Hell, Michigan

Thanks, Luke!

There is a place named Hell in the United States, but it is technically an unincorporated community rather than an incorporated city. 

Located in Livingston County, Michigan, within Putnam Township, it is the only settlement in the U.S. with this name. Key details include:

• Location: Approximately 15 miles northwest of Ann Arbor and three miles southwest of Pinckney. 

• Status: As an unincorporated community, it has no legally defined boundaries or official population statistics, though it has a local post office that singes postcards with the stamp "Been through Hell."

• History: The name became official on October 13, 1841, with legends attributing it to early settlers finding the swampy conditions "hellish" or a mishearing of the German phrase "so schön hell" (so beautifully bright). 

• Tourism: The town actively embraces its name with devil-themed decor, businesses like the Hell Saloon and Screams Souvenirs from Hell, and is known for the phrase "Hell freezes over" when Michigan winters are particularly cold. 

Random signs...

Marshmallows

Ready for the next funeral pyre!
 

Salmiak cats

A salmiak cat is not a distinct breed but rather a domestic cat exhibiting a rare, recessive coat color mutation that can appear in any non-pedigreed feline. 

This unique pattern was first observed in 2007 among feral cats in central Finland, specifically in the village of Petäjävesi. 

The distinctive appearance is caused by a 95-kilobase deletion in the KIT gene (specifically a recessive variant known as wsal). 

This genetic deletion prevents pigment cells from functioning correctly as hairs grow, resulting in strands that are dark at the root and fade to white at the tip.  This creates an ombre effect on the cat's back that resembles salty licorice (salmiakki), a popular Finnish candy, while typically retaining a standard white "tuxedo" pattern on the chest, belly, and paws. 

Inheritance: The trait is recessive, meaning a cat must inherit two copies of the variant (one from each parent) to display the pattern. 

Genetic Mechanism: Unlike typical dilution genes, this mutation involves a missing chunk of DNA downstream of the KIT gene, which regulates melanocyte (pigment cell) development. 

Variations: While most common in black and black-and-white cats, the pattern can also appear in blue, brown tabby, and tortoiseshell variations. 

WWII Stone House Restoration

I still can't post YT videos as effortlessly as I did before. And I can't figure out why! Who among you also maintains a blogspot/Blogger website?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZTJN6CZfG0

At some point, I hope to figure out my YT obstacle. The Old Wolf has stepped forward to see if he can help. I have asked him to be a co-admin on Frog Blog to help specifically with getting the YT videos up and running. (I haven't heard from him yet, but I hope he will accept my request.) I trust The Old Wolf and a couple of other long-time readers unconditionally. It takes time to build that kind of trust.  Please don't read too much into this. It doesn't mean that I don't trust other long-time readers, but these individuals have a history of stepping in and helping me during critical times. They also regularly contact me and we keep in touch. Actually, I called Rotifer the other day while he was at work to ask him for a favor. I ended up not needing him to follow through with the favor, but... nevertheless. Randy_B has also been there for me when I was in full panic mode regarding an archive file crisis. A couple of others I wouldn't hesitate for ask for help either (you probably know who you are), but I hate being so needy. It took a lot for me to admit and finally realize that I can't do everything on my own... and that it's okay to ask for help sometimes. And I am never talking about financial assistance. Oh, good golly, no. Never, never, never. And to the reader who offered years ago to buy me a brand-new and expensive Mac, I still appreciate the offer, but I could never, ever accept that kind of help. 

I'm sure that other creators on GoComics have loyal and time-generous readers, too... but I'd challenge any of them to compete with the lame awesome sauceness of my FA readers.

I adore you all. 

--Teresa

Is handing out to children Ex-lax on Halloween against the law?

(Click to enlarge)

Is handing out to children Ex-lax on Halloween against the law?

Quick Answer

Handing out Ex-Lax (a laxative) to children on Halloween is not explicitly prohibited by a specific "poisoned candy" statute, as no such law exists.

However, it could lead to serious criminal charges such as assault, battery, or attempted murder if it causes harm or is intended to cause bodily injury.

Additionally, if the giver is a registered sex offender, they may be violating state-specific "No Candy" laws that prohibit them from distributing any items to minors during Halloween-related events.

What are the specific penalties for assault in this context?

Researched assault penalties for giving laxatives to children:

Penalties vary significantly by state and the specific charge, but here's a general picture:

Assault / Aggravated Assault

• Simple assault (misdemeanor): Up to ~6 months in jail, plus fines. 
• Aggravated assault (felony, e.g., California Penal Code § 245): 2–4 years in state prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.
  Offenses against children are often treated as aggravated automatically.

Child-Specific Charges (often stacked on top of assault)

• Massachusetts (assault & battery on a child): Up to 2.5 years for the assault itself; up to 5 years if bodily injury results; up to 15 years for substantial bodily injury. 
• Alabama (chemical endangerment of a child, § 26-15-3.2): Class C felony (up to 10 years) even without harm; escalates to Class B (up to 20 years) for serious injury and Class A (life) for death. 
• Nevada: Administering a substance to another person without their knowledge is a Category B felony — 1 to 20 years in prison. 
• North Carolina (new 2025 statute): Exposing a child to a controlled substance is a Class A1 misdemeanor; if it causes serious physical injury, it can rise to Class G or E felony child abuse. 
• Minnesota (neglect/endangerment of a child): Up to 364 days and/or a $3,000 fine. 

Key Aggravating Factors

• The victim being a child increases penalties in nearly every state. 
• Intent (intentional vs. reckless) and whether actual injury occurred are the biggest drivers of sentencing severity. 
• Multiple children harmed would likely result in multiple counts and significantly longer sentences. 

Because this is a hypothetical spanning many possible statutes, the exact charge and penalty would depend entirely on the state and the facts (intent, harm caused, number of victims).

Is it wrong to chase women? (Youngstown Steel ad, 1964)