Top artists help autism charity

A Cornwall charity has persuaded a host of eminent artists to help realise an ambitious expansion plan.

Spectrum, which runs a school and 23 care homes for autistic youngsters, wants to create an adult education centre in Truro.

News spread by word of mouth after Spectrum launched a local appeal for artists' work.

Damien Hirst drew a doodle of a shark on an old catalogue while Norman Foster contributed architectural plans.

There is also an original painting by Stella Vine and a specially commissioned piece of the Queen by Chris Levine which will be auctioned in Newquay on 3 November.

Actors David Arquette, Courteney Cox and Cher made their own donations after learning about the auction from Matthew Stokes, an LA-based architect and interior designer.

Spectrum, which began as a residential care service for 10 young adults at St Erme near Truro in 1982, now looks after 100 people from around the UK in homes in Cornwall.

Tyler Collins, of Spectrum, said: "We have a model here which is successfully re-integrating into education and the community.

"However, there is a lack of further education resources.

"We are hoping to establish a very similar model here, but for adult education where individuals from Spectrum and around Cornwall can access a vocational and life-long learning centre."

Malawi’s football-shaped home

A Dutch architect took the BBC's Aubrey Sumbuleta on a tour of his football-shaped house where he lives in Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre, with his Malawian wife.

Until about five years ago, Jan Sonkie was just an ordinary Dutch national operating in Malawi but now, everybody talks about him.

He has constructed a unique house in the shape of a football.

Standing on a three-metre high brick wall, Sonkie's house has become a tourist attraction, as many do not believe that human beings stay in the house.

Drinking den?

"Many people thought this was a drinking den and that we were sleeping in the normal houses on the other side of the fence," says Thokozani Sonkie, Jan's Malawian wife.

She says a lot of people including women normally come around to take a look at the house.

"They want to take a look at my kitchen and bedroom because they don't believe a house of this shape can have these things inside," she says adding, "after taking a look, those with cameras take pictures of the house."

Something different

Why construct a football house?

Jan Sonkie an architect by profession says he wanted to do something different from the rest of the buildings in Malawi.

"After having a good think, I settled for a football-shaped house because of the plot that I was allocated," he says.

Sonkie says the four-storey house that has at least a room on each floor is warm during winter and cold during summer because of its building specifications.

"The outside is all metal and the inside all wooden hence the self control of the weather."

Crazy

What do people say about his idea?

Sonkie says that a lot of people could not believe him when he hatched plans to construct the football house.

"Maybe I am crazy but I have a passion for football, although my busy construction schedule does not allow me sometimes to follow the game."

Sonkie says he decided to build his unique house in Malawi because he just likes Africa and would like to stay on the continent forever.

The Sonkies stay alone in the house. They don't have children and so the rest of the rooms are left for visitors.

If you'd like to comment on this story please use the form below.

Your comments:

I now know why the Dutch have not won the World Cup. This is not like the sort of footballs you see in Russia. It is like a cardboard box with square edges. I don't think it would bounce and it might hurt one's foot if kicked.
Dmitri Gregori Hunslavski, Gavrilov Yam, Russian Federation

When I first saw it, I thought Sonke was just wasting his resources but now I believe that there is potential in this man. We are not behind in Africa. Keep it up.
Yohoney Mkolongo, Zomba, Malawi

Brilliant and instructive. It shows a man making full and good use of the little land he has to re-create his dream of a house, without having to rue or curse his luck, and points the way forward for African professionals
Olawale Lawanson Alabi, Abuja , Nigeria

Good job on the house, but could have done a bit better on the football shape. Looks a bit more like that thing Sean Connery powered through the water to get to the oil rig in Diamonds Are Forever.
Philip Heller, Glenside PA, US

Now this is what money and a dream can do. And, oh yes, the aspect of standing out in the crowd and being counted
Sonnile Phiri, Lusaka, Zambia

Great building! Now why didn't the Scottish Parliament hire him to design their building?
Neil Small, Scotland, UK

This time something good is coming out of Africa, as news for the BBC.
Wakwinji, South Africa

I hope a giant footballer won't emerge from nowhere and kick the house, mistaking it for a ball!
Christian Atam, Maroua, Cameroon

I am a journalist from Indonesia and I am also a big fan of football, so reading the article about your house makes me envious. Someday, hopefully, I can also make a house like yours. Good luck, and never let football die!
Ruri Hargiyono, Batam, Indonesia

As a Malawian I am proud of you, the Sonkies, because you are attracting tourists and contributing to the development of our country. We want you to do even more than that, carry on!
Victor Kwenda, Dallas, USA/Malawi

2 words … 'uber creative'
Faith Kachoka, London, UK

I feel sorry for the Sonke family for being allocated a very small plot. However, I cherish their brilliant idea and innovations. Even the authorities could not believe that the family could come up with something that is a tourist attraction centre admired by the whole world!
Baza Dimba, Lilongwe, Malawi

The house works! We had the privilege of dinner with Jan and Thoko in Feb 06 and it was a great space to sit and chat. Some of his other work can be seen at Blantyre Mission CCAP and the renovations at Likhubula House on Mt Mulanje.
Bobby Anderson, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

I am very happy that you have depicted something positive about our country, Malawi, the warm heart of Africa. I feel very bad when all I hear about Malawi is dark and very negative. By searching the country profile of Malawi as depicted by your website one would not think of getting anything interesting once he comes to Malawi which is not the case. Malawi is not all negative. We are a peaceful and positive nation.
Hastings Chiwasa, Lilongwe, Malawi

I envy the Sonkies house for sure. Every time I pass by the house I still keep puzzling about it. I wish never knew it is open to view. I guess one of these days I will request to take a look inside. I hope Jan will invent more of these architectural wonders and that more Malawian architects will follow this exciting path of creative in Malawi.
Steven Bernard Perete, Blantyre

