"Richer, fatter, and not much happier" was the headline of the Worldwatch Institute's annual report, State of the World 2004. The subtitle reads "Consumer appetite erodes quality of life for rich and poor".
Although you have to shell out about $17 US for a copy of the report, which is based on demographics, economic and statistical data from around the world, as well as surveys of populations, some of the content is free at the Worldwatch Web site at www.worldwatch.org. And it's pretty amazing stuff.
The basic premise behind the headline is the concept that the pursuit of wealth and consumer goods - bigger houses, bigger vehicles, and a lot more of everything - has not made us any happier. The statistics compiled in the report fly in the face of what corporations, advertisers and politicians would have us believe, and rock the very foundations on which our consumer culture - where concepts like freedom, democracy and shopping are inexplicably linked - was built.
The timing of this report couldn't be better. Credit card statements are rolling in, we're having trouble shedding all of the pounds we packed on bingeing over the holidays, and most of us have to acknowledge that, even if we got everything we wanted from Santa this year, we're no happier than when we started.
According to Worldwatch, American homes are 38 per cent bigger, refrigerators are 10 per cent bigger, and vehicles - let's just say the average fuel efficiency of cars has decreased for the first time since the energy crisis 25 years ago. There are now more than a dozen SUVs on the market over 6,000 pounds - just heavy enough to be considered light trucks, which makes them eligible for small business tax breaks south of the border.
Americans are more obese than ever, even though the average U.S. citizen works nine more weeks a year than the average European. Canadian statistics are similar.
It's no wonder then that a survey of American citizens found that only a third of Americans surveyed considered themselves as being "very happy" - roughly the same percentage as 1957 when people were half as wealthy.
Despite assurances otherwise, it seems that our collective and individual happiness has less to do with out quantity of money than our quality of life. Some people have figured this out already - why else would anyone move to a ski town and a career in the low-pay, seasonal tourism industry?
Besides skiing and boarding, there are other ways to find happiness out there. Let the Web be your guide.
32 Hours - www.web.net/32hours/
It's not a particularly nice looking site, but it gets the point across nicely - a 32-hour work week is good for people and the economy. Time equals happiness, whether it's time alone to read or pursue a hobby, or time with your family. European countries have been realizing the health, morale and productivity benefits of shorter work-weeks for years, yet we still cling to the idea that anything less than a 50-hour week will result in our professional doom. Read about the Action for Full Employment, and become part of this awesome campaign to buy us more free time.
LaughLab - www.laughlab.co.uk
This site generated a lot of attention last year after asking people around the world to rate a series of jokes. The data compiled was studied by researchers at the University of Herfordshire in the U.K., and broken down into demographics. The results were interesting and sometimes surprising, and told us a lot more about the state of humour around the world, and the differences between cultures and sexes.
The site is still online, and good for a few laughs. Studies show that people who make an effort to smile and laugh more are more prone to smiling and laughing in their daily lives.
It seems that happiness may have a lot more to do with our attitudes than our possessions.
The Darwin Awards - www.darwinawards.com
Sometimes the only way to feel better about your own situation is to read about someone who has it worse than you. The Germans call it schaedenfreude, or shameful joy, but the basic concept behind the Darwin Awards is that sometimes evolution leaves some members of the species behind - with often hilarious results.
Frugal Living - http://frugalliving.about.com
Money doesn't buy happiness, but studies of relationships and individuals have found, time and time again, that money is one of our leading causes of stress and misery.
This Web site, which is a portal for other sites, is a guide to frugal living - ways to save your money, organize your finances and cut your expenses down. There are also ideas for enjoying your life on a fixed budget.
Longhorn tops 2004 list
At the end of December, Computerworld (www.computerworld.com) released its annual top-10 list of new technologies and trends to look for in 2004.
Microsoft's long-awaited update to Windows XP, Longhorn, was third and fourth on the list, promising to plug up security holes and deficiencies in the previous edition of the operating system while adding capability to your PC. It also will better embrace 64-bit processors than its predecessor.
The name, of course, comes from Whistler's Longhorn Saloon, where some Microsoft executives have been known to spend a little time after a day on the slopes.
Other highlights of the list include Apple's return to IT and Wi-Fi wireless technology overtaking wired applications in purchasing.
