Brussels Blog
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Right wing messages
La police polonaise attend des informations de la police belge, pour l'aider à mettre la main sur l'un des agresseurs présumés de Joe Van Holsbeeck, un adolescent tué à Bruxelles le 12 avril, a indiqué le porte-parole de la police.
Nous attendons des informations par les canaux d'Interpol. Dans des cas pareils, nous lançons toujours des recherches, une fois effectué un échange d'informations, a-t-il déclaré.
Les autorités judiciaires belges ont confirmé l'interpellation d'un Polonais mineur, l'un des deux auteurs présumés de l'agression mortelle de Joe Van Holsbeeck, 17 ans, tué pour son baladeur MP3. Le mineur a avoué avoir participé à l'agression et collabore avec la justice, a-t-on indiqué de même source. (D'après AFP)
¶ 8:15 AM 3 comments
The ANR hopes to shore up support by focusing on every single crime allegedly committed in Europe by Arabs and Blacks. Would the ANR have given this story any importance if it was obvious from day one that the killers were Italians or Swedes? No. The implication: Arabs and Blacks are all criminals.
As it turns out, one of the main suspects is Polish. What will the ANR say now? That Poles aren't fit to live in Europe? That multicultarilsm can't work? That Poles should be expelled from Malta? That their religious beliefs aren't compatible with our way of life?
Here's the ANR on 23/4/2006, quoting a foreign website:
Joe Van Holsbeeck, the 17 year old boy who died after being butchered with a knife by North African youths in Brussels Central Station last week, was buried today. Muslim immigrants distributed home baked bread during the funeral. Joe was savagely stabbed to death Wednesday a week ago when he refused to hand over his MP3 player to the North Africans. Immediately after the assassination the police inquired whether Joe had made any “racist remarks” whilst been mugged, but Joe and his family and friends were not racists. On the contrary.
And here's today's Le Soir with an update on the case:
La police polonaise attend des informations de la police belge, pour l'aider à mettre la main sur l'un des agresseurs présumés de Joe Van Holsbeeck, un adolescent tué à Bruxelles le 12 avril, a indiqué le porte-parole de la police.
Nous attendons des informations par les canaux d'Interpol. Dans des cas pareils, nous lançons toujours des recherches, une fois effectué un échange d'informations, a-t-il déclaré.
Les autorités judiciaires belges ont confirmé l'interpellation d'un Polonais mineur, l'un des deux auteurs présumés de l'agression mortelle de Joe Van Holsbeeck, 17 ans, tué pour son baladeur MP3. Le mineur a avoué avoir participé à l'agression et collabore avec la justice, a-t-on indiqué de même source. (D'après AFP)
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Brussels by Night
What we're listening to:
What we're reading:
What we're doing:
My friend from the stage, Mij is back in town after a two-year hiatus in London where he worked for the Treasury. Mij is short for Mujtaba and he makes the best curry I've ever tasted. He has also appointed me his official 'wing-man' which means that I get to accompany him on his frequent forays into Brussels nightlife. This is a good deal which lends itself to laughs, some decent conversations with random girls and - when it really gets going - the occasional dancing session with Hungarian babes on the tables of Guru Bar just off Place Flagey. Lazy Sundays are beautiful in Brussels. Mij invited us over for lunch and we sat in his flat dipping fresh baguettes into hot curry soup. We were soon engrossed in an intriguing conversation. Not about identity, migration, religion or politics but about the relative worth of Brussels clubs. What's good, what's bad and what you should avoid like the plague. Rebecca, a Scot and Anna - my English girlfriend - were crucial contributors to the analytical debate that followed. The outcome of this important meeting of minds was the mapping out of a "Sleaze-Scale of Brussels Joints" in which the following factors (in random order) were taken into account. (G) denotes a factor which particularly concerns female patrons of a particular joint:
1) the number of guys who attempt to pick you up in the space of half an hour. (G)
2) the blatant nature of the pick-up attempts;
3) the lighting of the place (also known as the 'neon-light' factor);
4) the number of guys with a "pudding-basin + shaved sides" haircut;
5) the 'kulcheral events' associated with the joint;
6) the cheesy music factor;
7) the gay factor: in a predominantly heterosexual bar, the presence of gays generally pushes up the 'class factor' of a joint by several notches;
8) the percentage of over-40s in the joint;
9) why people are there in the first place;
10) the percentage of men who "blatantly rub their tackle against your arse as they pass by". (G)
What we're reading:
What we're doing:
