The Small World Experiment

BBC Wales

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:11:00 +0000

A little call from BBC wales today has spurned me into getting the site updated with the latest postcards we've recieved.

Will also have to think about starting the chase up of all the boxes, shaking the little tree and seeing how many we can get to come home.

We have been so caught up in our other new projects the SWE has been neglected.

Check http://www.holeinmypocket.com/ for more info.

Bird Project

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:54:00 +0000

Happy New Year. Is it too late to say that now?

At the beginning of the year, we recieved an email from Ola Liszewska (which is a great name) to tell us about her own small world experiment. Entitled the bird project, Ola gave out small laminated cards with a drawing of a bird to 22 people and asked people to see who could get the bird to have the longest journey. The project has been going for two months now and just when Ola was about to give up hope, she suddenly got her first email. Jeremy the bird had made it to Stolkholm.

We are keen to hear about more small world experiment. If you are attempting a similar project then let us know.

Box 51 is my favourite

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Well I don't want to insult any of the other boxes out there or any of the good people who are helping them to make their way around the world but box 51 is the only one to consistently get back in touch and send us photos of its travels and it is firmly placed as our favourite.

Check out the news page to see where it has been now - pretty stunning scenery and a very small black dog.

BOX 51

There is still time for our love of Number 51 to be usurped so come on other boxes, we are a fickle bunch - send us some photos of you having exciting adventures and you'll soon climb to the top of our affections.

Best wishes

x

Christmas Present

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:26:00 +0000

http://www.flat33.com/postcard/ENG_02_info.html
POSTCARD A celebration of recent postcard design, thisunique book showcases over 800 miniature worksof art, specially created for a postcard-sizedcanvas: a must-have for avid collectors as well asanyone with a passion for graphic design.Features over 100 artists, illustrators, photographers,designers and collectives from around the world,with new talents sitting alongside established artists.Separate sections are devoted to one-off designs,limited-edition sets and books, unusual and hightechpostcards and interactive projects.Includes a huge range of handmade artworks,cutting-edge illustrations, commercial promocards, and even edible and musical postcards.

And this project is featured. My copy arrived yesterday and its super cool and would make an excellant gift for your loved ones this Christmas.

I'm off to Japan - see you in a few weeks. (Available from all good book shops and the wonderful world of Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Postcard-FL-33/dp/1856695697?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1215963088&sr=8-1.)

PS - please little boxes get in touch. It has been several weeks now with no messages. We miss you. :(

Milking it

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:38:00 +0000

Just heard from our old friend - Box number #54 who was in Brisbane, but is now on its way to Townsville, Queensland. Townsville sounds almost a made up place, like the name of a town in a kids book. "I live at number 23 Street Avenue, Townsville, Cityburgh, Countryland". Ann Adams who has been looking after our little buddy since 2006 says that she is a self employed milk distributor - is that a milkman or a dairy owner - either way #54 will have strong bones and good teeth.

Facebook degrees

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:57:00 +0000

I'm not quite sure of the whole facebook/ bebo/ myspace worlds. People keep telling me that Hole in my Pocket and the Small World Experiment should have pages - but no one has yet explained to me what the actual benefits of such things would be. I was having a gander on facebook earlier looking up an old cinema I used to work in and I came across this page.

http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8900080125

It appears that writer Steve Jackson decided to have a wee explore of the small world ideas as research for his book The Watcher and the results can be seen here.

http://www.steve-jackson.net/six_degrees/index.html

Lord of the dance

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:41:00 +0000

No, the lord of the dance is not Jesus or indeed Michael Flaterly - the king of the dance is 31 year old Matt Harding a "31-year-old deadbeat from Connecticut who used to think that all he ever wanted to do in life was make and play videogames."

Its a very strange film - its just of a slightly strange bloke dancing in different places around the world but for some reason it leaves you with a big smile.

Why do we humans enjoy, eccentric adventures like this. How does something so seemlingly pointless have such a profound effect on so many people around the world that they are sending Matt emails saying the video made them smile and cry.

Who knows but it is a video that shows, it is a small world after all.

