This week starts off ignominiously, with John and Merlin both not remembering several things. Merlin proposes The File Card Effect, and John knows not to be too smart when searching Google. John celebrates the proper use of Title Case, while Merlin frets over wearing his memories down to a nub.

Mini-topic this week is Merlin’s latest fraught and stressful experience on jury duty (yes, again). John voir dires Merlin about his eligibility and poor continence, and Merlin introduces John to how one anxiously, tentatively chooses to play The C.G.P. Grey Card.

Main topic this week is John's Cautious Tech Optimism. How does John see technology's role in potentially bringing out our better angels? Why is dystopian sci-fi so depressingly myopic? How much does technology ever really change human nature? And what hinders a culture from doing a more ambitious job of yoking technology to the problems it might be great at addressing?

(_Recorded on Monday, January 31, 2017_)