Colombia is the Second Happiest Place for the Planet

scotty says on Aug 17, 2007, 22:34:

why do i question this?

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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billyb says on Aug 17, 2007, 22:47:

Yes, Scotty, why do you question this? Colombia, for all its problems is still one of the happiest places on earth (go figure), but i think that it has something to do with the fact that when your survival is in question everyday (I mean when you belong to one of the most vulnarable groups) and you survive, are you going to sweat the little chit details like the first worlders? Or, are you going to celebrate every little victory every day like a good Colombian?

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 17, 2007, 22:56:

I question this also; because #1: What and where is "Vanuatu"? I pride myself on being proficient geographically, but that place slipped by my radar. Is it near Narnia? And then Cuba being number 6? I am sure the State controlled imformation source in Cuba would say the life expectancy is high. But what is it really? I would wager MUCH lower than reported. If the source for Cuba's life expectancy stat is National Geographic, or a legit source like that, I will concede, and still be shocked.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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arthur brode says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:00:

There have been other studies done on this and Colombia always ranks on the top.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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billyb says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:01:

Vanuatu is in the So. pacific, which if you think about it does qualify ( the So. Pac) for about at least 4 or 5 of the 10 happiest places on Earth.

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billyb says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:05:

Let's just say that if you are a reasonably intelligent and halfway good looking man with a minimal salary and you are not having fun in Cali (like AB) you are just a probably a miserable person, but i could be wrong :)

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scotty says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:46:

Im not questioning Colombia's ranking of happiest people but I do question the whole list. For example where the hell is Vanuatu? I also question Cuba even being on any happy list, are the people of Cuba so happy that they ride inflated innertubes across shark infested waters to get to Florida?
Honduras # 7?
yea i question this list.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:46:

I figured Vanuatu must be a tiny island nation. I will look it up a work ... we got new globes in that are supposed to be current and accurate.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:47:

Ya, Cuba is so happy, people are dying to get out.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:50:

I always love it when a Cuban sports team or a music / dance troupe comes to the US, and leaves with 2/3rds of the original members.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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scotty says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:53:

yea Cuba thats one happy country and if you refuse to be happy you are in big trouble with Fidels boys.

I am surprised Iran or Venezuela isnt on the list of happy feet people.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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billyb says on Aug 17, 2007, 23:54:

Colombia's and Vanuatu's rating is understandable, but Cuba's?? Who voted on that one? Sr.T ?

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Robert Jorge says on Aug 18, 2007, 00:09:

I suppose Rwanda must be in the 11 to 20 range ... jajaja.

Seriously though, I have seen reports like this ... maybe this actual one in past years; and they seemed to rank Colombia and Thailand next to each other consistently. And I can totally believe a little nation in the south Pacific would be up there too. I would love to see detailed methodology for this particular study.

BEWARE of gold diggers.

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scotty says on Aug 18, 2007, 01:56:

Ditto to what Robert said.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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timeforachangeofscenery says on Aug 18, 2007, 02:20:

In the spirit of mocking the above list, I would like to contribute my own list.

The list of the Top 10 Countries With the Most Assertive Women.

This list is compiled by taking into consideration the number of men who wish they had sex more regularly, the per capita consumption of man-sized dish-washing gloves, percentage of gdp derived from telenovelas.

1. Colombia
2. Costa Rica
3. Peru
4. Portugal.
5. Panama
6. Cuba
7. Honduras
8. Guatemala
9. El Salvador
10. St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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timeforachangeofscenery says on Aug 18, 2007, 02:23:

Ooooooh an alternate name for the above list might be:


The Top Ten Most Unhappy Nations.........


Geeez I wish I had thought of that sooner .........

MODERATOR lil help porfa.......................... jejejejeje


Timefor

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scotty says on Aug 18, 2007, 02:35:

thats a better list Time.

whats funny is probably many of the most unhappy nations would come out of the happy list above.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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LA_MONA says on Aug 18, 2007, 02:53:

I would say Britain and some of the eastern european countries are among some of the unhappiest. Despite the UK's wealth if I have children I will raise them in Colombia, no doubt, at least until they are around the age to go to high school.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2268082.ece

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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LA_MONA says on Aug 18, 2007, 02:54:

Oh and where is Brazil on that list, I would say their positivity and lust for life is high too despite their problems.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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raulinho says on Aug 18, 2007, 03:01:

I thought Canada would be number one I think they put something in the water!

