Our selected readings and comments
Is that post you saw misinformation or disinformation?
Both disinformation and misinformation mix facts with distortions and/ or falsehoods. Disinformation is intentional. But how do we know that when looking at a specific post on social networks? Eva and I try to unpack the terminology in our latest podcast episode. Disinformation is often systematic and sustained over time. And when its spreaders are faced with debunks, they never …
Kayaking in Malta
The sea is pretty much the only kind of wildlife Malta can offer, so spending time in and near the sea is very important for making the most of living on this island. Thanks to my friend M. I had an opportunity to try out sea kayaking, which is one of the most exciting ways to explore the islands from …
Libraries, public space and obsession with cafes
A NYT article about libraries and civil society was one of the warmest and most hopeful texts from the other side of the Atlantic in the recent years. It made several key points: libraries are open, inclusive and fun spaces to interact – or to be by oneself. The growing emphasis on libraries can hopefully replace the recent obsession with …
Birdwatching at Għadira Nature Reserve
Last Sunday was the day of 40 birds in Lithuania, which means, according to traditional wisdom, that 40 species return from the South by that day. Some say that due to climate change the list of species changes, but their number remains roughly the same. I trust one of my favourite Lithuanian photographers, Marius Čepulis, for the species count. Meanwhile, …
Mogul sets off to lecture young people, admits infrastructure flaws
Real estate mogul Frank Salt, whose family-owned business is one of the largest in this sector in Malta, is known for writing somewhat puzzling columns for the Times of Malta, the country’s largest, conservative-leaning newspaper. I won’t help the editors, who eagerly publish all this, in their clickbaiting efforts, but you can find out about Salt’s interpretation of things by …
Transport in Malta – problems and solutions
I recently had a story published in the Equal Times – one of my favourite publications to work with. As always, it was a demanding process, and I took a long time to work on it. As a result, I collected by far more stories than I could use in the article. Since then, a pedelec rental scheme has been …
Drawing on mini canvas
I bought a few mini canvases from Nanu Nana on my last trip to Germany. I love using them outdoors in Malta. #Pleinair #painting with @outdoor_artists at #sananton gardens, thanks to @clive_angelo_gerada_artist & co. #minicanvas by @mein_nanunana #miniatureart #minipainting #minipics #Malta #3d #perpective #paintingsofinstagram A post shared by Daiva Repeckaite (@daivarep) on Feb 24, 2018 at 12:34pm PST In San …
Ordering a coffee in Malta
Coffee is one of the greater joys of this life. But it’s important to know the cultural norms of each place to avoid disappointment – I learned it the hard way. Rule No. 1 is easy: never order a coffee by saying just ‘coffee’. In Portugal, ‘coffee’ means ‘espresso’. In Luxembourg, Lithuania and many other places, it means a regular …
Reducing plastic waste in Malta
A local blog entry on living plastic-free a whole month has been on my mind for a while. Being in the Mediterranean makes me more aware of plastic waste. In Egypt, gorgeous observation points and splendid buildings were often marred by piles of plastic waste accumulating around them. In Israel, all vendors insisted on packing everything in plastic. I collected …