Here ya go, GGGG....

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the light side of life.
[whistle]

If life seems jolly rotten,
There's something you've forgotten,
And that's to laugh and smile and dance and sing.
When you're feeling in the dumps,
Don't be silly chumps.
Just purse your lips and whistle.
That's the thing.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
[whistle]
Always look on the right side of life,
[whistle]

For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word.
You must always face the curtain with a bow.
Forget about your sin.
Give the audience a grin.
Enjoy it. It's your last chance, anyhow.
So,...

Always look on the bright side of death,
[whistle]
Just before you draw your terminal breath.
[whistle]

Life's a piece of sh**,
When you look at it.
Life's a laugh and death's a joke it's true.
You'll see it's all a show.
Keep 'em laughing as you go.
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And...

Always look on the bright side of life.
Always look on the right side of life.
[whistle]

Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]
Always look on the bright side of life!
[whistle]

Repeat to fade...

As shax says, Open up your heart and let the sunshine in. Now I believe that that Sunshine is a real Being......my only real hope.

Thanks for the smile

yeah...too much sun will kill you and not enough will kill you,too. lol

Thanks for the lift...now I am back on the horse and charging again...

I will let the Sun shine in my heart, as I do believe that is the greatest hope, thanks again!

This is Human Ecologist - Gardengardengardenga(rden) charging through life!

Last week Science Friday had a hopeful guest in the first half of the show, Dr. Jerome Groopman, author of The Anatomy of Hope,Â. In an article linked on the SciFri website, he makes a distinction between optimism & hope.

"An optimist says, "Everything is going to work out for the best." In fact, in life, that is often not the case. True hope is clear-eyed. It does not make that assumption. It sees all of the problems, all of the difficulties that lie ahead, and through those obstacles it finds a possible realistic path to a better future.

When that happens, several things happen. First, by having information and clear vision, you are able to make the best choices for yourself. No guarantees, but the best choices. Second, it triggers a set of chemical changes in the brain and in the body. I didnÂt invent this. I found this out by interviewing some of the top neuroscientists and experimental psychologists in the country. ItÂs in the end of the book, in a chapter called "Deconstructing Hope." When a patient finds true hope, itÂs very different than optimism.
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4269238/)

Gggg, I think this means you can be pessimistic but still hopeful.

GGG, I'm astonished the DN! editors don't just go and commit suicide. Actually not really, remember that the editors make a conscious decision regarding what news stories they post as is the case with all news organizations. I read the NYT's, the Washington Post and Lew Rockwell every morning so I don't get suicidal, just frustrated.

I find Amy Goodman a great comfort. Sure, the news is often bleak, but I haven't found a better analysis of current events or a better selection of guest commentary anywhere. I listened to Al Franken's show for awhile which runs opposite DN! here, and suffered DN! withdrawl.

I read my local paper, NYTimes & slashdot every morning.

Air America Radio really keeps my spirits up.They bring many of the same stories as DN! (& much more, since they're on 24/7), but leavened w/ a wicked sense of humour >= )

Amy Goodman's been on too - & she was actually joking around.

Shows have message boards too - designated as 'blogs'.

You can stream it on the net......

HTH

Part of it is probably that we are living in the information age, when we can know in minutes, what's happening around the World. When you are constantly opening yourself up for bombardment with negative crap from around the world, it will skew your view, so to speak. Also, this time of year, declining sunlight affects some individuals by altering neurotransmitter activity in the brain (ask me, I know from experience), altering your moods and sometimes even your perception. Turn the TV and the radio off. Spend more time with your family and outdoors. Don't take things perrsonally, especially since most things are not personal. Read uplifting books, or watch light-hearted movies. Try to realize that you can't carry the world's burdens on your shoulders, nor should you try. If you can just handle your own little corner of the universe, you are doing just great.
Mrs H

I have been following Amy for a few years now, and I do appreciate what she has to offer,too.( She attended the same college that I did, a very small school which only offers one degree...human ecology! I did not know of her while I was in attendance, but have discovered her from radio) She does seem to do her job well with such harsh topics to keep on top of. Keep it up, Amy and Crew!
Also, I do read the NY Times, the Boston Globe, The Bangor Daily and our local town paper at least once a week or more often. I really avoid the main stream TV channels and radio.

Carol, thank you for your links. I spent alot of time reviewing all of them. :)

Awfully good advice, Mrs. H. Once I dragged myself out of a period of chronic depression by following similar advice.

Mrs H,

wonderful advice that does not at all apply only to Winter/less sunlight.
I haven't had TV for 16 months and boy!, I'm missing nothing (except the occasional cricket match :>(
but I do have my sound system and music is my greatest mood lifter!

Wanna buy a hardly used TV set?

Regards,

Shax

Amen to that Shax.

Yes, I confess that I am an American who doesn't watch t.v. (I think there are about 20 of us).

I might turn on mine for a Nova or play a good vcr tape. Rarely otherwise.

One-time watcher

Mrs H...we must of cross during our postings,

I have thought about staying away from all mass media for awhile and try to focus on winter sowing and my kids right now. Great advise from all.

I may be depressed with information overload as suggested. OK ok my corner of the world- is gonna be one heck of a beautiful place and happy with the celebration of life.

I dont even have a tv in my house here and will try to refrain from bringing one into my home as long as DH will cooperate. He's usually fine until playoffs!lol:)

The world has always had it troubles, thanks for putting this all in perspective for me!

You all are the best!

I'll go light up some Cheer now!

Confession: I've started reading Lew Rockwell's site of all things. No further comment at this time.

LOL!

Hoot! Isn't it refreshing to read often literate and well reasoned commentaries even those with which you disagree?

GGGG, watch the newz on "The Daily Show" with John Stewart, it still can't change the bleakness of the newz but it sure can frame it very funny at times. But unfortunately it's only on cable.

What's wrong with TV? It's just radio with a picture ;o). I confess to just buying an HDTV for Xmas. Sure there's way too much crap on TV, no debate from me there. But there's also very informative networks like:
The Science Channel (my #1 fav)
The History Channel
The Discovery Channel
The Learning Channel
The Do-It-Yourself Channel
PBS
C-Span
Sci-Fi Channel (among others) for entertainment

Also I do keep up with all the various news networks like PBS, The Big 3, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, and yes, even FOX.
There's a lot of newz sources out there, you just have to sort thru all the spin to zero in on the meat.
Since we don't have any kids this may be easier for us, esp at night during the winter when it's dark & cold and there's not much to do outside after 5pm. My job involves peering thru a microscope a good part of the day so my eyes are too weary for readings at nite....lame excuse I know but it's a good rationaliztion for a questionable habit ;o) vgkg

I agree. LR has some very compelling commentary - much that gives me pause to think. I also like being surprised by off the beaten track commentary on history, economics, food, and culture.

It sure is Marshall!

Even the contributions I don't find particularly well reasoned are at least entertaining. For example, I noticed a distinct lack of women's names on the bylines, (not meaning to start a gender war, just curious) so I did a little research and found that question had already been addressed by the site.

Mantra shared by a close relative (part of her personal way of starting each day):

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift -
that's why it's called The Present!

Works for speakers of English, at least...

For off-online funnies, second John Stewart - it's fun just to find out what he makes funny, and to find how others find it funny.

A good one, Stitches.

I like it stitches!

Had to share this news from my local paper, in case anyone thinks Garrison Keillor is writing fiction.

Held at gunpoint, victims ask robber: 'Are you hungry?' Chuck Haga, Star Tribune December 22, 2004 Herb Bloomquist had just brought firewood into the house when a young man stepped through the front door. "That's not all that uncommon," said Bloomquist, who lives a few miles south of Motley, Minn., with his wife, Debbie, and their 5\-year\-old daughter, Anna. "We're a pretty open community," he said. "But he was holding a gun." As the man ordered them to the floor, bound them and stole their money, the Bloomquists had a singular response. "My wife kept offering to feed him," Herb Bloomquist said. "She asked him, 'What do you need? How can we help you? Are you hungry? Can I fix you a meal?' "We decided that's the Scandinavian default mode," he said, chuckling. " 'You're in trouble, so we'll feed you.' " Luke Daniel Johnson, 23, from nearby Staples, was in a Brainerd hospital Tuesday recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered as he tried to flee authorities who wanted to question him about the robbery, which happened Friday. Bloomquist, head of a church group that has a youth camp on Lake Shamineau, wants to talk again with Johnson, too. "I hope and pray we have an opportunity to continue this relationship we've started," he said. "If we can get him out of whatever he's stuck in, whatever made him do this, he won't do it again. We're going to tell him everything we know about Jesus." Johnson, who has not been charged, was flown to St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd Monday after a police chase across Cass and Wadena counties. The chase ended when the suspect drove onto a field in Cass County, stepped from the pickup truck he was driving and approached officers while holding a gun. He was shot by one of the pursuing officers. "He suffered at least one gunshot wound," Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher said. A spokesman at St. Joseph's said Tuesday that he could not release any information on Johnson's condition. "He hasn't been formally charged and the \[robbery\] complaint hasn't been drafted yet," Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel said. "Right now, he's arrested for fleeing in Cass County, and Wadena County also has a probable\-cause hold for a separate burglary. So we're not in any big hurry." The Bloomquists' truck had been found abandoned in Alexandria, but another truck was stolen there and spotted Monday near Pequot Lakes by an off\-duty deputy, Fisher said. "He followed him in his private vehicle, using his cell phone to coordinate" with other officers. Officers from 12 jurisdictions were involved in the 45\-minute chase, which extended into Wadena County and back to Cass and ended about 5 p.m. Monday, Fisher said. He wouldn't identify the officer who shot the suspect because the incident remains under investigation. No officers were hurt. Of the Bloomquists' concern for the suspect, Fisher said: "You have to admire people who are willing to turn the other cheek like that." Herb Bloomquist said it took several seconds before he and his wife grasped what was happening. "He kept telling us to get on the floor," he said. "He must have thought we were the dumbest people in the world because we just stood there. The robber wanted money. "Between the two of us, we had $26," Bloomquist said. "He could have picked a better house. We work for a nonprofit." The man cut their phone line before he left in their pickup. "We untied ourselves as soon as we heard the truck leave," Bloomquist said. "We jumped in another vehicle, drove to the camp and called police." Herb Bloomquist said that he and his wife lock their doors now because of the robbery. "But if someone comes to the door, what do you do?" he asked. "You're going to open it and find out what they need." Authorities have told him that they expect the suspect to recover from his wounds and that they want to talk with him then. If he is tried for armed robbery and convicted, Herb Bloomquist said, "There's going to be some prison time, and he's going to need somebody to stay in contact with."

Global warming will cure it self. If all goes as they say the culprits will all be gone.