#9: home is where the homies is - i went back to glasgow
a little travel log
work i'm proud to have done
A Matter Of Time: Will The Mediterranean Become Too Hot For Tourism?
Malta is going to get worse, in so many ways, before it gets better. Whether that damage will be reparable or not depends on how much longer this all holds together.
I'm not proud of the part of me which would welcome a time when Malta is shocked because tourists stop visiting. I'm not proud of that because economic shocks cause pain.
I don't want to be the one to say that such pain is necessary to provoke meaningful action.
I'm not proud of the part of me which would welcome a time when Malta is shocked because tourists stop visiting. I'm not proud of that because economic shocks cause pain.
I don't want to be the one to say that such pain is necessary to provoke meaningful action.
Is Malta The Third Most Relaxing Country In Europe? This Gaming Company Wants You To Think So
My editor told me not to write this, but I did anyway. It was another press-release-based article, and I enjoyed sinking my teeth into it.
Imagine a gaming company manipulating a study's questions so that it could achieve a desired, marketable result.
Outrageous. Fun stuff, writing this sort of punky shit.
Imagine a gaming company manipulating a study's questions so that it could achieve a desired, marketable result.
Outrageous. Fun stuff, writing this sort of punky shit.
Exclusive: Parents Of Newborn With Life-Threatening Brain Blood Clot In Mater Dei Prepare To Save Their Child
This story was scary, and it really took its toll on me.
I didn't like how it was being prioritised because of the way that superficial details hit a lot of social pressure points.
I'm glad the story got told, though I don't know how much impact it had. But the ways in which it was told, the reasons for which it was told, they showed mean ugly side of news-media, a side which is excited by crisis.
I didn't like how it was being prioritised because of the way that superficial details hit a lot of social pressure points.
I'm glad the story got told, though I don't know how much impact it had. But the ways in which it was told, the reasons for which it was told, they showed mean ugly side of news-media, a side which is excited by crisis.
Disciplinary Action Taken Against Driver Caught Overtaking Dangerously On Gżira Bypass
Once again, snitching worked, and this employee had disciplinary action taken against him.
In Malta, drivers are more likely to be dangerous than safe, so I'm sure this made very little difference.
But fuck cars, and fuck dangerous drivers. You're selfish.
Don't be a traffdick.
In Malta, drivers are more likely to be dangerous than safe, so I'm sure this made very little difference.
But fuck cars, and fuck dangerous drivers. You're selfish.
Don't be a traffdick.
Opinion: 'Sustainable' LNG Shipping Is A Lie - And Malta Is Cruising Towards Catastrophe
Cruising is so pointlessly destructive.
It is easy to criticise a pleasure you don't share, and I'm sure the tone of this piece shows how I feel. Still, I did a great job of foregrounding experts' perspectives, in support of that tone.
The piece also takes a side-swipe at the corrupting force of bipartisanship - examining the skew arising from both parties playing the same inherently flawed, extractive game.
It is easy to criticise a pleasure you don't share, and I'm sure the tone of this piece shows how I feel. Still, I did a great job of foregrounding experts' perspectives, in support of that tone.
The piece also takes a side-swipe at the corrupting force of bipartisanship - examining the skew arising from both parties playing the same inherently flawed, extractive game.
'We Should Stop Suffering': Doctor Convicted For Illegal Euthanasia Starting Discussion Through One-Man Valletta Show
I interviewed the doctor and performer who put on this show, and then watched the show the following evening. It was poignant, personal and thought provoking, and I enjoyed speaking to Marcos.
I shed a few tears during our interview, when he said he wished we could all stop suffering.
I couldn't agree more.
I shed a few tears during our interview, when he said he wished we could all stop suffering.
I couldn't agree more.
Opinion: Malta's Negligent Treatment Of Third Country Nationals Is Appalling - But We Can Stop It
The culmination of a fair bit of TCN work, though not nearly as much as it would have been if I could have dedicated all of my time to this area.
I truly don't know if anyone who doesn't already agree listened or cared.
Malta isn't for me. But I hope that those it is for care enough to care about it in full, not just about the parts and people they choose.
I truly don't know if anyone who doesn't already agree listened or cared.
Malta isn't for me. But I hope that those it is for care enough to care about it in full, not just about the parts and people they choose.
Watch: Malta's Rugby Sevens Teams Debut At The GSSE With Hard Hits In High Heat
I paid two cab fares out of pocket in the middle of my shift, crossed Malta and sat in some stands just to watch a few old friends from Luxembourg - where I grew up, playing a lot of rugby - kick the Maltese teams' behinds in back to back games.
