ST_OCTOBER_18

Issue nr. 3 

COVER STORY 

PG 06 

Journey of Rediscovery 

Sunday Trends exclusive take 

with singer and songwriter Kurt Calleja 

THE DESIGNERS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FASHION INTERVIEW 

PG 10 PG 12 PG 28 

The Secret Life of 

Coco Chanel 

Justine Picardi’s true story with exclusive 

illustrations of Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld 

'Is this the Life We 

Really Want?' 

Exclusive by Brad Tolinski Roger Waters 

Rails Against the Powers that be 

Chic, Luxurious, 

Sporty 

Interview with Michael Kors, 

the award-winning American designer 

Newspaper Post

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Monday - Friday 7.00 - 19.00 Saturday 7.00 - 13.00

CONTENTS 

COVER STORY 

INTERVIEW 

06 Journey of 

Rediscovery 

Sunday Trends exclusive take 

with singer and songwriter 

Kurt Calleja 

10 The Secret Life of 

Coco Chanel 

Read the true story by Justine 

Picardie and then check out 

exclusive illustrations of Chanel by 

Karl Lagerfeld 

Disclaimer 

THE DESIGNERS 

INTERVIEW OF 

THE MONTH 

12 

Roger Waters Rails 

Against the Powers 

that be & Asks, 

'Is this the Life We 

Really Want?' 

Exclusive by Brad Tolinski, 

with special adaptation by 

Martin Vella in Rome last 

August 

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from the website, magazine or related product without first obtaining the publisher’s consent. 

The opinions expressed in the Malta Business Review are those of the authors or contributors, 

and are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. 

FASHION SHOW 

OF THE MONTH 

20 Milan Fashion 

Week Highlights 

AW18 

Bizarre animals, the unknown 

future and Jackie Onassis were 

all inspiration of the latest 

trends to emerge from Milan 

Fashion Week AW1 

CLOUD 

TECHNOLOGY 

22 Changing The 

Way People Work 

An exclusive interview with 

Sig. Paolo Vannuzzi, CEO and 

Co-founder of Noovle, the first 

Google Cloud Premier Partner 

in Europe 

HEALTHCARE 

24 The Real Meaning 

of Health 

Our monthly columnist and 

specialist Dr Moira Borg talks 

about the importance of safety 

and healthy existence 

TALES OF THE 

UNEXPECTED 

26 Horrific 

Experiences at the 

Hotel 

Denise Formosa sweeps off our 

feet with true horror stories full 

of awe and mystery 

EXCLUSIVE 

INTERVIEW 

28 Chic, Luxurious, 

Sporty 

Interview with Michael Kors, 

the award-winning American 

designer is set to take Europe by 

storm

CASE STUDY: 

BUSINESS TRAVEL 

30 Just How Bad Is Business 

Travel For Your Health? 

Andrew Rundle gives us a comprehensive data 

on health and travel for work drawn from his own 

experiences 

FEATURES & 

STORIES 

40 Here’s what Cocaine does 

to the Structure of Your Brain 

26 BenTaub Just on How the hard Bad facts Is Business of cocaine Travel abuse 

For Your Health? 


on 44 health NASA and travel Prepares for work drawn Girl from for his own 

experiences 

a Visit to Mars 


on health and travel for work drawn from his own 

experiences 

PUBLISHER 

MBR Publications Limited 

OFFICES 

Highland Apartment - Level 1, 

Naxxar Road, 

Birkirkara, BKR 9042 

+356 2149 7814 

EDITOR 

Martin Vella 

TECHNICAL ADVISOR 

Marcelle D’Argy Smith 

SALES DIRECTOR 

Margaret Brincat 

DESIGN 

MBR Design 

ADVERTISING 

Call: 9940 6743 or 9926 0163/4/6; 

Email: margaret@mbrpublications.net 

or admin@mbrpublications.net 

CONTRIBUTORS 

MOIRA BORG; DENISE FORMOSA; CLINTON 

SCHEMBRI FRANCALANZA; RAKELLE 

MAURICI; BULL MURPHY; JUSTINE PICARDIE; 

MARK ROBINSON; ANDREW RUNDLE; 

DARREN SCHUSTER; BRAD TOLINSKI; BEN 

TAUB 

SPECIAL THANKS 

BABAMAIL; EDWARDS LOWELL & CO.; HUDSON 

GROUP; KARL LAGERFELD; LINKEDIN; LUXOS; 

MILANO MODA; MYOKA SPAS; NOOVLE; PTV 

GROUP; TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 

QUOTE 

“ONCE YOU START IGNORING YOUR 

ENEMIES THEY WILL BE DISAPPOINTED 

BECAUSE THEY WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE 

POWER TO MAKE YOU ANGRY OR 

MISERABLE.” EMANUEL VELLA, EX-SNR. 

INSPECTOR POLICE CORPS, MALTA 

FROM THE EDITOR 

I want to touch upon sensitive matters regarding family bonds and life in 

Malta. Lately, permissive-ness, living beyond one’s means and anything 

goes attitude has eroded the fundamental values of what once was a 

closely-knit Maltese family society. To add to this, foreign influences, 

diminishing of our culture and loss of identity has also compounded on 

the way Maltese have changed their lifestyle and upbringing. 

A family should not be divided, but the other way round. With heavy 

hearts and frayed nerves, but also with the knowledge that nothing — 

no thing — Is as important to US and all the rest as maintaining good 

relationships, our present regime and rather selfish approach, will never 

allow us to deal with some of the most emotionally charged things, 

and it will never give us a future reunion to look forward to… once a 

family and its values are broken, what remains cannot never be called 

a family or society. When we take on our parents, friends, family, and 

people we love to right that instinctive wrong, we risk shattering our 

home core. When we stop communicating with people we love, our 

relationships decay. The smallest slight can fire up our emotions. And 

this is prevalent and also a result of our wearing down and dereliction of 

moral and religious principles. 

We should all be afraid of becoming hateful. There is always a moment 

where we face the option of breaking all the rules. Where we know that 

no matter how bad things are now, we can always make them worse 

with one choice. First Lady Michelle Obama said during campaigning, 

“When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don’t stoop to their 

level. No, our motto is: when they go low, we go high.” Michelle 

Obama touched a chord with her words. Faced with the proposition of 

becoming full of hate, she is urging us to decide to ‘go high.’ 

We should all reach out and tell each other that we care about everyone, 

about us and our environment. Nothing outside of us is more important 

than our relationship, even as a cohesive society, when considering our 

small size. There was no way we could have reach the middle ground 

with ourselves, when we are trying to make each other understand, 

instead of understanding one another. 

I beg to differ. Let’s go with our gut instincts and follow our heart. 

Whatever our future holds, or hardships we are facing, we will never 

succeed without the love of family and friends, and society at large. 

We should never cross the boundaries to the point of no return… and 

let the division, the hate, the lies, the shame to rest on the shoulders of 

those who think negative and act that way. 

Recently, a close mate of mine shared a few mantras- he lives by four 

important ones: 

· No use stressing about things you cannot alter 

· What doesn’t kill you often makes you stronger 

· What goes round, comes around 

· Avoid head-butts, especially those who cause them 

Blame is for God alone to apportion. And don’t even hold grudges, 

it just makes you bitter and angry. Just enjoy your life without those 

who do not want you included. As for the pigs who rule this world, we 

have an exclusive interview with Roger Waters, Pink Floyd legend, who 

rigs the bell to remind us “All animals are equal, but some animals are 

more equal than others.” The sentence is comment on the hypocrisy 

of governments that proclaim the absolute equality of their citizensbut 

give power and privileges to a small elite. Waters mastery on music is 

also eloquent in his grasp to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose 

into one whole, and, similar to George Orwell’s epilogue in Animal 

Farm, leaves us with the animals outside gaze at the scene and look 

from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again, they 

can no longer distinguish between the two. 

Enjoy the read. 

Martin Vella 

Editor-in-Chief

COVER STORY INTERVIEW 

Journey of Rediscovery 

By Martin Vellati 

2018 has been by far the craziest and most honest year of his life, probably. This year Kurt Calleja decided to really 

focus on his talents as an artist. It kind of all feels very serendipitous, as Festival TV Presenter and then back to 

competitive singing at the Slavianski Festival, Kurt admits he has just never felt in touch with himself in a way he 

never have before in his life, which is obviously an incredible feeling. 

ST How did you get started with playing – and creating – music? 

KC: Since I was a kid I would invent melodies and lyrics that sounded 

like some sort of Saturday afternoon cartoon theme song. I would get 

lost in my own world for hours singing and imagining I am on a big 

stage. The irony is that when I was a kid I was told I was tone deaf by the 

choir director. But I loved it so much that I kept on trying. 

ST: Can you tell us about your past year as TV presenter and 

personality? 

KC: This is a very interesting subject for me because it was never one 

of my goals to become a TV presenter and when I was asked to do 

it - my immediate reaction was a tempted but hesitant one. I thought 

it would definitely be fun, but with no experience before in actually 

hosting my own show from beginning to end, I knew that there 

was more than what meets the eye. After asking for a few opinions 

,I thought I would take the leap of faith and I am very grateful I did, 

because I got to learn so much, and meet so many interesting people, 

that had I not taken this decision, I would not have been where I am 

today. Interestingly enough,during my time presenting "Xift" and “Fuq 

Net”, I got to combine three of my favourite things; cooking, music and 

self development. 

ST: I am interested in your musical projects – which musicians 

and songwriters have been the greatest influence? What are your 

favourite albums and how are you relating these with your present 

projects/concerts? 

KC: Throughout my life, I have followed different artists and as I grew 

up so did my taste for music change. From Backstreetboys and Westlife, 

to Coldplay, Muse. From Zucchero to Michael Buble, The Police to 

Maroon 5. Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Ed Sheeran 

and John Mayer. What I have always loved is to see people smiling, 

singing along and having a good time and therefore through my music 

I want to inspire people, to relate to my fans, friends and family, and to 

encourage people to be themselves. 

ST: What inspired you to teach yourself piano and start writing 

songs? 

KC: I strongly believe that an artist is not complete without learning 

how to play an instrument outside of their own voice. Not necessarily 

to be the next Leif Ove Andsnes (currently one of the best piano players 

alive) - but to be able to express themselves musically even when the 

voice presents certain limitations. Also getting a feel of an instrument 

is definitely a powerful tool when it comes to song writing and sharing 

emotions. 

ST: What can you tell us about your recent experiences in Belarus as 

a singer and your participation in the Slavianski Fest? 

KC: This opportunity was given by the official representative of the 

Slavianski Festival in Malta - Mrs Evelina Batey (Russian Maltese Cultural 

Association) through which music and singing in the native tongue 

(Russian) is a way of bringing people from many cultures together. As 

an artist I believe in pushing your comfort zone - after my Eurovision 

debut in 2012 - I never competed in anything again and so - going back 

6

to the competition was not an easy decision (what if I don’t do well? 

what will the Maltese people think? and so many more questions) - in 

the end I thought to myself - this is a very good opportunity and I want 

to make the most of it. So I accepted and my biggest task was to learn a 

song in Russian - which is very tricky because our accent is thick and theirs 

is more like speaking in reverse (at least that is what it sounds like to me). 

Originally, 42 countries were participating in this contest and then 21 

got to perform at the semi-final (15 of which then made it to the finals) 

- Malta was one of them. I performed my original track called Love On 

Mars and alongside 14 other countries - we made it to the finals where 

I then could perform a song in Russian with an 80 piece orchestra - the 

National Belarussian Orchestra. For the 2nd round of the final - I opted for 

the Moulin Rouge Version of Your Song by Elton John. 

Overall, we were not so lucky with points, as I got penalised for my non- 

Russian accent, but I did a lot of contacts and some new ideas for where 

we can spread our music - such as the Russian market itself (and the 15 

countries that speak it) and Mexico, Cuba and Latin America. 

ST: The most anticipated events of the festival are, as usual, 

international song contests. Can you describe why these are significant 

to you and your band? 

KC: I think especially after these nine days in Belarus - I continued to 

understand how small in numbers we as a nation are - yes we pride 

ourselves in being resilient and doing a lot for what little resources we 

have - but the truth is - the numbers will never be strong enough in Malta 

alone - and therefore it is healthy for a Maltese artist to explore foreign 

territories. 

ST: With regards to the future, can you tell us about the EP with Italian 

label? 

KC: Four years ago, I was asked to write lyrics for a few Italian artists, but 

when I sent my vocals on the track so that the Italians could follow the 

pronunciation and melody line, the label thought I should record one of 

them. In the meantime two of our collaborations got signed by Dance & 

Love (a record label specialised in European Dance Music). Since then I 

only produced one track with Maltese DJ Mykill Cini called “Waiting In 

The Sun” - however my EP Sweet Chilli is in its final stages and we hope to 

be launching very very soon. 

ST: Why is this so important to you? 

KC: Having a label to back you up makes a big difference because 

resources such as marketing, market knowledge, radio connections, 

world wide digital releases and funding have to be addressed. Having a 

label behind you - leaves for more room to focus on what the artist does 

best - create. 

Having a label behind you - leaves 

for more room to focus on what the 

artist does best - Create 

ST: What do the people around you think about your 

music career and your sound? 

KC: The most common comment I receive is regarding my 

showmanship. I think it means "your voice is nothing out of 

the ordinary, but you know how to get the crowd going”. 

Which I am OK with, but nonetheless improving ones self 

is any deficiencies that may be crucial to being the best 

version of yourself is a good tool to have, because the fight 

towards self-betterment remains. I like to call it being Happy 

Discontent. I know I am not the best singer in the world - 

but I work on being better than my yesterday self. Generally, 

when I work with studios, co-writers and producers - their 

comments about my music is generally - catchy, melodic, fun 

but also meaningful. 

ST: Are there any other projects you are currently working 

on? 

KC: Other than my EP, getting my music in the Russian and 

Latin American Market, rehearsing with the band, setting 

up solar panels in people’s houses and businesses, and 

trying to find to time for my family and girlfriend. I have 

just finished the menu for a RistoBar in Valletta. I created a 

menu of dishes for them to compliment the style and vibe 

of the this place. When I was a kid I wanted to be a chef 

and when I passed by GCSEs I went to ITS (Culinary school). 

I could not finish my studies due to music being so heavily 

present in my life; but I did want to use my cooking skills 

(so as not to waste it). I started off by cooking twice a week 

on my tv show. Soon after an entrepreneur called me up to 

create this menu and two months in, I created a few of my 

quircky signature dishes alongside healthy dishes that taste 

good (which is so hard to find). ST 

All rights reserved - Copyright 2018 


ST: What do you think about the internet as a tool for promoting 

yourself and your music? 

KC: It is a crucial tool - without which in today’s world - an artist cannot 

stay ahead. It has however destroyed sales however. Through Instagram 

and Facebook mainly - people see our performances and share, and get 

involved, and start following when and where we perform and listen to 

music we share. 

"Through my music I want to 

inspire people, to relate to my fans, 

friends and family, and to encourage 

people to be themselves" 

ST 

7

MILANO MODA DONNA 

CNMI presents "Be Ready", fashion 

Milano Moda Donna presented by 

The Blink Fish 

Creditline: CAMERA NAZIONALE DELLA MODA ITALIANA 

With a model, as the lead, getting ready for the upcoming fashion week, it is an entertaining take 

on the energy that is characteristic of the fashion week and its preparation. Only concentration 

and physical and mental wellbeing will enable the model to be ready. 

