10/11/2008 by admin.

Tinker Bell, arguably the most famous fairy in the world, has been immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds musuem in London.  The figure is the smallest ever created at the attraction, measuring just 5 and a half inches.  The artists involved in the pixie’s creation worked studiously to re-create her in a perfect life-like form  - in a way that reveals her magic and love.  At the attraction, children can see Miss Bell at Pixie Hollow, the home of the fairies in Never Land.  All delightfully enchanting given Sarah’s desire in our tale to see a real fairy at Never Land and the, yet to be fully explained, role of the Shadows’ poem.

Let’s celebrate…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qJKEhqnp_AQ&feature=related

We do love a green fairy…

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uwyCfi6qcS0

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

19/08/2008 by admin.

Scientists have discovered that Magpies are able to identify their own reflection in a mirror; the first time that self-recognition has been seen in non-mammal. Dr Helmet Prior from the Geothe University in Franfurt found carried out the tests on 5 hand-reared birds, placing coloured stickers on the birds in places where they could only be seen in the mirror.   The magpies became focused on the stickers and sometimes succeeded in removing them.  What’s curious about the discovery is that Malachi refers to the ode, ‘one for sorrow, two for joy’ early on in our tale. The tune is, of course, synonomous with magpies!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWqXZEngVc8

Dolphins have also been putting on a show off the coast of Australia.  It seems a wild dolphin is teaching other memers of her group to ‘tail-walk’.  Due to illness, one of the group spent a short time in a dolphinarium 20 years ago and may have picked up the trick there. Experts from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society cannot understand why the dolphins are doing it.  Maybe they’re trying to tell us something?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKqutWejmTk&NR=1

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q17 Can you speak another language?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted? | No Comments »

26/07/2008 by admin.

Another interesting anniversary - Mick Jagger has reached 65 - making him a pensioner.  The global rock icon, energetic lead singer for the Rolling Stones, has thrilled fans for the last 40 years.  In spite of his age Sir Mick just keeps going.  In our story, our friend, Bill Darvill compared one of the sacred stones Sarah shared with him as a, “Rolling Stone, probably Mick Jagger!”  Play on maestro…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuGjBNSRi1c

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

07/07/2008 by admin.

Readers of The Haymakers Survey will know the significance of 7 July in the story in helping to bring the ‘action now on nature’ message to the world. They’ll also know of the specific role played by Sir Peter Scott, founder of the WWF and designer of the panda emblem used by the charity.  Our story also features two identical characters - Ben Whittingbury and Captain Richard Lewin.

Curious then that a 12 year old Giant Panda, rescued from a recent quake zone in China, has given birth to twins.  They’re the first pandas to be born in captivity in 2008. Here’s the video. Warning - high cuteness factor!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7492999.stm

Meanwhile couples in London have today tangoed in silence to promote a sense of ‘compassionate togetherness’ . Wearing headphones as they danced on seven bridges and seven railway stations, it reminded Ben and Julia of their silent tango to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, as recorded in our story. Shall we dance…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU

Maybe some were dancing in memory of lost loved ones, for it seems the spectacular sight of red poppy fields are becoming a rare-sight in Britain.  Numbers have declined dramatically over the past century because of the wildspread use of weedkillers.  Conservation charity, Plantlife, say, “It’s very sad poppy fields have become such a rarity, as they have provided the inspiration for many famous paintings.” The plant is synomous with remembrance as thousands grew on disturbed ground near the trenches during World War I.

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q12 Is our Earth enchanted?, Q13 Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

20/06/2008 by admin.

In June 1938 the comic book hero Superman first appeared in Action Comics.  Seventy years on and some 40,000 superman fans have descended upon Metropolis, Illinois the superhero’s home town.  Superman’s widely considered the most famous and popluar of superheroes.  He lives amongst humans as a mild-mannered reporter for the ‘Daily Planet’. Here’s a video of the winner of this year’s ‘best superman’.  Pity, Ben Whittenbury’s nowhere to be seen. Perhaps that’s because Julia made clear that he’s not a superhero.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W643-Tixzao&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q65 Have you ever wished you could fly?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

10/05/2008 by admin.

