1 files changed, 25 insertions, 39 deletions

@@ -14,45 +14,31 @@ project:
         link: movingsideways
 ...
 
-The problem with people is this: we cannot be happy.  No matter how hard
-or easy we try, it is not to be.  It seems sometimes that, just as the
-dog was made for jumping in mud and sniffing out foxholes and having a
-good time all around, man was made for sadness, loneliness and
-heartache.
-
-Being the observant and judgmental people they are, people have for a
-long time tried to figure out why they aren't happy.  Some say it's
-because we're obviously doing something wrong.  Some say it's because we
-think too much.  Some insist that it's because other people have more
-stuff than we do.  These people don't have a clue any more than any of
-the rest of us.  At least I don't think they do, and that's good enough
-for me.[^1] I think that the reason why people are unhappy (and this is
-a personal opinion) is that they realize on some level (for some it's a
-pretty shallow level, others it's way down there next to their love for
-women's stockings[^2]) that there is no background to put themselves
-against, no "[big picture][]" to get painted into.  This makes sense, because
-on one level, the level of everyday life, the level of *observation*,
-there is always a background---look in a pair of binoculars sometime.  But
-on another level, that of ... shit, wait.  There are no other levels.[^3]
-
-What's more, people try to explain how to get happy again (although it's
-doubtful they were ever happy in the first place---people are very good at
-fooling).  Some say standing or [sitting in a building][] with a lot of other
-unhappy people helps.  Some say that you can't stop there; you also need
-to sing with those other unhappy people about how unhappy you are, and
-how you wish someone would come along and help you out, I guess by
-giving you money or something.  I say all you really need to be happy is
-a good stiff drink.[^4]
-
-In any case, people have for some reason or another, and to some end or
-another, always been unhappy.  And people have always tried to figure out
-ways to be less unhappy---one of the most important things to people
-everywhere is called "the pursuit of happiness."  I think that calling it
-a pursuit makes people feel more like dogs, who are the most happy
-beings most people can think of.  By pursuing happiness, they're like a
-dog pursuing a possum or a bone on a fishing rod: two activities that
-sound like a lot of fun to most people.  I think most people wish they
-were dogs.
+The problem with people is this: we cannot be happy.
+No matter how hard or easy we try, it is not to be.
+It seems sometimes that, just as the dog was made for jumping in mud and sniffing out foxholes and having a good time all around, man was made for sadness, loneliness and heartache.
+
+Being the observant and judgmental people they are, people have for a long time tried to figure out why they aren't happy.
+Some say it's because we're obviously doing something wrong.
+Some say it's because we think too much.
+Some insist that it's because other people have more stuff than we do.
+These people don't have a clue any more than any of the rest of us.
+At least I don't think they do, and that's good enough for me.[^1]
+I think that the reason why people are unhappy (and this is a personal opinion) is that they realize on some level (for some it's a pretty shallow level, others it's way down there next to their love for women's stockings[^2]) that there is no background to put themselves against, no "[big picture][]" to get painted into.
+This makes sense, because on one level, the level of everyday life, the level of *observation*, there is always a background---look in a pair of binoculars sometime.
+But on another level, that of ... shit, wait.
+There are no other levels.[^3]
+
+What's more, people try to explain how to get happy again (although it's doubtful they were ever happy in the first place---people are very good at fooling).
+Some say standing or [sitting in a building][] with a lot of other unhappy people helps.
+Some say that you can't stop there; you also need to sing with those other unhappy people about how unhappy you are, and how you wish someone would come along and help you out, I guess by giving you money or something.
+I say all you really need to be happy is a good stiff drink.[^4]
+
+In any case, people have for some reason or another, and to some end or another, always been unhappy.
+And people have always tried to figure out ways to be less unhappy---one of the most important things to people everywhere is called "the pursuit of happiness."
+I think that calling it a pursuit makes people feel more like dogs, who are the most happy beings most people can think of.
+By pursuing happiness, they're like a dog pursuing a possum or a bone on a fishing rod: two activities that sound like a lot of fun to most people.
+I think most people wish they were dogs.
 
 [big picture]: ronaldmcdonald.html
 [sitting in a buiding]: feedingtheraven.html