Concepts that CNMI fully shares with Technogym, CNMI Official Wellness Partner. Wellness, 

a concept launched by Technogym over 20 years ago, means a balance between body, mind, 

spirit and is achieved through regular physical exercise, healthy nutrition and a positive mental 

approach. A message that goes beyond the purely hedonistic vision and image of fitness, 

entering a more holistic and emotional paradigm: from "looking good" to "feeling good". 

Center stage are the garments and accessories by a new generation of Italian designers: 

Arthur Arbesser, Gabriele Colangelo, GCDS, Giannico, Lucio Vanotti, Marco De Vincenzo, 

Paula Cademartori, Sara Battaglia, Stella Jean e Vivetta. The styling is by Georgia Tal. 

"Be ready" follows the success of "Start the buzz", the fashion film presented by Camera 

Nazionale della Moda Italiana in February 2018 that received important recognition, such 

as: Award Best Styling at the Canadian Fashion Film Festival, Award Best Concept at the 

Australian Fashion Film Festival, Award Premium in the category Fashion of the Muse Awards, 

Award Best Film at the Transilvania Shorts. ST 

Download the video: https://we.tl/t-A5XCa58LxF 

Creditline: CAMERA NAZIONALE DELLA MODA ITALIANA 

www.cameramoda.it - www.milanomodadonna.it 

8

BIB 

2018 

MALTA’S BEST IN BUSINESS 

AWARDS 2018 

Creating Ideas, Breeding Success 

30|11|2018 

Castello dei Baroni, Wardija 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Margaret Brincat M : 9940 6743 E: margaret@mbrpublications.net 

SIMON 

ESTATES

THE DESIGNERS 

The Secret Life of 

COCO CHANEL 

Writer Justine Picardie uncovers the truth about the iconic designer's youth, before she became an enduring 

legend. Read the story below and then check out exclusive illustrations of Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld. 


People often ask me, "When did you first become interested in 

Coco Chanel?" and if I'm honest, I was fascinated long before I 

started researching her biography more than a decade ago, all 

the way back to my earliest memories in childhood. For there 

on top of my mother's dressing table stood a bottle of Chanel 

No. 5, beyond my reach but not out of sight, and I knew from the 

moment I began to discern its mysterious letters and number 

that there was something magical to the black-and-white cipher. 

I'm not alone in that discovery — Chanel has come to represent 

the essence of everywoman, whether in the scent of her perfume 

or her choice of bold red lipstick or the perfect little black dress 

— but the story of Coco feels somehow entwined with my own 

as a writer. 

And so it was that I found myself on a journey, following clues that 

Chanel had kept hidden in her long life as a couturiere and fashion icon 

while also trying to make sense of the unhappy end of my marriage, 

the latter disaster coinciding with my signing a publishing contract. 

There-after, in the process of uncovering the truth about Coco 

Chanel, I was — without quite knowing it at the time — recovering 

from an unforeseen emotional unravelling. Now, in retrospect, I'm 

beginning to see that I could not have written my book on Coco 

Chanel without that personal experience of loss; nor would I have 

found a way forward for myself without looking back at the example 

set by Mademoiselle Chanel. 

by Justine Picardie 

marrying another woman, although their affair continued until his 

death); on the table in front of the beige suede sofa (the cushions 

quilted like Chanel's iconic bags) sit a set of crested, gold-lined boxes 

presented to her by the Duke of Westminster, the second Englishman 

to whom she gave her heart but whose name was never to become 

hers in marriage. 

Most poignant of all, in this glittering salon where Mademoiselle 

entertained some of the most celebrated men of the century — 

Picasso, Dalí, Cocteau, Diaghilev, Churchill — yet finally found herself 

alone, are the pairs of animals that seem to stand like talismans: 

two bronze deer by the fireplace, almost life-size; a stag and a doe, 

their cloven feet sinking into the carpet, and another tiny pair beside 

the sofa in painted metal, with vases of pink flowers on their backs; 

two camels on a side table; two frogs (one glass, one bronze); two 

lovebirds made of pearl in a tiny jewelled cage; two porcelain horses 

on either side of the smoky mirror; and two golden firedogs in the 

empty hearth. 

The trail began in Paris at 31 Rue Cambon, the backbone of the 

House of Chanel, where the famous mirrored staircase leads from 

the ground-floor entrance to the couture salon on the first floor and 

then to Mademoiselle's private apartment. I'd visited it at the end of 

the '90s, when I first interviewed Karl Lagerfeld, but upon returning to 

it — again and again, in the course of researching Chanel's biography 

— I began to recognize traces of the woman who had fashioned this 

place in her image. The doors into the apartment are hidden within 

the looking-glass walls of the landing, and slipping inside feels oddly 

akin to entering an Alice in Wonderland realm. On the other side of the 

glass, there are more mirrors — each reflecting the other, in a myriad 

of perspectives — and a crystal chandelier designed by Chanel 

herself, with hidden double C's in its wrought-iron frame and, at the 

top, G's for Gabrielle, her real name. And everywhere 

is evidence of what she had and what she lost: On a wall of 

bookshelves are leather-bound volumes from her first great love, Boy 

Capel, the British playboy and industrialist who was killed in a car 

crash in 1919 (by which point he had already betrayed her by 

Conitnued on pg 48 

10

COVER RESEARCH STORY & EDUCATION 

INTERVIEW 

How Europe flies 

One of the fields from which the European Union can 

benefit is definitively research and technological 

development. For example, within the European 

aeronautical sector, the current level of innovation 

would not exist without the close cooperation between the 

best companies in this sector and the support of the European 

institutions. European aeronautical innovation, which in this 

case comes with the name Clean Sky: the EU's flagship 

program, fostering advanced technologies. 

parts of an aircraft, will grow more and more. "The engine 

architecture, its configuration, will necessarily also influence 

the aircraft architecture in order to pursue objectives such as 

performance improvement or lighter components. In addition, 

combustion efficiency, which means lower fuel consumption, 

will take us increasingly in the direction of hybrid, or even fully 

electric, solutions." 

Ron Van Manen is the leader of the Clean Sky 2 Research 

Programs: the second edition of the platform that includes all 

the major aviation projects and research and development 

initiatives. Speaking from the Clean Sky exhibit area at the last 

Farnborough air show, Van Manen has no doubts about where 

the priorities lie within the projects. "There are no compromises, 

flight safety is paramount, and all aeronautical research must 

start from this premise". 

Starting from this primary theme, Van Manen proceeds 

to list the other major European research projects aimed at 

improving the future of air traffic in every respect. "When we 

talk about European research, the focus is on new engine and 

aircraft configurations, new materials and eco-sustainability. 

For example, we are studying and developing new ways to 

increase the volume of air that aircraft engines use to generate 

thrust, or to improve their aerodynamic efficiency, also aiming 

to reduce noise. Because, in the future, take-off and landing will 

increasingly take place in urbanized areas." 

Van Manen says that this is a very exciting time for research, 

given the number and diversity of projects up and running, and 

that the importance of the engine, considering all the constituent 

"Developing conventional turboprop and turbofan engines 

to achieve determinate levels of efficiency requires radical 

solutions in terms of engine architecture. That's why we have 

been investing heavily in research and development of new 

architectures for years: to consolidate our position among the 

aeronautics leaders of the future," says Enrico Casale, Head of 

Programs for the Introduction of New Technologies at Avio Aero. 

"Research activities in this field have a very high economic 

weight, often unsustainable for some companies: for example, 

an aircraft engine’s life cycle is 5 or 6 times longer than that of a 

car, as well as requirements and certifications facilities are way 

more expensive". 

Conitnued on pg 15 

11

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH 

Roger Waters Rails 

Against the Powers that be & Asks, 

'Is this the Life We Really Want?' 

by Brad Tolinski, with special adaptation by Martin Vella 

In 1979, the British songwriter wrote The Wall, a nightmarish rock opera he recorded with his former band, Pink Floyd. For over 40 years 

the album’s themes of isolation, tyranny and alienation have connected with audiences worldwide, selling an estimated 35 million copies. 

It’s still selling and is perhaps more relevant than ever, as Trump seems determined to bring the dark metaphor to life, brick by brick. 

In fact, with all his bluster about “the wall,” it almost felt like the president was taunting Waters and his magnum opus. If that’s even remotely 

true, he f***** with the wrong rock star. On his fourth, and best, solo album, Is This the Life We Really Want? produced by Nigel Godrich 

(Radiohead, Paul McCartney), Waters is certainly responding like someone who’s been personally maligned. Never one to suffer fools, 

the concept album is loaded with disparaging references to the U.S. commander-in-chief, calling him a “nincompoop” and “a leader with 

no f****** brains.” 

And if that was not enough, he devotes even more time lambasting Trump on his arena-sized Us + Them tour. During the Pink Floyd 

classic “Pigs (Three Different Ones),” grotesque images of the president flicker on giant screens, while a flying pig buzzes around the arena 

with Orwellian menace. The fact that the huge pink swine is powered by a weapons-grade drone furthers the political implications. I was 

fortunate enough to enjoy this concert at the Circo Massimo in Rome on 14th July. 

Given the bold and uncompromising nature of his work, one might assume that the real Roger Waters might be an aggressive interview, 

but the person I meet is nothing of the sort. Soft spoken, thoughtful and not afraid to laugh at his own foibles, he is a smart and considerate 

conversationalist. At the same time, he is not afraid to explicitly express his opinion. 

“Because of the nincompoop and the current broken political system, it is demanded of every citizen of the United States to decide whether 

they are going to resist this or go along with it,” he says quietly, yet firmly. “Trump is entirely clear that he is out to f*** everybody except 

Trump. He doesn’t give a shit about anybody and makes it quite clear. It has to be difficult for anybody who voted for him to swallow that he 

is trying to reduce corporate taxes to 15 percent. What does that have to do with their life? He doesn’t care about their life! He just wants 

his taxes down to 15 percent.” 

He is pissed, yes, but he is far from one dimensional. Waters runs deep, and as our conversation unfolds, he speaks often about the 

“transcendental nature of love” and even refers to himself as “an optimist.” On his new album, he may sing that “fear drives the mills of 

modern man,” but three uplifting songs that finish Is This the Life We Really Want? hold out hope that love and compassion can ultimately 

save the day. 

12

MBR: What motivated you to record your new album? It’s your 

first album of original rock-oriented material in almost two 

decades. 

RW: I had written a narrative and quite few songs for something I 

envisioned as a play for radio. It was a long complex story about 

an old Irish bloke whose grandchild has a nightmare about children 

being killed “over there.” [Waters last year wrote an editorial for the 

Huffington Post about the slaughter of youngsters in Syria, Nigeria 

and Gaza.] The grandfather promises the child that they will go on a 

quest to find out who and why they are killing children. 

I eventually recorded a demo of much of the material and played it 

for lots of people, including Nigel Godrich who mixed my last project, 

Roger Waters: The Wall [a documentary of Waters’ 2010–13 tour 

re-imagining Pink Floyd’s The Wall]. He was really interested in it, 

but persuaded me that the concept was not a record, and asked 

whether I would consider approaching it another way. He was, 

“Well, I like these two bits!” [laughs]. Those bits eventually became 

two of the tracks on the album, “Déjà Vu” and “Broken Bones.” In 

the end, we completely jettisoned the original plot and edited the 

music down to something more manageable. 

MBR: Did he feel the original idea was not universal enough? 

RW: Yeah, partly. I think that’s fair to say. All throughout the project 

he was always steering me away from being too politically specific. 

MBR: What made Nigel a good partner for you to work with? 

RW: He works hard, is very focused and is good at what he does. 

He is also stubborn, which can be a good thing. So, we negotiated 

through this project, mostly with me rolling over. [laughs] 

He is also a fan. He grew up on Dark Side of the Moon, and loved 

all those voices and sound effects, and how those things moved 

and worked. That’s a magical kingdom for him, and something he 

urged me to do again. Part of the album is an homage to that and 

the history of where I come from. 

MBR: I wondered whether those “found sounds” were part of 

your personal aesthetic, or something for listeners who might 

desire that kind of continuity from your earlier work. 

RW: It is what I do! When we recorded Dark Side, I had the idea 

to add those voices as commentary, and I really liked the impact it 

made on the music and I still do. I have done it on all the records I 

have made. I would not dream of not doing it. 

MBR: Your concert has explicit political overtones. At one 

point you refer to the president as a “nincompoop,” but what 

does that say about the people who elected him? 

RW: It could say two things. It shows Donald Trump duped a certain 

section of the working class by pretending he cared about them, 

when it’s obvious he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Or, 

it shows that—as in any society—there are people who are so 

damaged, they think they are better than other people. In the United 

States, they are called “white supremacists,” in other countries 

they might be called “extremists” of one kind or another. These are 

people whose inferiority complex is so deeply ingrained that it can 

manifest in anger and violence. But, more often, it comes out as a 

trumpeting of their extreme worth, and their belief that they are a 

master race. 

That idea will always strike a chord with some people in society, 

unless at some point in some Utopian future, we can raise our 

children in a way they do not turn into those assholes, which is quite 

possible. We all know lovely people who are not like that, and we 

all know people who are like that. But I feel sorry for those kinds of 

extremists, because they must be damaged in some way, and it 

must be miserable to live with those beliefs. It is certainly easy to fall 

prey to people who tell you that you are special and encourage you 

to kick the shit out of someone else. That’s one of Trump’s tactics. 

MBR: Do you think he’s laughing at those people? 

RW: I do not think so. I believe he is sincere and really enjoys 

playing the game of being in charge. He is boss and you are fired! 

I don’t think he is tongue-in-cheek. I think he believes he is a real 

person and is fulfilling a real function. 

MBR: Do you think musicians are obligated to speak out? 

RW: I don’t think musicians have any special obligation. We speak 

with whatever voice we have. It depends on your perspective. From 

where I stand, I want to hear what Neil Young has to say, but I am 

not very interested in what Ted Nugent has to say! [laughs] 

But everybody has their voice and we are all entitled to our opinions, 

and freedom of speech is very important. The First Amendment is 

very precious to this republic and all the people that live in it. Unlike 

the Second Amendment, which is a disaster, especially when 

people buy semi-automatic weapons and go to schools and kill 

children with them. 

MBR: Is it difficult to write about politics effectively without 

being overly preachy? 

RW: That’s a good question, but it’s up to the audience to decide 

whether you succeed or don’t. People will have different opinions 

about that. But I can’t restrict myself to only writing boy-meets-girl 

love songs. I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t express what’s in my 

heart, like when I hear about a child being blown to bits on a beach. 

I try not to sound preachy, but I feel it’s perfectly legitimate to use my 

music to question why we are killing children with F-16s and bombs 

made in Oregon. Why are we doing that? It’s the central question 

of the album—is this the life we really want? Do we want to live in a 

state of perpetual war? That needs to be discussed… then we can 

talk about guitar strings or whatever. [laughs] 

MBR: You admire both Bob Dylan and John Lennon, two guys 

who were able to be both political and popular. What made 

them effective? 

RW: Dylan denies ever being political, which is f****** ridiculous. 

What makes him great is his ability to talk about the reality of 

society in such a subtle way. For example, just take one line 

from “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” like “the pump don’t work 

’cause the vandals took the handle.” First, it brings a smile to your 

face immediately, but secondly, I think it says a lot about what 

happens when we do not cooperate with one another. It asks what 

responsibility does the individual have to society? 

Dylan would probably say that wasn’t anywhere in his mind, but it’s 

inherent in the writing of that sentence. It brings up a whole series 

of questions on how human beings relate to one another in social 

terms—or it does to me! It’s just brilliant. He always creates a sense 

of wonder in me. How does someone pick up a legal pad and write 

something like that? How does he open his mind up in such a way 

to let those words flow out? He has the uncanny ability to help us 

see something we know is there, but can’t quite identify. That’s what 

makes him a great artist. The same with Lennon. 

