An encouraging study was recently published demonstrating that people are happier now then they were in 1981.  Here’s a link to the article appearing in this month’s Perspectives on Psychological Science.  Some of the interesting findings are that Denmark is the happiest country and that Zimbabwe is the least happy.  That makes sense given recent events in that African nation.  Also interesting, the U.S. ranks 16th on the happiness spectrum.  Some factors contributing to happiness are strong friendships and doing things for others.  Turns out being altruistic is actually pretty selfish in a way.  The study does not cite listening to KDFC as one of the keys to happiness but I think that just goes without saying!

Betsy had a funny story this morning about Swiss railway workers needing to change out of their orange safety jackets.  Seems they were being follwed around by rabid fans of the Dutch soccer team.  It’s all about the Orange, apparently, in The Netherlands.  Listener Rob Halkes who tunes us in on-line in Amsterdam sent this photo of the crowd at a recent Europe Cup game to give us an idea of the rabidity of it all.  Thanks Rob.  (Take off that orange shirt).

I just finished a book that I wanted to suggest to you.

Remember James Frey, the man who wrote a memoir titled “A Million Little Pieces”   ??   I loved that book and his follow-up, “My Friend Leonard.”   I was sad for Frey when it was revealed that he embellish key parts of the memoir.   He said that he wrote “Pieces” as a novel but was persuaded to market it as a memoir.   The entire controversy could have been averted had a disclaimer been printed in the opening pages.  James Frey is a gifted writer and I am thrilled he’s back.

His latest book IS A NOVEL but it’s also a true history lesson of the origins of Los Angeles and where the City of Angels is headed.    “Bright Shiny Morning” is an epic tale that dates back to the 18th century as a reference to the telling of stories of its modern day migrants and residents.    It’s brilliantly told, captivating, gripping and dark.   There’s not a lot of optomism is his stories so don’t expect any happy endings.   It’s more of an indictment of the ‘LA Culture.’ 

Friday night’s live simulcast at AT&T Park was an experience, to say the least.  Most remarkable perhaps was the weather.  I don’t think I’ve ever been in SF at night when it’s been that warm.  We were fanning ourselves with the paper programs at 10:00pm!  Great crowd, the opera estimates 23, 000, and such a fun diverse group of people.  Let me tell you about being on the Jumbotron.  The three of us (John Evans, Ray White and myself) winded our way up to the press booth where Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper sit during Giants games.  We took turns reading from the script provided by the Opera and tried to not let the reverb 2-second delay mess with our consciousness.  Let me tell you, that is tough.  Plus we were sitting in front of very hot lights.  I guess I can never be a movie star if I can’t stand the heat!   The ironic part of being on the Jumbotron is that we never saw ourselves on it because we were sitting in front of the screen.  Someone sent me a photo of it from her phone.   I’m afraid I looked, well, jumbo.

I just spent an amazing weekend in Seattle.   My two oldest sons and I flew to Seattle for my youngest son Jordan’s college graduation.  Here we are walking the streets of Capital Hill after a big lunch.  It was 50 degrees that day…so cold.  

Jordan’s degree from the University of Washington is in Fine Arts/Product Design.    The students had their own gallery showing of the products they designed and one of the more fascinating ones was designed by Jordan.   It’s an tourist information kiosk in the shape of a question mark.   It would be located in terminals, on street corners, etc. 

The four of us got to hang out for two full days.   Jordan took us to his favorite Thai place in the “U” District where everyone knew him by name.  The food is incredibly spicy.   You order everything with a heat index from 1 to 5.   Jordan did #4.   I’m impressed.   It was a great weekend.  I’m very proud of my sons.

This Friday is the second annual SF Opera free live simulcast at AT&T Park.   Get an idea of what’s in store for you by checking out this video encapsulation of last year’s big event.  I think I speak for Hoyt and everyone else in the ballpark that night when I say it was a hoot.  We had so much fun singing “Take me out to the opera” and cheering on Samson or Delilah, and enjoying all the great ballpark concessions including garlic fries while watching world class opera.  La Scala has nothing on us.  I was really impressed with the image on the Jumbotron.  The picture was stunning and with close-ups of the stars, the view was actually better than in the opera house!  So don’t miss the international superstar Natalie Dessay as the out-of-her-mind-in-love Lucia di Lammermoor this Friday.  It’s sure to be one memorable night at the opera!

  Natalie Dessay

Tim Russert’s untimely death last week has many wondering if they’re next, including me. I think things are okay, but it’s been a while since I had a face-to-face with my cardiologist and a check of my cholesterol and meds. Betsy and I talked this morning about a Men’s Health article that came to my attention about a pro-active approach. 10 Ways to Protect Your Heart starts with convincing your spouse to stop smoking. Nonsmoking husbands and wives face a 92% increase in their risk of heart attack. We know about exercise and avoiding stress, but how about eating more watermelon? Read the article here.

So what are your favorite things about summer? a recent poll showed flip flops, popsicles, cookouts and beach visits high on everyone’s lists. What one piece of classical music captures all the best of summer? Let us know for our Sumer Sets that start Friday (the official first day) and runs through Monday. Make your requests here.

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Among famous “leftys” of the world, Leonardo da Vinci is way up there for his great contribution to art and science.  The original Renaissance man will be feted in a new exhibition at the Tech Musuem in San Jose opening this Fall.  Unlike the long-running show at the Metreon, this exhibit will feature actual Leonardo artifacts including some pieces on loan from the Uffizi Museum in Florence.  The exhibit promises a lot of interactivity which is what the Tech is all about.  I’m giving away 4-packs of tickets all this week on the KDFC Lunch Box.  So brush up on your Da Vinci code.  Listen for the trivia question around 12:20, call in, and win! 

Leonardo’s Vitruvian Man

My Lunch Box trivia question today had to do with something discovered on this day in history which one can actually see from outer space.  That was the big clue.  The fact that it was Captain Cook who discovered it in 1770 was also a pretty helpful clue.  (Answer below)  But first, let’s debunk a myth.  Is the Great Wall of China the only man-made structure visible from space?  Apparently not.  Astronauts have seen and photographed all kinds of things, from highways to bridges to parts of the Kennedy Space Center complex.  The man who first suggested that the Great Wall was the only man-made thing visible from space was one Richard Halliburton, adventurer and explorer but evidently not an astronaut.  He erroneously said that the Great Wall would be visible from the moon.  We know that to be untrue.  According to those who have been there, a lucky few, you really see very few details of the earth from the moon beyond a beautiful blue sphere.  As it should be.

Answer: Great Barrier Reef

My dad’s birthday is June 10th so he’s never really celebrated Father’s Day on its own.  We tend to combine the two events into one.  He’s like the kid whose birthday is December 24th.  Hard as his parents try, he always gets gipped.  Well, this year should be different.  It’s his 80th, after all.  My earliest memories of my dad are of him as an elementary school principal in the Hayward Public Schools. I would often come with him to special school events in the evening like the annual Spring Concert.  My dad would always say a few things to the audience.  Just a brief welcome which he rehearsed in the car on the ride over. His style of speaking in a prepared/extemporaneously way, I now realize, is a model for me when I have to speak in front of a crowd.  Each year of my early childhood, I attended summer school with him with some special perks as the principal’s daughter.  I especially remember grape-flavored Fanta soda in the teachers’ lounge. I think Dad would say that one of his regrets is not learning to speak Italian growing up.  His father felt it was important that, as an immigrant, he and my grandmother speak only English in the home.  Turned out to be a big missed opportunity for their two children.  I’m hoping to rectify that by learning Italian.  I’m determined to be able to say Buon Compleanno Papa and know what I’m saying.