And now the News

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS REFERENCES TO IMMORAL AND INDECENT ACTS IN PUBLIC. SENSITIVE VIEWERS SHOULD NOT READ BEYOND POINT 4.

1. Commission Raps On
The European Commission is not satisfied with the answer given to it by the Maltese government regarding the departure tax. The Commission deems the existence of such a tax discriminatory. This led the Commission to send a letter of formal warning which is essentially a request by the Commission to a government to give reasons why a law or administrative action taken by that government should not be seen as infringing Community law. The government's reply to such letter was not satisfactory(I assume that the govt showed that it had reduced the tax) and this has led to the second step of procedure: the reasoned opinion. In a reasoned opinion the Commission formulates its case against the government - pointing out what it deems to be the areas of infringement and requesting the government to take action in order to rectify the situation (one can assume from the Commission's arguments that the Commission would request either that the tax is removed or that local travel is taxed equally). The government now has two months to rectify the situation and reply to the reasoned opinion. Failure to do so will imply an action in the European Court of Justice for failure to implement community law.

2. And on
It's not just air travel that's in trouble. The Commission does not find the situation regarding the Gozo Channel monopoly very amusing. Even this procedure is at the stage of reasoned opinion. Looks like a lot of work could be coming up at the Court come next season.

3. A Good Nationalist Article
Since someone seems to think that we only see bad things come out of the PN media columns allow me to say that Malcolm Mifsud's article on today's Indy seems to be a well-argued reposte to an interview by Michael Cohen. Well-argued, well-said and to top it all up not one word about Mintoff and the dark ages.

4. Republic
Speaking of which... happy Republic Day to all you enjoying a second public holiday in a week. Aren't we a spoilt nation?

5. What's Wrong with the Thong?
Reports from the Maltese courts regarding the Lap Dancer's Case read like a Carry On script. Carry On Blushing would be a good title... for the police force in this case. It would seem that the accusation is now down from prostitution to "performing immoral acts in public". The proof? Tight shorts (tighter than those of a gymnast), scanty dressing and dancing while scantily dressed. From the witness stand: "The fact that they were dancing means that were participating in immoral acts because of the way they were dressed." Tali-who? Or this one... "Our orders were to arrest anyone wearing a thong because that is immoral." have to remind Melanie about this one... next time we are in Malta I must go to the monti for those pancieri... I have no time for this tomfoolery. Ajjut! will surely be onto this one. As will Daphne... and of course I cannot wait for Lorna's take on the matter.

For all you song lovers out there... Sisqo's Thong Song followed by Jimmy Fallon's Spoof (please don't work that Thong!):


Sisqo Thong Song
This thing right here
Is lettin all the ladies know
What guys talk about
You know
The finer things in life
Hahaha
Check it out
Ooh dat dress so scandalous
And ya know another nigga couldn't handle it
See ya shakin that thang like who's da ish
With a look in ya eye so devilish
Uh
Ya like to dance at all the hip hop spots
And ya cruise to the crews like connect da dots
Not just urban she likes the pop
Cuz she was livin la vida loca
BRIDGE
She had dumps like a truck truck truck
Thighs like what what what
Baby move your butt butt butt
Uh
I think to sing it again
She had dumps like a truck truck truck
Thighs like what what what
All night long
Let me see that thong
CHORUS
I like it when the beat goes da na da na
Baby make your booty go da na da na
Girl I know you wanna show da na da na
That thong th thong thong thong
I like it when the beat goes da na da na
Baby make your booty go da na da na
Girl I know you wanna show da na da na
That thong th thong thong thong
That girl so scandalous
And I know another nigga couldn't handle it
And she shakin that thang like who's da ish
With a look in her eye so devilish
Uh
She like to dance at all the hip hop spots
And she cruise to the crews like connect da dots
Not just urban she likes the pop
Cuz she was livin la vida loca
BRIDGE
CHORUS (2x)
Whoaaa

Please don't Wear that Thong (Jimmy Fallon)
Ooh! That dress too small on you.
Looks like you put on another pound or two.
So you're shakin' that thing like you're all that
Take a look at yourself cuz' you're all fat
Uh.You like to eat at the ice cream shops
And you cruise to the mall for some dippin' dots
Not too much food cuz' your cheeks will pop
I really hate it when you bend over

Chorus:
She had a big ol' butt, butt, butt
Thighs like a truck, truck, truck
baby hide your gut, gut, gut,
I think I see her again
She had a big ol' butt, butt, butt
Thighs like a truck, truck, truck
like king kong
Please don't wear your thong,

and listen when i say so,
been watchin that booty grow.
show us some self control,
dont wear that thong thong thong.
sorry but i told you so,
been watchin that booty grow,
it showsoff ur belly rolls,
dont wear that thong thong thong

Ooh! Your butt's girgantuine
And u know another brotha' would stand for it
It's like a wreckin' ball
So big and round
If I get too close it might knock me down

Uh
It's hard to find a vacation spot
with a cruise you could lose cuz
the girl ain't hot
She' on the beach
And she should be stopped
Cuz' she was tryin' to tan all over

She had a big ol' butt, butt, butt
Thighs like a truck, truck, truck
baby hide your gut, gut, gut,
I think I see her again
She had a big ol' butt, butt, butt
Thighs like a truck, truck, truck
like king kong

Please don't wear your thong,
and listen when i say so,
been watchin that booty grow.
show us some self control,
dont wear that thong thong thong.

sorry but i told you so,
been watchin that booty grow,
it showsoff ur belly rolls,
dont wear that thong thong thong