My friend from the stage, Mij is back in town after a two-year hiatus in London where he worked for the Treasury. Mij is short for Mujtaba and he makes the best curry I've ever tasted. He has also appointed me his official 'wing-man' which means that I get to accompany him on his frequent forays into Brussels nightlife. This is a good deal which lends itself to laughs, some decent conversations with random girls and - when it really gets going - the occasional dancing session with Hungarian babes on the tables of Guru Bar just off Place Flagey. Lazy Sundays are beautiful in Brussels. Mij invited us over for lunch and we sat in his flat dipping fresh baguettes into hot curry soup. We were soon engrossed in an intriguing conversation. Not about identity, migration, religion or politics but about the relative worth of Brussels clubs. What's good, what's bad and what you should avoid like the plague. Rebecca, a Scot and Anna - my English girlfriend - were crucial contributors to the analytical debate that followed. The outcome of this important meeting of minds was the mapping out of a "Sleaze-Scale of Brussels Joints" in which the following factors (in random order) were taken into account. (G) denotes a factor which particularly concerns female patrons of a particular joint:
1) the number of guys who attempt to pick you up in the space of half an hour. (G)
2) the blatant nature of the pick-up attempts;
3) the lighting of the place (also known as the 'neon-light' factor);
4) the number of guys with a "pudding-basin + shaved sides" haircut;
5) the 'kulcheral events' associated with the joint;
6) the cheesy music factor;
7) the gay factor: in a predominantly heterosexual bar, the presence of gays generally pushes up the 'class factor' of a joint by several notches;
8) the percentage of over-40s in the joint;
9) why people are there in the first place;
10) the percentage of men who "blatantly rub their tackle against your arse as they pass by". (G)
Here's the final classification in order of sleaziness with a short description of each joint:
¶ 3:22 PM 3 comments
1) Conway's. What the Americans term a "dive bar", i.e. you can't sink lower if you tried. On the up-market Avenue de la Toison d'Or.
2) Havana. A meat-market dressed up as a Latino paradise. Maltese Eurovision idols are known to frequent this location. Off Rue Haute.
3) Les Salons de l'Atlaide. The building is impressive and looks like a Persian palace. The music and clientele lets it down terribly. So does the fact that it was recently taken over by Belgian-French crooner Johnny Halliday. Chaussee de Charleroi.
4) The Living Room. Opposite Les Salons de l'Atlaide. Just a boring, boring place.
5) Mirano @ 7. Yuppie after-work meat-market. Chaussee de Louvain.
6) Galleries Louise. Great location, disappointing all-round. Avenue Louise.
7) Barrio. Small, smokey, sweaty cellar. Place de la Chapelle.
8) Le Corbeau. Drunken dancing on tables is Corbeau's speciality. People have been known to fall off. Off Boulevard Anspach.
9) You Club. Frequented by a teenage, mainly local, crowd. Rue Duquesnoy.
10) Level Bar. Not much going on here but decent location to sip a Martini . Place Chatelain.
11) Le Cercle. Not much going on here either but friendly crowd. Off Place du Sablon.
12) Dali's Bar. One of our favourites. Good music. But make sure you tip the bouncers as you leave. Petite Rue des Bouchers.
13) Cafe Central. Great for a few chilled drinks with mates but not too good on the dancing side. Place St. Gery.
14) Mezzo. Often welcomes good DJs but our coats were stolen here once.
15) Bazaar. Upstairs Bazaar is a lovely restaurant which actually houses an old Mongolfiere. After 11 the club kicks off in the cellar. Friendly staff, music has improved greatly, friendly crowd. Maltese writers have been known to be inspired by blonde women wearing floral dresses in this place. Rue des Capucins.
16) Guru Bar. Slowly becoming one of our favourites. A pricy restaurant turns into a groovy club. Takes ages to get a drink but the Mojitos and the Hungarians are worth the wait. Off Place Flagey.
18) Cafe Belga. Part of the culturally throbbing Flagey complex and a great place to sip your Blanches and Leffes before the party gets going. Place Flagey.
2) Havana. A meat-market dressed up as a Latino paradise. Maltese Eurovision idols are known to frequent this location. Off Rue Haute.
3) Les Salons de l'Atlaide. The building is impressive and looks like a Persian palace. The music and clientele lets it down terribly. So does the fact that it was recently taken over by Belgian-French crooner Johnny Halliday. Chaussee de Charleroi.
4) The Living Room. Opposite Les Salons de l'Atlaide. Just a boring, boring place.
5) Mirano @ 7. Yuppie after-work meat-market. Chaussee de Louvain.
6) Galleries Louise. Great location, disappointing all-round. Avenue Louise.
7) Barrio. Small, smokey, sweaty cellar. Place de la Chapelle.
8) Le Corbeau. Drunken dancing on tables is Corbeau's speciality. People have been known to fall off. Off Boulevard Anspach.
9) You Club. Frequented by a teenage, mainly local, crowd. Rue Duquesnoy.
10) Level Bar. Not much going on here but decent location to sip a Martini . Place Chatelain.
11) Le Cercle. Not much going on here either but friendly crowd. Off Place du Sablon.
