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Working in the field of development economics can sometimes make you depressed. You're constantly reminded of the soul-crushing misery afflicting so many people across the world and the string of failures people have encountered, both in trying to alleviate it, and in motivating other people to want to alleviate it if they themselves are comfortable.

But reading newspaper stories like this give me hope. (Registration required; Login: funthings Password: todoindc )

Humans are so goddamn entrepreneurial, resourceful, and creative, aren't we? We take lemons and make lemonade. We take overwhelmingly numerous and rather patronizing gifts of free condoms from NGOs, we grin shit-eating grins, and then we make orchid headdresses out of them.

Perhaps we're gonna make it after all.