Happy new 2024

With Japan Airlines flight from Haneda to Helsinki passing above, the sky is all clear again with the temperature having fallen down to -24 degrees centigrade. Having flown over the North Pole as Russian airspace remains closed indefinitely, that flight is one of many signs of the perilous future that awaits as we head into 2024.

At the wedding yesterday, I was again surprised by how fast people have sort of accepted these new realities, and how deeply pessimistic they have become about everything from gang violence to the future of our school system. While I may share many of the same concerns, it appears more important than ever to not give up on idealism and the dream of what humanity can become in the future. So, with less than 11 hours left of 2023, I would like to wish you all the best for the year that lies ahead! I look forward to keep writing here on Rawls & Me and bringing you all around the world in 2024!