12) Dali's Bar. One of our favourites. Good music. But make sure you tip the bouncers as you leave. Petite Rue des Bouchers.
13) Cafe Central. Great for a few chilled drinks with mates but not too good on the dancing side. Place St. Gery.
14) Mezzo. Often welcomes good DJs but our coats were stolen here once.
15) Bazaar. Upstairs Bazaar is a lovely restaurant which actually houses an old Mongolfiere. After 11 the club kicks off in the cellar. Friendly staff, music has improved greatly, friendly crowd. Maltese writers have been known to be inspired by blonde women wearing floral dresses in this place. Rue des Capucins.
16) Guru Bar. Slowly becoming one of our favourites. A pricy restaurant turns into a groovy club. Takes ages to get a drink but the Mojitos and the Hungarians are worth the wait. Off Place Flagey.
18) Cafe Belga. Part of the culturally throbbing Flagey complex and a great place to sip your Blanches and Leffes before the party gets going. Place Flagey.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Bog Roll
Is this what we've come to? Nikol Cauchi using the pages of The Times to tell us that we can read on the bog?
If one thinks about it, even the most odd moments in the day can be used to read. It is all a matter of developing the habit.
¶ 5:33 AM 2 comments
Circuit Castronomique
Special dedication to all Maltese tourism 'stakeholders' and to our globe-trotting blogger Rene-Fidel who may wish to ditch his Houellebecq under the coconut tree and run to the nearest Cuban newsagents' to grab a copy. Geez, life's funny isn't it? You sit in a lonely grey office in Luxembore and your daily blogging 'appointment with your loyal readers' looks like a naughty treat. You fly away to an exclusive Cuban beach and it becomes a burden. Cheeky Charlie.
Que te diviertas Rene-Fidel y Hasta el Euro Siempre!
PARIS (AFP) - Le Canard enchaîné s'en prend au monde des vacances et du tourisme, dans un dossier spécial intitulé "Les marchands de soleil" à paraître mercredi. Dans un tour de la galaxie du tourisme en quelque 79 étapes, l'hebdomadaire n'oublie personne, de l'hébergement social au Club Med en passant par la sécurité aérienne et les arnaques des taxis parisiens.
Sur les hôtels, le Canard note ainsi que "les étoiles au firmament de l'hôtellerie française ne brillent pas toutes de la même façon", étant "souvent plus brillantes que l'hôtellerie qui les affiche".
Il se moque des formules "tout compris", très à la mode, destinées "à donner une impression d'opulence à bon marché" mais parfois trompeuses, ironise sur les voyages des seniors, les voyages de congrès, le net, les bas salaires des vols low-cost.
Le transport aérien fait l'objet de beaucoup d'attentions, avec "la tarification aérienne à géométrie plutôt variable", les "gros blancs dans la liste noire" des compagnies à risque, qui "ne veut pas dire grand chose".
Parmi les destinations, Cuba est rebaptisé "circuit castronomique", le tourisme médical et de santé est brocardé, de même que la Corse ou le Périgord, "la nouvelle Angleterre".
("Les marchands de soleil". 80 pages. Les dossiers du Canard. 5,35 euros)
Word Key
Le Canard Enchaine' = literally, The Chained Duck. French satirical newspaper.
les arnaques = fraudulent activities/daylight robbery
le "tout compris" = all inclusive
bon marche' = bargain/cheap
les seniors = old age pensioners (OAPs)
¶ 2:28 AM 1 comments
Monday, April 17, 2006
Medieval
Last week a Hungarian friend warned me not to mention a piece of gossip he had previously let me in on since our common friend would probably "go all medieval on his ass" if he got to know that the trivial piece of information had been divulged. Later I learnt that Pulp Fiction had immortalised the expression.
Zemploid has commented on the bloggers' failure to condemn the latest arson attack.
The burning cars are a new phenomenon in Malta so people are understandably shocked by the whole affair and are desperately trying to find a reason for it. But you can already sense that we're turning this into a 'Maltese case'. You read that 'this is what you get in 'Catholic Malta'. Alternatively you get the hackneyed 'where have our values gone?' line. Marie-Louise Coleiro can't believe it: "What is happening to us? What is happening to our society? Hell seems to have broken loose all of a sudden. Where have our values of a closely knit, caring and loving society gone?" Maybe the answer lies in the 'closely knit' nature of Maltese society which appears to be going haywire when faced with its first real external challenge since independence. This, I think, is the only factor which makes the Maltese case different: a sheltered nation which has woken up to find that it's actually part of a bigger world.
