On 20th November, 1975, fifty years ago last Thursday, Juan Carlos was proclaimed king and inherited absolute power, in accordance with the succession law established by General Franco, who had been the dictator of Spain since 1936. However, in a significant move, the king relinquished that power, paving the way for what the Spanish call “la Transición,” the transition to…

It’s the end of the world as we know it. Strangely enough, I remember that this song, by the American band REM, was the most requested on a radio show years ago after Mr Trump was elected as the US President for the first time. It seemed to reflect the mood of the show’s audience, almost bordering on hysteria. ‘It’s…

Once, a friend of mine applied for a new job. Part of the application was a history of his life – a curriculum vitae, or simply a CV. He wrote it, but being humble and modest, he didn’t emphasise his achievements as he didn’t want to be seen as a braggart or poseur. When he submitted the application, the manager…

The phrase “insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” is often wrongly attributed to Albert Einstein. It is frequently quoted in inspirational talks and writings and has gained even more popularity through a widely acclaimed 2012 video game, where it was used as a catchphrase by one of the leading characters. The quote’s…

Over a few days last week, a bunch of unknowns were awarded the Nobel Prize for their respective achievements in science, literature, and peace. I used the term “unknowns” not to diminish their success but because they had truly been unknown to the wider public outside the academic community until last week. I am quite certain that even now, you…