The programme will be broadcast at 10pm on BBC2 tv on Friday 11 May and repeated at 11.20pm on Monday 14 MayAppearing in the programme, presented by Victoria Coren, will be comedienne and former psychiatric nurse, Jo Brand talking to "Mad Pride" promoters - Psychologist Rufus May, Southwark Mind Manager Teresa Priest, Mad Pride founder member Simon Barnett and CEO of Creative Routes Sarah Tonin. Information from the Evolving Minds people http://www.evolving-minds.co.uk./ sound as if it will be recreating the Mad Hatter Tea Party at the Mary Harmsworth Park outside the Imperial War Museum (the site of the original Bedlam Hospital) on 14 August 2006. See http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSOtalk/ for picture of Rufus May and others at that event.Information from the BBC website:One Sandwich Short of a Picnic
An exploration of the many crazy words we use for madness, from barmy to basketcase.
Former psychiatric nurse Jo Brand returns to her old hospital - The Bethlem Royal (Bedlam) - to demonstrate how today's worst insults moron, idiot, imbecile and cretin were once official medical diagnoses. But where do today's distinctly odd terms and phrases come from? Who, for example, first went bananas and why? Victoria Coren and Wordhunters seek out the earliest known evidence of the expressions one sandwich short of a picnic, bonkers and duh brain.
One Sandwich Short
From the comic to the dismissive, words surrounding mental health issues can certainly seem very peculiar. Why are bananas the most unstable fruit, and why are brushes considered bats? Can you help enlighten the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) on some of these mysteries?
bananas
WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1968; information on the origins on the word
Did you go bananas before 1968? It's one of many fruity terms associated with mental incapacity, like fruitcake and crazy as a coconut. But what's so mad about a bunch of bananas? The OED would like you to set their minds at rest by providing them with earlier datable evidence.
bonkers
WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1957; information on the origins of the word
Were people bonkers before 1957? Or were they just nuts, loopy, or crackers? The OED has evidence from 1948 of the word being used in Navy slang to mean drunk or light-headed, so there seems to be a connection. But did the word change tack before 1957?
daft (or mad) as a brush
WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1945; information on the origins of the word
Why are you daft as a brush, rather than daft as a mop or a feather duster? Was it a phrase invented by chimney sweeps? Or was it coined by huntsmen in reference to the tail of a fox, an animal traditionally thought to be cunning rather than crazy. Any evidence from before 1945 might help to ease the OED's brain ache.
duh brain
WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1997
Does duh brain belong in the dictionary? If you can provide enough compelling evidence for this playground taunt the OED might be convinced to create a new entry. The oldest duh brain they've found so far is from 1997, lurking within the pages of J-17 magazine. Do your school books, letters, or diaries prove it was around before that?
A draft entry for this word is in preparation
one sandwich short of a picnic
WANTED: Verifiable evidence before 1993
This is just one variant of a mass of similar constructions to suggest that a person is slightly crazy. Many of the earlier examples are from Australia, refer to building materials, and date back as far as 1939. But can you find evidence of one sandwich short of a picnic from before 1993?
One X Short of a Y?
If you can find one sandwich short before 1993 you'll help rewrite the OED. However there's also a wonderful variety of ways to construct this phrase, from one coupon short of a voucher to one spanner short of a tool kit. Tell us the best and most inventive versions you've heard, and send us the evidence!
==================posted byRosemarySurrey UK"Campaiging for good health & social care...it's for everyone"
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