New Political Review

21/04/2025

Good big cheer for David Cruz E Silva for this post at . It is an emotional testimony and appraisal of what Pope Francis meant, not just for the Catholic Church, but for Humanity, whole! Thank you!

Leading with Ternura

https://www.eu.vc/p/leading-with-ternura?fbclid=IwY2xjawJzg2lleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHo0waMwMY_XTQ7veA-r1QfKp6yQaubyLVXgT2mQwFPrAycZXDl2PvOgQodmS_aem_TwjUl32vAeKNIfreE_DPWw

What Pope Francis Taught Me About Leadership

19/04/2025

Liberal and business,-friendly writers and intellectuals are rare. More so in Latin-America. Some were truly talented and precious.

Mario Vargas Llosa — endlessly versatile giant of Latin American ...

Financial Times

Ingenious, elegant and inventive, the Nobel Prize-winning writer was a virtuoso storyteller of private passions and power misused

18/04/2025

Notes on personal experiences. Human societies live largely around narratives and beliefs, even though we have evolved into technological and scientific societies. Even in Science there are narratives and biases of many kinds, but it is the most objective and impartial human 'enterprise' ever created. That is why the narratives we create, about ourselves and others, continue to be important and impactful. In this particular case, some of us may, by randomness and/or lesser 'luck' (yes, in quotes...) be negatively impacted by unfounded impressions, narratives and subjectivities. Unfortunately, I am one of those who had and still has to go through this type of 'path'.

But I would like to leave a message for potential friends or followers: it is essential to believe, but even more important to develop, our own positive narrative of control over our lives and not to be held hostage by the narratives of others. As a rule, others will almost never make our lives what we want it to be and what happen to us, even if there are many good people, with good intentions and who can help us in our life goals. Because that is what is essential, not losing track of our positive Life narratives, being in control and command of them and having the humility to make the necessary changes that Contingency might demand. But it will not be others defining us and determine what happens or what does not happen to us.

No matter the timing, another hostage to biased 'conventional wisdom'. We have the time to make it happen, if we want to.

18/04/2025

Notas acerca de experiências pessoais. As sociedades humanas vivem muito à volta de narrativas e crenças, por muito que tenhamos evoluído para Sociedades tecnológicas e ciêntíficas. Até mesmo na Ciência existem narrativas e viéses de muitos tipos, mas é o 'empreendimento' humano mais objectivo e isento alguma vez criado. Por isso continua a ser importante e impactante as narrativas que criamos, acerca de nós próprios e acerca dos outros. Neste particular alguns de nós podem, por aleatoriedade e/ou menor 'sorte' (sim, entre aspas...) ficar impactadio de forma negativa acerca de impressōes, narrativas e subjectividades sem fundamento. Infelizmente sou dos que teve e tem ainda de passar por este tipo de 'caminho'.

Mas gostaria de deixar uma mensagem para possíveis amigos ou seguidores: que é fundamental acreditar, mas maisi mportante ainda desenvolver, n/uma narrativa própria positiva de controlo das nossas vidas e não ficar refém das narrativas dos outros. Por norma os outros quase nunca vão fazer das nossas vidas aquilo que nós queremos que nos aconteça, mesmo que existam muitas pessoas de bem, com boas intenções e que nos ajudam nos nossos objectivos de Vida. Pois o essencial é mesmo isto, não perdermos o rasto das nossas narrativas positivas de Vida, estarmos no seu controlo e comando e termos a humildade de fazer as mudanças necessárias que a contigência exiga. Mas não serão os outros a definir-nos e determinar o que nos acontece ou deixa de acontecer.

Não importa o 'timing', outro refém de 'sabedorias convencionais' enviesadas. Estamos a tempo de fazer acontecer, se assim o quisermos.

30/03/2025

Interesting - maybe a bit ironic - good video on Europe's macroeconomy current predicaments.

