How an Advertising Manager can save money

On this occasion, I’m going to share a decision I made to save money when producing advertising brochures: Making it absolutely clear that the ownership of the brochures belongs to the company that paid the creatives (whether freelancers or an advertising agency) and the printers. Because what happens in almost every company? 

The company commissions an external designer or an agency to design a brochure… and pays them for it. Then, it hires a printer or the same agency that designed it to print the brochure… and pays for that too. After some time, the company needs more copies of the brochure, requiring a reprint. And what happens then? They ask the agency or the printer that handled it the first time to do the reprint. In doing so, the ownership of that brochure has effectively been left in the hands of the agency or the printer, and the company—if it wants a reprint later—has to go back to them for it, without the chance to request quotes from other printers. Perhaps, if they sought quotes from other printers for this second round, they’d find the reprint would be cheaper, but they can’t because they don’t have the necessary printing plates (photoliths) for the reprint—the original printer kept them after the first job. 

Therefore, it’s essential to make it clear to agencies and printers that, once they’ve been chosen to produce those brochures and the job is complete, they must hand over the printing plates to the company. If a reprint is needed later, it’s logical to request a quote from them, but not only from them. Isn’t it standard practice to always get three quotes for comparison? So why isn’t this done for reprints? Simply because the commissioning company hasn’t demanded that the printing plates be handed over once the job is finished. 

This way, every time we needed a new reprint, we requested quotes from three printers, and the job went to the one offering the lowest price on that occasion. 

And there’s even another advantage. Often, when deciding to create a new brochure, we reuse the cover, interior, or a specific page from a previous one. In this case, the designer or agency only needs to create the artwork for the new pages, because we already have the final artwork and printing plates for the repeated sections. We can then pass these along to the printer handling the new job. 

Of course, it’s more convenient for the Advertising Manager to have a single point of contact (the advertising agency) that takes care of everything, with the manager simply giving approvals along the way… but this is more expensive than if the Advertising Manager takes charge and oversees every step. 

And this doesn’t mean doing away with advertising agencies—do you know why? 
Because the savings achieved with this approach aren’t just “saved” money—they’re funds that can be reinvested into more advertising. And part of that money will end up back with the advertising agencies for other campaigns.

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca”: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

Agrochemical products and “Safety Period”

The “safety period” refers to the minimum amount of time that must elapse between the application of an agrochemical product (such as an insecticide, fungicide, or herbicide) to a crop and the time of harvest. If the crop is harvested before this period has ended, toxic residues may remain on the produce, posing a risk of contaminated food reaching the market. However, if the harvest occurs after the safety period, any agrochemical residues on the crop will have dissipated or become inactive, allowing the produce to be sent to market with full safety assurances.

But why would any farmer consider harvesting before the safety period is complete? The answer lies in market demands: produce must be delivered at its peak ripeness. If the agrochemical was applied later than intended, farmers might feel pressured to harvest early—before the safety period ends—to avoid delivering overripe or poor-quality crops to the market. This is why it’s critical to clearly specify this information in promotional brochures, catalogs, and other materials, and why company sales representatives must explain it thoroughly during the regular meetings they hold with potential clients.

 

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

The massive blackout in Spain and Portugal. An analysis of possible causes

On April 28, 2025, at 12:33 PM, the Iberian Peninsula was plunged into darkness due to an unprecedented power outage that affected Spain and Portugal, with brief incidents in southern France and Andorra. This collapse, which paralyzed transportation, communications, and economic activities, left millions without electricity for hours. Despite the efforts of authorities and grid operators, the exact causes of the incident remain under investigation. Below, we analyze the potential reasons behind this historic "zero energy" event, based on available information and critical reasoning.
 
Context of the Incident
According to Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the blackout was triggered by the sudden loss of 15 gigawatts (GW) from the grid, equivalent to 60% of the demand at that moment. This collapse stemmed from a "strong power flow oscillation" that caused the automatic disconnection of the Iberian grid from the European electricity system. Recovery began progressively hours later, reaching 99.95% of the peninsula’s electricity demand by 7:00 AM on April 29. However, uncertainty about the origin of the failure persists, with hypotheses ranging from technical malfunctions to speculation about cyberattacks.
 
