Artspectrum/A Company of Dancers

Ancient Egyptian royals were often buried with objects they believed were needed in the afterlife. Items such as jewelry and games were common inclusions in their tombs, as were everyday staples such as clothing and food. And while we might expect any ancient food to decompose past the point of recognition, archaeologists have actually uncovered 3,000-year-old pots of honey that were, remarkably, intact — and still edible.

Honey’s extraordinary shelf life is the result of Its low water content and high sugar levels creating an environment that’s inhospitable to bacterial growth, and it also contains trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide, which acts as a natural microbial inhibitor. Bees use their rapidly flapping wings to evaporate most of the honey’s water, and an enzyme in their stomachs contributes to honey’s unique antibacterial property. Egyptians were some of the earliest known organized beekeepers, and along with sending honey into the next life with the deceased, they also offered the sweet substance to their deities.

The Jetsons first aired in 1962. It presented a futuristic world filled with imaginative technology that seemed purely fantastical to audiences at the time. Set 100 years in the future — in 2062 — it was Hanna-Barbera’s sci-fi counterpart to The Flintstones. The Jetson family lived in Orbit City.

Writing for Smithsonian magazine on the show’s 50th anniversary, Matt Novak called the series the “single most important piece of 20th century futurism.” The Jetsons the ability to present possible future technologies in a very simple and entertaining way.

We are still waiting for a viable flying car like the ones seen in Orbit City. But there are some futuristic concepts from the original season of The Jetsons that do actually exist today — and we didn’t even have to wait until 2062.

Video Calls
In the world of The Jetsons, video calling is a standard feature of daily life.

Flat-Screen TVs
Back in the 1960s, televisions were big, bulky boxes with screens barely large enough to justify the set’s proportions. And yet, just seconds into the first episode of The Jetsons, we see Jane Jetson standing in front of a flat-screen TV suspended from the ceiling. Today’s flat-screens didn’t become popular until the 2000s.

Robot Vacuum Cleaners
The first episode of The Jetsons introduces us to Rosie the Robot, the Jetson family’s robotic housekeeper. We have anything quite like Rosie in our homes as yet, but we do have access to automated cleaning systems similar to those seen in the Jetsons’ residence. The show features various cleaning machines, including small robotic vacuums not too dissimilar to those we have now, which first came on the market in 2002.

Tanning Beds
Tanning beds only became commercially available in the U.S. in the late 1970s. But before that, they appeared in The Jetsons. In “Millionaire Astro,” episode 16 of season 1.

Capsule Endoscopy
In “Test Pilot,” episode 15 of season 1, George Jetson is sent for a physical exam checkup. His doctor, Dr. Radius, makes George swallow a tiny robotic pill called the Peekaboo Prober, which enters his body to scan his internal systems. This scene was well ahead of its time. It’s only in recent years that technology such as capsule endoscopy has become available. Capsule endoscopy uses tiny wireless cameras to take pictures of the organs in the body, as opposed to the more traditional and widely used endoscope, which is not wireless and therefore more invasive.

In a traditional) Christian wedding recently, the bride generally stands on the left and the groom on the right during the ceremony. So how did this tradition emerge?

In centuries past, men would abduct women to be their brides, either in secret or by slaying the woman’s family. This is said to affect the standing positions during the matrimonial ceremony because grooms needed to keep their sword hand — their dominant hand — free in case anyone came to try to take the bride back. Because most men are right-handed, standing on the right meant that the left hand could be free for wedding duties while the right hand would be ready to pull out a sword if there was trouble .

Pet owners know that cats, dogs, and other animals tend to fall asleep right away (lucky them). The emu spends up to 20 minutes getting into the right position before finally nodding off. Emus get ready for bed as soon as the sun goes down, and exhibit drowsiness, but often jerk back awake just before falling asleep and rise as many as eight times a night.

There was a time when childhood looked very different. Often unsupervised, kids would roam, explore, improvise, and occasionally scare their parents half to death. Cultural norms have changed, and many of the routines and traditions that once defined the all-American childhood now seem reckless.

like:

Leaving with your bike in the morning and coming back for suppertime. Generations generations of American kids, a bicycle meant freedom. From the 1940s through the 1980s, children often left home after breakfast with little more than a vague instruction: "Be back before dinner." For me it was “Come home when the street lights come home.” We had no phones or GPS trackers.

Foraging fruit from neighbors’ yards
Running around all day makes for hungry crumb snatchers. Picking and eating fruit from unknown plants in your neighborhood could result in a yummy treat…or abdominal trouble. Today, property boundaries have grown, and kids are reminded not to forage without permission.

Riding public transportation alone

For much of the 20th century, it wasn’t unusual for children as young as 7 to ride buses, subways, or streetcars alone, especially in large cities. Commuting commuting to school independently was considered a practical life skill.

Just a few tame memories to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Soldiers have always needed a reliable supply of food to maintain both their energy levels and morale. As the old saying goes, “An army marches on its stomach.”

