Are you happy? A new group in the UK, Action for Happiness, is on a mission to make sure the answer is ‘yes’. The organisation calls itself a ‘movement for positive social change’ and wants to ‘bring together people from all walks of life who want to play a part in creating a happier society for everyone.’ Are you happy? A new group in the UK, Action for Happiness, is on a mission to make sure the answer is ‘yes’. The organisation calls itself a ‘movement for positive social change’ and wants to ‘bring together people from all walks of life...
Carla Bruni has it. So does David Beckham. Forget cultural, social or economic capital. Another type of capital has been causing a stir recently –and it’s erotic. Sociologist Catherine Hakim coined the term ‘erotic capital’ in her book, ‘Honey Money’. The book’s subtitle is: ‘The world smiles at good-looking people, and they smile back’. Carla Bruni has it. So does David Beckham. Forget cultural, social or economic capital. Another type of capital has been causing a stir recently –and it’s erotic. Sociologist Catherine Hakim coined the term...
As the title of a well-known children’s book states, “Everybody Poops”. But while this universal bodily function is a source of endless humour for the book’s target audience, it is one to which the rest of us pay far too little attention. As the title of a well-known children’s book states, “Everybody Poops”. But while this universal bodily function is a source of endless humour for the book’s target audience, it is one to which the rest of us pay far too little attention. Other members of the natural world seem to have a healthy and...
Few weeks ago, the half-year old coalition government in the UK developed a new immigration law and brought it to parliament. Campaigning on a restriction in immigration through an annual cap, the conservatives who rule the coalition introduced this campaign promise, aimed specifically at highly skilled migrant workers from outside the UK. Few weeks ago, the half-year old coalition government in the UK developed a new immigration law and brought it to parliament. Campaigning on a restriction in immigration through an annual cap, the...
If you listen to music business representatives talk, you would think that the music business is in financial peril. They say that illegal downloads of mp3s are destroying the industry while putting artists and thousands of jobs at risk. This all sounds like scary stuff but perhaps we shouldn't believe the hype because, after all, hype is what this business is all about. In fact, at a closer inspection, these broad doomsday statements are actually quite contradictory. In 2009 the industry took in over 1.5 billion euros, which was an increase...
Sarah Palin’s America? It would certainly seem that way, at least right now. The former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential candidate is in the spotlight once again. With a new reality television series, aptly titled Sarah Palin’s Alaska and a new book America by Heart, the former governor certainly seems to be hinting at a run for presidency in 2012. Sarah Palin’s America? It would certainly seem that way, at least right now. The former governor of Alaska and Republican vice-presidential candidate is in the spotlight once...
How far is too far? Do celebrities, politicians and even the Royal Family have a right to privacy? These are just some of the questions being asked throughout the UK as investigations continue to reveal a web of devious undercover reporting and questionable connections to the new government. How far is too far? Do celebrities, politicians and even the Royal Family have a right to privacy? These are just some of the questions being asked throughout the UK as investigations continue to reveal a web of devious undercover reporting and...
More and more newspaper websites have comment and blog sections where readers can have their say about an article or opinion. But do readers use these sites to join the debate and give a balanced opinion on what they’ve read? Not according to senior journalists in the UK who argue that the ‘Have your say’ sections are often filled with offensive rants. More and more newspaper websites have comment and blog sections where readers can have their say about an article or opinion. But do readers use these sites to join the debate and give a...
Scientists And Buddhists Agree About The Secrets Of Happiness. A new study, this time by Duke University North Carolina, has again confirmed the results obtained by a wealth of previous research. It seems that, by every biological standard, at least, Buddhist monks and those who practice some kind of religious meditation are happier than the average person. Scientists And Buddhists Agree About The Secrets Of Happiness. A new study, this time by Duke University North Carolina, has again confirmed the results obtained by a wealth of previous...
For the past 40 years, renegade architect Michael Reynolds has been developing a technological innovation that could be a game-changer in the growing field of environmental architecture. While green buildings are often associated with the high-tech and cutting-edge, Reynolds’ revolution consists of certain overlooked marvels of modern engineering: dirt , discarded tires, and beer cans. As eco-architect Michael Reynolds proves using tin cans and old tires, sometimes the best ideas are also the simplest ones. For the past 40 years, renegade...
