BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 04:59 AM

Who,is,this,Kevin,you,all,talk,about?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: The Shambles
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 06:11 AM

If you are willing to listen to him rattle out the same old story for the last time - you can on this site. [Although they seem to have a few problems at the moment].

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/pine/

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 08:44 AM

I gather the man actually was shifted in the gvernment reshuffle. Now he's become transport minister. God help us if we want to get anywhere.

I'm not sure who takes over his job as Minister against Culture. It might actually be quite signiftcant, because there is still a hope that the Lords will dig in their heels on this and insist on the significant and sensible amendments, in which case the Givernment has to start the whole process all over again next year, or accept the improvements to Kim Howells' botched effort.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 02:12 PM

While up in North Wales they'd be saying that in Welsh; and it'd be as easy to make sense of what it meant...

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 02:14 PM

That last was a belated response to Gareth's earlier post - "In the pensiones and pavement Cafe's of the Rhondda the sole subject of conversation is the texture and deconstructionalism of Welsh artistry, and the subjective analysis of the merits of which artistic medium to use."

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: Gareth
Date: 17 Jun 03 - 04:21 PM

It's ok Kevin - Here in South Wales people know what is meant.

Translation = There are more important things in Welsh life than worrying about pseudo intellectuals debating modern art.

Actually I have some sympathy with Goering on that subject, philistine that I am.

And Kevin, you should know by now the difference between a North Wales and a South Wales pub is that in South Wales the conversation switches from Swelsh to English when a stranger walks in. In North Wales, the conversation switches from English to Welsh.

Sorry, my tintinetus (SP) 'as been giving me hell this past week, so perhaps a am a little sharp at the moment.

Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 08:08 AM

dont fall for the "divide and conquer".
It is very difficult to work out what end he is making the noises come out.
We are agreed.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 08:45 AM

More sweeping generalisations about N Wales, Gareth? I'm dissapointed in you.

If you were to work your way along the pubs on the coast from say Conwy to Prestatyn, you would find a distinct lack of Welsh speakers. You would be more likely to encounter Scouse and Manchester accents in some pubs than hear the Welsh language spoken. Other parts may be different.

The only time I was really worried was the first time I went looking for a music pub in Bangor. I heard that the music was in the "Vaults" and went to the "Menai Vaults" in upper Bangor which, as I found out, at the time was very much a Welsh language pub. The pub went silent when I asked in English where the music was. There was no hassle though, the landlord answered me in English and told me how to get to the pub I was looking for, the "Old Vaults" on the High Street.

I had one other "Welsh incident" in Bangor when I went down with a friend one afternoon to play some music for a bit of fun (just sort of busking in the pub) in the fairly newly opened "O'Seas". A gang of women came in protesting about an Irish bar and Irish music when there was no Welsh music on the High Street. I just struck up a Welsh tune on the banjo and within seconds, they were singing! It seemed like their only real concern was Welsh culture getting ignored/forgotten and they were quite delighted to learn that even "Saes bastards" like myself did enjoy and learn some Welsh music.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: Gareth
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 09:41 AM

Ah Guest - So you have encountered it !!!


Gareth

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 10:59 AM

Well Gareth, I'm certain the people in the "Welsh pub" were speaking Welsh before I entered and interrupted things by speaking English and I was answered in English.

I'd guess that in 28 years of living in N Wales, it is perhaps not surprising that I have encountered the odd isolated incident. In the same period, I've run into a loud obnoxious American tourist, a very arrogant German, a scouser who was a thief, etc. I'm just glad I don't "buy" sterotypes and am able to treat such encounters as exceptions rather than the rule.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 12:17 PM

If Kim Howells is an arsehole, then ipso facto all his talk is really fart. Does public farting require a PEL (Pongy Emissions Licence)?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Jun 03 - 04:10 PM

If I'm in a foreign country I am perfectly happy to hear people speaking in a foreign language, and don't see that as some kind of threat.

One mildly irriating thing I found on a trip to the Netherlands was that everyone seemed to insist on speaking English any time I was presetn. How do English foreigners ever learn to speak Dutch?

Do other nationalities react this way to people speaking minority languages, or is it just the English? For example, do the French get all hot and bothered if people speak Breton?

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: The Shambles
Date: 20 Jun 03 - 05:51 PM

http://www.thestage.co.uk/paper/0325/0101.shtml

The Stage
Howells – 'We got it wrong'
by Sally Bramley

Days before being promoted in the government reshuffle, former culture minister Kim Howells has admitted the government "got it wrong" over aspects of the proposed licensing bill and acknowledged the legislation would have to change if reform does not produce an increase in the number of live music venues.

In an exclusive interview, Howells told The Stage that the MU had conducted a "good campaign from their point of view". He said: "But they were wrong. It seemed to them doing away with the 'two in a bar' rule was okay but they thought that maybe they could get more."

However, he acknowledged the government had been wrong not to take account earlier of the effects of licensing reform on thousands of amateur venues and added that the professional sector must benefit from law change with an expansion in the number of performance outlets.

"If we don't see a proliferation of music venues as a result of this bill then we must change the law," stated Howells.

As parliamentary under-secretary of state with responsibility for tourism, film and broadcasting, Howells hit the headlines with his frequent outspoken comments. But, as a vociferous advocate for reform of the existing law he made enemies when he dubbed the MU's campaign against the bill "pernicious and lying".

Musicians' Union general secretary John Smith said of Howells' departure: "I'm not entirely unhappy to see him go but I will miss the war of words. He certainly raised the profile of the bill but he wasn't the easiest person to work with."

The smug arrogance of people who treat other people' business, passions and lives like it was just a game, when it suits their new political ambitions and becomes time to change their image, leaves a bad taste. Especially when it is not too late to work to correct the many things this Government have got wrong. Possibly Dr Howells did not expect the Bill to be defeated again in the Lords?

To even talk about the possibilty of introducing new legislation at this stage - when it has taken so long to even get to this stage and when amateur musicians were trying to inform them of these problems all through this long period, is callous and totally unforgivable.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: richd
Date: 06 Jul 07 - 06:24 PM

Yes. Absolutely. And he's from Rhigos.

Subject: RE: BS: Is Kim Howells an arsehole?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 03:20 PM

Interesting that Feargal Sharkey was on television last week saying that the whole P E L thing wants looking at and seriously adjusting !