The secret of a cheerful disposition

I think I'm starting to realise that being happy relies on recognising a single distinction: between those things over which you have a degree of control, and those things about which you can do nothing. The former should receive your best efforts; you should never be able to say that you had an opportunity and let it slide.

The latter are more common. These you should treat optimistically; see the good in everything, while acknowledging the bad, but try not to worry about them. Gracefully accept change that you cannot affect — so many things in life rely on, or are decided by, the wishes of others — and try to see the benefits in whatever happens.

When I can do it, it's wonderful. I do worry, of course, but I find that I'm quite an optimist these days. As I'm so fond of saying — cheer up!

Posted at 2005-08-06 17:35:17 by Richard • Link to The secret of a ch…
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A Rocket To Nowhere

Maciej Ceglowski has written a wonderfully realistic piece about the Shuttle, and NASA's recent efforts in space.

The ISS was another child of the Cold War: originally intended to show the Russians up and provide a permanent American presence in space, then hastily amended as a way to keep the Russian space scientists busy while their economy was falling to pieces. Like the Shuttle, it has been redesigned and reduced in scope so many times that it bears no resemblance to its original conception. Launched in an oblique, low orbit that guarantees its permanent uselessness, it serves as yin to the shuttle's yang, justifying an endless stream of future Shuttle missions through the simple stratagem of being too expensive to abandon.

Posted at 2005-08-06 17:30:55 by Richard • Link to A Rocket To Nowher…
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