I like the NYTimes. David Brooks is a good writer. But why can't he write a column without riding on Sandra Bullock's success and misery? As most people have caught on and noted, Sandra Bullock did not trade her personal problems for her professional success, her Academy Award for best actress. It is not a choice that she made. Hey I am all for generating web traffic to a website by catching any Internet meme / news of the day wave. (This blog post is a prime example.) However please do not do this when it involve other people's trouble.

And a final note, while personal happiness is categorically more important than professional success, contribution to the world as a whole can be a noble goal that brings true personal happiness. I am not going to make any reference to the Dalai Lama. You think about it.