52% intelligent. 9% modest. More monkey than bear.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

anonymous call, a poison pen

So here's the thing:

In the end, eighteen people answered my call for handwriting samples:

--> Jenni from Wonder(ing) Goddess
--> Aravis from Exploring Aravis
--> Di from Suburban Hen House
--> Le Flash from The World of Flash
--> Statue John from Stand By Your Statue
--> Foxy from The Urban Fox
--> Spinsterwitch from Life As I Know It
--> Chig from World of Chig (welcome Chig!)
--> Mark from Fear & Loafing in England
--> SwissToni from SwissToni's Place
--> Adem from The Big Blog
--> Rufus-Fan (who has a blog, but isn't ready to tell us where it is yet!)
--> Bee from Life in the B
--> John from The Ultimate Olympian
--> Michael from Yummy Brain Gravy
--> B1rdie Num Num from The Num Num
--> The Eye In The Sky (who doesn't have a blog, but likes prog rock!)
--> Lord Bargain from The Bargain Basement

Each one of these lovely people sent me a picture of a handwritten lyric. For a dazzling prize -- the honour of naming a post on this blog and perhaps a SwissToni mix CD -- all you have to do is match the handwriting to the person.

To help you out, an eminent graphologist (the numnum) has kindly provided an analysis of each sample.... click on each picture to enlarge.

You ready? Here we go then......

Sample 1



Mystic NumNum says: "This person has a good level of confidence, requires personal space a lot, and is fairly caring of those around. The convex baselines indicate a good starter, but a rather poor finisher in most cases. The short upper loops indicate a material person who does not partake in religious type thought. The short sharp hooks indicate a irritable and cranky persona. The lack of a g/y/f/j may have tilted this analysis off track though."

Sample 2



Mystic NumNum says: "This person is a clear thinker who is reserved and caring. This person is a tad hypersensitve, so I shall tread gently. Focused in the here and now, but with a strong fantasy drive and a very childlike demeanour in most cases. (This person is also one who dislikes unlined paper, which makes my job bloomin hard!)"

Sample 3



Mystic NumNum says: "This peson is a logical thinker, who is keen to keep distance (slightly reserved). This person is unfortunately a tad insecure, and tries to balance that by involving in social activity. The clash of behaviours leads to insecurity. A strong focus in the past, and a non-egocentric view of life. However, the slighly falling baseline indicates a level of fatigue with life, which needs rectifying to balance the usually strong focus."

Sample 4



Mystic NumNum says: "Optimism, and a bit of a penchant to dwell on the past. Another good starter but not really geared to finishing with much aplomb. Strong level of self confidence, this person is slightly emotional and spontaneous with a bit of a quick-judgement. Sometimes prone to inferiority bouts, the optimism helps keep the driver going. Sometimes childish with a bit of a dreamy quality."

Sample 5



Mystic NumNum says: "An entire song when a lyric would have sufficed, matches the overreaction quality of the narrow spacing. Unfortunately I cant see it in good detail, but it looks like a bit of an inconsistent personality - at one stage calm and another very nervous and insecure. Very here and now, material driven, so no dreams of utopia or unrealistic futures, but a bit of an optimisitic streak."

Sample 6



Mystic NumNum says: "A balanced mind, thinking a fair bit about the future. Keen to continue learing from mistakes, this person is sometimes a bit too impulsive. However, mostly a very clear thinker with a high capacity to care for others. Very determined too. But again, could do with a bit more freedom and some plain-paper!"

Sample 7



Mystic NumNum says: "An orderly person who is conventional and requires privacy. Has a strong ability to care for others. Fairly confident and proud, though more leaning towards a religious view of life, and extremely hypersensitve. A strong penchant for all things olde, a childlike behaviour and a fantasy driven mind. A very bad starter but manages to finish in the end."

Sample 8



Mystic NumNum says: "Heavens, this is all over the place. An inconsistent personality, flitting between impulsive behaviour and a bit of a guilt complex afterwards. A strong fantasy type mind, that is dirving to optimism. A not so good finisher, but adaptable, caring and conventional most of the times. As an aside, if its a man, he sure has very feminine handwriting! The kind of guy who would have a tie pin and button hole, or the kind of woman who has a trinket or two on her person, but not really driven to catwalk-style (?)"

