Airtime on Bondiplus

James A. Tyrrell

Mar 21st 2010, 22:45

@V Vella. Either you cannot read or you are deliberately trying to twist my words. When I used the words "As for Ms Vella 'publicly claiming'", I was doing so by way of a rebuttal of the words used by Lou Bondi, which hopefully someone may be able to read for you below. Lou Bondi stated, "Astrid Vella publicly claimed, etc etc."

The use of the ebay term was a slip on my part as I was thinking about something else at the time. Sorry if it confused you!

You claim that Lou Bondi was not eavesdropping and that replying to a comment addressed to you is normal. You appear to have forgotten however that the comment was not addressed to him and that he butted into the conversation so to speak. As I said earlier you need to be a pretty sad individual to go sniffing around social networking sites in this way.

VVella

Mar 21st 2010, 00:36

@James Tyrell: Mrs Vella's comment appears here. She quoted it herself after receiving Mr Zammit Tabona's permission to do so.
You implied wall conversations are private when you said "As for Ms Vella 'publicly claiming' these so called facts of yours, she actually made a reply to you on a facebook page. The only person bringing it into the public domain Lou is you."
Noone mentioned eBay and I don't see the relevance of an auction site to the conversation here.
Mr Bondi is not my 'buddy' any more than Mrs Vella is yours.
You are not eavesdropping when you respond to a comment addressed that is addressed to you.
If you overhear something said about you, responding is normal, not 'sad'.
If it is said in public, then a public response is appropriate. The choice of medium is a secondary issue.

James A. Tyrrell

Mar 20th 2010, 20:26

@V Vella. Her original comment did not begin "Actually, Lou, I was about to write a letter ....", that was in fact a comment she made after Lou stuck his oar in. As for your claim that I said wall conversations, whatever they are, are private, I would love you to point to exactly where I said that.

I never in fact stated that any conversations on ebay were 'private'. What I said was that your little buddy Lou was basically eavesdropping on a conversation between two people. A bit like listening in to a conversation taking place at the next table in a restaurant. Or in other words extremely sad.

V Vella

Mar 20th 2010, 20:04

@James Tyrell. It appears Mr Bondi wasn't 'snooping'. Mrs Vella (she's Mrs, not Ms) herself says that her comment began as follows "Actually, Lou, I was about to write a letter ...." I wasn't suggesting that you should use Facebook. I was pointing out that wall conversations are not private, as you claimed.

James A. Tyrrell

Mar 19th 2010, 23:10

@V Vella. Very interesting information regarding the ins and outs of facebook, for anyone who may be interested. I however wouldn't touch facebook with a bargepole as I think life is too short to be wasted on these sorts of stupid sites. I was simply pointing out to c. camilleri it was not Ms vella who was 'popping her nose in' as he put it but Lou Bondi. I think it takes a very sad type of individual to go snooping around social networking sites reading other peoples messages.

V Vella

Mar 19th 2010, 21:51

@James Tyrell. Facebook users have the option of private conversations. That is why the private messaging system exists. Facebook conversations that do not use that system are public by definition, even when access is restricted to friends. Anything said in a public place is public information, in the same way that the junk mail deposited in your letter box is public information, even though circulation may be restricted to, say, social group DE3. Anything said publicly may be quoted publicly. No permission is necessary. In particular, it is never necessary to obtain anyone's permission to restate something you have said yourself. Lastly, it is not against Facebook's terms to quote anything said on its site. Data collection – on user activity, for example - is another matter altogether.

v zammit

Mar 19th 2010, 19:04

But Joseph Calleja, and I believe he realises this, may not need to sing in the new theatre or he may. Who knows? As much as he feels good singing at the Fosos or in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace or on the stairs of San Anton Gardens, you name it. There are times and places. As has been said, rightly or wrongly, elsewhere in these columns (13.3.2010) this theatre will not be (if it is to be) the mother of all theatres. The problem is not the 'theatre' but the way we perceive it.

