I wrote a brief history of the English Cathedral City of Hereford
A blog about history and true crime. Historical trivia and stories about true crime.
Thursday, 9 May 2024
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
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.
Saturday, 4 May 2024
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.
Tuesday, 30 April 2024
International Day to End Corporal Punishment
30 April is International Day to End Corporal Punishment. Here is my history of corporal punishment.
Monday, 29 April 2024
Mary Timney
On 29 April 1862, Mary Timney became the last woman to be hanged in public in Scotland. She was hanged in Dumfries.
Saturday, 27 April 2024
Last woman to be guillotined
Today’s useless info: In 1949 Germaine Leloy-Godefroy became the last French woman to be guillotined. (She was having an affair and she killed her husband with an axe while he was asleep).