Neil Agius nominated for World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year

Jan 15 2022

Neil Agius, Malta’s very own record-breaking swimmer, has been nominated for the World Open Water Swimming Man of the Year award by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

The World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) is an international association dedicated to the organisation, promotion and recognition of open water swimmers, with an annual public recognition highlighting the best of the best.

Agius himself is a former Olympic swimmer, and has been nominated for serving as an ocean advocate and co-founder of the Wave of Change campaign, which raise awareness about plastic pollution in Maltese waters.

The swimmer took to social media to express his gratitude and disbelief in being considered for such a prestigious international award, much to the praise of all who follow and support his work.

He is also widely known for swimming 126.3 km from Italy to Malta through the Strait of Sicily as the longest unassisted and continuous current-neutral swim in history over 52 hours. The anti-pollution activist set a world record in the Mediterranean Sea and this nomination is rightly deserved.

This isn’t the first time Agius was awarded or nominated for his work, having just received a Medal for Service of the Republic by President George Vella. Agius is up against a host of swimmers from around the globe, so if you think Agius deserves the title, get to voting and supporting the local champion!

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Photo Source: Neil Agius FB

At least 65 animal species can laugh just like humans study finds

Jan 15 2022

It is no laughing matter…or maybe it is…that around 65 animal species have been found to laugh just like humans can.

Researchers from California have combed through past studies of animal behaviour looking of records of vocal play signals that might signify a version of laughter.

They said that the findings may help us in better understanding the form and function of our own human laughter and its role in the evolution of social behaviour.

In a study undertaken by anthropologist Sasha Winkler and communication researcher Greg Bryant, the duo looked for information on whether recorded vocalisations were loud or quiet, short or high, high-pitched or low pitched, and other qualities.

They then sought out to see if these matched any feature of ‘play sounds’ which are thought to help animals emphasise when they are being non-aggressive when they play.

‘When we laugh, we are often providing information to others that we are having fun’ said Winkler. ‘As such laughter is our human version of an evolutionary old vocal play signal.’

It was found that animals such as cows, elephants, dolphins, dogs, foxes, mongooses, seals, various primates such as chimpanzees and gorillas and even parakeets were known to produce such play sounds.

And if you’e wondering, spotted hyenas, which make giggling and cackling noises, actually do this when they feel threatened or frustrated. Older hyenas tend to laugh with more consistency than the varied sounds made by younger hyenas.

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Affordable housing foundation set up by government and church

Jan 15 2022

Malta’s archdiocese and the government have worked together to set up the Affordable Housing Foundation, which aims at providing affordable social housing for those with low to median income.

In at the presence of Prime Minister Robert Abela, an agreement was signed on Friday by Social Accommodation Minister Roderick Galdes and Archbishop Charles Scicluna.

Both entities will be providing assets, such as land and existing buildings, for residential projects with cheaper rents. The income is set to be invited in the operations of the foundation.

€300,000 will allocated annually by the government to the foundation for a 25-year period. Meanwhile, the Archdiocese donated the convent of Saint Joan of Arc in Kirkop with a temporary lease for 25 years. The Prime Minister said that the government worked on schemes so that everyone found a roof over their head.

The scheme is not tackling the most vulnerable, he said, but those for which the market does not present an affordable housing solution. ‘Irrespective of where you are born, the state has a duty to provide you with an opportunity to reach the best of your potential.

On his part, the Social Accommodation Minister emphasised the importance of housing in society and said the property market is currently dominated by a duopoly between state and private market. The foundation would now act as the third player in the sector.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna said that housing contributes towards the dignity of the human person and social justice. This move, he said, is a contribution to a society built on social justice. ‘The foundation will help individuals get a home and retain their dignity.’

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Snoop Dogg may be launching his own hot dog brand named ‘Snoop Doggs’

Jan 14 2022

Back in September of last year, the internet went into a frenzy after Eminem announced that he was opening a restaurant named ‘Mom’s Spaghetti’ in his hometown of Detroit. In 2022, rapper, entrepreneur and media personality Snoop Dogg may be following suit after he filed a trademark for the name ‘Snoop Doggs.’

That’s right, Snoop Doggs. The legendary West Coast rapper is no stranger to expanding his horizons in terms of business and much like Eminem’s restaurant, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s tequila and Logan Paul & KSI’s sports drink, the Doggfather is diversifying. The D-o-double-g reportedly plans to sell hot dogs and ‘other kinds of sausages’ after he filed the trademark with intent-to-use, meaning that while the brand isn’t launched, he plans to do so.

Back in 2016, Snoop Dogg had stated that he will never eat another hot dog again after he saw a video of how the classic American food was made on a Jimmy Kimmel Live. In 2011, the rapper had also filed for the trademark ‘Snoop Scoops’, which was supposed to become an ice-cream brand.

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