Piss Poor

 It's a myth that the phrase piss poor came from the days when people used to sell their urine for use in tanning. If you had to sell your urine you were piss-poor. It's true that urine was once sold but that is not where the phrase came from. It was first recorded in the 1940s long after they stopped using urine for tanning. The word 'piss' was added to words to strengthen or emphasise them e.g. people might say piss weak. The phrase piss poor has nothing to do with selling urine.

Bra Advert

 In the USA on 4 May 1987, for the first time, an advert for bras on TV showed a live woman wearing a bra instead of a mannequin wearing one. At one time it was unacceptable for ads to show women wearing bras.

Harrogate

 I wrote a history of the English spa town of Harrogate 

A Myth about hangover

 This is my latest YouTube video, a myth about hangover 

International Day to End Corporal Punishment

 30 April is International Day to End Corporal Punishment. Here is my history of corporal punishment.

Penzance

 I wrote a history of the Cornish town of Penzance  

Mary Timney

On 29 April 1862, Mary Timney became the last woman to be hanged in public in Scotland. She was hanged in Dumfries.