Possible Causes of the Blackout
Grid Oscillations: A Technical Issue in System Control
The most supported hypothesis by REE and experts points to a technical problem related to an anomalous oscillation in high-voltage lines (400 kV). These oscillations, defined as significant variations in frequency, power flows, or grid voltages, destabilized the Iberian system, leading to its collapse. Eduardo Prieto, Director of Operations Services at REE, noted that this oscillation caused the automatic disconnection of the Iberian grid from the European system, leaving Spain and Portugal as an "electrical island" unable to balance its loads.
 
An initial theory proposed by Portugal’s grid operator, Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), suggested that these oscillations might be linked to a phenomenon known as "atmospheric vibration-induced," attributed to sudden temperature changes. However, this hypothesis was debunked by the Portuguese operator and Spain’s State Meteorological Agency, which confirmed the absence of unusual atmospheric phenomena on April 28. This suggests that the oscillation likely had a technical origin, such as a failure in grid control systems or a coordination error in network management.
 
From a technical perspective, the Iberian grid operates as an interconnected system that relies on a constant balance between supply and demand. Any significant disturbance, such as the sudden loss of a transmission line or generation group, can trigger a chain reaction. The likelihood of a failure in control software or grid protection systems, which failed to compensate for the oscillation, seems high, though the specific triggers remain unidentified.
 
Cyberattack: A Hypothesis Under Investigation
Amid rising geopolitical tensions, the possibility of a cyberattack has gained traction, particularly following statements by Juanma Moreno, president of the Andalusian Regional Government, who mentioned this hypothesis based on information from the Andalusian Cryptologic Center. The National Cryptologic Center (CCN), part of Spain’s National Intelligence Center (CNI), is investigating whether the blackout could result from malicious action. Spain, due to its stance in conflicts such as those in Ukraine and Gaza, has been a target of cyberattacks in recent months, adding plausibility to this theory.
 
A cyberattack could have compromised grid control systems, manipulating power flows or disabling protection mechanisms. However, both REE and the Vice-President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, have emphasized that there are no clear indications of sabotage. France’s Industry Minister, Marc Ferracci, also ruled out a cyberattack as the primary hypothesis. While it cannot be entirely dismissed, the lack of concrete evidence suggests this possibility is less likely than a technical failure, at least until investigations progress.
 
Failure in Critical Infrastructure
Another hypothesis considers a physical failure in critical infrastructure, such as the severing of a transmission cable or a malfunction in a key substation. Some reports speculated about a possible cut in an underwater cable, fueled by sightings of Russian ships in international waters near the Iberian Peninsula. However, experts have dismissed this theory, as a failure in a substation or transmission line is typically mitigated by isolating the affected node, preventing a total collapse.
 
Similarly, the notion of a fire in the grid, as rumored and denied by the French operator RTE regarding an alleged blaze between Perpignan and Narbonne, has been debunked. The robustness of the Iberian grid, designed to handle localized failures, makes it unlikely that an isolated physical failure caused a blackout of this magnitude without an aggravating factor, such as an error in control systems or a chain reaction.
 
Excess Demand or Insufficient Generation: A Discarded Possibility
Some experts have considered whether a demand spike or insufficient generation could have overwhelmed the system. However, this hypothesis has been ruled out by REE and analysts, as the forecasted demand for April 28 (26,837 MW) was covered by the available generation capacity (26,144 MW managed by the Iberian Energy Market Operator). Spain has surplus generation capacity and mechanisms like interruptibility, which disconnects large industrial consumers during stress periods, to prevent collapses. The absence of a significant supply-demand imbalance reinforces the idea that the issue lies in grid management, not energy availability.

Contextual Factors and System Vulnerabilities
The blackout has highlighted the vulnerability of the Iberian grid, which operates as an "electrical island" with limited interconnection to the rest of Europe, primarily through the Pyrenees. This reliance on a weak connection with France may have amplified the consequences of the initial oscillation, as the Iberian grid could not stabilize after disconnecting from the European system. Additionally, the growing integration of intermittent renewable sources, such as solar and wind, poses challenges to grid stability, though there is no evidence that these were the direct cause of the incident.
 
