Is it just the late winter blues (we have a two-month lead time here)? The world seems a more hostile place of late, between the Islamic State's horror videos and the terrorist attacks in Paris and Copenhagen, not to mention the prolonged cold and winter storm spell that's had the Northeast in its grip. At least we don't live in Boston, as we've been saying here in New York. My sister-in-law, who lives in a Boston suburb, calls us regularly to tell us about how they go up onto the roof to push the snow off, because they're afraid all the accumulated white stuff will cause it to collapse.

So it's refreshing to see some people and companies actually cooperating, if not walking off into the presumably warm sunset together. Last month we featured the story of Rambus Inc., formerly a notorious nonpracticing entity, or patent troll. The company actually did design chips, but it had carved out a reputation as a bunch of people who sued everyone, claiming their designs were lifted. Rambus turned a new page. Its general counsel, Jae Kim, settled all outstanding patent litigation. And now Rambus is even talking about joint ventures and, in general, becoming a member in good standing of the Silicon Valley club.

Our cover story is about reconciliation, too—although in this case, it's somewhat more controversial. The Obama administration has announced that it is reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, to the consternation of some in Congress and the Cuban-American community. The move means that Americans will be able to travel to Cuba without the various fictions they've had to use in the past, such as being part of an educational mission. And it holds out the possibility that the freer movement of people and ideas will lead to a freer Cuba. Here's hoping.