• The public has now been offered an explanation of some of the terminology employed in the auditing reports of Mater Dei Hospital. Hence, the so-called “diving allowance” was mere jargon for “time spent in the hyperbaric chamber”. Still, the explanation does not satisfactorily explain the logic of overtime payments exceeding what would have been paid in wages to a full complement.
Touts
• With all the fuss being made about how the Arriva bus service has improved beyond all expectations, one must ask the inevitable question: which bureaucrat entitled to the use of a car and which member of Parliament has used Arriva since its inception?
Truth
• Anyone not in the queue for 51, 52, or 53 buses has a chance of missing his place if one decides to get out of the sun and rain because bay nine is probably the most utilised one of all. Even when there is some semblance of a queue, should the driver suggest that people with tickets may also climb in a rush would ensue.
Tenaciousness
• Drink Sensibly is a slogan that has gained popularity, not because it makes sense but because it is ostensibly hip. It therefore makes no sense for ‘mocktails’ to be given names, as, indeed, is the umbrella term for them, which resemble those of concoctions that actually contain alcohol and look and taste similar to them. It is annoying to have to keep asking for the ingredients in different drinks.
Tandems
• It would be a good idea were all vehicles above a certain length to have a sign indicating that they are Long Vehicles, both at the front and at the back. This would be a boom to other motorists, and event cyclists, who would be able to calculate the area available in which to manoeuvre their own vehicles, either when exiting side streets or when overtaking.
Temporary
• Spokespersons for the Health Department indicate that the age band for screening for colorectal cancers may well be widened. This, apparently, depends upon how much of the resources voted for this are eventually utilised because it is obvious that not all invitations will be accepted. How about including those persons whose parents or children have died of the illness as well?
Tenacity
• We were given to understand that the two major political parties would not be indulging in the usual pathetic, puerile barbs during Christmastide. Alas, the message appears not to have gone down well with the party stalwarts who never miss the opportunity to insult their opponents upon the least faux pas they commit.
Trajectory
• Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, in association with the National Book Council, is launching the third edition of Letteratura għaż-Żgħażagħ with a view to there being created more young adult and middle grade literature for Maltese youth. This initiative has been well met and, indeed, participation has been growing from year to year.
Teasing
• The fallout from a seemingly harmless prank telephone call has had tragic and international repercussions. All those local media personalities who intend to steal Jeremy Beadle’s title of ‘the most hated man in the land’ by virtue of cruel candid radio or candid camera skits will hopefully now have second thoughts about their strokes of genius.
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Trees
• It would seem that the attacks on hitherto majestic trees by the palm weevil pest, or other conditions that cause these plants to deteriorate, are not yet over. The row of palm trees in De Paule Avenue, Balzan leading to San Anton Palace, is practically falling apart.
Television
• Not many people know that security researchers have identified vulnerability in Smart TV software that might allow hackers almost total access to the television sets thus equipped. This means that hackers could hear and see anyone who issuing such sets, thus, gain access to sensitive or personal information.
Teenagers
• Some years ago, there was a move towards instituting a dress code for students in tertiary education. This would have, according to different school administrations, lessened the distractions for fellow students and staff. Alas, it would seem that this decision has fallen by the wayside and, sometimes, it is obvious that not even teachers can tell the difference between what is suitable for a school environment and what is not.
Timetables
• Commuters were told that old-fashioned ways of dividing bus journeys by stopping at junctions such as Blata l-Bajda/Marsa and Portes des Bombes would no longer be necessary with the introduction of round-route buses. However, the time these buses take to get from A to B is often much longer than a journey from A to B. through the two aforementioned intersections. This, of course, does not take into account scheduled buses that just do not show up.
Temerity
• It would seem that the culture of resignations in Malta means different things to different people. Some, who know that they are innocent of the crimes of which they have been accused resign until their name is cleared, upon which they are reinstated to their former positions. Others, who are later proved guilty, refuse to resign until forced to do so by the relevant authorities. This would be risible were it not pathetic.