The burning cars are a new phenomenon in Malta so people are understandably shocked by the whole affair and are desperately trying to find a reason for it. But you can already sense that we're turning this into a 'Maltese case'. You read that 'this is what you get in 'Catholic Malta'. Alternatively you get the hackneyed 'where have our values gone?' line. Marie-Louise Coleiro can't believe it: "What is happening to us? What is happening to our society? Hell seems to have broken loose all of a sudden. Where have our values of a closely knit, caring and loving society gone?" Maybe the answer lies in the 'closely knit' nature of Maltese society which appears to be going haywire when faced with its first real external challenge since independence. This, I think, is the only factor which makes the Maltese case different: a sheltered nation which has woken up to find that it's actually part of a bigger world.
While some exponents of the 'new right' are clearly what the French would call "cathos-fachos", I suspect that this labelling trivialises the affair hugely. Racism and intolerance are as old as the hills and, no, we didn't invent them. There's no doubt that the guys burning the cars are medieval in thought and action. However, what's far more shocking, but perhaps predictable, is the laborious debate which surrounds the whole sorry business. It's painful to watch. You get the impression that the columnists who've taken the subject up are actually trying hard to educate their (adult) readers about what constitutes 'acceptable opinions' and what doesn't. Although the political parties' official position has been made clear, other columnists have commented that several people 'in power and in high places' actually harbour xenophobic views. We've all witnessed 'leftist papers' giving mixed messages at best. There's an unmistakably surreal smell in the air. It seems that we've been entirely unprepared mentally for anything of this sort - our artificial squabbles having taken up much of our public space. You get the impression that we have to start entirely from scratch as if we haven't been following events unfold elsewhere over the past 100 years.
The arsonists and racists have 'medieval' written all over them alright. But what makes it scarier is that they appear to be operating in an intellectual vacuum straight out of the Dark Ages.
Tourism update: Daphne has said that Malta is a crap tourist destination (see her article last Thursday). Check out what 'rival island' Lanzarote has to offer. In Maltese! By clicking here.
¶ 1:04 PM 0 comments
The arsonists and racists have 'medieval' written all over them alright. But what makes it scarier is that they appear to be operating in an intellectual vacuum straight out of the Dark Ages.
Tourism update: Daphne has said that Malta is a crap tourist destination (see her article last Thursday). Check out what 'rival island' Lanzarote has to offer. In Maltese! By clicking here.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Congrats!
Arnoldo Cassola
Arnoldo Cassola
Arnaud Cassola'
Arnoldo Cassola-Gonzalez
Arnoldo Cassolic
Arnoldy Cassolchenko
Arny Cassola
Arnoldo Cassolao
Arnoldos Cassopolou
Arnoldu Cassogulu
Il nostro Arnoldo (inter)nazionale!
Also check out this interesting (and self-congratulatory) article about "It-Taljani ta' barra" by Vittorio Zucconi in La Repubblica: it's called Saving Private Prodi.
¶ 3:31 AM 5 comments
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Pulp Malta
"If Tarantino's previous films had one foot set in the real world and one in the realm of pulp fiction, this pop culture fever dream represents blissful surrender to unreality..."
...who admitted he had asked Mr Camilleri whether he would like a Labour government to take revenge.
Mr Camilleri was so distraught... malicious tactics were still being resorted to by Labour...if ever Labour is returned to power...
...also resorts to threatening and name calling all those whose opinions differs from his.
... provocation ..."Labourites will be running the show"... These dangerous remarks ... while its policies swing accordingly.
...This is Dr Sant's poor excuse to make heads roll ...This revengeful modus operandi ... vindictive conduct ... It is common belief that verbal violence is as condemnable as physical violence.
These hostile approaches ...It may condone the violent events ... He too must stand up and be counted.
¶ 2:14 AM 3 comments
"If Tarantino's previous films had one foot set in the real world and one in the realm of pulp fiction, this pop culture fever dream represents blissful surrender to unreality..."
Talking Point
History repeating itself
by Quentin (Joe) Tarantino
History repeating itself
by Quentin (Joe) Tarantino
...who admitted he had asked Mr Camilleri whether he would like a Labour government to take revenge.
Mr Camilleri was so distraught... malicious tactics were still being resorted to by Labour...if ever Labour is returned to power...
...also resorts to threatening and name calling all those whose opinions differs from his.
... provocation ..."Labourites will be running the show"... These dangerous remarks ... while its policies swing accordingly.
...This is Dr Sant's poor excuse to make heads roll ...This revengeful modus operandi ... vindictive conduct ... It is common belief that verbal violence is as condemnable as physical violence.
These hostile approaches ...It may condone the violent events ... He too must stand up and be counted.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Y is X Worth W-8ing 4?
Il y a une breve periode ideale, pendant la dissolution des societes a morale religieuse forte, ou les jeunes ont vraiment envie d'une vie libre, debridee, joyeuse; ensuite ils se lassent, peu a peu la competition narcissique reprend le dessus, et a la fin ils baisent encore moins qu'a l'epoque de morale religieuse forte; mais Esther appartenait encore a cette breve periode ideale, plus tardive en Espagne.