Moreover, the scale of the blackout, which simultaneously affected Spain and Portugal, suggests a failure at a critical point in the high-voltage grid, possibly in shared infrastructure or coordination systems between the two countries. France’s rapid recovery, restoring its system in minutes, contrasts with the prolonged Iberian outage, pointing to a structural weakness in the peninsula’s grid resilience.
 
Conclusion: A Technical Failure as the Primary Hypothesis
While investigations are ongoing, the available information points to a technical failure in grid control systems as the most likely cause of the blackout. The anomalous oscillation in high-voltage lines, which triggered the disconnection of the Iberian grid from the European system, appears to be the primary catalyst, possibly exacerbated by an error in protection systems or operational coordination. Hypotheses of a cyberattack or physical infrastructure failure, while not ruled out, lack solid evidence at this stage.
 
This incident, described by REE as "absolutely exceptional," underscores the need to strengthen the resilience of the Iberian grid, enhance interconnections with Europe, and modernize control systems to prevent future collapses. As authorities and operators continue to analyze data, the public awaits clear answers about an event that, in mere seconds, exposed the fragility of a system critical to modern life.
 
Final Note: As investigations are ongoing, this analysis is based on data available as of April 29, 2025. New evidence may alter the conclusions presented here.
 

An enthralling story of love, friendship and honor in the Olympic Games (2,600 years ago)
“Life debt”: https://a.co/d/hono34C

The future of immunotherapy in oncology is vast

“Immunotherapy is highly promising, but its development wasn’t easy—immunity is incredibly complex. The first breakthroughs came with drugs that regulate the immune response, specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors. The immune system is finely tuned to attack tumor cells while sparing healthy ones. When a tumor progresses, it’s because it has evaded this immune control.”

“With immunotherapy, we enhance the patient’s immune system to reject and destroy cancer cells. The introduction of these initial immunotherapeutic drugs has led to remarkable progress for certain tumor types. For example, in advanced melanomas with widespread metastases—including to the brain—immunotherapy has achieved long-term survival rates exceeding 60 percent. Before its arrival, it was rare for these patients to survive beyond a year.”

“However, the effectiveness of current immunotherapy varies widely depending on the tumor type. It works exceptionally well for cancers like melanoma or tumors with ‘microsatellite instability’ (a molecular trait found in a small percentage of tumors across various sites). In other cancers—such as lung, esophagogastric, head and neck, urological, or some breast cancers—immunotherapy has brought progress, but the gains are more modest or limited to specific patient subgroups. Meanwhile, cancers like prostate, pancreatic, or colorectal cancer without microsatellite instability remain largely unresponsive to today’s immunotherapy.”

“The good news is that the potential of antitumor immunotherapy is enormous, and current treatments tap into only a fraction of it. There’s still much room for advancement. Right now, over 1,000 clinical trials worldwide are exploring new, more effective immunotherapy approaches that could target a broader range of tumors.”

Source: Statements by Dr. Fernando Rivera to the Cantabria College of Physicians

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

In defense of Argentine parrots

Across cities worldwide, and particularly in Spain, a silent and often unnoticed battle unfolds among urban bird species. Argentine parrots, scientifically known as Myiopsitta monachus, have been unfairly branded as an invasive and dangerous species, while pigeons—so ubiquitous in our squares and buildings—enjoy near-universal acceptance. In this piece, I will argue why we should reconsider our approach to these birds and, specifically, defend the presence of Argentine parrots.

The Case for Argentine Parrots 

Controlled Environmental Impact: Contrary to popular belief, the environmental impact of Argentine parrots is not as severe as often exaggerated. Their diet is varied but not exclusively harmful to local flora; in fact, they frequently consume abundant fruits and seeds. Moreover, they do not significantly compete with native species in a direct or detrimental way. 
 
Beauty and Social Behavior: Argentine parrots are strikingly attractive birds, with their vibrant green plumage and their ability to form large, social colonies. Their presence brings a splash of color and vitality to urban areas. Beyond aesthetics, they are renowned for their intelligence and communication skills, making them fascinating from an ethological perspective. 
 
Minor Public Health Concerns: While it’s true they can occasionally affect infrastructure like power lines, their impact on public health is minimal compared to pigeons. Argentine parrots are not disease vectors in the same way pigeons are, whose accumulated droppings in buildings and public spaces pose significant health risks.

