Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in FYI.
FYI: Interesting facts about early morning frost
You have no doubt seen the glistening crystals of an early morning frost but perhaps you are unaware of certain pertinent details to this magical icy mist of nature. I have always been amazed at how the sun beams down upon the frozen crystals giving them a look of shimmering diamonds sparkling on the ground. Frost is actually a thin layer of ice on a solid surface. It forms when water vapor in an above-freezing atmosphere comes in contact with a solid surface where the temperature is below freezing.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
A Deeper Dive into Plastic Contamination of the Ocean
With our oceans already filled with over 160 million tons of garbage, our oceans are facing a crisis! It is now estimated that by 2050, plastic debris in the oceans will outnumber fish. Plastic consumption is rapidly increasing, putting marine life in harm's way and destroying natural ecosystems.
By Naomi Lara5 years ago in FYI
America's Most Popular Blues Legend, A Deal With The Devil?
Many people have heard the story but not many people know the history. If you've heard the story of the "Faustian Pact" it refers to a 15th century deal between a clergyman and the demon Mephistopheles. It's debatable what really happened but the Faustian Deal has become an ingredient in many literary, musical, artistic works, and cinematic pieces. In recent years the pact with the devil, or demons, has become a recurring ingredient in the just ended television series, Supernatural. Most of those deals centered around the characters of the crossroads demons, most notably the character of Mark Sheppards' Crowley.
By Jason Ray Morton 5 years ago 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
