photographing lunatics with hugh diamond

At one time, the study of physiognomy was widespread, and one of the early pioneers in photography, doctor Hugh Welch Diamond, took photographs of his patients at the Women's Surrey County Lunatic Asylum between 1848 - 1858, hoping that they may be helped on the way to recovery by looking at their own photographs, realising and discussing how they presented themselves.
Of course we realise now that it is nonsense, but it was taken seriously for a long time, and let's face it, most people judge others within seconds by the way they look and present themselves (including me).
Here are some photographs of some of the ladies, and one of Mr Diamond himself.
Rather sadly, although Mr Diamond may have been a fine, upstanding example of morality, looking at some of the women, l would put good money on the fact that they would have been physically and sexually abused, probably outside in the community before entering the asylum or while they were incarcerated within it.
A cynical view?  Maybe, but a correct one in my estimation.
For more information about this, and some more photographs, go here.

Here's Mr Diamond, and below are some of the women. 

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my memory of ken dodd opening the new strand may be wrong

I've always thought that l was at The New Strand in Bootle when it opened in 1968. I remember Ken Dodd being there and getting tickled with his tickling stick (simmer down at the back), but it turns out l could be mistaken.
After much searching on the internet, l think it was the Mayor of Bootle who opened The Strand, while Ken Dodd opened Tesco's (in The Strand), if the information below is to believed.
I hate being wrong about anything, but either way, Manchester United had just won The European Cup, and l still got tickled (and have never been the same since).

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the elongated springsteen

I can't get my head around this photograph of Bruce Springsteen  playing to the audience and being his over dramatic and charismatic self from many moons ago. As far as l know, it hasn't been photoshopped, but there is no way that Springsteen was that tall and skinny, even back in the day. I understand that the kids at the front are pretty small, and the shot is taken from a strange angle, but it still confuses me (and unfortunately, l don't know who took the photo).
Then again - maybe l'm just an idiot.

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careful with your holiday snaps

Going away on holiday?
Be careful when your are taking your snaps.

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my personality test results

After taking the test based on Carl Jung and Isabel Briggs Myer's typological approach to personality, l am apparently an INTP type. The 16 types are below, along with some of my results.

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Now, much as l usually poo poo a lot of counselling ideas, l must admit, this has pretty much summed me up, and it turns out that l may have the same personality type as Carl Jung himself.

Then again, it could all still be hogwash, and l'm pretty sure that if l did the test again, just putting down any old answers at random, l would still get a readout that would probably apply to me.

Still, l'm prepared to admit that the result was still a lot closer than l expected.

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lee griggs' portrait modeling experiment

Go on - admit it.  These look pretty damn good, and there's more where these came from.
Check out Lee Griggs' site to see more abstract goodies, of various shapes and sizes.

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collecting vinyl

A cartoon l can certainly relate to.

And on a related note......

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vietnam footage coupled with the rolling stones' gimme shelter (and paul hardcastle's '19')

What can l say?
A great song with moving footage. Rather them than me, and remember, the average age of those fighting was 19.



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jungle book lobby cards

More stuff that l would collect if l had unlimited funds - lobby cards from my favourite films.
Here's some from one of them - The Jungle Book (the original).
Don't get me started on the sacrilege that was Jungle Book 2).

And here's an early sketch of Baloo the bear, looking like a fatter version of Mr Parrot.

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the aliens - happy and robot man

After moaning about Channel 5 in the last post, here's something more cheerful. 'Happy' by The Aliens

And because l like The Aliens so much, here's another long time favourite - Robot Man (especially from 1.45 onwards).



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proud to be from liverpool (and the young'uns)

Fascists wanted to march in Liverpool.
So what happened?
Anti Fascist protesters, bombarding them with missiles, and chanting 'Nazi Scum off our streets', and 'Master race - you're having a laugh' causing the event to be cancelled.

Makes one proud to be a scouser - more about the march here.

On a related note, more arses that need to be taken down.
Channel 5's fare next Tuesday.

Talk about trying to taint the poor, uneducated working classes. If they want to see a bunch of twats making easy money without exactly working very hard to get it, the TV programmers at Channel 5 should just look at their no doubt middle class selves.
Bastards.

Here's The Young'uns



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jungle's well attended funeral

Now that is what you call a send off - the well attended funeral of Jungle in Darlington.  Told you (in an earlier post) that he was a nice guy.



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the housemartins, stan cullimore and the bopps

More madness from YouTube.  Here's The Bopps, a children's programme from the UK.
The reason l am highlighting it?
Only because one of The Bopps is no other than Stan Cullimore, who used to be in The Housemartins (most definitely NOT Stan Collymore). This l only found out the other day, when l was also made aware that he is now a prolific children's author.
Consider my flabber to be gasted.



And any old excuse will do to show footage of The Housemartins - so here's 'Sheep'.




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the flaming lips and miley cyrus on the conan show

I'm a big fan of The Flaming Lips, and they are at their bonkers best on this recent Conan show appearance with Miley Cyrus, performing The Beatles 'A Day In The Life' with a magical swirling cape.
I also dig Wayne Coyne's longer hair style - very Bolanesque.



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the death of jungle

Although there is no way that l was a friend of his, and l won't be going to his funeral, l used to see Jungle (who changed his name from the much less frightening 'George') on a semi regular basis back in the day when l used to drink in Darlington a lot, and he is a character that will be missed by many.
Forget the cliche of bikers all being aggressive gits, most of them are approachable, and very pleasant and funny company if you actually make the effort to talk to them, and Jungle was certainly that (as long as you weren't a git).  

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the new kfc at catterick

The new KFC franchise taking shape at Catterick Garrison. It's meant to be one of the first of the new outlets to be opened, and l (as well as many others) can't wait.

I'll have to get around to expanding  the doorways in my house before the gluttony commences, or l'll be sleeping in the streets.

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burnfest - coming soon

Coming very soon to sunny Colburn in the heart of Catterick - the now annual Burnfest!
Wine bar first, then Colburn, then flaking out at about 10pm. Fun for all the family!

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the aftermath of the richmond fire

The aftermath of the fire in Finkle street, Richmond (The North Yorkshire one), apparently started by an 18 year old setting fire to a waste bin in the early hours of last Sunday (he is currently being held in custody as his plea for bail was refused).
Photographs are by Gullwing photography, and if you want to donate any money to help the affected businesses, go here.

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