The Insiter - Vol.15 Issue 2 by Insite - The Student Media Organisation

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CONTENTS

4. Editorial 6. The WoW Factor: A Decade Later Matthew Aguis Muscat 7. Unpack the Artist: Interview with Executive Dominique Ciancio Dionne Taryn Gatt CEO Melissa McElhatton 10. Thou ART not Timothy Spiteri Secretary General Dionne Taryn Gatt Sales and Marketing Officer Michelle Grech 12. Perpetual Patterns of External Relations Officer Workplace Persecution Kristina Saliba Johann Aguis Financial Officer Sarah Cachia Operations Officer 14. The Perception of Beauty Julia Shaaban Claudio Aguis Media Team 16. #Darwinning Nitpicker Media Officer Matthew Charles Zammit Editors Andrea Gonzi Federico Barbaro-Sant Nicole Borg Rebecca Elizabeth Kemp Timothy Spiteri

Illustrators and Designers Abygail Martini Tonna Becky Borg Cardona Elisa Calleja Marisabelle Grech Martina Cutajar Roberta Scerri Siobhan Vassallo Contributors Charles Mercieca James Camilleri Julia Shaaban Kristina Saliba Marie Gion Matthew Aguis Muscat Matthew Debattista Nitpicker

18. Muddled and Misconceived: Perspective on CSA Marie Gion 20. Of Tutus and Football James Camilleri 21. Hidden Gems: A Literary Ode Charles Mercieca 24. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a WHAT?! Melissa McElhatton 26. Four Hands on Deck: Interview with Wobis Duo Matthew Charles Zammit 28. To Tat Or Not to Tat Nicole Borg 30. Hail to the King Johann Aguis

32. Race Against Time: 10 Places to Go Matthew Debattista

Editorial:

Typical Trip from Home to University

What does that entail? People would tell you it depends on the time. Traffic would be deadly in the early hours of the morning and to find any sort of parking space inside Campus, arrival time will have to be somewhere around the 7 o'clock mark at the best of times. Arriving any later than that will make a finding parking slot a mythical possibility. Things will only improve in mid-afternoon and into the evening. So as most students would know, time is parking spaces.

In the face of such a problem, one should turn to public transport. But with the transport situation as it is, some find it at best difficult to get to their destination, mainly due to the system's inefficiency and the perpetual problem of traffic. It is also down to the lack of buses and their maintenance, and also the sense of laissez-faire that there with some of the drivers. These drivers only seem care about getting paid, and anything else is simply not their concern; that is the feeling one gets when boarding the bus. It is an undeniable fact that the bus system has gone from bad to worse, making the days before Arriva came to Malta seem like the golden age of public transport. What is sad about the situation is that while the transport system became a political ball for the parties to take pot-shots at each other, the student seems to have been left with no truly feasible way of getting to University for a day of lectures without having to leave home around 2 hours before the lecture starts. Building bus lanes work only as a short term solution, since the problem lies in the mentality of the general population. It is a situation where everything goes and if anyone wants anything, it has to be now. Ranting aside, on to the trip itself. In short, it’s the people that will make the trip excruciatingly boring or entertaining (sort of). Entertainment on a bus may either be rare or

Federico Barbaro-Sant quite commonplace, depending on the route. Misunderstandings or general banter are the usual suspects in any incident on the bus, such as a passenger asking where the bus goes when it is clearly shown on the side and front of the bus, with the probable end result that the driver replies in rather fruity language because nobody knows how to read.

turn green, it’s drag race between cars to see who gets around the first bend first. Drivers cut into each other’s lanes causing a whole pandemonium when it’s basically a question of going four-wide into each turn. Some choose to go around the traffic by taking to the bus lane, when all of a sudden they turn back into traffic because there’s a policeman

Arriving any later will make a finding parking slot a mythical possibility. Time is parking spaces. It may also be an unusual character on board the bus, either talking to himself on something the other passengers will never know or acting in a manner that would elicit the sort of reaction which may shortened into the letters WTF. But as with everything else, there is always a funnier side to things, such as an encounter with a driver with a sense of humour jokingly flirting with a group of old ladies.

at the next turn. The commotion then continues on the way up into the flyover going over Marsa and Qormi leading up to junction that either takes you to the center or north. It’s not rare that traffic bottles up, along with the occasional late dive into the lane taking cars uphill. Accidents usually involves these drivers hitting the low wall dividing the route uphill and the other leading to the capital.

As mentioned before, traffic is a major feature of any commute to any place, but let’s focus on University for now. Boarding the bus from the centre of Paola, it is then downhill into the hell that is the traffic in Marsa. Getting to the first set of traffic lights is relatively straight forward, but as soon as the lights

From then on, it’s relatively straightforward bar the frequent stopping and going because of the sheer amount of cars commuting. At that point, the journey would be at an end and a day at University beckons. Until the next trip, welcome to the Insiter.

Matthew Agius Muscat

The WoW Factor A Decade Later On November 23rd, immensely popular video game World of Warcraft hit its tenth birthday. Long time addict Matthew Agius Muscat walks us through the titleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, as well as taking a brief look at its recently released fifth expansion: Warlords of Draenor. Released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment, World of Warcraft (WoW) was the narrative sequel to Warcraft III. The two had little to no gameplay in common: the latter was a strategy game - a genre considered to be Blizzards forte following their success with Starcraft and previous Warcraft iterations. WoW, on the other hand, was Blizzards first attempt at creating a massive multi player role-playing game (MMORPG). It is important to understand that, in early 00s,the MMORPG genre was one reserved for only the most tenacious players. Unforgiving mechanics made games such as EverQuest and Dark Ageof Camelot synonymous with hardcore gamers that poured hundreds of hours into their hobby. Though from a mechanical point of view WoW had little to set it apart from its rivals, it did offer unparalleled accessibility and the signature Warcraft aesthetic. Blizzards goal was to entice the lucrative casual player into their game, but this was a huge gamble on their part: was it possible to do so while still providing challenging content for the hardcore player base that the genre brought with it? It most definitely was: the game had 7.5 million active subscri ptions within two years, eventually peaking at 12 million in October 2010, just prior to the release of its third