Small world news

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:49:00 +0000

Still no new news of boxes. Come on guys, get in touch. We miss you. :(

There is however an interesting wee article on the BBC's website about a series of "6 degrees" experiments that have been carried out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7539329.stm

also an old article

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/more_or_less/5176698.stm

Lighthouse Adventures?

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:47:00 +0000

Not sure if it is or not, but we think this is a photo of Box 51 infront of a snow Lighthouse. Maybe it is there to guide sledgers away from dangerous hidden rocks under the snow.

Thanks to Steve Wirtz from www.cartuna.net for sending us this great photo. Looking forward to seeing where No 51 goes next.

Come on you other boxes, No 51 is showing you all up, get in touch and let us know where you are and who you are with.

Willie on the move

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:29:00 +0000

More news from what is fast becoming our favoutie box - No #051 is on the move. Now in Wisconsin at the home of artist Steve Wirtz where it is enjoying lots of snow. Bit of a climate change from its last home in Florida.

Steve says he has some photos of the box, so hopefully we'll get those on the site soon.

Willie on the move

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:33:00 +0000

Some futher images of box 051 arrived in the email two days before a postcard from Dogshow/ Craftsman extrodinaire Don Williamson arrive in the post.

Having spent two years in the sunny climes on Florida, Don has passed the box on to a friend in "the land of snow and ice fishing, Wisconsin". I hope the poor thing doesn't catch a cold.

Where Willie? aka #051

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:25:00 +0000

We are renaming box number 51 as Willie, in honour of old friend of box number 051's first host, Mr Don Williamson. Don contacted us at the weekend to apologise for the 2 years delay in passing on the box. This was in part due to his work/ travel commitments but also partially relating to the sad passing of his beligan Sheep dog Willie (pictured above).

Don was a bit worried that he had failed the project or that it has stopped, due to the lack of updates on the site. Please, if there is anyone else out there, holding onto a box fearing the same thing, then let us know. As we said to Don, there is no time limit on the project, if it takes 20 years, then so be it. Eventually, fingers crossed, the boxes will start to return home. We always imagined that it would take years rather than months and we were delighted to hear from Willie/ 051 for the first time.

If anyone else out there is still holding onto a box, then get in touch. Or if anyone has passed on a box and is wondering why they haven't seen an update about it, contact us or politely chase up the person you passed it too.

From the sound of things I think Willie/ 051 is going to be in a hurry to get home so the other boxes will have to get their skates on.

All the best and a very belated new year to you all.

Hell and back

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:33:00 +0000

Woo hoo - the first postcard to arrive since May to actually have enough information on it for us to post and its from one of our favourite boxes, number 23 which has already had quite an interesting life - Its started off in Paris learning french from a Chef, then it travelled to the UK where somehow, after some unknown adventures, it wound up being discovered in Waterloo station by a travel writer who then appears to have sent it back to France. The new postcard is actually from the US which makes us wonder if Number 23 trying to collect air miles. There it visited Kyeann Sayer who, from the postmark, lives near Hellgate!! This is a worrying name - has number 23 been to hell and back? If so I think it will definitely qualify as the furthest travelled when it eventually gets home.

Most interestingly Kyeann's postcard advises that 23 is now returning to Paris. Mais oui!! What is the connection to Paris for number twenty three? This will be its third visit there - which is funny as I've tried to go to Paris three times myself and failed each time.

Kyeann works for a very interesting looking company called Tree Hugger.

"TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, we strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. At TreeHugger we know that variety is the spice of life, so you can find all you need to go green in our up to the minute blog, weekly and daily newsletters, weekly video segments, weekly radio show and our user-generated blog, Hugg. We also extend our expertise to companies looking for a little green guidance. Past clients include Domino, Sundance Channel and House & Garden. "

The boys are back in town

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 10:29:00 +0000

Finally the computer is back from the Doctors, while it is now fully fit it did sadly require a transplant and its old hard drive has been replaced. Unfortunetly, we didn't have a proper back-up of all the images stored on the drive so you'll have to bear with us as we search through old DVD's and put the files back together.

