XAMPP vs Laragon

Frustrated by the ongoing issues I faced developing procedures in PHP using XAMPP on Windows, I searched online for an alternative.

I found Laragon: I installed it and, from initial tests, it seems to work well, is more reliable, and also more flexible.

It includes a web server (Apache), a database (MySQL), Mailpit, phpMyAdmin, and has many interesting features. Among these, the ability to use various versions of PHP and MySQL.

 

The Watchmaker’s Time

I returned to reading a detective novel after a long time. I chose The Watchmaker’s Time by Maurizio De Giovanni.
Is it possible that all novels of this genre must take place in a constantly gloomy atmosphere that pervades every chapter, from the first to the last?
Actually, I am only halfway through the book, but I don’t think the tone will change as I continue.

The novel is certainly not a masterpiece, but it is engaging and believable, so in the end, it is a reading that distracts and relaxes; at least that’s the case for me.
However, I have the impression that these writers now write more with a possible future film adaptation in mind than with the creation of a literary work.
In fact, this also seems more like a movie than a novel.
Is that a merit or a flaw? I don’t know.

Anyway, when I look at the photo of De Giovanni, he reminds me a bit of Pino Daniele, is it just me who feels this way?

 

New CEO/General Manager for Juventus

Damien Comolli resigned. Giovanni Carnevali is the new Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Juventus.

Great. But now we need a true Juventus fan as president, someone who embodies the true spirit of this team: Alessandro Del Piero.

In any case, in my opinion, Carnevali might be suitable as GM, but not as CEO. Juventus is now a joint-stock company, a complex business, not just a football team. Besides the first team, it manages all youth sectors, the Under 23 in Serie C, merchandising, a hotel, a clinic, several stores, etc. The CEO must be someone capable of managing such a complex reality.
Is it possible that Elkann can’t find suitable people?

Anyway, the problem starts at the top: until we have leadership made up of capable and competent people, we won’t win again.

 

World Cup 2026

This week the 2026 FIFA World Cup started, held in Mexico, USA, and Canada.
It is the first edition with three host countries. Apparently, organizing a World Cup is very costly.

There will be 48 teams: 16 European, 6 South American, 6 North American, 10 African, 9 Asian, and 1 Oceanian.
Basically, everyone and anyone will participate… but how did Italy fail to qualify? Truly absurd.

We pay the price for a terrible management of the FIGC that for years has been in the hands of shady, selfish, and incompetent individuals.
Is it possible that no magistrate is curious enough to understand what is happening in such a closed and self-referential environment where a lot of money circulates?

 

USA vs. Iran

One day it seems peace is within reach, and the next day tensions and conflicts return, with consequences mainly for civilians.

The world is in the hands of unleashed madmen.

I go a bit against the grain: actually, I hoped the USA would go all the way in this war and manage to topple this totalitarian and theocratic regime that oppresses Iranians and finances international terrorism. There isn’t a terrorist group in the Middle East, Africa, or Europe that is not funded by the Iranian regime; this is unacceptable.
It is also unacceptable that tensions in the Middle East continue to influence the economy and politics of the rest of the world.

I believe we Westerners should stop intervening in those countries, let them find their own path to democracy, and do everything possible to avoid dependence on resources coming from those areas.

 

Disorders in Belfast

For several days in Belfast, in Northern Ireland (the part that belongs to the United Kingdom to be clear), there have been episodes of urban violence and anti-immigration demonstrations, triggered by the stabbing of a man by a Sudanese asylum seeker.

The incident was apparently the last straw as social tensions have actually been high for a long time.

These disorders should not be underestimated. There is a growing unrest throughout Europe: Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Spain, and it could also reach Italy.
Integration policies have failed and this issue must be addressed seriously and without hypocrisy.

 

 

 

 

 

*** Note: This article was automatically translated through a workflow created with n8n and OpenAI. The original version of the post is the Italian one.