James A. Tyrrell

Mar 19th 2010, 17:44

@c. camilleri. As a famous Irish comedian used to say, 'I love a man with a sense of humour'. Try and get it through your skull that Ms Vella made a comment to a friend on facebook. The person who was popping his nose in as you put it was Lou Bondi. @Rudolph Cassar. Joseph Calleja is a world renowned tenor and as such one would have to assume that he would be able to contribute a great deal to the discussion in hand due to the fact that he knows what he is talking about, something which Lou Bondi certainly doesn't. As for your comment as to whether or not I'm a democrat, yes I certainly am. However I'm surprised you raised the subject because as you know democracy is defined as rule of the people or rule by many and as we have seen in the Times poll 80% of the people are against the Piano plans.

c. camilleri

Mar 19th 2010, 16:30

Astrid just be a gentle lady and admit that you were wrong as always and pls stop popping your nose into matters which you know nothing about .

Kenneth Zammit Tabona

Mar 19th 2010, 16:17

Q: What do you call an ape in a minefield?
A: A BABOOM

Andrew Camilleri

Mar 19th 2010, 16:15

Antoine Vella: take off your blue titnted spewcs and read again what Asrri wwrote on Facebook. There is your reply. She did not make any mistakes. LB twisted the facts and trued to deingrate Astrid. He is just one of the NP bank attacking NGOs, no doubt, for their own political agenda.

laurence schembri

Mar 19th 2010, 15:51

A simple question that nobody have asked. What was Edward Middleton Barry Opera House before the bombing?
An Operea House with a capacity of 1095 seating and 200 standing, that is all the Opera lovers are asking for, so space in not a question. By the way, who is Lou Bondi?

Rudolph Cassar

Mar 19th 2010, 14:32

Mr Tyrell why should this Joseph Calleja be given more time than me? Aren't we a republic ? There aren't we all equal citizens with one vote each? Why should this foreigner be given more rights than me? Why should this tenor be more equal than others? You're not a democrat, at least so you make me believe.

Astrid Vella

Mar 19th 2010, 14:21

PART 2: so that boils down to my believing someone when they, and others, got the impression that Richard England was going to appear on the programme. Big deal! Is that so newsworthy as to go running to Times with it?

May I remind you Lou, about Facebook's terms and conditions:

Protecting Other People's Rights

We respect other people's rights, and expect you to do the same.

7. If you collect information from users, you will: obtain their consent, make it clear you (and not Facebook) are the one collecting their information, and post a privacy policy explaining what information you collect and how you will use it.

With this letter, Maltese journalism has reached new lows of pettiness. Lou, get off your high horse, stop snooping on others' conversations and get a life.

Astrid Vella

Mar 19th 2010, 14:17

PART 1: Kenneth having authorised my copying a part of our conversation, here is my Facebook reply to Lou Bondi, when he crashed into a conversation between friends:

"Actually, Lou, I was about to write a letter to Times about how refreshing it was to see a balanced programme.

I didn't say that Joseph Calleja's was the shortest clip, simply that someone of his standing should have been given more time.Bernard Plattner was shown more than once I believe, it would simply have been nice to see Joseph more than once at the beginning.

I know that Ken was reluctant and as he can confirm, I urged him to take part. I also never said that Ken spoke less than anyone else, anzi, I stated that he held his own when he was being rushed, which confirms that he had a good share of time. You were in such a hurry to rubbish me, you have misunderstood what I said.

As for Richard England, I apologise but I was told that in the early adverts for the programme, Richard England was mentioned in the line-up. Maybe this was not so."

Peter Abela

Mar 19th 2010, 14:16

It comes to no surprise that ASTRID reacts. But then LOU u should have asked her to come and teach us a few lessons, or maybe how she wants it. To be honest one gets the impression either ASTRID way or NO WAY.

I think that for those that wanted to hear the for and against it was very informative like your other programms. Maybe WE should produce a programme for fanatics.

Keep them coming LOU, as they are:)

j ellul

Mar 19th 2010, 13:48

KZT is at it again. In his typical mode, he insults everyone who has an opinion different from his own and describes them as monkeys.