Military rations have existed since at least the time of ancient Rome, when soldiers received 2 pounds of bread a day, sometimes with meat, olive oil, and wine. Today, U.S. troops are provided with MREs — “Meals, Ready-to-Eat” — which are carefully tested, formulated, and packaged rations designed to sustain soldiers during training and military operations.

M&Ms
In the 1930s, Forrest Mars Sr. (the son of Mars founder Franklin Clarence Mars) was traveling in Europe. According to confectionary legend, it was during this time that Forrest Mars observed soldiers eating chocolate pellets surrounded by a sugar shell during the Spanish Civil War. Inspired, he took the concept back to the United States where, in 1941, M&Ms were born.

With World War II already underway, M&Ms were initially made specifically for the U.S. military, providing an ideal way for soldiers to carry energy-rich chocolate in tropical climates without it melting. In 1947, the candy was made available to the public, and its popularity has never waned since.

Cheetos
Cheetos can be traced back to the Natick Soldier Systems Center, a U.S. Army research complex responsible for the development of the U.S. military’s food, clothing, and shelters.

One of the items to come out of the research complex was processed and powdered cheese, which was created for military use in World War II. By the end of the war an industry had sprung up to support the dehydrated cheese. One of the very first products to use the cheesy powder was the now-ubiquitous Cheetos.

Instant Coffee
Instant coffee isn’t a modern invention — it was created and patented as a “coffee compound” by an Englishman named John Dring in 1771. It later appeared in cake form during the American Civil War, before being refined by Japanese chemist Satori Kato, whose soluble coffee was introduced to the public at the Pan-American Exposition of 1901.

Instant coffee as we know it today became commonplace during World War I, providing a quick and easy taste of home for soldiers on the front lines. The Department of Defense began buying as much as 37,000 pounds of coffee powder each day, at which point the instant coffee industry skyrocketed. Then, in 1938, Nestlé introduced its new product, Nescafé. With the outbreak of World War II, Nescafé was included in the emergency rations of every U.S. soldier, further cementing the popularity of the instant brew.

Minute Maid
In 1942, the U.S. Army offered a lucrative contract to any company that could figure out a process for producing palatable frozen orange juice — deemed necessary for keeping vitamin C levels at acceptable levels among the troops. It wasn’t until 1945 that a viable process was created, at which point the Florida Foods Corporation won the contract to produce 500,000 pounds of orange juice concentrate.

The war ended before the product was shipped. Finding itself sitting on a giant mound of oranges, Florida Foods changed its name to the Vacuum Foods Corporation a year later and began selling the nation’s first concentrated frozen orange juice, which it called Minute Maid.

TV Dinners
The first successful frozen prepackaged meal — what was later dubbed the “TV dinner” — hit supermarket shelves in 1953. Produced by Swanson, it was a Thanksgiving meal of turkey, cornbread stuffing, and peas. But while Swanson took TV dinners to the masses, the concept was originally developed for the military.

In 1945, Maxson Food Systems manufactured the first complete frozen meal — known as “Strato-Plates” — specifically to be reheated for troops and other passengers on long military flights. A typical meal was a basic three-part combo of meat, vegetable, and potato, each housed in its own compartment on a plastic plate. Maxson’s frozen meals never made it to the civilian retail market, but they were the precursors of the TV dinner, despite no TVs being involved.

Spam
Though Spam wasn’t invented specifically for the military, war rations certainly helped popularize it. When Spam was created in 1937 by Hormel Foods Corporation, it was seen as a way to increase sales of unprofitable pork shoulder, which was then considered an undesirable cut. Initially, sales of Spam were poor, partly because people had doubts about canned meat being safe for consumption. Then World War II began, and the U.S. military saw Spam as a perfect addition to its soldiers’ rations, being affordable, filling, easily portable, and shelf stable. Spam accompanied U.S. troops all over the world, with 100 million cans shipped out to the Pacific theater alone. It became something of a culinary icon during the war, and went on to become an enduring supermarket staple — today, more than 9 billion cans of Spam have been sold.

It’s World Health Day!

Things to Cut When Money Gets Tight

Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. Here's a list of money-saving strategies. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier. Here are a few things for you to consider.

1. Daily Conveniences: that drain your bank account

Daily Coffee Runs
it’s okay to get a little treat every once in a while. But a $6 latte every morning runs up to $2,000 a year. $2,000! You could buy a high-end espresso machine with that cash and still come out ahead.

The Lottery and Get-Rich-Quick Gimmicks aren’t a financial plan. Focus on real wealth-building strategies.

Premium Gas for Cars That Don’t Need It: If your car doesn’t specifically require premium gas, you’re just wasting money. It won’t make your engine last longer or improve performance.

2. Car Insurance:
Letting your car insurance auto-renew isn’t the answer. Having a clean record, no claims, doesn’t have the effect you think it does.

If you haven’t compared recently, it could be worth checking.

Click below and enter your zip code.

Answer a few questions about your vehicle.

See if there’s a better option for you.
It’s free, quick, and there’s no obligation.

See if you could be paying less for the same coverage

3. Advisor Fees: You could be overpaying for your retirement planning

Fees matter. High fees can cut into your returns and affect your overall nest egg. But the ways fees are levied vary. Some are “fee only,” charging a flat rate regardless of usage. Others take a percentage of all assets under management. Some earn commissions directly from mutual funds or other financial products, which presents a significant conflict of interest.

