On the Dot...

Well done to the Singlewide School Administration and the Malta Sports Council; they have organised the very first official Walking Bus, which means that children gather at predetermined meeting points ("stages") and thence walk to school together, wearing suitable safety clothing. Steps have been taken such that they do not have to carry heavy bags. This is a move other schools should emulate.

Sports Daze

It is ridiculous that, in 2006, children are still taken to a multi-school sports day in the sweltering heat of May. The recent debacle included tragic-comedic scenes of children dipping their baseball caps in water and then wearing them in an effort to keep cool. In some cases, bottles of frozen water taken from home by the parents actually turned into lukewarm liquid by the time the event was over.

Photo Finnish

With all the fuss made about the Eurovision Song Contest, one would have thought that this overrated competition were the only challenge worthwhile struggling to win for Maltese singers. This is absolutely not the case at all; perhaps we ought to organise our own prestigious international show, and throw it open to foreign, not necessarily European, singers.

Mobile Votes

It is ironic that only SMSs are being accepted when choosing the design to feature on the euro coinage. It has been, moreover, an asinine decision to give cellular telephones as prizes - to people who already have the apparatus. No doubt, thousands more votes would have been cast, and perhaps different options obtained, had the voting been allowed on landlines too.

Packed Lunch

Air travellers are still complaining about filching from luggage. Is it the case that not every single item of luggage is, at each single moment, in the line of vision of CCTV cameras, linked to a central control room that is manned at all times, on a shift roster basis?

Hard Cell

It is totally illogical for Maltacom plc to remove the slight freebie they had been offering - a Lm2 card in return for Lm25 worth of used Easyline cards. This comment is especially relevant when one notes how Go Mobile customers who subscribe to the prepaid system will earn a five per cent extra top up when using the electronic method.

Lights Out

During Enemalta's Open Day, the chairman spoke of how an internal energy conservation policy was envisaged; that the company might set an example to the public with regard to saving energy within the home. One further step that could be taken is a free phone hotline, through which one could report instances of street lights still on in mid-morning.

Getting Together

Some local councils look set to be enforcing the regulation whereby only residents of their catchment area may use the internet service on the premises. This means that people from towns where the service is down (as happened last Tuesday) cannot simply walk to the neighbouring village and ask to sign the log book. In places where the service has not been provided for some time anyway, the situation is even worse.

Tele Safety

It is amazing to note that those who do-it-themselves are technically exempt from following the healthy and safety rules that cover works done in construction sites and public places. The health and safety officers are now starting a campaign wherein an onsite video recording is used as a tool for instruction to the people who would have "acted" in it and their peers. Could these not be shown on national television, with faces bleached out?

Cast Away

The residents of Triq ir-Rajjes, in Ghajnsielem, are very worried about the destined use of three large garages currently being used as stores by Gozo Channel Company. Over the last few days heavy machinery was seen being transported into these enormous premises.

Sanguine Reception

It is evident that the staff at the National Blood Bank, in Guardamangia, is a wholly dedicated group. They treat donors with courtesy and respect, a dash of humour, and loving care, always making sure no one leaves the premises until one is fit to do so. Their encouragement means a lot to those who face needles with trepidation.

Narrow Passage

A large red van is parked daily, for long periods of time, in front of Stella Maris church, Sliema. Since this is the most narrow part of High Street, the van is not only hindering the easy flow of traffic but is also blocking a large chunk of the pavement. Can the wardens have a look?