In the last few decades since most African states attained their independence, there has been a lot of aping of the western culture in the name of civilization. This has resulted in the loss of the rich culture, which the young Africans now have to learn just like foreigners. Yes the African architecture is dying but not to extinction for the young people are now realizing its uniqueness thus embracing it.
Kibiru, Nairobi, Kenya

This is about a man living his dream and I think it's wonderful. It's about freedom of creativity and I applaud the authorities in Blantyre for allowing Jan to build such a beautiful and creative home. He certainly would have had difficulties in attaining permission from urban planners in Holland.
James Ololo, Brussels, Belgium

Hexsect each panel and you have a very typical geodesic dome for a house. It's nice, I like all the windows on the middle floors, wish there were a few more on the bottom and very top – even if it was just for strip lighting. But it doesn't seem to be all that special. There really are a lot of other more unique homes, some of them looking very plain and rigid yet being even more environmentally couture.
John Digguns, Portland, OR, USA

It's one of the wonderful pictures ever seen, if I can ask Mr & Mrs. Sonkie, can they build for their children a football shoe house just beside that house?
Dadisho Khnasho Sourisho

Sonkie, that is a brilliant idea to show that Africa is developing. Keep it up
John Sewule Toure, Freetown, Sierra Leone

I've seen houses made from farm silos, barns, breweries and buses. Not so odd really. This one reminds me of a geodesic dome. I love the "old" looking European architecture with steeper roofs, dormer windows and the like, with the hi-tech elements hidden. Fortunately this style is making a comeback in the U.S.
Jeremy Mason, Atlanta, USA

That's just fab!
Lape, New York City

Congratulations to the Sonkies. How could I get the plan and get to build the same house here in Zambia? How much could it cost me? Kind regards, Ed Bwalya
Ed Bwalya, Lusaka, Zambia

There are a couple of houses built years ago in Toronto, just off the Richmond Street exit from the DVP that are basically the same thing. They look like big squares on a pedestal (something to do with property size and useable space).
Anonymous, Toronto, Canada

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Online education ‘increases inequality’

Education

Online education 'increases inequality'

Computers in schools can be "engines of inequality", say researchers

Computers in education can deepen the divide between rich and poor, claim researchers in the United States.

The use of online technologies in schools and colleges has expanded rapidly in the past decade, but it can put children from deprived backgrounds at a greater disadvantage, report researchers from The College Board, the non-profit group that oversees national school tests.

The Virtual University and Educational Opportunity, a research paper written by Lawrence Gladieux and Watson Scott Swail, concludes that new technology can create a "digital divide" between "white and minorities, the wealthy and less advantaged".

The researchers say that pupils from less wealthy backgrounds can be disadvantaged both at home and in school by an over-emphasis on using technologies such as the Internet.

Poorer children are less likely to have access to computers at home and when offered the chance to use online resources at school are less able to make use of them than pupils who have the experience of using the Internet at home.

"Advantage magnifies advantage," say the researchers. "Those who use computers on a regular basis are more apt to use them routinely in problem solving and critical thinking."

"While education is the great equaliser, technology appears to be a new engine of inequality."

The researchers have called upon the government to intervene to ensure that access to new technologies is more fairly distributed, arguing that unrestricted market forces will lead to the wealthy taking the greatest advantage from the educational potential of computers in education.

According to the researchers, access to the Internet at home follows a pattern similar to access to higher education – with wealthy, white families benefiting most from both.

There is also an over-emphasis on high-profit, fast turnover of new products within the information technology market, say the researchers. Instead they call for a greater development of products available to low-income families.

Without intervention, the research warns that social division within education will continue to grow.

"Those with limited computer experience will be handicapped in their ability to access knowledge and avail themselves of the ever-increasing variety of learning experiences."

Natural resource plan unveiled

Proposals to ensure the protection of Scotland's natural heritage have been unveiled in Edinburgh.

The Biodiversity Strategy is a long term plan aiming to put the country's native resources at the centre of government policy.

It also seeks to encourage the public to take part in conservation.

Biological diversity – biodiversity for short – is the term given to the variety of living things on the planet.

Native species

It covers everything we need to survive, including the very basics of air, water, and soil.

The Scottish Executive wants to put the country's natural resources at the centre of its policies and also at the heart of industrial and local decision making.

The result is a 25-year plan, which if it becomes law, will halt and reverse the loss of native species and habitats, while increasing public awareness about conservation issues.

Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson described it as a strategy for people.

He said it was as much about people's quality of life as it was about other species.

"It makes sense to invest in our natural heritage to preserve and improve our environment," he added.

"Our quality of life can benefit from improved biodiversity.

"Both our psychological and physical well-being can benefit from access to and involvement in our surrounding natural world."

Mr Wilson also highlighted the economic and tourism benefits of a commitment to Scotland's environment.

The paper was published on Tuesday and put out for public consultation shortly.

Have Your Say – Wales Millennium Centre

The Wales Millennium Centre opens to the public on Friday 26 November after over a decade of plans, arguments, new plans and funding wrangles.

The building, nicknamed the "armadillo" by some locals, has cost a total of £106m, and has attempted to represent the country at large by using materials from around Wales in its construction.

It will provide a new home for seven arts companies, including the Welsh National Opera, the Welsh youth organisation Urdd Gobaith Cymraeg, Diversions Dance Company and disabled therapists the Touch Trust.

The building provoked controversy early on after a design for an opera house submitted through an international competition by architect Zaha Hadid was rejected amid accusations of elitism.