The Problem with Pigeons 

Material and Health Damage: Pigeons (Columba livia) produce vast amounts of droppings that not only mar the aesthetic appeal of cities but also cause considerable damage to architecture and cultural heritage. Furthermore, their feces can transmit diseases such as histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, and psittacosis, among others. 
 
Overabundance and Ineffective Control: Pigeons have multiplied unchecked due to human feeding and the absence of natural predators in urban environments. Efforts to control their population have largely proven ineffective or ethically controversial.

Final Reflection

Favoring Argentine parrots over pigeons is not merely a matter of aesthetics or fewer nuisances. It’s about ecological fairness and reassessing how we treat the species that share our urban spaces. If we must choose, opting for parrots not only reduces health and maintenance issues but also enriches our daily lives with diversity and beauty. It’s time for our perceptions and policies toward these birds to evolve, recognizing Argentine parrots not as pests, but as urban neighbors with a right to exist and be appreciated.
 

An enthralling story of love, friendship and honor in the Olympic Games (2,600 years ago)
“Life debt” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon): https://a.co/d/hono34C

Do something interesting every day

We often hear or read speakers, writers, and self-proclaimed clever individuals quoting famous authors. Those who rely on these quotes seem eager to prove their own erudition or to place themselves on the same level as the figures they cite. But if they’re quoting someone else, isn’t it the quoted person who’s truly cultured and renowned, rather than the one doing the quoting? How many times have you heard or read phrases like “As so-and-so once said…”? It feels like an attempt to borrow someone else’s ideas, as if the fame of the quoted figure somehow validates what the speaker is about to say.
 
I’m not opposed to quoting other authors, but there’s a difference between using quotes sparingly and overusing them. So, on this occasion, I’ll share a quote from a famous figure that perfectly captures my perspective. And since he’s well-known, you’ll probably pay more attention to him than to me:
 
“Fashion is the herd; the interesting thing is to do what you feel like doing.” – Luis Buñuel.
 
That’s exactly what I’ve just done: what I felt like doing. I wanted to say it, so I did, and it feels great. That’s what’s truly interesting in life: doing what you’re passionate about, what drives you.
 
Never forget that to make your life interesting, you must trust your imagination, your judgment, and your reasoning. Create something new, different, and inspiring every day.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

A fungus that kills another fungus

Can a fungus kill another? And if so, how could that benefit us? This is the story of a discovery that transformed the world of fungicides used in agriculture to combat fungal diseases. It all began 55 years ago in the former Czechoslovakia…

In that country, two types of edible fungi—Oudemansiella mucida and Strobillurus tenacellus—were known to grow on decaying wood in forests. But until then, no one had noticed a curious detail: where these fungi thrived, no other fungi grew nearby.
 
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the reason became clear: these two fungi secreted a substance that killed any rival fungi daring to encroach on 'their territory,' potentially stealing moisture and nutrients. This natural fungicide, which harmed other fungi but not the ones producing it, was identified as betamethoxyacrylic acid. Scientists realized they had stumbled upon a promising breakthrough—here was a substance that could combat fungal attacks on agricultural crops. But it wouldn’t be that simple. The compound proved photochemically unstable and highly sensitive to temperature changes, making it impractical for commercial use.
 
Years later, in 1982, researchers at Zeneca Agrochemicals (now Syngenta) took this molecule apart and developed no fewer than 1,400 variants. Eventually, they created one that met the necessary conditions for effective agricultural use: azoxystrobin. Just seven years later—thanks to the compound’s excellent eco-toxicological profile—field trials began, demonstrating its ability to effectively fight fungal attacks across a wide range of crops without harming the plants or the environment.
 
Much like the natural fungicide secreted by those two fungi, azoxystrobin shared a similar mode of action, including a lack of resistance from target fungi. The molecule easily penetrated the cell walls of pathogenic fungi, reaching their mitochondria—the energy-producing organelles critical to fungal survival. By disrupting the electron transport chain, it halted ATP synthesis (the fungus’s vital energy source). Without energy, the fungus died, allowing the affected plant to resume normal growth.
 
Azoxystrobin revolutionized fungicides with unprecedented properties, becoming an essential ally in protecting crops worldwide. It offers preventive action (powerfully inhibiting spore germination and early fungal development) as well as curative and eradicative effects (remaining highly active against post-germination stages of various fungal species, whether applied before or after an infection).
 