Sample 9



Mystic NumNum says: "Looks to the future this one, but has a bit of a hangup in learning much from the past. Strong self confident, lives in the here and now. Oddly enough shows signs of a need to fit in! Sometimes childish, but a dislike of y/g/j in their lyrics, leaves me little to work with in 5 mins."

Sample 10



Mystic NumNum says: "Secretive. Sometimes hypersensitive, this person has a lot of guilt driven behaviour. Optimism keeps them going, they are a bad starter but manage to finish in the end. An objective outlook of life, they do need some time alone to themselves. An odd sense of confidence, though the ego is sometimes taking over."

Sample 11



Mystic NumNum says: "Very neat! An artistic view of life, prone to walk off the beaten track somewhat. Very controlled behaviour, with a lack of confidence in most situations. A caring outlook, with a motherly view of life, though very focused in the here and now with little time to dream and fantasise. What is striking, is that amongst this, is a bit of inconsistency, so prone to moods."

Sample 12



Mystic NumNum says: "No time to waste here! Alas inconsistent behaviour shows that this person flits a bit now and then. Keeps their distance, then jumps right in and takes centre stage. No lack of confidence here, though it is sometimes masked as uncertainty. Driven by a need to satisfy material and physical aspects of life, this person is always on the go!"

Sample 13



Mystic NumNum says: "Seems like a clear thinking person, but there are aspect of extreme chaos here. Not sure where they lie, but could be on the personal rather than work side. A spontaneous person, who seems to lack confidence. Living in the here and now, they are able to learn from the past and use that well. Optimistic behaviour, but sometimes lacks pragmatism."

Sample 14



Mystic NumNum says: "Hmmm. Lack of performance confidence, but a stong physial and material driven person. Respects authority, but lacks confidence. Clear thinking, caring and holding a bit of hidden aggression. Conventional, but a need to be slightly different. Doesnt experiemnt, but should do, and if it doesnt go well, should try again and not give up!"

Sample 15



Mystic NumNum says: "This person is tired, fatigued. They dream of something, but something is distracting them, and they dont have the energy to progress. There is confidence there, but no ego. Largely living in the here and now, they can think clearly but have a hard time finishing things. A streak of individualism, but conformist too! I suggest a holiday!"

Sample 16



Mystic NumNum says: "This essay was a bit hard to read. This person is very realistic. Very driven, and a bit on the physical/sensual side! There is a strong ego there, and a bit of a fantasy mind. But a lot of inconsistency, which means there may be some confused people around this person. A bit tired, they do finish what they start, sometimes!"

Sample 17



Mystic NumNum says: "Sometimes forward thinking, sometimes not! Very inconsistent in that aspect. Strong healthy like for the past, but a very healthy confidence. Optimistic, caring, but somewhat conventional. It looks like two people to be honest - or a split personality! One is more grounded than the other, but both have healthy fantasies!"

Sample 18



Mystic NumNum says: "Last but not least - A very bold statement. Determined, though a bit tired. Childish behaviour somtimes, but largely optimistic. Good levels of confidence here, very much here and now though. Conventional, clear thinking and caring. Very good margins too! Person is good with budgets!"

---

Over to you.... shall we say you've got until Sunday night to make your guesses?

Thanks to everyone for sending in their handwriting samples, and an extra special big thanks to the numnum for giving up his Sunday afternoon to pore over them and provide his often scarily accurate analysis.

40 Comments:

  • At 10:35 pm, Blogger Aravis said…

    Yes, thanks numnum! I thoroughly enjoyed your analysis of my writing. I'll have to study these some more before I hazard any guesses, though.

     
  • At 10:46 pm, Blogger LB said…

    well. I have to say that there, my friend, is one of the most interesting and inspired posts I have seen in Blogworld thus far.

    I know which mine is, if that helps?

     
  • At 11:03 pm, Blogger Statue John said…

    Extends thanks to numnum too. A heroic effort.

