Chris Arnade's Flickr gallery about the the stories of people living with addiction in the South Bronx is amazing. If you're feeling too happy with yourself or humanity, also, it's a great corrective.

Rough week for our ursine friends: "A decapitated and declawed bear was found in a garbage receptacle in the Rockland Center off Route 59 Tuesday morning, prompting a call to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Sgt. James Fey of the Clarkstown police said the bear was found by a sanitation worker about 9:15 a.m. Fey could not say which of the stores in the complex is closest to where the bear was found."

In an annual tradition that seems to occur earlier each year, some British survey has declared today the year's most depressing. To be fair, it is Britain, where foulmouthed yobs vomit on knickerless ladettes whose consumption of cheap booze has caused them to pass out in the garbage-strewn streets and the only light anyone ever sees is the reflective glint from the blade that is about to stab them, so you can understand how they might feel a little down. But it's not like tomorrow's going to be any better.

"Mary Maioriello, an employee at O. D. Heck until she resigned this year, said a culture of abuse continued. Ms. Maioriello was hired as a trainee last year, and witnessed several disturbing episodes. In one case, two employees played a game they called 'Fetch,' throwing French fries on the floor and laughing as one resident dived to get them, while another jumped out of his recliner and a third ate them off the floor." —In the event that you're having too nice a day today, what with the sun shining and all, you may want to read the story in the Times about the abuse of developmentally disabled residents at [...]