The building has been funded by a combination of lottery money via the Millennium Commission, the Arts Council of Wales, the Welsh Development Agency, the Welsh assembly and the private sector, including a £10m donation from South African businessman Donald Gordon.

So is the money worth the result? See below for a selection of your comments. This Have Your Say is now closed. Click to read a second page of your comments

Your comments:

Such iconic symbols, like them or not, enable us to imagine national identities, and from national pride and a sense of ownership (which is up to us as individuals frankly) we can achieve anything and everything for the sake of all Welsh people, wherever they are. We all have to start somewhere. PS never seen an armadillo, or any animal come to that engraved with any letters.
Sara, Cardiff

It really is beautiful at night. The lights through the windows. The words both English and Welsh appear to be floating – stunning. I think its sheer scale and design will bring in many extra visitors to wales, as for the north Walian moaners. It would be a guaranteed flop – if you put it out in the sticks. An ambitious, innovative centre like this needs good rail, air, and road links to be a success. You have to speculate to accumulate and I'm sure the tourist benefits to the country as a whole will be great.
Kate, Swansea, Wales

A horrible piece of parochial Welsh architecture and poor urban planning that aptly represents the exclusive nature of the Welsh elite at the expense of all others. Take away the M4 and you have nothing dreamers!
David Jones, Cardiff

I'm very much in favour of the new centre. It's about time Cardiff became more about culture than drinking culture. I understand all concerns about it being positioned in Cardiff rather than the north, but the simple fact is that the majority of the popultion live in the south – pure economics. As for those whose think it is purely to pander to the elite – you're wrong. I'm not one of the "elite" but I'll be going – if that's what you think just stay at home and read your TV Quick for articles on Eastenders. Places like Paris, Barcelona et al, offer culture and interest, don't you all think it's about time that we do too? Or would you like more pubs and more violence that's associated with it on a Saturday night?
Stephen Jones, Cardiff

Whinge whinge whinge. I cannot believe the attitude of some of the naysayers on here. "The money should have been spent on buses" etc. Well, it hasn't. Deal with it. Cardiff now has a better venue than anything on Broadway NY. A striking architectural vision and another bold attempt to rejuvenate the bay area, which despite the rose-tinted nostalgia of some, was a festering, crime-ridden waste ground.
Gareth, Cardiff, Wales

I am a native of Cardiff, but moved to London when I got married some 20 years ago. I cannot express how proud I am to say I come from the city. The changes over the past 20 years have been phenomenal culminating in the opening of this fantastic building. I wish everyone connected with running it all the best for the future and I hope the people of Cardiff and Wales generally will be proud to have such a centre in the city.
Sue Feltham, Wimbledon, UK

As an opera lover I welcomed the project, but the exterior design is awful and the auditorium is likely to prove too large to fill for all but the most populist performances. Long term I suspect this will either be expensively tax-subsidised or will have to change its core appeal to include business functions etc.
Gerry Barnett, Cardiff

Nice and cheap – however still a waste of money. Wales is a predominantly uncultured place. Any attempt to prove otherwise is a joke. I can guarantee that this building will simply become a convention center for Welsh language extremists – holding Urdd Opera sessions in an attempt to show that, yes, they are cultural superior to us, the English speaking majority – whilst at the same time laughing at our expense. Surely we could have done something more culteral relevant – like give Swansea or Newport a proper conference center so we can hold events – like most other modern towns/cities seem to be able to.
Michael Brown, Swansea

Brilliant looking building and can't wait to attend the five shows we have already bought tickets for, fantastic to be able to watch the WNO for only £10! Little concerned about parking though, who thought it was a good idea to build this massive new building and not add some additional parking to an already tiny amount in the bay?
Kelly, South Wales

Another white elephant. We have a wonderful Sports Arena, St Davids complex,theatres and CIA ,and many more superb locations,all of which experience a struggle to get bums on seats.How in the name of heaven can this be a commercial succes? Yet another drag on our,the tax payers pockets.Last but not least it takes a four to five hour journey to get there,via the worst route in GB, the A470
M.E.Bofty, Moelfre.Ynys Mon

The building is spot on, all of you writing in who 'fear change' should really embrace such an obvious money spinning scheme. Surely this can only do good for the economy and the Arts, Cardiff is a growing Cosmopolitan city and requires venues such as this to take it further and thrive. *hats off*
Dafydd, Cardiff

As I'm next door neighbour to the new Wales Millennium Centre I thought I should say how fantastic it is! I love the design and think it brings a new charecter to the bay! Great job everyone – can't wait to get inside!
Pete Joyce, Cardiff Bay, UK

Looks fantastic from the pictures!!! I live in Cambridge, and I just hope that someday the powers-that-be will be so enlightened to build such wonderful architecture and cultural venues. Cambridge is so poorly served.
Jason Avery, Cambridge, UK

It looks wonderful in the photos. Having lived in Cardiff for many years previously, when asked by people whether the city is worth a visit, I have to say only if its for a match at the stadium. It's good to see that Cardiff now has capital-class arts centre to recommend it too. Just one question why Millennium Centre, couldn't there have been a more original name?
Jane Jones, London

It should be called the south Wales Millennium Centre. It is totally irrelevant to us in north Wales.
Brian Matthews, Wrexham

Great value for money. We need many, many more elitist venues like this to inspire future generations. Elitism is not always a bad thing…
Simon, UK

I was born in the maternity unit a few miles from this thing. I watched it being built from the offices I was working in across the road at the time. It looks like the "cargo shuttlecraft" used by the "system lords" in Stargate-SG1 and I believe what goes on inside will be equally alien to me.
john, newport, south wales

It was built without any of the locals being asked whether they wanted it or not. It will be opening without any additional parking provision and Cardiff Bay is plagued by useless public transport provision. £106m would have been better spent on something Wales needed, rather than something to pander to the elite. It does look like an armadillo or a decapitated tortoise.
Gavin, Cardiff, Wales

