From 9fce418b46c9f0894f429384ef9e3dabaeffbeb4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Case Duckworth Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:36:17 -0700 Subject: Change file hierarchy and rewrite makefile - File hierarchy is now as follows: - / - appendix/ < appendix source files - backlinks/ < backlink sources & builds - hapax/ < *.hapax source files - scripts/ < scripts, like *.js, *.hs, etc. - templates/ < templates for outputs - text/ < source files - trunk/ < assets, like css, images, heads, etc. - index.html - *.html - Makefile --- text/problems.txt | 61 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 61 insertions(+) create mode 100644 text/problems.txt (limited to 'text/problems.txt') diff --git a/text/problems.txt b/text/problems.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..191016d --- /dev/null +++ b/text/problems.txt @@ -0,0 +1,61 @@ +--- +title: Problems +genre: prose + +id: problems +toc: "Problems" + +project: + title: Book of Hezekiah + class: hezekiah + order: 6 + next: + - title: Liking things + link: likingthings + prev: + - title: Moving sideways + 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. + +[big picture]: ronaldmcdonald.html +[sitting in a buiding]: feedingtheraven.html + + +[^1]: This seems to be an attempt on Hezzy's part to set an example for + mankind. It should be noted that he is an alcoholic, and not in any + shape to be an example to anyone. + +[^2]: It is thought that only the leg coverings of the female sex are + here referenced + +[^3]: You have hereby found the super special secret cheat code room. + Yes, this is just like Super Mario Brothers---you can skip right to + the end. Go and face the final boss already! + +[^4]: See footnote, above -- cgit 1.4.1-21-gabe81