Resilience at Europe’s Edge

An interesting article by Euronews on the economic growth of the Iberian countries — Portugal and Spain. While their performance is not extraordinary, they can still be considered relative outliers within the European context. It’s encouraging to see this development in Iberia. At the same time, it serves as a cautionary reminder of how subdued and fragile growth remains across much of the rest of Europe. If you’re interested in the topic, follow the link below. (text revised by a llm) https://www.euronews.com/business/2026/01/30/why-are-spain-and-portugal-growing-twice-as-fast-as-the-eurozone

- Pedro

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The Path That Is Most Right

“…I have always taken the path that feels most right. The result is never in question for me — only the path you choose to get there. And there is always one that is most right….” The 2014 film A Most Violent Year was a pleasant surprise. It’s a finely crafted movie built around a compelling storyline and richly developed characters. The film immerses you in the business entanglements of a newcomer trying to establish himself in a highly consolidated industry, crowded with players tied to New York City’s criminal underworld. If you’re looking for a strong story, excellent performances, and sharp dialogue, look no further — this is a film well worth your time. (text revise by a llm) https://www.primevideo.com/region/eu/detail/0RE7FX2RDNWT1KHVKZB26OO03M/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

- Pedro

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When Reality Outdoes Dystopia

Reality sometimes surpasses the most extreme far-fetched dystopian novel.... "If he does the job that he's capable, we can grow at 15%. I think more than that." https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2021195305354428607?s=20

- Pedro

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AI False Positives: Signal vs. Noise

AI is everywhere. In a business context, it feels like every 50 words you read or write, “AI” shows up. But is everything really AI—or are we stretching the term beyond usefulness? This is where the book AI Snake Oil seems valuable. It helps distinguish between what is genuinely pushing the frontier—truly transformative, domain-shifting work—and the vast majority (probably 80%+) of so-called “AI,” which is often just existing tools repackaged under a shinier label: econometrics, statistics, optimization, rules-based systems, and the like. I’ve added the book to my wishlist. Before you decide for yourself, you can also listen to this podcast with the author, which offers a solid preview of the argument. https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/thinkers-ideas/id1450867110?i=1000679081055

- Pedro

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Sphere Surface

Great visual explanation on how to calculate a sphere surface

- Pedro

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Why This Beethoven Episode Is Worth Your Time

Want to learn more about Beethoven in a way that’s funny, well-crafted, and genuinely educational? Then don’t miss this episode of The Rest Is History, made in collaboration with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Philharmonia Chorus. I really enjoyed it—smart, lively, and surprisingly engaging. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (text revised by llm) https://podcasts.apple.com/es/podcast/the-rest-is-history/id1537788786?i=1000682151030

- Pedro

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The Great Gatsby: Twenty Years Later

The Great Gatsby: Twenty Years Later I had only a mild, foggy memory of reading The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald more than twenty years ago, and of not being particularly impressed by it at the time. Last week, I watched Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation, and it came as a complete surprise—I realized I didn’t remember a single thing about the story. The film rekindled my interest, and I decided to give the novel another try, as it’s very likely that I—or rather, my younger self—was not able to fully appreciate it back then. As for the movie, I can only recommend it. In an era dominated by reruns, sequels, and the like, it serves as a reminder of how rewarding a truly good story, well told through cinema, can be—and how well spent that time is (something I had almost forgotten). (text revised by a llm) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/ https://www.primevideo.com/region/eu/detail/0QX5MQ08A4LKK891EPLIYQN2UA/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

- Pedro

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