Yesterday my wife, daughter, and I took in Mayor Pete's visit to our city. It was heart-warming to simply look in the faces of the crowd that showed up: just nice, friendly, neighborly folks. I didn't see any of the nasty fools  who stand behind Trump at his fact-free, divisive, hate rallies. And yes, for any of the three amigos who are reading this, I'm not being hyperbolic. Pete highlighted the need to unify the country, reached out to Republicans, and spoke eloquently of sane, practical policies that would benefit all Americans. He's probably not going to get my vote as I think Biden has the best chance to beat Trump, but I'd sleep soundly knowing he was in charge. 

Another antidote to the malaise we're feeling is Steven Pinker's tome to optimism and progress, "Enlightenment Now". Lend an ear to his recitation of humanity's progress. And yes, a lot of profound challenges face us, but we really do need to acknowledge and celebrate the progress that mankind has achieved over the last few centuries. Human life isn't as "short, nasty, solitary, and brutish" as Thomas Hobbes once observed. And AI has the potential to achieve mind-boggling gains in human flourishing. Stay strong, embrace your loved ones, enjoy every sandwich (as Warren Zevon advised), and put on some inspiring music, EEE!

Here' Sam Harris hosting Steven Pinker's book club.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_5N0N-61Tg

Peter T.