     
  • At 2:56 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    SJ
    Seeing your effort reminded me of back in the days writing all those notes in your study before photographing them for you to 'find'later...

    and ST

    Seeing yours...reminded me of doing lines!

    ah...those crazy days

    great effort boys

    Des

     
  • At 4:05 am, Blogger HistoryGeek said…

    This is going to be a rough one...

    I'm terribly glad though. I need a good distraction.

     
  • At 7:10 am, Blogger Michael said…

    I'd like to thank the Num Num for the analysis. Might I add, EXTREMELY accurate for mine...

     
  • At 8:44 am, Blogger Damo said…

    Some good calls on Bee and a few minor misfires. Obviously a) I know which is hers and b) I won't spoil it for anyone...

     
  • At 9:55 am, Blogger changeofhart said…

    sample 7 HAS to be the numnum himself...!!

     
  • At 10:08 am, Blogger Robin said…

    Not. A. Clue.

    Wish I'd sent a sample in myself now...

    Can't wait for the ol' reveal, though.

     
  • At 10:18 am, Blogger Teresa Bowman said…

    Extraordinary!

    Unfortunately I haven't the faintest idea whose is which (apart from mine, of course). Which is a bit rubbish considering the whole point of this post, and I'm sorry. Maybe I'll have a bit of a think about it when I have a bit more time later, and get back to you. (And be completely and utterly wrong, no doubt.)

     
  • At 10:28 am, Blogger Sam said…

    Oh! I wish I had seen your call! I would have sent something!
    You picked Di really well :)

     
  • At 11:26 am, Blogger Di Gallagher said…

    Oh boy, that was too close for comfort.

     
  • At 11:26 am, Blogger Teresa Bowman said…

    Just noticed ... Radiohead lyrics are very popular, aren't they?

    Oh, and I know which is the Num Num's as well. But that's only because I've seen his writing before, so it's kind of cheating.

    Hmm. Thinking ... thinking ...

     
  • At 9:23 pm, Blogger red one said…

    Well I though number 1 was you, Foxy. So that messes up my guess.

    Number 18 is an earworm and should be disqualified.

    red

     
  • At 9:39 pm, Blogger swisslet said…

    red - ha! Imagine my embarassment at being caught singing a barbra streisand song in the office today.

    I am not alone!

    There are others here that are earworms, but that's the one that bloody well sank in.

    ST

     
  • At 9:59 pm, Blogger Ali said…

    What a palaver!

    OK - if I get one right I'll be buying a lottery ticket this week.

    4 --> Jenni from Wonder(ing) Goddess
    14 --> Aravis from Exploring Aravis
    6 --> Di from Suburban Hen House
    5 --> Le Flash from The World of Flash
    8 --> Statue John from Stand By Your Statue
    10 --> Foxy from The Urban Fox
    1 --> Spinsterwitch from Life As I Know It
    16 --> Chig from World of Chig (welcome Chig!)
    2 --> Mark from Fear & Loafing in England
    13 --> SwissToni from SwissToni's Place
    17 --> Adem from The Big Blog
    3 --> Rufus-Fan (who has a blog, but isn't ready to tell us where it is yet!)
    15 --> Bee from Life in the B
    7 --> John from The Ultimate Olympian
    9 --> Michael from Yummy Brain Gravy
    11--> B1rdie Num Num from The Num Num
    12--> The Eye In The Sky (who doesn't have a blog, but likes prog rock!)
    18 --> Lord Bargain from The Bargain Basement

     
  • At 10:53 pm, Blogger Flash said…

    i had them al sussed but monsieur frenchy says it's kicking out trime here at le internet placeĀ§

    Le grand bollocks!!

     
  • At 11:17 pm, Blogger Statue John said…

    Okeedokee, following on with a number of complete wild guesses, with a side helping of herrings...

    1. Aravis
    2. Jenni
    3. Chig
    4. Statue John
    5. Adem
    6. Michael
    7. Rufus
    8. Fox
    9. Bee
    10. Ultimate Olympian
    11. Di
    12. Lord B
    13. Flash
    14. Swiss
    15. Eye in the Sky
    16. Mark
    17. Spinster
    18. Numnum

     
  • At 11:50 pm, Blogger LB said…

    I have to say that is bloody difficult. I have tried googling lyrics, looking in peoples profiles for matching bands and allsorts.

