On the Dot...

If one uses a wheelchair, is infirm or sight-impaired, or has to manoeuvre a pushchair, it is very difficult to negotiate the entrance to the Bank of Valletta offices at the corner of Naxxar Road, Birkirkara. The gradient of the slope is steep, and the ramp near the zebra crossing is of little use as there is an electricity pylon blocking the pavement. Something must be done to remedy the situation.

Word (Imp)Perfect

The voting documents, which also allow for a proxy ballot, for the Eleventh Annual General Meeting of Valletta Fund Management, have been sent out. It is indeed a pity that although these and the covering letter were printed both in Maltese and in English, the vernacular version was rather stilted, as if it were a literal translation of the English statement.

Climate Unchanged

World scientists have again warned of severe changes in climate due to global warming. Here, the climate remains unchanged with the government arrogantly refusing to inform the people which are the four ministries that do not play ball when it comes to taking green initiatives. Shame!

Flower Power

Some wayside areas are not under the aegis of the consortium that sees to the greening and flowering of the rest of the country. So every so often, gangs of workers move around them razing colourful weeds, hosts to many insects, to the ground, from where they are cleared up later - how long this interval is, depends upon the locality. Thus, all this vivacious life is lost.

Some Time

Melita Cable proudly announced it had changed its customer care number for Onvol and other services to one that is easily recalled. This is all to the good; yet one would have appreciated having a number with a person who counts to 10, no more, at the other end, before answering. It does get annoying listening to the same endless tape repeating itself.

Sporting Chance

One may watch sports events in which Maltese competitors are taking part live on a sports channel, albeit one that is available only by subscription. One wonders whether it would be possible to have a pay-per-view version of this where it comes to culture; one is sure that thousands of people would have paid a paltry fee to be able to watch Joseph Calleja in Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York, or at least a repeat of the event on E22.

Card Games

Maltapost plc could easily increase revenue by making postcards, rather than first day covers, available for Valentines' Day. These would, of course, have self-adhesive stamps available from a roll, rather than pre-packaged sheets, such that one would be able to purchase the exact number required. If this idea works, it could later be expanded to include cards for other occasions - birthdays, Easter, and so forth. The designs could come from a competition for schoolchildren.

Soul Searching

German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently emphasised that tolerance and diversity were two of Europe's strong points, adding, however, that the continent needs a soul. One would have said that the former were worthless without the latter. Could it be that the latter, even locally, needs legislation to back it up?

Self Imposed

Several people report being contacted by street leaders of the particular political party, at reasonable intervals, with a view to (i) getting them to pay the membership fee and (ii) encouraging them to be more active within their chosen party. Is it possible people in the higher echelons of the said parties are not similarly approached?

Wayward Signs

Government expenditure on road signs totalled Lm484, 606 between 2005 and October 2006. A sum of Lm262,951 was spent in 2005 and Lm221,655 until last October. Yet, it is still perfectly possible to get lost in areas that are unfamiliar to the causal motorist. Definitely, something, somewhere, is wrong.

One Hole

The bus stop at the very top of Carini Street, where it opens into St Joseph High Road, in Sta Venera, has recently been re-instated. One of the potholes earmarked for the spotlighting of the Wignacourt Aqueducts has, however, been left open, and alighting straight into it, or tripping on its edge, is a possibility. Moreover, three road signs have been lying on the ground in its vicinity for quite some time now.

On Air

Without any doubt, one of the more popular radio stations on the island is Radio Magic. However, this cannot be tuned into, either from the PBS website itself, or through the di-ve portal. One hopes that arrangements to this end will be made, and soon.

Court Logic

At least two property owners in Delimara have been handsomely compensated as a result of the siting of a power station there. Will the many whose houses have been swallowed up by the mammoth complexes okayed by Mepa be as lucky?

Speed Limit

Any reason why there isn't any signage indicating the speed limit on the Mriehel bypass or? If there is, it is not easily visible. Should it be, 70 kph, 60 kph or 50 kph?

Cent Stunned

Will Maltapost say why it stopped printing 1c stamps? Those who have many 7c stamps must now add a 2c-stamp (spending 9c each time instead of 8c). As an alternative, is Maltapost willing to exchange the value of 7c stamps into 8c stamps?