22/12/2009 by admin.

Our regulars will know how the talent contest called X-Factor has featured on our Watch due to the question posed in our opening material - do we have the X-Factor (to preserve and care for the planet, animals and its limited resources)? We’ve kept an eye on the contest for Christmas No. 1. 

Its therefore interesting that following a Facebook internet campaign, the revolutionary rap metal band ‘Rage Against The Machine’ have beaten X Factor winner Joe McElderry to top spot following an internet campaign.  The anti-establishment song is called, ‘Killing in the Name’ which is ironic as that’s exactly what the human race is slowly doing to the natural world.  So - does this mean we don’t have the X-Factor after all?

On December 20th the Facebook campaign was acknowledged by some 950,000 people including the former Beatles star, Sir Paul McCartney. In a TV interview Sir Paul said, “I like the idea of this Rage Against the Machine thing happening. I think that’s kind of interesting… it would prove a point.” The band’s guitarist Tom Morello has since claimed their success was an act of God, saying “when Mother Nature and Sir Paul McCartney agree on something its going to be unstoppable.”  Maybe that’s why Sir Paul chose to sing this at the X-Factor final….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_esOVRCDpM

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

07/12/2009 by admin.

Our story tells how Sarah likes to play with our hamster, Dixie; putting him inside his plastic ball whilst she tried in vain to win at cards! There’s a lot of symbolism behind this event. The hamster running in his ball is meant to illustrate how human society is organised - we toil in the hope of improving our lives cocooned by modern comforts to protect us and enhance our existence, when all the while we are gambling with our future, living in an unsustainable consumerist way that is exhausting the world’s finite resources and polluting the planet in the process.

How amusing then that this year’s must have toy for Christmas is the ‘G0-Go Hamster’ and that smart electronic hamster is now subject to a toxic warning from an independent consumer group.  The manufacturers refute the claims arguing that the toy has passed themost rigourous testing for health and safety. All the same, another curious oddity linked to The Haymakers Survey.  As the video below explains we have a message for those in Copenhagen, ‘Change the world its no big deal’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeNHzCbKeNY&feature=related

Posted in Q77 Do you get bored easily?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q48 Have you ever played solitaire?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q.8 Do you crave a better life? | No Comments »

10/11/2009 by admin.

In Brazil some are blaming an intense concentration of lightening, rain and wind near Itaipu for triggering a huge blackout - possible the world’s worst ever - which covered half of the country. Some 800 cities were without power for around 3 hours, including Rio de Janiero and Sao Paulo.  Power supplies have been a sensitive issue in Brazil since blackout in 2001 and 2002 affected large parts of the country - although nothing on this scale. In response Brazil has invested millions in improving the electricity infrastructure which has prompted many to seek answers about the blackout - with a potential cause being the failure of 3 high-tension transmission lines.

Well, how about our explanation for the massive and mysterious blackout - Mother Nature has intervened to warn us in the run up to COP 15 that we need to change our ways! Why are we so confident - simples! Our novel includes an account of how an intense storm caused a blackout at Keeper’s Cottage, which prompts Ben Whittenbury to ponder life prior to the industrial revolution and the value of a life lead in harmony with Nature, exemplified by The Haymakers painting by George stubbs.  And, what better place to host a blackout than in Brazil - home of the Amazon Rainforest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd7aWWTnrAc

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life? | No Comments »

14/09/2009 by admin.

Our readers will know all about the intriguing but alarming notes from the future left to us by the Magician in Tomorrow’s World - 2100 to be precise.  How curious then that the BBC Archive website has launched a new section dedicated to its programme ‘Tomorrow’s World’.  The BBC’s flagship science programme began in 1965 and ran for some 40 years.

Here’s the link to the website…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/

Posted in Q47 Do you know your history?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics? | No Comments »

27/07/2009 by admin.

A ewe nicknamed Aretha - after the singer Aretha Franklin - has been entertaining people by taking up a lonesome residence on a cliff’s edge near Whitby in North Yorkshire - an area made famous in Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstien’. 

People are mystified as to how the independent sheep managed to find her way 220ft down the cliff face and she seems in no hurry to leave.  The sheep was first spotted by pleasure boat captain, Bryan Clarkson, who has been keeping watch on her ever since.  She’s been dubbed Aretha - as she sung the soul hit, ‘Rescue Me’.

So we have another odd antic involving a sheep - Mr Lamb would be most amused given his witty sense of humour.  Our interpretation is clear - has our wanton use of energy consuming machines without thought of the environmental consequences brought humanity to the edge?

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q54 Do you enjoy a bit of a mystery?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you? | No Comments »

20/07/2009 by admin.

Another anniversary! Forty years ago today Apollo 11 made history.  

On this day Neil Armstrong spoke the immortal words, ‘One small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind’ as he became the first human to leave a footprint on another celestial body (as far as we know).  The mission fulfilled the vision of President John F. Kennedy made in 1961 to send a man to the moon and return him safely to the Earth before the decade was out.  The ghostly black and white images - viewed at the time by some 600m people - are now ingrained in human conscious, although some conspiracy theorists doubt whether the whole affair was a monumental elaborate hoax!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMINSD7MmT4

In our novel we refer to the remarkable vison, focus and determination demonstrated at that time as an example of what human endeavour can achieve, so the anniversary is a timely reminder in the run up to Copenhagen - when world leaders will come together to agree action on managing carbon emissions.   