Small world on the radio

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:56:00 +0000

Just found out about this good wee programme on the BBC all about numbers and number theories. There is a programme all about the number 6 and it has a small bit about 6 degrees of seperation http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/rams/further5_20050906.ram. Think its availible to aeveryone and not just the UK - but if anyone has any problems then let us know.

Thanks for the emails advising that the site has a few images missing. We are trying to sort it - our server has partially gone down - and our computer has also broken and had to go to the doctors - hopefully back to full speed next week.

Ta da

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:56:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to the all new shiny Small World Experiment website. Hopefully this will be a lot easier for everone - easier to read and find information for you guys and easier to update and maintain for us.

We've also introduced comments to all posts so please let us know what you think or if you have more news of a box yourself then let us know. We still want your postcards though so please keep sending them. The site also has a forum where we would like to generate discussion on all topics relating to the small world theory and where we want to record your small world stories.

We look forward to the ongoing success of the project and fingers crossed on of the boxes will be back soon.

PS - if you've previously had a box but notice you've not been mentioned then let us know, also if you passed the box onto someone but they are not mentioned please give them a chase and get them to contact us and get them to pass the box on.

cheers

The Small World Experiment

summary of news over last few months

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:56:00 +0000

To speed the process of information transfer from the old site to the new - below please find a summary of news from the last few months.

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12 July 2007

We'll as those who have emailed in know already we have had contact from lots of boxes over the last month but unfortunetly people have failed to let us know some very key facts-

1: where the box is
2: what box number it is
3: where its going next

We have had some lovely emails along the lines of "Hey I've got a box" and its wonderful to hear from people but you got to give us a wee bit more to go on before we can post it. Also anyone with some photos of the boxes send them in - we may award a prize for the best one.

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14 May 2007

It's always good to hear from a box we've not heard from in a while, and even better when its a box we haven't heard from since the very first day when it set off. But that's the good news this week.

Box No 28 has just contacted us to let us know that it has had a pleasent year with Max in The Netherlans and is now ready to adventure on its on.

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25 April 2007

More postcards arrived in without box numbers written on them so we are doing a bit more investigation into these ones as well.

We were also contacted by Whitley Gaffney who is writing an article about the Small World Phenominon for her school paper.

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25 March 2007

Not so many updates recently. We have therefore decided to update properly once a month, with in between updates for any really big important news.

It is now nearly one year since the first boxes set out so fingers crossed there is more sightings from them in the next four weeks.

In February the final box set sail on its way to a lawyers in Tokyo. Three days ago we heard from box number 20 who has been living at www.genius.com which is an excellant website name.

From our initial plan for this project we imagined that the first box to return to us, would probably do so about a year later. So please, please please everyone out there, can you make sure you send us a postcard or email, if you have or have had a box and make sure you continue to pass the box down the chain, as we'd love to see them again.

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14 January 2007

Happy New Year to you all. Fresh updates for Box numbers 08, 45 and 53. We will be endevering to update the site soon. Thanks for emails and suggestions, we will try to set up a forum for people to post their small world tales.

Congratulations to Small Worlder Polly Johnson who has just become a mum. Best wishes to you and the wee one, hope you have a great year.

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01 December 2006

Recently we have had a few emails from people asking why the site hasn't been updated. The reason is, the boxes have been keeping very quiet. Which is why we were delighted to hear from box No 8 who has been spending time with Liz at the BBC in Surrey. Maybe No 8 has become a TV star and will appear as a spy on Spooks or running a stall in Eastenders.

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28 November 2006

Thanks to everyone for their emails. Please keep them coming in, its great to hear from you all.

We are planning on updating the site in the new year, so if anyone has any good ideas for things they'd like to see or if anyone has any images of them wearing their badges or of their box in interesting places, we'd love to see them.

For those of you looking forward to the coming festive fun, we have made an advent calender. Download it in two parts here and here, print out, overlay the prints and cut out the doors each day for all kinds of Christmas fun.

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05 November 2006

Box No 53 has just got in touch. It is already on its way back from Indonesia to the UK.

