Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in FYI.
To be or not to be an Aries
When I hear my friends talk about their zodiacs and their connection to the universe I try not to feed into their beliefs. I want to stand out of the crowd and be unique. I don’t want to believe that I’m just like every other Aries out there. And yet as I was challenged to look into the personality characteristics of an Aries I found myself checking boxes like following a recipe. I’m not pleased with that at all. I’m adventurous. I’ve been zip-lining in the Dominican Republic, skydiving in Illinois and parasailing in Mexico. The typical person doesn’t do that. I’m kind and I have a good heart, but most people are only out for themselves. I spent almost an hour trying to convince myself that I was the exception to the Aries stereotypes, then I actually researched my zodiac. Crap.
By Nicole Franklin5 years ago in FYI
Agecroft Hall, Virginia
Richmond businessman Thomas C. Williams was part of Virginia's upper-class society. A set that promoted antiquarianism and Anglophile attitudes.[1] Williams was planning on building an English manor-style house on the James river and so he travelled to England, in search of items and inspiration for his new home.[2] Whilst Williams initially travelled for inspiration, he ended up purchasing an entire fifteenth-century medieval manor house in Pendlebury, Greater Manchester, called Agecroft Hall.[3] The Agecroft Hall that Williams purchased can be dated to around the end of the reign of Henry VII, or the beginning of that of Henry VIII, although parts of the south and west wings appear to have been built about a century later. The home once consisted of twenty rooms including a great hall, parlour, dining parlour, several bed chambers and a private chapel. [4] However, the home went through many changes and renovations throughout its years, including a fire in 1894, which destroyed two wings of the house.[5]
By Armchair Detective5 years ago in FYI
What’s Flavoring Your Cookies?
Did you know a group of cats can be called a “glaring” or a “clowder?” Unless they’re feral cats, then it’s a “pounce.” Or in the case of kittens, a “litter” or a “kindle”! Or did you know that McDonald’s developed bubble-gum flavored broccoli in an attempt to get children to eat more vegetables? How about that figs are not fruit but an inverted flower? More fig trivia includes that every fig we eat has a decomposed wasp in it. Figs require a specific kind of pollination that can only come from fig wasps. A female wasp crawls through a hole, and the entrance is so narrow, she loses her wings and then becomes trapped. If the fig is male, she’ll lay her eggs that hatch into larvae, who burrow out, turn into wasps, and fly off, carrying fig pollen with them. If the fig is female – this the kind of fig we eat – the fig wasp pollinates it but can’t lay eggs due to lack of space inside the fig. The wasp dies, and the fig produces an enzyme that digests the wasp completely, so rest assured, any crunchy bits you encounter are seeds, not wasp parts. And yes, this happens every single time a fig wasp flies into a female fig.
By Heather Mitchell Manheim5 years ago in FYI
Cotton Cavity
Dentists worldwide encourage their patients to floss, brush their teeth several times a day and avoid sugar at all cost. It comes at a surprise when we learn the little unknown fact that cotton candy was created by none other than a dentist. This fact always surprises people and is a great conversation starter in an event where fairy floss, also known as cotton candy is involved. One of the world’s favourite carnival snacks, commonly known as daddy’s beard (barbe a papa) in french, is commonly known worldwide.This sugary treat has so many different little nicknames. Here is a little history of the cotton candy invention.
By Jessica Bertrand5 years ago in FYI
Flipping a penny for heads or tails can be dangerous
There are many sayings about pennies When I was growing up there were sayings regarding pennies such as: "Find a penny pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck", " That cost a pretty penny," "So and so keeps showing up like a bad penny", "A penny saved is a penny earned," and "A penny for your thoughts." People would also flip a penny and choose heads or tails to solve an issue.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
Accident or Amazing
Life is full of interesting discoveries. From simple things to the greatest inventions, a lot of useful things were created during accidental circumstances. A failed recipe, a broken tool, a misdiagnosis, a wrong turn. We have been programmed to think a mistake is something negative or wrong. There have been endless amazing inventions that began as something else and through a failure or simple error became something entirely different.
By Angie Connolly5 years ago in FYI
History of March
The month that can come in “like a lion and out like a lamb” is named after Mars, the Roman god of war (and agriculture). Indeed, in French, the month is called Mars. March, or Martius as it was known in ancient Rome, is the first month of Spring and was considered a favorable season for travel, planting, or beginning a military campaign.
By Bill Petro5 years ago in FYI