MBR: Regarding John Lennon, it’s pretty ballsy to write 

something as simple as “all you need is love” or “give peace a 

chance” and make it work. 

RW: Lennon made those ideas resonate because of his ability to 

harness them to those incredible melodies. The meter and phrasing 

in “All You Need Is Love” is so sophisticated, yet feels so simple and 

effortless. That’s how you get away with “all you need is love.” 

It’s interesting, because the Beatles were into Maharishi and 

transcendental meditation during that period in the late Sixties. 

I wasn’t…I was a little suspicious of what I thought was “mystical 

Continued on pg 16 


13

ANNIVERSARY 

by 

COSMOLITE DISNEY ED. 

HISTORY, INSPIRATION, DESIGN 

Samsonite celebrates 

Mickey Mouse’s 90 th Anniversary 

On November 18, 1928, Walt Disney unveiled what would become one of the most recognizable global icons 

and true originals of the century, Mickey Mouse. Since then, Mickey has positively touched the lives of fans of 

all ages, all around the world. 

In honor of Mickey Mouse’s 90th Anniversary this year, Samsonite and American Tourister are proud to partake 

in the global “Mickey the True Original” campaign, which celebrates Mickey’s heritage as a prominent icon in 

pop-culture. 

Discover our Cosmolite Disney edition collection with a 

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This iconic Cosmolite is extremely strong and incredibly light 

thanks to the innovative woven technology. It has elegant, 

comfortable carrying handles & smooth rolling wheels. 

We will introduce the Mickey limited edition of our iconic 

Cosmolite in 3 sizes: spinner 55, 69 and 75. 

Available in stores as of September. 

© 2018 Samsonite IP Holdings S.àr.l. • Samsonite and the Samsonite logo are registered trademarks of Samsonite IP Holdings S.àr.l. 

14

Conitnued from pg 11 

Another important Clean Sky2 project which sees Avio Aero 

involved and which - in addition to close collaboration with 

the aircraft manufacturer, the world leader Airbus Helicopters 

- shows a high degree of innovation aimed at the efficiency 

of performance and materials, is called RACER. A new super 

fast helicopter, whose appearance is clearly influenced by the 

engine configuration: in fact, the RACER is the evolution of a 

helicopter. In addition to the main rotor, its wings are equipped 

with propellers. Avio Aero is responsible for the transmissions 

- which are among its leading products - on board the RACER: 

the main rotor transmission and the power gearboxes on the 

wings that transmit the movement to the propellers. 

"It's not always easy to match brand-new industrial 

processes such as metal 3D printing with state-of-the-art 

engine development programs: in aviation in particular, the 

materials used to manufacture the various parts have a 

crucial impact on production processes. For example, in 

terms of thermal properties and resistance" explains Casale. 

Nevertheless, he managed to introduce the first 3D-printed 

component on the RACER: an Air Cooled Oil Cooler (ACOC). 

"Developing and producing the three heat exchangers on the 

Catalyst engine has made this innovation possible on this 

futuristic aircraft too," said Casale. 

RESEARCH & EDUCATION 

But RACER also benefits from the disruptive industrial 

technology with which Avio Aero has been making a name for 

itself in the sector for about a decade, additive manufacturing. 

"All program activities have a strong additive core," Casale 

explains. "Our pioneering profile in this field has been 

consolidated through work on the new GE Catalyst engine: 

the freedom of design and the reduction in parts guaranteed 

by the use of additive allows us to build lighter products that 

are less demanding from a consumption point of view and 

therefore more eco-friendly". 

From the words said by both Van Manen and Casale, it’s 

crystal clear how essential the union of intentions among the 

European actors is: a consolidated research network, with key 

industrial partners, small and medium enterprises, the main 

universities and last but not least, the institutions. A network 

that Avio Aero has been cooperating with for some time, but 

that on the European territory reaches such a competitive 

position only thanks to the presence of Clean Sky and the 

best-in-class of Europe’s Aviation industry. ST 

Credit: www.airbus.com / RACER images are courtesy of Airbus Helicopters © 

15


Continued from pg 13 

MBR: Do you find it ironic that Donald Trump shared your 

outrage at the killing of children and used it to bomb the Syrian 

army back in April? What should his response have been? 

RW: The response from both Trump and media should have been, 

“Let’s find out what happened.” It shouldn’t have been, “Oh f*** me, 

there goes [Syrian President] al-Assad again killing his own people, 

because that is the story we have been telling ourselves for the last 

six years.” My personal view is that it just does not make any sense 

at all, and there is a huge amount of people who do not think he did. I 

mean, why would he do that? Isn’t it our responsibility to find out what 

happened, and then decide what we want to do about it and what that 

might be? 

bullshit.” But rather late in life, I have begun to understand the 

transcendental nature of love. Of all love. Love for a woman, or love 

for fellow human beings, or even nature and the planet. We know 

about this word L-O-V-E, and it’s attached to some perception we 

have about something that brings us joy, or where we can give joy. 

I tried to make that idea part of my last album, as well. So, is this the 

life we really want? Well, most of us would like a life where we were 

exchanging more joy, and spending less of our time building F-16s 

and killing brown people. 

MBR: The juxtaposition between political outrage and personal 

intimacy is really powerful on songs like “Déjà Vu.” Was that 

your original intention? 

RW: No. Basically, I wrote some love songs and some political 

songs and Nigel stuck them together, and somehow it takes you on a 

satisfying journey. 

MBR: How do you personally keep cynicism at bay, when you 

observe people making bad decisions, or the same mistakes? 

RW: The underlying question is, are babies innocent or not? Do we all 

have the potential to express our love for each other or nurture each 

other, or are we doomed to beat each other to death? I am an optimist. 

Yes, I do believe we have that potential for goodness when we are 

conceived. That is what I am getting at in the lyrics to “Broken Bones.” 

[sings] Could’ve been born in Shreveport/ Or he could’ve been born 

in Tehran. 

It don’t much matter wherever you’re born/Little babies mean us no 

harm 

They have to be taught to despise us/To bulldoze our homes to the 

ground… 

I believe that is true, so I am not cynical. We can just as easily learn 

to be good. 

MBR: You aren’t just shaking your fist and screaming in the 

streets… 

RW: That’s right. At the end of one of the love songs I sing about the 

child within, and the idea that there should be no need for people to 

be seeking refuge. That’s what refugees are—people who are in such 

dire straits they need refuge. We have a responsibility to give refuge 

to those that need it. People don’t want to cross dangerous seas with 

their children in their laps knowing they could drown without a reason. 

The far right in the United States and Europe want us to say, “F*** 

those people, they are coming to destroy us! They are terrorists! We 

must build walls and keep them out,” rather than ask what can we 

do to help them and make the world a better place. That picture has 

something deeply wrong with it. 

But Trump does not look at it, or think about it. And there is nobody 

in that administration who would be faintly interested in asking the 

question. So, they just send over a bunch of cruise missiles, which 

apparently didn’t do any damage, and the media just rolled over and 

said, “At least he is being presidential.” It’s just dumb. 

MBR: “Broken Bones” deals with the dichotomy of capitalism 

versus human rights and civil liberties. Is there a way to have 

it both ways? 

RW: Yes, of course! A lot of the countries in Northern Europe like 

Scandinavia, Denmark, Holland, Sweden and Norway are capitalistic 

economies run on socialistic principles. They all have free health 

services, they all look after their citizens, they all have safety nets and 

they all allocate their tax resources. It’s funny, when I sing “Mother, 

should I trust the government,” in most places in the world, everyone 

responds, “Noooooo!” In Norway, however, they all go, “Well, yeah. 

Of course, we trust the government. They are good to us. We are the 

government. The government represents the people.” [laughs] And I 

go, “F*** me! That’s what it’s supposed to be like!” So yes, there are a 

bunch of societies that have it more right. 

MBR: What is your relationship with social media? Is it a force 

for good or evil? 

RW: The problem with the internet these days is that is subsists 

on advertising, so it’s just part of the marketplace. We all believed 

at one point that it was going to be a place where you could really 

exchange ideas, and a way to really communicate with one another. 

You always have to deal with some sort of commercial before you get 

your information. 

It’s very bizarre, especially in our business—the music business. 

Music now is only about selling soap. It is not about the music. When 

we released the first track from the album on YouTube, Spotify and all 

that, Nigel was going berserk because it sounded like shit because 

those services compress it and f*** with it until it turns into digital 

rubbish. You can just barely hear how it really sounds. You cannot 

hear what we made, because it has been crunched. Nobody really 

cares about the music. It’s just being used to sell something. That’s 

how Spotify make their money—it’s not from subscription. They make 

their money from selling stuff to people. 

MBR: Hasn’t that always been true? Radio has always had 

commercials. 

RW: Yeah, but at least on FM radio you had a decent signal and a 

certain amount of commercial-free programming. But those days are 

gone. I mean, the good thing is that for people who care, you can go 

out and buy a vinyl record and hear it properly. 

MBR: It seems like the best way for you to get your music 

across these days is by simply getting out on the road and 

playing it. Your tours are enormously successful. 

RW: Yes, that will be a relief. I’m looking forward to the purity of being 

with a bunch of musicians and going, “Let’s try it this way.” The joy of 

just going out and doing the work. Then we will go out on the road and 

do the big show and people will shout at us, and some will throw things 

at us because we are attacking Trump or whatever. But I would like 

16

to think my show is an act of resistance as well as a way of making a 

living, and something I like doing and all the rest of it. 

But you are right. People will be able to hear it properly by coming 

to the show. P.A. systems are so much better now than they were 

20 years ago. With our sound system and engineers, it’ll sound good 

even in a crappy basketball arena. 

MBR: You are a bass player… 

RW: Yes, I am! 

MBR: I think sometimes people forget about that. Do you enjoy 

playing bass, or is it just a means to an end for you? 

RW: I love it. It’s only quite recently that I sort of accepted that about 

myself. Nigel kept telling me during the recording, “You gotta play the 

bass, man, because you are really good at it.” I would always be a little 

skeptical, but while I was working on the album I started embracing 

what I had to offer. While there are people that are much better players 

than I am, nevertheless, my choices of notes and where I put them are 

different from anyone else. And I like that. It’s fun. I don’t play all the 

bass on the album. A lot of it is Gus Seyffert, so you can really hear 

when it’s me. 

MBR: It has taken you close to two decades to write a new 

album. Is it hard for you to put pen to paper or find the 

motivation to write music? You seem full of ideas. 

RW: It’s not that hard, but I am not the kind of writer that feels 

compelled to work on it all the time, either. I will think about going into 

the studio and then go play a few racks of pool instead! [laughs] I have 

to wait until something moves me or I have a feeling about something. 

Funnily enough, I can write prose. I am working on a memoir and I will 

sit down and write and really enjoy myself. I am thinking of devoting 

some real time to writing a book when this tour is over. I have written 

quite a lot already, and I think I have a voice and a style. And I would 

was on the lookout, because I had left my passport and money out, 

when suddenly I saw a kid steal my shoes. I tried to get out of the 

water as fast as I could, but, vrooom, he very quickly disappeared into 

the crowd. So, I ran after him with no shoes, when I spotted this cop. 

Back in those days, they had special police whose job was basically to 

look out for tourists. I told him what happened, and we started looking 

around and by some miracle, I spotted the kid. 

You could see by the look in his eye that he was thinking of running, 

but he didn’t because he probably knew the cop and the cop knew 

him. So, we got him and he was already wearing my shoes! The 

cop and kid began to jabber at each other in Arabic, until the kid 

rather reluctantly took off my rather beaten-up loafers and, as I say 

in the story, “placed them on the neutral ground between us.” They 

jabbered a little more and then the cop let him go. I was completely 

indignant, in my snotty, middle class, Cambridge way. I was looking 

for jurisprudence! I was looking for retribution! The kid stole my shoes! 

Then, for the first time, the cop spoke to me in English. With pity, he 

looked me in the eyes, and simply said softly, “He is poor.” 

I finish the story by saying, “If we’re all really lucky, when we are 

young, we will run into our cop. And maybe, for the first time in our 

lives, we will begin to learn about love.” I can remember that moment 

as if it were yesterday. Not because I can remember it, but because 

I know I internalized that feeling. And that was such an amazing 

lesson, because I had come from somewhere where they threatened 

you with being sent to borstal [British reform school] if you stole 

anything. Instead this particular policeman had compassion and some 

understanding for his people. 

MBR: In a recent interview, Chuck D. of Public Enemy, and 

asked him to tell me something I should know, but probably 

don’t. He said he thought many of the problems in the world 

would be solved if people traveled more and met folks outside 


like to get my story out, because there is a lot that people don’t know. 

MBR: Tell me a memory from the book that relates to your new 

album. 

RW: I will tell you a story. There are three short stories that I have 

written about a time I visited Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon, back 

in 1962 when I was 19 years old. Here’s one. I was there with my 

friend Willa, and sort of living on beach. I decided to go for a swim, 

so I left all my important bits in the sand while I went into the water. I 

of their communities. What is something you think I should 

know? 

RW: I don’t know if I can top that. That is so real, so right and good. I 

have learned about hospitality from traveling abroad. It’s no surprise 

that in Greece, for instance, that the word for “stranger” and “guest” 

are the same. Knowing how the other half lives is so fundamental. It’s 

hard to bomb the shit out of people after you have met them. ST 


17

BEAUTY & WELLNESS 

The New Face of Aesthetic Treatment: 

Veneers, Botox, Dermal Fillers, Tooth Whitening 

By Joseph Xuereb 

The loss of facial muscle tone and the ensuing ageing effect on the face is a process determined by various causes It is only 

through the synergistic collaboration between medical and surgical disciplines that a total, or at least, partial restitution of 

one's original physical appearance can be achieved, and this only by respecting harmony and natural looks 

A smile restored to its original form can improve a person's total physical appearance but it is the treating doctor's duty and 

responsibility to keep in mind the patient's total requirements and the factors that need to be addressed to achieve a pleasing, 

natural-looking final result: face, personality, physical state, lifestyle, gender as well as other characteristics that differentiate on 

individual from another The treating doctor is the only person who can coordinate the various disciplines and treatments required 

for a patient's total satisfaction. Dentists are particularly suited to this since their work, of necessity, makes them experts in Smile 

Analysis, Facial Muscle Anatomy, and harmony between teeth, lips and face. 

A frequent request is "you have painted a beautiful picture ('my teeth look beautiful'), now go on and frame it ('I'd like my lips 

enhanced and my face smoother')" 

The best results are usually achieved when one person is responsible for a patient's treatment and when the same person can 

co-ordinate all the treatment Tooth veneers are thin wafers of porcelain that can, in most cases, be applied to natural teeth without 

the need for reducing the tooth enamel - "Lumineers" are the state of the art and can transform a smile in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. 

However, natural teeth may only need an alteration in their colour and for this, various whitening treatments are available: the 

top-of-the-range here are Flaesh®Zoom!® and Laser SmartBleach ST 

Dr Joseph Xuereb 

BChD(Hons)(Melit), MFGDP(UK), MGDS RCS(Eng), FFGDP RCS(UK), FICD 

Dental & Implant Surgeon, Principal 

7 Sir Adrian Dingli Street, Victoria VCT 1441, Gozo, Malta 

Tel (+356) 21 557323, 27 557323 Level 1, SkyParks Business Centre, Malta Int’l Airport, Luqa LQA 4000, Malta 

Tel (+356) 21657323, 21257253 Fax (+356) 21 550323 Mob (+356) 79 427323 drjxuereb@savinadental.com 

www.savinadental.com 

18

MILAN FASHION 

Milan Fashion Week 

Highlights AW18 

by Rakelle Maurici 

Bizarre animals, the unknown future and Jackie Onassis were all inspiration 

of the latest trends to emerge from Milan Fashion Week AW18. 

