Americans United: Supreme Court Ruling Is Greatest Loss Of Religious Freedom in Generations – Americans United

The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America by Thom Hartmann

Posted on Goodreads, Oct 1, 2019

Book cover, Goodreads…

Thom Hartmann, the most popular progressive radio host in America and a New York Times bestselling author, lays out a sweeping and largely unknown history of the Supreme Court of the United States, from Alexander Hamilton’s arguments against judicial review to modern-day debates, with key examples of cases where the Supreme Court overstepped its constitutional powers using the excuse of judicial review, and possible solutions.

Hartmann explains how the Supreme Court has spilled beyond its Constitutional powers in a series of rulings, including how it turned our elections over to American and foreign oligarchs with twin decisions in the 1970s, setting the stage for the very richest of that day to bring Ronald Reagan to power.

Source: The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America by Thom Hartmann

How the Avalanche went from rock bottom to Stanley Cup champions in five years – CBSSports.com

Colorado proved that patience pays off in the NHL

By Austin Nivison, Jun 27, 2022 at 12:26 pm ET • 4 min read

Getty Images

Five years ago, it was hard to imagine the Colorado Avalanche winning much of anything. They were the league’s basement-dwellers.

But then the franchise underwent an impressive rebuild, which was capped off on Sunday night by winning a Stanley Cup.

Let’s examine how they went from the bottom to the top of the NHL.

Exit Patrick Roy, enter Jared Bednar…

Source: How the Avalanche went from rock bottom to Stanley Cup champions in five years – CBSSports.com