Indonesia has so far presented us with the most lovely stamps as you can see on the left.

Happy Guy Fawkes night to all UK. May you all have had a fun evening of setting off explosives with no need to call fire or medical emergecny services.

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28 October 2006

We recieved an email from Marie in Massachusetts saying how she stumbled upon our website and was very keen to recieve one of the three remaining small world boxes. Her reasoning was very good and so we agreed and have posted her one. Look out for No 43 its on its way.

Visit here to find out more about Marie and her work - a www.berwickinstitute.org
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15 October 2006

News has arrived from CA from Frank, the Director of Genius Inc. Not entirely sure what genius inc do or what box number they have but we have been sent a of lovely photo of Frank and his family.

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03 October 2006

Second bit of news - The assistant Paula has been in touch to tell us box 2 is on its way to chillie to visit the Incas. This may be the most exciting life of any box so far. Dragons and incas for your first two visits is pretty good going.

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03 October 2006

Two bits of news today. Both relating to box#02 and both from the wonderful and mysterious Galapogas Isles. No1 Ros has got in touch to say that she has passed the box on to her assistant who is heading off for pastures new.

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22 September 2006

Hmm box No 44 has just been returned undelivered aswell. This is an interesting turn up. I guess the people of the "Vegitarian Fast Food" in West Java must have moved. So we welcome suggestions for a new desitination.

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15 September 2006

Ho, ho - good news. Box No 41 is getting closer and is now with an architect in edinburgh. Apologies for the break in news, been away. Keep your postcards coming.

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08 August 2006

Another interesting turn up. Two boxes have arrived home. Hurrah, I hear you cry but not so. These have returned undelivered, unopened. We are therefore about to work out new places in New York and Japan. If anyone has any suggestions then get in touch.

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30 July 2006

"Good luck" wishes have arrived from Plymouth. We don't know much about Plymouth, other than its where the Mayflower landed. Not much is known about Polly Johnson either. There is no box number on the card and the post mark is covering her address. Please get in touch with some contact info Polly.

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27 July 2006

A little email has reached us frrom No 53 to inform us it has arrived in Indonesia. A postcard is apparently on its way and we look forward to seeing it.

Several cards have arrived without numbers. Please, please, please add your box number to the postcards if it is not there already.

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19 July 2006

A very proud looking koala adorns the stamp on the first postcard from No 45. The lucky box has been away doing some vegetable shopping and apparently had a great time. Please let us know if you take your box on any advetnures and send us a photo.

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18 July 2006

Not completely sure what Mary Duxbury - last known holder of Box No 7 does for a living as the postmark is covering it but we think she is a retired medical -physicist and now makes either beads of bread?

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17 July 2006

Another postcard has arrived from Nicki Barnett in Scotland - unfortunetly the postcard is missing its box number so we will have to track Nicki down to confirm which box she had. [It was No 48]
Also visit the contacts page and sign up to our new monthly mailing list.

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13 July 2006

Anita - first stop for No 52 has been in touch to let us know an article about Milgram's experiment was on Radio 4 today. It's very interesting and well worth a listen.

[click here to listen]

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06 July 2006

Good news - after a wee break in communication we have heard from another new box. No 48, currently in Thailand is visitng the editor of Citylife magazine. Turns out the ediotr studied in Scotland and so the box is well on its way home already.

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24 June 2006

Another US of the A box. No 3 is in Massachusettes and aparently has been sent 3,000 miles in the wrong direction to see what will happen. We reckon that means it's in the far east someplace or in the middle of the sea - depending which atlas we look at.

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23 June 2006

This postcard has casued us a little confusion as last we heard No 23 was in London but this post card indicates that it is back in Paris. Either No 23 was missing the nice weather or the cards have got out of order.

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22 June 2006

Just heard from wee box No 54 which is thenot only the furthest awaybut is also the last box to be posted. It is having a nice time spying fish from the bottom of a glass boat in New Zealand.

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17 June 2006

Its funny how information comes in little bursts but as soon as one box gets in touch then another also drops us a line. No 14 which we have identified from its stamp is still in Sweden.

