10 Happiest Countries - by Mariam Jehangir

10 Happiest Countries

by

 Mariam Jehangir ,

F1RST TO KNOW *

(3/26/2013) 

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How happy do you think Americans are in relation to people in other countries?

If you rated us in the top ten, you’d be wrong. At least that’s what the Legatum Prosperity Index suggests. The annual list is based off a study of 142 countries that are ranked on 89 factors in 8 categories such as economics, personal freedom and health, to determine where people enjoy the best quality of life and are the happiest.

For the first time in the index’s history, the states fell out of the top 10 and landed on number 12. So what were the countries with the happiest people and what were some of the factors that earned them their rankings?

Check out the list.

10) Ireland – This country of around 4.5 million made it in the top 10 with its highest scores in the Personal Freedom and Safety & Security categories, both of which ranked as the fourth highest over the rest of the countries.

9) Switzerland – This nation, known for its bountiful natural beauty had the highest score of any country for its both its economy and governance. These stats helped the country reach the ninth spot on the list.

8) Netherlands – The country’s name means “low lands” in Dutch, due to its closeness to sea levels, but the people’s spirits seem to be rather high, as its eighth spot placement suggests. The country’s best score was in the Social Capital category, where it placed sixth worldwide. Health followed right behind with a seventh spot placement.

7) Finland – The seventh largest European country landed the seventh highest overall spot on the happiness list. What a happy coincidence, right? It rated third in both the Safety & Security and Entrepreneurship & Opportunity categories.

6) Canada – Sure this country gets a lot of flak from its American neighbor but that hasn’t stopped it from placing at the sixth level. One big factor might be its top score on the Personal Freedom category, in which it beat out all other nations.

5) New Zealand – This Oceanic island followed Canada with the second rank in the Personal Freedom category, and the very top spot for its education ranking. It also held the second spot for governance.

4) Australia – Right behind New Zealand is Australia in the Education category, and the third for the Personal Freedom category. Although it didn’t do quite as well as New Zealand in those categories, it still fared better with its health and economic standing, making it the fourth on the list.

3) Sweden – Another fun ranking coincidence: The third largest country in the EU has the third  place on this list. It ranks the second highest in entrepreneurship & opportunity in the world and the 4th in governance.

2) Denmark – This Nordic country enjoys a rich and vibrant history. It also enjoys the first, second and third world ranking in the Entrepreneurship & Opportunity, Social Capital and Governance categories, respectively. These stats factored in to make the country the second highest on the Legatum Prosperity Index.

1) Norway – The “Happiest Country in the World” title belongs to Norway. The Scandinavian country had high marks all across the board: It earned the top social capital ranking; the second highest in economy and Safety & Security; fourth in the Health and Entrepreneurship & Opportunity categories; and the sixth highest in education and personal freedom. Its lowest score was for governance at the 13th spot, but when you consider that is out of 142 countries, it doesn’t seem that bad at all.

We don’t know about you, but we’re thinking about packing our bags and buying a one-way ticket to Norway

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* http://firsttoknow.com

A Few Ethiopian Proverbs - by Hénock Gugsa

A Few Ethiopian Proverbs *

by 

Hénock Gugsa

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**    The wise man knows the value and necessity of quiet reserve ( in Amharic, " zimeta"  ዝምታ ).
**    A good name (reputation) is better than good perfume.
**   Thorns prick lightly the person who treads with caution.
**    One who plants grapes by the roadside, and one who marries a pretty woman share the same problem.
**    A belt fastened while running will come undone while running. ሲሮጡ  የታጠቁት  ሲሮጡ  ይፈታል ! !
**   What use the dog that barks after the hyena has come and gone?
ጅብ  ከሄደ  ውሻ  ጮአህ !
**    It is better to be the cub of a live jackal than of a dead lion.
**    Collect the fallen, never forget the departed. የወደቀ  አንሳ  የሞተ  አትርሳ
(Ethiopian version of "Finders keepers, losers weepers." )
**    Cow dung can’t be gathered where no cow has been.
**    Beware the impudent latecomer. ከሁዋላ  የመጣ  ዓይን  አውጣ !
**    The slimming of an elephant and the losses of a rich man are not noticeable.
**    The devil's favorite hideout is under the priest's hat. (This was told to me by my dad.)
**    A mouse that wants to die goes to sniff the cat’s nose.

**    The unchecked child grows up with a mouth that slips more often than his foot. 
**    When you hear people vilifying someone in his absence, remember that tomorrow you may be their next target. ሰው  ሲታማ  ነግ  በኔ  ብለህ  ስማ !
**    Don’t plant your peanuts in front  of a monkey.

**    The ultimate lesson in life: Silence.  ["Massimo istruzione è silenzio!".... This proverb was borrowed from the Italians, it was one of my dad's favorites. A great legacy to me, nonetheless.]
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* Accurate or exact translation may not have been achieved here. My aim was basically to bring out the sense or essence of the messages behind the proverbs.  In the process, however, some of the original brevity and poetic rhythm may also have been forfeited.  My humble apologies.    HG