Saturday, February 8, 2025
BONKERS
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News item:
From:
News.com
February 7, 2025
‘Bonkers’: Lego blocks called anti-LGBT
A self-guided tour at a major museum has dubbed Lego blocks anti-LGBT, warning they reinforce “heteronormativity”.
The Seeing Thing Queerly tour assists visitors to view the Science Museum in London through the lens of “queer communities, experiences, and identities”. However, the tour has taken aim at Lego blocks because the children’s toy has “male or female parts which “mate” with each other. The tour claims that this props up the view that there are “only two genders”, according to a report by The Telegraph, meaning it is anti-LGBT, an umbrella term for groups that are not heteronormative.
A guide for the tour explains: “The top of the brick with sticking out pins is male, the bottom of the brick with holes to receive the pins is female, and the process of the two sides being put together is called mating”.
The view was blasted by the director of advocacy at Sex Matters, Fiona McAnena, who described it as “bonkers”. She told The Telegraph:
“The idea that Lego is ‘heteronormative’ because the blocks are described as “male” and ‘female’ is ridiculous. Children who play with Lego don’t need to be told that some people say fitting Lego blocks together is ‘mating’. People expect to be informed, educated and inspired when visiting the Science Museum, not to have dubious claims rooted [unfortunate word choice in this context, Fiona – Otto] in gender ideology forced on them.”
Broadcaster Piers Morgan reacted on social media by simply posting, “Oh f**k off.”
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It started me thinking about the word ‘bonkers’, especially since ‘bonk’ is also a word meaning to have sex (pioneered in Australia in the q980’s), and the origins of other words regarding mental health.
Some origins . . .
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Bonkers:
Of British-English origin, the word bonkers means mad, crazy.
The most common theory on origin is:
The word ‘bonce’ as slang for head is first recorded in 1889.
The word ‘bonk’, meaning a blow to the head, is first recorded in 1934.
The phrase ‘to go bonkers’ is fist recorded as army slang in 1945, in a letter from a soldier who had recently been posted to India, published in the Daily Mirror.
The theory is that people who go bonkers appear and act the same as someone who has been hit on the head or is drunk.
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Mad:
Within Commonwealth countries other than Canada, mad typically implies the insane or crazy sense more so than the angry sense. Within the United States and Canada, the word mad generally implies anger rather than insanity, but such usage is still considered informal. If someone is described as having "gone mad" or "went mad", this will usually be taken as meaning insanity, not anger.
It dates from the late 13th century - "disordered in intellect, demented, crazy, insane," from ther Old English gemædde, meaning "out of one's mind" (usually implying also violent excitement), also "foolish, extremely stupid".
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Nuts:
The nut was a slang term for the head, hence ‘to go nuts’ and ‘to be off one's nut’ is an expression for ‘to be insane’. It is first recorded in 1861. In British English, a crazy person is a nutter
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Lunacy:
The term "lunatic" derives from the Latin word lunaticus, which originally referred mainly to epilepsy and madness, as diseases thought to be caused by the moon.
The King James Version of the Bible records "lunatick" in the Gospel of Matthew, which has been interpreted as a reference to epilepsy. By the fourth and fifth centuries astrologers were commonly using the term to refer to neurological and psychiatric diseases. Pliny the Elder argued that the full moon induced individuals to lunacy and epilepsy by effects on the brain analogous to the nocturnal dew. Until at least 1700, it was also a common belief that the moon influenced fevers, rheumatism, episodes of epilepsy and other diseases.
A suffragist postcard depicting a lunatic, symbolised by a moon, c 1909
A series of ten images depicting the roles that women can have without being able to vote and those which men can have and are still able to vote.
By the way:
When I was at uni studying law, the contracts subject had various topics: terms of a contract, remedies for breach, damages etc. One such part dealt with people who had special rules apply. It was called ‘Abnormal Legal Persons’ and covered ‘Minors, Lunatics and Married Women’.
