When you’re happy, you can start a happiness virus through your social network, according to a Harvard and UC San Diego study.
So update your Twitter and Facebook status with good things and spread the love!
No conclusive info about when you’re down, although I know that’s as good a people repellant as B.O.
For years I’ve wanted to organize a program to harvest fruit from yards of people who didn’t want their fruit—oranges, grapefruit, apricots, etc. And now I’m thrilled to say this dream has come to fruition: By Natasha Boissier.
Who is Natasha Boissier? An enterprising citizen of Berkeley, California who got sick of seeing fruit rot on trees. She took the initiative to start North Berkeley Harvest, a fruit gathering and donation program.
She’s inspired me to transfer my life list goal to to start a program for donating unwanted tree fruit to shelters from the Backburner to my active goal list, where I had it in 2006. Oh I’m so ashamed…originally I wanted to do this in 1997. But that’s what happens if something isn’t really a priority.
Natasha kindly answered a few questions to help YOU organize such an effort:
How did you spread the word to people with fruit trees?
I put flyers in the mailboxes of people who I could see had fruit trees in their yards. I also put announcements in community newspapers and online forums.
And to get volunteers?
I recruited friends initially and as word got around people approached me to volunteer. I am nervous about taking on volunteers whom I don’t know because of liability issues, but I have taken a few. I also enjoy picking alone once in a while. It’s a great way to get exercise and alone time.
How does it work logistically?
Setting Up a Website
Google Pages is a free way to set up a quick website, as you can see from this example. Or you can set up a blog at no cost on Wordpress.com, Blogger, or even use Facebook to communicate with people in your neighborhood.
Natasha may not have been thinking globally when she acted locally, but her work has started an “idea virus.” She says, “I’ve heard from people in Maui, South Africa, Pasadena, Kentucky, & Marin county who have started harvesting groups because of the NY Times article they read. So exciting.”
Here’s a harvest in action from earlier this year when I enjoyed picking apricots through a Village Harvest program in the south bay area:
An article on the BBC’s website titled “Love handles” raise death risk caught my eye, not in part because of the humor potential the next time someone says their love handles are “good to grab onto.”
I don’t mean says that to me. Well, interpret it how you want. 
Then I noticed that love handles are a cause of not only death but the recession, global warming, crime, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. This in addition to the well known fact that a large waistline can indicate a tendency toward diabetes.
So find something else that’s good to grab onto and work on getting rid of those love handles!
Today I noticed another SuperViva life list goal to learn voice acting. When she asked “How do I get started?” I decided to answer:
Recently I took some classes and learned voice acting generally splits into three areas.
1) narration (tutorials, books on tape, documentaries)
2) character acting (video games, cartoons)
3) commercials (no explanation needed, right?)
You can learn and/or focus on one or all 3. Whatever you like.
There are lots of ways to get started and just like any talent you need to learn and practice. If you’re successful you can make a good living or side income through voice acting.
1) When listening to the radio, try to imitate voices you hear on commercials.
2) Get books and/or videos of which there are several good ones. They usually include assignments and scripts to play with.
Here’s a link to some on Amazon.
3) Get a microphone and download Audacity, which is a free recording program. Practice recording yourself.
4) Find voice acting classes in your area. Make sure to thoroughly review the school’s credentials and successes to know it’s worth the cost.
5) Check out voice actor talent websites. You can see how the actors describe their talents and listen to clips online of various voice styles.
6) If you can film some videos, practice a professional voice while narrating.
While mildly embarrassing to share, here are clips from my first day of classes.
Got more tips?