Ha Youngwoong, a cute three year old South Korean boy has become a worldwide hit performing The Beatles song Hey Jude, attracting over 4m hits! 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqXYwNDrU8k

Ben thinks the boy wonder has much promise. He’s truely obsessed with The Beatles and is wooing fans with his performances.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dDhW_jJye8&feature=related

Closer to home, Ebbsfleet United FC won the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium today.  Prior to May 2007 the club was called Gravesend and Northfleet.  The club is unique as, since February 2008, it’s been owned by the web-based venture MyFootballClub, whose members may vote on team selection and player transfers, instead of those decisions being made exclusively by the club’s management and staff as at most other clubs.  Lucy Ebbs would be delighted that such a team in her name has been victorious. 

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q17 Can you speak another language?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

18/04/2008 by admin.

An interactive video art Cyclorama installation on London’s Southbank is capturing panoramic images every 5 seconds for 3 days.  Eleven cameras take digital photos throughout the day. The Memory Project allows a person to reveal historical images on a scream; effectively letting people move to and fro in time within a sealed chamber!  Take a look…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7355753.stm

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Q57 Have you ever spied on anyone?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

13/04/2008 by admin.

As recorded in our Watch from last year, the 2007 London Marathon was run in record heat.  This year the weather was much kinder to the runners and helped many to achieve personal bests.  The winner, Kenya’s Martin Lel, broke the course record - completing the 26 miles 386 yards in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 15 seconds. 

We love this event - it captures the very best of human nature with over 30,000 runners, many of whom were raising funds for charity.   Last year,  we likened participation in the event to the need for humans to rise to the challenges of responding to the needs of Mother Nature.  The same qualities are required - generosity of spirit, determination, self-sacrifice, unity, courage and hope.  It comes as no surprise to us that so many records were broken.  The message is clear - we need to act fast to preserve our natural world.  Even the event sponsors carry a heart logo.

The course also takes in some significant landmarks in ’The Haymakers Survey’ - the Cutty Sark and Big Ben; even Admiral Nelson from his elevated vantage point can probably catch sight of the participants.  Hats off to all the runners! Oh, by the way, Ben Whittingbury has commited to running next years event! Go Ben!

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.1 Does your life have a purpose? | No Comments »

05/04/2008 by admin.

It’s been more than 20 years since Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” topped the charts, but it is once again proving popular thanks to  to the phenomenon known as “RickRolling.

It began around March 2007, when bloggers and online social networkers started casually linking to the song’s video via YouTube. RickRolling was a psych-out for readers who would click on tantalizing hyperlinks, only to fall prey to a young Astley’s blonde bouffant and lively dance moves.  On April Fools’ Day, YouTube RickRolled users by linking to the video on all of its home-page features. The video was viewed 6.6 million times in one day!

So, what’s this got to do with ‘The Haymakers Survey?” Well, Caleb Hitch always thought the popstar was called Rick Ashley an anagram of which is HAY SICKLER and the lyrics from the song so capture Charles’ feelings for Lucy.  Fear not Mother Nature - We’re Never Gonna Give You Up! Here’s the link. Be warned, some of the comments contain foul language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

Posted in Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head? | No Comments »

28/03/2008 by admin.

A team of British animators has created a computer-generated model of a human heart so realistic it could transform surgical training. Every vessel and valve has been reproduced with remarkable accuracy.

The animators are following in the footsteps of Leonardo de Vinci, the Renaissance artist, whose depictions of the way the heart valves open and close, the muscles expand and contract and blood flows in and out remain so precise that his drawings influenced the operations are conducted by surgeons.

India’s Virender Sehwag has hit the fastest recorded triple-century in Test cricket history on day three of the first Test againt South Africa in Chennai. Sehwag reached 100 (for Art) before lunch and 200 (for Love) after, before reaching 300 (for Nature) from just 278 balls in the evening session.  he becomes only the third batsman to score 300 twice in Test cricket.  “You have to play your shots and maintain your run rate,” said the batsman, after a magnificent performance.

The oldest known recording of the human voice was aired on BBC Radio 4 and led to the presenter having a fit of giggles.  Apparently the 160 year old recording of Clair de Lune by Debussy was likened to a bee buzzing about in a bottle.  The amusing mishap by Charlotte Green was welcomed by many listeners…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7310000/newsid_7318200/7318249.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q42 Do you enjoy drawing?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »