The week of June 17, 2024: An EV saga, tax, space, spending, and much, much more.

Politics Over Progress: Roc Nation Criticism Highlights Lessons About Progressives From Our Past

It's happening; iOS 18 will bring RCS support to the iPhone, the one feature that some Android users have been dying to get. Well, they wouldn't get anything other than the ability to enjoy somewhat richer texting experiences with family and friends who own iPhones. However, this isn't Google's version of RCS. It's the carrier standard, so don't expect the same feature compatibility. One big difference will be the lack of end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android. That said, you might be able to test RCS on iPhone right now, several months before Apple rolls out the first stable version of iOS 18, assuming the stars are aligned in a particular order. Continue reading... The post RCS texting is now available on iPhone in iOS 18 beta 2… sort of appeared first on BGR. Today's Top Deals Today’s deals: $714 Apple Watch Ultra 2, $30 Thermacell mosquito repeller, $130 Instant Pot Duo Plus, more Today’s deals: $30 Thermacell mosquito repeller, $189 AirPods Pro, free LED smart bulb, $349 Dyson, more Today’s deals: $79 AirPods, $99 Ninja blender, 25% off Google Pixel 8 Pro, Waterdrop RO filters, more Father’s Day deals: $20 Amazon credit, ASUS gaming laptops, Braun shavers, $160 off DJI Mini 3 drone, more

  One-of-a-Kind Roman Lorica Squamata Armor Restored In an unprecedented conservation triumph, the only known example of Roman legionary Lorica Squamata armor, dated to be around 1500 years old, has been meticulously restored in Turkey. This exceptional piece of military history was unearthed from the ancient site of Satala, located in Gümüşhane, during the 2020 excavation season. The restoration project, spearheaded by Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, showcases an extraordinary effort to preserve and understand Roman military heritage. The Journey of Restoration Initially discovered with the aid of the Ankara Regional Laboratory, the armor was carefully extracted from the site and transferred to the Erzurum Regional Restoration and Conservation Laboratory in 2021. The Praetorian Guards: To Serve and Protect the Roman Emperors… Most of the Time The Original Swiss Army Knife, Must Have Gadget for Legionnaires on the Go     Read moreSection: ArtifactsAncient TechnologyNewsHistory & ArchaeologyRead Later 

What Led to the Fall of Rome, History’s Mightiest Empire? (Video) The decline and fall of Rome was not a swift cataclysm but rather a gradual unraveling marked by numerous challenges. The symbolic end in 476 AD, when Odoacer deposed the last Western Roman Emperor, merely punctuated a process long in motion. The Empire's fragmentation into East and West, exacerbated by internal strife and external pressures, set the stage for its eventual demise. Economic troubles, including inflation and excessive taxation, strained the Empire's resources and sowed discontent among its populace. The Devaluation of Rome: Roman Inflation and the Demise of the Empire King Alaric: His Famous Sacking of Rome, Secretive Burial, and Lost Treasure The influx of "barbarian" tribes further weakened Rome's grasp on its territories. These tribes, driven by factors like climate change and seeking refuge from marauding Huns, settled within Roman borders, straining the Empire's ability to govern effectively. The once-mighty Roman legions found themselves stretched thin, unable to repel incursions or maintain control over increasingly autonomous regions. Read moreSection: NewsHistory & ArchaeologyVideosHistoryImportant EventsRead Later 

New Study Finds Dinosaur Fossils Did Not Inspire the Mythological Griffin For centuries, scientists thought they knew where the griffin legend came from. A new study takes a closer look at the data and folklore’s influence on science. A popular and widely-promoted claim that dinosaur fossils inspired the legend of the griffin, the mythological creature with a raptorial bird head and wings on a lion body, has been challenged in a new study. The Griffin Origin Story The specific link between dinosaur fossils and griffin mythology was proposed over 30 years ago in a series of papers and books written by folklorist Adrienne Mayor. These started with the 1989 Cryptozoology paper entitled ‘Paleocryptozoology: a call for collaboration between classicists and cryptozoologists’, and was cemented in the seminal 2000 book ‘The First Fossil Hunters.’ The idea became a staple of books, documentaries and museum exhibits. It suggests that an early horned dinosaur of Mongolia and China, Protoceratops, was discovered by ancient nomads prospecting for gold in Central Asia. Tales of Protoceratops bones then travelled southwest on trade routes to inspire, or at least influence, stories and art of the griffin. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralMyths & LegendsRead Later 