Around the World 

Meanwhile Giorgio Armani's show was 

of a different story, drawing in from Global 

inspiration he rebelled away from his 

signature blue and navy, and instead threw 

in cobalt blue and red. However coherent 

with his timeless silhouette, the tones, 

the intricate beading details, textured bag 

finishes and woven boots are only designs 

a travelling creative could master. 

20 

Back to the Future 

In light of recent turbulent times and fashion 

racing faster than ever, AW18 it set to be the 

most futuristic yet. Laminated raincoats, metallic 

hued pants and glitter ball dresses were all 

apparent at the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, 

Genny and Marni. Creative director, Francesco 

Risso paid homage to the industry's overproduction 

at the Marni show. Spectators were 

sat amongst garbage and bundles of unused 

clothes - a symbolic message of, ‘today’s news 

will be tomorrow’s chip paper’.

MILAN FASHION 

While, American designer Tommy Hilfiger kept his foot 

firmly on the accelerator. Teaming up with supermodel 

Gigi Hadid, the duo created an F1 inspired show to close 

fashion week in the Italian city. Appealing to the world’s 

desire for ‘immediate gratification’, Hilfiger creeps into 

pole position in the see-now, buy-now model. His latest 

collection featured racing stripes, biker shorts, helmets 

and visors decorated with the chequered flag - it’s no 

surprise F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton was sat 

front row. 

Throw back Thursdays aren't just a hashtag for 

Instagram, Emilio Pucci pulled his inspiration from 

the 70s archive with Bvlgari, a unqiueness created by 

two Italian power houses. Marrying elegance with sport 

lux the iconic symbol of Marylin Monroe was apparent 

- a combination between high jewellery and heritage 

collections. Star and stripe earrings, colourful bracelets 

and innovative designs created a vibrant aesthetic 

representative of the 1970s era - the time in which Bvlgari 

opened its first store in New York. 

Memory Lane 

From Swinging ‘60s to Vintage ‘90s, classic Italian 

fashion houses put the spotlight on retro. Moschino’s 

Pop Art inspired show saw Jackie O replicas, complete 

with the synonymous 1960s voluminous beehive 

hairstyles, bold prints, candy floss tones and tailored skirt 

suits. 

Miuccia Prada took a trip down memory lane with 

nostalgic tweeds, boxy parkas and highlighter brights 

while models paved way to Blondie. The designer joked 

this was her ‘little revenge on the art world’, a space 

in which designers too can occupy, while the political 

message was to convey the relationship between 

strength and self-protection in women. Utilitarian 

workwear, tulle and oversized nylon dominated the 

neo-vintage collection. Much like fashion during the 80s, 

clothing went to extremes of large shoulders, big hair and 

a rainbow of colour, and Prada’s latest collection tells the 

same story of ‘exaggerated freedom’. 

Bizarre Accessories 

Weirdness has become inescapable on and off the 

catwalks - leaving us all with the unanswered question 

of, what next? Well, a number of designers surprised 

their audiences with unusual accessories that consisted 

of reptiles and puppies. 

Gucci’s Alessandro Michele describes his latest 

collection as a representation of a creative process - a 

dissection for want of a better word. While his choice of 

alarming severed heads carried by a select few models; 

a token to millennial’s struggle with ‘finding an identity 

and looking after your own thoughts first’. 

Tod’s opened with Gigi Hadid snuggled in shearling 

layers and lux leather with a French-bulldog in her arm 

- the model's younger sister Bella Hadid followed suit 

shortly after. The furry friends depict the next season to 

be a trend of carrying anything other than your handbag, 

while famed fashion house Dolce & Gabbana had their 

purses hung from drones to open the show. 

Credit: Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana 


21

CLOUD TECHNOLOGY 

Changing The Way 

People Work 

by Martin Vella 

Paolo Vannuzzi 

An exclusive interview with Sig. Paolo Vannuzzi, CEO and Co-founder of Noovle, 

the first Google Cloud Premier Partner in Europe, opening of its headquarters 

in Malta, and who will be one of the main keynote speakers from a rich list of 

experts, during the Noovle Summit, dedicated to Google Cloud technologies, on 

Friday, 19 October 2018, at the Castello dei Baroni in Wardija, organised by MBR 

Publications Ltd. 

MBR: Can you please tell us a bit about Noovle and also your 

role within the organisation? 

PV: Despite being an experienced and well established company 

on the market, I would define Noovle, as a startup in the DNA. 

We always have the spirit of innovation, dynamism and a crazy 

enthusiasm to carry on the activities. I think these are aspects that 

are highly appreciated by the market, which, compared to traditional 

models, needs "disruptive" companies to support companies in 

digital transformation, where the approach to the problem must be 

new and different. I am Co-founder and CEO of Noovle, which is 

an Italian strategic consulting and systems integration company 

specializing in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) 

and Cloud. 

MBR: What has led to the strength of the Noovle brand? 

PV: We are historically the recommended partner of Google Cloud 

in Italy and with a primary role also in Europe. Surely the synergistic 

work with the vendor has helped us to establish ourselves in the 

market, but the most fundamental aspects I think are the strategic 

and business vision, the skills, as well as the serious and professional 

approach to the market. The satisfaction of our customers is the main 

objective and we are very happy with the results achieved so far. 

MBR: What can you tell us about the Cloud technologies and 

platforms your offer, and how do help increase productivity and 

efficiency. 

PV: The cloud model allows companies and public administrations to 

take a platform approach that involves the creation of integrated and 

highly efficient systems, while at the same time reducing complexity 

and costs. 

To achieve efficiency, it is necessary to move from a concept 

of individual productivity to one of collaborative and extended 

productivity, overcoming physical boundaries and allowing to interact 

in an easy way at any time and with any information. 

Google, for example, provides the G Suite collaboration platform 

which, supported by appropriate change management interventions 

within companies and organizations, allowing for impressive 

efficiency and productivity gains, changing the way people work and 

the interaction between people, as well as between people and data. 

The challenge for the enhancement of information assets, the main 

source of value for each organization, passes through the ability 

to extract value from the immense amount of information coming 

from heterogeneous sources and systems, processing data and 


performing predictive analyzes on future scenarios. For this reason, 

Noovle has developed NEDiX (Noovle Enterprise DX), an advanced 

technological platform able to accompany companies in the process 

of digitizing processes and identifying highly innovative business 

models. 

" 

Noovle has developed NEDiX (Noovle 

Enterprise DX), an advanced technological 

platform able to accompany companies in 

the process of digitizing processes 

" 

MBR: How do you define the brand positioning for Noovle and 

how critical is it to communicate the brand purpose internally 

to ensure that Noovle’s employees are engaged in this effort? 

PV: People are the key to success for us. The sharing of strategies 

and objectives, as well as participation in the results, becomes an 

important element for involving and keeping our employees and 

employees "committed". The company has grown very rapidly, has 

a very low average age and is widespread on the Italian national 

territory, with important branches abroad. Firstly, to keep the sense 

of belonging high we make a lot of use of new technologies, from the 

social / cloud intranet where there is a shared push of all activities, 

projects, results, initiatives, to video conferencing systems to create 

moments of virtual aggregation, up to the training, both online and 

in presence for a technological but also managerial and personal 

growth. 

The work environment is also important. We have tried to take better 

care of the welcome and comfort at work, with attention to details that 

can make life in the office more pleasant. 

MBR: What have been the keys to Noovle’s consistent strength 

and leadership and how do you define the Noovle difference? 

PV: Noovle was born in the cloud, when still nobody, or very few, 

knew this word and its value. The cloud is in our organizational 

model, in our DNA, and today we are able to express a difference in 

22

in collaboration with 

MAINSAIL 

THE MALTA INTERNATIONAL 

BOATS AND YACHTING 



Friday 30 th November 2018 

For more information 

Margaret Brincat on 9940 6743 

margaret@mbrpublications.net 

www.mbrpublications.net 

SIMON 

ESTATES 

MALTA 

BUSINESS REVIEW

OPINION 

The Real Meaning of Health 

There are many of us who run away with the idea that to 

be healthy one needs to keep a balanced diet, exercise 

regularly and do regular medical checks. Likewise we 

regard health as an individual commitment to ourselves. But 

is it? 

Since 1946, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined 

health as a “state of physical, mental and social wellbeing and 

not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” As a result, 

the body that monitors health globally has been advocating a 

universal perspective of health for decades. Alas, it has been 

ignored. 

by Moira Borg 

Dedicated to the many who died for the greed of a few in Genoa 

. 

For any individual to hope for a healthy existence, he/she must 

not only have a healthy supply of food, a decent dwelling and a 

job to be able to sustain it but also have the peace of mind that 

the world he/she is living in is safe in every sense of the word. 

This means no threat to our existence whatsoever. 

A cursory glance at our life today puts our health in a very bleak 

place indeed even in the most developed of countries. Many 

of us do not have a job and many of us who do, either work 

back-crashing hours for meagre wages or gingerly hold on 

to employments that are as secure as a 20 euro note in the 

pockets of a gambler. In many countries this is compounded 

by a glaring mismatch between the average citizen’s wage and 

the cost of living, leaving many struggling for a decent survival 

and having to make do without even the most basic sanitary 

requirements let alone the daily healthy nutritious intake and 

other necessary health priorities like vaccination. Those who 

can afford even good quality standards of living and healthcare, 

still cannot guarantee themselves clean air and seas, food free 

of pesticides, preservatives/additives or growth enhancers, 

safe water or unthreatened streets. 

Unfortunately, we have become so self-centred and 

individualistic that we have completely forgotten how much 

we rely on each other and the world around us to survive. 

Relationships have become ‘liquid’ (Bauman, 2000) and 

many of us struggle daily with the scourge of loneliness in 

an overcrowded world or suffer in insecure and abusive 

relationships in a desperate attempt to avoid it. People shoot 

at each other or run each other over for no particular reason 

both in the real and the virtual worlds, loyalty and honesty 

have become pre-history and family has stopped being the 

backbone of whatever is left of society since the last episode of 

Little House on the Prairie. 

And when we are not destroying each other we turn our greedy 

aggression to the world around us milking every sap of life 

we can out of it for our personal gain. Even though we were 

warned time and time again by our scientists of the deleterious 

outcome of this senseless ravaging of our planet and worse 

still, even though we are living through these outcomes day 

after day with every forest fire, every flood, every drought and 

every man-made disaster, we still float in the eternal haze of 

healthy lifestyles brimming with organic fodder and GI workouts 

at the gym. 

" 

Unfortunately, we have become so 

self-centred & individualistic that we have 

completely forgotten how much we 

rely on each other and the world around 

us to survive..." 

Dr.Moira Borg is 

a medical practitioner in 

private practice and a Gestalt 

psychotherapist with a speciality 

to work with children and young 

people. She is also a freelance 

medical writer with children and 

young people. She is also a 

freelance medical writer. 

The only way we can have a healthy existence is to appreciate 

the importance of respecting the three factions that maintain 

it - namely ourselves, each other and the world around us and 

most of all to acknowledge that health is about the balance 

between the three. Anything other than that is a sheepskin 

cover to destruction. ST 

24

Spaghetti with 

Avocado Pesto & 

Chicken 

• Starter or single-course meal 

• Average difficulty 

• Serves 4 

• 30 minutes 

Ingredients: 

400 g spaghetti 

300 g chicken breast 

Cherry tomatoes 

Grated Parmesan cheese 

For the pesto: 

1 ripe avocado 

10 leaves of fresh basil 

1 clove of garlic 

A little lemon juice 

50 ml Borges Classic Olive oil 

20 g pine nuts 

Method: 

Cut the chicken into slices and cook in a frying pan with a little 

olive oil over a medium-high heat until it is well cooked. Cut 

into small pieces. 

To make the pesto, blend the avocado with the other 

ingredients: the basil leaves, clove of garlic, lemon juice, pine 

nuts, olive oil and a pinch of salt. 

Boil the spaghetti in plenty of salted water, following the 

instructions on the packet. Strain and immediately dress with 

the avocado pesto. Top off with some grated cheese and 

some halved cherry tomatoes. 

Hints: 

• If you want to make less pesto, use only half an avocado. 

• Leave the stone in the half you don’t use to stop it from 

turning brown. 

• Adding lemon to the pesto stops it from turning brown. 

• You can use walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds instead of 

pine nuts in the pesto.

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED 

HORRIFIC 

EXPERIENCES AT THE 

by Denise Formosa 

HOTEL 

Tucked away in remote corners of this warm and sunny 

island, you will find places with stories that will send chills 

down your spine. Many of these stories are born from 

Malta's rich history. But, beware! These are not tales of the past. 

Many apparitions are still being reported today. If you enjoy a good 

dose of supernatural, here are some of the most popular ghost 

stories set in Malta. There are many other haunted places around 

the island, some less known than others. One of them could very 

well be your neighbour's house! 

Charles used to work as a night receptionist in an old established 

hotel. As was customary during his night shift, he asked his 

colleague for any updates that had happened during the previous 

hours. Mick informed him, that an Italian couple were about to 

check-in in Room 206. 

As soon as he sat down, he decided to read a book as the night 

shift at the hotel was pretty quiet… or so he thought. After some 

time, Charles heard some footsteps descending the stairs. He 

quickly straightened his tie and prepared to greet the guests. 

Although he waited for them to descend, the people never came 

down! Curiously enough, the footsteps never seemed to ascend 

the steps, only descend them. On another occasion during his 

night shift, he heard loud noises which were coming from the 

hotel’s restaurant, when he knew that the restaurant was empty at 

that time of night! Since he could hear the clatter of cutlery, people 

talking a strange language he could not understand, he decided 

to go and see for himself… When he went into the restaurant, he 

saw no-one and since he was terrified, he quickly descended the 

restaurant stairs. 

Another frightening occasion occurred when a couple came to 

look at the hotel rooms so as to make a prospective booking. The 

receptionist went with the couple to the demo room and started to 

show them the hotel quarters. No sooner had he started to explain 

the hotel services, the room was locked and Charles could not 

open. In order not to frighten his guests, he resorted to phone the 

reception and ask if someone could come and open the demo 

room for them. Until someone came to open, he opted to show 

them the bathroom and as soon as he entered the bathroom lights 

went off and water started coming out from the taps! Although 

Charles tried hard to close the taps, he was unsuccessful. 

We are not told whether this couple decided to book a room at 

this hotel, but if I were in their places I would not have run the risk! 

An important point worth noting as we speak of ghosts, is the fact 

that not everyone is sensitive enough to see them. Another curious 

fact is, that ghosts do not like everybody who is in their territory. 

Some people were given gold, money and precious objects, if the 

sceptre likes you. However, others were not so fortunate. Many 

were terrified out of their wits end and others were also harmed. 

The topic of ghosts is very intriguing and Malta has a great many 

stories to tell about this interesting yet slightly fearful chapter. More 

stories will be posted as we adjourn. Until then, may I wish you all 

a goodnight! ST 

Credit: livingmalta.com 

26

EXCLUSIVE FASHION INTERVIEW 

" 

True luxury is appreciating 

what you have. The best 

things get better with 

" 

time: 

quality, not quantity. 

