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Examines what makes workers more productive and happy to go to work. Researchers in psychology, economics and organizational behavior who have been discovering that the experience of being happy at work looks similar across professions; People who love their work who feel in control and challenged and finding meaning in what they do; Thoughts of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in "Good Business" on the importance of the pleasure of work; Disaffection of the American work force from a Gallup Poll; The basic human needs of a workplace; Desire for meaning in work and the many different forms it takes; "Authentic leadership" skills which are now being offered at some business schools. INSET: Joy Building: A Quick Guide for the Boss.

Presents the results of research regarding the source and level of happiness in Americans. Shift of psychological researchers to focus on positive mental health, as opposed to the traditional emphasis on mental illness; Results of research on the happiness level of Americans, which was found to be high regardless of income; Consideration of sources of happiness including family, friends, spiritual life and worship, and helping others; Presentation of eight steps toward a more satisfying life. INSETS: Just How Happy Are We?...;...And What Makes Us That Way?;Measure Your Happiness.

Focuses on the presidential campaigns and the effort of local activists to encourage voters in Ohio. The strategy of Democrats in supporting the John Kerry-John Edwards campaign; The reason that Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida and Pennsylvania will get more attention; The tactics used in voter mobilization; The goal of an outside group, America Coming Together (ACT), in Ohio; Legal limit imposed on ACT; Details of the Republican campaign strategy to gain votes for George W. Bush; What the Republicans are asking of their volunteers; Discussion of central Ohio, its voting record, and symbolic significance; How political activists Cosby Lindquist and Billie Fiore approach potential voters.

Reports on the outlook for the class of 2002 high school and college graduates to find employment in the United States. Examples of potential employees, their current employment, and their education; Idea that they must keep their employment options flexible; Effect of layoffs and demotions on new job seekers; Discussion of job opportunities; Increase in recruitment among accounting firms and the U.S. government.

Focuses on aggrieved patients and mistakes made by physicians. Background on the apology given to the St. Paul, Minnesota parents of Owen Olson for mistakes in his treatment; How administrators and doctors explained how the error happened and offered to help with medical bills; Why apologizing for medical mistakes may be a step in the right direction; Issue of malpractice lawsuits; Ways that some states are encouraging openness, including passing legislation; Efforts of some hospitals to establish formal policies requiring medical staff to admit and apologize for mistakes; Topic of emotional redemption.

Suggests that where one lives is as much an key influence on the happiness factor as how one lives. Study which shows that the poorest of Calcutta, India were found to be in the mid-range of a happiness scale scoring slightly happier than not; Robert Biswas-Diener who has studied people around the globe; Discovery that human beings, no matter where they live or how they live are "preset" to be happy; Belief that this is a result of evolution that helps mankind adapt and survive trying circumstances; Study which found Latin Americans to be the happiest people in the world; Happiness factors in Japan, China and South Korea; Role of cultural expectation on happiness as suggested by Shigehiro Oishi; Caveat that national happiness rankings are crude and simplistic measurements. INSETS: The GDP of Happy;The GDP of Happy.

Asks if marriage makes a person happier or if happier people tend to get married. Recent research which suggests that marriage does not guarantee extra happiness or health; Research by Richard Lucas which showed that after the honeymoon was over, rates of happiness were no higher for married people than for unmarried; Belief that happy people are more likely to marry because of their nature; Other research on married couples.

Reports on firms that are laying off workers, even as business and the U.S. economy improves, which increases profits and productivity at the cost of morale. Discussion of the phenomenon in which employees are doing more work with less compensation; Mention of the cost-cutting measures of companies such as Dell and Agilent Technologies; Topic of stress and discouragement among so-called ghost workers; How companies like BellSouth use unpaid vacations to cut costs and ghost-work stress.

The article focuses on the political campaigns of Presidential candidate John Kerry and U.S. President George W. Bush in Lancaster, Ohio. The two campaigns are aiming their efforts primarily at their bases. Emphasis has been given on finding voters, registering them, keeping them excited about the race, making sure they get to the polls, even if doing so means loading them into a van and driving them there. The strategy of Bush relies far more heavily on volunteers as compared to Kerry.

