I.M. Jack - sixth edition

I.M. Jack - the weekly round up on j'accuse

1. Timegames
The MLPN pre-electoral warm up meant the early drawing of the battlelines. PM Gonzi revelled in the possibility of re-equating New Labour to Old Methods after Jason Micallef's faux pas added onto earlier explosive statements by girl about Gozo Justyne Caruana. Labour's reply came in the form of maltastar's hypocritical indignation at an innocuous cartoon in the Times by Maurice Tanti Burlò. The stirring up of hornet's nests and accusations meant that once more the issue of real politics could be skirted. Labour leader Alfred "Alfossa" Sant hinted at some true money talk when he warned the public to beware false promises in the upcoming budget.

2. Rubentus?
The dirty trap that was laid for Italian football's Old Lady slowly came to the surface. Inter is now under accusation for having spied on the team and may end up charged with "slealtà sportiva". The race is now on for the next pretenders to the throne that the Old Lady fully deserved on the pitch. It is expected that the Rigetta team will soon be making itself heard with some excuses for the paper scudetto that will probably be doing the musical chairs round until it ends up on the shirts of some lowly team like Akragas.

3. Working Ladies
Archbishop Joseph seems to have suggested that women should be paid to stay at home. The notion of "career women" versus "housewife" is still top priority in the Maltese church which seems to be oblivious of the advent of both the 20th and 21st centuries. The battle is on for the "pros" and "cons" and feminists vs chauvinist pigs. Much to be enjoyed. Sadly it will all be useless because women are just as busy as men in the modern race to keep up with the joneses. And if that means that little Brooklyn, Joelene and Gerald-Adalbert have to be left with nannu and nanna until we can afford the new Dolby Surround Microwave Cooker then so be it. General Public 2 - Archbishop's Curia 0 (attendance: insignificant, weather: fair, women & children half price).

4. SmartCity
This promises to be the confusing issue for next election. The one that is mentioned by MLP as the biggest disgrace to hit Malta since Mater Dejn and that is mentioned by PN as the greatest gift from God since Karmni Grima saw Our Lady with the rosary beads (what a cliché apparition). Harry Vassallo will go on ranting that the smartest thing in Malta remains unelected and will probably raise the wager to Elect 100 AD members or nothing.

5. Journalism Awards
As the debate peters out on the Maltese blogosphere we have been regaled with an incongruent nomination. The disappearance of any semblance of debate (controversial or otherwise) on the blogosphere as well as the glaring absence of onlookers contradict the nomination of a Maltese blog as being the champion of e-journalism. The other nominees are also risible suggestions - vide Mona's Moans on the Net. Where oh where doth real journalism lie? And if not journalism - at least a provocative site worthy of one or two comments.

6. Most Popular
Meanwhile in the neverland of hyperimagination J'Accuse proclaimed itself (carlsberg style) probably the most popular blog on the Maltese blogosphere. The tag will soon be added as the official slogan for the coming season. Provocation? yes. But mainly a challenge to figure out how to hang the bloody sentence at the end of the title. Hark... dost thou here mine trumpet a-blowin'?

7. Food
Maastricht and Aachen. Top advice for the weekend is a tiny Japanese shop in Maastricht off Onze Lieve Vrouwen Plein. The name of the resto? Tai-i-Chi. Supreme sushi and heavenly Pad Thai. A must for all lovers of the food from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Sayonara!