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timeforachangeofscenery says on Aug 18, 2007, 03:26:

I guess it's not the country you live in but your attitude that makes all the difference.

Then again, the way the schools, the hospitals and the cost of living is going here (in the States), it's not going to be long before everybody is looking for a change of scenery.

Timefor.

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scotty says on Aug 18, 2007, 04:28:

good question Mona, where are the Brazilians, they are a happy, dancing, party bunch. I have some Brazilian friends here in my area and they are always happy.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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goin_south says on Aug 18, 2007, 04:28:

You're right, TFAC. More and more people in the USA are realizing they are slaving away with the '24/7' stuff.

Where do we go from here?

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LA_MONA says on Aug 18, 2007, 04:49:

Scotty I find the brazilian's happiness as infectious as the colombian's, well nearly ;-) not quite.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 18, 2007, 05:30:

Vanuatu is the island that is sinking. But they still stay they're happy even though they're all gonna drown and their number one industry, the mining of bird guano (shit) for fertilizer, is in terminal decline, too.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 18, 2007, 05:32:

Pick a survey, any survey.These things are popping up like dandelions in the last few years. Colombia is usually in the top 20 for self-described happiness so they must be doing something right.

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panthdave says on Aug 18, 2007, 05:45:

So the HPI computes Happiness by Life Expectancy plus Satisfaction of Life divided by ecological footprint..Really how did they come to those numbers?? Well take records of Life Expectancy and than they question elders if there satisfied with life...Which I assume will be 55 or older..or more...now divided by ecological footprint lost me there...

panthdave Miami

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RAAAY says on Aug 18, 2007, 05:54:

'TOP TEN COUNTRIES'
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
6 Australia
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain

Ireland is the best place to live in the world, according to a "quality of life" assessment by Economist magazine.
The country's combination of increasing wealth and traditional values gives it the conditions most likely to make its people happy, the survey found.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 18, 2007, 05:57:

I bet they surveyed Iceland when it was a) summer or b) everyone was drunk.

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LA_MONA says on Aug 18, 2007, 05:59:

Jaja Tinto yes. People in Ireland drink alot too.
These countries are probably the safest happy places, but the happiest? Nah.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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panthdave says on Aug 18, 2007, 06:09:

Okay lets make a list of countries that drink the heaviest...Maybe that will be the Happiest Countries...Colombians I tell ya are experts on drinking..so thats a plus...or they sure can consume..I can't keep up..sometimes..

Life Expectancy I guess we need to take out deaths not caused by natural causes and Life Satisfication Maybe Elmo can help with this one..

Or do we take the countries that don't consume alcohol and drugs like Muslim Countries to see if there the happiest countries even due to circumstances..in the Middle East..

panthdave Miami

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ozgringo says on Aug 18, 2007, 06:33:

I have lived in Vanuatu for about 6 months last year, it is to the east of Fiji. About 2 1/2 hours fliying time from Brisbane Australia. It is a former British/French condominium. The reason why they are happy is probably because most of the people are largely ignorant of the ills of the world and the Kava, (an intoxicating drink) is very cheap. They live a very humble life, (a BIG understatement), and it is a very patriacal society with women performing most of the work. The men sit around and drink Kava. It is a corrupt third world Banana republic largely reliant on Australia and other nations (China, Japan) for foreign aid.

If you want to live there as a non Ni-Van, ie. Your aren't a local Melanesian (largley the same race as PNG and the Solomon Islands, and Australian Aboriginals.) it is a very expensive place to live with little infrastructure and poor communications assets.

tried to think of something deep to write here.. but couldn't think of anything..

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podborski says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:03:

It's pretty obvious to me why this survey is meaningless, dividing by the country's 'ecological footprint' makes the giant assumption that the less resources one uses the happier you are.