28

Chic, Luxurious, 

Sporty 

Interview with Michael Kors 

by LUXOS Writer for Sunday Trends 

The award-winning American designer is set to take Europe by storm 

Recipient of multiple awards, in particular the 

CFDA award for women’s wear and menswear 

designer, Michael Kors has been one of the 

most influential American designers for over two 

decades. It all started in New York City where, at 

the age of 19, he designed and merchandised a 

collection for a well-known local boutique. Over 

the years, Kors’ vision of beautiful, luxurious 

American sportswear flourished and expanded 

to the world of women’s accessories, as well 

as complete menswear. Michael Kors flagship 

stores are in New York City’s Madison Avenue, 

Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, and also in Hong 

Kong and Dubai. As the brand continues its 

expansion in Europe, Michael Kors tells us that 

for him it has always been about the Michael 

Kors woman. Let’s find out. 

ST: You founded the brand in 1981. Today, 

Michael Kors is a familiar name in fashion 

around the globe. Could you please tell us a 

bit about the evolution of the brand? 

MK: Being in the business for almost 30 years 

means we went through a lot of changes. When 

I created the company, I believed in what I was 

doing and was fortunate enough to meet people 

who had faith in me. I believe in an evolution, 

not a revolution. One of the first reviews of 

my collection in 1981 stated that I made chic, 

luxurious sportswear. The same holds true 

today. 

ST: With the new economy, do you think the 

idea of luxury has changed? 

MK: Today luxury means investing in the best 

pieces and wearing them – not having racks 

of clothes with tags still on them, outrageous 

shoes still in the box. True luxury is appreciating 

what you have. The best things get better with 

time: quality, not quantity. 

ST: In your opinion, is luxury expressed 

differently in different parts of the world? How 

so? 

MK: It used to be like that. Countries that 

underwent a drastic change in their economy 

thanks to new resources, like Russia and 

China, were hungry for luxury brands. Today, 

since people are traveling the world more and 

have access to so much through the internet, 

they have been exposed to a more subtle and 

elegant approach to luxury. 

ST: How would you describe the Michael 

Kors woman? 

MK: The Michael Kors woman is always sexy 

and confident. You notice her and think she 

looks great before you necessarily notice what 

she’s wearing or what bag she’s carrying. She’s 

interested in fashion, but is not a fashion victim. 

She’s also a woman with an opinion. 

ST: How do Michael Kors products cater to 

different customers around the world? 

MK: We make high quality, timeless products 

keeping in mind that people travel a lot more 

both for business and vacation. Nowadays 

only the climate can possibly make a difference 

between what a customer would wear in Toronto 

or in Madrid. 

ST: In your own words, how would you 

describe the signature/classic Michael Kors 

style? 

MK: Chic, luxurious, sportswear. 

ST: I notice that a number of American 

brands seem to have a different image in the 

rest of the world. Is this the case of Michael 

Kors also? 

MK: No. I have always been true to myself and 

what I believe in as a designer. Whether it’s 

how our stores look, our ad campaigns, or the 

product we design, I think about a global image. 

ST: On a more personal note, what are some 

of your favourites places (such as hotels, 

restaurants, etc) around the world? 

MK: I love the energy of New York, the luxury 

of Europe, and the service you receive in Asia 

plus great beaches from Long Island to Capri to 

Phuket. 

ST: Also on a personal note, what do you like 

to wear during your trips? 

MK: Black. It’s the only way not to worry too 

much about packing; black travels to any 

destination and can be dressed up or down very 

easily. Jeans, a black t-shirt and black blazer 

takes me everywhere and I'm never without 

aviator sunglasses. 

ST: What can we expect from Michael Kors 

in the near future? Could you please give 

our luxury travel readers an idea of what’s 

to come? 

MK: The company is focusing on expanding in 

Europe. Our objective is to open more of our 

own stores, especially Michael Kors Lifestyle 

stores like the one we opened in Munich which 

carries a mix of all my labels. ST 

Creditline: LUXOS 

29 

EXCLUSIVE FASHION INTERVIEW

CASE STUDY: BUSINESS TRAVEL 

Just How Bad Is 

Business Travel For Your Health? 

Here’s the Data 

By Andrew Rundle 

Checking into a hotel for a conference several years 

ago, I asked the receptionist where I could get some 

dinner. There was no restaurant in the hotel, I was told; 

my only options were ordering delivery from a fast-casual 

chain or a pizza joint. I went with the pizza, but my lack of 

choices was annoying — so much so that, when I got home, 

I started looking into the data on health and travel for work. 

My experience is far from unique. According to the Global 

Business Travel Association and American Express, 

Americans took more than 500 million domestic business 

trips in 2016. And while many workplace health programs 

for business travel provide immunizations, information about 

avoiding food-borne illness, and alerts about civil or political 

unrest, few focus on a more a common threat to health: the 

stress, sleep interruption, unhealthy eating and drinking, and 

lack of exercise that are common side effects of being on the 

road. Over the long-term, these issues can add up to chronic 

disease risks. 

To investigate the link between business travel and 

chronic disease conditions, my colleagues and I turned 

to de-identified electronic medical record data from EHE, 

Inc., which provides preventive medicine exams, health 

screenings, and wellness program services nationally to tens 

of thousands of employees a year working at companies in 

the U.S. In addition to preventive medicine exams, the full 

patient encounter also includes a comprehensive online 

health assessment that asks about the frequency of business 

travel. 

When we analysed these data, we found a strong correlation 

between the frequency of business travel and a wide range 

of physical and behavioural health risks. Compared to those 

who spent one to six nights a month away from home for 

business travel, those who spent 14 or more nights away 

from home per month had significantly higher body mass 

index scores and were significantly more likely to report the 

30


following: poor self-rated health; clinical symptoms of anxiety, 

depression and alcohol dependence; no physical activity or 

exercise; smoking; and trouble sleeping. The odds of being 

obese were 92% higher for those who travelled 21 or more 

nights per month compared to those who travelled only one 

to six nights per month, and this ultra-traveling group also 

had higher diastolic blood pressure and lower high density 

lipoprotein (the good cholesterol). 

Although only about 12% of employees in the data we looked 

at travelled for business fourteen or more nights per month, 

the clustering of all these health conditions among extensive 

business travellers is worrying, both for their own health 

and the health of the organizations they work for. Physical, 

behavioural and mental health issues such as obesity, 

hypertension, smoking, depression, anxiety, poor sleep, and 

alcohol dependence can create costs for employers through 

higher medical claims, reduced employee productivity and 

performance, absenteeism, presenteeism, and short-term 

disability. The effects of these issues have the potential to 

strain or sever relationships with clients and suppliers. 

Our results are backed up by several other pieces of 

research. A study of health insurance claims among 

World Bank staff and consultants found that travellers had 

significantly higher claims than their non-traveling peers for 

all conditions considered, including chronic diseases such as 

asthma and back disorders. The highest increase in health 

related claims was for the stress-related disorders. A second 

World Bank study found that almost 75% of the staff reported 

high or very high stress related to business travel. And an 

analyses of health risk appraisal surveys conducted at a large 

multinational corporation found that international business 

travel was associated with higher alcohol consumption, 

lower confidence in keeping up with the pace of work, and 

lower perceived flexibility in fulfilling commitments. 

So what can companies do to help their employees develop 

healthy habits while traveling? We suggest a combination of 

employee education and improvements in employer policies 

around travel. First, employees simply need to be aware 

that business travel can predispose them to making poorer 

health decisions. The steak with fries and a late-night cocktail 

at the hotel bar might seem easily justifiable as a reward 

for acing a long day of client meetings. But research finds 

that restaurant food contains more calories per serving, is 

higher in total fat and saturated fat per calorie, and contains 

less dietary fibre than meals prepared at home. Research 

also suggests that the higher calorie content of restaurant 

food is compounded by chronic stress, like that caused by 

frequent business travel, which is linked to preferences for 

even more high calorie foods. Given this, employers should 

help employees learn to identify and select the healthiest 

options available — and to help them prepare in advance if 

they wind up at a hotel like the one I visited, with few good 

choices nearby. 

It’s often harder to maintain an exercise regimen when you 

are on the road, too. Over the long term, many high-calorie 

rewards for a job well done can add up to weight gain 

and associated cardiovascular disease risks. Supporting 

exercise and physical activity among employees can 

help prevent weight gain — and the physical activity can 

help reduce stress. One fairly simple thing employers 

can do is to ensure that their preferred accommodations 

have well-equipped gyms. Employers can also use 

hotels that provide complementary workout clothes or 

in-room exercise equipment such as mats, weights, or 

workout videos. In general, hotel gyms can be minimalist 

and a bit depressing, but an alliance of sorts between 

employers and business hotel chains could work together 

to improve the hotel gym experience. If hotel gyms aren’t 

an option, employers could also provide employees with 


31



memberships to gym and health club chains with a national 

presence. 

Employers can also provide their business travellers training 

in a variety of stress management approaches and sleep 

hygiene techniques. Cognitive behavioural therapy and 

mindfulness-based stress reduction training are therapeutic 

options that provide personal coping strategies and have 

been shown to be effective for managing depression, 

anxiety, and workplace stress. These techniques may 

also be useful for employers to integrate into prevention 

and treatment programs for employees who engage in 

frequent travel and who may be more vulnerable to stress 

and negative emotions. 

evidence linking extensive business travel to chronic 

disease health risks needs to be factored into the costbenefit 

analysis of the practice. Business travel can surely 

be educational, and even fun, not to mention necessary for 

many people; but the wear and tear resulting from constant 

trips may not be altogether worth it. 

If you travel for work regularly, it’s worth pausing to examine 

whether you actually need to be on the road frequently — 

and if you do, how you can mitigate the effects of stress 

and be mindful about your dietary choices. And if you have 

employees who are often between cities, you owe it to 

them to provide the education, tools and resources so they 

can maintain healthy lifestyles while on the road. 

Even with the increasing sophistication of conference calls 

and video chat, business travel is a prominent feature of 

many occupations and is likely to remain so. It will continue 

to be an avenue of professional advancement, and the 

opportunity to travel is often touted by companies as a 

benefit in their recruitment of talent. But the accumulating 

Andrew Rundle is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology 

in the Mailman School of Public Health. His research 

focuses on the risks for, and consequences of, sedentary 

lifestyles and obesity. 


Courtesy: LinkedIn/HBR 

32

COVER STORY INTERVIEW

SPORT AWARDS 

Maltco Lotteries presents financial 

support to the SportMalta Awards 2017 

winners 

The winning athletes who benefitted from Maltco Lotteries’ support are: Duncan Micallef: Sportsman of the Year - Top Fuel Drag racing, Yazmin Zammit Stevens: 

Sportswomen of the Year - Weightlifting, Edward Xuereb: Youth Male Athlete - Tenpin Bowling, Sara Xuereb: Youth Female Athlete - Tenpin Bowling, Paul Sultana: Official 

of the Year - President Malta Basketball Association Coach of the Year, Angela Adamoli: Women Basketball National Team, San Ġiljan ASC Waterpolo: Team of the Year 

Monday, 5th November 2018 – Four individual athletes, 

two officials and a local Club were officially presented their 

financial support from Maltco Lotteries following their success 

earlier this year at the 2018 SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi 

Nazzjonali. 

This contest which is organised jointly by the Malta Sports 

Journalists Association and SportMalta honours the best local athletes 

and officials who would have distinguish themselves with tangible 

results both locally and internationally. 

During the presentation, Maltco Lotteries’ CEO; Mr Vasileios 

Kasiotakis said that the company is proud to be associated with this 

event. He added that the direct financial support to the winners is 

another confirmation that Maltco Lotteries is committed towards the 

local sports. Mr Kasiotakis reiterated that he is proud that, for the past 

years, Maltco Lotteries has set an agenda towards the benefit of local 

sports. 

During his speech, the President of the Malta Sports Journalists 

Association; Mr Sandro Micallef, thanked Maltco Lotteries for the 

Company’s commitment to the SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi 

Nazzjonali. Micallef added that this presentation comes at an interesting 

time where Maltese Sports is being pushed and given priority in the 

Government's agenda with direct reference to local sports also from the 

Prime Minister himself. 

Maltco Lotteries believes in sustaining a successful future for 

potential Maltese athletes and so motivates them through this incentive 

in furthering their talents, skills and abilities both on a local and an 

international level. ST 

34 

Credit: MALTCO LOTTERIES Limited

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CULTURE 

MR. KNOW-IT-ALL 

ON HONESTY AND SOCIAL MEDIA 

by Mark Robinson 

HOW TRUE DOES my online persona have to be? I like to be really 

curated. But my significant other is very honest. Too honest if you ask 

me. Who’s right? 

Should we be our raw authentic selves, or strike a pose? This feels like 

a quintessential dilemma of the digital age, but artists and philosophers 

have been grappling over this one for centuries, really. 

And you will be happy to know that the artists generally side with you! 

As Oscar Wilde once quipped, “Man is least himself when he talks in 

his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Wilde 

meticulously crafted his image as a Victorian poncy intellectual aesthete, 

posing for brooding emo publicity shots in a huge fur-fringed coat. (The 

dude would have killed it on Snapchat.) For him, trying on new identities 

was a key part of self-expression, a cornerstone of civilization itself. “It 

is only shallow people,” he wrote, “who do not judge by appearances.” 

Curation FTW, so far. 

And hey, the scientists and eggheads back you up too. William James—a 

guy who is often called “the father of American psychology”—argued that 

we contain many selves and break them out in different circumstances. 

“Properly speaking, a man has as many social selves as there are 

individuals who recognize him,” he mused. Decades later, the sociologist 

Erving Goffman described everyday life as a theatre performance: We 

prepare ourselves in private backstage, then jump front-stage to perform. 

When context changes, so do we. Me, when I hang out with old friends, 

I’m a looser guy, dropping exuberantly filthy curse words. On Twitter I’m 

a cheerful, PG-rated Mr. Science Journalist, marvelling gee-whiz at the 

magisteria of human knowledge. 

Which one is the “real” me? Both! “What’s wrong with identity play?” 

says Nancy Baym, a social scientist with Microsoft Research who just 

published Playing to the Crowd, a book about how musicians manage 

their online identities (tl;dr: they struggle with this too). Curating our 

identities on Pinterest or Facebook is a way to figure out who we are, 

what selves we contain, Baym says. There isn’t only one “authentic” you. 

Now, one can, of course, go overboard with curation. Maybe you are 

spending hours on joyless personal upkeep just to look enviable and 

amass followers. “Are you promoting these impossible ideals?” asks 

Judith Donath, author of The Social Machine and an adviser at Harvard’s 

Berkman Center. If so, I’m siding with your partner: That way madness 

lies. Just behold the grim parade of failed would-be “influencers” on 

YouTube and Instagram, frantically deforming their lives in the endless 

hunt for clicks. Don’t turn yourself into a brand. 

ZOHAR LAZAR 

While we are being fair to your partner, let’s also note that there’s value 

in being candid. When we share the truth of our lives online, “it’s a signal 

of trust,” Donath notes. It draws people closer. And when it comes to any 

online situation where there’s a transaction at hand—renting an Airbnb, 

say—basic honesty is the best policy. (The same with dating sites. Gentle 

white lies are common—and, alas, pretty gendered, with women lying 

about being thinner, men about being taller, studies show—but since the 

goal is to meet F2F, curation here may turn around and bite you.) 

PLUNKETT + KUHR DESIGNERS 

The bottom line? In moderation, curate away. Goffman had this right: 

Nourish your private moments, your life out of the spotlight—but enjoy 

each turn upon the stage. ST 

Credit: 

36

EDWARDS LOWELL OPENS MALTA’S FIRST 

ROLEX BOUTIQUE 

EDITOR'S CHOICE 

Valletta, 8 October 2018 – The much-awaited 

opening of the first Rolex Boutique in Valletta 

took place on 27 September 2018. Two years 

in the making, the new boutique gives visitors 

a true taste of luxury thanks to its carefully 

designed interior, which incorporates a striking 

emerald aqua floor in reference to the iconic 

Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch. 

