Category: Culture

Almost a century after the discovery of the legs of a colossal statue of Pharaoh Ramses II in Egypt, archaeologists have successfully uncovered its missing pieces.

The recent find includes the statue’s torso, head, and shoulders, which seamlessly join with the legs that have been displayed in a museum for years.

Reconstructed, the statue reaches a majestic height of 23 feet, showcasing one of Egypt’s most revered rulers seated, crowned with a cobra emblematic of sovereignty. The statue’s rear is adorned with hieroglyphs detailing his extensive titles.

Ramses the Great, ruling in an era when average lifespans were between 40 to 50 years, remarkably lived into his 90s, surpassing the lifetimes of many of his children and nearly 100 grandchildren.

His reign marked a golden era for the 19th Dynasty, extending its territory from Sudan to Syria, celebrated through monuments, temples, and statues, including this recently reunited piece, originally discovered in 1930 by German archaeologist Günther Roeder.

Dr. Adel Okasha, leading the Central Administration of Antiquities of Central Egypt, mentioned that recent excavations aimed to uncover the religious center of the ancient city of Hermopolis from the New Kingdom to the Roman period. This city, once a pivotal site of worship and the ancient capital of the fifteenth Egyptian region, is believed to house several temples, including one dedicated to Ramses II.

Dr. Okasha expressed optimism about the significant find, suggesting it confirms they are searching in the right location, despite not yet uncovering the intended temple complex. The ancient city, known as Khomeno in Egypt and Hermopolis Magna during the Greco-Roman period, was a center for the worship of the god Thoth.

The excavation season has concluded, as stated, with the successful pairing of the king’s statue and the restoration and reinstallation of giant granite columns at the Ashmunin basilica, built atop a Ptolemaic temple’s ruins.

Over the last two years, companies have been moving back to more in person work. As businesses called employees back to the office, they encountered an unexpected challenge: a significant number of employees seemed to have forgotten how to navigate the office environment appropriately. This phenomenon has prompted a notable surge in the demand for workplace etiquette training, reflecting a critical adaptation to the hybrid work era.

A survey conducted by Resume Builder in July, encompassing over 1,500 business leaders, revealed that more than 60% of companies are planning to introduce or have already implemented etiquette courses for their staff this year. The profound impact the pandemic had on professional conduct has reaffirmed the idea that soft skills are indispensable for maintaining a productive and harmonious workplace.

The transition to remote work led to the blurring of professional boundaries. As employees adapted to working from home, habits and behaviors suited to a more private and informal setting inadvertently crept into the professional sphere. Michael Chertoff, a spokesperson for the necessity of reacclimating to office norms, captured the essence of the issue: “It’s like people just got out of practice in some ways…So, you have to learn and remember that, no, you have to wash your dish because you’re not at home, you’re at the office.”

Common etiquette missteps observed include inappropriate volume control during phone conversations, leaving communal areas untidy, engaging in unsuitable office discussions, awkward social interactions, and communication pitfalls such as overly lengthy emails or the misuse of emojis and acronyms with ambiguous interpretations. Additionally, the nuances of dressing appropriately for the office and virtual meetings pose a challenge, with Chertoff advising against overly casual attire (even for the lower half in case you have to hop up to grab something).

Because of this, office etiquette guidance has proliferated across social media platforms, with influencers and professionals sharing tips and insights.

Of particular concern is the integration of Generation Z into the workforce. Many in this demographic entered their professional lives amidst the pandemic, missing critical opportunities for in-person learning and internships. Consequently, they face unique challenges in adapting to office norms and expectations. Addressing this, some academic institutions have begun to emphasize the importance of soft skills alongside technical proficiency, incorporating courses on professional behavior, networking, and business etiquette into their curricula.

Understanding and navigating the complexities of modern workplace etiquette is not only about preserving decorum but also about ensuring effective collaboration, mutual respect, and the overall success of the organization. As Chertoff succinctly puts it, “Soft skills are just as important or more important than the technical skills that you learn.”

Luckily, it looks like the etiquette courses and Tik-Tok influencers have got Gen Z covered. Best of luck to them!

