12/01/2012 by admin.

The high street bookshop Waterstone’s has decided to drop the apostrophe from its online presence - a move designed to bring more vesatile and practical for the modern digital age.

The decision has not been without its critics with the Chairman of the Apostrophe Society calling the decision, ‘plain wrong’. Others have tweeted voicing their disquiet.

None of this surprises us since we had a huge debate about the appropriateness or otherwise of an apostrophe in ‘The Haymakers Survey’. The point is to illustrate how modern society is too focused on detail and triviality and has lost perspective and a sense of proportion on a whole range of issues.

Maybe the distractions are deliberate - to take our minds away from the bigger picture - maintain the status quo and defer action needed to protect the natural world and bring about a more just world.

Posted in Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q62a Is life logical?, Q56 Do you believe rules are there to be broken?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q46 Do you value a good education?, Q17 Can you speak another language? | No Comments »

18/10/2010 by admin.

The state lottery in Isreal has drawn exactly the same six numbers as the draw 3 weeks before - an event statisticians claim was a one in four trillion chance. The numbers that rolled out on a live TV broadcast were 36,33,32,26,14 and 13. The chance of 6 identical numbers being drawn in this way was judged as a 1 in 10,000 year event.

The six numbers were the same as those drawn on 21 September - which took place at the autumn equinox - a date so significant to The Haymakers Survey.

The questions for these numbers are

Q36. Should a good life cost the Earth?

Q33. Do you believe in life after death?

Q32. Are you afraid of the dark?

Q26. Do you take poetry seriously?

Q14. Do you believe your stars?

Q13. Have you ever been mistaken for someone else?

Maybe these questions will prove significant in the weeks to come. Let’s see!

We believe this remarkable coincidence is designed to draw people to the magic of The Haymakers Survey. This watch is overwhelmed with remarkable questions. Our readers will know all about the message left by The Emperor in our novel on the prospects of life on Earth in its current form - see page 159.

We like these surprises. We love pulling the rug from under your feet.

Posted in Q41 Do you like surprises?, Q62a Is life logical?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q36 Should a good life cost the Earth?, Q33 Do you believe in life after death?, Q14 Do you believe your stars?, Q26 Do you take poetry seriously?, Q32 Are you afraid of the dark?, Q13 Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? | No Comments »

03/07/2009 by admin.

We’ve previously commented on the sad death of Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’ and how the star linked with our story.  Well given the reference Sara made to Neverland and the ghost seen by Ben and recorded in Charles Lamb’s journal, we were curious about the mounting speculation about a ghostly shadowed figure seen during a CNN tour of the popstar’s former residence. 

There may well be a logical explanation but it makes for fascinating viewing….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Am67-Sew7k&feature=related

Posted in Q62a Is life logical?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Q59 Do you like surprises?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q.6 Do you believe in fairy tales?, Q10 Have you ever seen a ghost?, Q.3 Do you have a good imagination? | No Comments »

02/12/2008 by admin.

Happy 27th Birthday Britney Spears. Let’s celebrate - in the last year, Britney Spears was the most searched for term on Yahoo.com.  There are billions of searches each year and the troubled pop artist drew more hits than Barack Obama.  He was third on the list, behind Britney and ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’. 

This is all very interesting as some recent buyers of our novel initially mistook it to be by Britney Spears, not Billie Shears.  This was simply an ‘at a glance’ problem, but their names are very similar and rhyme.

Then we realise that Britney’s breakthrough song was, ‘Baby one more time’ with the lyrics, ‘Give me a sign, hit me…” She still believes. Do you? Here’s the video, complete with the clock ringing at 3.00.

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

Curious as a definition of ‘Haymaker’ includes one able to deliver a good punch. Which leads us on to the ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’. Interesting as ‘throwing a haymaker’ is a wrestling move.

Perhaps this all explains why Britney Spears made an appearance on the show, ‘The X Factor’?  Does not our novel ask whether we - the human race - have the X factor? Are we equipped to care for our planet and its eco-systems? Why Britney even chose to wear a top hat, just like the mysterious man in the shadows - the character orchastraing our story is clearly making a big impression.

Posted in Q75 Have you ever put on a show?, Q79 Have you ever looked into the shadows?, Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q62a Is life logical?, Q43 Do you believe in happy endings?, Q.9 Do you feel in control of your life?, Q20 Have your eyes ever deceived you?, Q40 Can you play a musical instrument?, Q.4 Have you ever wanted to stop the clock? | No Comments »

12/09/2008 by admin.

A study by York University’s Centre for Sustainability has found that residents in East Hertfordshire have the largest carbon footprint out of all regions in the UK! The study claims that those living in the district are responsible for 14.68 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.  The Chair of the local environmental scrutiny committee, said, “It doesn’t surprise me. We’re a very large, rural district.  A lot of people need cars and a lot of people have very large houses, which would also contribute to the carbon footprint.” The data was collected in 2001, yet has taken a long time to analyse. Here’s a map of the area…

The findings are really curious given our story takes place in the area! Was this deliberate? Did some unseen force have an insight to the challenges which led them to reveal the magic of ‘The Haymakers Survey’ to us? Even the name of the study - Censa - is linked to our survey since Charles Lamb’s journal includes a lenghty debate on the role of the Census.  Can you keep an open mind? Are there extraordinary things inside ourselves?

Maybe its also due to 10,000 years of local history…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOp8FMrRGhQ

Posted in Haymakers: Watch Wonders, Q76 Are you going to take action now to save our world?, Q62a Is life logical?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q46 Do you value a good education? | No Comments »

25/12/2007 by admin.

A 12 year old girl has astounded rescuers by surviving a plane crash in heavy jungle.  Locals in the western Panama city of David are calling it a Christmas miracle, as the girl was discovered on Christmas Day, more than 52 hours after the plane was first reported missing.  She was found hanging in a foetal position in the plane’s crushed cabin, trapped by wreckage and fallen luggage.  It was a miracle that she survived because the plane was smashed to pieces. The girl’s extraordinary escape has amazed doctors and aviation specialists. Apart from mild hypothemia, the impact left her with only minor muscle damage.

Posted in Q62a Is life logical?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q23 Do you believe all the laws of physics? | No Comments »

14/12/2007 by admin.

Scientists in the USA have calculated that Artic summers may be free of ice as early as 2013 - just 6 years from now.  This is much sooner than previously forecast, after summer melting in 2007 set new records.  This, as 3,000 metric tons of oil have accidentally spilled into the North Sea during the loading of a tanker, the Navion Britannica, off the coast of Norway.  isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?

An amazing story may be unfolding! The wife of a window washer who miraculously survived a terrible accident involving a 47 story plunge - that’s 550 feet - says, he has started to move his arms and legs.  Drs say the man should absolutely have died! his survival was impossible. The building was on E. 66th Street.  The survivors name was Alcides Moreno. An anagram of which is ONE DO MIRACLES!  Alcides remains in a critical condition but there are signs of hope!

Posted in Q66 Do you have a favourite flower?, Q62a Is life logical?, Q58 Do things happen for a reason?, Q52 Do you believe in miracles?, Q15 Do you sometimes fear the worst? | No Comments »