The newly inaugurated boutique is finished to 

the highest standards. Soft lighting, polished 

brass frames, leather chairs and custom-made 

furniture are complemented by handcrafted 

stucco panels that depict the skyline of Valletta 

with a sailing yacht in the foreground. This 

marriage between Malta’s cultural heritage and 

the Rolex Middle Sea Race highlights the iconic 

Rolex Middle Sea Race start, a spectacle that 

graces our beautiful Grand Harbour every year. 

A highlight of the opening ceremony was 

Chairman Malcolm A. Lowell’s speech 

reminiscing about when his father gave his 

mother a Rolex watch as a wedding gift. He also 

commented on how the business had gone 

from strength to strength, by saying: “It was 

a rather small business in the beginning but 

we progressed slowly but surely until this very 

special achievement today, which we are very 

proud of.” His son Malcolm R. Lowell, Managing 

Director of Edwards Lowell, added to his father’s 

sentiments by stating: “Over the last two years 

Valletta has changed dramatically and we are 

proud to be part of that change.” It is moments 

such as these that underline the family values at 

the heart of Edwards Lowell. 

ABOUT 

EDWARDS 

LOWELL CO. 

LIMITED 

“When a man dedicates his life to a company, 

both become intricately entwined. The business 

becomes personal, especially in the case of a 

family-owned business.” 

- Malcolm A. Lowell, Edwards Lowell Chairman 

Synonymous with luxury since 1925, Edwards 

Lowell is renowned for being a fine retailer of a 

curated selection of the most prestigious brands 

in the world. From its conception over ninety 

years ago, this family-run business has strived 

to offer its clients the world’s finest products 

alongside unique customer service. The Edwards 

Lowell Rolex Boutique is the first Rolex Boutique 

on the island and is set to be valuable addition 

to the Edwards Lowell family. Edwards Lowell is 

looking forward to presenting their esteemed 

clients with a curated selection of fine timepieces 

which can be enjoyed and treasured for their 

unparalleled craftsmanship and ultimately be 

passed down from generation to generation. 

ABOUT 

ROLEX 

An unrivalled reputation for quality and 

expertise. Rolex, a Swiss watch manufacture 

headquartered in Geneva, is recognized the 

world over for its expertise and the quality of 

its products. Its Oyster and Cellini watches, 

all certified as Superlative Chronometers for 

their precision, performance and reliability, are 

symbols of excellence, elegance and prestige. 

Founded by Hans Wilsdorf in 1905, the brand 

pioneered the development of the wristwatch 

and is at the origin of numerous major 

Rolex Boutique, Valletta 

watchmaking innovations, such as the Oyster, the 

first waterproof wristwatch, launched in 1926, 

and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism 

invented in 1931. Rolex has registered over 

400 patents in the course of its history. A truly 

integrated and independent manufacturing 

company, Rolex designs, develops and produces 

in-house all the essential components of its 

watches, from the casting of the gold alloys to 

the machining, crafting, assembly and finishing 

of the movement, case, dial and bracelet. 

Through philanthropic programmes and a broad 

palette of sponsorship activities, Rolex is also 

actively involved in supporting the arts, sports 

and exploration, and encourages the spirit of 

enterprise, as well as the conservation of natural 

environments. ST 


37

EDUCATION 

The Global Search For Education - 

Should Teachers Earn More? Top Teachers Around the World Weigh In 

By C. M. Rubin 

Why do teachers become teachers in the first place? 

Research indicates it’s for a number of reasons, 

including the variety the job offers, love of their subject 

or a great experience in their own schooling that inspired them to 

make a difference in the lives of others. Research also indicates 

that to improve the quality of candidates for teacher training 

programs and to motivate teachers to enter and stay in their 

profession, it’s essential to offer competitive pay. 

Teacher compensation varies around the world. This month we 

asked our Top Global Teachers, if we make teaching a more 

financially attractive career, will it improve global education 

overall? 

“In India, the workload of teachers is too much in comparison to 

the salaries paid to them. In some classrooms the student teacher 

ratio is 1:100,” writes Rashmi Kathuria (@rashkath). “Making 

teaching more lucrative will improve the global education overall.” 

“Back in April, I was fortunate enough to travel to London to lead 

workshops and take part in a TES debate on teacher retention,” 

writes Craig Kemp (@mrkempnz). “Many (teachers) expressed 

feeling appreciated – most notably by students, but undervalued, 

in particular with their local and global communities. 

motivation; and also, in symphony with the intrinsic motivation 

and rewarding salaries, we need nice, collegial and positive 

learning environments in the schools and societies.” 

“Investment in teacher salaries is just that – an investment,” 

writes Adam Steiner (@steineredtech). “Simply spending money 

on the stuff of 21st-century learning – networks, devices, and 

applications – will not produce results if we don’t also invest in 

people.” 

“New Zealand has just announced it needs 400 more teachers in 

2019 than it has and this target is increasing each day as young 

teachers give up trying to make do, and the experienced retire 

to avoid the increasing demands from a public sector starved of 

practitioners,” writes Richard Wells (@eduwells) 

“Instead of control, competition, stress, standardized testing 

and a list ranking our schools, we have warm relations with our 

students and we collaborate well with our colleagues. We feel we 

get highly professional teacher-led mentoring and assessment,” 

writes Maarit Rossi (@pathstomath) in Finland. “Of course we 

would like to be better paid! But if you had the choice of the above 

conditions or a better salary, which one would you choose?” ST 

“I believe the real, unspoken question that is being asked is, 

“Is it worth investing in our teachers?” writes Michael Soskil (@ 

msoskil). “Is it worth taking money away from all the other places 

we spend it in order to pay teachers more? The only way to 

answer those questions is to examine what the trade-offs would 

be.” 

“Without raising salaries to ensure the quality of life for teachers, 

it is difficult to attract good people into the pedagogical profession 

and in the long run, innovation, improvement of education quality 

will inevitably fail,” writes Nam Ngo Thanh (@mrnamvas). 

“Why do teachers want to become teachers in the first place?” asks 

Eduardo Andere (referred by Elisa Guerra (@ElisaGuerraCruz). 

“We need higher salaries to reinforce, not to supplant intrinsic 

Credit: www.cmrubinworld.com 

38

LIVING 

9 Secrets for Living a Joy-Filled Life 

When we come into this world, we do not get an instruction manual on how to live a happy life. But if you think about it for 

a moment, you'll realize that we don’t really need one. Life can be much simpler than we think it is, and the only thing we 

need to do to be happy is to remember a few golden rules. These are my own guidelines to life, and they remind me each and 

every day how I should be looking at the world and at life. 

• Before you say something bad, think about those who can’t talk and say 

something back. 

• Before you complain about the taste or variety of your food, remember there 

are starving people in the world. 

• Before you yell at your partner, think of how lonely some people feel as they 

go to sleep in an empty bed. 

• Before you complain about the state of things today, think about all the people 

who never got to see this day. 

• Before you get upset because the house is a mess, remember that there are 

people who don’t have a roof over their head. 

• Before you let traffic and long commutes irritate you, think about how fortunate 

you are to have a job and a car. 

• Before you point an accusing finger at someone, remember that you’re not 

perfect, and you make mistakes too. 

And the most important rule of them all: 

Before you let a depressing thought ruin your mood, put a smile on your face 

and be thankful you’re alive! 

And don't forget, every day, to look in five different directions: 

Forward – To know where you’re going and plan ahead. 

Backward – To remember where you came from and avoid past mistakes. 

Downward – To make sure you don’t step on others or ruin things along the 

way. 

Sideways – To see who is there to support you, and who needs your help. 

Upward – To remind yourself that there’s someone who’s watching over you. 

Credit: BaBaMail 


39

CASE STUDY: COCAINE USE 

Here's What Cocaine Does To The Structure Of Your Brain 

by Ben Taub 

A 

new study has indicated that long-term cocaine use may 

produce changes to the parts of the brain responsible for 

regulating impulsivity and the ability to analyze the significance 

of one’s decisions. Not only do these alterations provide an insight into 

what drives addiction, but they also suggest that those who develop 

a dependence on the drug may be liable to make poor decisions in 

other areas of life too. 

To conduct their study, researchers recruited 30 cocaine-dependent 

subjects – all of whom were abstinent at the time of the experiment – 

to take part in a gambling exercise, in which they won or lost money 

depending on their ability to guess which number would appear on 

a screen. Using various imaging techniques, the study authors were 

able to measure activity alongside tissue volume and microstructure 

in the brains of participants. 

Presenting their findings in the journal Addiction Biology, they 

note that, compared to non-users, cocaine-dependent individuals 

displayed increased activity in the ventral striatum, which forms part 

of the brain’s reward circuit. Importantly, activity in this region was 

found to be elevated regardless of whether the individual won or lost 

the gambling challenge, indicating that negative outcomes do not 

dampen the individual’s desire to seek out the rewards associated 

with a particular activity – in this case gambling. Accordingly, several 

previous studies have hypothesized that hyperactivity in the reward 

circuit may be a major driver of addiction. 

On top of this, the researchers found abnormal patterns of activity in 

parts of the medial prefrontal cortex in cocaine users. This applied 

particularly to the areas encompassing the anterior cingulate cortex 

and orbitofrontal cortex, both of which are associated with assessing 

the outcomes of one’s decisions, attributing salience to these 

outcomes, performance monitoring and the encoding of reward and 

punishment signals. 

"Using various imaging 

techniques, the study authors were 

able to measure activity alongside 

tissue volume and microstructure 

in the brains of participants" 

As expected, when the gambling task was performed by noncocaine 

users, losses resulted in a robust increase in activation 

in these brain regions, enabling them to assess and analyze their 

behavior and respond accordingly. However, no such activation 

was noted in the cocaine users, suggesting that their ability to 

appreciate the consequences of their decisions may be impaired. 

These functional changes were found to correlate with structural 

abnormalities in these same brain regions. For instance, increased 

grey matter volumes were observed in parts of the reward circuit, 

such as the caudate nucleus. 

While it is not yet known how much cocaine a person has to 

take before these effects are produced – or, indeed, if they can 

be reversed – the study provides a fascinating and useful insight 

into the structural and functional changes that repeated use of the 

drug generates in the brain. ST 

Credit: Ben Taub 

40

PAPARAZZI 

MALTA’S BEST ENTREPRENEUR 

OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2018 ® 

Leading the way, going the way and showing the way 

The Marsa Sports Club 

Thursday 20 th September, 2018 

MALTA BUSINESS REVIEW 

SIMON 


George Curmi a.k.a il-Pusé 

HE Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta 

Yada Dance Co 

Award on Display 

Arrival of Guests 

Guests with Backdrop 

Performance by Yada Dance Company 

Guest Table 

Magician Brian Role’ together with his partner Lourdes C. Palmer 

Guests During Dinner 

Performance by Yada Dance Company 

Singer Andreana Debattista with Event Organiser Martin Vella

SPORTS & AI 

Five-time Major Golf Champion Phil 

Mickelson & Agent Steve Loy 

Join Forces with Robotic Tech Leader Reis & 

Irvy's to Disrupt Food Retail 

By Darren Shuster 

The legendary golfer is poised to help define the “unattended retail 

experience” for the next generation. 

Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTCBB: VEND) announced 

today that its flagship subsidiary, Reis & Irvy’s, has inked a deal with 

five-time major championship golfer and World Golf Hall of Famer, Phil 

Mickelson, and his career-long business manager and business partner, 

Steve Loy, for 30 new Reis & Irvy’s locations 

Reis & Irvy’s-branded signature robot characters of the same name can 

dispense servings of frozen yogurt, ice cream, gelatos and sorbet topped 

with a selection of six delicious toppings in under 60 seconds. With selfcheckout 

touch screen ordering and payment options, video animation, 

music and delicious frozen dessert provided exclusively by Dannon, 

robot vendors meet consumer demand for convenience, entertainment 

and a superior quality product. 

Phil Mickelson and Steve Loy continue to expand upon their business 

portfolio with the investment in Reis & Irvy’s that is challenging the 

status quo in food retail by catering to this generation’s expectations of 

immersive, entertaining and on-demand shopping experiences. “We 

have seen the development of Reis and Irvy’s over the last eight months 

With over $130 million in franchise and licensing contracts, Generation 

NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTCBB:VEND) is leading the way with 

frozen desserts, fully autonomous robotic delivery, visual and audio 

entertainment, and a unique retail experience. 

Reis & Irvy’s: Franchise Expansion Highlights: 

• Since its debut, Reis & Irvy’s has grown to over 235 franchisees 

across the U.S. and represents over 1,100 pending robot installations 

aggregating over $45 million, with additional contract commitments 

for 2,300 robots worth an estimated $130M in potential future 

revenues for Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. 

• Reis & Irvy’s has strengthened its offerings by teaming up with some 

of the world’s largest manufacturing and logistics partners, including 

Dannon YoCream (www.yocream.com), Flex, Ltd. (www.flex.com), 

Stoelting Food Service (www.stoelting.com), who created the very 

first soft-serve machine for Dairy Queen, and Pitney Bowes (www. 

pitneybowes.com), who will provide the installation and national 

servicing. 

Nick Yates, Chairman of Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc., is 

proud to be associated with such a high-profile athlete-entrepreneur 

of Mickelson’s global stature. “Phil is consistently ranked by ESPN as 

one of the ten most highly-regarded athletes in the world. Having such 

a well-respected champion as a stakeholder and franchisee, in our own 

backyard here in San Diego, is an honor, and a confirmation of our 

mission to help bring about a dramatic change in food retail,” said Yates. 

For more information, visit the Reis & Irvy’s website at www.reisandirvys. 

com 

Generation NEXT Website: 

www.gennextbrands.com 

Phil Mickelson 

and became intrigued with the advancement and benefits of robotics 

which enhance the delivery of quality products to the consumer while 

reducing overhead cost,” said Steve Loy. 

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of such transformative industry change,” 

said Mickelson. “I’ve pushed boundaries my whole career and that 

mindset carries over into the business world. The energy and passion 

from the Generation NEXT team to both deliver a quality product and 

disrupt food retail is exciting.” 

Describing “the new arms race in retail,” John Bird of Forbes wrote that 

“unattended retail storefronts” — with their speed, flexibility and improved 

customer experience — are the future of retail. Brands like McDonald’s 

are successfully innovating their customer experience and “it will change 

forever the landscape” of casual dining, with “Gen-Xers, millennials, and 

successive generations already used to a computer interface for making 

most of their daily choices.” 

Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc., based in San Diego, California, 

is a publicly traded company on the OTC Markets trading under the 

symbol OTCBB:VEND. Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. is 

parent company to Reis and Irvy's, Inc., the world’s first robotic frozen 

yogurt vending kiosk, 19 Degrees, a corporate-focused frozen yogurt 

robot brand and Generation NEXT Vending Robots, its newly established 

owner/operator model. The Company has sold over 600 franchises 

throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, Puerto Rico 

and the Bahamas, and continually looks to partner with like-minded 

entrepreneurs who share its vision. 

About Reis & Irvy’s, Inc. 

Reis & Irvy’s, Inc. is a subsidiary franchise concept of Generation NEXT 

Franchise Brands, Inc. (OTCBB: VEND). Launched in early 2016, the 

revolutionary Reis & Irvy’s Frozen Yogurt Robot vending machine serves 

seven different flavors of frozen yogurt, ice cream, sorbets and gelatos, a 

choice of up to six custom toppings and to customers within 60 seconds 

or less at the point of sale. The unique franchise opportunity has since 

established itself as a high-demand product and currently showcases a 

franchise network both domestically as well as internationally. 