Another standout feature is its exceptional toxicological and environmental profile. This was evident when it received its first registration in 1998 in Germany—a country known for its stringent Green movement standards. Just months later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted its approval.
 
Rarely has an agrochemical company developed a product with such remarkable traits. This original, groundbreaking fungicide, with a mode of action unlike anything before it, proved effective against a broad spectrum of diseases—including downy mildew, powdery mildew, excoriosis, black rot, Alternaria, anthracnose, and Septoria—in over 60 commercially significant crops.
 
Today, azoxystrobin is no longer exclusive to one company; it’s marketed by numerous agrochemical firms under various trade names and concentrations, tailored to specific crops. But in its time, it was a true revolution that reshaped the world of agricultural fungicides.
 

A journey through the history of the pharmaceutical industry and one of its great laboratories that had its origins in Alfred Nobel...
“From Alfred Nobel to AstraZeneca” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon) is available in e-Book and print editions: https://a.co/d/9svRTuI

How to put an end to dog poop on the streets

We’re all fed up with seeing dog poop scattered across the streets, and more than once, we’ve had the misfortune of stepping in it. I won’t even mention the nightmare of when it gets stuck in the grooves of your shoe soles, forcing you to scrape it out with a stick, bit by bit. So, what do we do? Stage a canine holocaust and wipe out all the dogs to eliminate their poop? Declare a state of emergency with the army patrolling the streets, arresting owners who don’t pick up after their pets and shipping them off to Guantanamo? I think there are less extreme solutions.

Many city and town councils came up with the brilliant idea of installing bag dispensers so dog owners could use them to clean up after their pets. Most owners—decent, well-mannered people—took advantage of them, and those cities and towns became cleaner, more hygienic, and more pleasant for their residents. But over time, the poop problem crept back. What happened? Simple: the same thing that always happens—great ideas with no follow-through. The councils started skimping on bags, restocking them later and later. By the time a dog owner went to grab one, the dispenser was empty, and with a heavy heart, they’d leave the steaming pile right there on the sidewalk. What were they supposed to do? Sprint home to grab a shopping bag (one of those you now have to pay for at the supermarket) and rush back to the scene of the crime? The councils’ plan turned out to be the worst possible approach: they got dog owners hooked on the convenience of readily available bags, only to stop restocking them regularly once the habit was formed.
 
Nowadays, anyone walking through these cities and towns with empty dispensers will see plenty of dog poop littering the streets. Some owners, treating them like precious treasure, carry a stash of bags they managed to snatch at dawn when the cleaning crew finally restocked the dispensers—racing to grab a handful so at least their dog wouldn’t contribute to the mess. I can vouch for this myself. Here in Madrid, on some Mondays (and only some), the gardeners refill the dispensers early in the morning… but by mid-morning, they’re already empty.
 
So, solving this problem is actually quite simple: either give the cleaning staff the order (and the supplies) to restock the bags daily in any dispenser that’s run out, or remove the dispensers from the streets altogether and replace them with signs that read something like: “Picking up dog poop is the responsibility of the owners, who must purchase the appropriate bags at… (list the types of stores where they can be found).”
 
As you can see, there’s no need for fines or awareness campaigns—just a bit of common sense and consistency.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

Why do we wear makeup?

(Sunday Poetry Corner) Why do we wear makeup? Have you ever asked yourself that? Perhaps you have, but maybe you only came up with a superficial answer—something like, “because it makes me feel better,” “to please someone,” “to be trendy”… or maybe you’ve even given yourself a deeper response at some point, like “to be socially accepted.” And is all of that really necessary?

Whether it’s necessary or not, the truth is that we all put on makeup, get ready, and “make ourselves pretty” in front of the mirror, acknowledging our desire to please others (perhaps someone in particular) and also to please ourselves.
Poetry cannot remain detached from this magical, daily ritual, which is why I’m sharing this poem that goes beyond mere makeup…
 
MAKEUP 
 
I spread the foundation with care,
covering pores evenly,
then I add the color
that highlights my cheeks. 
 
Shadows grace my eyes,
my lashes grow longer,
and my blue eyes become
the center of gravity. 
 