By this method cavemen would rank way above any modern society.

I do think Colombians just happen to be very happy people though, unlike Cubans I have met (who all like to sing, laugh and dance, but are desperately glum about their future).

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:22:

Most of the countries on the list account for the largest number of illegals trying to enter the U.S. besides Mexico!! For sure in Central America and Cuba the list is total chit!!! Whom ever made that list was smoking really bad herb....get real

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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timeforachangeofscenery says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:25:

Yerr good call Podborski,

How do you even measure an ecological foot print. I mean do they take into consideration the number of trees in your forests off-setting your carbon emissions, the amount of carbon created by the burning of the oil you export, the number of polluting industries that aren't even registered.

What about the number of cars that still burn lead petrol.....the antiquated buses that spew forth carcinogenic chemicals and industries that still use banned chemicals such as benzene, ddt or chloro fluorocarbons.

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:33:

Ecological Footprint.....! What are you guys smoking? The issues concerning happiness are much more basic then EF which is probably unknown in most countries on the list! How about, employment, food, medicine, education, clean water, electricity and less corruption......what do you think about that? Get real....

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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jinksmiester says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:36:

Just did a web seach on life exspectancy...this one was a little old...1997/1999.....but colombia ranked 74 th on the list for healthy life exspectancy by the world health organization....i too question the validity of this survey...that said i do believe colombians are a happy bunch for the most part.

A man is not old until regret takes the place of dreams

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jinksmiester says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:46:

A newer more recent study puts colombia 84th on the list....japan and hong kong 1 and 2...canada sits at 11th.

A man is not old until regret takes the place of dreams

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LA_MONA says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:51:

I too have had a look at some of the conflicitng survey's just now ...I think it's safe to say Colombia is at the top of the list anyway.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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wendell13 says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:53:

colombians are truly poor but happy

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panthdave says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:54:

Disagree with Poor...seen much worst...

panthdave Miami

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gabolicious says on Aug 18, 2007, 07:57:

... and according to the Ode magazine what exactly "happy" means??

Cause I honestly don't see Cuba as a happy country, but maybe "my" concept of happiness is different from cuban's...

Elección no canonización....

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joanseb says on Aug 18, 2007, 09:48:

estas no son noticias nuevas, desde hace muchos años se estan haciendo estas rankings, y colombia siempre esta entre los primeros lugares.

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joanseb says on Aug 18, 2007, 09:54:

"Most of the countries on the list account for the largest number of illegals trying to enter the U.S. besides Mexico!! For sure in Central America and Cuba the list is total chit!!! Whom ever made that list was smoking really bad herb....get real"

que intenten ir a la usa, no es precisamente por felicidad, SOLo es por dinero. Pero apuesto lo que sea, que nadie queria irse si tuviera dinero, y mucho menos a un pais donde te discriminan y te tratan mal si no tienes un documento de legalidad.

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LA_MONA says on Aug 18, 2007, 09:56:

De acuerdo JS donde vivo en UK es uno de los paises mas ricos pero con una cifra impresionante de depresion y aqui las personas manejan mucha soledad.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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gabolicious says on Aug 18, 2007, 10:00:

claro, pero JS depende de lo que vos consideres como felicidad, habrá gente que considera como felicidad tener dinero y son felices, habrá gente que tiene dinero como dice Mona y en realidad no son felices... habrá que definir primero que es "felicidad" para esta revista, además creo que tiene que ver con un proyecto económico, cierto?

Elección no canonización....

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joanseb says on Aug 18, 2007, 10:01:

pues no se estas revistas como evaluaran la felicidad, pero es un hecho que colombia siempre esta en la lista.

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gabolicious says on Aug 18, 2007, 10:04:

si, yo también lo he escuchado, y lo he vivido de acuerdo a lo que yo considero felicidad, pero me sorprende que centroamérica y Cuba estén también en la lista...

porque aunque latinoamerica, finalmente Colombia y estos paises no tiene nada (desde mi perspectiva) en comun...

Elección no canonización....

