-an OD of Love-

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 16:48CET Harry Vassallo to submit his resignation Harry Vassallo, leader of Alternattiva Demokratika, has announced he will submit his resignation from the chairmanship of the party at its next meeting next month. AD polled just 3,810 votes nation-wide last Saturday, equivalent to 1.31 percent of the total vote. The party got 0.68 percent of the vote in the 2003 election (when it actually campaigned for number 2 votes) and 1.21 percent in the 1998 elections. Dr Vassallo admitted that the party had expected much better this time around. He said he would submit his resignation but would stay on if the party so requested him, although he would prefer to work as a foot soldier. Dr Vassallo said the electoral law needed to be reformed because although AD had won the equivalent of a quota, it would not be represented in Parliament. There was also a need for election debate to focus on issues of substance rather than personalities, he s...

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 13:10CET Gonzi calls for calm, good natured celebrations Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has made his first public appearance since the Nationalist Party declared its election victory yesterday. He appeared on the balcony of the newly-built PN headquarters to acknowledge the cheers and applause of hundreds of supporters who crammed the square in front of the headquarters. A banner hanging from the balcony carried Dr Gonzi’s picture and “Grazzi” (thank you). Dr Gonzi was accompanied by his wife Kate and their children, deputy leader Tonio Borg and general secretary Joe Saliba. Many supporters had earlier made their way to Valletta where they expected Dr Gonzi to be sworn in, but the ceremony was put off when it was decided that since the PN had not won an absolute majority of votes, the swearing-in ceremony should follow the completion of the vote-counting process. In a few comments, Dr Gonzi thanked the people, saying he especial...

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 13:49CET Gonzi reacts to Sant's resignation Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in a first reaction to Alfred Sant's resignation, has thanked the MLP leader for the energy he put into the service of the country. Speaking to reporters at PN headquarters, Dr Gonzi said Dr Sant and himself had a relationship of mutual respect, and he regarded Dr Sant as a worthy political adversary. He wished him well. Replying to questions, Dr Gonzi said it was too early for him to comment on the formation of the Cabinet, but the priorities of the new government would be to build on the success achieved over the past few years. An "exciting adventure" lay ahead for Malta, he said. Dr Gonzi made it a point to thank his parents. He said his father had suffered a cold but was now fine. (There had been speculation that he was in hospital).

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 11:23CET Alfred Sant resigns with immediate effect In a press conference , Alfred Sant has submitted his "irrevocable" resignation from MLP leader. Alfred Sant thanked all those who helped throughout the Labour campaign. He said Lawrence Gonzi has a big responsibility, since this is one country and nobody should be discriminated against. When asked his opinion about the electoral defeat, he said that the factor of 'power of incumbency' was present. Sant added that for the time being he will remain a Member of Parliament, until further discussions with the new Labour leader.

Monday, 10th March 2008 - 03:28 Labour concedes election defeat The Labour Party has conceded electoral defeat, PN general secretary Joe Saliba said. He said at the counting hall in Naxxar that after all figures were confirmed, the party had contacted him to concede the election. The difference between the parties was of 1,500 votes.

PN WINS jubilation, time to celebrate...

Posted 21:37: The PN has won by a relative majority and will be have more seat than the MLP which in fact won a majority of seats. Posted 21:25 : PN win election 2008 by slimmest of margins Joe Saliba announces that the PN won the election by 1,200 votes. Posted 21.12: First count votes 6th District Mlp Charles Mangion 3845 Posted: 21.10: F irst count votes: 8th District MLP John Buttigieg 22 5th District Silvio Izzi Savona 551 4th District Karl Chircop 4371 Posted 20:58: First count votes 5th District AD Patrick Attard 224 AN Anthorny Mercieca 96 MLP Joe Farrugia 821 MLP Farrugia Migneco Ancel 264 6th District Gavin Gulia 290 8th District AD Mario Mallia 75 AD Harry Vassallo 313 Posted 20:55: Roderick Galdes (MLP) obtained 1634 first-count votes on the Sixth Electoral District Posted 20:54: Speaking to journalists, PN deputy leader Tonio Borg urged caution. None of the parties will make an official declaration before the first count ends and the votes are counted. He said this urge ...

but the maltese people are still waiting and in the meantime I have become the unhappy uncle of three sheepish 'lion cubs'

and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... and WAITING... for some news... for the last 14 hours... in the meantime, I’ve run out of fingernails to bite and I ate every chocolate bar in the house and drank gallons of coffee. My neighbour son is giving birth to 'lion cubs'(sheepish ones:)).

Thanks to Jacques Zammit the following is a poem by Antoine Cassar JUM IR-RIFLESSJONI Għada l-elezzjoni… Jiena, Malti ta’ barra u barrani ta’ ġewwa, wara nofs ħajja f’eżilju bl-addoċċ nissindika mill-bogħod, jirriżulta li għada se nixħet għall-ewwel darba l-vot. Jum ir-riflessjoni… Passiġġata fil-Belt, qassata, ir-rassa tan-nies, paqqa wara paqqa, nieqaf ħa nieħu nifs fejn it-teatru mwaqqa’ biex bilqiegħda il-kummiedja nosserva. Tant tgħallimt u tħawwadt mit-tagħjir u l-għajat bla għadd li ħsiebi rabba s-sura ta’ qrun iċ-ċerva… waqt li f’qorrigħat in-nies nissemma’ bejn il-partiti jissokta t-tpartit ta’ semm is-suppervja. Mur semma’ leħnek f’nofs dil-ħerba, frattarija u ċaqċiq! Għada nivvota nixtieq… Nivvota nixtieq, f’pajjiż fejn l-ilsna klubija ma jaħlux ta’ kuljum ir-riq isewdu t-triq bi mxija li minnha ħadd ma jfiq… Nivvota nixtieq, f’pajjiż fejn il-blu jfisser baħar u sema u xejn iżjed minn baħar u sema, fejn l-aħmar ma jfissirx dmija, fejn fil-kamra ta’ l-imtallgħa darba, darbtej...

