the secret life of bars :)

Bars & Tones from André F. Chocron on Vimeo.">

[via Make]

cute desk calendars

I know that we've almost reached mid-January, but I don't think it's too late to get either one of these:



[via: Craftzine: Papercraft Robot Calendar]



[via: Craftzine: 3-D Calendar Download from Blackpio]

Carrie Bradshaw actually knows that books exist?!! :o woooow!!!

Carrie Bradshaw knows that library exist?!!! And has even heard about the likes of Keat and Voltaire?!! I'm impressed!!!


Sorry, this might sound daft, but I finally got to watch Sex and the City (the movie), and I could not contain my astonishment that the character of Carrie actually had some knowledge of literature!! Throughout all the series, I always thought that this character was quite crass but it seems that I was wrong ... or someone decided that in this final appearance of Carrie Bradshaw she had to improve herself (as far as I remember there never was an episode where Carrie went to the library, or is seen reading anything except for the fashion magazines!!) ... and that's why I always cringed when she would say that she is a writer!!

Anyway, I'll stop here with this pointless blog, and get back to work ... it seems that finally some emails did trickle in!

a little gem ...

In general I hate the kind of "tear jerker" tv shows, or those shows which delve too deeply into the personal life of others ... they are personal, why the heck do you want a whole country to know all your dirty little secrets?! Anyhooo, a couple of days back I was watching tv and for want of better things to see, I watched a few minutes of this particular program on Italian tv. From what I gathered they were trying to find the "perfect" companion for a guy, and they would interview a girl (or maybe girls? dunno) and after the interview the guy would have 10 seconds to decide whether he is interested in having a relationship with the girl in question or not.

This particular girl stated that after a decade of failed relationships, she has finally put her finger on what the problem was. She didn't want yet another relationship where she has to change herself, her thoughts, her personality and her ways because of the guy she's in a relationship with. She wants to have someone who accepts her as she is (mind you, she wasn't a fat and ugly lass as those who say this usually are ... she was in her early 30s and very beautiful), while she won't pin any expectations on the guy or the relationship. She seemed very fond of an Arabic poem which puts this perfectly into words:

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,

Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

This is an excerpt from the poem "On Marriage" by Gibran Khalil Gibran. [via: Adab.com]

I suggest that you read it all, it's nicely put and good fodder for the brain.

belated welcome to 2009

Oh my! I've started the new year with yet another rant ... but let's face it, I'm passionate about archaeology, hate the way people treat it (especially in Malta; it only has the value of a political pawn when time are right).

Round up of 2008? Nothing much has happened ...

- went to Sicily with my better half

- discovered Google Reader, and more specifically Craftzine and Makezine

- started crocheting and actually managed to finish one project in a single week! *gasp* Have to admit that I've stopped for now, but I do have some projects in mind ...I just need the right frame of mind

- I've been promoted to manager, something which I'm really proud of. On the day of my first anniversary at this job, I got called in for a meeting with the big honcho, and voila! I got the post :D I worked really hard for it, especially in the few months leading to it, so it's quite a big achievement for me :)

- discovered Twitter ... you may call it stupid or geeky, but I like it

- got a great birthday present: this super cool leatherman and built this Drawdio ... cool ain't it?

- acquaintances and friends my age [22] (or almost there) getting engaged, married, or even having babies ... quite shocking for me, but this deserves a post on it's own


I guess those are the highlights for 2008.

What are the plans for 2009?

Unlike last year I'm not gonna make any promises that I will post more often. As you can see I haven't honored the promise that much ... I've only posted 5 times in a whole year.

But I do have hopes, and I'm gonna do my best (or at least try) to:

- keep my room clean and organized ... I hate when everything in my room is in order, but last night and this morning I felt that my mind was more clear, and that's definitely NOT coz I had too many sweets yesterday. I guess my mum was always right, and I'm gonna try (remember: no promises, so don't hold this against me :p)

- keep giving my utmost at my job ... I've felt tired lately, but I don't won't to throw all those months of hard work (and nagging to my boyfriend), so I must find someways to relax and remain motivated

- exercise? I need it to wind down, relax and avoid the possibility of hitting someone (I'm not violent and I've never hit anyone, but that leads to big headaches and frustration). Still don't know what, I miss karate, but I'm not sure if that's the way to go ... still have to think about this

- reply to messages, especially SMSs immediately!!

- start going for walks/hike on Sunday afternoons (?) ... don't like going on my own, so this also depends on my better half

- start waking up before 11:00 ... ideally at around 07:30, 08:00 the latest!! I'm wasting far too much of my days and this has to stop!

- read more ... sadly I've abandoned reading, and this is reflected in my (shockingly) increasing spelling mistakes and (very) badly constructed sentences *blush*

- continue crocheting, and maybe even start sewing and embroidery *already thinking about a couple of nice skirts for spring :)*

- travel ... I do have some ideas and options in mind, just have to make them concrete

*- as my dear beta-j pointed out, in 2009 I have to get my driving license and a car!!! I've been going for lessons for far too long, and I've postponed scheduling the test for quite some time now, but a couple more (parking) lessons, and I should have enough balls to book a date ... hopefully I will feel confident enough with the parking, and I won't mess up my whole test *fingers crossed, touching wood* :D

I guess that's all I have in mind for 2009 for now.

So Happy New Year to any readers of this blog. Take care and enjoy your self safely :)

this takes the cake ...

see: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081231/local/still-too-early-to-tell-fate-of-punic-tombs

It seems that Josie Muscat not only doesn't give a damn about human life (read: illegal immigrants' life), but he also doesn't "give a fig" about this country's heritage.

For crying out loud!! This guy set up a party to safeguard this country's heritage and culture from those barbarians from Africa who come to our shores packed up like sardines in rickety little boats, and now he doesn't care about this nation's heritage and he's furious that those Punics (who ironically also came from North Africa) decided to build their tombs bang in the middle of the site he has chosen to build his money-making machine (new hospital).

What is wrong with these people? I'm gonna be frank. I don't like the current state of affairs in Malta, and I honestly think that this constant influx of illegal immigrants (don't give me the irregular immigrants crap cause I don't like it, they come here illegally and this should be called so) is exponentially bringing problems to our tiny country and sooner or later we will reach the breaking point, and we might as well start kissing our small safe little island goodbye, and welcome the ghettos, crime and tension (I'm not wholly blaming the immigrants for crime and tension, the Maltese citizens have their fair share of it). But to lash out against persons who have crossed a continent as large as Africa in search of a better life under the pretense that you want to safeguard our heritage, and then you publicly state that you don't give a rat's ass about this same country's heritage makes you one of the biggest hypocrites of all.


Congratulations Dr. Muscat!! With this latest stunt you have managed to sink even lower. So you are xenophobic, believe that women have no place in society except for cleaning dishes and making babies (ideally via IVF in one of your hospitals), and you "don't give a fig" of this country's heritage. Way to go mate!!!