Why Europe will be stronger without America

Get access to global coverage at an exclusive 20% discount at https://economist.com/moneymacroFurther reading mentioned in the video:America’s bullied allies...

29/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/18sYhvJwxz/

16/03/2025

Yesterday night I watched this Documentary Historical take on Trade Wars. Instructive view, indeed giving us an important historical perspective on probable consequences of these types of commercial, economical and ultimately political tensions. It is a vindication of the merits of Free Trade, but we also learn beyond that trade policy should not be only analyzed through a position of 'Free Trade is always good'. On the other hand there are important corollaries from what we watch and judge rationally: developed economies almost always have advantages in Free Trade in a normal Capitalist framework, but for developing countries/economies things are a lot murkier.

Therefore the current happenings in US and current Administration trade policies are antithetical to common sense and wisdom. It's hard to foresee consequences. Given the complexity of our current historical times perhaps we are watching the beginnings of a new revamp of global trade policies; but Free Trade supporters must preserve their nerves and hope for a renewed settlement, restoring us the merits and prosperity of XXth Century's global.trade, now with the XXI Century paradigms. Interestingly China's rise and role might eventually give the World new paths forward , if we are sufficiently optimistic... (understandably many are not putting their 'cards' on this last prediction).

How Have History's Trade Wars Played Out?

"Trade wars are good, and easy to win," writes U.S President Donald Trump on Twitter. However, Trump is quite alone with this opinion in the professional wor...

15/03/2025

Positive vibe kudos to friend Sabine Hossenfelder. In response to the question featured on the video screenshot: no they aren't. But Europeans aren't also. We can say without doubt that the best the World can produce is within Western Civilization still...And hopefully for the long-term future. We on both sides of the Atlantic should strive to have the best of both cultures and histories. With prosperity and Democracy guaranteed, we certainly all want! 🙂👍

What Americans Don't Understand About Europe

Go to https://ground.news/sabine to get 40% Off the Vantage plan and see through sensationalized reporting. Stay fully informed on events around the world wi...

15/03/2025

Science Says Positive People Are a Lot More Intelligent and Insightful Than You Might Think

Cynics aren't smarter or more competent. They just seem like they are, says research.

15/03/2025

Some people may believe that being cynical is an intelligence signal or a mark of clever people. Recent neuroscience research concludes otherwise. Cynicism may be (almost always is...) an act of cognitive fragility stemming from insecurity and a drive to disguise it.

On the converse sincere and authentic persons are often portrayed as weak, vulnerable or less capable to deal with the world's challenges. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sincerity and authenticity are actually strengths and signs of superior intelligence. The point might be about Emotional intelligence, but with cognitive abilities in general 'intelligences' overlap and intertwine with each other. So next time you feel sincere and authentic don't try to see it as an inconvenience but rather as a sign that you are being clever judging any situation in front of you. With humility and able to re-appreciate critically your judgement.

12/03/2025

Institutional sectarianism and corporatism denotes structural collective cognitive fragility.... Oops 😂 (Sorry, it's my ironic tendencies eventually).

09/03/2025

Clever, unbiased and informed straight talk on AI developments from a public policy perspective. Good Podcast show from The New York Times ' Ezra Klein.

The Government Knows AGI is Coming | The Ezra Klein Show

Artificial general intelligence — an A.I. system that can beat humans at almost any cognitive task – is arriving in just a couple of years. That’s what peopl...

09/03/2025

Political thoughts. In Germany, faced with a Europe with several difficult challenges to face, the two main parties on the political spectrum come to an agreement to make a joint government viable so that the country can do so in a robust and solid way.

In Portugal, with different challenges but correlated to those of Germany, the two main parties live their day-to-day political lives permanently trying to discredit each other and see the possibility of reaching an agreement to solve the country's problems as something completely out of the question.

And then they wonder why Europe is 'falling behind' and no one understands each other. Well, in historical terms, many are beginning to see the European Union as a museum piece, and not just in the literal sense :D Ah Ah. Apart from this fun part, the rest of the reflection is very serious indeed.