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sweet160 says on Aug 18, 2007, 10:08:

Ok, I will give my opinion after I have been there a few months, if true I want to move :)

" its a dog eat dog world, and I will eat your dog! "

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ColombianoGringo says on Aug 18, 2007, 12:32:

I think that the inclusion of El Salvador on this list makes it highly suspect at best.

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gabolicious says on Aug 18, 2007, 12:40:

General Conclusion... this list is a fairy tale... considering Cuba and Guatemala on the list that's crazy!!!

Elección no canonización....

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Leeroy says on Aug 18, 2007, 13:12:

I agree that it is a very silly list.

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gabolicious says on Aug 18, 2007, 13:42:

tal vez esta lista salió de una telenovela mexicana, no crees Leeroy?

Tan ilusa...

Elección no canonización....

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goin_south says on Aug 18, 2007, 14:48:

Dominica?
I think they dropped substantially, after what I saw on Video with Dean last night.
But,....we could all volunteer to go help rebuild... and then jus meet-up in Bogota afterwards.

Where do we go from here?

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scotty says on Aug 18, 2007, 15:00:

CG is right what is the deal with El Salvador. Those people arent happy they are in misery and there are some of the most distructive latin gangs come out of El Salvador.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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goin_south says on Aug 18, 2007, 15:01:

isn't that about the same with Guatemala?
who did this freakin poll?

Where do we go from here?

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panthdave says on Aug 18, 2007, 15:18:

Ode magazine Happy Planet Index...Just look at there formula and thats suspect????
1.Okay Ode Magazine is Dutch( Reefer Land)
2. www.happyplanetindex.org Below is About Happy Planet Index...

I just did mine damn I am a very angry person....JAJAJAJAJAJAJ
Happy Planet Index
Your personal Happy Planet Index (HPI) is 16 Sorry to say that this is below the world average of 46. For those living in the UK, you’ll also be disappointed to hear your score is below the national average. Your score is below that of your country, 28.8.

Below is a breakdown of the various components that make up your HPI score.

You: 16
Average: 43.3
[Average is of all online responses to this survey - not the average

panthdave Miami

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panthdave says on Aug 18, 2007, 15:19:

One Mistake I clicked United Kingdom instead of United States for Residence...Same though I betya no difference...

panthdave Miami

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panthdave says on Aug 18, 2007, 15:23:

Now everybody take your happyindex rating at www.happyindex.org..I just went there to see whats going with this survey and noticed you can take your own happy index rating..

panthdave Miami

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Leeroy says on Aug 19, 2007, 07:21:

55.3. So, above the world average. OK.

This test is complete shit, of course. One's carbon footprint or how much one recycles has nothing to do with happiness, nor does how much I smoke or how much red meat I eat. This is not a "happiness" index at all, it is a "how much do you conform to PC liberal left-wing stereotypes" index.

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panthdave says on Aug 19, 2007, 08:03:

Per the test I am a angry person..Damn..LOLOL..I am laughing right now..

panthdave Miami

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Chelesupercono says on Aug 19, 2007, 09:18:

Happiness is a warm gun........

never go to bed with someone crazier then you are, you will do it and you will regret it.......

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morphus says on Aug 19, 2007, 10:48:

"Cause I honestly don't see Cuba as a happy country, but maybe "my" concept of happiness is different from cuban's"

I have been all over Cuba. People are happy and have a good time. Most Cubans don't want to leave Cuba.

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sweet160 says on Aug 19, 2007, 12:31:

Rubito,

Did the caveman have iPods to listen to music? if not I dont want to go there...

" its a dog eat dog world, and I will eat your dog! "

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scotty says on Aug 20, 2007, 04:34:

ahh,, Chelesupercono you have been listening to your Beatle albums havent you?

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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scotty says on Aug 20, 2007, 04:36:

jaja Tinto that was a good on. yea go to Ireland in the warm summer and the pubs are full and you see alot of happy Irishmen.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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scotty says on Aug 20, 2007, 04:40:

I agree with Mona, where the hel is Brazil on that list, Brazil should be on any happy list of any kind and yes probably Colombia to, and yes some eastern european countries for example the Italians seem happy. But Cuba? Handuras? somethings wrong with that list.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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