Saw some big tackles, some great tries, and captured some fun footage.
What a day. Worth it.
Saw some big tackles, some great tries, and captured some fun footage.
What a day. Worth it.
It's Fryday: Cooking Oil Barrels Spill All Over Marsa Flyover
This was my pun. I liked this pun.
Also, incredible amount of damage done by this spill. They had to tear up the whole section of freshly laid tarmac.
What a ridiculous country.
Also, incredible amount of damage done by this spill. They had to tear up the whole section of freshly laid tarmac.
What a ridiculous country.
MED9 Sign 'Malta Agreement': Is It As 'Historic' As Energy Minister Miriam Dalli Claims?
This came out at the start of my sassy phase.
This job required reading through so many meaningless press-releases, and adapting them into "news content" that when I read this one (or long before) I snapped.
I hate empty words, pomp and ceremony when it comes to environmentally essential policy. In the grand scheme of things, that's all I've seen from Malta so far.
This job required reading through so many meaningless press-releases, and adapting them into "news content" that when I read this one (or long before) I snapped.
I hate empty words, pomp and ceremony when it comes to environmentally essential policy. In the grand scheme of things, that's all I've seen from Malta so far.
'Lack Of Respect For Cyclists': Cassola Laments Motorists Using Bike Lane As Personal Fast Route
I'm a pedestrian, cyclist and skater, and Malta's infrastructure is a joke for anyone attempting to be any of those things.
My draft of this article contained the excellent line:
"You're not in traffic, you are traffic. Don't be a traffdick."
which was immediately relegated to the cutting room floor.
My draft of this article contained the excellent line:
"You're not in traffic, you are traffic. Don't be a traffdick."
which was immediately relegated to the cutting room floor.
Watch: Crane Operator Suspended After Caught Dipping Concrete Bucket Into Qawra Sea
Writing and publishing this story led to the AX construction taking "disciplinary action" against their employee.
Nothing systemic. Nothing more than a slap on the wrist, I'm sure.
Still, don't fuck with the sea.
Nothing systemic. Nothing more than a slap on the wrist, I'm sure.
Still, don't fuck with the sea.
Ghanaian Men Return To Gozitan Home To Find Their Possessions In Garbage Bags
Another story of TCN mistreatment. These three individuals were terrified of flak for coming forwards, or of being misrepresented by a journalist.
They were ultimately happy with the end result. Though they had been illegally evicted, help did not come from the authorities.
These stories are remarkably commonplace in Malta. Reporting about them still isn't.
They were ultimately happy with the end result. Though they had been illegally evicted, help did not come from the authorities.
These stories are remarkably commonplace in Malta. Reporting about them still isn't.
Are You Smarter Than A Sixth Former? Students Test Their Puzzling Skills In First Ever Linguistics Olympiad Malta
The contact I had for this story was none other than my mother, the chaotically brilliant Sandra Vella.
The opening line is an adaptation of something my dad, Joe Caruana, suggested. He didn't think my solution explained the puzzle well enough, which annoyed me.
He was probably right. Still, really a team effort, folks. Love you both.
The opening line is an adaptation of something my dad, Joe Caruana, suggested. He didn't think my solution explained the puzzle well enough, which annoyed me.
He was probably right. Still, really a team effort, folks. Love you both.
Opinion: Open The Legal Market And Destigmatise Weed In Malta - Or Dealers Aren't Going Anywhere
I enjoyed writing this one.
As a person who was genuinely swayed into the decision to come back to Malta, in part, because I ignorantly thought I'd have access to legal weed, this issue was close to my heart.
The shambolic approach to legalisation is yet another example of political manoeuvring which is in pursuit of re-election - not fulfilling policy promises in a timely manner.
As a person who was genuinely swayed into the decision to come back to Malta, in part, because I ignorantly thought I'd have access to legal weed, this issue was close to my heart.
The shambolic approach to legalisation is yet another example of political manoeuvring which is in pursuit of re-election - not fulfilling policy promises in a timely manner.
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stories which made this list were:
- sourced, researched and written by me
- written under conditions lacking any ominously looming time pressure
- often, researched and written on my own time n' my own dime
- well written, or contained some piece of writing i enjoyed or found memorable
- able to have real-world impact by connecting people in precarious positions to other people who could help
- covering frequently overlooked problems or situations
- actually expressing what i think - or close enough to it