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 »

13/09/2009 by admin.

On page 86 of our novel, Malachi, says, “What is it with humans - this obsession with keeping things clean and tidy?”  

How charming then that Sir David Attenborough, the famed wildlife ambassador, presenter and naturalist appeared at the Last Night of the Proms playing a FLOOR POLISHER as a musical instrument as part of a comic music piece, ‘A Grand, Grand Overture by Sir Malcom Arnold. Sir David was joined at the Royal Albert Hall by pianist Stephen Hough.

Did Sir David unwittingly endorse Malachi’s words? Might we substitute our obsession for cleaning and tidying with caring for the environment?

Another curiosity with Sir David’s appearance is that the Last Night is traditionally connected with British Patriotism because our discussion under Star Question (page 499) explores why The Haymakers Survey was shared with the world in Britain.  We identifed many reasons why here and now. Let’s celebrate with Jerusalem with its reference to those ‘Dark Satanic Mills’ mentioned by Charles Lamb at the start of his journal (page 233).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bggV_Dbj87w

Posted in Star Question - what happened to the blue ribbon?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »

09/09/2009 by admin.

We have the icing on the cake from The Beatles - a digitially remastered box set has been released, together with an X-Box Beatles game: ‘The Beatles: Rock Star’. 

Our fascination is with the date of release. In Britain, 999 means EMERGENCY = given the role of The Beatles as the creative influence for our project we believe this relates to the ecological emergency facing planet Earth. Why the X-Box Game even has E3 in the title and is rated 12 (another coincidence given the 12 mystical stones to feature in our novel).

The White Album included the song ‘Revolution Number 9′. It has a curious new meaning now…

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

Oh, the promotional videos below provide all the details of the new releases. 

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpBDOolcs9g&feature=fvw

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q34 Have you ever restored something? | No Comments »

29/08/2009 by admin.

Our readers will be aware that Charles Lamb’s journal recalls his nightmare when he sees an Oasis being destroyed and how his voice goes unheard when pleading with Mother Nature to save herself.  So its curious that Oasis, the rock band, has announced it’s spliting up; a move that quickly followed a decision to cancel a concert as the lead singer claimed to have lost his voice. 

We’re saddened by the break-up because the group were inspired by The Beatles but especially as one of the band’s most famous songs was ‘Wonderwall’; a description used by Charles Lamb in his journal when referring to the strange carvings at Royston Cave.

Here’s Noel talking about his love for The Beatles and John Lennon especially.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yhocvav-Xs&feature=related

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument? | No Comments »

08/08/2009 by admin.

Another symbolic anniversary relevant to THS; hundreds of Beatles fans have gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the camera shot of the famous pedestrian (zebra) crossing cover of the Abbey Road album. 

A reconstruction took place with Beatles lookalikes - a tribute band known as St Pepper’s only Dartboard Band’ - wearing outfits the same as those worn on the day.  Billie Shears would be pleased! The original picture has been copied many times over by Beatles fans.  We’re especially taken by the iconic crossing - Malachi warns in our novel ‘We’re at the crossroads’. Perhaps that’s why Sir Paul chose to cross the road bare-footed as an unwitting reminder of the human ‘carbon’ footprint!

When visiting Abbey Road Beatles fans also like to leave personal messages on a wall by the roadside. Messages like these…

Abbey Road is also in St John’s Wood and St John’s Church is where Julia saw a ghostly figure wearing a replica ‘St Pepper’ jacket. Mmm. we do have fun don’t we?

Ben’s favourite song from the album is ‘Come Together’ which is what we need to do to address the ongoing environmental challenges. Here’s a video with rare footage of Abbey Road and the recording studios. Enjoy…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vAqekT-GuA

Posted in Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q18 Do you let your heart rule your head?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q37 Do you know how to have fun?, Q.2 Are you an art lover? | No Comments »

10/07/2009 by admin.

At the heart of our novel and Charles Lamb’s journal is the role of the mysterious medieval carvings at Royston Cave.  On several occasions it’s described as a Wonderwall! Its purpose - to serve as a warning to humanity about the need to curb our runaway consumption of the world’s resources.

How curious then that during the performance by Oasis of Wonderwall at Wembley stadium the sound cut-out due to power problems! Odd too that we should have such a reminder of the Wonderwall so soon after the final video performance by the late Michael Jackson which ended with the hand signs engraved on the wall, perhaps as a reminder to stop!

