Historical

The Ultimate Sacrifice of Captain Oates
“I am just going outside and I may be some time”. Those were the last recorded words of Captain Lawrence Oates, who stepped into a blizzard in Antarctica on 16th March 1912 and was never seen again. The recorder of those words was Captain Robert Falcon Scott, who kept a diary until shortly before his own death some two weeks later, also defeated in the attempt to survive the terrible conditions of the southern continent.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Captain Morgan and an Unwise Pig Roast
Captain Henry Morgan was a notorious privateer and pirate during the 17th century. He suffered an unfortunate setback when a celebratory pig roast cost him a lot more than he had bargained for.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
That Time When Parents Mailed Their Kids
The unofficial “motto” of the United States Postal Service is, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." The words above, often considered to be the motto, are chiseled in gray granite over the entrance to the New York City Post Office on 8th Avenue. Although the Post Office isn't utilized as much as times past because of our current digital age, we continue to acknowledge the important role they play in our society. We count on them to deliver handwritten letters and cards. We expect the Postal Service to bring our dreaded utility bills or credit card statements, and stuff them in our mailbox. In fact, our culture places a great amount of trust in these mail carriers. About a century ago, a few people relied on the postal service so much, some even shipped their children through the mail.
By Bryan R..5 years ago in FYI
(What Do You Call a Dinosaur Fart?) A Blast From the Past
Some people may say fart jokes are immature but, I often find, there is a methane to the madness. In today’s news cycle, we are constantly reminded of the great many things that divide one human being from the next. Beliefs, skin colour, language, culture, location, income, the list goes on. Less often spoken of are the threads which undeniably tie our lives together. We are each born, we will each die, and along the in-between we will all pass gas at an embarrassing, inopportune moment and live to laugh about it.
By Imaan W5 years ago in FYI
Coffee: The Most Powerful Weapon of the Civil War
If you drink coffee, think about the last time you really needed a cup. Maybe it was while trying to cure grogginess the morning after a night of partying. Maybe it was halfway through a particularly exhausting shift at work. Maybe it was while frantically cramming the night before a test. Now imagine you are a soldier during the Civil War. Bullets are whizzing past your head. People next to you are screaming in agony after being shot. You frantically reload your burning hot musket and try to fire off as many shots as you can to avoid getting killed. Would you want a cup of coffee?
By Alex Pellitteri5 years ago in FYI
The Unicorn
The hills, rivers, and wild forests of Scotland have been filled with mythical lore for centuries. Stories of ghosts and vampires, spirits and sea monsters have remained an intrinsic part of Scottish culture to this day. While the superstitious fascination with witchcraft and the supernatural has largely diminished, one mythical creature remains as more than a story to the nation. The Unicorn has been Scotland's national animal since the 12th century.
By Clifton Arnold5 years ago in FYI
Sex and Drugs and Artichoke
The vacant stare of the Catholic prelate during his show trial rang alarm bells back at C.I.A. headquarters. It was 1949 and, in Soviet-occupied Hungary, Cardinal József Mindszenty was confessing to plotting to steal the crown jewels, restoring the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and orchestrating a third World War which would allow him to seize power for himself.
By Michael Gettel-Gilmartin5 years ago in FYI
A little Fun Fact About
New Orleans is known for many things, but for most one thing always comes to mind. Yes, that’s right Mardi Gras! A beautiful event where “parades, masked balls, and the indulgence of food and alcohol” takes place. One thing that is usually associated with Mardi Gras is the beads! Colorful strands of plastic beads that get thrown out into the crowds for people to adorn themselves with for the night. They get stuck in the trees, hang on the branches, and litter the streets. But their beautiful metallic glow gives the city a charm that will be seen through-out the year. Most of us have some of these beads, hanging on our bed frame, or tucked away in a box somewhere never to be let go. Because obviously we earned them! It took work! Especially the big ones or the more unique ones in the bunch. I personally have a box full of my favorite ones that I have collected through out the years.
By Aurielle Chell5 years ago in FYI
Where did the Phrase “Bye Felicia!” Originate from?
In today’s society we often hear people using the saying “bye Felicia!” as they storm out the door signifying “get out of my face.” It’s used all the time in the everyday modern world. There are some interesting facts on where the saying originated from as well as its actual meaning.
By Sadie Colucci5 years ago in FYI
Heroin in tampons and morphine for young children
Industrially produced medicines were used for all kinds of complaints from the middle of the 19th century onwards. Heroin was considered a good cough expectorant, morphine as a sleeping pill. Even children were given hard drugs.
By AddictiveWritings5 years ago in FYI
The Secret Origins Of Pizza!!!
We all love pizza. I think we could say that pizza is the most popular delicacy in the world. And why not? I mean there is a pizza for anyone, no matter what your preferences are you can find or make a pizza to suit your tastes! Pineapple Pizza, Pizza Neapolitan, Salad Pizza, Kebab Pizza, Chocolate Pizza, Ice Cream Pizza , the possibilities are endless. But the most famous pizza ever is the Italian pizza and to be more precise the Pizza Margarita, supposedly the first pizza ever made by the baker Rafael Esposito in honor of the Queen of Italy, Margarita of Savoy, in 1889 AC. But what if I told you that pizza is an ancient food and Its origins go back to ancient Greece.
By Nick Ifor5 years ago in FYI
Were Nuclear Weapons Used In the Ancient Past?
Were nuclear weapons used in the ancient past? The detonations of the first ever atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which quickly led to the end of World War II, changed the world forever. Literally overnight, our world shifted from pre-nuclear age, into the nuclear age. Total destruction at the press of a button is now always a possibility.
By Ben Herd5 years ago in FYI