Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in FYI.
Why break the mould when you can smash it?
I’m going to ask you, if I may, to cast your minds back. If you’re a Gen Z reader then I’m going to ask you to cast your minds way back to the Biblical times. 2007. Take a deep breath. Picture it. The prestigious magazine Vanity Fair has just shocked the world with an article by the late polemicist Christopher Hitchens. Now, I greatly admire Mr Hitchens’ wide body of work but this, it must be said, was not his finest hour. The article, which he no doubt thought was a very thorough and meticulous example of journalism, was entitled “Why Women Aren’t Funny.”
By Morgan Buswell5 years ago in FYI
How The Secret to Effective Metabolism Can Keep You Out of Trouble
The process of breaking down the food we consume and convert it to energy is known as metabolism. It keeps the organs functioning as expected and delivers nourishment. Any general physician in Kolkata would tell that maintaining a healthy metabolism is not a big deal when done right.
By Orkos Appointment5 years ago in FYI
Robert E Lee was born after his mother was buried alive
In the course of history, we find that every action indeed has a reaction and this story illustrates how true that is. If it were not for the decision made by a quick thinking caretaker, then United States history as we know it, related to the Civil War would have been altered drastically. There is an old saying that truth is stranger than fiction and this is true in the case of Confederate General Robert E Lee. The events that will be shared here took place 15 months prior to his birth and ensured his place in the Confederacy.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
The Silent Twins Who Couldn’t Live Apart
One of my friends is expecting her first baby. She is excited and anxious all at the same time. Before the gender reveal we had fun guessing whether she’d have a boy or a girl. We now know it’s a girl, one girl, and she has a name already. How exciting.
By Rejoice Denhere5 years ago in FYI
Elegabalus, Emperor of Rome
One would hardly expect many Roman emperors to make an appearance in a comic opera, but anyone who has seen “The Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan might have been puzzled by the claim of Major-General Stanley that he can “quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus”. Even though the name is more usually given as Elagabalus, not many opera-goers will know to whom he is referring, or what crimes he might have committed.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Frank and Jesse James were once Robin Hood in the midst of their crime sprees
There are many legends and myths within the truth regarding the infamous outlaws who were the James brothers Frank and Jesse. They were the sons of a preacher who turned to a life of crime. Jesse was shot down at the age of 34 but Frank, after serving a stint in prison moved in with his mother and lived to be 72 years old. The siblings were part of the James/Younger gang which had fluctuating membership over the years but at one point consisted of Jesse and Frank, along with the Younger brothers Cole, John, Bob, and Jim.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
Edward the Black Prince
Edward the Black Prince should have become King of England but died before his father (King Edward III), so the throne passed to his less worthy son, who reigned as King Richard II. Edward represents many people’s idea of a knight from the period when chivalry was at its height. Indeed, Chaucer’s “perfect gentle knight”, from the Canterbury Tales, written not long after Edward’s death, could have been a nostalgic (and doubtless sanitised) portrait of the Black Prince.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
The Depressing Idea of Hanlon's Razor
Philosophy is a fun topic. Within philosophical discourse, there's a tool known as a "razor." In particular, Hanlon's Razor states that one should never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. It is one of many "razors" that exist in philosophical discussion, the most well known of which is probably Occam's razor, though there are many others.
By Daniel Goldman5 years ago in FYI
‘The Wreck of the Titan’ foretold the sinking of the Titanic
The RMS Titanic was a luxury steamship, that sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. This tragedy took place during the ship's maiden voyage in the North Atlantic off the coast of Newfoundland. The Titanic ran into an iceberg with 2,240 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster and countless articles, movies, and books, have been produced and written on the subject. There is one publication however that was penned 14 years prior to the Titanic sinking. Some believe this was a premonition of future events but the author has another explanation.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
