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vendredi, mai 19, 2006

Agony Uncle's ASBOs


When I read this story on the Guardian, I could not help wondering whether Malta needs its own ASBO regulation. An ASBO is a recent introduction in England. Basically an ASBO is a legal mechanism used to protect society from anti-social behaviour of specific individuals. The full term is Anti-Social Behaviour Order and it is issued as a warning by a civil court. Breach of an order is a criminal offence and is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years. No kidding.

It would be interesting to see whether ASBO's would change the social fabric of the Maltese islands. Whether they would provoke a multiplicity of cases against neighbours, taxi-drivers and drivers of "karozzi imbaghbsin" (touched up cars). Would we use them wisely? I do not know. I think ASBOs would contribute to a continuing freezing of a society that already does not trust its neighbour, no longer leaves the key in the front door and is engaged in a constant competition with its neighbour.

It would probably mean less letters to the Times complaining about certain behaviours and more lawsuits. More work for the upcoming legal chicks a Profs Cremona (God Rest His Soul) used to call the blue lawyers. Less work for the Agony Uncle and more ASBOs. (Sorry Guz :) )

Speaking of Guze', I must confess that I am a cooking fanatic and having read Guze' I got inspired. Here is a nice recipe for all those of you who can afford to cook with beer (I can too - but only certain American brands). A World Cup Recipe of a German Favourite: Gegrillte Bradwurst. I am sure it would satisfy Guze's criterion of cholesterol levels and the instructions of simmer for 20 minutes should not be complicated for a single guy - not even for one who gets loads of phenomenological thrills from boiling an egg!

Title: Gegrillte Bratwurst (Grilled Bratwurst)
Categories: German
Yield: 6 servings

6 ea Bratwursts 6 ea Peppercorns
12 oz (1 Can) Beer 4 ea Cloves
1 ea Onion; Med., Chopped 6 ea Hard Rolls

Place bratwursts, beer, onion, peppercorns,
and cloves in a 3-quart saucepan.
Simmer for 20 minutes. Drain.
Grill bratwursts 2 to 5 inches
from charcoal about 10 minutes, until browned.
Sprinkle with water to form a crisp skin.
Serve in hard rolls with Dusseldorf-style mustard.
The Recipe was unshamefacedly ripped off a site called Recipesource.

1 commentaire:

PeachBellini a dit…

Well in practice an ASBO is: We're asking you to be nice but we can't really do anything about it if you're not. Ex: We're asking you, yes you the 12 year old, to stop going around town, shattering windows, carrying a crowbar as if it were an ipod and generally leaving destruction in your wake. Also please stop harassing people, breaking their cars, spitting in their faces, smashing their doors etc.

It's as effective as a chocolate hammer.