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Crazy:
According to the online etymology dictionary, in the 1570s, crazy meant “diseased, sickly.” In the 1580s, it meant “broken, impaired, full of cracks or flaws.” In the 1610s, it took the form of what it means today: “deranged, demented, of unsound mind or behaving as so.” By 1927, it meant “cool, exciting” in a jazz slang sense.
Researchers wrote in 2014 that the belief in lunar impact might be left over from the time before artificial lighting. The full moon provided an increase in the amount of nighttime illumination and caused a significant sleep disturbance as a result, according to the study. Research has shown that sleep disruptions can induce mania and seizures in vulnerable people.
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Batshit:
Batshit shows up first in print about the 1950’s in military speak to mean rubbish and bullshit. By 1970, it meant crazy. Probably derived from bullshit. You can find people saying “batshit crazy” and “batshit insane” by the late 1980’s.
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I will finish on an illustrative story . . .
A motorist is driving past a mental hospital on a dark, moonless night when he gets a flat tyre.
As he begins to change the tyre, he notices that one of the patients is looking at him over the top of the fence whilst leaning his arms and chin on the fence.
Nervous, trying to work quickly, he jacks up the car, takes off the wheel, puts the wheel nuts into the hubcap on the ground and gets the spare tyre.
Whilst taking the spare tyre to the wheel, he steps on the hubcap, sending the wheel nuts clattering into a storm drain.
The mental patient is still watching him through the fence.
The motorist desperately looks into the storm drain but the wheel nuts are gone. He paces back and forth in the dark with the patient still watching him, trying to think of what to do.
Finally the patient says "Take one wheel nut off each of the other wheels and put them on this wheel and you’ll have three on each. That will get you home and tomorrow you can take it to your mechanic and get the missing wheel nuts replaced.”
"That's brilliant," says the motorist, "What's someone like you doing in an asylum?"
“I might be crazy,” replied the patient, “but I’m not stupid.”
Friday, February 7, 2025
FUNNY FRIDAY
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Hello Byters.
A cocktail of international humour below, hope no-one gets offended.
Enjoy
Caution: risqué content ahead.
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SOME HUMOUR:
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USA:
What do you call a bee that lives in America?
A USB.
What is the difference between Americans and the British?
Americans think 200 years is a long history, while the British think 200 miles is a long trip.
What's the funniest state in the USA?
West Virginia. The whole place is hill areas.
(Boom, boom, tsshh)
It's a shame nothing is built in the USA anymore...
I just bought a TV and it said "Built in Antenna". I don't even know where that is.
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England:
A guy walks into a bar and hears two overweight women speaking in a British accent. He asks, "Are you ladies from England?" One says to him "No, it's Wales, you idiot!" The guy says, "Okay, sorry. So, are you two whales from England?"
What’s the difference between England’s football team and a tea bag
A tea bag stays longer in the cup.
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Ireland:
Why is Ireland so rich?
Because its capital is always Dublin.
A repost:
A teacher in Ireland is giving an English lesson and asks the class for examples of when they have heard the word "contagious" being used…
One eager child says, "My da says to cover ma mouth when I cough ‘cos ma cold is contagious!"
"Very good!" replied the teacher. "Has anybody else got an example?"
"My mam says ma laugh is contagious!" said another child.
"Great answer!" said the teacher, "How about you Paddy?"
"Well, our neighbour was painting his fence with a really small brush." said Paddy. "Dad says it's going to take the contagious!"
What's the difference between Ireland and Iceland?
A sea.
(Think about it).
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Australia:
A British man is visiting Australia.
The man at Customs asks him "Do you have a criminal record?"
The British man replies "I didn't think you needed one to get into Australia anymore."
An Australian is visiting Britain.
He's from a small rural village and is completely unfamiliar with traffic rules and street lights, and just crosses streets whenever and wherever, almost getting hit by cars all the time.
A police officer sees him and shouts: "Oi! You there, did you come here to die?"
The Aussie replies: "Nah mate, I came here yesterday!"
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New Zealand:
I asked a friend of mine from New Zealand how many sexual partners he'd had.
He started counting, but he fell asleep.
An ventriloquist is driving through New Zealand. His car breaks down and he has to walk to the nearest farm.
