Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in FYI.
The Great History of Quarantine
The year 2020 was no a usual year by any means. The pandemic changed the way of life for most people around the world. It's no surprise that "Coronavirus" was among the top global searches on Google in 2020. The word was searched 60 million times a month in the year. One more word which was equally synonymous with the pandemic was "Quarantine." It features among the Top 10 searched keywords in the United States and has formed part of our daily vocabulary.
By Kavi Kamat5 years ago in FYI
Number 349 - The Story of the Filipino Pepsi Riots
In February of 1992 Pepsi Phillipines launched the Number Fever promotion - a rewards campaign in which they printed a three digit number and a security code onto the backs of Pepsi brand bottle caps in the Phillipines. Seems innocent right? This is the story of how that simple rewards campaign turned into riots, overturned trucks, five deaths and years of litigation for the soda giant.
By Inina Kachelmeier5 years ago in FYI
The Melungeons: Appalachia's ethnic mystery
In the eighteenth century, land surveyors in the Appalachian Mountains reported encountering bronze-skinned, light-eyed people who fell to their knees in prayer five times a day. The mysterious mountain-dwellers, who lived far beyond the Western border of the thirteen colonies, referred to themselves as “Portuguese” in broken English. While their outward appearance suggested they were Mediterranean, the custom of praying five times a day hinted at Islamic roots. The French-speaking explorers, unsure what to call this mysterious community, described them as mélange, “a mix.”
By Ashley Herzog5 years ago in FYI
What To Do (And NOT To Do) If A Bomb Goes Off
While many parts of the world, throughout different eras of history, have had to worry about terrorist attacks to some degree or another (it is said that this was one of the reasons for the Crusades), it is within the last 25 years or so that the problem has reached proportions where it seems that an attack could come at any moment at any place regardless of where on Earth they may find themselves.
By Deplorable Di Gangi5 years ago in FYI
The Mandela Effect
Ever wonder why people tend to remember things differently at times, even though you strongly believe you are right and you have heard others say you are right but a few others claim you are terribly wrong. This can be explained by a world wide phenomenon which is now called The Mandela Effect. What exactly is this; The Mandela Affect is a strange phenomenon were a large group of individuals distinctly and strongly remember something however the events or memory is completely wrong and false. In simpler terms it is a largely believed lie in a sense. Now I am not saying that what these people believe is an outright lie or falsehood, just there memories of the event or occurrence is different than what actually took place and it a false memory a large group remember at the same time. The first part of my essay will explain how the phenomenon got its name and how the effect came to be known in the world. The last two sections I will present two pop culture references that have been greatly influenced or affected by this Mandela Effect.
By Randy McGrath5 years ago in FYI
The World Was Duped
Plastic, originally named bakelite by it's inventor Baekeland, was created in 1909 if you can believe it. But our love for plastic didn't explode onto the scene until the middle of the century, when women began working outside of the home, and the consumer industry had a lightbulb moment that they packaged and sold as "convenience".
By Christina Hunter5 years ago in FYI
The Scary Reality of Dietary Supplements
We've all had a rough night's sleep; whether it's related to jet lag, poor choices, or our own biological dispositions – we've been there. And in many cases we've turned to a supplement in order to help our weary mind get the sleep it deserves. For example, melatonin supplements are popular sleep aids. This is probably due to the fact that most people know the importance of melatonin's role in our sleep-wake cycles – but did you know that the concentration of melatonin in a supplement can vary as widely as 83 % less to 478 % more than what is stated on the label?
By Derek Evers5 years ago in FYI
The Origins of the Word “Snob”
Have you ever quietly judged a snob? Someone abiding by designer trends, and shivering at the glance of fast fashion. Someone with an educated ear for music who criticizes those with no taste. Or who sends back countless bottles of wine at a restaurant until finally detecting the most refined one, with their impeccable nose.
By Maria Garcia5 years ago in FYI
History of St Joseph’s Day
Today, March 19, is Saint Joseph’s Day, or the Feast of St Joseph. It is celebrated by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran Churches worldwide. The terms feast and festival are often used interchangeably and often refer to a religious holiday.
By Bill Petro5 years ago in FYI