This is the same person who considers himself as the personification of Malta’s intelligentsia and who likens Malta to a totalitarian state.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100310/letters/if-the-walls-retract-why-not-the-roof-2

J Martinelli

Mar 19th 2010, 13:34

@ Alan Vella

The three questions you attributed to Lou are indeed important questions to be asked. Give one reason, why not. You claim that Lou was biased! Tell me that all those opposed to the present proposals, are not!
The questions you deem fit to be asked can be answered as follows:
In 2010 we don't have a 'proper national theatre' is because in 70 years nobody pined for one.
Classical concerts are unpopular in Malta probably because of changing tastes in music.
Yes, it is the combination of the two above - like everyplace else in the world.
The present Parliament robs the space in the President's Palace and lacks proper facilities.
In order to build a sustainable theatre on Freedom Square, one would have to change its orientation thus destroying the symmetry of Republic Street.
"Small countries" are larger in size and population. Small countries which have a 'national theatre' do not have other similar theatres competing with the national theatre within a few city block's distance as Valletta does (MCC & Manoel) and which, very rarely are fully subscribed. One does not build a 'national theatre' and hope that sometime later it becomes sustainable!

James A. Tyrrell

Mar 19th 2010, 12:38

@Lou Bondi.

Ms Vella simply stated and quite correctly that a person of Joseph Calleja's standing should have been given more time. It wasn't a case of balancing one against the other, but why let the truth get your way Lou.

Ms Vella also stated that Kenneth Zammit Tabona 'held his own' in spite of you trying to rush him. Anyone watching the program can verify this so once again you are twisting the facts to suit your own little agenda. The only reason Mr Tabona appeared on your show was because he was urged to take part by Ms Vella.

As for Ms Vella 'publicly claiming' these so called facts of yours, she actually made a reply to you on a facebook page. The only person bringing it into the public domain Lou is you. If only you were half the person Ms Vella is!

m borg

Mar 19th 2010, 12:30

@ Franco Farrugia

It is not about denigrating Astrid Vella as you suggest. It is about showing things how they really are – Astrid does not think before she speaks.

Where she does try to think things through, she still has a knack for messing things up because she relies on advice from people who should know better.

Alan Vella

Mar 19th 2010, 12:24

Part 2

The questions you SHOULD have asked:

a) In 2010, why doesn't Malta have a propert national theatre?
b) Why are classical concerts unpopular in Malta?
c) Could (b) be a consequence of (a)?
d) Why are we spending money on a new parliament when we don't have a proper national theatre?
e) Why does the government want to place the parliament in Freedom Square when a theatre be more appropriate?
f) How can we have a multip-purpose national theatre that is also financially sustainable? How do other countries (even very small ones like ours) pull it off?

These are the questions that you should have tackled. But you didn’t because you are biased in favour of the present government and you are not sufficiently qualified or informed to hold a decent debate about such a topic.

Why were you so surprised when John Calleja, who is all for a proper theatre, said that he would still sing in Piano's open air square? Do you expect him to boycott Malta because the government doesn’t want to invest in art? Again, your attempt at trying to corner John Calleja like that only shows how biased your are.

Alan Vella

Mar 19th 2010, 12:22

Part 1

Lou, from your show it was obvious that have an agenda of your own. This was evident from the questions you asked. Example, you asked:

a) Why do we need a multi-purpose theatre at all?
b) Why are we funding opera and classical music if sectors of the population do not enjoy it?
c) Why should we hold classical concerts and operas if they don’t turn a profit?

Such questions show that you are biased and that you know NOTHING about the importance of culture and art for a healthy society. If you knew your stuff you wouldn’t ask such questions. It is not just a matter of taste.

Kenneth Zammit Tabona

Mar 19th 2010, 12:15

@ Peter Vella
In fact the remark was passed 'as if having tea with friends': at least that's what I thought till this morning!!!!! Now I am feeling like a chimpanzee in the London Zoo with all manner of strangers gawping at me while i sip my Earl Grey , casting my eyes to heaven in resignation as the monkeys around me do their thing.....................

