We used to be taught that one billion was a million million, though the American version has prevailed, so that one billion today is equivalent to 1,000 million. 9/11 also caught on, though in Europe it should really be 11/9. But why should the di-ve.com portal carry the American version of the dates, showing, for instance, January 8 this year as 1/8/07, instead of what we are accustomed to, which is 8/1/07? Must we tag along with whatever the Americans do?
Someone should teach the staff at Maltapost how to address people. It is not that they are insolent, but they address people wrongly when writing to them. Their style is to say “Ghaziz Sinjur...” when it should be, surely, “Ghaziz Sur...”
The traffic lights on St Andrew’s Road at the intersection towards Pembroke are functioning again. This column last week had highlighted the fact that their flashing on amber – which had remained so for a number of weeks – was a dangerous affair and accidents are known to have happened. Well done… and one hopes that such malfunctioning is rectified sooner.
The presence of so many Italian journalists and their daily reports mentioning the island is a big boost for the country. Birkirkara FC should be praised for their initiative and one hopes that others follow suit. Now that local teams cannot face top opposition because of the way club competitions were restructured some years ago, it is only through such ideas that local football fans can get to watch their favourite teams here.
Parking in bays reserved for disabled persons is illegal, and perpetrators should be booked for their offence. Some might think that they can use such parking places in the evenings, but this rather unchristian behaviour should not take place as one never knows when disabled persons might need to leave their car as close as possible to their destination. Wardens might be able to help in this.
The tolling of church bells at odd hours is a nuisance to residents who live nearby. Why should bells ring, say, at 1am? Surely it is not a call for a Mass that is about to start?
What seems to be a cut electricity wire, that forms part of decorative lights, hangs overhead on Naxxar Road in San Gwann, close to the pelican lights there. It is reachable by hand, although it is not known whether it is dangerous or not. Still, it is believed that such a wire should be removed.
The Milan visit to Malta is over. Milan supporters had the time of their life for several days, running after their idols all over Malta and many getting the chance of an autograph or a photo. Some were however disappointed that some of the players at times appeared quite snobbish. The most important thing however is that Milan officials and the players seemed to enjoy it. Maltese Milan fans behaved themselves very well and this certainly helps when local organisers will in the future deal with other clubs for them to come over to train in Malta.