'The Freebie' covers the cost of meddling with happiness Premiering today as part of the inaugural NEXT section at the Sundance Film Festival, \"The Freebie\" marks the directing debut of Katie Aselton. Having appeared as an actress alongside her husband, Mark Duplass, in the 2005 indie-fave \"The Puffy Chair\" and more recently on the television comedy \"The League,\" the film is Aselton\'s first feature, and in many ways, it\'s emblematic of the new-era digital filmmaking NEXT is intended to celebrate, made quickly and cheaply and with an eye toward quiet, keen observation. The film stars Aselton alongside Dax Shepard as a married couple who decide to grant each other...', url:'http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/01/sundance-2010-the-... Republicans Need a 'Happiness Index' That leaves happiness. But how to define it? These days, happiness is more than just a job at a higher income—hence what Brookings Institution poverty ... Searching for happiness FOR 60 seconds last night, at the behest of a Buddhist monk, 250 people sat in silence at the University of Sydney contemplating happiness. The monk, Bhante Sujato, thought about gratitude, he told his audience when he broke the quiet reverie. Seated next to him on the stage of The Great Hall, the former West Australian premier Geoff Gallop may have been pondering the absence of anxiety. Professor Gallop quit politics in 2006 while battling depression. Last night he was moderating a Sydney Festival World Cafe discussion on happiness. There was nothing quite like depression abating, he told the... From Georgia with happiness – and pants 1 Coca-Cola Happiness Machine A magic vending machine that keeps on dispensing Coke bottles and other treats to college students. ... Parma Heights coach will help you exercise happiness It may seem like a simplistic command, but coming from “the Executive Happiness Coach,” they are certainly words to clip out and save. ... Bus ride inspires monthly quest in 'The Happiness Project' With nods to all of the above, Gretchen Rubin embarked on her journey by looking for happiness in her back yard, without any cutesy gimmicks or made-for-the-movies twists. Over a year's span, the lawyer-turned-writer researched, resolved, dedicated (and sometimes stumbled) her way to a happier life by making a series of small changes. The Happiness Project is a deft, clear-eyed account of her efforts, discoveries, failings and ultimate successes. Written without Jacobs' self-deprecating charm or Gilbert's near poetic prose, Rubin nonetheless wins readers with her honest, straightforward style. Married to the love of her life with two healthy daugh... 5 Steps To Achieving Happiness (VIDEO) The first rule of happiness is to not be attached to pleasing moments. So how do we get into sealing the deal of happiness? We experience happiness as a ... Brownies try to help bluebirds find some happiness STONY POINT — They're only in second grade, but 10 members of Brownie Troop 40245 are now ... Lessons in happiness for IIM-A students AHMEDABAD: Finding happiness is the main motto of the unique elective course — 'Learning What is Not Taught' (LWNT) being offered to students of India Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) for first time ever. The course started at the premier institute on Saturday. The course is being offered to 47 students from post graduate programme (PGP) in management and post graduate programme in management for executives (PGPX). Executive director of Tata Sons, R Gopalakrishnan, is the lead instructor of the course. He will share his learnings from long years of experience in corporate world. Gopalakrishnan said, "It is an exciting experiment as the...

Ken Davidoff's Baseball Insider In honor of the recently arrived new year, let's use two measures of evaluation for these players: Health, and Happiness. "Health" will cover actual health, as well as statistical production: Did the player stay on the field? Did he deliver sufficiently on his expectations?"Happiness" will cover the player's and team's satisfaction with one another. Were they a good fit? How much, if any, tension existed?The evaluations are subjective, of course, and in some cases I've wimped out and offered an "Eh," or "Sort of" or "Pretty much." When there's a "No" on "Happiness," I'll explain that unhappiness. And obviously, since many of these deals are still ongoing, the judgments rendered...