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q70 Do you like to look at the stars?, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost? | No Comments »

21/06/2009 by admin.

Novel Spoiler 

Our tale concludes with the unmasking of the role of ‘The Emperor’ in overseeing all the activity and, presumably, the events unfolding on our Watch.  The Emperor’s main goal is to encourage us into urgent action to address the pressing environmental challenges - speed is of the essence!

How curious then that the BBC car programme Top Gear has ‘revealed’ the identity of the Stig, the mystery driver who tests high-performance vehicles against the clock. 

The Stig removed his helmet for the first time in a moment that shocked and surprised the audience.  The person behind the white mask was the seven times Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.  Its unclear whether he’s the real Stig but all the same the coincidence is uncanny given society’s ongoing love affair with the car and the implications for the environment at a time of looming climate chaos.

So, on the Summer Solstice, let’s celebrate the work of The Emperor….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJZh7oKD08A&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q72 Are you a good time keeper?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

13/03/2009 by admin.

Friday the 13th is embroiled in superstition as being unlucky for some.  So, on a day when campaigners have lost their battle to block the expansion of Stansted Airport, we speculate on the wider implications of the judicial decision.  Stop Stansted Expansion argued that the government did not give proper consideration to the ‘adverse effects’ of the expansion but the High Court Judge Sir Thayne Forbes dismissed the legal challenge arguing that there had been no misinterpretation of air transport policy. SSE were made to pay £20,000 in legal costs.

The decision follows swiftly on the heels of some profound and deeply worrying predictions on climate change from leading scientists at a conference in Copenhagen.  We won’t repeat them here but the message is loud and clear on rising sea levels and temperatures.  We are very much in The Age of Stupid with decisions of this kind replicated worldwide by governments preaching the environmental cause yet acting against it and popular demand in the name of ‘business as usual.’  Where is the democracy? Is it any wonder that some people resort to ‘adolescent’ acts of protest?

So, if we want to watch a horror film on Friday the 13th, try a preview of The Age of Stupid. In common with our tale it includes a take from the future which implores action now to preserve the Earth and creatures we know and love.  The significant difference between the film and our project is that we feel Mother Nature or a force of creation is behind us, leaving a trail of messages and signs to try to convince us beyond the hard evidence being presented by the scientists. Hay - all’s fair in love and war!

http://www.ageofstupid.net/

Posted in Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q51 Have you ever taken part in a protest?, Q44 Is there anything worse than a fly at night?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q11 Do you believe in justice? | No Comments »

17/02/2009 by admin.

The ghostly encounter recorded at the start of our story (see opening sample in left hand column) records how a distraught and runaway black horse is a clear sign of Mother Nature in serious jeopardy.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwN_CXi41s4 

So, we look on with interest as Lloyds Bank TSB - known for its black horse symbol - quivers under the strain of the global financial crisis - with a £10bn loss last year due to bad debts inherited following a merger with HSBC.  The bank’s share price has plummeted and the prospect of a government bail out looms.  

Amongst other victims of the crisis are car workers at the BMW plant in Oxford where 850 people helping to manufacture the Mini have lost their jobs.  It comes as no suprise given that new car sales have plummeted across the industry in recent months.  Did we foretell the struggles of the car industry at this time too given Ben’s initials are BMW - Ben Michael Whittenbury? We use the acronym several times in our story!

Minis were a key part of the Italian Job movie - let’s here from Michael Caine and others on the need for a ‘Self Preservation Society’ to tackle the challenge of caring for our planet! “Get your skates on mate.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy3BdoWaYxY

Certainly a Lamb or two isn’t wasting any time in getting tough! A new report on bird wildlife by the Scottish Heritage Fund records how a lamb was seen head-butting a golden eagle - one of Scotland’s largest birds of prey.  The incident was recorded at Baile Ailean on the Western Isles of the Outer Hebrides.  Apparently older ewes, especially pregnant ones, have resorted to such action from time to time.   Perhaps this is a reference to Charles Lamb’s quest as recorded in his journal to toughen up through sparring under the guidance of Bill Richmond so as to prepare for the challenges ahead.  Take a look at these little fellas…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoDirD2hw1w

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

09/02/2009 by admin.

Saying ‘I Luv U’ by text is contributing to the demise of the art of romance. As Valentine’s Day approaches, a National Trust survey of some 2,500 adults showed two-thirds admitted to saying, “I Luv U” in a text, whilst a similar number had never spent time writing a romantic love letter of composing a poem for their beloved. 

The National Trust blame a combination of technology and the modern pace of life for killing off romance.  A Trust spokesperson said, “Considering our rich history of romantic letter writing, poems and sonnets - from Shakespeare to Burns - it all suggests we are forgetting to make time for romance in modern Britain.  Yet now we have forgotten the value of putting our innermost feelings down on writing! Pity as the survey showed that 3 out of 4 women would prefer a love letter of dedicated poem than a simple text saying, “I Luv U”.

All very revealing given the role played by Sarah’s mobile in our story and the way in which Charles Lamb’s journal records several examples of love penned by his hand and others in poetry and letters.    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4aTLurY3gw&feature=related

Posted in Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q29 Could you live without machines?, Q26 Do you take poetry seriously?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »