And then, sometimes, I remember that home isn't much better.

It looks like the The New York Times went out of its way to have the most depressing articles ever over the weekend--first, the one on the mob killing of a Zimbabwean man, which I posted about on Friday, and now there's this piece of investigatory journalism on New York state institutions for the developmentally disabled and the horrible abuse by staff that go on at some of them. The opening is heartbreaking, as it details the death of Jonathan Carey, a 13-year-old boy with autism, at the hands of one of his caretakers, as another staff member watched, and then it just gets worse. It's depressing and infuriating to read and difficult to accept that any institution, and especially one that offers care to the developmentally disabled, could allow abuse like this to occur. And especially so in the US, where we theoretically have the resources to provide expert care to all people. A reminder that while things might be easier for me back in the US, it's a far from perfect society, and there are so many things that Americans should be aware of, as citizens and strive to change. I'm not a voter in New York State, but I'm wondering how other states are faring. I'm tired of seeing the most vulnerable in our society continually kicked to the ground.

And so you don't think it's all doom and gloom, here's a great little video by Jessi Arrington at TED talking about how all she packed for the TED conference was 7 days' worth of underwear and then bought everything at thrift stores. Eco-friendly, charitable, and fun. Just a little ray of sunshine from a very happy person.