Next, I paint my lips,
braces? Who cares!
I blow kisses to the mirror
and admire the finish.
We’ve reached the end! 
 
We’ll step out tonight,
and the body’s makeup
covers the soul just the same. 
 
P.S. – This poem was dictated to me by my muse in the silence of a hot summer afternoon. 

An enthralling story of love, friendship and honor in the Olympic Games (2,600 years ago)
“Life debt” (Vicente Fisac, Amazon): https://a.co/d/hono34C

How to put an end to graffiti

We all hate seeing house facades constantly defaced with graffiti that’s nothing short of an eyesore. Sure, there are a few urban artists out there who create genuine masterpieces worthy of preservation, but most of these vandals are just clueless hooligans with no grasp of art. And so, we watch as this graffiti lingers for ages without anyone bothering to clean it up—until one day, someone finally decides to scrub away at it with solvents for hours, leaving only faint traces of the mess that was scrawled there. Needless to say, within 48 hours at most, the wall is covered in fresh scribbles again. So, how do we stop it? By erasing it every day? Tying pit bulls to the walls at night to tear apart intruders? Hiring private security guards to patrol every evening? Planting anti-personnel mines? No, no, no. There’s a much simpler way.

There are two solutions. The first—and best—option, though not always feasible, is to plant climbing vines, ivy, or any vegetation that fully covers the walls. Once they’re blanketed in greenery (ivy, for instance, is cheap and grows quickly), painting on them becomes impossible. Plus, it’s aesthetically pleasing—any wall draped in plants looks far better than a bare one, and it even helps improve the air we breathe.
 
However, since planting ivy or other covering vegetation isn’t always an option, there’s a second solution: keep a good supply of paint cans matching the wall’s color on hand. Every morning, when you wake up and spot new graffiti, grab a roller and paint over it to make it disappear. The key here is understanding that these vandals thrive on seeing their handiwork afterward and showing it off to their buddies. If they get used to finding their scribbles gone by early the next morning, they’ll eventually get bored and move on to something else or somewhere else. I’d even suggest putting up a sign that says something like: “Dear graffiti artists: We’ll erase everything you paint tonight by tomorrow morning, so if you don’t want to waste your time and effort, go somewhere else.”
 
As you can see, there’s no need for fines or awareness campaigns—just a bit of common sense and consistency.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

Prophecies about the Popes: Commonalities and Divergences

The prophecies of St. Malachy—about which we published an article yesterday—are not the only ones addressing the end of the papacy or the apocalypse. There are parallels with other visions and predictions, both Christian and secular, that have fueled interest in the fate of the Catholic Church:
 
Nostradamus: The 16th-century French seer, in his Centuries, mentions a “Black Pope” as the last pontiff before the end of the world. Some have linked this figure to Francis, given his membership in the Society of Jesus, whose superior is known as the “Black Pope” due to his influence and the color of his attire. Nostradamus also predicts the death of an elderly pope, which some associate with Francis, especially after his recent hospitalization. However, Nostradamus’s prophecies are even more ambiguous than Malachy’s, allowing for diverse interpretations.
 
Fatima Prophecies: The third secret of Fatima, revealed in 2000, describes a “bishop dressed in white” walking among ruins and being attacked, which some interpret as the end of the papacy. The election of Francis, who appeared in a simple white cassock and referred to himself as the “bishop of Rome,” has been linked to this vision. However, the Vatican has clarified that this secret refers to the assassination attempts on John Paul II and not a future apocalyptic event.
 
Garabandal: In the Marian apparitions of Garabandal (Spain, 1961-1965), the visionary Conchita González claimed that the Virgin revealed there would be only three more popes after John XXIII before the “end of times.” Counting Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, Francis would be a fourth pope, leading to reinterpretations of this prophecy as a “change of era” rather than the end of the world.
 
Prophecies of St. John Bosco: This 19th-century saint had visions of the Church navigating a stormy sea, guided by two pillars (the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary). Some see parallels with the period of tribulations described by Malachy, though they do not explicitly mention a final pope.
 