He gets to the farm and asks the farmer if he can use the phone. The farmer agrees, and the man calls for a mechanic.The mechanic is going to take a couple of hours, so the guy hangs out with the farmer on the porch of the farm.
He asks the farmer if he would allow him to talk to the farmer’s dog. ‘Dog doesn’t talk ya idiot’ replies the farmer.
Undeterred the Aussie asks the dog ‘How are you boy?’, to which the dog replies ‘I’m well, my master treats me well, takes me for long walks and lets me sleep wherever I like’.
The farmer is flabbergasted.
Then the man asks if he can talk to the horse. ‘Horse doesn’t talk ya idiot’ he replies.
The Aussie man the horse how he’s doing.
‘Good!’ exclaims the horse. ‘My owner rides me often and feeds me well. I don’t have any complaints at all’.
The farmer can’t believe what he’s witnessing. The man then asks the farmer’s sheep how it’s doing.
The farmer yells out ‘DONT LISTEN TO HIM, HE’S A FUCKING LIAR!!’
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Germany:
German humour is like healthcare.
Most Americans don't get it.
A teacher is talking to her students about the American Dream and asked a German boy whether there was a German Dream. He said "There was but no-one liked it."
A German guy, wanting to escape the cold and dark German winter, books a holiday to Miami. His first day there, he heads to the nearest beach bar and proceeds to pound down mai tais. After 5 or 6 drinks, he feels a strong urge to pee, and in his drunken state, he swivels his stool around and starts peeing right onto the sand. Just then, a young woman happens to walk by and shrieks "Gross!"
His cheeks blush as he yells back "Danke!"
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Saudi Arabia:
A Saudi Arabian prince is going to college in England
He texts his father, "Dad, I feel weird driving my Lamborghini to school when all my classmates take a train."
His father replies; "Son, I have transferred 500 million dollars into your account. Go out and buy a train and stop embarrassing this family."
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Belarus:
I have posted this a number of times previously but it is too good not to include:
The only cow in a small town in Poland stopped giving milk. The people did some research and found that they could buy a cow from Moscow for 2000 roubles, or one from Minsk for 1000 roubles. Being frugal, they bought the cow from Minsk.
The cow was wonderful. It produced lots of milk all the time, and the people were amazed and very happy. They decided to acquire a bull to mate with the cow and produce more cows like it. Then they would never have to worry about the milk supply again.
They bought the bull and put it in the pasture with their beloved cow.
However, whenever the bull came close to the cow, the cow would move away. No matter what approach the bull tried, the cow would move away from the bull and he could not succeed in his quest. The people were very upset and decided to ask the rabbi, who was very wise, what to do. They told the rabbi what was happening; "Whenever the bull approaches our cow, she moves away. If he approaches from the back , she moves forward. When he approaches her from the front, she backs off. An approach from the side and she just walks away to the other side."
The rabbi thought about this for a minute and asked, "Did you buy this cow from Minsk?" The people were dumbfounded. They had never mentioned where they had gotten the cow. "You are truly wise rabbi. How did you know we got the cow from Minsk?"
The rabbi answered sadly, "My wife is from Minsk."
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Czechoslovakia:
What city is located right in the middle of Czechoslovakia?
Oslo.
Three people died and went to Heaven where they were met by St Peter at the Pearly Gates.
St Peter said to the first arrival, a man, “There is a simple test to gain admission, spell ‘Love’, symbolising God’s love for you.”
“L-O-V-E” said the man.
“Fine,” said St Peter, “in you go.”
The second arrival was also a man, spelt ‘Love’ correctly and was given admission.
The third, a woman, was told there was a test to gain admission.
Before he could say more she said: “Don’t start on me with that crap. I have had it with guys giving me a hard time. I’ve had to work twice as hard to get half as far as the men I worked with, put up with their arrogance and bullshit, I come up here and there’s some stupid test I have to pass. What is it?”
St Peter says “Spell Czechoslovakia.”
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LIMERICK OF THE WEEK:
I wanted a limerick that kept the international place theme going, hence the one below.
