from
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090811/local/concerns-on-heritage-status-of-valletta

So?

He’s such a sad case.

Shouldn’t he mellow a bit his attitude especiall after the €88,000 he got for “Reporter”! One wonders, is he trying to be the complete opposite of a “sycophant”?

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090628/local/mediatodays-10-minute-tv-programme-receives-euro-88k-in-one-year-from-public-fund

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/06/28/sbalzan.html

Allow me some space on your blog to share my views on the proposed project by Mr. Piano. I definitely don’t know better than Mr. Piano in this field, but certainly, I have my thoughts as well, and would like to share them with you and with your readers

1. Mr. Piano is a crazy man, but a genius. How can anyone be asked to build a door and succeed by actually dismantling one? How can anyone build a site by actually keeping it as it is? I do not have an answer to these questions, yet Mr. Piano managed to do just this and with great results as well.

2. It’s a shame that the entrance to the capital city is getting the revamp it needs but than the (pre)-entrance is still going to remain in a shameful state (i.e.) the bus terminus.

3. I can’t understand how anyone can fit 1200 pax in the theatre site. Can someone enlighten me and do the math for me?

4. Can’t the project incorporate at least a face lift of the City Gate shopping and residential complex, so that the latter would complement the new proposed project?

5. I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that the armoury at the presidential palace, would go back to its original place within the same palace, and regain its glory. But then again there is no need of yet another museum at the very entrance of the capital. A public library would definitely be better and involve more people on a daily basis, making this a living project.

Is it not healthy to start a glorious summer day with a joke?

Perhaps she has finally realised that when it comes to architecture and architectural history her knowledge of the subject is somewhat lacking and that people who don’t have the first clue of what the hell they’re talking about should have the good grace to shut up.

I seem to recall one of Astrid’s earlier campaigns regarding a 19th century house in Ghar il-Lembi Street in Sliema, which she insisted was a ‘baroque’ building.

[Daphne – I remember something even more hilarious. When it was pointed out to her that there were no houses in the area before the mid-19th century because anyone who lived there would have been exposed completely to piratical raids, she produced a copy of an 18th century map to prove that yes, there was a street with houses in Sliema before that. The map was of Fort Tigne. She had got into the most terrible battle with Conrad Thake, the architect, about that ‘baroque house’, but demonstrating the same deluded and astonishing self-confidence that she has shown throughout her lobbying campaign, she insisted that she knew better than he does.]

Daphne mentioned “understanding of the link between power and responsibility”. Do indigenous Maltese politicians and “parapoliticians”, regardless of party belief, understand the link between power and responsibility?

With respect to tolerance, Daphne, the Dalai Lama is reported to have said that “in the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.” Hence, if John II were your enemy (he is probably a most ferocious antagonist), show grandeur “in the practice of tolerance” by allowing John II to “teach” you further.

[Daphne – You must be joking, Leo.]

What makes you think that Daphne is one of only a few who are against Astrid’s manipulative m.o.? Do you think that by gathering a few hundred signatures, if that, she commands much attention?

The only attention she gets is because she is so irritating, one sided and constantly out of her depth. Her position regarding the Valletta project is simple – either she likes it or she doesn’t. Either way she should have the guts to state her position especially since she expressed her doubts/opinion/reservations long before the unveiling of the plans.

If she likes what she saw at the unveiling on Saturday and later on at the exhibition, then she should be woman enough and get it over with.

If she does not like what Renzo Piano designed she should tell us what she does not like – but I suspect that she simply does not want to risk having people in the know make a fool of her.