Prophecies of John XXIII: The book The Prophecies of Pope John XXIII: The History of Humanity from 1935 to 2033 (1976), written by Italian journalist Pier Carpi, presents a series of alleged prophetic visions attributed to Angelo Roncalli (John XXIII) during his time in Turkey in 1935, following supernatural experiences in a Rosicrucian ritual. Carpi claims an anonymous elderly man provided him with these documents, which predict events such as World War II, Hitler’s suicide, John XXIII’s death during the Second Vatican Council, and a supposed “Last Judgment” in 2033. Other prophecies include a woman as U.S. president, an African dictator, and a pope who becomes a “pilgrim stripped of riches.” However, these prophecies are highly controversial, and critics, such as some readers in reviews, consider them “unintelligible,” “anachronistic,” and lacking authenticity, noting that Carpi’s prologue about how he obtained the documents is the only noteworthy part. The lack of historical evidence linking Roncalli to the Rosicrucians and the vagueness of the predictions suggest the book may be a sensationalist work rather than a reliable source. While it shares with Malachy’s prophecies an apocalyptic tone and the idea of an end to a cycle, its modern origin and poetic but confusing style distinguish it as a more speculative than theological narrative.
 
Authenticity and Criticism
 
Despite their popularity, the prophecies of St. Malachy are subject to skepticism. Historians note that there is no evidence of their existence before 1595, 450 years after Malachy’s death, and that St. Bernard of Clairvaux, his biographer, mentions no prophecies. Furthermore, the mottos are precise up to 1590 but vague and forced for later popes, suggesting they could be a forgery created to influence a conclave, possibly in favor of Cardinal Girolamo Simoncelli. The Jesuit Claude-François Ménestrier and the Benedictine Benito Jerónimo Feijóo argued that the list is a 16th-century invention.
 
The Vatican does not officially recognize these prophecies, considering them lacking in theological validity and more a historical curiosity than a divine prediction. Similarly, the prophecies of John XXIII by Pier Carpi have no ecclesiastical backing and are viewed as an esoteric work without historical foundation. However, none of these prophecies have been banned, and they continue to spark debate, especially during times of papal transition.
 
Conclusion
 
According to the prophecies of St. Malachy, Pope Francis is likely the 112th pope, Petrus Romanus, whose arrival would mark the end of the papacy and, for some, the apocalypse. If considered the 111th pope, the next pontiff would be Petrus Romanus, a reformer or a leader in times of crisis. The similarities with the prophecies of Nostradamus, Fatima, Garabandal, St. John Bosco, and John XXIII according to Pier Carpi reinforce the fascination with these predictions, though all share a cryptic and speculative nature. Carpi’s prophecies, in particular, add a modern and esoteric element, but their lack of historical rigor relegates them to a more literary than prophetic plane. Despite their cultural impact, the authenticity of all these prophecies remains in doubt, and the Catholic Church invites the faithful to focus on faith rather than apocalyptic speculations. Meanwhile, the world awaits the next conclave, which could shed new light on this millennial mystery.
 

A chance encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3

The “presenteeists” in business

In the working world, there exists a peculiar figure that often goes unnoticed beneath the façade of dedication: employees who confuse "being in the office" with "working." These individuals, whom we might call "presenteeists," are experts in the art of feigning effort and commitment without adding real value to the company. This is a dynamic that, while it may seem harmless at first glance, has profound implications for both productivity and organizational culture.

Workplace presenteeism manifests in various forms, but its essence is consistent: being visible but not productive. These employees:
 
Constantly make themselves seen: They walk around the offices, chat with colleagues and superiors, ensuring their presence is noticed.
 
Display constant activity: They move from place to place, always with papers in hand, attend unnecessary meetings, or engage in trivial discussions, giving the impression of being perpetually busy.
 
Use time unproductively: Though physically in the office, their time is spent on activities with little or no added value. They browse the internet, take long coffee breaks, or get lost in conversations irrelevant to the business.
 
The impact of this behavior is multifaceted:
 
Loss of Productivity: The company pays for work hours that do not translate into results. The time these employees spend present but unproductive represents a direct waste of resources.
 
Team Demoralization: Employees who do work hard may feel frustration or demotivation upon seeing others receive recognition for mere presence. This can lead to a drop in team morale and foster an inefficient work culture.
 
Bad Example: Presenteeism can become normalized, setting a precedent that what matters is being in the office, not what is accomplished there. This can distort expectations about what it means to work.
 
