‘a storm in a teacup’

That, my dear, exposes you for what you really are: a Joseph-adoring, Labour-voting, gullible fool.

Anyone with a 2 cents worth of brain would do their utmost to avoid that idiom at the moment, lest they are branded as a Labour voter.

Carrying out serious research in a language other than English is difficult because the most important research sources are in English (or in a major language). Bianco did his masters in the UK. He would have made enough contacts to do his doctorate in the UK. Instead he chose to go to Sofia. He chose a university which is not reputable, especially back then, and where the main language was not English. Why?

What was the subject of his research? How long did it take him to complete his PhD? Who was his tutor? Presumably his tutor spoke English. Did he also publish in English?

Could it be that what for the Bulgarian university is a PhD would be equivalent to a masters in Malta and the UK? Could it be that he chose to do his doctorate in a Bulgarian university because it was less demanding in terms of the research work required?

Is his doctorate recognised by reputable universities?

If he deceived with the abusive use of the title of professor, he would be just as willing to cheat and deceive in other ways.

That’s it. And there is a chief “other” dishonest piece of work more major than this masking that he must have done to endear himself to Joseph Muscat.

Masking and distortion is the norm with Labour – all in a day’s work type of stuff – so digging deeper should reveal the worse action.

Nuovo?

No, lavato con Lino Bianco.

That’s true, I didn’t mean to say that everyone is like that.

OOPS – my last comment was meant to be a reply under Catherine.

Do not put everyone in the same bag. Some in the fields of science and medicine publish in journals such as Nature Genetics, GUT and similar high impact journals, again trying to make ends meet on research funds of 500 euros a year and no post docs.

Most of us attend at least two international meetings per year (paying all expenses ourselves) and some of us have held or hold positions in other universities, mostly in the UK, collaborate with foreign institutions and hold senior positions in international associations.

So, yes there are those who have been given iced buns, but there are others who work diligently, quietly and without fanfare, and who have either formed part of international centres of excellence or are themselves considered to be international experts in their fields.

I’ve been to a few fashion weeks myself. Even made it on to the red carpet. And I don’t know where to start with the wrongness that is Malta Fashion Week.

For a start, it’s never about the event enhancing the attraction of a site. Speci majtezwel we show off Valletta, heqq? It’s so Women’s Institute. I mean these people don’t know the first thing (surely, “thong”. Ed.) about fashion.

Then there’s Jason. And the chubby cherubic Owen ‘Varist’ Bonnici. They are so UNATTRACTIVE. And yet they stand before the world (well, before half a dozen journalists furiously typing away on their ipads) and they announce FASHION.

Paris is no longer the fashion capital of Europe. Paris, where the very concept of the catwalk was invented. London and Berlin are. And they fight to stay on the bleeding edge.

And we presume to butt in with our risible little provincial Mediterranean Malta.

Don’t make me larf.

I don’t know if Jason’s and Owen’s models will be the sort who use it (I presume not – not rangy enough), but if they do provide complimentary cocaine, courtesy of the locals, I might help myself to a very long line. Just to deaden the pain.

Fashionista? Le, ma tistax.

I was merely pointing out that the mantra about publishing in peer-reviewed journals means nothing if the journals are just “local” (their word, not mine) publications.

And I’m sure they could find you a comfortable berth at the University of Malta. You say you’re a researcher at a British university. That makes you one of Gonzi’s Generazzjoni Rebbieha ta’ Opportunitajiet Straordinarji fl-Ewropa.

Sorry for the vitriol but it is a Saturday night, and we’ve been over this a million times. The only thing that’s changed since 1987 are the salaries.