Some explanations:
Khartoum is the capital city of Sudan.
Newton's Third Law of Motion states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
There was a young man of Khartoum,
The strength of whose balls was his doom.
So strong was his shootin',
The third law of Newton
Propelled the poor chap to the Moon.
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GALLERY:
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CORN CORNER:
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I found a sandwich with two wires sticking out of it.
I phoned the police and said "I've just found a sandwich that looks like a bomb." The operator asked "Is it tickin?"
I said, "No I think its ham and cheese."
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My wife, to our therapist: He always misunderstands simple questions.
Therapist, to me: What does she mean?
Me: It’s a feminine pronoun.
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A guy in a hurry is hurrying down the stairs.
Suddenly, a boy on one landing shouts at him.
Boy: Careful, Mister, someone spilled oil here!
Guy: Don't give me lessons, you pipsquea-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-ki-keak!
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Thursday, February 6, 2025
MORE UGLY BELGIAN HOUSES
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In 2012 architect Hannes Coudenys began documenting quirky and ugly buildings in his native Belgium. These pics he posted on an Instagram account and a Facebook site called 'Ugly Belgian Houses” He is still doing so.
Some of those pics and reader comments have been posted in Bytes previously.
Asked in an interview why he thought Belgium in particular seemed to produce such eccentric architecture, he replied:
“The Dutch have been ruling us, France has been ruling us, we have always had to be brave little Belgians. We were finally being set free and subsidized to do what we want. After school, you find a girl, you get married, and you build your own house, and it’s not OK for it to look like the neighbours’ houses.”
I suppose that’s as good an explanation as any.
Here are some more recent pics from Hannes Courdenys’ Facebook page, at:
some recently posted in Bored Panda at:
the latter below with headings and selected reader comments.
Some real bizarre horrors below. What were they thinking?
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Malebox
Reader comments:
One of those that but for the title I would never have noticed, given how bad the house itself is.
I saw a middle finger first.
Done on purpose 😅😅
Why do I feel like they live in a HOA area and this is malicious compliance (despite this being Belgium!)?
There are HOAs and Karens all over the world.
Is this even a home? Just asking…
In a weird way, it's aesthetically pleasing, presuming the window shutters roll up. And really, if you think the mailbox looks phallic, you need help.
I already knew I needed help, but thanks for the reminder
Everything about this house seems to have a 'phallic' imagery
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Felix Da Housecat
This is cute
Like the face of a cat
Cathouse. Discreet.
It once was part of a mews.
You could do a beautiful mural
It's minimalistically perfect already; anything more would spoil the effect.😽
House needs cat ears.
I see Bunny not Cat...
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When U Wanted To Live In A Fairytale But You Chose To Live In Shrek’s Swamp House
I like it!
The garage window looks like Darth Vader too.
Don't pass the joint to the architect
Like, groovy daddio!
How to describe your house: "I live in the house with the flying roof, Darth Vader garage and stone tree on the front facade."
The blue paint is like the cherry on top.
Legion of Doom HQ (Belgian Division)
The yellow trash can has GOT to go
i wish we could see the inside!
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Architect: ‘What Kind Of Windows Would You Like?’
Client: ‘Yes’
Just burn this to the ground and start again
Somebody's Windows update got interrupted and it restarted.
Imho, a perfect example of a newbie Sims builder.
I want to see the inside of the house to see how the windows look from that angle.
Even Escher could have a seizure looking at it.
They were all left over windows that no one else wanted so they got them at a discount.
I love this house just as much now as the first time I saw it. I think it's just great. It isn't at all a bad thing for a house to be personal, quirky and not in the least chocolate-box-top.
and still none on the left side...
It MUST look great inside, and that was their priority.
Maybe it's a show home for a window company.
I hate saying this, but I kind of like it. Some of the window glass are those glass blocks, and some regular glass. The jagged edges of the outer walls, and the accordion like garage door make it even more interesting. **I have lived in a “cookie cutter” house in a development where, other than the colors of the shutters and doors, all houses look the same….so my tastes may be a bit off***
I don’t know what to focus on…
There looks to be more glass than bricks. XD
oh dear!
