A book for bedtime

Written by the Engineeringtalk editor Nov 4, 2009

The folks in the Government were so concerned about the effects of climate change that they called in the educated folks from the great seats of learning to ask what might be done about it.

During a number of meetings, the experts told The Powers That Be that if we all didn't do more to manage energy use more efficiently and reduce our carbon dioxide emissions, that a tragedy of biblical proportions would befall the land.

Yes that's right. Unless people switched off unnecessary lighting, the air would become unfit to breathe, the temperatures would rise, and great storms would cause inordinate amounts of flooding that would wash away houses and businesses.

It was scary stuff all right. And so the folks in the government decided that they had to act. Clearly, it was apparent that they needed to raise the awareness of the population to the problems that climate change might bring, and what might be done to prevent it. But being unfamiliar with how to communicate with the Man On The Street, the politicians called in the Big Advertising Agency to help them out.

After listening to the apocalyptic tales, the advertising men went away for a brainstorming session, during which they hit upon an idea that they felt certain would appeal to the government.

The idea was relatively simple, yet it would tug on the heartstrings of each and every person in the land. They would write a short illustrated children's book that painted a picture of a world in which the population at large had done nothing to combat the effects of climate change, and then distribute it to every household in the land.

While the narrative was childlike, the illustrations in the book were far from it, graphically highlighting family pets drowning as rivers rose, children walking to school wearing gas masks, and parents taking their own lives rather than face the horrors of the future. While most of the book was indeed quite gruesome, the end was upbeat and optimistic, highlighting how the aforementioned scenario could be avoided entirely just by turning off a few lights.

And so it came to pass that the book was published and posted with an explanatory note from the Department of Global Warming asking parents to read the story to their children at bedtime.

While a few parents wrote to the Department of Global Warming complaining that the book was far too grisly, there were many that didn't. And that was when the climate change problems really started.

You see, the hundreds of children that did have the book read to them became very frightened at the apocalyptic images of the future. So much so, that they never got to hear the positive message at the end.

Tragically for us all, these children were so disturbed that they insisted that their parents left every light in the house on at night just to reassure them that the world was not going to end tomorrow.

Top Products featured this issue

[1]  NEWPORT LAUNCHES STABILISER CLEANROOM ISOLATOR

(Newport Spectra-Physics, 03 Nov 2009)

Newport Corporation has introduced the S-2000AC pneumatic vibration isolator.

[2]  ESI SIMULATION SUITE SUITS COMPLEX WELD DESIGNS

(ESI Group, 30 Oct 2009)

ESI Group has released its Welding Simulation Suite version 2009, which includes Weld Planner and Pam-Assembly.

[3]  AC DRIVES PERMIT WIDER USE OF MAGNET MOTORS

(Parker Hannifin - Electromechanical and Drives Division, 30 Oct 2009)

Parker Hannifin has launched a range of AC drives that allows permanent magnet motors to be used in a wide range of pump, fan and compressor applications.

[4]  IGUS OPTICAL-FIBRE CABLE SUITS ALL BUS SYSTEMS

(Igus UK, 30 Oct 2009)

Igus has developed an optical-fibre cable, Chainflex CFLG.2LB, which is suitable for all bus systems.

[5]  AGILENT ADDS J-BERT N4903B TO SUPERSPEED USB TEST

(Agilent Technologies Europe, 04 Nov 2009)

Agilent Technologies has enhanced its Superspeed USB test solution portfolio.

[6]  STEMMER OFFERS HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGE CAPTURE CARD

(Stemmer Imaging, 03 Nov 2009)

Stemmer Imaging is now offering the VisionRGB-E1 single-channel image capture card from Datapath.

[7]  TI20KD ROTARY ENCODERS PROVIDE 1NM RESOLUTION

(Renishaw, 04 Nov 2009)

Renishaw has introduced 1nm and 2nm resolution versions of its successful Tonic incremental encoder range.

[8]  PAN-AND-TILT POSITIONER INTEGRATES ELECTRONICS

(Aerotech, 02 Nov 2009)

Aerotech has launched a pan-and-tilt positioner with integrated drives and motion controls for high-end camera security, surveillance and defence applications.

[9]  IFM PMD CAMERA SEES IN THREE DIMENSIONS AT ONCE

(IFM Electronic, 04 Nov 2009)

The Efector PMD 3D camera from IFM Electronic is the first industrial camera that 'sees' in three dimensions at once.

[10]  LEUZE LAUNCHES SMALL PHOTOELECTRIC FORK SENSOR

(Leuze Electronic, 30 Oct 2009)

Leuze Electronic's GS61 and GS63 optical fork sensors are designed for the detection of non-transparent labels.

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Dave Wilson

Engineeringtalk editor

Dave Wilson
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