expansion pack: Cataclysm. Though it began on a high note, that same expansion also saw the first ever drop in the numbers: down to 9.1 million in June 2012. With few exceptions, the numbers continued to drop throughout the games fourth expansion Mists of Pandaria until they hit 6.8 million this June. Mists, an expansion with a predominantly Eastern theme, was widely suspected to be an attempt by Blizzard to secure their most popular market: Asia. In doing so, however, they alienated the same audiences they originally sought to bring over to their game fans of the Warcraft theme and casual players. This was coupled with their attempts at streamlining difficulty, which resulted in raiding (an activity undertaken by large groups of players) becoming ...inaccessible to players who previously had enjoyed playing with their friends or pickup groups, and that was a problem.

Which brings us to the latest installment in the franchise: Warlords of Draenor is Blizzards solution to their declining player count. A time-travelling adventure of sorts, Warlords returns players to the timeline of Warcraft II. Featuring famous faces from the Warcraft universe, familiar locales and a larger-thanever emphasis on accessibility, Warlords has already enticed countless players as evidenced by the bump up to 10 million subscribers in November up from the 7.4 million subs in September (2.6 million in just two months). These numbers come in spite of the cri ppling server issues encountered in first week,which had several players stuck in queues of four to six hours just to get into the game. With stability returning, reviews and player reception so far appear to be positive and the game maintains its title as highest grossing video game of all time. Whether or not it can hang onto its player base needs to be seen,but for now, things are looking up for the decade old legend. Here is to another ten years.

INTERVIEW WITH

DOMINIQUE CIANCIO

Dionne Taryn Gatt

These are the words of Gozitan artist Dominique Ciancio who spoke to The Insiter at his exhibition ‘Unpack’ about the vision he wants to portray through his art, and the general perception on the artistic community in Malta.

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Each painting can be a tiny window into an open universe

“

and the soul of the artist is still the same no matter where he presents his work. Artists need to create their own opportunities. Nowadays there are funds that one can apply for to aid these talented individuals. Before art was seen as a business but nowadays creativity can be tinkered with.

What is your definition of being an artist? I’m still asking that question myself! I think by classifying people we are putting them into categories. I consider myself a human being rather than an artist. What is ‘Unpacked’ about?

Should budding artists travel to foreign countries to pursue their career?

I have based this exhibition on the idea that mankind is searching for something which is unknown to him. The packet is impeding us from finding this notion or object that we are in pursuit of. The exhibit is a whole journey of characters with various ideologies including philosophers, a toddler and the protagonist, The Idiot. The viewers embark on this journey and live the same experience as them, but it is also open-ended so people have to be as creative as possible in their conclusion.

Maltese people tend to glorify the art in foreign countries. I believe that each and every individual is a universal citizen. Ideally, one should not think of finding opportunities in specific countries but try and find universal or worldwide opportunities. By adopting this mindset, you would be crashing all boundaries and are motivated to search for opportunities on a larger scale. Coincidentally, my next exhibition called ‘SemaArtIlma’ is all about breaking all boundaries and having no limits. Do you think that the Maltese people’s perception towards art is due to a more conservative mentality? One cannot really generalise. There is a mix of progressive and provincial perceptions, the mentality is just a cultural trait. Malta is a micronation and you’d be surprised at how unpredictable people’s reactions to art can be. Some people are viewing art from a different perspective now. Are there enough opportunities in Malta for artists?

What inspires your artistic works? I am influenced and inspired by almost everything, be it old opera, films, music or people. ‘Unpack’ was inspired by something - a simple packet - which in turn symbolises how man is in constant pursuit to reveal the gift of life. Humankind and its imperfections are also one of the main influences on my art. I strive to find beauty in that imperfection. How long does it take to build up an artistic idea? Normally, although the general idea is there, it takes time for me to think of the skin that I’d like to present my idea in. You mentioned that the exhibition is openended. What were the main reactions of the Maltese public to the concept of ‘Unpack’? There were a variety of reactions. Funnily enough, many young people described the whole concept as creepy whilst more mature people dubbed it as beautiful or fascinating.

Working abroad has been a worthwhile experience for me; in fact I have had the opportunity to work on the film set of Steven Spielberg at Universal Studios. I also spent a total of five years in Scandinavia and have organised some exhibitions there. Opportunities in Malta were always there

What advice would you give to upcoming artists? Art is like directing your own film. Do something you are good at and the results will speak for themselves! Regardless of the country you are in, any experience is a good experience so never shy away from expressing yourself.

Recognition of Foreign Qualifications in Malta National Commission for Further and Higher Education Alamein Road, Pembroke T: +356 2381 0000 E: qric.malta@gov.mt W: www.ncfhe.org.mt Opening Hours: Winter Schedule: 1st October - 15th June Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am – 12:00pm, 2:00pm – 4:00pm Summer Schedule: 16th June - 30th September Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00am – 12:00pm

The Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) assists in making the Maltese qualifications system easier to understand and review, and more transparent at a national and international level. The Malta Qualifications Framework is also a referencing tool that helps to describe and compare both national and foreign qualifications to promote quality, transparency and mobility of qualifications in all types of education. The 8 reference levels make it easier to understand what a learner with a qualification related to the MQF knows, understands and is able to do. The MQF is mainly referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) as well as to other non-European qualifications frameworks. The National Commission for Further and Higher Education (NCFHE) is the competent authority in Malta to recognise qualifications against the Malta Qualifications Framework. Through its Qualifications Recognition and Information Centre (QRIC), NCFHE deals with the recognition and comparability of both academic and vocational qualifications. QRIC is also the local official centre of the ENIC-NARIC Network which provides updated information on the recognition of international qualifications across EU member states.

