You hear a lot these days about how pets make us happy.  This is called the "pet effect".  But is it so?  The answer appears to be a qualified yes.  But in what ways do pets make us happy?  How strong is their effect on our lives?  Also, how about religion?  We also hear that religious people are happier, but is this true everywhere in the US or everywhere in the world?  Why does religion make us happy and in what societies are people likely to benefit from this "religion effect"?  Finally, some helpful advice on getting into grad school.