thanks to Jacques Zammit

I meant to write this a bit earlier since I saw this movie late last year but I had the time to watch it again and as the first time I saw it I realized again how much Bee Movie is a clever piece of first-rate entertainment. Though it doesn’t have quite the quality of some of Disney’s Pixar movies, it has plenty of glorious, colorful animation, exhilarating action, and a great story full of fresh, funny characters we haven’t seen before. There is plenty of comedy and action for children and teenagers, and there is also plenty of sharp wit for mature audiences, including parents and grandparents who want to share a day at the movies with their older children and grandchildren or watch it together on the small screen. Bee Movie has several positive messages. Barry’s parents have taught him that, when someone does something for you, you have to thank him. That’s what drives Barry to thank Vanessa for saving his life. Though Barry has a Romantic worldview (he wants to fulfill his personal ...

A quintet of sunny islands makes up the Republic of Malta, with its mild winters and hot summers. Malta, Gozo, and Comino are all inhabited--though with a mere handful of families, Comino only just qualifies. The remaining islands, Cominotto and Filfla, are for boat-trippers and seabirds. These Maltese islands take the top spot in the Climate category of our 2007 Quality of Life Index. As you know, once a year, every January, we consider nearly every nation on earth in a grueling set of nine categories. This year, our survey looks at 193 countries. And Malta has the best climate in the world. Fair weather, averaging 5.2 hours of sunshine a day--even in December. Right into November, daytime temperatures often nudge 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring comes early, around late February. Frost and snow are mostly unknown. There is winter rainfall, but it tends to come in heavy bursts for short periods. And, while the islands boast few sandy beaches, there are compensations: Summertime brings a...

What can be held in a name? Name, a word of strangely combined letters it’s a call with the mysterious groups of letters. an allowance to rule our life. It yells out 'kill kill' the other guy, whose name is different It yells to 'separate' the other guy, don’t we have the same red blood But those letters were always the same... Always the same as the blood in our nerves But the order was somehow strange... as strange as the letters that make our names. We always failed to look in depth, to see the same letters everywhere but we are only seeing the differences and we are still quarrelling for some simple stupid orders . . .

Dear nationalist party candidate for the 1 st district, I still feel disappointed after 15 years and 4 general elections and one of the thing that let me down most is that no one ever took the time to hear my story and since this is free press here is my contemplation of the so many times that I was stupid enough to keep voting you even if your party kept cheating me. I always held tourism at heart and I still do so when I got my qualifications I looked forward to join what those days was the 4 year full time Diploma in Higher Hotel Management at the Institute of Tourism Studies, which had to lead to a degree at the Malta University. Funnily enough when your party went back to power this course change to a 2 year course leading to just a simple certificate. I worked in all departments of the catering business and I worked in positions where whenever I could I promote the Maltese islands, then again in 1996 I voted for you even if I had to register for the vat when I only used to try ...

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!

No matter which party will be in government, in the next legislature, it is just a big gimmick to make us believe that we will be able to have cheaper electricity prices or any discount on surcharges in the next five years. Here's the article on Bloomberg site which reports that the price of each barrel will go up significantly within the next 5 years. ..

It was not to be a normal campaign for the youngest and one of the most talented women in Maltese parliament. She is not only one of the few women in parliament, but she is also Gozitan, young, as well as a married practicing lawyer, added to all that, she was eight months pregnant when the Prime Minister decided to call it a day on the previous legislature and kick off an electoral campaign. “It was different than five years ago when I first contested elections. This time round I was weighing 72 kilos, which is some 22 kilos over my normal weight, so one of the first problems was a mobility issue. I had to slow down even though I did not want to stop home visits and seeing clients. But there were moments when it had to be baby first,” says Justyne, when asked about her experience during the electoral campaign. Baby Josephine was born on 15 February, bang in the middle of the campaign. “It was a very important moment for me, yet difficult. It took me another week to recover and at that...

Interesting article written by Matthew Xuereb in the Times of Malta Students side with Gonzi in rowdy debate

S plendid weather, S plendid winter day, S plendid view, S plendid sea, S plendid boat... excuse quality od pic; taken with a mobile phone on a lovely winter day, that only Malta can offer...

The clock just struck half seven. It was still pitch dark outside; even the morning was not very enthusiastic about waking up. A quick glance at the temperature gauge in the car dashboard and he read that it was marking 5 degrees Celsius, outside the car. He was telling himself that it couldn't be so cold and that the gauge must be playing funny tricks. He tightened the jacket, grabbed the bag and he dashed quickly to the security officer’s office. The gauge in the car was working more then fine, it was freezing cold outside. He removed his right hand glove; put his now turned blue hand in the punch clock and as he pressed the key IN, the system read his hand. On his way out he was greeted by a large sign that reminded him how important security at work is. He placed the hard hat on and the reflective jacket. The tug boat has been pushing the cargo ship in the port for the last half an hour and the crew on both boats tried their outmost to help tracking in the large cargo sh...