Philippines vaccine centre plays zombie film as people await their jab

Aug 31 2021

As people waited to receive their vaccination in the Philippines, they were treated to a screening of World War Z, a blockbuster zombie film released in 2013. A photo showing people waiting on plastic chairs with a gigantic screen with the movie’s title card was shared on Twitter and captioned with a phrase ‘a bit of a questionable film choice…’. Some however, found the decision quite fitting, calling it an instructional video on getting vaccinated and avoiding spread of the virus.

Of course, the film features reanimated corpses munching on people and Brad Pitt looking elegant as he evades zombie horde after horde. Still, the photo garnered a lot of attention, with some recommending other zombie franchises to be shown for the next round of jab applicants. Some pointed out how a vaccine saves the heroes whilst others recommended other zombie films with less positive endings. Walking Dead for walk-in vaccination hubs anyone?

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Protect your ageing brain by finding your sleep ‘sweet spot’

Aug 31 2021

According to a new study published in the journal JAMA Neurology, the length of adult’s sleep schedules could affect their brain health. Disrupted sleep is a common phenomenon late in life and is associated with changes in cognitive function. This is the mental capacity for learning, reasoning, decision-making, remembering and paying attention. Age-related changes in sleep have also had connections to depression and Alzheimer’s disease.

Those in the study who reported short sleep duration (6 hours or less) had elevated levels of beta amyloid, which increases risk of dementia. That was in comparison to participants who slept seven to eight hours per night, considered to be the normal sleep duration. Older adults with inadequate sleep also performed moderately to worse on tests used on older adults to assess cognition, orientation, attention, language and memory. Sleeping too much, on the other hand, was associated with lesser executive function and even higher body mass index. The moral of the story: find your sleep sweet spot no matter how busy you get!

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Photo Source: Adobe Stock, Brittanica

‘I’m back where I belong!’; Cristiano Ronaldo opens up about his move to Manchester United

Aug 31 2021

Football star Cristiano Ronaldo took to Facebook to open up about his very recent move to Manchester United. He opened his statement by saying that everyone who knows him knows about his never ending love for the team. He said ‘The years I spent in this club were absolutely amazing and the path we’ve made together is written in gold letters in the history of this great and amazing institution.’

He unveiled how he cannot explain his feelings as he sees his return to Old Trafford announced worldwide. He spoke of how, despite playing multiple times against Manchester United, he still felt love and respect from the supporters in the stands. He described this as ‘100% of what dreams are made of.’ He said that his first domestic league, first cup, Champions League, Golden Boot, and Ballon d’Or were born from this connection to Red Devils.

‘I’m back where I belong! Let’s make it happen once again!’ concludes Ronaldo, dedicating it to former manager Alex Ferguson.

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Large metal platform in Valletta Merchants Street called an obscenity

Massive outrage as large metal platform takes over Valletta Merchants Street

Aug 31 2021

A huge metal structure destined to hold chairs, tables, umbrellas and street furniture was set up in Merchants Street to the anger of both people and local councillors. Positioned in front of the luxury Rosselli hotel, the structure was allegedly approved by its owners AX Holdings Ltd. Councillor Christian Micallef stated that he will not accept this ‘obscenity’, saying there is a limit for everything and this surpasses that boundary.

Micallef revealed he spoke to mayor Alfred Zammit and together, they will be fighting against this ‘abuse towards the residents and locality of Valletta.’ He added that such a moment is when political parties show that the resident takes precedence over everything.

Councillor Mark Spiteri Lucas also issued a social media statement, asking ‘Quo Vadis?’, describing the structure as an obscenity as well. Ray Azzopardi, deputy mayor, also showed the same disdain for the structure, stating that action will be taken in the coming days.

AX Group, however, told newsroom Times of Malta, that all stakeholders were discussed with, assuring that the structure will ‘complement Valletta and Malta’s strategy of upgrading the tourism product’. Former Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier stated that the permit had been fast-tracked with ‘record-time’ in which the Planning Authority granted it.

The Malta Tourism Authority said it did not issue any permits for structures (tables and chairs), suggesting to forward questions to the Planning Authority. Keith Sciberras, head of the university’s art and and art history department, said that the structure ‘ignores many aspects of town life, urban semiotics, and heritage.’ He warned that the ‘unabashed commercialisation of Valletta is now almost complete.’

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Photo Source: Il-Kunsillier Mark Spiteri Lucas FB