harry enfield in the hildyard arms

Something that wasn't expected at the weekend.  Harry Enfield in The Hildyard Arms in Colburn, Catterick Garrison. One of our few remaining local pubs.
Either that or my drug flashbacks have started to kick in (about bleeding time).

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bootle bomb damage 1941

Bootle bomb damage after an air raid in 1941. This is only one small example, but Bootle was one of the most bombed places in the UK during the war, with up to 90% of the houses damaged (including the one l lived in).
No wonder there was so much rubble about when l was growing up there.

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women concentration camp workers from belsen - bergen

Sometimes the facade of ordinary looking people disguises how cruel they can be.  I deliberately chose not to say evil, as l don't think that people that participate in horrendous acts are necessarily evil, just maybe led astray by circumstances and a breakdown of normal civilisation, with a lack of all it's usual laws, restrictions and moral codes of behavior.  Who can say how anyone would behave in certain circumstances, as there are numerous examples of horrendous behaviour in just about any war. I'm also not singling out the women above as more culpable, it's just that their pictures were readily available, and l can't be bothered at the moment searching for photographs of the men that were involved.
The above were all women (known as Aufseherinnen) found guilty of working for the Nazis in the Belsen - Bergen concentration camp during the Second World War, and either imprisoned or hanged afterwards. Ordinary looking, and who, without the rise of the Nazi party and trickle down, gradually increasing hatred of the Jews propaganda, would most likely never have dreamt they would end up doing what they did. That's the scary part - how ordinary people can be made to engage in evil deeds, if the hatred and dehumanisation of a race or religion is allowed and encouraged to take hold.
More photos and details can be found here.

At one of the mass graves - photo by George Rodger (Time / Life)

The Anne and Margot Frank memorial (she died there)

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dj snake and lil jon - turn down for what.

One of the strangest videos you are likely to see for a long time. DJ Snake and Lil Jon - Turn Down For What.



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mr parrot trying to attract my attention

This is what happens when l try to ignore Mr Parrot and watch the football.  He sits on the edge of the settee l'm on, and starts whining and flapping his wings to try and get my attention.
I think he's in love with me - silly sod.

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between the bars - elliott smith and the civil wars

After listening to Elliot Smith's 'Either / or' earlier this evening, l was reminded of The Civil Wars rather excellent cover version of 'Between the Bars', one of Elliot's tracks on that very album.
I prefer Elliot's voice, but The Civil Wars certainly had a good crack at it.
However, I  was originally going to say they had a good stab at it, but thought people may think l was referring to Elliot's death (as if l am the kind of guy that would even think of doing such a thing!!).
Anyway...enjoy.

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a dog in a spider costume freaking people out

This is hilarious - although it would scare the crap out of me.
A dog running around in a spider costume.
A simple idea, yet very effective.
Enjoy.



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