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You and my late father would have gotten along. His theory was that the death penalty should involve hanging people and re-using the same rope to keep it cheap. When it finally breaks, commute that individual's sentence and get a new rope to continue on with the next person.

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There's an episode of "Murdoch's Mysteries" about the process of hanging a man. The rope was consistently reused, it was nearly as thick as your wrist. Too short and the man would strangle, too long and he would be decapitated.

I don't think my father actually knew that. I think he was just trying to be nasty/snarky.

Things learned talking to people in online forums...

I find it kind of interesting that there was a whole process/methodology behind it that modern society has forgotten.

We have forgotten tons -- like how the Romans made ice in the desert, Greek fire and how to bend mother of pearl to clad statues -- yet imagine ourselves superior in every way.

The Romans made ice in the desert by leaving a bucket of water out overnight where temperatures drop below freezing, which deserts do.

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