The article focuses on housing market conditions in the United States. It is reported that profits from real estate sales have declined and sellers have lost profits due to falling prices. Real estate sales statistics are discussed. It is argued that high prices having caused consumers to refuse to buy homes, causing increased supply of houses and decreased demand. The potential for improvement in the housing market is discussed.

Reports that scientists are finding that victims of bullying suffer more than previously believed. How the American Medical Association has warned that bullying is a public-health issue with long-term mental-health consequences for both bullies and their victims; Questions as to why bullying occurs; Effect bullying has on victims including staying home from school more often; Efforts of teachers to watch for signs of bullying.

The article reviews several luxury fashion products, including the Tulita bag from the firm Jimmy Choo, a signature-print downvest from the firm Pucci, and an embossed calfskin jacket from the firm Ferragamo.

Discusses the popularity of luxury laundry rooms in U.S. homes. Description of a laundry room that also serves as a home office, a workshop for crafts projects, and sleeping quarters for the family pet in the home of Suzanne Spall in Pittsford, New York; Surge in demand for spacious, centrally located, multi-purpose laundry rooms; Observation that the trend is part of the nesting phenomenon, in which homeowners are burrowing in their homes and finding pleasure in their homes; Description of other laundry rooms; Sales of laundry equipment and machines.

Discusses the popularity of bookmaking as a craft. Use of paper-making and bookbinding techniques; Success of bookmaking as art therapy; Trends in altered books, volumes that have been redesigned as art pieces.

Discusses Amtrak railway system in the United States. Conclusion of the Amtrak Reform Council that the nation's passenger-train operator has no chance of becoming self-sufficient by the end of 2002; Expectation for a debate over whether the government should invest in high-speed trains like the ones in Europe and Japan or give up on intercity passenger service; Data on federal subsidies and spending on other forms of transportation.

Reports on a reward offered by the Cook County Republican Party for information leading to the conviction of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley after two of Daley's top officials were charged with mail fraud. Reaction of Daley to the offering, who claims it crossed the line of decency; Reputation of Daley's father, Richard J. Daley, for cronyism and back-room dealing, which Daley has largely been able to avoid; Praise won by Daley for the economic development, reduced crime and attempted reform of public housing and education in Chicago.

This article describes the popular activity of letterboxing, a outdoor adventure with origins in Victorian England. How visitors find letterboxes in state parks and nature preserves in order to mark the book with their stamp and document the discovery in their logbook; Use of clues on the main letterboxing website to discover where they are hidden; Consideration of how some enthusiasts hide their boxes letterboxes in urban areas such as the Lincoln memorial.

Discusses the popularity of eating mini-meals, which was inspired by tapas, Middle Eastern mezes, and East Asian small dishes. Chefs who offer diners a great variety of flavors on a multitude of mini-dishes, usually for less money than traditional-size portions and without a load of calories; Cookbooks that focus on the trend, including "Meze: Small Plates to Savor and Share from the Mediterranean Kitchen," by Diane Kochilas; Introduction of small-plate dining in the U.S. by Thomas Keller.

The article focuses on the growing popularity of letterboxing in the U.S. It is an outdoor adventure activity in which cryptic clues are provided to search some waterproof boxes containing prizes, which are kept in a hidden location. The website Letterboxing.org providing clues to the location of these boxes registered more than 500,000 hits this April. Letterboxers are very cautious in maintaining the secrecy of discovered prize and putting them back carefully.

The article talks about David Applebaum and his daughter Nava. Nava was to be married in Jerusalem. Applebaum, who was ordained as a rabbi before he opted for a medical career, had already gone to some lengths to ensure that Nava was properly launched in her new status. He compiles a booklet for her of rabbinical sayings, family aphorisms and his own thoughts about relationships and marriage.