The roots of alphabetic writing may stretch back much further than previously believed. Evidence unearthed at the ancient site of Umm el-Marra in northwestern Syria suggests that the alphabet's development might have begun around 2300 BC - 500 years earlier than current theories propose. This theory, led by Johns Hopkins archaeologist Glenn Schwartz, and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Overseas Research this week, has the potential to transform our understanding of how, when, and where the alphabet was invented. Prevailing Alphabet Origins Theory So far, most scholars have believed that the first alphabet originated around 1800 BC in Egypt, where Semitic-speaking populations adapted portions of the Egyptian hieroglyphic system. These early forms of writing would evolve into the systems used across the Middle East and, eventually, Western Europe. However, the small clay ‘cylinders’ discovered by Schwartz and his team challenge this timeline, raising questions about the alphabet's birthplace and initial purpose. The Armenian Alphabet, A Vision From God The A to Z of Alphabet Origins and the Most Ancient Written Languages Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient WritingsNewsHistory & ArchaeologyAncient PlacesAsiaRead Later 

Matt Gaetz, the embattled former Florida congressman, withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general on Thursday, saying he was "unfairly becoming a distraction" to President-elect Donald Trump's transition. "While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my ...

DOGE's Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are calling for an order for federal remote workers to return to the office, but unions are already gearing up to push back.

As backers of President-elect Donald Trump's agenda are urging Republican senators to get behind the nominees and at least bring them to committee, Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth told Newsmax the process is "going great."

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he plans to replace the Federal Reserve with a far more reliable and trustworthy source of economic guidance: the Magic 8 Ball. The recommendation comes from the trusted advisor and leader of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. During a press conference, Trump explained that he had grown tired of the Federal Reserve’s constant indecision and inability to make clear, concise decisions. He argued that the Magic 8 Ball, with its simple answers and straightforward guidance, would be a far more effective tool for managing the nation’s economy.  He also said that he is considering replacing the costly Congress with automated tellers. “The Magic 8 Ball never fails to deliver a clear answer, whether it’s ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ or ‘Ask again later,'” said Trump. “I believe that this simple approach to economics will be far more effective than the constant flip-flopping we’ve seen from the Federal Reserve.”  The reaction to Trump’s announcement has been mixed, with some expressing support for his decision to replace the Federal Reserve with a Magic 8 Ball, while others have laughed it off as yet another example of political grandstanding. Social media has been abuzz with memes and jokes mocking the president’s choice, with many users pointing out the irony of a leader who prides himself on his business acumen relying on a toy for economic guidance.  As the nation continues to grapple with this latest development, it remains to be seen how the Magic 8 Ball’s role in the U.S. economy will impact the financial landscape. One thing is certain, though: President Trump’s decision to replace the Federal Reserve with a Magic 8 Ball has quickly become the talk of the town, and not in a way they likely intended. The post BREAKING: Trump considering replacing Federal Reserve with much more reliable Magic 8 Ball appeared first on Genesius Times.

Aftershock II, a new rocket built by students at the University of Southern California, recently broke a number of 20-year-old amateur spaceflight records for altitude, power and speed. It reached more than 470,000 feet above Earth's surface and went "hypersonic."

Neanderthals may have used specialized hearths to make tar around 65,000 years ago, a new study finds.

Target fell short of their sales and earnings expectations for the just concluded quarter as fans chose to shop at Walmart to save money. Profits dropped by 12% year-on-year to $854 million, and the stock price fell significantly by 21% to $121.72. According to their earnings report for the quarter, this occurrence marks the company’s largest stock price drop in 24 hours since May 2022. In order to win back customers, Target is offering price slashes to match their competitors Walmart and Amazon. Target CEO addresses the shocking earnings report Target/Unsplash Target’s CEO Brian Cornell admitted to feeling disappointed about the recent earnings report; however, he believed the retail giant has the opportunity to bounce back in the long term. He added that the damage control, in the way of price cuts, seems to be working too, as customers are making their way back to Target stores. Despite this, customers are being extra frugal about their spending and are only purchasing necessities. For now, Cornell thinks the company would maintain the same strategy to keep buyers close. In contrast, Walmart has been seeing more high-income shoppers, causing Target to reduce its expectations for the end-of-business-year earnings report. Target stock/Pexels Target needs to strategize following the stock price drop Managing director of GlobalData, Neil Saunders, reacted to Target’s earnings report, hoping that 2025 will bring a stronger economy to help the retail company bounce back. He also suggested a change of strategy ahead of the coming year, as other competitors are eating into their market share. Target/Pexels According to Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke, cost pressures—such as the risky stock-up ahead of the East Coast port strikes and a drop in discretionary demand—have forced them to review their forecasts. Earnings per share are now between $8.30 and $8.90, as opposed to the former $9 to $9.70. Next up: Ceramic Christmas Trees Making A Comeback As Families Go Vintage For The Holidays The post Target Stock Plummets As Customers Shop At Walmart Instead appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

Pamela Hayden has officially retired from voicing Millhouse in The Simpsons for the past 35 years. She announced via a statement, noting that she is ready to explore other creative pursuits. She was also the voice behind other characters like Rod Flanders and Jimbo Jones. Fox’s Animation Domination block gave her a heartfelt farewell with a tribute video posted to their social media platforms. In the clip, Hayden gushes about Milhouse, saying she loves his outlook on life and how he always gets back up. ‘The Simpsons’ Millhouse voice actor retires after 35 years             View this post on Instagram                         A post shared by The Simpsons (@thesimpsons)   Millhouse first appeared on the cartoon short series version of The Simpsons, which aired on The Tracey Ulman Show in the ‘80s. He was in the commercial for Butterfingers before reappearing in the sitcom series as Bart’s best friend for about 700 episodes out of 774. Millhouse was also in The Simpsons Movie of 2007, which won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, Annie Awards, and two Peabody Awards. Unknown to most, Millhouse was named after U.S. president Richard Milhous Nixon by his creator, Matt Groening, who thought that was the most unfortunate name any kid could have. The Simpsons Millhouse/Everett Pamela Hayden voiced other characters aside from ‘The Simpson’s’ Millhouse Although Millhouse was her most popular role, Hayden had other voice acting gigs outside of The Simpsons, such as the ‘90s Focus on the Family radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, where she played Katrina Meltsner and Doris Rathbone. She was also Bianca from Spyro: Year of the Dragon, Douglas McNoggin from Lloyd in Space, and Sublimity Jill in Party Wagon. The Simpsons Millhouse, Pamela Hayden/Instagram She has also worked with video games like Lego Dimensions and Enter the Dragonfly. Fans have reacted to the news of her retirement on social media, with some fearing that Millhouse may become a discontinued character. “Given how they haven’t retired Martin or Sherri and Terri…and recast them instead, say these characters are fine,” an X user stated in response to the panic. Next up: Family Of Murdered Cinematographer Boycott ‘Rust’ Premiere While Calling Out Alec Baldwin The post ‘The Simspons’ Voice Actor For Millhouse Officialy Retires After 35 Years appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Peace A

Water company bosses received £9.3 million in performance related bonuses in the last financial year. Nine water companies will not be using customers’ money to fund £6.8 million bonuses after an…