The Challenger Dispatch

Invention

Today’s Citizenship Test celebrates and expresses the inventiveness of the British People - you great innovators-at-home, you curious minds, you drawing-room pioneers!
Since time immemorial, man has been fascinated with his ability to contrive new mechanisms and devices with which to ease his daily life. These inventions are often discovered not by the scientist in his laboratory, or by the engineer in his workshop, but by the lawyer, the banker, the diplomat, all exploring the material world in their leisure hours. In their name, we put to you the following challenge:

Whether at work or at home, in the office or in the parlour, you will construct, using the materials and resources at your disposal, a demonstration of your inventiveness. A chain-reaction of mechanical principles, illustrated with house-hold objects. A domino-run of books and boots, chess-pieces and china. A grand, improvised machine. Produce videographic evidence of your creation in motion, and bring it to our attention on Twitter at @WiredUK, with the designation #invention.

For inspiration in your task, we provide the following two examples, one of the lowest quality, and one of the highest. Take heed, Candidates, be inspired, and create!





I am, as ever, your supervisor and faithful servant,
Charlton Rice-Laurie

Hunt!

Find a walkthrough for a computer game published prior to 1995. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt5

Hunt!

Find a cryptic crossword clue by Araucaria. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt4

Hunt!

Find a YouTube video with between 50 and 250 views. Send it via twitter to @WiredUK, with the hashtag #hunt3

Distance
It is natural for a true Briton to wish to serve his Sovereign however he can, whether that be with his mind, his strength, or his courage. Is that not the stirring we feel when we hear the rousing notes of Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory? And, should it be necessary, is it not every Briton’s honour to lay down his life for his country?
There are countless examples of such brave self-sacrifice throughout our Empire’s proud history, but special mention will be given here to famed explorer and pioneer James Cook.


Nathaniel Dance’s Iconic Portrait of Captain Cook

His discoveries were the pride of the Empire, but he died and was buried far from his native soil, and far from his King. We would like you to find out exactly how far apart their burial monuments are, as a tribute to a great patriot and his Sovereign. Round your answer to the nearest 100 miles and send it via twitter to @WiredUK with the designation #distance

Postscript
It has been brought to my attention that this question may be ambiguous. For clarity: We are asking about the ruling monarch at the time of Captain Cook’s death

On the live testing period
My dearest candidates - I hope this past weekend has provided you with an opportunity to rest your weary brains and restore your spirits to their fullest, as today sees the commencement of our live testing period.
Between today and next Friday the 19th of June, we will be providing you with new tasks in your quest to become joint citizens of the United Kingdom and His Majesty’s British Empire. Tasks will be published to this site in the morning of each day, and submissions for these challenges will be accepted until the 7th of July.
In some cases, however, the tasks will take place under time constraints - either undertakings which require some simultaneous actions to be taken by a number of candidates, or tests with a timed component. With these tasks, sufficient warning will be given before any timed or live actions are required. You are advised to follow the @WiredUK twitter feed in order to remain fully informed of such situations.
And now; on to our first task!

Harmony
Across the globe, His Majesty’s Empire is considered synonymous with great technological innovations; Analytic Engines, Autogyros, the emerging science of Reprophonics - all have changed our world for the better. But an oft-overlooked group has done just as much for the strength of our mighty Empire: its philosophers.
Without Bertrand Russell’s revolutionary A Vindication of Mechanical Sentience, which brought the idea of Analytic Intelligence to public notice and acceptance, it might not have been possible for His Majesty King George VI to take power. Without John Stuart Mill’s views on liberty and society, Britain might not have evolved into the free, fair culture we enjoy today. And without Emerson’s Nature, and the deep respect for our planet which it planted in the heart of British society, we might have sacrificed the well-being of our mother Earth for the sake of our industry. Instead, we live in careful balance with our planet, ensuring our technological advances never outstrip the ability of the Earth to support them. It is this harmonious relationship which we celebrate with today’s Citizenship Test.

Instructions
All across the Empire, we are surrounded by examples of Man’s Progress integrated seamlessly with Nature’s Bounty. It is your task, today, to provide photographic evidence of such a relationship in your society. We wish to receive single photographs containing as many of the following elements as possible: