Bird’s Eye: Sometimes there’s just nothing one needs like a good whine, and if today feels that day, these may be the links you need for your chain. We start with a double header of Virus Comix, both illustrating inner demons. Not down enough yet? Check out 10 ways to be a miserable artist; that should help. And for the topping, 10 things to do when you’re hopeless will help you as you navigate the ocean floor. Here, have another round on us.

* Subnormality presents The Inner Dark, and Tag Team “This comic represents my life much of the time.”

* How To Feel Miserable As An Artist

* Ten Things to Do When You’re Feeling Hopeless Utne Reader (“Thanks”, Gabe)

These days, I’m more likely to feel hopeless than sad, more likely to feel as if nothing is ever enough, as if nothing really makes a difference, as if our whole human civilization is unraveling and there is nothing I or anyone can do about it. It’s a different feeling from sadness, and perhaps it needs a different, more complex set of ideas for coping with it. Here’s what I came up with to that end:

Give up hope. That’s right, get off the hope/despair roller coaster and realize once and for all: It’s hopeless! You should have known when a U.S. presidential candidate won an election on a platform of mere hope that it was time to give it up. Embrace hopelessness! It’s OK! It makes sense. But we can, should, and must still be intentional, responsible, and joyful….