Doctoral Degree

Master’s Degree Postgraduate Diploma Postgraduate Certificate

Bachelor’s Degree

Undergraduate Diploma Undergraduate Certificate Higher Education Certificate

*VET Higher Diploma (vi)

Matriculation Certificate Advanced Level Intermediate Level

*VET Diploma (v)

General Education Level 3 Sec Grade 1-5

*VET Level 3 (iv)

General Education Level 2 Sec Grade 6-7 Secondary School Certificate and Profile (B)

*VET Level 2 (iii)

General Education Level 1 Secondary School Certificate and Profile (A)

(ii) (i)

*VET stands for Vocational Education and Training

*VET Level 1

A recognition statement for qualification is generally required for: pursuing further studies, applying for a promotion, applying for a qualification allowance, applying for a tax rebate, acquiring a single permit/visa/citizenship with ETC, applying for funding under the Malta Enterprise ‘Get Qualified Scheme’, applying for a scholarship scheme, applying for a stipend, holding interviews with prospective employees. Certificates obtained from the University of Malta, MCAST and ITS do NOT require a recognition statement since they are considered as self-accrediting and thus are automatically recognised. For qualifications related to dance, drama and music as well as qualifications awarded by other accredited Universities and institutions refer to the lists available on the NCFHE website. For other qualifications which are not listed, it is important to fill in the Application form for the Assessment of a Qualification and along with the supporting documents bring this personally to the QRIC office. Persons interested in enrolling in a new course are also strongly encouraged to check whether this is recognised BEFORE starting the course by filling in the Application form for the Assessment of Prospective Qualifications. For the lists, application forms and the supporting documents required visit the QRIC page on www.ncfhe.org.mt. Annotations: The National Qualifications Framework is designed in such a way as to be able to include diverse forms of qualifications not as yet covered by this framework. (i) Attainment of the Basic Employment Passport together with either the Adult Skills Certificate of the NCFHE 8 Key Competences at Level 1 are also considered as a Full VET Level 1 qualification. (ii) The NCFHE recommends that a Full VET Level 1 qualification should enjoy the same parity of esteem as a Full Secondary School Certificate and Profile (A). (iii) The NCFHE recommends that a Full VET Level 2 qualification should enjoy the same parity of esteem as 4 General Education Level 2 subjects or a Secondary School Certificate and Profile (B) at the MQF Level 2 at Grade 6 and 7. (iv) The NCFHE recommends that a Full VET Level 3 qualification should enjoy the same parity of esteem as 6 General Level subjects at Grades 1 to 5. (v) The NCFHE recommends that a Full VET Diploma should enjoy the same parity of esteem as 3 Advanced Level subjects. (vi) The University of Malta awards the Higher Education Certificate to students who do not complete a degree programme but have a minimum of 60 ECTS.

Bullying is an epidemic of schools and children everywhere…. or is it? Kristina Saliba writes about how we incorrectly forget that bullying is also found in workplace situations, albeit in different forms

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This problem is not straightforward..

The celebrations are soon coming for all graduates, and soon we’ll be seeing everyone popping their champagne. Congratulations! You have worked hard, studied hard, and deservedly got so far! Soon you shall be facing the biggest challenge yet: to face the world outside the desks of university and enter the Job Market. You will be asking yourselves “What’s next?” repeatedly in the following weeks. You will face interviews with numerous business persons, hopefully giving you packages that you cannot refuse in your dream job. Well, dear graduates and undergraduates, before signing any contracts and consigning yourself to any sort of employment, be careful for the following, often overlooked, issue: Bullying at work. This problem is not straightforward, and sometimes an element of foresight must be acquire to try and see one of the many signs for the initial phase:

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Kristina Saliba

Starting with the obvious: Contract Signing. Most of the time, a contract will be presented by the company that you will be working for, which is an agreement between the employer and yourself. Hold your horses before signing anything! This document has to be read carefully, as it contains essential but minute information that you need to know. Also, know your work, so read the work description and look for subtle wordings. For instance, helping your coworkers is one thing, but being abused by giving you work that is not yours to do is another.

Harassment, or bullying, takes a lot of shapes and forms, and each is as bad as the next. As per the Government Website, these are some examples that classify under verbal/psychological abuse: sex, race, sexual orientation, political views, hair colour, age, pregnancy, disability, ridicule or intimidate with violence, and even giving promotions to others while you should deserve it. They, co-workers or employers, could embarrass you by sending emails, passing rude and/or obscene comments, making you feel lower than dirt and maybe, a total campaign of ignoring you.

Another important issue is to always demand for a contract since it is not always given. Do not accept any work unless it is presented in a black on white format! Refraining from doing is leaving the door open for people to exploit you in many different ways!

Any type of bullying is a no go! In general, most people pass through some type of harassment; some people immediately take some sort of action, whilst the sheer majority start working for quite a period of time until eventually get fed up and quit their job.

I have collected a sample of 20 people of different sex and ages in different professions. It was immediately noticeable that bullying exists in every type of sector. Types of work varied from catering work to managerial to secretarial to health-care. It was a mix with different genders and sexual orientations. I have observed in this sample that: - 65% of the abuse was done by people in a managerial position; - 25% from colleagues - and 10% from both sides. I also asked the people anonymously completing the survey for a short narration of their experience: - 5% admit that their bullying was done when they received work which is not theirs to do; - 40% were victims of management abuse; - A fifth also felt emotionally harassed; - 5% felt that there was preferences among a small clique at work; - A Full quarter of the respondents had felt that management or staff took advantage of them; - while another 5% felt that their opinion was not respected. Such events were both of a single instance nature, while others spanned over numerous years, with many of the letter admitting confidentially that they are still victims of such harassment.