(La Possibilite d'Une ile) ¶ 9:36 AM 0 comments
(La Possibilite d'Une ile) ¶ 9:36 AM 0 comments
Friday, April 07, 2006
"Squadra cinica"
The Silence of the Lambs
¶ 10:39 AM 0 comments
The Silence of the Lambs
How many times have we heard Giuventus being described as "una squadra cinica"? Very, very rarely are the words "bella", "pimpante", "che esprime un bel gioco" used to describe la Giuve. More often than not it's "cinica" or "efficace", with the occasional "macchinosa" thrown in for good measure.
Although for many, many people Giuventus is just plain "antipatica".
Now it seems that after Arsenal walked all over them at Highbury and showed up their lack of ideas at the Delle Alpi, their own (ungrateful?) fans have had enough. Now this might have something to do with the fact that when Giuve's cynicism runs out, the truth emerges with disastrous effect: Giuve play boring, unimaginative football and the fans don't seem to give a toss about Giuve's efficiency in the league. How cruel! One day you're a "squadra cinica e vincente", the next you're "inguardabile" and "impotente" just because you haven't bagged the 3 points thanks to a last-minute goalkeeping blunder.
Or maybe it's got something to do with the general "vibe" surrounding Giuve. You know - the famous Triade of Bettega-Moggi-Giraudo, a motely crew of balding, greying, grimacing men (joined by an equally taciturn Capello) who're the last blokes you'd expect to find on someone's "People I'd Most Like to Meet" list. In fact they'd probably be thrilled to find that someone actually wants to meet them at all - every single Giuve fan I know in Brussels exclaims "Mamma mia, guarda Moggi quel mafio**!" whenever the bald eagle appears on the TV screen to sneer something witty after a controversial Juve victory.
But it must be said that Giuve win leagues. And lots of them. For make no mistake, Giuve is a "squadra vincente". Although truth be told, there is a peculiar imbalance between their league successes and their "disfatte" in Europe while teams like Milan seem to have balanced out local and European glory quite nicely.
Ah Milan! That other "squadra vincente". You'd expect Milan to attract equal amounts of "antipatia". You can't exactly call them underdogs. And yet the powerful rossoneri have always been a team I respected, admired and loved to watch. Think Gullit and Van Basten, Savicevic and Boban, Sheva, Gattuso and Kaka. Not to mention l'inossidabile Paolo Maldini. So even when they beat the giallorossi you 're not too cut up about it.
So what is it about Giuve? Is it simply the Bettega-Moggi-Giraudo effect which makes Giuve such a bad vibe team? Who knows?
In the meantime we lift our glass to the Gooners, Barca and Milan as well as underdog Villareal and look forward to some exciting football.
As for Roma, 11 wins in a row is quite impressive by any standards. And Spalletti's a lovely chap.
Although for many, many people Giuventus is just plain "antipatica".
Now it seems that after Arsenal walked all over them at Highbury and showed up their lack of ideas at the Delle Alpi, their own (ungrateful?) fans have had enough. Now this might have something to do with the fact that when Giuve's cynicism runs out, the truth emerges with disastrous effect: Giuve play boring, unimaginative football and the fans don't seem to give a toss about Giuve's efficiency in the league. How cruel! One day you're a "squadra cinica e vincente", the next you're "inguardabile" and "impotente" just because you haven't bagged the 3 points thanks to a last-minute goalkeeping blunder.
Or maybe it's got something to do with the general "vibe" surrounding Giuve. You know - the famous Triade of Bettega-Moggi-Giraudo, a motely crew of balding, greying, grimacing men (joined by an equally taciturn Capello) who're the last blokes you'd expect to find on someone's "People I'd Most Like to Meet" list. In fact they'd probably be thrilled to find that someone actually wants to meet them at all - every single Giuve fan I know in Brussels exclaims "Mamma mia, guarda Moggi quel mafio**!" whenever the bald eagle appears on the TV screen to sneer something witty after a controversial Juve victory.
But it must be said that Giuve win leagues. And lots of them. For make no mistake, Giuve is a "squadra vincente". Although truth be told, there is a peculiar imbalance between their league successes and their "disfatte" in Europe while teams like Milan seem to have balanced out local and European glory quite nicely.
Ah Milan! That other "squadra vincente". You'd expect Milan to attract equal amounts of "antipatia". You can't exactly call them underdogs. And yet the powerful rossoneri have always been a team I respected, admired and loved to watch. Think Gullit and Van Basten, Savicevic and Boban, Sheva, Gattuso and Kaka. Not to mention l'inossidabile Paolo Maldini. So even when they beat the giallorossi you 're not too cut up about it.