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16 June 2006

Only a few days after our plea to other boxes to get in touch and we have heard from a new little fellow. No 47 who having spent some time in the bright lights in NEW york is now on its way to geordie land of NEWcastle.

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10 June 2006

Just heard from No 41 who has just arrived in Edinburgh. Just a short nip accross the country and it will soon be home.

But where are all the others? Come on boxes, get in touch.

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03 June 2006

So the battle to return has now become a three horse race - with our three box leaders 8, 41 and now No 23 all headed back to Scotland. No 23 was last found at Waterloo station and is currently on its way to Edinburgh. Place your bets now, if you think it can over take the other two.

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02 June 2006

Hooray. News from a brand new box - No 12 has just dropped a wee message from Kangerlussuaq in Greenland. We don't know alot about the country but they do have a very fine selection of stamps including the one to the right with a women in a rather fetching red jumper.

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01 June 2006

Apparently, according to a paper I read recently, rock is back - I was not aware it had gone away but it seems the finnish maddies that won the eurovision last week have saved it's soul. And speaking of scandanavian rockness we have just heard from box No 14 who is currently living with Martin "Rock God" Forssman in Sweden.

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25 May 2006

Oh ho - here we are getting all excited about box number 41 and there sneaking up on the blindside is box No 7 who we have just heard has returned to it's home city. Will it be the first back and what has happened to the other 49. Stay tuned for the answers.

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24 May 2006

Hmmm , some bad news has reached our ears today. Apparently there is something wrong with our email address. Thankyou to Paul and Box No 8 for bringing it to our attention. We will fix it as soon as possible but in the meantime please use info@holeinmypocket.com.

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20 May 2006

Bounjour, mais oui. Fantasique!! The first postcard from outsde the uk shores has arrived. Box number 23 is spending some time with top chef Mr David Lebovitz. We are rather jealous of the tasty delicacies it will be enjoying in Paris. We've just had beans on toast for tea.

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19 May 2006

Well box 41 is sprinting well into the lead with another postcard arrived, this time from mr Iain Halket a puppeteer from Aberdeen. All you other boxes better watch out - this wee guy is getting very close to home.

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7 heaven in devon (well not in devon actually)

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:54:00 +0000

11 May 2006
So far so good and news from another box. This time No7 also within the UK - We look forward to hearing from our first box from overseas. Where will it come from, what has happened to the other 51 boxes. Only time will tell.

smitten mittens

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:50:00 +0000

06 May 2006
The good news just keeps a coming.
Box No 52 has left the comfort of Mildred's mittens guinnea pig home and is now picking up some useful tips from Sali Gray, a business and life coach in Glouscester in the UK.

hello - is it me your looking for

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:43:00 +0000

26 April 2006
Our very first postcard has arrived from one of our boxes, It was from No 41 who appears to be having a questioning time in Suffolk at the home of Tim Hunkin - engineer, cartoonist and inventor of amazing machines. http://www.smallworldexperiment.com/#

And they're off

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:40:00 +0000

22 April 2006
Fantastic news, the boxes are finally, (after a long delay) off on their way to lots of lovely strangers around the world. From the glass boat company in new zealand to the police departemnet in alaska. We wish them all the best of luck and look forward to hearing from them soon.

hello world

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:34:00 +0000

31 January 2006
Website goes online. Hello there, welcome to our world.

preperations

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:26:00 +0000

28 December 2005
The boxes have had their lables stuck on, the badges are counted and placed in the boxes and the postcards are ready to print. Its all getting very exciting now.

blank boxes arrive

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:21:00 +0000

05 November 2005
Yippee after a very protracted ordering process, the boxes have finally arrived and we can get on with launching the project.

First press

noreply@blogger.com (Alburt) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:19:00 +0000

03 May 2005
The Small World Experiment was the main focus for an article in last weeks Sunday Times. Click here to view the newspaper clipping which includes a photo of a rather shady looking Hole in my Pocket. Alternatively you can read the article online at the Sunday Times.