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Aah Weekend
Happy, happy house.
This isn't ugly. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to like this!
The face I make when the kids are at school and kindergarten and I can enjoy the first sip of my morning coffee on a sunny day.
This is not bad. Who says this is bad?
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When You’ve Got The Cheapest Street In Monopoly But You Bought Two Hotels
One window? That's the worst part
Was there a tax on windows? In England until1851 there was a property tax, based on the number of windows a house had.
Welcome to prison
They bought so many bricks there was only enough money left over to buy one window!
Fewer windows to clean, I guess?
Nice crack house
That's horrible and weird. Compound of a d**g kingpin.
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Game Of Stones
The wolf can't blow it down
Seems like he tried though.
Honestly, as ugly and cheaply made that US houses are, I would love to see some original homes built around me! At least it's unique?
When little boys build their clubhouse all by themselves.
Is this a climbing wall?
Wowza, that is awful!
... And you NEVER have to worry about painting it, or replacing the siding! Fantastic!
Doesn't look to be a house, maybe offices (in a zoo?)
Either this is fake, or they spent a ridiculous amount of money... Or I'm wrong and it's really cool.
This would make sense if it was trying to blend into a cliff it was built against.
It’s the back end of the zoo in Antwerp, near the Central train station!
I love it
This is hideous
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Welcome To My Shiteau!
I would live here and when anyone questioned me, I could say that I have taste. Bad taste is still taste, and I would revel in it here!
Looks fine to me. Goth Central.
All it needs to finish it off is for that tapered column out front to be redressed as a Dalek.
Not gonna lie, change the hideous red metal doors to oak and I would love it.
It's ugly af and I love it!
Paint everything black or dark grey and I’d like it. The red bits, including the roof, are just wrong.
There's nothing wrong w/ this place! I love it!
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Reminds Me Of 'The Scream' By Edvard Munch And That's Exactly What I'm Doing
Angry house.
I would be angry as well if I looked like that.
At least the delivery men will always find your house easily enough
Reminds me of the animation for the Brothers in Arms video.
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By Frank Lloyd Wrong
Even the statue's trying to escape
Reminds me of an abandoned church.
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Ugly Belgian House On A Budget
Looks like a slice of liverwurst.
I want to see inside so badly.
"I'd like a slice of House, please!"
Seems like this would have to have stairs, but how?
Spiral stairs.
spite house
It isn't a house, it is a hallway. An indoor alley.
It's got two chimneys and aerial. I'd pay to see a layout plan that utilises the two fireplaces and a tv!
Lousy view of the neighborhood, but the magic mushrooms they grow in there are first-rate.
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And some without comment . . .
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Wednesday, February 5, 2025
FROM THE VAULT - MAY 29, 2014
Hanging Naked Men
Caution: risque floral images
Friend Leo sent me an email that had me wordering whether it was real or whether it was one of those photoshopped fictional jobs that evokes a response of “Yeah, sure it is.”
So I did some looking up on the internet and was quite surprised.
First, Leo’s email:
Another example of the wonder of nature!!They even have faces!The flower is called Hanging Naked Men, so do not Google Hanging Naked Men or you might see really Naked Men ...........
It is called Orchis Italica, or The Naked Man Orchid. So funny. They come in all sorts of shapes and, umm… sizes.
Which brings me to research.
The admonition against googling Hanging Naked Men of course inspired me to do so. Needless to say it was a mix of flowers and what the words literally say, with the word “hanging” having a number of depictions.
There really is a Hanging Naked Man flower.
According to Wikipedia:
Orchis italica, commonly known as the naked man orchid or the Italian orchid, is a species of orchid native to the Mediterranean. They are widely popular for their petals looking like naked men. It prefers partial shade and low nutrient soil and flowers in April. O. italica grows up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in height, with bright pink, densely clustered flowers. They are found commonly and widespread in the Mediterranean in large clusters.
I wonder whether they would grow in Sydney and how you get one. I doubt that my wife would be willing to go into Flower Power and ask “Do you have any Hanging Naked Men?”
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