A very impressive building, give it a chance and see what various types of work that they put on there then we can all make a realistic judgement. I hope it is a success for everyone's sake.
Lyn Jones, Gilwern

Thanks, I now have a name for what appears to be a gigantic cockroach walking along the bay
Glyn Dando, Porthcawl

Having seen some of the stages of development and now seeing the completed building on TV I can't wait to go there – I think it is a wonderful building and a grand bold venture. There is a real passion for live theatre and music in south Wales and this is a fabulous expression of it. Now how about being upbeat and positive instead of making the first news I have seen about this on my internet newletter a depressing piece about how it might fail! Yes, it is a challenge – but if we never did anything challenging we would (as my Welsh father used to say) still be living in caves.
Clare West, Ross on Wye Herefordshire

When I first moved to Cardiff 15 years ago the docks were a derelict wasteland. The whole city is now unrecognisable from those days. The WMC is true to the real traditions of Wales, not the penny-pinching that we see now. This is the last of Cardiff Bay Development Corporation's great projects and I feel proud that the whole world will soon see what my city and my country can do. Every day I thank the Lord I'm Welsh and from Cardiff!
Richard, Cardiff/Bristol

I cannot believe the negative views of some of the philistines who've expressed their grubby opinions here. These people are supposedly Welsh yet they are the enemies of Wales. Why would they seek to deny Wales a world class facility facility of the arts? Are they content for Wales to continue to be a laughing stock in England and unheard of in the rest of the world? This is our chance to show the world that Wales is an international class country – and it's a golden topped opportunity to demonstrate what communal talent we are capable of. And what is all this whining about the cost? In hundreds of years, the WMC will be standing as a proud icon of Wales in the 21st Century. You people are pathetic – get yourselves an ounce of vision.
Pete Rogers, Swansea, Wales

The writing on the outside of 'the copper slug'; what does it say? At school I was taught that sentences started at the left and finished at the right; or perhaps it is a puzzle in which the public has to find the words and put them in the correct order.
Dave Adams, Barry, south Wales

Lucky Cardiff! I cannot understand why we English cannot join in the celebrations. I have looked in vain for TV coverage. Was it just the Welsh who paid for it?
Barbara Martin, Reading

Why does Wales have to be so pessimistic? Let's embrace this wonderful centre and support it; so long overdue I certainly can't wait to visit. I hope that it will be able to attract the best performers so that we don't have to visit London to do so. This will (should) be great for Wales… in so many ways, put us on the world map for having something special to attract all. If the people living here can't be proud and have confidence rather than negative chatter it will fail.
Ellie, Pembrokeshire

Might last longer than the dome.
David, Henley UK

I think the WMC is absolutely fabulous and all of Wales should be proud. The external is more than impressive and can't wait to visit.
Susan Jones, Cardiff

I think it's fabulous! Looks great and is perfect for a modern capital. Well done to everyone concerned. £106m sounds like a lot but not in this day and age!!
Ursula Arnold, Swansea

A fantastic building and facility that deserves support. However, it's now time to invest in the rest of Wales – Cardiff has had more than its fair share.
Ian, Swansea

Great building, a pity about the no parking. How are we all to get there as I make out there will be about 1,000 cars for every full performance. Like all things in Cardiff, are we are supposed to walk there even the disabled like me?
David Bevan, Cardiff

Architecturally the Millennium Centre (catchy name huh?) is parochial and the opportunity to build a truly world-class building in the bay has passed by. The Guggenheim effect – that put Bilbao, a less lovely city than Cardiff, squarely on the tourist map of Europe, has been denied to the city by lamentable local politicking. Ironically Zaha Hadid had designed such a building.
David, London/Cardiff

It looks spectacular. You really have to be there to experience the magnitude and beauty of it. Cardiff Bay is now one of the most interesting places to visit in the UK and I'm sure when the WMC opens it will do very well.
Matt Wood, Cardiff UK

Yet another world-class venue (albeit a hideous one) for the South! It could not exist without the massive subsidies poured in, yet we in the North just have to put up with it. No doubt it will make a splendid companion piece to that other publicly-funded carbuncle, the new assembly building.
David, Conwy, UK

Fantastic building! We've already bought tickets for a performance in the first few weeks and intend to buy many more. It's about time Wales had a venue which is open to all and a team whose mission is to bring inspiring theatre to Wales. It's much needed and much wanted by lots of people, We'll no longer have to travel to London for great and different theatre!
Jenny Griffiths, Caerphilly, Wales

The money should have been spent on things that would help the population and not on a tourist attraction.
P Crompton, Canada

Until recently I lived in Cardiff and have had to move for work. I was really looking forward to this being open, and the possibility that the BIG shows could come to Cardiff, and to knowing that our own home grown renowned operatic company (WNO) would have a home stage worthy of them, and now I'm going to miss out on a lot of it. Whatever else it may look like, it's beautiful in the way it appears to be different colours in different weather and at different times of the day. It might not be a hospital, or a bus service, but it offers Cardiff a chance to maintain Wales' place as a cultural hot spot.
Kathryn, Slough

It's dark, ugly and depressing. As long as this assembly government's around I think it represents Wales' future.
Lucy, Cardiff

I think the building looks fantastic and look forward to spending time in the venue shortly, I can not imagine the Bay without it any longer
Sarah Bell, Cardiff

£106m. We do not have an evening bus service in Llandaff North, Cardiff.
Trenuth Seager, Cardiff UK

