Category: Random Stuff (Misc.)

The Man Who Couldn’t Be Hanged

A Remarkable Tale of Survival from Victorian England An illustration of a Victorian-era execution Historical Context Remarkable Elements of Lee's Case Triple Failure The trap door mechanism failed not once, but three separate times. After each failure, the executioner and prison staff tested the mechanism immediately afterward, finding it in perfect working order. Merciful Authorities Victorian justice was not known for its mercy, yet officials recognized the extraordinary nature of the situation and commuted Lee's...

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The White Elephant

How an ancient Siamese royal tradition evolved into a modern metaphor for unwanted gifts A white elephant: once a royal gift that came with an impossible burden A "White Elephant" dates back to the ancient kings of Siam, who wanted to punish courtiers without actually appearing to do so. Their ploy was to give the offender a rare albino elephant, knowing that it was an offer which dare not be refused. The poor man was...

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I’m In Love With Mr Clean Magic Erasers

I haven't blogged about this yet, but I was cleaning the house today and had to break out the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to get some crayon off of one of Tyler's chairs where he colors. Barbara, you were right, they are great at taking crayon off of the plastic chairs.  Any way, I took the chair into the kitchen and saw the kitchen sink, which has always been a little on the brown side...

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No Hitting!

When Your Toddler Starts Hitting Different Approaches to a Common Parenting Challenge My son Tyler has started hitting, and I think there are different ways to address the problem, which is why I am writing this blog post. Some say spank, some say to tell him no, some may hit back and some say to give him a hug. As parents, we often receive conflicting advice about how to handle challenging behaviors. Common Approaches to...

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