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Wasting time with the substance

The Secret of your future is on your daily routine

Author

Micael Balioni
November 28, 2024

THE MUSTS

World

 Illegal immigration is actually decreasing in Western countries

 

After years of highs and records being broken, the number of people crossing US and European borders illegally has finally started to fall.

  • In the European Union, illegal crossings fell by 42% in the first nine months of this year;

  • In the US, the number of immigrants apprehended at the border with Mexico reached the lowest level since 2020 - down 75% in September.

European countries have stepped up maritime patrols, increased the number of border agents and accelerated deportation processes. At almost the same time, the US government took tougher measures and began to place limits on crossings, as well as expelling immigrants without the right to asylum.

Coincidence?

Before implementing the measures, both the European Parliament and the US started the year knowing that they would have a tough election coming up - and that immigration matters a lot to voters.

  • In the Old Continent, the right-wing won the majority of seats, marking a change in the region's politics and sending a message of dissatisfaction with the great wave of migration.

  • In the US, we all know how it turned out…

Interesting fact: While illegal immigration has finally started to fall after tough measures, the number of legal immigrants has never been higher, breaking the highest record in history.

What else in on

  • Europe: “Operation Deutschland.” Secret documents show that Europe is already planning for a possible World War III, with the German government already preparing to send 800,000 NATO troops and military vehicles to Ukraine if it comes down to it. (Read)

  • Israel: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Netherlands-based court said it found “reasonable grounds” to believe that Netanyahu bears criminal responsibility for war crimes against humanity. (Read)

  • Panama: The Panama Canal is back in the game after record drought. Although the water level has not yet returned to the ideal level, a new system of long-term reserves has been built to optimize the use of the available volume and predict new droughts. And fortunately, it seems to be working. (Read)

  • USA: From next year, Detroit will officially become the largest American city to accept cryptocurrencies as payment for public fares and taxes. This shows the public authorities' willingness to integrate cryptocurrencies into their system, taking away the power of central banks and governments to control their currency. (Read)

 

Economy & Business

revolution guys, revolution.

The Status of Remote Work

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a new research into the impacts of remote working on society and, for the sadness (of Amazon) of companies trying to get employees back into the office, the effects are mostly positive:

  • Studies show virtually no impact on productivity, as the positive and negative effects offset each other on average.

  • Couples who work from home at least one day a week have 0.3 to 0.5 more children, due to greater flexibility in childcare.

  • Surveys carried out in the US, Europe and Asia show that employees value remote work at around 8% of their salary.

  • Around +2m people with disabilities are working compared to pre-pandemic, largely due to the flexibility of remote working.

  • Daily traffic volumes in the US and Europe have fallen by 10%, causing morning traffic to move 3 to 5 km/h faster and pollution has decreased considerably.

Trip.com is not the kind of company that believes in research and decided to run an A/B test to validate its hypotheses and chose 2 groups of employees at random. One with 3 days and the other with 5 mandatory days in the office.

The data from the 6-month test period and 2 subsequent years of performance evaluations found no difference in productivity, performance evaluation or promotion between the groups. However, turnover was lower among workers in the office three times a week! :)

Personal Opinion: Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a big believer not only in remote working, but also in the possibility for workers to choose. What works for you may not work for someone with a child, or may not work for someone trying to study for a certification or whatever - even without any justification, the simple fact that you prefer to work every day in the office or from home should be enough for you to have the choice of where you spend most of your time in most of your days.

I am very indignant at how companies are sending everyone back to the office, although time and time again it has been proven that life quality is so much better when people have a choice. These companies - not surprisingly - are NOT putting their employees as a priority. And I ask to you guys: Why would you want to work for and help to develop a company that doesn't care about its workers? Even more broader, is that the kind of society we want to build? Not me.

What else is on:

  • Warren Buffett: donated another $1.1 billion to charity and revisited plans to distribute his $147 billion fortune after his death. (Read)

  • Neuralink: is researching its new product, aimed at enabling paralyzed individuals to control robotic arms with their brains. (Read)

  • Airbnb: now allows you to book a new Roman gladiator experience at the Colosseum. That’s Hot. (Read)

  • OpenAI: “accidentally” deletes crucial evidence to its copyright lawsuit against news organizations like The New York Times, according to a report by... The New York Times. (Read)

  • Bytedance: even suffering threats and government bans around the world, Tiktok has continued to grow, with its international revenue reaching U$17 billion in the first half of this year (+60%). (Read)

 

Technology & Science

where could it be?

European startups want a Silicon Valley to call their own

 

Founders and employees of Europe's biggest tech companies have written a letter to the EU Council asking the bloc to pay more attention to startups on Europe.

What's the idea Micael? While today the European Union has 27 countries, the proposal wants to create a 28th entity called “EU Inc”, which would be responsible for creating a simpler and more standardized set of rules for tech companies.

  • In addition to standardization, the project talks about creating a region - yet to be determined - with tax incentives and exemptions for those who invest in the growth of startups.

