A Brief History On September 19, 1692, Giles Corey, age 81, became a footnote in the history of America by becoming the first and only man to be “pressed” to death during the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Today, we ask our readers and viewers, “What is the Most Horrible Way to be Executed?” Digging Deeper We list a few possible answers, but feel free to name your own: Boiling Alive Brazen Bull Burning at the Stake Crucifixion Drawing and Quartering Drowning Eaten by critters (such as rats, ants, lions, etc.) Pressing Skinned Alive (or Flaying) Stoning Suffocation Question for students…
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A Brief History On September 5, 1698, Czar Peter I of Russia (Peter the Great) enacted a tax on beards. This tax targeted the nobility in an effort to “westernize” Russia and proved highly unpopular. Many laws in the US have also been unpopular, and today we ask you to tell us which law you think is the worst law in US history, giving you some samples to choose from. Digging Deeper “Blue Laws” against Sunday business practices Income Tax in 1861 and again in 1909 with the 16th Amendment Insanity defense Mandatory use of automotive seat belts, first in…
A Brief History On August 7, 2007, Giants slugger Barry Bonds slammed his 756th career home run at his home field, AT&T Park, in San Francisco. This historic blast catapulted Bonds ahead of Hank Aaron as the all-time major league career home run hitter. Digging Deeper Seemingly a certain future inductee to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Bonds’ achievements, which include the season home run record of 73 dingers in 2001, are unfortunately tainted by the cloud of suspected steroid and or other performance enhancing drugs or compounds and Bonds has so far been denied the coveted entry into the…
A Brief History On May 9, 1960, the Searle manufactured drug, Enovid, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States as a birth control measure, making Enovid the first oral contraceptive pill approved for use by any nation. While most American women rejoiced at the sexual freedom afforded by this “miracle” drug, not everyone was happy about the approval and to this day, such birth control drugs remain controversial. Digging Deeper A major boon to the Women’s Liberation Movement, American women largely celebrated the advent of this empowering drug that permitted women to avoid the “tyranny”…
A Brief History On April 20, 2022, marijuana users celebrate a day that is commonly acknowledged as “Marijuana Day,” an unofficial holiday in which marijuana aficionados rally around their herb of choice and advocate for the legalization of recreational marijuana use and the associated decriminalization of the growing, possession, and use of the leaves of Cannabis sativa and its closely related kin, Cannabis indica, the scientific name of the plant we usually refer to as marijuana, weed, pot, or other euphemistic names. So, what could be the problem? Digging Deeper To date, according to US News, 18 states as well…