Forget the mid-life crisis - it’s the thirties that are difficult, according to counseling service Relate. At one time, the mid-life crisis was reserved for those in their forties and fifties – it involved buying an expensive sports car or a Harley Davidson motorbike and taking a year off work either to volunteer in India or fulfill a life-long dream of heading a rock group. Forget the mid-life crisis - it’s the thirties that are difficult, according to counseling service Relate. At one time, the mid-life crisis was reserved for those in their...
As people progressively become more and more dependent on GPS to navigate around, are people slowly losing their sense of direction? “We just go over here. Oh wait...hang on...I can't see the Google map...oh and my phone is about to die. Okay, I don't know where we're going." As people progressively become more and more dependent on GPS to navigate around, are people slowly losing their sense of direction? "We just go over here. Oh wait...hang on...I can't see the Google map...oh and my phone is about to die. Okay, I don't know where we're...
Over the last few years, especially in more rural areas in Eastern Germany, the German Democratic Front has been gaining traction in the political sphere. While the main German government has done everything in their power to ban them and while the party has revealed that they do have prejudicial platforms, the party, like many far-right parties across Europe, continues to gain votes and support. Over the last few years, especially in more rural areas in Eastern Germany, the German Democratic Front has been gaining traction in the political...
In the early 1950s as a very young lad in Scotland I was sent a pair of Jeans from an aunt who lived in New York. And so I can be excused for thinking Jeans are of American origin. At that time Jeans were still something new, in fact, I was the only young lad in the street, make that the town, who owned a pair of Jeans. In the early 1950s as a very young lad in Scotland I was sent a pair of Jeans from an aunt who lived in New York. And so I can be excused for thinking Jeans are of American origin. At that time Jeans were still something new,...
More and more women in their thirties and beyond, after marriage and children having had children, are discovering that they are lesbians. Were they always or is sexuality more fluid than we are led to believe? More and more women in their thirties and beyond, after marriage and children having had children, are discovering that they are lesbians. Were they always or is sexuality more fluid than we are led to believe?It could well be the latter. Richard Lippa, professor of psychology at California State University, believes that shifts in...
Early booking… Parlons vrai ! par Michel-Yves Labbé, fondateur de Directours
De nos jours, la tendance est à l’« early booking »... En bon français : réservation à l’avance. Ce qui sous-entend pour les professionnels : longtemps à l’avance, puisqu’une réservation est, par essence, toujours en avance… Les tour operators, les hôteliers, les croisiéristes multiplient les annonces et offrent pléthore de réductions, avantages et autres bonus. Intéressant ou pas ? Jusqu’à présent, l’idée générale chez les consommateurs était de jouer la dernière minute. Ces « early booking » sont-ils seulement une technique marketing pour contrer les effets de la dernière minute ? A contrario, de véritables aubaines ? Quelques réponses…
Pensions alimentaires : comment calculer la réévaluation ?
Une nouvelle version du module de calcul de la réévaluation des pensions alimentaires est accessible en ligne sur service-public.fr, ce module étant directement connecté à l’Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (Insee) afin de bénéficier de mises à jour automatiques lors de l’actualisation des indices.
Gaulois, une exposition temporaire de la Cité des sciences et de l’industrie : jusqu’au 2 septembre 2012
Gaulois, cette grande exposition temporaire de la Cité des sciences et de l’industrie à Paris bouscule les idées reçues sur les Gaulois, grâce aux découvertes archéologiques des trente dernières années. En s’appuyant sur une démarche scientifique pluridisciplinaire et des muséographies variées, adaptées à tous les âges, l’exposition révolutionne les connaissances sur les Gaulois et redonne toute sa place à la civilisation gauloise. Petite visite guidée…
Are you happy? A new group in the UK, Action for Happiness, is on a mission to make sure the answer is ‘yes’. The organisation calls itself a ‘movement for positive social change’ and wants to ‘bring together people from all walks of life who want to play a part in creating a happier society for everyone.’
action_happiness.mp3