4. Stop overpaying when you shop online: Amazon Prime members, get a $150 Amazon Gift Card!

There is no extra work or spending requirement and no annual fee!

5. Mindless Recurring Expenses: Don’t pay for what you don’t use

Storage Units: If you haven’t needed it in a year, why are you paying rent for it? Sell it, donate it, or admit you’re just hoarding junk in a different location.

Expensive Gym Memberships: If you’re not going at least twice a week, just cancel it already. Home workouts, outdoor runs, and basic weights could get you 90% of the same results for free.

Bottled Water: Can’t believe we even have to say this. But if you have access to clean tap water, you’re wasting money every time you buy a bottle. Get a reusable one and stop paying for something that’s essentially free.

6. Services and Upgrades: Do you really need these things to be happy?

Sneaky Subscriptions: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ … chances are you’re not even watching half of these. Cut it out. Choose one or two and stop auto-renewing free trials you forgot about.

Upgrading to the Latest iPhone: Unless your phone is literally falling apart, there’s no reason to drop $1,000+ on a new one just because Apple added a slightly better camera. Your current phone is fine.

Designer Clothes and Sneakers: Dropping $300 on the latest sneakers or fast fashion trends just to keep up? You’re only filling your closet with overpriced clutter. Invest in quality, sure — but not hype and status.

Some ideas for you to think about. Pick at least one to work on.

For International Women’s Say we
Thought you might be interested in Mitochondrial Eve, the mother of us all.

If you were to trace all our family trees as far into the past as possible, you’d find we’re all distantly related. The common female ancestor from whom all humans are descended is Mitochondrial Eve. Scientists believe she lived in Africa some 200,000 years ago. Recent research may have narrowed down that location to an oasis in the Kalahari Desert, making it the “ancestral homeland of all humans alive today,” according to the researchers.

Eve is technically known as Mitochondrial-Most Recent Common Ancestor, or mt-Eve and mt-MRCA for short, and her lesser-known male counterpart is known as Y-chromosomal Adam. He’s also believed to have lived in Africa, around 150,000 to 300,000 years ago.

The idea of a common ancestor has led to the misconception that Mitochondrial Eve was the first female human, which isn’t correct. She was, however, the most recent common ancestor to whom every living person can trace their genealogy. Every human on the planet carries the Eve gene, including 147 people and fetuses from the original 1987 study which hypothesized a common ancestor the researchers called the term Mitochondrial Eve.

Feudalism is just hifalutin sharecropping. Sharecropping is a “nice” name for slavery. All rely on perspective.

The concept of feudalism is probably a familiar one if you’ve ever read or seen a medieval fantasy epic. What does actually mean, and how did feudalism work in practice?

The word feudalism is a term used to describe how power, land, and obligation were organized in much of medieval Europe. At its core, it refers to a system in which land was the main source of wealth and political authority, and control of that land was tied to personal relationships of loyalty and service.

Under feudalism, a monarch was considered the ultimate owner of all the land in their kingdom. The ruler granted large estates, called fiefdoms, to nobles in exchange for allegiance and military support. Those nobles could then distribute portions of their land to lesser nobles (such as knights), creating a layered hierarchy of obligation known as vassalage. At the bottom of this structure were peasants and serfs, who worked the land and provided labor or goods in return for protection and the right to live on the estate. Power was exercised largely at the local level, rather than through a strong centralized government. For instance, a king might grant land to a duke, the duke to a knight, and the knight would then draw income and labor from the peasants who worked that land, creating a chain of obligation that ran downward while authority flowed upward.

Europe’s feudal structure developed gradually in the centuries after the collapse of the Western Roman Empire around 476 CE. As Roman authority weakened, Western Europe experienced political fragmentation and repeated invasions by Germanic peoples, whose social structures emphasized personal loyalty to a leader rather than obedience to the laws of a centralized state.

Over time, Roman legal traditions blended with Germanic customs centered on allegiance and service. In an era marked by resource insecurity, warfare, and limited state power, people increasingly turned to powerful local lords for protection. In return, they offered these lords labor, military service, or political loyalty, reinforcing the link between landholding and authority.

“Feudalism” is not a medieval term. The word derives from the Latin feudum, meaning land granted in exchange for service, which was a term used in the Middle Ages to describe a type of property arrangement. But medieval people did not describe their society as “feudal.” It wasn’t until the 16th and 17th centuries that scholars studying medieval legal documents began using the term to explain how land, power, and obligation had seemingly functioned during this period.

“Feudalism” is not a medieval term. The word derives from the Latin feudum, meaning land granted in exchange for service, which was a term used in the Middle Ages to describe a type of property arrangement. But medieval people did not describe their society as “feudal.” It wasn’t until the 16th and 17th centuries that scholars studying medieval legal documents began using the term to explain how land, power, and obligation had seemingly functioned during this period.

According to AutoBlog there are ten cars that barely depreciate. I personally would take the Porsche over the RAX4. No offense intended.