Joseph Cauchi

Mar 19th 2010, 12:08

.
Astrid, why do you keep fighting a losing battle?

It’s just not worth it!

JC.

Jovan Mizzi

Mar 19th 2010, 11:37

We need not attack each other when what we all want is a masterpiece.

“The fact is that, other things being equal, .... there is no greater vanity than to value things for what they are called rather than for what they are. However every age produces the kind of man who pays more attention to appearances than to facts.” Giorgo Vasari writing about Michelangelo Buonarroti’s unappreciated early work.

Indisputably Renzo Piano is a great architect but his Valletta project should be considered as doodling work-in-progress in a very correct direction. It should be re-thought/developed taking into consideration the various comments, many of which are very valid. Renzo Piano appreciates that too many are discontented with the present effort.

Adding a roof is certainly no solution. Renzo Piano should listen to his heart and deliver to us his masterpiece. Aim no lower than Caravaggio’s signed, but humble, ‘beheading of Saint John the Baptist’.

Franco Farrugia

Mar 19th 2010, 11:20

@ KZT: That is what I was thinking, Kenneth ... a simple remark on Facebook - even though admittedly, a remark that is made in open forum, among 'friends', becomes public domain - that just because Astrid Vella commented to you about the programme, LB thought it fit to lambast her publicly. I, somehow, don't think that Astrid's claim was very public, do you? But as I said before, some try to think up ways how to shoot down the messenger.

v zammit

Mar 19th 2010, 11:17

Merits of this Ides of March programme (what an omen) apart, though it does impinge on them, in every interview, every interviewer has his stamp and style. Good luck to him. Interviewees, too, have their stamp and style provided both interviewer and interviewee synchronise and leave space to each other. It is not seldom that an interviewer talks more than the interviewee and that is, mildly, not good. It taxes the patience of listeners and televiewers. Tongues start wagging about spins, hidden agendas, and what not. Even in a court of law, where talk abounds, questions are short, to the point and incisive and one is cut short by the presiding judge for irrelevancies. Witnesses, if they be relevant, are given good time. As it should be to explain, make clear…the scope for questions and answers. Comparisons are odious, but there is something to learn from one or two interviewers locally and from others abroad.

Karl Consiglio

Mar 19th 2010, 10:38

Another way to put it is that you gave the other guests even less air time and rushed them even more than you did to Kenneth. and if Joseph Calleja's was the longest clip, thats not bec it was long but because the others were miniscule. Even I thought Richard England would be there, so glad that he was not.

m borg

Mar 19th 2010, 10:25

What's new? About time that people realise that FAA shoot from the hip and that much of what they say is not based on reality but on their imaginings of reality.

Kenneth Zammit Tabona

Mar 19th 2010, 10:24

Is posting a remark on my Facebook page equivalent of publicly stating something? There were loads of remarks; both in favour and against from 'friends'. Mr Bondi and Ms Vella, I thoght had trashed the matter out...............on Facebook at least. Has Ms Vella made the remark that Mr Bondi is referring to anywhere else? I may have missed it but promoting my facebook page as a public forum is a bit much isn't it? I am rather perplexed that was what argued on my Facebook page , as between friends, should now be brought to the attention of all and sundry in this medium. Ms Vella's reply to Mr Bondi on my Facebook page was also perfectly acceptable and , once we're at it, can and should be be reproduced in full. Ms Vella has my full permission to reproduce it.

Peter Vella

Mar 19th 2010, 10:03

Ms Vella must remember that she is not having tea with her friends when she makes such assertions. She is in the public arena and her assertions will be challenged, as indeed they have been. Therefore she must be sure of what she says before she says it. Otherwise the result - she ends up with egg of her face. This does not help at all with the credibility of her causes.

Franco Farrugia

Mar 19th 2010, 08:48

I don't know why there appears to be this orchestrated movement to denigrate and ridicule Astrid Vella - a hard-working NGO founder and active member. From various quarters - and all these quarters have one common denominator!! - there are these attacks on Astrid Vella. One wonders.

V Azzopardi

Mar 19th 2010, 08:43

Ms Vella you are losing all your credibility.