So what is it about Giuve? Is it simply the Bettega-Moggi-Giraudo effect which makes Giuve such a bad vibe team? Who knows?
In the meantime we lift our glass to the Gooners, Barca and Milan as well as underdog Villareal and look forward to some exciting football.
As for Roma, 11 wins in a row is quite impressive by any standards. And Spalletti's a lovely chap.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Broaden Your Horizons
J'accuse is all for the Maltese "being afforded the chance to broaden their horizons."
While David Darmanin, writing in today's Times de Malte, informs us that:
Another point Mr Fenech used to justify the doubling of the tax rate in August was by claiming that more expensive air fares may act as an incentive for the Maltese to make Gozo a tourist destination.
You can't "broaden" more than that, surely!
Since it's all about "broadening one's horizons", Lanzarote suggests a cunning little scheme. The government should put aside half the departure tax levied on each ticket and purchase 2 books with the proceeds. One book will then be sent to the individual purchasing the ticket while the other will be sent to a local library. In this way the government can claim that it is, in fact, using the proceeds from the tax "to broaden the Maltese population's horizons." thereby justifying the hefty tax under EC law on public policy grounds. The scheme should be called "Freedom of Minds".
PS: Xemx Wisq Sabiha and The Bible will both be excluded from the scheme since everyone seems to have read them already. ¶ 3:37 AM 4 comments
J'accuse is all for the Maltese "being afforded the chance to broaden their horizons."
While David Darmanin, writing in today's Times de Malte, informs us that:
Another point Mr Fenech used to justify the doubling of the tax rate in August was by claiming that more expensive air fares may act as an incentive for the Maltese to make Gozo a tourist destination.
You can't "broaden" more than that, surely!
Since it's all about "broadening one's horizons", Lanzarote suggests a cunning little scheme. The government should put aside half the departure tax levied on each ticket and purchase 2 books with the proceeds. One book will then be sent to the individual purchasing the ticket while the other will be sent to a local library. In this way the government can claim that it is, in fact, using the proceeds from the tax "to broaden the Maltese population's horizons." thereby justifying the hefty tax under EC law on public policy grounds. The scheme should be called "Freedom of Minds".
PS: Xemx Wisq Sabiha and The Bible will both be excluded from the scheme since everyone seems to have read them already. ¶ 3:37 AM 4 comments
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Blook
Din x'tigi bil-Malti?
Blook
E' il "blook" (un po' book, un po' blog), un ibrido che traghetta nel firmamento nobile dei libri i diari on line.
Blieb? ¶ 5:15 AM 9 comments
Blook
E' il "blook" (un po' book, un po' blog), un ibrido che traghetta nel firmamento nobile dei libri i diari on line.
Blieb? ¶ 5:15 AM 9 comments
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Eglise et Etat
Jahasra kemm se ndumu niskantaw qisna boloh meta xi Tonio Borg jew xi Lawrence Gonzi jghid xi haga li tfakkarna hafna f’li jkun ghadu kemm qal Benedittu XVI? U kemm ser indumu niehdu xokk qawwi kull darba li xi proxxmu jibda kampanja (sponsorizzata mill-gvern) biex idahhal il-kwistjoni ta’ l-abort fil-Kostituzzjoni? Kemm ser indumu nghajjru lil Tonio Borg fundamentalist u kemm ser indumu nisimugh jghidilna li, le, ta, m’inix fundamentalist, il-bad boys biss jghiduli hekk - qisna tfal fil-playground? Kemm ser indumu naqbdu mal-kazijiet individwali bla ma nistqarru darba ghal dejjem li jekk irridu Malta differenti, ghalxejn noqoghdu nfettqu fid-dettalji ta’ min hu fundamentalist u min mhuwiex? Kemm ser indumu nisimghu dibattiti sterili a la Daphne li r-ritornell taghhom dejjem l-istess: “in more civilized countries, this wouldn’t happen”?. U kemm ser idumu ghaddejjin biha l-Malta Today: “how come EU membership has not brought about the openness we expected”? Kemm ser indumu naghmlu f’qalbna meta xi proxxmu jfettillu jibda kampanja eccentrika kontra l-film The Da Vinci Code, bil-konkluzjoni tas-soltu: pajjiz tan-nejk? Biex imbaghad jigi xi Fausto jghidilna li heqq, remember, Article n of the Criminal Code bans blasphemy. U kemm se ndumu b’halqna miftuh berah qisna l-ghageb tal-presepju meta hutna Maltin u Ghawdxin jaghzlu lil xbiha ta’ Kristu ghall-fuq il-munita ewro jew meta t-Times of Malta taghti prominenza (fl-opinjoni taghna zejda) lill- kampanja bl-isem faux-cool “Y is Sex Worth Waiting 4”? U kemm ser indumu nwahhlu biss f’Tonio Borg meta l-Opposizzjoni (Socjalista?), bil-mexxej intellettwali b’kollox, lanqas titniffes, ma tmurx tirfes xi kallu u titlef xi vot imgiddem?