The House of Agilolfings is a significant, though often overshadowed, dynasty in the history of early medieval Europe. Originating in the region that would later become Bavaria, this noble lineage played a pivotal role in shaping the political, cultural, and social landscape of Central Europe during the early Middle Ages. From their obscure beginnings to their eventual integration into the larger web of European nobility, the Agilolfings were instrumental in the establishment and consolidation of territorial control that would influence the development of medieval states. The Franks, Charlemagne, and the Forging of Europe Faith or Economy? Why Pagan Religions Lost Their Position in Europe The House of Agilolfings, the Rulers of Bavaria The origins of the Agilolfings are shrouded in the mists of early medieval history. The dynasty likely emerged in the mid-6th century AD, though the details of its early genealogical history are largely based on legend and limited historical documentation. The Agilolfings are believed to have descended from a noble family within the Merovingian court, the ruling dynasty of the Frankish kingdom. This connection to the Merovingians provided them with a degree of legitimacy and influence that facilitated their rise to power. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralHistoryFamous PeopleRead Later 

The transition to Pirate Captain often stemmed from a background in privateering or ownership of a ship. Wealthy backers would commission vessels, appointing experienced leaders like Henry Jennings or those with military ranks like Stede Bonnet, who preferred the title of "Major" from his militia days. The title "Captain" wasn't universal; some, like Henry Morgan's former soldier Charles Swan, commanded as merchant captains turned pirates. The Intricate World of Pirates, Privateers, Buccaneers, and Corsairs 10 Of The Most Famous Pirates, Male And Female, Who Ruled The Seas! Democratic election was another avenue to captaincy, often following successful mutinies or vacancies. Candidates vied for support, possibly with speeches or informal ballots, though manipulation was common. The newly elected Captain would then appoint lieutenants, including a Quartermaster to balance power. Once in command, a Pirate Captain's duties were multifaceted. They managed ship operations, mediated disputes, and represented the crew in negotiations. Despite limited documentation, historical insights suggest a blend of administrative tasks and interpersonal challenges, from maintaining morale to strategizing collective decisions. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralVideosHistoryFamous PeopleRead Later 

A brilliant new study from Brazil has revised the historical narrative of human occupation along Brazil’s coast, offering new insights into the ancient sambaqui builders at the Galheta IV archaeological site in Laguna, Santa Catarina. The study offers new dating for the site, estimating it was active between 1,300 and 500 years ago, rather than the previously thought 1,170 to 900 years ago. Contrary to previous beliefs, the sambaqui builders at the Galheta IV archaeological site in Laguna, Santa Catarina, were not replaced by the ancestors of the Southern Jê. The study has been published in PLoS ONE by researchers from the University of São Paulo’s Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE-USP), supported by The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). The research has been conducted in collaboration with scientists from the United States, Belgium, France, and various Brazilian states. Lost Civilization of the Sambaquis Builders: Unraveling the Mystery of Luzio's People 9,000-year-old Human Skeletons and Over 100,000 Artifacts Unearthed in Brazil Read moreSection: NewsEvolution & Human OriginsHistoryAncient TraditionsRead Later 

Cornwall's tin mines, with their labyrinthine tunnels and subterranean chambers, have long been the backdrop to stories of supernatural beings known as the Knockers. These elusive spirits, central to Cornish folklore, played an integral role in the lives of the miners who toiled deep beneath the Earth's surface. The Knockers, with their distinctive sounds and mysterious behavior, became an inseparable part of the mining culture in Cornwall, shaping the beliefs and practices of those who sought fortune in the mineral-rich depths. The Evocative Scenery of Cornwall, An Ancient Landscape (Video) Prince William Inherits Ancient Duchy of Cornwall Estate Worth $1.2billion! The Realm of the Knockers According to Cornish folklore, the Knockers were small, thin-limbed entities with large, hooked noses, reminiscent of mythical dwarves or elves. These spirits were believed to inhabit the darkest, deepest parts of the mines, far from the reach of daylight and human activity. Their presence was both feared and revered, as they were thought to be guardians of the mines' secrets, capable of both aiding and hindering the miners. Read moreSection: NewsGeneralFolkloreMyths & LegendsRead Later