[Culturechat] This will just kill you!

[Vance Roy]

Until 31 August, 2003, the Museum of History in Luzern has an 
exhibition on the death penalty. The death penalty has not been allowed 
in CH since the early 1940s. The last execution was carried out a mile 
or two from my house in the capital of Obwalden, Sarnen.  The 
guillotine was the instrument of choice. Ironically, this instrument of 
execution was invented by a French doctor of the same name. The exhibit 
is not just about CH and the death penalty. It covers this sentence 
over many countries of the world. There is the original guillotine used 
in CH in the museum, and as expected, it is a marvel of precision.

It will maybe interest some to know that after beheading, certain 
auditory and ocular reflexes remain active for several minutes. If one 
claps hands, the head's eyes will shift toward the noise.

Now, that's more than you wanted to know, isn't it? Anyway, on a rainy 
day, some Idyllers might want to check it out. Show the kids what used 
to happen if you did bad things.

Vance Roy
"Autopsy, burn, bury – you want to be sure."
Winston Churchill, when advised of death of political opponent.