The main criticism is that each country in Europe has its own laws for the sector, making it difficult for companies to expand and, above all, preventing direct competition with American BIG TECHs.

By way of comparison: While European tech startups raised US$ 45 billion in VC investments last year, American startups raised US$ 120 billion.

Much of this is attributable to Europe's legal uncertainty. Big techs are even holding off on launching their products on the continent thanks to the rigid and complex regulatory environment (which I am not totally against it, but I do understand their point).

Bottom-line: Now, with the card on the table, it's up to the deputies to discuss whether they will support the proposal and vote on it in Parliament or not.

What else is on:

  • Animal cells capable of photosynthesis? Scientists at the University of Tokyo have managed, for the first time, to create animal cells that carry out photosynthesis, confirming an unprecedented leap in biology. (Read)

  • Long live science! 32 patients who were unable to read and had difficulty recognizing faces - considered legal blindness - received retinal implants and were able to read books, play cards and fill out hobby magazines again. (Read)

  • Aquamarine. An ocean exploration company is going to launch a real condominium on the seabed by 2027. The intention of Sentinel - the name of the project - is to increase the “permanent presence” in the oceans and make humans aquatic beings too. (Read)

EDITOR’S RECOMMENDATIONS

Movies

do you wanna stop? do you wanna stop? do you wanna stop?

 The Substance by Coralie Fargeat: I personally believe that this is destined to become a cult “horror” classic, loved by many for its audacity and rejected by just as many for its acquired taste. Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid deliver astounding performances, each fully committing to this dark and twisted tale about fame, aging, and societal pressures.

  • the storyline basically follows a fading celebrity (Demi Moore) who uses a black market drug that creates a much younger version of herself (Margaret Qualley) with unexpected side effects.

Moore's performance is particularly noteworthy, portraying each scene with such genuine fervor that you can almost sense the weight of her character's disintegrating psyche. Totally relatable. The plot twists are subtle yet relentless, gradually escalating to moments of terror without ever feeling forced.

At its core, this is more than just a body-horror thriller — it's a modern fable about the pressures we face in a society obsessed with youth and beauty. It's a story of addiction, where the quest for a "better self" slowly erodes the characters' identities, forcing them to confront the destructive forces of capitalism and patriarchy. I don’t like gore films, but this film's gore serves a purpose, symbolizing the cost of a culture that values people based on ideals. While the script and dialogues may not be the most prominent elements, the ending — representing a form of liberation — is really impactful.

Considering the cinematography, sound design, set designs, and horror effects, The Substance is definitively greater than the sum of its parts. (Rating 8.5/10)

 

WHAT ABOUT ME?

Micael

some water to turn me off

“How do I get out of autopilot?” Last week, I was talking to my therapist about how I wake up and rush through my day, almost automatically, just to complete everything I plan. And I know I'm not alone in this.

  • Worse are those days that feel like they'll fade into oblivion. Days that make you think, “I feel like I'm just existing.”

My therapist (cheers to you, Mateus) asked, “What moments in your day make you feel more in control of your time?” My answer was, “Actually, when I feel like I'm wasting time.”

Anyone who knows me knows that I love taking long baths for example. Even on a hectic day, when I manage to give myself forty minutes in the shower, I feel like I own my time. Does that make sense? Feeling the water on my hair and being able to stop, breathe, sing, think, or even cry as the steam enters my lungs—those moments renew me.

Another moment I cherish is waking up on the weekend and spending an hour in bed, feeling the silk sheets or the duvet hugging me as I find the courage to rise. It feels like a complete waste of time as well - and I love it.

Reflecting on these moments, I began to wonder: is “simply existing” one of life's greatest pleasures? Just being, without the need to do anything.

I don't know if you're like me, juggling endless tasks, but I believe many of you are. So, I propose this for us:

If we allow ourselves to truly EXIST at certain moments in our day, we'll find that trivial things become meaningful, and “the presence of the present” can fill and transform what was before a busy yet empty day.

In practical terms:

  • When you wake up, spend 5 minutes feeling the warmth of the sun or listen to your favorite songs in bed before rising.

  • When you eat or drink coffee, savor the flavors.

  • During exercise, turn off your headphones for a few minutes to feel your muscles working and your heartbeat accelerating.

  • When drinking water, notice how it really refreshes you.

  • In conversation, look into someone’s eyes, listen to their tone, and observe their micro expressions.

Most importantly: Don’t be scared of not being optimal with your time 100% of the time.

These practices help us gain presence, become more aware of our life, body, and existence. Over time, they can provoke deeper introspection with questions like:

  • Do I feel good in this place?

  • Do I like the way I am living my life?

  • Is what I'm seeking truly what I want?

  • WHY am I living, doing, offering, or avoiding this and that?

By existing with more awareness, doing things that might seem like “wasting my time”, is when I am actually switching off autopilot mode. So, I'll finish here to take a long, reflective shower. And you? How will you exist today?

With love,

Micael.

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