Psychologist Barry Schwartz explores the notion of “freedom of choice,” and makes a convincing case that having more choice ultimately makes us less happy.

Watching the clip might make you long for simpler times. Like Dana Carvey’s Grumpy Old Man character from SNL…

I’m oooooold! And I’m not happy! And I don’t like things now compared to the way they used to be. All this progress — phooey! In my day, we didn’t have these cash machines that would give you money when you needed it. There was only one bank in each state — it was open only one hour a year. And you’d get in line, seventeen miles long, and the line became an angry mob of people — fornicators and thieves, mutant children and circus freaks — and you waited for years and by the time you got to the teller, you were senile and arthritic and you couldn’t remember your own name. You were born, got in line, and ya died! And that’s the way it was and we liked it!

Then again… perhaps not. 🙂

Dena Malda of Muskegon Michigan penned this thought-provoking letter to the editor about the recent 60 Minutes interview of the crew and passengers of Flight 1549 that went down into the Hudson last month:

On the Feb. 8 “60 Minutes” program, we were captivated while viewing the Katie Couric interview of the crew and passengers of Flight 1549.

However, we were struck there was not one mention of God, who directs pilots of planes and secures the safety of passengers.

We have written CBS and asked them for more realistic programming. Help protect our freedoms. Write CBS about this.

Did god also direct the birds to fly into the plane’s engine? Either the pool is over-chlorinated or in sore need of draining.

Here is the opening of the 60 Minutes piece…

Follow the discussion over at Fark.

Need a cologne matched only by your overly dramatic acting? Spray on a little Tiberius! In need of a fragrance that ripens your sex appeal every 7 years? Try a little Pon Farr! Tired of being abandoned and left for dead after every encounter? Then give Red Shirt a try!

I kid you not.

As a part of the the promotion for the new film, GenkiWear LLC is developing three new colognes called Tiberius, Pon Farr and Red Shirt, celebrating the original Star Trek series.

And the merchandising madness doesn’t stop there.

Hopefully they aren’t planning Saurian brandy flavored lollipops. Then again, put me in for a box 🙂

Mormon church officials have now disclosed $190,000 in contributions to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign… this is up from $30K reported earlier in the week.

The church had previously denied any financial support for the campaign beyond a $2000 expense for a visiting Elder of the church.

The report, filed with the secretary of state’s office, listed a variety of California travel expenses for high-ranking members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and included $20,575 for use of facilities and equipment at the church’s Salt Lake City headquarters and a $96,849 charge for “compensated staff time” for church employees who worked on matters pertaining to Prop. 8.

“This is exactly what we were talking about when we filed the suit,” said Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate, which opposed the same-sex marriage ban. “They spent money on the campaign and were supposed to report it.”

Church officials have yet to comment.

More on the recent disclosure.