Id-dibattiti varji dwar id-divorzju/l-abort/Kristu fuq l-ewro/ministri fundamentalisti huma ghal kollox inutli minghajr dibattitu fundamentali (!) li, fl-2006, ghadu ma sehhx f’pajjizna. Aqraw ftit l-artikolu 2 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta (fil-bloggata ta' qabel din) u tintebhu malajr x’qed nghid. Ftakru li qed taqraw il-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta (mhux tal-Partit Nazzjonalista jew tal-Gift of Life). Iflu, b’mod partikolari, l-Artikolu 2(2). Iva, qed taqra sew. Issa ser tkompli tistaghgeb?
Ejjew inkunu naqra serji u ma noqoghdux induru mal-lewza.
Lesti noholqu dibattitu fuq x’ghandha tkun ir-relazzjoni bejn l-istat u l-Knisja? Lesti, jew le, niggieldu l-glieda taghna (imqar simbolika) biex dak l-Artikolu 2, jitnehha? Jew ser nibqghu nistaghgbu - u nitkazaw b’kemm huma fundamentalisti – kull darba li jinawguraw statwa gdida fil-pjazza tan-Naxxar?
U ghax il-kuntest kollox...
Eglise et Etat
(artiklu mehud minn Les Lumieres – des idees pour demain, Telerama hors serie)
La separation
L’Etat n’a pas de culte officiel et la religion releve du strict droit prive. On distingue trois degres de separation: la separation pure et simple (France, Etats-Unis, Mexique, Turquie); la separation coordonnee – moyennant un accord bilateral entre l’Eglise et l’Etat, ou un traite de concordat avec le Vatican pour l’Eglise catholique – ou la religion, assimile a une association de droit public, peut pretendre a un financement public (Allemagne, Autriche, Croatie, Espagne, Italie, Portugal, Slovaquie); la separation hostile, enfin, ou l’Etat, fonde sur une ideologie athee ou agnostique, elimine la religion de la vie publique (Cuba, Chine, Coree du Nord).
L’association
L’Etat affiche une religion “nationale” – fondant l’identite de la nation – ou “officielle”. Cette situation peut cohabiter avec la liberte de conscience, un statut personnel seculier – mariage civil, divorce, IVG autorisee… - et le respect des autres cultes dans le pays concerne (Angleterre, Finlande, Danemark…).
La collusion
L’Etat se veut represantant d’une religion unique, confondue avec l’identite nationale. Les clercs sont fonctionnaires et jouent un role politique, la loi religieuse est appliquee pour le statut personnel, les autres religions sont tolerees (Iran, Pakistan, Algerie, Egypte, Israel…) ou interdites de toute expression publique (Arabie saoudite). Enfin, le Vatican, ou pouvoir spirituel et temporel s confondent en l’autorite du souverain pontif, fait figure d’unique Etat vraiment theocratique du monde.
F’idejkom id-decizjoni fejn tinstab Malta f’din l-iskeda…
Id-dibattiti varji dwar id-divorzju/l-abort/Kristu fuq l-ewro/ministri fundamentalisti huma ghal kollox inutli minghajr dibattitu fundamentali (!) li, fl-2006, ghadu ma sehhx f’pajjizna. Aqraw ftit l-artikolu 2 tal-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta (fil-bloggata ta' qabel din) u tintebhu malajr x’qed nghid. Ftakru li qed taqraw il-Kostituzzjoni ta' Malta (mhux tal-Partit Nazzjonalista jew tal-Gift of Life). Iflu, b’mod partikolari, l-Artikolu 2(2). Iva, qed taqra sew. Issa ser tkompli tistaghgeb?
Ejjew inkunu naqra serji u ma noqoghdux induru mal-lewza.
Lesti noholqu dibattitu fuq x’ghandha tkun ir-relazzjoni bejn l-istat u l-Knisja? Lesti, jew le, niggieldu l-glieda taghna (imqar simbolika) biex dak l-Artikolu 2, jitnehha? Jew ser nibqghu nistaghgbu - u nitkazaw b’kemm huma fundamentalisti – kull darba li jinawguraw statwa gdida fil-pjazza tan-Naxxar?
U ghax il-kuntest kollox...