    No life, you see.

    The results of the Nottingham jury are:

    1. Ultimate Olympian
    2. Bee
    3. Aravis
    4. Swiss Toni
    5. Mark
    6. Adem
    7. Chig
    8. Fox
    9. Rufus Fan
    10. Statue John
    11. Lord B
    12. Spin
    13. Michael
    14. Num Num
    15. Flash
    16. Eye in the Sky
    17. Jenni
    18. Di
    I would also say that the Num Nums analysis of mine was bonkersly eerily accurate. Quite spooked me, it did.

     
  • At 8:34 am, Blogger Aravis said…

    Here are my guesses, based upon nothing more than the fuzzy cobwebs that make up my brain:

    1. SwissToni
    2. Mark
    3. Rufus Fan
    4. Michael
    5. Ultimate Olympian
    6. Lord Bargain
    7. Adem
    8. Di
    9. Fox
    10. Eye in the Sky
    11. Bee
    12. Statue John
    13. Le Flash
    14. Birdie Num Num
    15. Spin
    16. Chig
    17. Aravis
    18. Jenni

     
  • At 2:07 pm, Blogger Teresa Bowman said…

    Well, OK. Here's what I think, based on (1) a little vaguely informed guesswork, (2) a LOT of wildly uninformed guesswork, and (3) some random filling-in of the blanks that were left when (1) and (2) were all used up:

    Jenni - 11
    Aravis - 3
    Di - 2
    Flash - 9
    Statue John - 5
    Fox - 8
    Spin - 12
    Chig - 18
    Mark - 15
    Swiss - 14
    Adem - 4
    Rufus Fan - 17
    Bee - 1
    John - 10
    Michael - 13
    Num Num - 7
    Eye in the Sky - 16
    Lord Bargain - 6

    Probably all wrong, but what the heck. I mean, who died? :)

     
  • At 4:47 pm, Blogger Alecya G said…

    I am hazarding guesses, and that is all these are.

    1 Bee
    2 Di
    3 John
    4 Adem
    5 Chig
    6 Jenni
    7 Spins
    8 Mike
    9 Foxy
    10 Rufus
    11 Lord B
    12 Flash
    13 Mark
    14 Numnum
    15 Statue John
    16 Eye in the Sky
    17 Aravis
    18 Swiss Toni

     
  • At 7:06 pm, Blogger Erika said…

    I don't have a clue how I chose these, but there ya have it. I know one is right (Lord B...).

    1. Michael
    2. Spin
    3. Jenni
    4. Bee
    5. Statue John
    6. Rufus-Fan
    7. Fox
    8. Flash
    9. Eye
    10. Num Num
    11. Lord B
    12. ST
    13. Chig
    14. Adem
    15. Aravis
    16. Di
    17. Mark (Fear & Loafing)
    18. Olympian John

    I think there should be a prize for trying - that's a lot of work!

    And, Fox, for the record, I appear to have selected female-ish writing for you...

     
  • At 7:39 pm, Blogger Erika said…

    WAIT! I'm changing my answers with an entirely unsportsmanlike realization...

    I'm still going to be wrong on a ton of these though.

    1. Bee
    2. Di
    3. Jenni
    4. Statue John
    5. Michael
    6. Rufus-Fan
    7. Fox
    8. Flash
    9. Eye
    10. NumNum
    11. Lord B
    12. Adem
    13. Chig
    14. ST
    15. Mark (Fear & Loafing)
    16. Spin
    17. Aravis
    18. Olympian John

     
  • At 7:44 pm, Blogger -L said…

    Sigh, I don't blog for a week and miss out on such cool things!!

     
  • At 8:27 pm, Blogger LB said…

    As it was nearly midnight last night and I had spent a tired hour googling the lyrics for inspiration, I rather rushed my guesses.

    In the coold light of rational day, I am going to alter my guesses also if I may.

    Ahem.

    1. Bee
    2. Di
    3. Aravis
    4. Swiss Toni
    5. Mark
    6. Adem
    7. Michael
    8. Fox
    9. Rufus Fan
    10. Statue John
    11. Lord B
    12. Spin
    13. Flash
    14. Num Num
    15. Mark
    16. Eye In The Sky
    17. Jenni
    18. Chig

    done. This is a great game, by the way. May this concept run and run.