When it comes: Three Quarters of the respondents took action: - 5% became more careful at what they were doing to avoid such harassment scenarios; - 5% reported to Social Services; - 15% spoke with their colleague or with their boss to resolve the issue, whilst - An astonishing Half of the respondents simply quit their job. Meanwhile, the other 25% refrained from taking any action.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

An astonishing half of the respondents simply quit their job

Even though the pool of respondents was rather limited in number, it is enough to get a picture of more or less what happens out there in the dark side of employment. Dear readers, I stongly suggest that you do only like what the majority of respondents here did (i.e. Quit Your Place of Employment) if more amicable measures are not helping. If direct confrontation with said person or with your superiors or colleagues does not work, there is another alternative. Call the Department Of Industrial and Employment Relations on 21224245/6 or send an e-mail on ind.emp.relations@gov.mt; take it from me, the staff would guide you to an ideal solution: If the harassment level is considerable there is also the Industrial Tribunal as a last resort. The purpose of this article, dear reader, is not to scare you. Far from it! My purpose in writing this is to open your eyes to a friendly advice, and to prepare you from before on what you may come face to face with. The only thing for me is left to say is good luck for your future and enjoy the ride!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Julia Shaaban

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They say that beauty “is in the eye of the beholder” But is it really?

We’re all attracted to someone beautiful. Beauty has MANY different factors where men and women seek very different qualities in each other. But what is the inner primal instinct in us that really drives us to be attracted to each other?

It’s all about passing on the genes. After sailing around the Galapagos Islands, Charles Darwin formulated what would become the central dogma of biology: the Theory of Evolution. This theory states that the fittest of each species survive disease and predation in order to pass on genes to the next generation. Those who have genetic anomalies or are ill suited to the environment will die. Survival, it seems is the key.

and waist is a strong predictor of fertility, physical strength and robust immunity. Physical strength means improved ability to hunt, provide food and to protect the investment she puts into producing and feeding a baby will be worth it.

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We want the best genes in our mate as this means we will produce a healthy baby. But what does this mean when we seek out a partner? Body shape is a predictor of how healthy and attractive the offspring will be. A male with a classic ‘pear’ shape with narrow shoulders and bigger hips is not an attractive to women but the inverted triangle shape with broader shoulders and narrow hips

When a man looks for a mate, many studies have shown that the ‘hourglass’ shape, i.e. narrow waist, a sizeable bust, medium shoulders and hips to the same proportion,

is attractive to men all of all cultures signifying one thing: fertility and the onset of puberty. Men look for a woman with high level of fertility to enable him to pass on his genes successfully.

the female to make sure those 4 days are taken advantage of. Despite modern societal constructs, humans aren’t meant to be 100% monogamous as is evidenced by the widespread infidelity we see today.

While evolution plays a big role in the genes being passed on, sexual preferences in a mate also have an influence on the available genes in a population. (Dimijian)

A study shows that women are more likely to cheat during the fertile 4 days of the month and even more ominously, studies around the world show that as many as 1/10 children are being raised by a man who is not biologically their father.

Beauty is in all the “senses” of the beholder. Sniffing a prospective mate is not what your average human does, right? Well that is what has been thought for many years. Previous studies have shown there is a neurophysiological process in terms of who we select, beyond out conscious capacity. The same can also be said for a same sex dynamic. In an experiment where homosexual men wore t shirts absorbing their odour and this was presented to straight and gay men, the smell was more attractive to other gay men than straight ones. (Jimenez Orvananos) Our immunity is partly determined by the type of genes we have inherited. An experiment showed that we’re programmed to sniff out someone with a different disease fighting genes to us. Smell from sweat glands and apocrine glands (The Areloa, Cheek and Genital areas) should be unappealing to those who have the same genetic profile. (Furlow). We may not realise it, but that age old innate method of mate detection is still in full force today. In fact, some might argue that our modern obsession of showering, applying soaps and perfumes may be hindering our chances of making a good mate. Even the contraceptive pill has been implicated in women changing their minds about their men, based on how women detect smell, preferring smells like their kin, causing a problem when she stops taking it. 1 So what’s in it for the guys? Modern experiments sho very clear differences; males generally are more open to casual sex. Females? Not so much. The key to this difference is parental investment. The sex that invests the most in the next generation is the females. Females become pregnant, give birth and nurse the young; all such activities are risky or have a big nutritional (and emotional) cost. Non pregnant females are therefore less available, and so males compete to get such a girl, who have the upper hand. (Dimijian) Men are always primed for mating as they constitutively produce sperm. Women are fertile for around 4 days a month, so it makes sense for the male to stay with

Unlike many primates from which we descend, males need to stick around so they don’t miss the few fertile days. Instinctively, though, it seems women seem to know when they are ready to conceive. Material girls… guys as well! Biology and evolution aside, one may argue that when a girl looks for a guy, she wants a man who has material goods: for example, money, cars, property. The thing is that this mentality dates back to millennia ago, when survival depended on the male providing resources while the females raise the offspring. This method of showing off to the opposite sex is called ‘peacocking’; in modern times this goes some way to explain why women are busy applying the 30,000 miles of lipstick sold every year and men are busy splashing on 4000 gallons of aftershave a year: all to attract a mate. A male with resources is attractive to females; this is seen across the animal kingdom, for e.g. male penguins using large piles of nest building rocks to elevate his status, to modern dating agencies who aim to set up dates with male millionaires and so called attractive women who are actively seeking resources (money). This can change the woman’s perception of attractiveness and desirability for marriage. The human male’s need to use financial status is actually a hardwired behavioural trait. Explaining Sexual Orientation So while studies suggest that human behaviour is driven by our desire to find someone to reproduce with, why is it some of us are attracted to members of the same sex? OR could it just be an extension of animal behaviour ? ‘Homosexual’ behaviour in animals has been observed. The term itself is anthropomorphic but for example, bonobos display sexual man on man and woman on woman behavior as well as adult/juvenile ‘hook ups,’ albeit short term. (Dimijian)