Credit: Darren Shuster 

42

in collaboration with 

MAINSAIL 

THE MALTA 

INTERNATIONAL 

BOATS AND 

YACHTING 



Friday 30 th November 2018 

For more information 

Margaret Brincat on 9940 6743 

margaret@mbrpublications.net 

www.mbrpublications.net 

SIMON 


MALTA 

BUSINESS REVIEW

SPACE EXPLORATION 

NASA Prepares Girl 

for a Visit to Mars 

The interest in colonization outside of our planet has never been higher - especially with movies like Star Trek and Star Wars being 

at the peak of popularity. Yet, while some of us only dream of space travel, one girl is making it her reality. Alyssa Carson is a 

17-year-old girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana whom NASA is training to become an astronaut. It is her dream to be the first person 

on Mars and she's aiming for the 2033 first human mission to Mars. 

She has everything she needs to get there, being the first person to complete the NASA Passport Program by going to all 14 NASA 

Visitor Centers. She is also the youngest person to be accepted and graduate from the Advanced Possum Academy, making her officially 

certified to go to space and an astronaut trainee. In addition to her astronaut training, she is also studying all of her school subjects in four 

languages - English, Chinese, French, and Spanish. One of the biggest challenges she says she faces is time and getting everything 

done at such a young age, while also still attending high school. While Alyssa is well aware that she cannot get married and start a family, 

she is determined to put it aside in order to achieve her dream. 

This is Alyssa Carson, a 17-year-old girl from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Despite her young age, she is being trained by NASA to become 

an astronaut. Her goal is to be part of the first human mission to Mars in 2033. The mission is part of the effort to establish a human 

colony on Mars, that could one day save our species. 

Alyssa wanted to go to Mars when she was three, after seeing the TV show, 'The Backyardigans'. Ever since Carson has been working 

hard to achieve her goals. Her father, Bert Carson, enrolled her in the United States Space Camp in 2008. 

girl prepares for visit to Mars. She became the first person to visit all three NASA Space Camps. Five years later, Alyssa was the 

first person to complete the NASA Passport Program by going to all 14 NASA Visitor Centers. She is also the youngest person to be 

accepted and graduate from the Advanced Possum Academy. This certifies her to go to space as an astronaut trainee. 

Aside from her demanding astronaut training, Alyssa also studies all her school subjects in four languages. Even though she is not able 

to apply to be an astronaut until the age of 18, Carson is the youngest applicant to International Space University. Alyssa says, "Always 

follow your dream and don't let anyone take it from you. " ST 

Courtesy: NASA; BabaMail 

44

HUGO'S 

ANNOUCES 

NEW BRAND 

AMBASSADOR 

Hugo's Group is thrilled to announce the signing of Ira Losco as its 

new Brand Ambassador. 

"Ira is not only one of the biggest names on the local music scene, 

an X-Factor judge and a leading personality, but also a strong and 

passionate woman who inspires others", said Luke Chetcuti, Managing 

Director of Hugo's Group, when talking about their collaboration. Hugo's 

Group is the largest Maltese owned company based within the local 

entertainment and hospitality sector. "Just like Ira, our brand has become 

a household name, but the similarity doesn't just end there. Our drive 

for excellence, acute awareness of consumer demands and trend setting 

approach, resemble the same characteristics as Ira's", Luke continued. 

He then added "We hugely admire Ira for her principles, talent and ability 

to juggle a demanding career with being a great mum. Over the course 

of the next 24 months, it is our aim to help project this and incorporate 

her strive for success with our own". 

Ira Losco will be endorsing the brand both on her travels and via specific 

campaigns associated with Hugo's hotels and venues. You can also come 

and see her perform at a special Christmas edition of Hugo's Terrace 

Goes Live on Wednesday 12th December. 

Roger Moore - The Best James Bond! 

Sir Roger Moore, one of the world’s most iconic actors, passed away recently at the grand old age of 89, leaving behind an unmatched Hollywood 

legacy. The much-loved British actor, who was knighted in 2003, was best known for playing James Bond in seven movies, from “Live and Let Die” 

(1973) to “A View to Kill” (1985). Thus, making him the longest tenured James Bond, both in number of films and years. Bond is known for his 

dangerous stunts and improbable escapes, and during the Roger Moore era, 007 negotiated his way out of tricky situations with comical flair, and 

it is this that sets Moore apart from all the other James Bonds. So, as a tribute to this great man, we have collected some of the most memorable 

moments from his time as this famous agent. ST 


Creditline: BabaMail 

45

LIFESTYLE 

These 5 Habits 

Literally Add Years 

to Your Life, 

According to a New Harvard Study 

By Bill Murphy 

Bill Murphy Jr. is a Contributing editor, Inc.com 

They say there's no fountain of youth. But a comprehensive 

new Harvard University study is the latest report to break 

down exactly how much extra time you can get yourself on 

this planet if you follow a small number of positive life habits. None 

of these habits will be a surprise, but the stunning part is how the 

Harvard researchers claim to be able to quantify exactly how much 

more time you will likely live: specifically an extra 12.1 years for men, 

or an extra fourteen years for the women. 

Their research was published in April in the journal Circulation. Here is 

the research, the findings, the specific habits--and just how precious 

that extra decade-plus could be. 

Other studies have shown that on average, if you smoke, you will die 

seven years earlier than you otherwise would. 

2. Maintain a low body mass index. 

We've seen this one many times too. For example, if your waist 

measures more than 40 inches (men) or 35 inches (women), you 

need to lose belly fat fast in order to add years to your life. 

3. Work out for 30 minutes per day. 

Again: We have seen it before. A short period of jogging each day, for 

example, can make your body seem nine years younger, according 

to another study. 

The research 

Despite spending far more on medical care than any other country in 

the world, Americans have only the 31st highest life expectancy (79.3 

years). In some states, it's as low as 71 or 72 years--about the same 

as in developing nations like Bangladesh. 

(Here are all 50 states by life expectancy, if you are curious where 

yours ranks.) 

So, Harvard researchers accessed the health histories of 44,354 

men and 78,865 women, spanning roughly three decades, who had 

participated in two previous studies: the Health Professionals Followup 

Study and the Nurses' Health Study. Since more than 42,000 of the 

study participants had died by the time the researchers accessed the 

data, they could now correlate the degree to which people reported 

practicing health habits to their total life expectancy: the 12.1 and 14 

extra years we referenced above. 

So, what were the habits? Again, there are no real surprises, but 

perhaps seeing them laid out like this, specifically tied to a longer life, 

will motivate you to try to stick to them. 

1. Don't smoke. 

If you smoke, quit. If you have not started smoking, keep it that way. 

4. Drink alcohol moderately. 

Obviously, don't drink to excess. But other studies have found that 

drinking moderately improves health and longevity outcomes over not 

drinking at all. ("I have no explanation for it, but I do firmly believe that 

modest drinking improves longevity," is how the author of one recent 

study put it.) 

5. Maintain a healthy diet. 

It's a bit difficult to define a healthy diet by Harvard's standards in 

this summary, but they describe it as having "a high diet quality score 

(upper 40 percent)." Of course, you probably already know what a 

healthy diet looks like. Start with foods that are high in antioxidants. 

It's worth noting that the study used age 50 as a benchmark, meaning 

that they looked at how long people could expect to live beyond that 

age, depending on whether they did or did not adhere to healthy 

habits. 

It's not clear that this means that you can adopt the habits later in 

life and still get a similar health outcome. But it does suggest that no 

matter when you start focusing on your health, you will likely have a 

measurable impact on the total length of your life. (See you at the 

gym!) ST 

Creditline: Bill Murphy Jr. 

46

DOLCE & GABBANA'S FASHION DEVOTION 

The Dolce & Gabbana Autumn collection for men, women and children, 

now available in store. 

To celebrate the arrival of Dolce & Gabbana's Autumn Collection, 

SARTO joins forces with visual artist Kris Micallef to deliver a series of 

sensational monochromatic prints. 

#loveSARTO 

sarto.com.mt

PAPARAZZI 


Long before Gabrielle reinvented herself as Coco, she knew 

the meaning of abandonment, and the evidence of her unhappy 

childhood is not entirely absent from her Parisian salon. There 

is a set of tarot cards on her desk, just as she left them before 

her death at 87 in January 1971 (among them is the number 

five, her lucky number, illustrated by a picture of a green tree, its 

roots visible above the ground), and a gold crucifix; the mystical 

and Catholic symbols coexist yet also form the outlines of an 

iconography of Chanel's own making. 

But much else was hidden away, hundreds of miles from Rue 

Cambon, at Aubazine, a remote 12th-century Cistercian abbey 

high in the hills of the Corrèze, where Gabrielle was shaped by 

the nuns who raised her. Chanel never admitted to her years 

at Aubazine, where she lived from the age of 11 to 18, in an 

orphanage run by the sisters of the Congregation of the Sacred 

Heart of Mary. Her father, a feckless peddler always on the run 

from his family, left his three daughters there after the death of 

their mother from TB and disappeared forever. 

Conitnued from pg 10 

The nuns who still live at Aubazine are more concerned with the 

worship of God than the antecedents of fashion, yet they were kind enough to allow me to visit them, on the understanding that I observed 

their rules of prayer and silence. Gabrielle came here with her two sisters in February 1895; I arrived at the same time of year, a bitterly 

cold season, when winter had not yet loosened its grip on the mountains (and I felt lost in the deep despair of a looming divorce). Only 

a handful of nuns remained, the orphans long since vanished, though their dormitories were untouched, the children's iron beds lined 

against whitewashed walls hung with crucifixes. 

Here I walked, and here I sat, contemplating what it meant to be cast aside, not in the expectation of finding an answer to my own grief 

but in search of the heart of Chanel. Inside the abbey, alone in the early dusk of winter, I spent hours gazing at the interlocked graphic 

patterns of medieval stained-glass windows — a mysterious geometry that looks eerily like the famous double-C logo that still signifies 

Chanel as a global brand — and then climbed the dark stairs beyond the altar, up to the long corridor that runs the length of the cloisters 

in which medieval monks fashioned intricate mosaics of five-sided stars and petals, the quintessence of Chanel's subsequent designs. 

By the time I left Aubazine, I had not found a miraculous solution to unhappiness, but I did feel a profound sympathy for what Chanel 

might have learned there. She was abandoned, then raised in an atmosphere of pronounced asceticism, where prayer and punishment 

existed side by side. At Aubazine she learned to sew, which would prove to be the means of her early employment as a seamstress in a 

provincial town, but she also grasped the austere beauty of her surroundings and 

transformed them in the course of her career into her signature style. The black 

and white of the nuns' habits would reappear in the restrained yet fluid couture so 

characteristic of Chanel, their rosary beads, crosses, and chains transfigured into 

pearls and jewellery that were more significant than mere accessories. 

And beyond that, Chanel also displayed the heroic qualities that would make her 

so successful: the vision to turn black, the colour of mourning, into the symbol 

of independence, freedom, and strength and the courage to keep working, even 

when love failed her. She was flawed, of course, like all the most compelling 

characters: hard and pitiless and mistaken at times, like the nuns who educated 

her. But she was also vulnerable enough to grieve for those she had lost and loyal 

to the series of men who left her, including the father she never saw again. Where 

had he gone, at least in the tale she told in adulthood (one in a series of stories 

that formed so many layers of myth)? To America, the promised land, to make 

his fortune. He never got there, of course — his path ended in drunken obscurity 

in the bars of rural French market towns — but his daughter did, and America 

applauded her, coast to coast. Emerging from behind the forbidding walls of the 

orphanage, via Paris all the way to uptown Manhattan and the Hollywood Hills, 

Gabrielle Chanel proved that a woman need not define herself by the men who 

desired and deserted her. For in the end, Chanel was entirely her own creation, 

still seeking perfection in her designs until the very last day of her life. ST 

Credit: Bazaar 

48

Stunning Plant Paper Art by Tania Lissova 

ART 

Tania Lissova is a Russian paper artist. She started her journey as a passionate creative artist with pieces of papers and made up a 

simple yet attractive collection of beautiful artwork. She predominantly focuses on 3D paper plants. Using a micro style paper cutting 

technique, she is able to make tiny paper plants that she uses to decorate greeting cards and framed art pieces. Lissova studied 

Architecture and Arts, where she spent lots of her time modelling, drawing and creating illustrations on paper. After getting inspiration from 

other artists, she started crafting 3D paper plants. From then on, her passion grew. Take a look at her stunning work below. ST 


Trade Enquiries - Practical Trading - Tel 22449184/ 21480392/3 - www.practicaltrading.com.mt

GAMING 

Betsoft Gaming & Mostbet Sign 

Strategic Content Agreement 

Pursuing further expansion in 

Europe, Betsoft Gaming has 

signed a comprehensive content 

agreement with rapidly-growing 

operator Mostbet. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Mostbet will directly integrate 

all Betsoft slot games – including key titles in the Slots3TM Series 

– to its portfolio, making Betsoft’s blend of established favourites 

and exciting innovations available to players throughout Eastern 

Europe. 

Headquartered in Curacao, Mostbet caters to discerning online 

players across the Commonwealth of Independent States. In 

just two years, the operator has experienced significant growth, 

driven by impressive rates of customer acquisition and retention. 

To best serve that growing, loyal playerbase, a reliable flow of new, 

high-quality content was a key priority for Mostbet, as Betsoft’s 

Marketing Director, Annamaria Anastasi explains: 

“Eastern European markets have emerged extremely rapidly, 

with large numbers of players hungry for constant innovation. To 

meet and exceed their customers’ demands, Mostbet sought out 

a content partner who had experience in the region, coupled with 

an unmatched library of existing games and a reliable roadmap for 

ground-breaking new releases.” 

The agreement also includes provision for the integration of 

new Betsoft content over time, paving the way for the release 

of marquee titles like the upcoming Max Quest: Wrath of Ra to 

Mostbet’s players as soon as they become available in other 

markets. 

“In our opinion, Betsoft has built an extremely successful brand in 

an incredibly competitive industry, and that speaks to the quality 

of their games” says CEO of Mostbet. “We are excited to be able 

to add Betsoft’s industry-leading content to our library today, and 

we look forward to strengthening our partnership in the years to 

come.” 

About Betsoft Gaming: 

Betsoft Gaming develops innovative casino games for desktop and 

mobile. Its portfolio of more than 190 RNG titles reaches players 

through partnerships with many of the iGaming industry’s leading 

operators. Under the SLOTS3TM banner, Betsoft is elevating 

players’ expectations; these cinematic, true-3D slots blend rapid, 

gratifying gameplay with an audio-visual excellence more typical of 

movies and videogames. 

An early entrant to mobile gaming, Betsoft launched the ToGoTM 

collection in 2012. More recently, Betsoft revealed the ShiftTM 

environment, which supports truly cross-platform development at 

the same time as increasing performance, drastically reducing file 

size and streamlining integration. 

Casino Manager, Betsoft’s comprehensive back-office platform, 

rolls reporting, management, marketing, promotion, and 

administration into a single compelling package. 

Betsoft is headquartered and licensed to operate in Malta, and 

holds additional licenses in Romania and Curacao. Contact 

sales@betsoft.com or visit www.betsoft.com for general 

information and enquiries. For press and marketing enquiries, 

email press@betsoft.com. ST 

Credits: Betsoft 

50

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE 

Here's How Spending Time Alone 

Improves Your Health 

Far too often these days, many people end up feeling overwhelmed, and thanks to social media it sometimes feels like there's 

no way to escape. However, it's extremely important to switch your phone off and get away from every other human being every 

so often. Why? Keep reading and find out. 