Difficulty in Evaluating Performance: It becomes challenging to distinguish between those who are truly committed and those who are simply present, complicating performance evaluations and merit-based career advancement.
 
To combat this phenomenon, organizations should take measures such as:
 
Promoting a Results-Oriented Culture: Instead of valuing presence, focus on achievements and tangible outcomes. Set clear, measurable goals for each employee.
 
Using Time Management Tools: Implement software to track actual work, not just presence.
 
Efficient Meetings and Communication: Reduce unnecessary meetings and encourage effective communication, preventing employees from feeling they need to be present just to join aimless conversations.
 
Education and Leadership: Train leaders to detect presenteeism and manage teams based on productivity rather than hours accumulated.
 
Workplace Flexibility: Allowing remote work and flexible schedules can shift the focus to the work performed, not the location where it’s done.
 
Presenteeism is a challenge present in nearly every company, yet few managers know how to spot it. It not only represents a loss in economic and productivity terms but also erodes a merit- and efficiency-based work culture. Recognizing and addressing this behavior is crucial to fostering a work environment where "being there" isn’t mistaken for "working," ensuring that each employee genuinely contributes to the company’s collective success.
 

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Pope Francis, Number 112, and the Prophecies of St. Malachy

The prophecies of St. Malachy, attributed to the 12th-century Irish archbishop, have captivated theologians, historians, and believers for centuries due to their alleged ability to predict the succession of popes until the end of time. These prophecies, published in 1595 by the Benedictine monk Arnoldo Wion in his work Lignum Vitae, consist of a list of 112 Latin mottos that cryptically describe the pontiffs from Celestine II (1143-1144) to a final pope known as Petrus Romanus (Peter the Roman). In this article, we will explore Pope Francis’s place in this list, the next pope according to the prophecy, and similarities with other predictions about the end of the papacy.
 
Pope Francis: Number 112?
 
According to the chronology of St. Malachy’s prophecies, Pope Francis, elected in 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI, would be the 112th pope, the last on the list. The motto associated with this pontiff is Petrus Romanus, accompanied by an apocalyptic quote: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, Peter the Roman will reign, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which, the city of the seven hills will be destroyed, and the Terrible Judge will judge his people. The End.” This description has led to speculation about whether Francis, whose secular name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, fits the figure of Petrus Romanus.
 
Several elements have fueled this interpretation. Francis has emphasized his title of “Bishop of Rome,” a nod to the “Roman” qualifier in the prophecy. Additionally, he chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, whose second name was Peter, which some consider a symbolic connection. It is also noted that Francis has signed official documents in Italian instead of Latin, which could be interpreted as a modern “Roman” gesture. However, these connections are speculative, as Malachy’s mottos are vague enough to allow multiple interpretations.
 
On the other hand, some interpreters suggest that Francis is not Petrus Romanus but rather the 111th pope, associated with the motto Gloria Olivae (Glory of the Olive), commonly attributed to Benedict XVI due to his link with the Benedictine Order, whose symbol includes an olive. In this case, the next pope would be the 112th, Petrus Romanus. This discrepancy arises because the list includes antipopes and because the exact numbering depends on how the pontiffs are counted, sparking debate among scholars.
 
The Next Pope: Petrus Romanus or an Ecclesiastical Reform?
 
If we accept that Francis is the 112th pope, then there would be no next pope according to the prophecy, as Petrus Romanus would mark the end of the papacy and, possibly, the end of times. The description of Petrus Romanus suggests a pontiff who will guide the Church through a period of extreme crisis, followed by the destruction of Rome (the “city of the seven hills”) and a divine judgment. However, some researchers, such as Gabriel Wüldenmar, propose that the pope following Francis could be a “great reformer” who establishes a collegial government, transforming the Church’s structure without a traditional papacy, rather than marking an apocalyptic end.
 
On the other hand, if Francis is considered the 111th pope, the next pontiff would be Petrus Romanus. During the 2013 conclave, names like Péter Erdő, Peter Turkson, and Odilo Pedro Scherer—all bearing the name Peter—were speculated as possible candidates who could fulfill the prophecy. However, these speculations did not materialize, and the next conclave (still without a date as of April 2025) could bring new surprises.
 

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