populations vary from 110%, with rates often lower for females than males (Zietsch). Homosexuality tends to run in families where there is a greater chance of identical twins having the same sexuality (as they share 100% of their DNA) than those who are fraternal twins. It is also found to run in families. (Savolainen) Homosexuals tend to have fewer children than heterosexuals, but despite this, the trait has remained in the population. No one is quite sure how or why, but many theories have postulated that relatives of homosexuals tend to have a reproductive advantage, and so the genes predisposing the homosexuality are passed on at the cost of producing the homosexual phenotype. This is supported by some evidence that homosexuals come from larger families. Related to this evidence is also the observed phenomena that gay men tend to have more older siblings. It has been observed that the traits homosexuality confers, such as tenderness, kindness and sensitivity, as well as an added degree of facial feminization, are more attractive to women. In reverse there has been little research done, but it has been suggested that masculine traits like competitiveness, and adopting casual sex behaviour could contribute a mating advantage. More psychologically masculine women tend to have a greater number of opposite sex partners. (Zietsch) Being gay apparently it’s not all doom and gloom. 1

controlpillsaffectwomenstaste/) Further Reading http://www.pheromonetalk.com/howwomenratesexinesspleasantnessmans122.html trolpillsaffectwomenstaste/ References Dimijian, G. (2005). Evolution of sexuality: Biology and behavior.(report)proceedings . Baylor University. Medical Center, 18(3), 244. Furlow, F. B. (1996). The smell of love: How women rate the sexiness and pleasantness of a man’s body odor hinges Psychology Today, 29(38), 38. Jimenez Orvananos. (2013). Vision y olfato en las evaluaciones de atractivo que hacen hombres homosexuales. Interdisciplinaria, 30(1), 25. Savolainen, V. (2007). Evolutionary biology: Genetics and bisexuality. Nature, 445(7124), 158159. Wenner, M. (Nov 26, 2008). Birth control affects women’s taste. . Retrieved birthcontrolpillsaffectwomenstaste/

It is becoming more apparent that homosexuality is partly genetically driven. But it would seem peculiar that where survival depends on mating between opposite sexes that a significant quota would be homosexual. Estimates in Western

Zietsch, B., Morley, K. I., Shekar, S. N., Verweij, K. J. H., Keller, M. C., Macgregor, S., . . . Martin, N. G. (2008). Evolution and human behavior . Evolution and Human Behavior, 29(6), 424433.

7I’ve

never been a nit picker or a nit picker’s son, but I’ll pick nits until the nit picker comes. Well, here he is, and let’s get down to business, shall we?

could mean effective, and effective could just be a euphemism for downright pant-soiling levels of worrying. Never have I felt this more than while watching Idiocracy: a satirical scifi with an average 6.5 on IMDb and a not-tooshabby-considering 73% on Rotten Tomatoes (the background research is strong with this When I recently finished spewing out the latest one, you are welcome). of these rants, I genuinely had a momentary lapse of prejudice against the Maltese nation In this dystopian-comedy, an underachieving and thought that I wouldnt find the need to American soldier wakes up five centuries complain about anything for a while. That in the future, only to find out that Earth is blissfully ignorant moment, of course, lasted now one big dumb blue planet. Albeit full of plot holes *insert Swiss cheese comparison about 48 hours. joke or go for an added pun effect and refer In just over a month, we have had nationwide to Maltese roads, keeping it real OG*, the blackouts, political party flag-burning hunters film has one fundamental aspect that I always protesting in front of the Prime Ministers make it a point to bring up whenever I hear office, a naked posing Desert Princess (read: some ridiculously stupid episode happening elephant-woman), fears of Ebola-carrying somewhere on our island (i.e. on a more or Libyans and Ethiopian ISIS members (because less weekly basis). Africa is clearly just one small ghetto, duh), trigger-happy Ministry chauffeurs, and the all-round crass way of life that we have come to love and call our very own. Quite frankly, any of the above could have merited a rant of epic proportions from my end, and most of them should have. However, having said that, they can still be very neatly tidied up into one big dose of anti-chauvinism. I am well aware that even if you live in the Austrian Alps with Julie Andrews as your fairy godmother, you are still bound to think that the grass is greener in a public garden in the centre of Berlin. But if there ever was a country that could so effortlessly bring out the green in your neighbours grass as clearly as possible, then Maltas the rock for you. Sometimes, the best ideas stem from the unlikeliest sources. And sometimes, best

The main reason why the global population dumbs down in this fictional future is simple; rich and intelligent couples ready to put their careers before resigning to child-rearing and housewifing (should definitely become a verb that) end up having close to no children; meanwhile redneck archetypes rabbit out children (another sure bet on the annual New Verb Agenda) at light-speed rates. Survival of the fittest quickly devolves into survival of the dumbest just because of sheer numbers, global IQ averages drop, and before you know it, 80 becomes the new 100. So basically, what I am trying to say is this; if you think you have got actual contributions to make to this society (preferably with a CV to go with it, because pride and self-inflation are yet more great banes of our existence), by all means, I implore you, for the good of our nation: go forth, reproduce, and prosper. The game of civilization has been going on for far too long; lets not #Darlose it all now.