1. It Fights Stress 

Being alone and feeling bored deactivates the areas in your brain 

that promote heightened awareness, which can help lower stress 

levels. Boredom helps calm your brain down and can help you 

regulate your emotions a lot better. 

2. It Helps You Unwind 

Spending time alone is a brilliant way to recharge your mind 

and body. A massive survey with 18,000 participants from 134 

different countries found that 'spending time alone' was the way 

most people felt the most relaxed. 'Reading' came in 2nd place 

and 'being in nature' came 3rd. 

3. It Wards Off Depression 

It may seem counterintuitive, but spending time alone has actually 

been found to tackle depression. Studies from the University of 

Illinois at Urbana-Champaign revealed that the risk of depression 

is significantly decreased for those who enjoy spending time 

alone. Additionally, they also found that people who enjoy being 

alone are far less likely to suffer from depression at any point in 

their lives. 

4. It Boosts Your Mental Strength 

Plenty of people get nervous or antsy when they have to be 

alone for a long time. However, we really should start to do it 

more often, since studies have shown that forcing yourself to 

sit through extended periods of solitude will fortify your mental 

strength. 

5. It Makes You More Compassionate 

Harvard University found that being isolated can help you 

build a stronger and more empathetic character. According to 

Harvard researchers, sessions in solitude help people gain a 

better understanding of the struggles and experiences of others, 

which can help them become more sincerely compassionate 

throughout their lives. 

6. It Makes You More Creative 

If you want to become more creative, then there's no better way 

than spending time alone. The more bored you get, the more 

creative you'll become, since the human mind will start coming up 

with loads of different ways of keeping yourself entertained, and 

since you're alone there will be nobody around to distract you. 

7. It Creates Self-Reliance 

If you always rely on others for assistance, opinions, and advice, 

then you might end up becoming partially-dependent on others, 

which won't allow you to become self-reliant. If you want to feel 

a sense of independence, you'll need to start making decisions 

on your own, which is something that spending time alone forces 

you to do. 

8. It Improves Concentration 

Interruptions and distractions are an inevitable part of day-today 

life, from the daily barrage of emails to friends and family 

messaging you to see when you're free to meet up. Setting 

aside some proper alone time will allow you to cut out most of 

these disturbances, letting you get on with the task at hand. 

You can also improve your memory and concentration by 

means of these pressure points. 

9. It Improves Your Memory 

Spending time alone has also been found to boost your 

memory. In fact, research from Harvard has shown that 

people remember the key details of tasks they completed by 

themselves in far more detail than those they completed with 

the help of others. 

10. It Strengthens Your Relationships 

Being alone has been shown to help you gain a better 

understanding of who you are. Such self-knowledge is 

absolutely essential if you want any of your long-term 

relationships to work out. After all, if you don't even understand 

yourself, how can you expect to truly understand the needs 

and desires of another person? ST 

Credit: LinkedIn 

52


knew this word and its value. The cloud is in our organizational 

model, in our DNA, and today we are able to express a difference in 

approach compared to the many IT companies, even much bigger 

than ourselves, who have come toward and close this market in 

recent years. 

The cloud is not just a technology but a model that guides the various 

business processes, the go to market, and the business model. 

Leadership is important in the market and we try to overcome its 

challenges every day, bringing customers efficient and high-value 

solutions for their business. Sul mercato la leadership è importante 

e cerchiamo di conquistarla ogni giorno portando ai clienti soluzioni 

efficienti e ad alto valore per il loro business. 

we are carrying out with Google on the Maltese territory has just this 

purpose, to make the best use of this technology in real business 

processes. 

We strongly believe in the education sector from which the talents of 

the future can and must come out. We try to make our contribution 

by bringing innovative and cost-free solutions for schools and 

universities, to foster the digitization and knowledge of new 

technologies. 

Creditline: Noovle 

www.noovle.com 

CLOUD TECHNOLOGY 

The work environment is also important. We have tried to take better 

care of the welcome and comfort at work, with attention to details that 

can make life in the office more pleasant. 

MBR: How critical is it to maintain the innovative edge and is 

this more challenging to do at Noovle’s size and scale? 

PV: Innovation is increasingly frenetic and acceleration is getting 

stronger. Maintaining an adequate level of innovation in the market, 

without losing contact with the needs of the market, is not easy. 

Our teams are constantly updated, with major investments in 

training and testing laboratories. Also for this reason we still consider 

ourselves a startup ... the market changes from month to month, 

from year to year, and our strength is to be able to continually adapt 

the organizational model, the skills and the proposition with respect 

to these developments. 

MBR: What is significant about Noovle presenting itself to 

Maltese businesses and what unique selling Proposition is it 

offering to launch in the market? 

PV: The Maltese market has always been extremely interesting 

for us. A dynamic territory, pushed on the innovative themes (see 

the gaming in the past years and the blockchain / crypto currencies 

now), with rapid execution and value of many resources. We found 

a very open government to support the launch of new initiatives and 

immediately understood the potential of the new cloud platforms that 

Google Cloud together with Noovle can make available. 

The IT market is mature and there is a lot of innovation but we 

think we can play an important role thanks to the solutions and 

the model we are able to make available to companies and public 

bodies. Our solutions can bring a competitive advantage both within 

organizations, working on improving efficiencies and processes, and 

towards the market thanks to our digital marketing skills. 

Salesforce has recently added to our partnerships, with which we 

bring solutions on the world of CRM, Service and Digital marketing. 

MBR: What are the areas Noovle is looking to for growth in the 

future? 

PV: We are working to bring innovative solutions to high-impact 

areas for the community, such as health and agriculture, where 

efficiency recovery can lead to the retrieval and salvage of important 

resources to be reinvested for the benefit of all. 

We are active in the world of blockchain, and the strategic initiative 

The cloud is in our organizational model, in 

our DNA, and today we are able to express 

a difference in approach compared 

" 

to the 

many IT companies 

" 

Anyone wishing to attend this prestigious unique venet may 

contact margaret@mbrpublications.net or call on (+356) 99406743; 

99260162/4 ST 


53

LIFE STORIES 

Parable of the King's Parrot 

Once upon a time, there was a rich and very beloved king, 

who used to visit the neighbouring kingdoms regularly to 

maintain good relations with the other monarchs. During the 

meetings between the kings, it was customary to exchange 

gifts, and the kindly king always arrived with full hands and 

returned to his kingdom with even fuller hands. 

During a visit to a neighbouring kingdom, the King was 

given two beautiful parrots, which had come from faraway 

magical forests, or so he was told. "These parrots need a 

natural environment to grow and flourish," they explained to 

the king, so when he returned to his kingdom he set up a 

huge garden with landscaped vegetation, clear lakes, and 

high waterfalls. 

As the time passed, the parrots grew, and one of them 

even began to fly around the garden regularly, but the other 

parrot remained on the branch on which he had stood from 

his first day in the garden, refusing to leave it. 

The King had invited thousands of professional parrot 

trainers from all over the kingdom and the neighboring 

kingdoms, and they had done their best to make the lazy 

parrot fly, but no matter what they tried, the parrot would 

not budge. 

The King's advisers advised him to publish an advert, 

promising one thousand gold coins to whoever managed to 

make the lazy parrot fly. The King agreed, and that's exactly 

what he did. 

The next morning a simple farmer arrived at the King's 

palace and claimed he could make the parrot leave 

his branch and fly. The King was very wary, he did not 

understand what a simple peasant could know about parrot 

training that the royal parrot trainers did not. 

However, on that day, while the King was walking in the 

garden, he saw two parrots fly through the air, one of them 

being the lazy parrot who had not previously agreed to leave 

its branch. The King summoned the farmer immediately 

and asked him, "How did you make my lazy parrot leave its 

branch and fly?" 

The farmer replied, "It was very easy, Your Excellency, I 

just cut the branch on which it sat." 

This parable teaches us that, 

like the parrot, we all have the ability to succeed 

and reach new heights, but it takes courage to deal with 

things that are unfamiliar to us or that frighten us. We must 

free ourselves from our branch - our comfort zone - to explore 

new possibilities for success and discover what our true 

capabilities are. Until that happens, we will not be 

able to spread our wings and fly. ST 


54

Coming Back From Ladies Night 

The other night I was invited out for a night with "the 

girls." I told my husband that I would be home by 

midnight. "I promise!" 

By Betty R 

HUMOUR 

Well, the hours passed and the margaritas went down way 

too easy. Around 3 a.m., a bit blitzed, I headed home. Just 

as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock in the hall started up 

and cuckooed three times. 

Quickly realising my husband would probably wake up, I 

cuckooed another nine times. I was really proud of myself 

for coming up with such a quick-witted solution, even after 

drinking so much. 

The next morning my husband asked me what time I got 

in, and I told him midnight. He didn't seem disturbed at all. 

Whew! I got away with that one! 

Then he said, "We need a new cuckoo clock..." 

When I asked him why, he said, "Well, last night our clock 

cuckooed three times, then said, "Oh, crap," cuckooed 4 

more times, cleared its throat, cuckooed another 3 times, 

giggled, cuckooed twice more, and then tripped over the 

cat". 

Credit: Betty R 

Urban Jungle opens new store in Valletta 

Urban Jungle, Malta’s home-grown and now 

international brand has opened a new store in Malta’s 

capital, Valletta. 

The store, located in Merchants Street, stocks the 

recent trends in sneakers and street fashion. Sports 

and Streetwear fashion has in recent years gained 

new grounds as individuals from various age-groups 

and social backgrounds have taken on this trend all 

over the world. 

Urban Jungle, which is now present in 29 locations 

around Europe and North Africa, seeks to offer its 

customers the latest and greatest products from the 

top sports brands which include NIKE, Converse, 

Vans, Timberland, New Era, as well as other exclusives 

relevant to sneaker culture, available from time-totime. 

UJ also offers the latest in street fashion apparel 

from NY, LA and Tokyo, together with the coolest 

accessories and gadgets. With new product arrivals 

every week, Urban Jungle is the shopping destination 

for street culture trends. ST 

Urban Jungle is represented by Hudson Group. 

Credit: Hudson Group 

55

PHOTOGRAPHY 

Winners of the Nature 

Conservancy Photo 

Competition 

The nature that surrounds us is often taken for granted - it is simply there. But when we look at it, we ignore heavy industrialization, 

modernization, and other factors, man-made, that harm and destroy our wonderful nature and raise a serious fear that in the future it 

will no longer exist. The Nature Conservancy is one of the leading organizations in the world in its activities to preserve the nature of our 

world and in protecting land and sea of ecological importance. 

In order to raise awareness of the need to preserve the environment, the organization initiates a particularly successful annual photography 

competition, which, this year, has had more than 50,000 photos, taken by photographers from more than 135 countries around the globe, 

submitted. Recently, the winning pictures were announced, and we invite you to take a look at some of the leading and most impressive ones. 

"Stallions 

Playing" 

Photo: Camille Briottet, Lyon, France. 

Winner of the competition 

The winning picture shows a pair of 

stallions standing on their hind legs - 

their bodies raised in the air, as they 

play in a puddle of mud, splashing 

in all directions. Without a doubt, 

the power of nature and animals is 

fully expressed here in this simple 

picture. 

"Serenity" 

Photo: Jeremy Stevens, 

Pennsylvania, USA 

This magical snowy landscape, with 

the glittering waterfall at the center 

of the picture, was documented in 

January 2018 on Lake Aldeyjarfoss 

in Iceland. The photographer who 

documented this wonderful picture, 

Jeremy Stevens, testified that he 

likes to climb into the most difficult to 

reach places since they are the most 

peaceful. 

56

Footcare Really Matters 

Pain in a child’s foot or ankle is never normal. There is no such thing as 

“growing pains.” A podiatrist should evaluate any pain that lasts more 

than a few days, or that is severe enough to limit the child’s walking. 

Lets start off with footwear; 

follow these helpful tips when 

buying shoes for your young 

ones: 

Five signs, which may indicate your child, 

has a foot problem: 

1. Your child cannot keep up with his/her Peers 

If children lag behind in sports or backyard play, it may be because their 

feet or legs are tired. Fatigue is common when children have flat feet. 

The muscles in the feet and legs tire easily because the feet are not 

functioning as well as they should. 

HEALTHCARE: PODOLOGY 

1. Shoes should fit (sounds obvious but it is 

not) 

Your child’s feet can grow up to two sizes in six 

months, so you need to account for growth when 

buying shoes. That does not mean you should buy 

shoes that are too big—oversized shoes cause the 

foot to slide forward, putting excessive pressure on 

the toes. A good fit is about a finger's width from 

the end of the shoe to the tip of the big toe. 

2. Shoes wear out 

Shoes lose their shock absorption over time, so 

inspect shoes for proper cushioning and arch 

support. Replace any shoes with wear and tear 

around the edges of the sole. When buying shoes, 

check to see that the toe box flexes easily and the 

shoe does not bend in the middle of the sole. 

3. Children with flat feet 

Children with flat feet need shoes with a wide toe 

box, maximum arch support and shock absorption. 

2. Children Voluntarily Withdraw from Activities they usually 

enjoy 

If they are reluctant to participate, it may be due to heel pain — a problem 

often seen in children between the ages of 8 and 14. Repetitive stress 

from sports may cause muscle strain and inflammation of the growth 

plate, a weak area at the back of a child’s heel. 

3. They Don’t Want to Show You Their Feet 

Children may feel pain or notice a change in the appearance of their feet 

or nails but don’t tell their parents because they fear a trip to the doctor’s 

office. I encourage parents to make a habit of inspecting their child’s feet 

starting at a young age. Look for any changes such as calluses, growths, 

skin discoloration, or redness and swelling around the toenails. 

4. Your Child Often Trips and Falls 

Repeated clumsiness may be a sign of in-toeing, balance problems or 

neuromuscular conditions. 

5. The Child Complains of Pain 

Pain is not normal. Injuries may seem minor, but if pain or swelling last 

more than a few days, have your child’s foot examined. ST 

Courtesy: Clinton Schembri Francalanza 

By Clinton Schembri Francalanza 

57

PHOTOGRAPHY 

"Polar Bear" 

Photo: Florian Ledoux, Brussels, 

Belgium 

In this wonderful picture, taken from 

an upper angle, we see a white 

polar bear wandering on a pack of 

ice threatening to melt. Although the 

picture seems to have been taken 

at the North Pole itself, and the bear 

adds to this atmosphere, it was 

in fact taken in Nunavut, a frozen 

territory in northern Canada. 

"My Home My 

City" 

Photo: Kwok Kui Andus Tse, Wong 

Tai Sin, Hong Kong, China 

The towering Lion Rock, 495 meters 

tall, is a symbol of Hong Kong - and 

many residents of the province, 

including the photographer of this 

impressive image, grew up in the 

shade of the mountain and believe 

that in its steadfastness it represents 

the people’s spirit and character. 

"Reclamation" 

Photo: Jesse Yang, Fort Lee, New 

Jersey, USA 

Jesse Yang traveled as far as the 

deserts of the United Arab Emirates to 

catch this powerful picture that shows 

us the power of nature. This flooded 

house is located in an abandoned 

ghost town in the country. ST 

Courtesy: BabaMail 

58

J2 GROUP MALTA, OSCAR ZAMMIT STR MSIDA, MALTA EUROPE 

j2groupmalta.com | info@j2groupmalta.com | +356 21360038

Camparimalta

ST_OCTOBER_18

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