Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in FYI.
Blue Reigns Supreme: Gemstones of Future
The Color ‘Blue’ has traditionally been associated with royalty, knowledge, virtue, and good fortune. People have been wearing glistening blue stones for generations, and the trend is still going on. These mesmerizing blue gemstones are constantly in demand when it comes to jewelry. As many blue stones are mined at limited locations on the planet, the value and quality of these precious stones have risen dramatically in recent years. Blue gemstones offer the wearer a look of confident sophistication and strong brilliance when worn in jewelry.
By Gemos Gems4 years ago in FYI
La Chanson de Roland
The word war derives from the Frankish term wërra. The Franks were the most famous of the barbarian peoples. Only the Franks were able to stop the Arabs, thanks to Carlo Martello, and form a kingdom almost as large as the Roman Empire. They lived in the territories of present-day France, were of Germanic origin and had mixed with the first inhabitants of that area, namely the Gauls (yes, precisely those of Asterix and Obelix) and the Romans. The Franks were among the first barbarian peoples to accept Christianity and to speak the language of Rome. The popes asked for their help against the Lombards who were defeated by the nephew of Carlo Martello, the future Charlemagne, so nicknamed because he was a great king who accomplished memorable deeds. He was master of France and had taken Italy from the Lombards. His armies, commanded by mighty warriors called Paladins, had gone very far, making him master of the lands that today are called Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria. Since the fall of the Roman Empire, such a vast dominion had not been seen in Europe.
By Patrizia Poli4 years ago in FYI
Fifty Artists Face Homelessness Days Before Christmas Due to Property Owner Negligence
What first seemed like a dream come true has turned into a nightmare for over fifty artists who came to Los Angeles from across the country to pursue their dreams. They were promised comfortable housing including utilities; along with a recording studio, dance studio, and self tape room; family dinners and artist enrichment activities; and regular cleaning services. Upon arrival, tenants of UP(st)ART Creative Living learned a harsh truth that those promises were merely a facade. Amid a global pandemic and record breaking rates of homelessness across the city, these hopeful artists were met with atrocious conditions and false promises, and are now living with no power or water and are facing the threat of spending Christmas unhoused.
By LJ Livingston4 years ago in FYI
The True Meaning of the False Meaning of Christmas
Folks in the media who lament the commercialisation of the traditionally Christian festival, Christmas, will often frame it as being about "Santa vs. Jesus." Jesus's birth of course, is the origin of the festival, a time of giving an reflection, but to many secular people, Santa, a personification of the giving of gifts, is the centre of the season, a symbol of receiving, not giving, and of celebration and indulgence.
By Matty Long4 years ago in FYI
Treasure on Your Bookshelf
When I was a kid growing up in Montreal, we lived two doors down from an elderly couple in the antique business. Besides antiques, they also had a lot of old books. When I say old, I mean old! We're talking books from the mid to late 1800s.
By Marco den Ouden4 years ago in FYI
THE WICKED BURKERS OF VICTORIAN LONDON
The London Burkers were a gang of body snatchers who functioned in London in the 1830s and came to notoriety in 1831. They worked as a team thieving and selling dead bodies to big London hospitals, including St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and St. Thomas’ Hospital.
By Paul Asling4 years ago in FYI
LONDON’S VILE VICTORIAN BABY FARMERS
In the days when it was considered a disgrace to have a child out of marriage, unmarried mothers would regularly pay an older woman to raise their child. In lots of cases, the mother would have no further contact with the child. This permitted some dreadful crimes to be committed by evil baby farmers.
By Paul Asling4 years ago in FYI
The Original King of Barter
A couple of days ago (Dec. 14, 2021) a woman from San Francisco named Demi Skipper made the news because she had bartered her way from a bobbypin to small house in Tennessee. But she wasn't the first to accomplish such a feat. She was inspired by a fellow named Kyle MacDonald who did much the same thing in 2005. I wrote up that story in June 2006 for Lesley Scorgie's Rich by Thirty newsletter. At the time, Kyle was one trade away from getting his house, which he did one month later. So I've added the ending and a few other details as well. Here's the story!
By Marco den Ouden4 years ago in FYI
Rest is essential for a healthy long life
There will always be exercise equipment, nutritional supplements, and miracle cures offered that cost money that promises to improve our health, There is one thing, however, that we can do that will not cost us anything but ay add years to our lives and life to those years. As we head into a New Year there is one thing that will make such a huge difference and that is prioritizing time to allow our bodies to heal naturally.
By Cheryl E Preston4 years ago in FYI
The Most Botched Art Restorations In History
Art restoration is an important activity to preserve historical heritage, culture, and legacy for our future generations. There is no particular technique and fit-formula to restore an art form but trained art historians, chemists, and material scientists use extensive knowledge to assess art and use methods to minimally alter the original form.
By Kamna Kirti4 years ago in FYI