HOW THE SEAT IBIZA GOT ITS NAME “Deciding on a name for a car is similar to the process parents go through when choosing a name for their child – emotionally intense and something for life”, explains Vincenza Magliocco, SEAT’s Head of Product Marketing for the Ibiza. In the case of the SEAT Ibiza, this naming took place in the 1980s with the proliferation of tourism in Spain. As part of the company’s strategy to link each model to a Spanish city, the island was a perfect fit with the target audience for this car - young, with a modern, casual image and Mediterranean spirit. With the launch of the first SEAT Ibiza, the Spanish company “began to plot a new path towards independence and internationalisation”. As a trending destination for global tourism, the iconic island of Ibiza offered an option “that best matched the desired positioning for the new model”, explains Magliocco. In her opinion a car’s name is crucial, which is why it “should be easy to remember and should sound good in any language”. Oriol Iglesias, Academic Director of the ESADE Brand Institute, belongs to the same school of thought, regarding names as “fundamental”. According to this expert, the choice of the name Ibiza for this model ticks the three essential boxes for a product name: “it reflects the defining values of the brand’s identity; it can be pronounced and remembered easily; and it works in different international contexts”. Meeting these criteria

is vital for a company like SEAT, which exports over 80% of its cars and is present in more than 75 countries. Moreover, Ibiza’s mayor Virginia Marí believes that SEAT “has made good use of the Ibiza brand”, having helped the name “to transcend borders”. She asserts, “the values of the SEAT Ibiza brand image encompass the dynamic, young-spirited nature of the island. After four generations, the car continues to transmit those same values of youth and freshness and also continues to preserve the essence of our country”. For Marí, both the car and the island are “reliable and accessible, because it’s a nearby destination that’s focused on the consumer/visitor”. After 30 years, with four generations of the model and around 5 million cars sold, Vincenza Magliocco believes that the choice of the name Ibiza for this highly popular model “has been a hit”. “Although the initial positioning has evolved over time, becoming more mature and taking on an image of high-technology and quality, the Ibiza name still fits well with the car’s positioning”. In fact, Magliocco predicts that the spirit behind the naming of the first Ibiza in 1984 will continue to live on, incorporating new values and future trends so that it will continue to be a success.

They hail from our sister island of Gozo: They are inspired from both 60’s swing and modern-day Coldplay, and apparently they are not known for being punctual in their life. Matthew Charles Zammit meets up with Marc Schembri and Christian Azzopardi from Wobis Duo, a DJ duo who have been taking both Malta and Gozo by storm. Matthew Charles Zammit

“Wobis Duo”: Cool Name. What’s the catch? Marc: We didn’t choose it, it was given to us. God reached down from the sky with two Vinyls and ten DJ commandments. “The Wobis Duo” was encrypted on each of them.... Chris: Yes, we are the chosen ones... What is your background story? Marc: You mean professional, or sexual? Chris: It really started out as a small hobby, Marc didn’t even want to come for our first DJ lesson. Turns out both of us quickly liked it. We were being taught by the best of his kind, Gozo’s finest progressive DJ (Rewz). I invested in equipment and at the time, we really had all the time in the world to play around with it. Day and night we would listen to tracks, beatmatch and check out mixing techniques.

We grew up with it and Djing quickly became a big part of our lives as we organised house parties and 6th Form Balls. Then we got our first proper gig in a Club, and we have not stopped since then. How long have you been DJ-ing - and what were your early passions or influences? Chris: It’s been 7 years now. Our early influences were mainly delved in progressive and techno: this is what we began to mix, but remember; these styles have changed tremendously today. Think rather of artists like Henry Saiz, Hernan Cataneo and Christian Cambas... Marc: Apart from these modern artists, we’ve always been inspired by the past. We constantly listen to oldies, from the 50s and the beginning of the Rock ‘n Roll era, and then back to the 90s. Those are eras which really had a message to pass on, especially the 60s, where the music was exceptionally rich, and it foresaw what today we produce as house and Deep music. Listen to David Bowie’s “Let’s

Dance” track and tell me if you can’t connect the track’s bassline to, let’s say, one of Nhar’s tracks for example.

what you’re doing or not. You’re only as talented as you want to be, so work hard for it!

We also reserve a particular liking for the Swing and Burlesque era, for which we have a special event thrice a year in Gozo with the Swing theme.

Marc: Set your own personal goals and let DJing be part of it. Never forget where you come from and get to know the crowd. People only like you because you play the music they like... not because you look good behind the decks. Play the right track at the right time and try to make your next set the best that was ever put together.

“ We’ve

always been inspired by the past

Also, read a book about it, just like any other subject you learn in life. You can follow Wobis Duo on their Facebook Page for more updates on their events

”

What do you usually start with when preparing for a set? And do you have any superstitions that you adhere to before every party? Both: This is our ritual bible. First, we see from before what’s the party’s style; Secondly we see what are the new tracks and classic tunes that could go in the set; Third, we find loads of music and sort them according to their harmonic key. Lastly, we mix the lot and tell a story, whilst following a progressive graph. Do you have any great stories from when you were starting out till now? Any mistakes made, or any empty clubs? Marc: How about you empty your..... Chris: Everyone has those gigs every now and then, especially if you continue on accepting every gig that comes you way. Eventually you will realise that some parties are not promoted well; others should not even be promoted at all. This is a reminder to everyone and anyone: you need to build up a reputation. You cannot just put all the best DJs in a lineup and expect 400 people at your party, there is a lot of work being done in the background. Any words of encouragement for any aspiring DJ’s out here? Chris: You’ve got to love music. Whatever genre from whichever era, you need to love it. You need to listen to the same track over and over again in order to get your set right, in order to find out what is the suitable track before and after. You’ll need to face people with your music, and they’ll know if you love

“Also, read a book about it, just like any other subject you learn in life.

”

Years (even decades) after it was first introduced to the masses, Tattooing is still one of the hottest and most divisive forms of art out there. Nicole Borg looks at the past and the present perception of tattoos, in order to figure out what the future holdsâ&#x20AC;Ś.

Nicole Borg 28

One subject that has created a lot of controversy over the last few decades is that of tattoos: Due to the constant, often close-minded, arguments of many of the older generations, such a thing as altering one’s image through art was regarded as something dreadful, abnormal and “tal-Hamalli”: many a time, some even saw it as a sin.

there’s no going back. This goes to show the lack of knowledge that some people may have with regards to the art form and the technology available: After I explained that tattoo removal remedies exist nowadays, the respondent seemed to have changed his beliefs by continuing to say these people should be accepted in society.

