Historical
FYI: Separating facts from myths associated with Saint Patrick's Day
March 17 is Saint Patrick's Day and considered a great day for the Irish. In America this occasion is big business with stores filled with hats, party favors, candy, napkins, plates, large shamrocks. beads and other items all in green. There are a lot of myths and folklore mixed in with the truths that are associated with the man for whom this date is observed. Lets take look at a few of them. He was born Maewyn Succat but changed his name to Patricius or Patrick which means father figure when he became a priest. He is known as the patron saint of Ireland but was actually born in Britain while it was under Roman rule. He was sent to Ireland as a missionary in later years and that is how the stories began.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
The dealio with the lingo
Last night, I decided to butter him up before giving the shoulder. But on my way there, it was raining cats and dogs. When I walked out the door, my sister said to break a leg! Now what the hell did all of that just mean? Well, mostly nonsense. Because this didn't actually happen. But I'm guessing one of those common phrases just rang a bell in your head. I got curious about the origin of these myself. Let's look at 10 of them and see where they're from.
By Grace Linn5 years ago in FYI
The 1932 Saratoga Gold Rush
December 5th, 1959 Tom asked me to write up my memories of the gold rush in Saratoga back in ‘32. If you’re old enough, perhaps you remember reading some stories about it in your local paper in July or early August of 1932. As is frequently the case, the newspapers didn’t get the full scoop. I’ve flipped through a few of the little black books which I'd used as journals to refresh my memory of decades past. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you about 1932 in a minute here without troubling you too much with detours into the years before 1932.
By Tom Cooley5 years ago in FYI
Footsteps on Your Grave
I found myself down a bit of a research rabbit-hole recently—as often happens—when a friend questioned the logic of the phrase ‘someone must have walked over your grave’. We ended up in a lengthy discussion about the hypothetical workings of parallel timelines, past lives and the like in our attempts to postulate the meaning of the expression. A few days later I found myself still curious about the origins of the phrase and its intended meaning. I found the answers quite fascinating, and it seems fitting to share them here.
By Karleah Olson5 years ago in FYI
Nix v. Hedden
The tomato, is it a fruit or is it a vegetable? Those of us that are logically minded would say fruit because by definition fruits are the products that bloom from a plant. Whereas vegetables are the other parts of the plant; root, stem, leaf, etc. Those of us that are practically minded would say vegetable because culinarily speaking tomatoes have more of a savory taste and are used most commonly in a side dish or main course. The truth of the matter is that both parties are correct.
By Emma Barfield5 years ago in FYI
Been There, Done That
When 2020 rolled around, I realized that I was living in my ninth decade. Born in the 40s, I was one of the early baby boomers, part of the legion of post-war newborns. I don’t remember much of the 40s, because I was too young, but I remember clearly the succeeding decades. Let me take you on a trip down memory lane and share some history as I remember it.
By Ken Fendley5 years ago in FYI
He Led The Way
He Led the Way The Black Innovator that I am most Inspired by I George Washington Carver. He is responsible for giving modern humans things like soap and Sweet Potatoes and he created them in a time where people of color where still being oppressed and where still hated by the rest of country. While these accomplishments seem meaningless to most, they are very meaningful given the time that Mr. Carver created or discover them. As an American White Male, I have always been intrigued by the accomplishments of Mr. carver. I genuinely believe that given the time that we were a scientist and inventor his accomplishments should be more revered than anyone else in his field at the time given the diversities and hatred that where still festering in our great country. He was after all the first African American to receive a Batchlor of Science Degree in the year 1894 so I guess he truly did lead the way. I mean he impressed his professors so much he was asked to say and earn his master's degree all based on his studies of Fungal Infractions in Soybeans Really how Epic is that. He even negated into his contract to be a Professor at Tuskegee university an All-Black Agricultural School that had to be ran soy by him. According to the History Chanel website George Washington Carver invented over 300 food,indestural,and commercial products from peanuts. Some of these inventions are Milk, Worcestershire sauce, punches, and cooking oils, also products like wood stain, Cosmetics, Soaps and Salad Oil. Who as well as much more. Who would have ever thought that a nut that is the case of widespread allergy today would be so useful in paving the way for some of the great products we have today? So much so that in 1921 George Washington Carver on behalf of the Peanut industry went before the ways and means committee of the US House of Represent ivies and was give tariff protection this milestone is what earned him the nick name “The Peanut Man”.
By stand up for ur rights5 years ago in FYI
