Dream a little dream of me

Have you ever had a dream so vivid that you woke up thinking it's really happening? What does it mean? What about those of us who don't dream? What does that say about our mind? Many minds greater than mine have pondered these questions and more.

The most recent research says that when we interpret our dreams, we basically give them meaning that suits our needs.

The doctors conducting this research don't think our dreams have any hidden meaning, but they do think the dreams say something about our emotional state.

*Picture by Viktor Koen for the New York Times

Pleasure Interruptus

Television commercials have put food on my table for a long time, yet I am not a fan of commercials. I am not alone. Most people would prefer to watch TV without commercials. Some new research shows that ADs interrupting our tv shows heighten our enjoyment of the show and it did not matter if the commercials are good or bad. Even when people TIVO their favorite shows, they stop the show to take a phone call or make a trip to the bathroom. The researchers say we're not fully aware of what makes us happy.

Do you know what makes you happy?

*Drawing from NYT article.