I love listening to Radio Head's 'Everything in its Right Place' because it's all major chords, it makes you feel really good. It's soothing, it's got a beautiful voice, crazy textures. When I'm down I listen to that song and it really makes me feel good.
Schools used to fund-raise for luxuries, like a trip to the water slides. Now, we fund-raise for things we have to have.
I also try very hard to create characters - both heroes and villains - with psychological depth.