Category: Uncategorized

Scideu il cada ia giereni tale nithadditchem. Illum, ium il mulei sitta ta guniou elphein u disa, iena Gakbu Sfi*o nerga insellmilchom uara assentsa piuttsost estisa. Mincheiia li isc-scoghol tieghi ilu nieches ammont tuil ta zmien nista niggarantisci illi bcaina deiiem inhuphu u nigru uara d-donna bendata mat-truphiiet chollha tad-dinia. Dan l-ahhar cbadniha tissielet geuua laboratoriu f’loch mistur sabiesc tohloch cochteil scin sabih ta mard illi irrizulta illi chien il-febbri porcina. Izda chiehed haun illum phil-vesti ta’ gurnalist sportiv sabiesc nirrelata l-avventuri spavaldi ta tim tal-futbol inter-istituttionali Malti illi nhar il-Hamis illi ghadda uettach displei pheroci ta’ calcio ophensiv. L’ophphisa principali chienet seuua seuua ghall-ghain ta’ min scehed ghall-livelli ta mediocrità assoluta illi intlahqu dachinhar mill-contingent malti. Chif ighidu l-prophessionali: spatiu ghall cronaca.

There’s a new kid on the Luxembourg expat blogging scene. Well, it seems that the new kid had been around for quite some time but not long enough to register on the J’accuse radar. That may have much to do with the fact that it is not really a blog but rather a column of sorts on online foodzine Planetmona. The kid goes by the name of  “Bitch de Lux” and judging by the contents of the  seven odd articles submitted hitherto to the foodzine what we have here is an aspirant “gossip girl” of sorts without the glamour and the glitz. It was only a matter of time before the bug of gossip blogging expanded beyond the realm of the orginator of the People’s (*) Village Gossip column. From what I can tell we are in for familiar tones of faux elitism, fashionista snobbery and a je ne sais quoi feeling of having seen and heard it all but only now she thinks it’s cooler because SHE is saying it. So if you are up for some rather insensible (and insensitive) bulldozing of sorts as adapted for the Luxembourger golden cage environment scoot over to the monthly dosh being served at “Bitch de Lux’s” grove.

Our attention was brought to the articles by persons who felt that the Bitch (her moniker not mine) might be getting too personal on the columns (and I am not referring to the cliché rant of hamalli vs rest or the trendy line of dissing Maltese men in favour of those oh so handsome Luxembourgers – spare me). I wouldn’t worry guys and gals … as in most similar gossip based cases… she may be a bitch (again, her choice not mine)… but methinks that the bark is much louder than the bite…

(*) An English language newspaper in Malta that is no longer published.

1. Understanding Corruption

What exactly is corruption in Malta? The trail of MEPA incidents provide an interesting subject for this kind of question. We had allegations (an interesting word of itself) of corruption all of which can be watered down to the allegation that someone obtained something unduly and that the obtaining of that thing was through an action of corruption.

The act of corrupting therefore is necessary for Mr X (whoever he is) to obtain something – a right, a permit, a grant – which he would otherwise not be entitled to (or for which he would have to overcome much competition to obtain under normal conditions). In the case of MEPA it is almost always permits – permission to proceed with development that would otherwise either not have been allowed or would have required a much longer period to obtain.

Well, I’m back in the Duchy and still adjusting to the abrupt shift in weather conditions. Most days it’s raining and the early morning cacophony of the building site that is Paceville has been replaced by a much more pleasant yet still sleep inhibiting – a thunderous wake-up call by one of the monsoon-like storms. To someone used to the warmth and comfort of the Mediterranean summers this weather is definitely abnormal. I’d go so far as to say it’s immoral.

Of course by saying that it is immoral I do not mean that the invisible hand behind the weather is violating society’s current accepted standards and ethics, but rather simply expressing my dissatisfaction metaphorically. I would however be joining a growing trend among politicians in using the words “moral” and “immoral”.

Yep. It seems that “morals” and “morality” are the hip words in our political community. Suddenly, there has been a paradigm shift in the measure of a politician’s competence and accountability. It begins with an assault on “the law” because it is “an ass” – it can no longer cater for the hungry needs of the politicians. “The law” we are told, is either outdated or administered by inefficient bureaucrats unable to feel the pulse of the needy and see the light of reason. The “law is an ass” and along with the ass we throw out of the window the whole system of checks and balances on which our Res Publica should be built.

Clinton says North Korea has no friends (reuters). Pyongyang to explore openings on Facebook.

Karozzini fight ADT to retain Valletta business (TOM). Must involve a huge amount of horse-trading.

Microsoft finishes Windows 7 and releases code to manufacturing (pcpro). Previewers think it’s quite a bundle.

Valletta FC on the brink of making club history (indy). It’s all due to a good dose of dutch courage.

CoE to baptise children as parents are married (Times). If you can’t beat them (to hell) join them (and get them to join you).

inspired by the original www.spinoza.it

Not since the days of Alfred Sant’s “konvinzjoni morali” have morals been so much at the forefront. At the time Sant’s “moral conviction” was bandied around in areas where proof was hard to come by – some would say it was an unfounded allegation dressed up as faithful conviction. Nowadays the word “morals” pops up more often than not and J’accuse is noting an alarming shifting of goalposts – more particularly because the “moral standard” is hard to define unless of course you have the conviction that your morals are better than those of others.

Take Roberta Metsola TT. The candidate funding saga is not the first time she has almost become an authority on morals. We all remember that in full election swing, both as a candidate and as a proto-candidate (before registration), she called on the government’s “moral obligation” to pay back the registration tax even if the letter of the law did not, eventually, oblige it to do so. At that point, Metsola’s moral compass was firmly in favour of reading the law in all fairness to the citizen and the taxpayer. Accountability must have featured somewhere along the lines too. Morality would trump the (unfair) letter of the law and get people their dues (and Metsola her votes). Funny how she has not come up with a “moral” reading of the law regulating electoral spending limits this time round. If not “moral” at least “purposive” which is probably what the Times editor probably means by “the spirit of the law” in today’s editorial.

Then there was the moral ping pong between Victor Scerri and Lawrence Gonzi. We almost heard the words “moral responsibility” which were beginning to sound like some kind of judgement issued outside the jurisdiction of our courts. Extra iure if you will. Morals are a tough line to thread. Laws are supposed to be as close an embodiment of the collective morals as is human and democratically possible. The good mores of the societas are reflected in the codification of positive law. Legal and philosophical theorists have long quizzed themselves as to the perfect formula for the crystallisation of society’s morals into a code that could be applied fairly and justly to all citizens. Contrary to what Lawrence, Victor and Roberta may be believe there isn’t more than one body of  laws governing the running of tis Republic. We cannot afford to temporarily suspend the application of the laws in such a manner as to please the moral whims and fancies of individuals who happen to be members of the party in (relative majority) power.

Legal loopholes aside, resorting to the “moral” trick can only work in this country where we like to think we are all holier than the pope and where the words “kelma ta’ ragel” (word of a man – especially when well marketed) or “mhux fair” (it’s not fair) have wrongly been distorted as having more importance than the proper interpretation and application of the rule of law.

In my book that’s beckoning anarchy, but so long as it is PLPN then it’s ok I guess.