Being a lover of arts myself, I cannot stand seeing these kinds of misunderstandings and misconceptions with regards to this form of art. Time to bring out the history books for this one!

I have to agree with what one of the respondents remarks: If some people consider tattoo as a sin because it changes the body that God has created him/her in, then: ‘People [who] colour their hair, pierce their ears (and other body parts), get their teeth fixed, or have plastic surgery are also guilty of such a crime.’

Originating from the Tahitian word ‘tatau’, tattoos have been with us for thousands and thousands of years, contrary to the general perception. The oldest tattooed body we have is that of Otzi the iceman, dated to be around 5,200 years old: Otzi was found between Austria and Italy, and it’s said to be covered in 57 tattoos. From studies done on the corpse, it was said that the tattoos had probably been made as an attempted cure against arthritis. Tattoos were used for many different reasons throughout history: From religious markings to medical purposes; it was seen at some point in time as a form of art, a form of punishment, and also as a mark of your profession or criminal record. The criminal attachment of tattoos is something that the older generation in Malta seems to have embedded in their minds: some people still believe that if one has tattoos they must have crossed borders with the law, or done drugs, or murdered someone. The primitive idea that tattoos are a sin seems to be slowly decaying away: From the forty or more people that I asked, only one person (over 60 years old) said that tattoos are a sin. From what I understood, it seems that the reason why this person sees tattoos as a sin is because it’s something that taints the body in a way from which

Ultimately, such an issue is not something that has to do with religion or morality; it’s something that has to do with one’s aesthetic point of view. Others do not accept tattoos for the simple fact that some people nowadays are taking it to a whole new extreme, marking their bodies with symbols that they don’t understand or feel attached to, which they will eventually grow out of in ten years or so. This, I can understand to a certain extent. Some people go ahead and tattoo their body out of impulse, not thinking clearly that this is something that they will most probably have to carry with them for the rest of their life, or else pay a high price for it to be removed. A concept I cannot seem to grasp fully is why a tattooed person is looked over when trying to get employed. From the answers I got from people, it seems that I am not the only one. Half of the people I asked said that no one should lose an opportunity at a good job which they are fully equipped to work in just because they have tattoos. The other half said that it depends on the job the person is applying for. For

instance one respondent said, ‘There are certain jobs which entail that you are always looking smart. Imagine a teacher having visible tattoos: I’m sure the parents will not be happy. It by no means judges the person’s ability to teach or the way they do their job, but they cannot be possibly understood by the younger people and may possibly deter them. Certain jobs entail that you are smart - lawyers, accountants, teachers, air hostesses/host, cabin crew, politicians etc.’ I can understand the point being put forward here but the problem is, why shouldn’t a teacher, an accountant, a politician have a tattoo? Personally speaking, unless the tattoo is something provocative or vulgar, but rather entails a certain emotional attachment or meaning to it, I cannot see any problem with it.

“

This is your world: Shape it or someone else will.

“

So, if you really want a tattoo, my advice is simple and unequivocal: Go Get One. If you don’t want a tattoo, don’t get one. At the same time, if you’re passionate about this type of art, talk about it, educate the people around you. As Gary Lew once wisely said, ‘This is your world: Shape it or someone else will.’

HAIL TO THE

KING

If I was an English or writing major, I would willingly consider dedicating a full-blown thesis on this phenomenal contemporary horror author that is Stephen King. Now 67 years old, his literary work has not aged one bit since his first publication almost 40 years ago. Having sold over 350 million copies of his many popular books, with a majority of them being turned into box office smashes and record-breaking television events, Stephen King shows no signs of stepping down from his terrifying pedestal. King’s legacy is still powerful, not because of these astounding figures and statistics, but because he has managed to bring a looked-down-upon genre of writing to the masses, and he never fails to keep his fans interested in what he has in store for them next. Having just published ‘Revival’, a new post-apocalyptic novel, in November, and now working on his 2015 release ‘Finders Keepers’, it is hard to believe that this prodigious storyteller almost never published his first book. After mindlessly throwing his first draft of ‘Carrie’ into the trash, his wife Tabitha recovered the manuscript and encouraged Stephen to the finish the work which would become his debut masterpiece. The rest was a long and winding road of award-winning books such as ‘Cujo’, ‘Lisey’s Story’, ’11/22/63’ and his ‘Dark Tower’ fantasy series, as well as critically acclaimed film adaptations including ‘The Green Mile’, ‘Misery’, ‘Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Stand By Me’, which is the writer’s own favourite, and one of his rare completely realistic novels. Pop culture most probably knows Stephen King best for the 1980 book-to-film feature

‘The Shining’, directed by the creepily avant-garde Stanley Kubrick. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone magazine in October this year, King said he still doesn’t understand the worldwide cult following of one of the most popular horror movies of all time. “The book is hot, and the movie is cold; the book ends in fire and the movie in ice”, he told journalist Andy Greene. He commented on how the story’s protagonist Jack Torrance was portrayed very differently from the 1977 original paperback, despite the spine-tingling and unsettling performance of the one and only Jack Nicholson. King’s life has not been short of tragedies and dramatic moments, much like his own imagination put to paper. When King was aged just two, his father abandoned the family after saying that he was going to the store to buy a pack of cigarettes. He went through severe depression while writing some of his most famous books, as a result of binge drinking and drug use. In June 1999, he even fell victim to a potentially fatal car accident after being run over by a minivan in his home-state of Maine; the location of most of his chilling novels. Stephen King has become such an iconic figure in the movie industry that it is practically automatic for his stories to be translated onto cinema, television or computer screens. His books still top the global best sellers lists, and he has even dabbled in political activism and most recently delivered talks in schools and universities all over the United States, inspiring students to delve into their creative souls and create something meaningful for everyone to enjoy.