Eglise et Etat
(artiklu mehud minn Les Lumieres – des idees pour demain, Telerama hors serie)
La separation
L’Etat n’a pas de culte officiel et la religion releve du strict droit prive. On distingue trois degres de separation: la separation pure et simple (France, Etats-Unis, Mexique, Turquie); la separation coordonnee – moyennant un accord bilateral entre l’Eglise et l’Etat, ou un traite de concordat avec le Vatican pour l’Eglise catholique – ou la religion, assimile a une association de droit public, peut pretendre a un financement public (Allemagne, Autriche, Croatie, Espagne, Italie, Portugal, Slovaquie); la separation hostile, enfin, ou l’Etat, fonde sur une ideologie athee ou agnostique, elimine la religion de la vie publique (Cuba, Chine, Coree du Nord).
L’association
L’Etat affiche une religion “nationale” – fondant l’identite de la nation – ou “officielle”. Cette situation peut cohabiter avec la liberte de conscience, un statut personnel seculier – mariage civil, divorce, IVG autorisee… - et le respect des autres cultes dans le pays concerne (Angleterre, Finlande, Danemark…).
La collusion
L’Etat se veut represantant d’une religion unique, confondue avec l’identite nationale. Les clercs sont fonctionnaires et jouent un role politique, la loi religieuse est appliquee pour le statut personnel, les autres religions sont tolerees (Iran, Pakistan, Algerie, Egypte, Israel…) ou interdites de toute expression publique (Arabie saoudite). Enfin, le Vatican, ou pouvoir spirituel et temporel s confondent en l’autorite du souverain pontif, fait figure d’unique Etat vraiment theocratique du monde.
F’idejkom id-decizjoni fejn tinstab Malta f’din l-iskeda…
Salam alikum!
¶ 9:20 AM 7 comments
Kuntest
Wara Mark... (ma ninsewx, siehbi, li l-kuntest kollox)
KOSTITUZZJONI TA' MALTA
¶ 4:06 AM 5 comments
Kapitolu I
Ir-Repubblika ta' Malta
Artikolu 2
Religjon
(1) Ir-religjon ta' Malta hija r-Religjon Kattolika Apostolika Rumana.
(2) L-awtoritajiet tal-Knisja Kattolika Apostolika Rumana ghandhom id-dmir u l-jedd li jghallmu liema principji huma tajbin u liema huma hziena.
(3) It-taghlim religjuz tal-fidi Kattolika Apostolika Rumana ghandu jkun provdut fl-iskejjel kollha ta' l-Istat bhala parti mill-edukazzjoni obbligatorja.
Wara waqfa qasira ghall-brunch (harget gurnata xemx fi Brussell), Lanzarote jerga' jkun maghkom aktar tard , biex ikompli jwasslilkom il-messagg ta' llum, il-Hadd 2 ta' April...
Ir-Repubblika ta' Malta
Artikolu 2
Religjon
(1) Ir-religjon ta' Malta hija r-Religjon Kattolika Apostolika Rumana.
(2) L-awtoritajiet tal-Knisja Kattolika Apostolika Rumana ghandhom id-dmir u l-jedd li jghallmu liema principji huma tajbin u liema huma hziena.
(3) It-taghlim religjuz tal-fidi Kattolika Apostolika Rumana ghandu jkun provdut fl-iskejjel kollha ta' l-Istat bhala parti mill-edukazzjoni obbligatorja.
Wara waqfa qasira ghall-brunch (harget gurnata xemx fi Brussell), Lanzarote jerga' jkun maghkom aktar tard , biex ikompli jwasslilkom il-messagg ta' llum, il-Hadd 2 ta' April...
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Small is cool
The "Malta - a bridge between Europe and Africa" cliche has always intrigued me. In other words I always thought it was just that - a catch-phrase. In 2006 it's taken on a whole new meaning. It's a kind of best-of-both-worlds scenario for our dear little island. Those of you who've been following the heated squabble on tourism over the past weeks (1.17 million tourists in 2005 but ever so hungry for more - so much talk about "getting slices of the market", "boosting the industry", "bigger share of the cake") and who've latched onto this dispatch from the EPP conference in Rome (we're small guys, we're small) know exactly what I mean.
Did someone say "overpopulated"?
Now all we have to do is crank up the hospitality, welcome Ryanair's flood and build a few more hotels.
Small - as always - is beautiful. ¶ 7:06 AM 0 comments
The "Malta - a bridge between Europe and Africa" cliche has always intrigued me. In other words I always thought it was just that - a catch-phrase. In 2006 it's taken on a whole new meaning. It's a kind of best-of-both-worlds scenario for our dear little island. Those of you who've been following the heated squabble on tourism over the past weeks (1.17 million tourists in 2005 but ever so hungry for more - so much talk about "getting slices of the market", "boosting the industry", "bigger share of the cake") and who've latched onto this dispatch from the EPP conference in Rome (we're small guys, we're small) know exactly what I mean.
Did someone say "overpopulated"?
Now all we have to do is crank up the hospitality, welcome Ryanair's flood and build a few more hotels.
Small - as always - is beautiful. ¶ 7:06 AM 0 comments
