Computer drop-in centre for disabled set up
It’s very easy to take the availability of IT for granted. It’s often hard to imagine that there are people who have never used a computer, or indeed seen or had the ability to access the internet.
Leonard Cheshire Disability Centre is now able to offer disabled and older people in their community the access to IT facilities many people take for granted.
BCS Members worked with Keith Fitton, Service Manager of Leonard Cheshire, to ensure that the critical items were secured for the drop-in centre. BCS Members Nick Smith from Phoenix IT, John Cannell from RBS, Tracy Kinrade from Central Software and Peter Jackson from Open Systems Management worked together to plan, source and install all the IT requirements needed for four disabled users at the centre.
The idea of the computer drop-in centre was to meet three requirements:
- Provide a facility where disabled people can simply come along for an element of social activity while they surf the internet or check their email and perhaps do their shopping online.
- Offer an opportunity to develop completely new skills for people who have not used computers before.
- Enable the process of supporting disabled people along the path either to further education or employment.
Other local Manx companies have supported the scheme to enable the project team to get the centre up and running. These include Cains Advocates, which purchased flexible computer desks that can be adjusted to allow wheel chair users to sit comfortably while working on the computer.
Gary Shilling from Wi-Manx donated a router and provided ADSL internet access, while Timberland flooring transformed the centre by donating a new floor, which is more wheel chair friendly. GamesMaster of Ramsey donated a Wii game station.
Tracy Kinrade from Central Software commented: ‘New technology has great potential to overcome barriers in education, the workplace and social life for disabled and older people.
The project team were all delighted to be involved and excited that this facility will provide its many users with the facilities and access to the world which we all take for granted.’
The centre was opened by the island’s Department of Health and Social Security Chief Executive David Killip, who said: ‘It’s clearly going to be a wonderful facility.’
Recipe: Manx Queenies and Stilton
The Manx Queenie, or Queen Scallop, is one of the delicacies that one can savour on the Isle of Man. And once a year, the Isle of Man Queenie Fesitval is held to celebrate this delicate and savoury morsel that can be prepared in a variety of ways. Here’s one recipe that they have offered us to add to ManxVoice:
Ingredients:
- 454g Manx Queenies
- 100g Stilton
- 250ml Double Cream
- 100ml White Wine
- Salt and Pepper
- Vegetable Oil for Cooking
Method:
- Place a frying pan on a high heat and add small amount of oil.
- Add Manx Queenies to the pan and cook quickly for 2-3mins.
- Place Manx Queenies in a dish , then place pan back on heat and add white wine.
- Reduce wine by half, add cream and bring to the boil.
- Reduce heat and crumble in stilton. Do not re-boil as it will split.
- Return Manx Queenies to the pan allow to heat back through, season to taste.
- Serve in a dish with crusty bread and salad.
That sounds really yummy, and you’re all welcome to try it. And, if you have a Queenie recipe you’re proud of, you can submit it to their Queenie Recipe competition for a chance to £100 worth of seafood.
The Queenie Festival starts on the 29th June this year. We’ll bring you more details closer to the event.
Defamation – What is it?
When I was studying this subject my law professor was not enthused about this subject. This was largely due to the fact that he considered it to be about rich people pursuing other rich people and clogging up the courts. In some respects he is right; many of the cases that we see have little relevance for the everyday person in ordinary life. For example do you remember Jason Donovan where it was claimed that he was homosexual (wrongly) or perhaps Berkoff v Burchill where the actor sued against claims that he was ugly.
There are three elements to defamation: the statement must be defamatory about claimant, it must be published and the statement must be calculated to injure the reputation of another by exposing them to hatred content or radical. In the celebrity age where reputations can increase or decrease earnings considerably the law does provide protection.
- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
One of the most interesting cases of late is the Max Mosley v News Group Newspapers; where it was alleged that five women role-played in Nazi uniform and mocked the suffering of the Jews in the Nazi war camp. Did the press have the right to expose this sort of behaviour of public life professionals? Max Mosley sued the newspapers under article 8 (privacy of family) of the Human Rights Act 1998. He claimed that it was an invasion of his privacy to family life. The Human Rights Act provides individuals with a whole host of basic human rights. The judge agreed with Mosley and held that the papers had been in breach of his human rights. In the aftermath of this decision and other ones to. For example the photographing of Naomi Campbell leaving a drug rehabilitation clinic, where it was ruled that the press do not have the right to publish such personal confidential information. The press in the UK has been claiming that this is unfair. Why?
Whether one morally agrees with the alleged acts, it does raise some rather interesting questions one may hope by such rulings that the press is now forced to report news that is more relevant to society; instead of the current doorstepping of empty and vacuous media personalities. One may hope that they will concentrate on exposing corruption within different levels of society. Would it be too much to ask that instead of devoting large proportions of newspapers space to such easy targets like A B and C Celebrities. They Instead of go after harder targets, and questionable policies an decisions. For example the current economic crisis did not happen overnight. I’m sure that more questions should have been asked at the level of lending in relation to unsecured loans. If it had we might not be facing the current crisis. What one does in private should not be the concern of the general public. What happens in public bodies is very much our concern. Whistleblowers are protected as our number of other individuals including MPs from liable for defamation in the Houses of Parliament. If we are not asking the questions then nobody is thinking.
The Comedy Club – Thursday 28th May
Whoop, cheer and put your hands together for another hilarious night of comedy with The Comedy Club at Villa Marina & Gaiety Theatre on Thursday 28th May. So sit back and enjoy 3 top comedians as seen on TV and get stuck in with the unique Comedy Club Joke Competition on the night. With FREE membership at www.hahaheehee.com, there has never been a better time to enjoy the comedy club: receive club discounts, win free tickets and get all the comedy gossip free each month.
MC – Danny Buckler
A truly “magic” comedian, Danny Buckler is fast establishing himself as one of the most popular performers on the circuit, be it as a stand-up, improvisational actor, magician or all-round performer. Having worked both nationally and in an acclaimed sell-out show in the West End with Victoria Wood and Imelda Staunton, on television, he has appeared alongside the Dead Ringers, on Dinner Ladies and as a frontline presenter of The Secret of Magic.
In 2003 Danny made his Edinburgh Festival debut at the prestigious Edinburgh Assembly Rooms in an extremely successful double-hander with fellow magician, Mandy Muden. 2004 and 2005 have seen Danny fronting the BBC 1 prime-time Saturday night specials, ‘Secrets of Magic’, alongside John Lenehan, and Etienne Pradier.
Act 1 – Victor Daniels
Victor started his stand-up career in 1999 and hasn’t looked back since, becoming a regular in the circuit’s top venues such as The Comedy Store, Jongleurs, Comedy Café, Comedy Club,Up The Creek and the Hackney Empire.
His comedy has seen him perform in New York and reach the finals of some of the UK’s best known comedy competitions. He has also featured as a writer on the BBC’s Gina Yashere Show and the Angie Le Mars sketch show ‘Big Sister’.
He is the creator, writer and director of the highly successful Hackney Empire The United Colours of Comedy, which is now being developed by the BBC New Comedy Unit.
He is also a regular at the live ‘BBC Comedy Presents’ shows in the Soho Revue Bar.
Headline – Mark Maier
Mark Maier has been in the comedy game so long and is so good at it he’s even been running courses in the art since 1994. Having taught improvisational comedy in London and founded the group MadLib, he is a regular of the world renowned Comedy Store Players, alongside the likes of Josie Lawrence, Jim Sweeney and Paul Merton. A multi-talented, mercurial comedian, he retains an edge that still makes him one of the most must-see acts on the circuit. A familiar face on TV and radio, he has written and appeared for such diverse shows as Dating The Enemy, Edinburgh Nights, Rory Bremner, Quando Quando Quando and The Sunday Service.