@marytheanalyst

Did I miss anything?? #corporatejob #professional #officejob #windows #outlook #wfh #workfromhome #remotejobs #dataanalyst

♬ original sound – Mary | Data Analyst

A family from Northern California experienced a harrowing incident when their plane was forced to make an emergency crash landing in Mendocino County’s wooded area earlier this month due to engine failure.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported that the family, consisting of a man, a woman, and their 2-year-old child from Santa Rosa, had just departed from Shelter Cove Airport, which is located approximately 170 miles northwest of their hometown.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft, a single-engine plane, encountered a critical loss of power, leading to a rapid descent. In a swift decision by the pilot, a parachute system was deployed, which significantly slowed the descent, allowing for a relatively soft crash-landing in the woods.

Miraculously, all passengers emerged from the ordeal with only minor injuries.

As a child, Jim Kitchen harbored the dream of venturing into space. During his college years in the 1980s, he even dabbled in selling low-orbit space travel, an idea that was met with skepticism and jest by his peers. Kitchen’s commitment to his celestial ambition was so strong that he included a unique clause in his prenuptial agreement, ensuring he could seize any opportunity to travel to space.

However, opportunities to go to space were pretty rare, so Kitchen turned to traveling to all 193 countries. The inception of Kitchen’s global adventures stemmed from a youthful enthusiasm for travel, evolving from collecting passport stamps to a deeper passion. “I just transitioned from a collector to a connector,” he said. “I fell in love with the idea and the notion of meeting people.”

It was only about a decade or so ago that Kitchen realized the full scope of his travels, and set a goal to visit every U.N. recognized country. He achieved this milestone in 2019 with a visit to Syria, just before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily halted global travel. Reaching this milestone was a “bittersweet” experience for Kitchen, propelling him toward fulfilling his ultimate dream of space.

Kitchen participated in several zero gravity flights to mimic the sensations of space, but he wanted to do the real deal.

On March 31, Kitchen’s childhood aspiration was fulfilled as he embarked on a Blue Origin flight into the cosmos. At 57, the North Carolina entrepreneur not only realized his own dream but also set a remarkable record. By reaching orbit, he became the first individual to have visited every one of the 193 countries recognized by the United Nations and to have journeyed into space.

Reflecting on his journey before boarding on his flight, Kitchen told Nice News, “Some of my friends, some of whom will be at the launch, they ridiculed me mercilessly for selling space travel. And to be able to actually accomplish that dream 40 years later … it’s just mind-numbing.”

“Having walked the planet, I just want to see it from space. I just want to see this blue, beautiful planet of ours, the eternal darkness of space, I want to take in that whole spectacle,” he expressed before the flight. “Then, I think I’m going to float upside down and take it all in upside down.”

In the Boston area, a unique gathering of individuals, some long-time friends and others recent connections, meet every few months for breakfast. The occasion is marked by an extraordinary act of kindness: they collectively tip their server a substantial gift, aptly reflected in the group’s name, the Thousand Dollar Breakfast Club.

The initiative was started by Richard Brooks, an attorney, with encouragement from his wife Laurie. While group’s name suggests a $1,000 gift, they often exceed this amount, with one lucky server recently receiving a $2,050 tip. The sum varies depending on the number of participants, with each member contributing $100 towards the tip.

Brooks, 64, shared his personal connection to the gesture with Nice News, saying, “I was a waiter, so I know what it’s like to get a tip. And I still remember my first tip that was big, and it was a whopping $20. And I still remember it because I was paying myself through school.”

The concept for the Thousand Dollar Breakfast Club was inspired by a story Brooks heard from his brother about a similar generous act at a group meal. Brooks, who has a tradition of randomly giving out $100 bills to brighten people’s days, was immediately captivated by the idea. On January 2, 2023, he took to Facebook to create his version of the group, inviting anyone interested to join. The response was swift, with about a dozen people eager to participate.

Their first meeting took place at an iHop three months later, where they left a $1,400 tip. The club has grown in popularity, covered by both local and national media, but Brooks maintains a rotating email list of around 30 people to keep the gatherings manageable.