Mankind has never quite grasped the concept of adapting to the environment; it is more of the case of adapting the environment to suit mankind. Never being satisfied with just our own two feet, we have always contrived different ways to help us get from A to B that little bit faster. From the invention of the wheel it has been an epic journey of discovery that can only be described as an obsession. The last century saw technology finally keeping up with our dreams, and the limits of travel suddenly seemed boundless. From flying across the Atlantic, exploring space, reaching the deepest depths of our oceans, to flying supersonic, the boundaries were pushed back further and further.

Out of all the modes of transport that we have in the modern world, the motorcar has been the one that has affected us the most. We simply could not live without them and cannot imagine what life was like before them (although I am sure people like Ken Livingstone would like to see people being flogged in the town square for driving a car in London)! Although most of us will not go as far as one particular American from one of those sunny states down south, who was so fanatical about his car, that he actually married it! It is safe to say that we are a nation that is obsessed with cars. The back category of UL's about cars is huge, and they range from the cheeky 'The Clever Motorist' (TR8712), to the sinister 'Ghostly Handprints' (TR8702), to the damn right stupid 'The JATO Rocket Car' (TR8711). Just for good measures we also touch on the present day's hysteria of road rage with 'Battle Of The Ages' (TR8705) and 'The Road Hog' (TR8704), while discussing the reasons why you are not allowed to use mobile phones at petrol stations in 'Mobile Phones At Petrol Stations' (TR8701).

Another obsession of mankind since year dot is the fantasy of flying. The Wright brothers gave us that dream, and it has been realised on a grand scale with commercial air travel. The airline industry is very demanding and cut throat, but also close knit, with many UL's forming from 'in-house' jokes such as 'Mr. Gay' (TR8706) and 'The Locked Out Pilot' (TR8707). Another legend 'The Wooden Airfield' (TR8714) is a great example of wartime propaganda, and is what I consider as a breakthrough with Project 2067. We are now starting to see how UL's can be skilfully manipulated to serve a certain purpose.

We are not a nation that likes to complain, in most situations we are more likely to grin and bare it, keep the stiff upper lip and all that. But sometimes when certain standards are not met we feel it necessary to put pen to paper and write a letter of complaint. Normally you would receive a very apologetic letter back in return, which is known in the trade as a duck letter. Everything is fine, you have made your point and they stand corrected…unless the true feelings of the company are accidentally discovered as in the Bedbug Letter (TR8709).

Finally, I would like to draw your attention to Life Is Cheap (TR8710). This is a gritty story that tackles issues such as the belief that there is a decline in morality in this world, and with escalating violence and death all too common in certain countries, Life really is that cheap!