Given that we remain largely unknown - has the time come for our voices to be heard?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzrDeceEKc

Posted in Q78 Do you want to be part of the picture?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q35 Do you trust your instincts? | No Comments »

02/07/2009 by admin.

Footage has been released of Michael Jackson in rehersal for the ‘This is It’ tour. 

The video which - was his last ever performance  -has a poignant haunting edge to it given the unexpected death of the pop icon.  We wonder did the King of Pop unwittingly leave a timely reminder to all of humanity?  Why so? Well, the performance concludes with the superstar and his fellow dancers revealing the same palm signal to that recorded in Royston Cave and explored by Charles Lamb in his journal.   The hands are also mentioned by ‘The Emperor’ as a clear warning about our treatment of this planet: Stop! Stop! Stop!

Here’s the link to the footage…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8131776.stm

And here’s a picture of Royston Cave with the hand prints.

One of Michael’s hits was ‘Earth Song’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOnL5c8LMqM&feature=related

In his words, “Did you ever stop to notice this crying Earth is weeping sure.”

R.I.P Michael - We love you!

Posted in Q61 Have you ever worn fancy dress?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q47 Do you know your history?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q22 Do you love our Earth?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion? | No Comments »

15/05/2009 by admin.

Norway has emerged victorious with record 387 points in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Singer and violinist Alexander Rybak romped home with the simple high-energy ditty ‘Fairytale.’  He wrote the song himself saying, ”I had a story to tell and I guess people liked that story.”

Coincidental then given the role of the Scandanavian, Hans Christian Anderson, in our story and his fairytale telling.  We also have the ‘Shadows’ poem, which was all about belief in fairies! Above all, we have the presence of Yggdrasil - the magical tree of life from the forests of Norway. Clap hands if you believe!

Congratulations Alexander. Sarah really likes the song. Here’s the winning performance…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JRtGMBUz0&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q25 Do you believe in fairies?, Q.7 Have you dreamed of being a champion?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales? | No Comments »

08/05/2009 by admin.

Newly discovered lyrics by the hand of the former Beatle, George Harrison have been put on display by the British Museum in the same gallery that houses the Magna Carta and Shakespeare’s First Folio.

The lyrics were found by Hunter Davies during research for a new edition of his official biography of The Beatles. Davies used to collect scraps of paper the Beatles threw to the floor of Abbey Road studios in London and keep them as souvenirs.  The lyrics read:

“I’m happy to say that its only a dream when I come across people like you,

 its only a dream and you make it obscene with the things that you think and you do.

Your so unaware of the pain that I bear and jealous for what you can’t do.

There’s times when I feel that you haven’t a hope but I also know that isn’t true.’

George wrote some of the most thoughtful and soothing Beatles songs including, For You Blue, Think for Yourself and Dark Horse. Ben’s favourite is ‘If I needed Someone’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvPLx4dWZxM&feature=related

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q55 Do you believe in truth?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q34 Have you ever restored something? | No Comments »

05/04/2009 by admin.

Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have performed in concert together in New York in aid of the David Lynch Foundation - a charity promoting transcendental teaching in schools.

Sir Paul headlined the concert before introducing Ringo Starr as his pseudonym, “Billy Shears” - from the song Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. 

“At this point we would like to introduce somebody to you who you know, you’ve heard his name,” Sir Paul said. “He’s going to come out here and play you a little song this joyful night. Ladies and gentlemen: Billy Shears.”

The pair last performed together in 2002. During the performance Sir Paul paid a tearful tribute to thelate John Lennon, before playing ‘Here Today’ a song he wrote for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxpKJAQ10yE&feature=related

So, we have another curious example from The Beatles clearly linked to our novel and one “Billie Shears”  supported by a really strange indirect reference to the transcendental cause promoted by Charles Lamb in his jorunal. Sir Paul or Ringo - if you ever get to read our tale and view our Watch… we truely hope you have been entertained.   

There is of course a serious note to all of this - to look at climate change and environmental issues in a transcendental way.  Interesting then that on the day the two legends chose to reunite, an ice bridge the size of Jamaica breaks in the Antarctic signalling further evidence of rapid change in the region.

Posted in Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q50 Do you miss someone you love?, Q49 Do you ever think about the old days?, Q34 Have you ever restored something?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q22 Do you love our Earth? | No Comments »