I for one give it my full support and have already purchased eight tickets for two shows in the new year. The people of Wales must unite and be thankful we have such a place to be proud of. Cardiff is a great and up and coming City, We have arguably the best stadium in the world and now the best theatre. Be proud of your culture.
Stephen Evans, Bodmin, Cornwall

The problem with Cardiff is the majority of people hate change and are pretty short-sighted. It's no wonder that this project has gone ahead regardless of local opinion as many inhabitants seem to look for an excuse to complain. Cardiff Bay is becoming a fantastic place, but negativity and wet thinking has been the cause of progress dragging its heels over the past few years.
Max Richards, Wales

Llongyfachiadau! I'd like to congratulate all involved in building this wonderful and inspiring piece of architecture. I cant wait to make the journey down, shame it's such a nightmare driving from north to south Wales.
Sion Williams, Ruthin, Denbighshire

People from North Wales go to Liverpool/Manchester..people from mid Wales go to Shrewsbury/Birmingham…no one will go to Cardiff..
Stan Williams, Wrexham

I think this is a great asset for Wales, but I agree with others on this page, that it is now time to start investing in the rest of Wales, otherwise, soon in an encyclopaedia somewhere it will say "for Wales see Cardiff"!
Esyllt, London/Llundain

Is this the ugliest building in Wales ?I think it is. Let's hope the quality of performances inside can make up for it!
Gav, Cardiff

It looks like an enormous woodlouse but at least it's original.
Liz, Cardiff

What a monstrosity the Millennium Centre is. Talk about a blot on the landscape. I cannot see it lasting more than a couple of years.
Gary Jones, Caerphilly, Wales

Having been lucky enough to see inside the centre I have no doubt that everyone who sees the Donald Gordon Theatre will fall in love with it. Its looks fantastic. People who complain about the cost are too short-sited, as the tourists, developments and attention the centre will attract over the next few years will be of huge benefit to Wales.
Iuean Everett, Cardiff, Wales

Another example of the assembly wasting public money on the capital city whilst the rest of Wales goes without. Has devolution actually benefited anywhere apart from Cardiff Bay?
osh, Aberystwyth

Great venue, let's hope that people support it.
David, Llandovery, Wales

Does anyone else think it looks like an armadillo on the skyline?
beck, cardiff

The WMC deserves to be a success. If Cardiff ever hopes to achieve the international standing to which it aspires, ambitious, exciting projects such as this are essential. Cardiff has so much potential, and rightly won't be held back by "doom-mongers" such as Joel Marshall who, it seems, would be happy to consign us to mediocrity.
Matt, Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff does not need a building like this especially one costing £104m! There are far more pressing issues that the money could have been used for, the NHS for one! I think someone should also tell them that the Millennium was for years ago! Stop wasting our money!
Josh Hawes, Newtown, Mid Wales

It's an ugly eyesore. Where's the parking for visitors?
Dai Welsh, Cardiff

Why do we have to call such a wonderful building The Millennium Centre? Surely something more appropriate would be more suitable. Can you imagine The Sydney Opera House having such a bland name? The Millennium Centre makes it sound like a scout hut!!!
Dave Grey, Cardiff

I was lucky enough to be at the acoustic test performance last month: it is a wonderful building, it works, and people are going to fall in love with it. Stop calling it an armadillo – take a leaf from Cardiff-born Roald Dahl, it will be our own Big Friendly Giant
Jim, Cardiff, Wales

Not the nicest of buildings. The "golden armadillo" (as a few of us like to call it) dominates the skyline. The text on the front is difficult to read as it isn't written in lines but is vertical! Quite confusing!!! The contrast between the slate and gold panels is horrific. Apart from the slate looking like a oversize pebble dashed wall, the armadillo looks like… well… an armadillo!!
Dewi Gaylard, Cardiff

I actually work in Cardiff Bay and it has been amazing to watch the building of the Millennium Centre. I think it is world class building and I cannot wait to attend one of the shows to be held there.
Sue Hutton, Ystrad Rhondda

It looks great, I hope that they put a wide variety of programming on. I will make sure I will visit in the first year, hopefully more times after that!!!
Sarah, Pontypridd

I can't believe they can build such a place without any thought to parking especially disabled parking close by.
Liz Owen, Cowbridge, Wales

Absolutely fantastic! The WMC will help Cardiff develop even further as a modern, cultured and progressive city. The centre's appeal stretches through all ages and classes of society. I'm 23 years of age and have never before had any great desire to go to the theatre for plays, operas or musicals. However, with such a great venue in Cardiff I'll definitely make use of the facilities. regularly.
Ben Gilbert, Swansea

A wonderful asset to Wales. People who have concerns about the cost must remember that the centre was part funded by the Millennium Commission and so has brought millions of pounds into Wales, that we would not have gained otherwise. This was an opportunity too good to miss! If it had not been built, the funds would simply have disappeared within the system and Wales would have been left with nothing! Can't wait to visit. The interior is truly awe inspiring, beautiful!
G Prosser, Cardiff

Why are people always so negative? There is, however, one small gripe more advertising let us no what is happening I live in Thornhill, Cardiff and as yet have not had any literature telling me of forthcoming events. That I am sure would be appreciated.
Carolina Edwards, Cardiff South Glamorgan

We've got a new white elephant, which will require propping up by the assembly, draining away public resources for years to come. We've already got St David's Hall – the two can't both survive. The people at large wanted their swimming pool back, not this financial black hole of a building.
Joel Marshall, Cardiff (student)

I'm absolutely thrilled with the new WMC, and have already bought tickets for a number of productions. I love living in a city that thinks big, and gets things like this done. It's just a shame that so many local people still don't realise how affordable and accessible this place will be. Hopefully that will all change soon.
Lisbeth, Cardiff, UK

Hope the inside looks as good as the outside. It's a great statement to the rest of the country/world showing that the people of Wales aren't just interested in sport! I hope it's a major success.
Dan, UK

Until Sydney got its Opera House, Australia was considered a land of hard-drinking, vulgar-mouthed slobs. Now Cardiff has its centrepiece for the arts, maybe the rest of the UK will reassess their view of Wales as a whole
Bob Price, United Kingdom

I live very close to the Millennium Centre and think it is a stunning building and an excellent landmark for the city. Cardiff people should be pleased to be able to see such good shows on their doorstep.
Hazel Foster, Cardiff

I think it's fantastic that we have such a wonderful building in Cardiff that we can go and watch world class shows. It's only what Cardiff deserves as a capital city and to compete with other cities in the U.K. and the world.
Christopher Jenkins, Caerphilly

The Millennium Centre is the best thing that has happened to Wales for many years. I saw it on Tuesday night with the lights on inside for the first time: absolutely stunning. It's important for the whole of Wales that our capital city develops as an international centre of excellence. Morgan
Morgan Parry, Caernarfon, Gwynedd

I live in Cardiff and I think it's a wonderful building with the roof that changes colour in the day. I will be looking forward to seeing the ballet later next year.
Max Payne, Cardiff

I'll be travelling down from Scotland to see WNO's "Wozzeck" next year. The people of Wales should be very proud of this building.
Phil Jones, Edinburgh

The Last Word

In an effort to enhance the surfing pleasure of BBC News Online readers, we are happy to welcome your comments and observations about the news. Submission guidelines at the bottom of the page.

JAM PACKED
"A 2,500-year-old chariot is found by engineers working on the new A1 motorway in West Yorkshire" (Workers unearth ancient chariot, 3 December) – you mean motorway jams are THAT bad in the UK now?
Helen Burford
Paris

OLD BEFORE TIME
Your article on the elderly getting into computer games (Pensioners catch the gaming bug, 3 December) says that 50,000 people in a survey ticked the "over-35" box. Did I miss the news flash that the age of retirement had been reduced by 30 years? And if so, where's my pension?
John Airey
UK

SPAM POETRY
A classic line in Spammers turn to classic prose (1 December) raised a smile here today. "By including random text, the spammers hope to fool the filters into thinking that a human, not a spammer, wrote the message." I won't say what subspecies I think spammers belong to, but I will say it's nice to see it in print that they are indeed not members of the human race.
Garry Heather
Andover, UK

NOW SCOOT
As one of London's few Segway riders, I agree that it is the gadget most likely to attract the attention of the opposite sex (10 things we didn't know this time last week, 28 November).
Isidore Margaronis
UK

YOUNG DOCTORS
I am a single parent medical student, the first person in my family to go to university. By the time I leave, I will owe £35,000. I don't have enough money to pay my fees (which I have to pay as I already have one degree); more importantly I don't have enough money to live on because the government doesn't support single parent students. I work hard and I think I'll make a better doctor than some of my peers, who simply don't understand real life yet. So why so little support? There are more issues than just top-up fees to debate (Clarke begins tuition fee fight, 8 December).
Lisa Tyrer
Manchester, UK

CHEAP FLIGHTS
In EasyJet unveils jump in bookings (5 December), is this the next stage after stand-by bookings? What happens with this type of ticket – does the plane just slow down a little and the passengers leap aboard to save turnaround time?
Mike
UK

NATIONAL TREASURE
Can I be the first to demand that David Hemmings' eyebrows be saved for the nation so that future generations may admire them? (Obituary: David Hemmings, 5 December).
Dave Williams
Prudhoe, UK

GET BEHIND THE SOFA!
Remaking Dr Who without the Daleks will be like resurrecting Top Gear without Clarkson. It won't work. The Daleks, and indeed the Cybermen ARE Dr Who. Maybe the Daleks need a little modernising (such as an anti-gravity base for getting up stairs), but leaving them out is a crime (Interview with Dr Who writer, 2 December).
A N Member of the Public
UK

WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Bob Metcalfe (The Last Word, 2 December) is mistaken. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is named simply Buffy Anne Summers. It's been shown on her gravestone several times. In this case at least, Buffy is not short for Elizabeth.
Kate Donnellan
Blackburn, England

GLASS HOUSES
In response to Robin Hughes (The Last Word , 2 December) – don't be so anal! Oh, and I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot when I point out that there are two d's in Addams.
Nick Nevin
London, UK

OFF LIMITS… NOT
What do editors of the Lancet know that the rest of us don't that leads them to believe prohibition will work with tobacco, given the level of success with heroin, ecstasy, cannabis, etc etc? (UK ministers urged to ban tobacco, 5 December).
Tim Fothergill
Manchester, UK

'TIS THE SEASON
In Quiz of the week's news (4 December), the seventh question says "…the three most performed Christmas songs in Britain last year were: Fairytale of New York (The Pogues and Kirsty McColl), Merry Xmas Everybody (Slade) and White Christmas (Bing Crosby). Rank them in order, most popular first." Clearly you've misused the word popular. Or is that too bah humbug?
Michael Eccleston
Birmingham, UK

SHAKE IT
Am I the only person who upon reading Ancient fossil penis discovered (5 December) had a sudden and not entirely pleasant image of Peter Stringfellow?
Paul Gitsham
Manchester

ALIEN LIFEFORM
In response to Dave Williams' comment in The Last Word (2 December), Vega is a star and not a planet. Seeing as stars are big balls of burning gas, then it's impossible for an alien to live on Vega. Thus no Vegans.
Will Kew
Aboyne, Scotland

ALIEN LIFEFORM II
Whilst I realise it's an attempt to be amusing, I find the comment about Vegans very offensive (The Last Word, 2 December). There are those who have become vegans for ethical reasons, and those who restrict themselves to this diet for religious reasons eg: Buddhists. Would you allow Dave Williams space on your site to offend members of a religion? I hope not, but you appear to think it's acceptable to offend people who have taken action to live by their principles.
Su Martin
Lincolnshire

Last Word submission notes

We welcome your comments and observations on the news.

The Last Word is updated on Tuesday each week.

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Smoking ban: Online information

March will see the Scottish Parliament introduce a smoking ban in enclosed public places.

The ban covers areas such as workplaces, pubs, clubs, restaurants, shopping centres and social clubs.

The BBC Scotland news website has put together online resources which offer advice, information and background on the ban.

CLEARING THE AIR SCOTLAND

The Scottish Executive's website detailing how the ban will work for employers and businesses, as well as support and advice on how to stop smoking.

Clearing the air Scotland

ASH SCOTLAND

Ash Scotland is a voluntary organisation which campaigns for tobacco control legislation. Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) was set up in 1971 by the Royal College of Physicians London.

Ash Scotland

FOREST

The Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (Forest) back smoke-free areas in pubs, clubs and restaurants but opposes a total ban.

Forest

HEALTH SCOTLAND

Advice, statistics and details of local support groups from Health Scotland, NHS Scotland's national information service. The site also provides an e-smokeline address for questions about help with quitting.

Health Scotland

SCOTTISH LICENSED TRADE ASSOCIATION

Organisation which represents and protects the interests of the licensed trade in Scotland.

Scottish Licensed Trade Association

BBC STOP SMOKING TIPS

Some useful advice outlining the dangers of smoking and methods to help you kick the habit.

Health – Top tips to quit smoking

SMOKING, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE (SCOTLAND) BILL

The Scottish Parliament's legislation, which includes the introduction of smoking restrictions and powers to enforce fixed penalties.

Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Bill

Straight questions

POSTED: Wednesday 20 April, 1130BST

Straight-talking Veritas have denied foul play after changing the wording of an online poll.

A negative was added to the question to change it from "Do you believe the UK should adopt the new European constitution?" to "Do you believe the UK should not adopt the new European constitution?" The yes and no results were swapped to reflect the change.

Some are complaining the party just didn't like the way the survey was going, but Veritas say the poll was hijacked by a pro-Europe campaign.

Webmaster John de Roeck told the Election Monitor the change was intended to test whether an automatic yes vote had been set up, which didn't even require people to read the question.

He said the automatic voting continued with no regard to the new question. "So we took the poll down and replaced it with one that's not so prone to cheating."

(PS. Spotted – an online forum encouraging people to vote yes to annoy Kilroy-Silk "regardless of what you really think".)

Your comments

If Veritas didn't like the result of a poll on their own website couldn't they just fake the results rather than go to all this trouble? Who'd know or care anyway? Based on this theory I'm inclined to agree with Kilroy's version of events.
Peter, Nottingham

I don't buy that Veritas were simply trying to out-fox 'automatic' votes. From data and screenshots posted elsewhere it is clear they panicked, added up to 500 votes in their favour, and when that didn't work, swapped the question over *without* the corresponding votes. It stinks of an amateur party unable to deal with things not going in their favour. The irony of Veritas meaning "truth" is not lost on the many that have read the full story.
Ian B, London

I know the group involved in the attempt to skew the vote, and Veritas clearly knew what was happening too. Surely they're entitled to defend their poll from deliberate sabotage?
John Derrick, London

I'm with Tom Steuart-Feilding – Veritas and Kilroy-Silk are rapidly putting political satirists out of business; you simply can't make this stuff up! It wouldn't be out of place in a Tom Sharpe novel.
H, Cambridge

How sad that all the pro-EU apologists can do is try to skew online opinion polls. Why can't they spend their time making a decent case? Silly question.
Mike Harvey, Woking

The poll would never have been accurate anyway. How many non-veritas supporters would go to the veritas website?
Pollster, UK

Well you know what they say "on the internet no-one knows you're a dog (or a php script that automatically barks every 15 seconds)"
Dan Russell, Chesterfield

I am very aware of a group that set out to disrupt the natural progress of this poll. They ran an on-line forum encouraging people to spoil the vote for Veritas. At times like this, even some on the liberal left clearly lack credibility.
Kevin Hailes, Orpington Kent

Surely the BBC could have given them advice on the pointlessness of online polls? It is, however, quite hard to find their website (using google)
Al Storer, St Austell, Cornwall

The No votes started climbing when they changed the poll. There was nothing automatic about it.
Oli, London

I'm one of those liberalists in London that the Veritas party don't like, so my comment would probably be discounted by them on that ground. If a vote isn't going the way you want it to, surely the thing to do is to review your policy on the matter. Changing the question to suit your needs (with a fairly bad negative addition just to confuse people who do want to vote), smells far too fishy for me to take that particular party seriously.
Richie Ellison, London, UK

I've got some non-political sympathy for Veritas here. Why should a large group of campaigners be allowed to skew a poll for their own purposes? Who cares Veritas changed the question? They transferred the votes as they did it, anyway.
Mary Scott, Belfast

Veritas shouldn't be so surprised that when people are given a poll, they may not vote exactly how you want them to vote. When will they understand that their party is supported by a minority of people, and so their favoured result will always have the minority vote?
Jonathan Reeves, Southampton, UK

I can't be alone in finding this all rather funny – Veritas lack credibility as it is and this further undermines them as a serious political party.
Tom Steuart-Feilding, Bristol, UK

Just a quick word here from a person who administers online polling and surveying for a job… Auto-voting is where some set up a system (of sorts) to vote for one choice non-stop, in this case it was auto-set to answer 'YES'. If they'd changed the question to "Do you believe the UK should not adopt the new European constitution?", the system would not have picked this up and continued voting 'YES', thus striking a blow for the 'anti-europe side' But what is clear talking to other people and viewing the poll results stage by stage is that when the question changed so did the voting, from 'YES' (anti-europe now) to 'NO' (now pro-europe) thus pretty much ruling out the presence of an automatic voting system. I think that Veritas just didn't like where this was going.
Thomas Hayes, London, UK

Send your comments to Election Monitor, our campaign weblog

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BBC SPORT | Football | The gossip column

All the latest talk from Sunday's newspapers Saturday's gossip

Alan Shearer has revealed he turned down an offer from Sven-Goran Eriksson to play for England at Euro 2004 (Sunday People, Sunday Mirror, News of the World)

Eriksson has been offered an immediate £1m-a-year pay rise in a bid to stop him walking out on England (News of the World)

Eriksson is also at the centre of a four-way managerial manhunt between Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Chelsea and England (Sunday Express)

Meanwhile, the England boss has guaranteed Jonathan Woodgate a place in the squad for Euro 2004 (Star on Sunday)

Roy Keane has made a secret phone call to Ireland's football bosses in a dramatic attempt to resurrect his international career (Mail on Sunday)

Sir Alex Ferguson has brought in top football fixer Pini Zahavi in a bid to end his row with John Magnier (Sunday People)

And Fergie's Manchester United will try and buy Wayne Rooney from Everton for £20m this summer (Sunday Express)

Aston Villa and Birmingham are locked in a £5m tug of war for Cardiff's Wales striker Robert Earnshaw (News of the World, Sunday Express)

Roma boss Fabio Capello has revealed he would relish a move to Tottenham (Sunday Mirror, News of the World)

Fulham are lining up a summer move for Chelsea's Nigerian defender Celestine Babayaro (Sunday People)

Sir Alex Ferguson will up his bid for Dutch wonderkid Arjen Robben after watching him play last week (News of the World)

Former Southampton striker Iain Dowie has ruled himself our of the running for the manager's job at St Mary's (Sunday Mirror)

American billionaire Robert Kraft, who owns NFL team New England Patriots, is lining up a £20m takeover of Aston Villa (News of the World)

Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro has sparked a bidding war between Manchester United and Chelsea by announcing he is ready to move to England (News of the World)

Michael Tarnat has begged Kevin Keegan to give him a new one-year deal at Manchester City (News of the World)

Sir Bobby Robson is tracking Norwegian striker Morton Gamst Pedersen (Sunday People)

Pavel Srnicek will quit Portsmouth at the end of the season after slipping to third-choice keeper (News of the World)

Liverpool and Bolton are tracking Hibernian teenager Stephen Fletcher, who does not turn 17 until next month (Sunday Mirror)

How the NHS places a value on life

What is an extra year of life worth?

For many people it is an impossible question to answer, especially if they are dying of cancer.

But it is the sort of problem officials at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have to grapple with each day.

The official NHS drugs adviser has imposed a threshold of £30,000 for an added year of life provided by a treatment.

Bowel cancer drugs Avastin and Erbitux, which NICE has turned down under draft proposals published on Monday, cost up to three-and-half times that.

But those facts have not stopped people attacking NICE, which was set up in 1999 to act as the health service's rationing body by advising NHS trusts which drugs and treatments to fund.

Complex treatments

Charity Beating Bowel Cancer said the decision was a "scandal" and the value placed on the lives of sufferers seemed to be "minimal".

Everyone agrees NICE's role is necessary in an age when ever more expensive and complex treatments are being created.

In the last five years, the NHS drugs bill has risen by 46% to £8bn at a time when debts are mounting – the health service finished last year over £500m in deficit.

A spokesman for NICE said the £30,000 figure was not an absolute ceiling, pointing out the nature of the disease and quality of life provided by the drug was also taken into account.

And he cited the example of leukaemia treatment Imatinib which was given the green light two years ago despite the cost per year of life added exceeding the threshold.

The NICE spokesman said: "It can't be black and white, about pounds and pence.

"But this is an emotional issue. For people who are ill or know someone who is ill it is hard to accept a value is put on drug treatment.

"However, there is a finite amount of revenue and this process has to be done."

Campaigners accept there is not a bottomless pit of money, but they question whether NICE is listening to the patient voice enough.

During the process, officials consult with doctor and patient representatives as well as looking at trial data.

Charities said they used to be allowed to club together to collate a joint submission offering evidence from a range of patients about why a new drug was needed.

But under fast-track proposals introduced last year amid mounting criticism of long delays – at the time it was taking 18 months on average to assess treatments – the appraisal process has been streamlined, they said.

Patient perspective

Anna Wood, policy and campaigns manager for Breast Cancer Care, said: "The patient voice has been weakened under the new procedures.

"What we have found it that quite often NICE gets one patient or one representative to give their view on how effective a treatment is.

"It is important NICE hears the patient perspective to make sure these other considerations such as quality of life and whether other treatments are available are taken into account. I am not sure this is always achieved."

But others have a different perspective on it. Alan Maynard, professor of health economics at the University of York, said the problem was NICE was saying yes too much, adding to the financial pressure in the health service.

"They have got better, but I believe they should be saying no more to these drugs. What we are seeing is a range of new drugs coming on to the market which are becoming more expensive and have minimal impact on life."

And Professor Maynard said NICE should go even further, suggesting the threshold be set at half the £30,000 figure.

"They should be more aggressive and start looking at treatments which are currently in use but on cost-effective grounds shouldn't be.

"The NHS has an £80bn budget and we have to use it wisely. Having drugs which have a minimal effect at a huge cost is not the best way of doing it."