http://www.internetlastpage.com/

[Daphne – I’ve always wondered about this idea that the internet and computers are a substitute for fun. They are fun in themselves – certainly a lot more fun than sitting around with a bunch of boring people having a no-conversation in a bar or coffee-shop. I suppose it’s the updated equivalent of “why don’t you get your head out of that book and go and have fun”, but looking back, it’s those who had their head in books who got on in life, while those who were out ‘having fun’ remained pretty much where they were, or ran into a brick wall at some point. Just an observation….]

Did you just wake up? We’ve been following ‘Onion’ for years! Go back in your hole. The groundhog saw his shadow, six more weeks of winter. Turkey!

[Daphne – http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/groundhog-day-shadow-means-winter-to-continue-1539295.html

What’s hilarious is that suckers like you and others on this blog thought this video was for real.

HILARIOUS!

[Daphne – No, it’s not ‘real’ TV. The Onion is satirical. http://www.theonion.com/content/index ]

Only two places in the world where one is guaranteed a laugh a day– the ‘rock’ and the ‘onion’.

I like this clip. We need the medicine that does the opposite here. Oh wait. we don’t need it. We’re the happiest people in Europe. On a different note, I’m surprised how you didn’t comment on what Fr Paul Galea had to say about the abuse of welfare systems. [Daphne – That’s because I was too busy telling the FAA to eff off.]

There are so many myth busters in yesterday’s story (http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090212/local/welfare-system-supporting-practice-of-having-children-out-of-wedlock/), and they’re coming from a priest. After reading this article, I think that it is reasonable to expect the Maltese to stop saying that we’re a Catholic country (you can say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one . . .)

He explains how “it is endemic in Maltese society that everyone operates outside legality, not just with regard to commerce and taxes”. This is not very Christian, isn’t it? Why don’t people just admit that we’re no different to other western countries? Our behaviour is secular, but we’d like to believe that we’re a cut above the rest. Just like chihuahuas like to think they’re stronger than Great Danes (just because they’re louder), we like to think that we’re a superior breed. Il-barranin mhux bhalna kind of thing . . .

Fr Galea came up with a ludicrous suggestion just for the sake (in my opinion) of not admitting that it’s high time we introduce divorce. This is what he had to say about families that are formed by separated individuals: “Studies need to be carried out on how to entice de facto marriages, which involve reconstituted families between separated couples, into the institutionalisation of the relationship, with their respective rights and duties. To protect their children, they could be encouraged to enter into a civil union, or legal recognition, but should not be on the same footing as married couples….”.

How can you regularise this kind of relationship? A separated person is sill married! Is he suggesting bigamy, then? Why didn’t he have the guts to bite the bullet and explain – in his professional capacity, and not as a priest – and admit that it’s high time that we introduce divorce?

[Daphne – Maybe he should ask Astrid Vella for some advice on how to do it. Her organisation appears to have a very wide brief these days.]

mj