     
  • At 8:41 pm, Blogger Ali said…

    OMG I can't believe you people are changing your answers! How audacious! I'd do the same if I thought it would make a ha'peth worth of difference.

    May the best guesser win! :)

    This was a lot of fun Tone, well done :)

     
  • At 8:44 pm, Blogger red one said…

    Well, I might have been planting red herrings. You never know.


    Surely not, Fox. It's not like you to tease people about your identity.

    Swiss - how very unfortunate. I've killed it off with the wonderful Wyclef Jean's version of Guantanamera.

    NumNum - I might have forgotten to say how much I enjoyed your handwriting analysis.

     
  • At 12:45 am, Blogger Damo said…

    Nicely given away, Bee!

    Mind you, I doubt she'd ever quote a Killers lyric, as someone thought...

     
  • At 1:37 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Anyone hear the new Crazy Frog Jingle Bells? Hmm? :-)

     
  • At 2:44 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    A Mystic is never NumNum......

    A birdie.....on the other hand...

     
  • At 4:40 am, Blogger HistoryGeek said…

    These are my (mostly) guesses. A couple I'm pretty solid on, I think...

    1. Bee
    2. Di
    3. Michael
    4. Statue John
    5. John
    6. Rufus Fan
    7. Num Num
    8. Jenni
    9. Fox
    10. Eye in the Sky
    11. Lord Bargain
    12. Spins
    13. Flash
    14. Mark
    15. Adem
    16. Chig
    17. Aravis
    18. Swiss Toni

    And I won't be changing any answers. Too much work.

     
  • At 9:08 am, Blogger Teresa Bowman said…

    >"Nicely given away, Bee!"

    Well, I just couldn't be bothered with planting red herrings. They need too much watering.

     
  • At 2:53 pm, Blogger Hyde said…

    I'm overwhelmed by this contest. But I can't wait for the results!

    :)

    h

     
  • At 3:45 pm, Blogger Erika said…

    I concur. Results! Results!

     
  • At 12:00 am, Blogger Jenni said…

    Ack! How is it already Friday? I have been trying to decide, but I guess I'm just going to hazard a guess...I'm giving myself one more day though, in case a stroke of genius hits. :)

     
  • At 11:50 am, Blogger Mark said…

    1. Adem
    2. Di
    3. Rufus Fan
    4. Swiss Toni
    5. The Eye In The Sky
    6. Wonder Goddess
    7. Lord B
    8. Urban Fox
    9. Num Num
    10. Statue John
    11. Aravais
    12. Chig
    13. Spinsterwitch
    14. Le Flash
    15. ?
    16. Michael
    17. John
    18. Bee

     
  • At 4:43 am, Blogger Michael said…

    After hours of tedius meditation, I have come with with a half-wittedly plausable theory as to whose handwriting and lyrics goes with said person. Here it is, alphabetical, with an error rate of +/- 38.89%.

    Adem - 6
    Aravis - 17
    Bee - 1
    B1rdie Num Num - 14
    Chig - 16
    Di - 2
    The Eye in the Sky - 10
    Foxy - 8
    Jenni - 7
    John - 5
    Le Flash - 13
    Lord Bargain - 11
    Mark - 15
    Michael - 3
    Rufus Fan - 9
    Spinsterwitch - 12
    Statue John - 4
    Swiss Toni - 18

     
  • At 4:01 pm, Blogger Jenni said…

    1. Mark
    2. Statue John
    3. Adem
    4. Bee
    5. Michael
    6. Jenni
    7. LeFlash
    8. Aravis
    9. Eye
    10. NumNum
    11. Lord B
    12. Rufus-Fan
    13. Spin
    14. ST
    15. John, the Ultimate Olympian
    16. Chig
    17. Di
    18. Fox

    This is tough!

     
  • At 5:50 pm, Blogger swisslet said…

    OK - I'm going to start doing the results post tonight. It may take me a while to get it done and to do the marking and so on, so no promises....

    what on earth makes you think I would be picking a Streisand lyric though, you strange people?

    ST

     

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