09/03/2025

Pensamentos políticos. Na Alemanha, perante uma Europa com vários desafios difíceis para enfrentar, os dois principals Partidos do espectro político entendem-se para viabilizar um Governo conjunto para que o País o possa fazer de forma robusta e sólida.

Em Portugal, com desafios diferentes mas correlacionados com os da Alemanha, os dois principals Partidos vivem o dia a dia Político a tentar permanentemente a desacreditarem-se mutuamente e encaram a possibilidade de se entender para resolver os problemas do País como algo completamente fora de hipótese.

E depois admiram-se que a Europa está a 'ficar para trás' e ninguém se entende. Pois, em termos históricos muitos começam a ver a União Europeia como peça de Museu, e não apenas em sentido literal :D Ah Ah. Tirando esta parte divertida, o resto da reflexão é muito séria, de facto.

09/03/2025

Farnam Street paragraph quotes number two. On meaningful mental models:

" Interdependence is the web that ties us all together. It’s the recognition that no person, no company, no country is an island. We’re all connected, all reliant on one another in countless ways, big and small. Interdependence is the reality that underlies the illusion of ­ self-­sufficiency. No one is entirely ­self-­made.

Interdependence can be both a vulnerability and a strength. When we recognize our interdependencies, we can leverage them for mutual benefit. We can form alliances, partnerships, and ecosystems. We can create value that no single entity could create alone.

Interdependence is the foundation of synergy, the alchemy of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. On the other hand, if we depend on others for something critical, it can expose us if they fail to deliver or change their minds. It’s easy to be a good partner when things are going well. But you want to be careful with whom you depend in a crisis.

Interdependence isn’t just a macro concept. It’s deeply personal. We’re all interdependent with our families, our friends, our communities. We rely on one another for support, for love, for meaning. Interdependence is the fabric of our social lives.

— Source: The Great Mental Models v4: Economics and Art "

09/03/2025

Interesting paragraphs quotes from the Sunday free take from Farnam Street . I would warn that for European readers Billiards is actually Snooker, a table sport I'm also a meaningful fan of. Indeed in Snooker 'reading' the game by a professional is usually different from amateurs', and often amateurs are left in their own 'maze'. 🙂 The positional play metaphor can indeed apply in some broader contexts of our personal/professional lives.

"Your reputation isn't just what people say about you—it's the position from which you make every move.

While most people understand that reputation matters, few recognize how it functions as a strategic asset that either unlocks opportunities or leaves you perpetually trapped. The mechanics of this process mirror an unlikely source of wisdom: the game of billiards.

A master billiards player approaches the table with dual vision. While amateurs focus solely on pocketing the immediate shot, professionals focus on how the current shot positions them for the next one. This deceptively simple insight—that present moves determine future options—perfectly captures how reputations function in our interconnected world.

Amateurs celebrate the flashy, difficult shot without noticing (or caring) that they've left the cue ball trapped - making the next shot impossible. On the other hand, the professional might pass on an impressive shot entirely if it creates poor positioning, preferring the modest play that sets up a sequence of future successes. This dynamic perfectly captures the "reputational cue ball concept." "

08/03/2025

On this International Women's Day I would like to suggest that for particularly attractive women a new right could be more formalized: in the case of marriage the ethical commitment to fidelity to be treated in the same way as it is for the opposite gender. A proper 'democratization' of gender regarding the 'sexy' appeal. Just really kidding 😂😂

05/03/2025

If the prospect depicted below in this article from eventually materialize, sooner or later, we are indeed into a future path for Economic and perhaps even collective public Governance environments where AI agents will definitely have involvement and autonomous participation. Let us make sure in a controlled, human-in-the-loop and high value creating ways.

When AI Agents Have Their Own Economy, Everything Changes

AI agents are starting to act independently, which could usher in a fundamentally new type of economic reality in which the technology is more than a tool.