Johann Aguis

5 Stephen King books I would recommend Carrie (1974)

If you want an exploding overdose of horror and fantasy with an alluring Stephen King twist, make sure to go for this intense post-apocalyptic novel. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga, over 30 different but equally important characters face an out-of-breath journey jumping from one time period to another, which is bound to confuse yet satisfy any dedicated reader.

Bag of Bones (1998)

It (1986)

King’s domination over the literary world of horror was initiated with this classic about a shy girl living with her crazy Catholicdriven mother, who discovers she has telekinetic powers. Carrie is by far one of the most interesting characters the author has ever come up with, leaving readers with mixed emotions from pity to utter disgust. If you’ve never read a Stephen King novel, start with this one. The Stand (1978)

This very long but never boring book plays a part in our common fear of creepy clowns. Pennywise is a monster hidden under a full-on clown costume, who cunningly lures children by exploiting their biggest fears. Going into complex themes of childhood trauma and deceiving exteriors, ‘It’ is a weird feast for the mind that will leave you feeling restless.

In one of King’s most underrated books, writer Mike Noonan goes to his summer retreat in Maine to try and grieve over his pregnant wife’s sudden death. Full of mysterious townsfolk and endless paranormal activity, this vividly disturbing novel will leave your fingers gripping the cover, without needing much of King’s usual elements of gore or fantasy.

On Writing (2000) Whether you’re an aspiring author or a fan of the author, this is King’s only autobiography and is considered to be one of his best books. An insightful and unapologetic look into his struggles, upon arriving on the final page you just want to binge on any Stephen King story that you can get your hands on.

RACE AGAINST TIME

10 PLACES TO GO You know what a bucket list is, don’t you? That list every teenager compiles of all the things one wants to do, encouraging oneself to tick it off one by one? Sometimes this can be tricky, especially when it comes to destinations abroad. Worry no further. If you consider visiting any of the places, hurry up when there still is a chance, and be one of the lucky ones. Why? Because in approximately 3 to 5 decades, these places might be gone forever. With the effects of climate change, and sea levels constantly on the rise, these places are facing an imminent threat. That is why we should appreciate nature’s gifts and do so quickly before we can say our final adieu. Some of these sights are gradually changing, worsening, or decaying, until they will merely be just pictures in history books. Here is a list of beautiful places everyone may - scratch that - needs to see:

LONDON, England

THE ALPS

Some may not realize that London is in a constant a high risk of flooding, vividly highlighted by the 2007 floods. With numerous tourist attractions and shopping malls, London is a must visit for anyone at any point during your life, though it is any wallet’s worst nightmare.

Ranging along the borders of Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The Alps were once a major skiing destination and home to many glaciers, but due to the ice melting at an uncontrollable rate, this could all disappear in the next 30 years. So long Livigno adverts, you’ll be sorely missed (same can’t be said to Stellina though)

Matthew DeBattista

BANGKOK, Thailand The setting of a certain Hangover movie is in constant threat: Sea Levels are constantly rising, and the whole situation is getting muddy… literally. At least you can witnesses some awesome, robot-shaped architecture. NAPLES, Italy The third largest municipality in Italian peninsula, and an object of fascination even till today, with the ‘Palace of Caserta’ a popular tourist attraction. Naples however rests under the shadow of the well-known ticking time bomb that is Mount Vesuvius (See: Pompeii in 79BC) This volcano is expected to erupt in an aggressively similar manner anytime in the next 50 years, putting the lives of half a million people in jeopardy.

Galapagos Islands If you are just like Charles Darwin and loves safaris, then this is the place to be. Rich Biodiversity, Unique flora and fauna, and their own special type of tortoises after which the islands are named: These islands are mostly associated with its rich biodiversity and the unique flora and fauna, most notably the tortoises that the islands were named after. However it’s only a matter of time before the ever-increasing human activity might remove us of this eyewatering beauty.

THE GREAT BARRIER REEF, Australia

THE DEAD SEA

IMSIDA, Malta

Diving fanatic? Don’t look elsewhere: The Great Barrier Reef is a magically beautiful place with vast marine fauna, with its much acclaimed coral reef definitely making your experience here memorable. This is the nearest thing one can go to Atlantis, though unfortunately rising water temperatures and acquatic pollution are severe threats to the whole eco-system here.

Also referred to as “the Salt Sea” due to its high salt content. Too lazy to swim? The Dead Sea is the place for you to be, since you’ll just float to the top! The use of its resources by its surrounding population and big businesses however have caused water levels to decrease at an unsustainable rate: If the trend continues, the Dead See might end up as being part of the annals of history.

I know what your thinking, (possibly something on the lines of “HAHAHA” and “Are you kidding me?”) but hear me out first You know what they say that Home is the Heart is? Now ask yourself, how many times weekly, if not daily, you have passed through Msida? Just imagine: what will happen if sea levels continue rising? And plus look at it: It’s more beautiful than we realize...

THE MALDIVES

VENICE, Italy

Did you know that if you are taller than 5 feet you can actually swim around the perimeter of the Maldives without any fear of drowning? Short people rejoice. Truly any beach enthusiast’s jewel: yet rising sea levels is threatening the islands so much that the Government is purchasing land in other countries to save their own skin.

Surely it must come as no surprise that Venice is on this list, mainly because its nickname alone is a dead giveaway: “The Floating City” (which in a few years time will change to “Drowning City”). Venice is an architectural masterpiece since: situated in a lagoon, one requires to traverse vast canals and waterways flanked by buildings which have all been touched artistically one way or another.

So if you do not want to go to school or work by paddling your way towards your destination, be sure to stick to the famous 3R’s as much as possible: Yes, I am looking at you, guy who is planning to buy the iPhone 6 even though your 5S is working fine.