On the dot

The mind boggles as to why a bridge spanning the space between the historical Valletta harbour breakwater and the city is planned for construction. Apart from the fact that it will never fit into the surroundings, it will probably need a lot of maintenance, thus escalating costs.

Meter-ology

It has transpired that only seven per cent of yachts berthed in public-owned yacht marinas have water and electricity meters installed. This does not sit well with people whose residences were demolished, for one reason or another, and yet still receive best-of-judgment assessed bills.

Languages

The Maltese - and occasionally English - used by some radio and television broadcasters is atrocious. Most of them probably think they are being hip when they invent words and murder syntax. They are mistaken.

Pipe-Dream

A couple of metres down from Fontanella's Tea Gardens in Mdina, someone decided to carry out repairs to the drainage system by replacing some pipes. The job was carried out with not even a passing nod to the historical value of the walls or even the aesthetics of the job. If pipes of a wider gauge than those in place before needed to be used, provision had to be made for this.

Translation

The "suggestions" embodied in illegal traffic notices by local councils are being taken so seriously by wardens that they are actually fining motorists for not complying with them. Now it appears that "ADT does not have enough personnel to check illegal signs". Does this mean that each home owner can henceforth put up signs to complement newly-painted self-awarded parking bays in front of one's house because this could be construed as a "suggestion" by the owner of the house to motorists hinting that he would not like them to park there?

Gambling

The House Social Affairs Committee has recommended that gaming shops being used for unlicensed gambling be closed down until legislation regularises their operation. However, this would still leave the public inundated with countless advertisements for other types of state-sanctioned "opportunities to win", without any type of watershed to protect children, as well as lotteries and other games of chance organised as fund-raising activities by several entities.

Electricity

We are finally getting to see the light, as envisaged in the government's electoral commitment, to hand out energy-saving bulbs. The scheme to set up the registration of suppliers has finally been set in motion. One hopes that by the time daylight saving time ends on October 25 everything will be in order and the bulbs collected by households.

Derogations

Malta has won the battle to keep the once temporary derogation not to impose even the minimum five per cent VAT on food and medicines. The arguments towards this included the fact that we have a small domestic market and increased transport costs, owing to the fact that we are an island republic. Ironically, food and medicine are classified as "necessities", so, as a corollary, cars must be classified as "luxuries".

Competitions

A British woman was recently charged for having taken part in several radio station competitions under different identities to bypass rules about multiple entries by the same persons within a set time-limit. It is pertinent to point out that several local radio and television stations do set the same rules - yet people have often been heard boasting of how they use names and addresses of different members of the family to enter contests - sometimes, successfully.

Plastic

As usual, people have found ways to slalom around regulations that prevent use of the plastic bag. Biodegradable bags, large plastic bags, and bags with torn handles are all being proffered as substitutes. So, the question begs itself: What's in a name?

Internet

Go tried to gain Brownie points with the public by apologising for a connection that was down for just 70 minutes early on last week. But how about a super apology for the 30-plus hours that people served by the Żurrieq repeater had to bear between last Friday morning and Saturday afternoon in the Żurrieq and Safi area? Will the payment made for these lost hours be tagged on to the end of subscribers' credit limit?

Eye-opener

It would have been risible were it not pathetic and ironic. The lack of foresight in providing extra beds, rather than endless legroom, in Mater Dei Hospital, strikes again. Eye surgery patients are convalescing in, of all places, the television room, before returning to their homes. This must be very uncomfortable for these patients and embarrassing for others who might want to use the room for its original purpose.

Religion

Whether one agrees with it or not, legal action was taken against a person for donning a particular costume during the Nadur carnival. One wonders what is more offending: that or the daily, continuous blaspheming in public. It would be interesting to find out, exactly, how many persons have been booked for this contravention so far this year.

Water

According to recent reports, ocean acidity has risen by at least a third since the industrial revolution in the late 18th century. The Mediterranean, being an enclosed sea, is one of the worst-hit bodies of water. It would no doubt be feasible to take regular tests near areas where it is suspected that industrial, entertainment, or hospitality- and tourism-connected entities may be using the sea as a bottomless pit into which to discard their liquid wastes.