-an OD of Love-

In times of crisis, the true test of our values and social responsibilities emerges. Rising prices and inflation created additional challenges for families already struggling to make ends meet. However, amidst these hardships, remarkable initiatives such as food banks and soup kitchens stood out as symbols of hope and solidarity. Led by dedicated volunteers, these organizations provided sustenance and support to the marginalized and voiceless members of society. In the last 3 years, poverty in my country Malta has been rising at a worrying pace and I just wish to focus on the invaluable contributions of both food banks and soup kitchens. The Quiet Crisis and the Power of Food Banks and Soup Kitchens: Food banks and soup kitchens have shed light on the silent crisis gripping my country, Malta, in the last 3 years. These initiatives have become lifelines for those facing food insecurity and poverty. They serve as vital resources, providing not only nourishment but also a sense of communi...

Still no news from ADT, I was thinking of paying a visit to the fish farm I might find it there attached to the nets....

Gemma was a legend. Very much doubt if she'll ever be equalled. It is the end of an era. Thank you for all the times you made us laugh, for all the wonderful & happy moments you gave us when you came into our homes on TV. Thank you for all you've done, you have always played the parts from heart. Your talent made all of us forget our daily problems; it put a smile and a laugh and even sometimes tears in our eyes. You will be missed by all but never forgotten. You will remain a landmark in the history of drama in Malta. May God grant you rest in peace Sahha Gemma!

One of the e-papers I love to read is the British Times. The main reason that I look for this paper almost every day is so I can read Jeremy Clarkson's reviews which originally were about cars and during those days only the four wheels, sometimes the two wheels were the things that bothered him, in the good and in the bad, so they had to go thru his hard criticism but nowadays anything that moves or doesn’t tend to end up under his sharp wit and cut down to pieces and becomes just dust in the wind. Yesterday as I was reading one of his article about the new Mazda MX5 (His final conclusion is that it's still a bacon sandwich made with good bread, good butter and good pork but now it has a splash of HP sauce)I came across two interesting articles and as I was reading them I kept telling myself how lucky the Maltese students are compared to most students in the European countries especially the Maltese students over sixteen years old who not only do they all get free tuition but ...

One in 10 hospitality workers has suffered violence from customers flouting the smoking ban, a new survey reveals London, UK - 03 October 2007 - Since the smoking ban came into force in June, over 10% of hospitality workers have suffered threats or actual violence after asking customers to stop smoking. A survey of over 5,000 hospitality workers, published today , reveals shocking testimonials from workers who report being hit, spat at, strangled and sexually abused. The survey included responses from all areas of the hospitality industry including chefs, restaurant managers, hotel managers and waiting staff across the UK. It found that over 40% of respondents reported asking customers to stop smoking after the ban came into effect and many have suffered abuse as a result. Personal testimonies include: "When I told him to put his cigarette out, he pulled down his pants and started masturbating in front of me." "I was told by a female customer that she’d make a sexual c...

The following is a poem in Maltese by an unknown author. It was sent via email and is meant to create awareness of the way the little green areas and the beautiful beaches in Malta are being exploited because some bastards have enough money to buy whatever they like even enough to buy the malta planning and environment authority and then spoil such a beauty by building concrete monsters to make more money...this time it is the Ramla il-Hamra the victim of such atrocity. Ramla Bay in Gozo is another one of my favourite bays. I remember fondly the days I spent there when I was a small kid during our frequent trips to Gozo. Ramla Bay is located at the bottom of another rich and fertile valley on the northern side of the island of Gozo. The village of Xaghra, located on one of the hills of Gozo, overlooks this valley. The Bay can be reached from the village of Nadur, Gozo's largest village. Terraced farmers fields blanket the whole valley in a green carpet with the field-rock walls bu...

“I looked out this morning and the sun was gone, Turned on some music to start my day, I lost myself in a familiar song, I closed my eyes and I slipped away” B rad Delp, was found dead, yesterday, friday 16th of march 2007 at the age of 55. He sang many more songs than the eight that fill Boston’s first album and what mostly he is remember for “Don’t Look Back,” of course. Some people love “Amanda.” But for most of my age Boston played some anthems of our youth like "More Than a Feeling," "Long Time," and "Peace of Mind." Regardless, it’s unlikely that everything else he ever recorded combined will be half as remembered and revered as what he did on that first Boston album, one of those totems of classic rock. It’s an album everyone who has ever listened to rock `n’ roll has heard at least something from, even if they despised it. And, frankly, I never felt it deserved the drubbing it got at the hands of critics and first-generation punks, who hated its ...