Egypt's Golden Empire: In 1570 B.C., when Rome was still a marsh and the Acropolis was an empty rock, Egypt was already 1000 years old. Although the period of the pyramid-builders was long over, Egypt lay on the threshold of its greatest age. The New Kingdom would be an empire forged by conquest, maintained by intimidation and diplomacy, and remembered long after its demise. Led by a dynasty of rich personalities, whose dramatic lives changed the course of civilization, Egypt's Golden Empire presents the most extraordinary period in Egyptian history: from 1570 B.C. to 1070 B.C., when the Egyptian Empire reached its zenith. -- The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance - From a small Italian community in 15th century Florence, the Medici family would rise to rule Europe in many ways. Using charm, patronage, skill, duplicity and ruthlessness, they would amass unparalleled wealth and unprecedented power. They would also ignite the most important cultural and artistic revolution in Western history- the European Renaissance. But the forces of change the Medici helped unleash would one day topple their ordered world. An epic drama played out in the courts, cathedrals and palaces of Europe, this series is both the tale of one family's powerful ambition and of Europe's tortured struggle to emerge from the ravages of the Dark Ages. -- Japan: Memoirs Of A Secret Empire - Commanding shoguns and samurai warriors, exotic geisha and exquisite artisans -- all were part of the Japanese "renaissance" -- a period between the 16th and 19th centuries when Japan went from chaos and violence to a land of ritual refinement and peace. But stability came at a price: for nearly 250 years, Japan was a land closed to the Western world, ruled by the Shogun under his absolute power and control. Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire brings to life the unknown story of a mysterious empire, its relationship to the West, and the forging of a nation that would emerge as one of the most important countries in the world. -- The Roman Empire in the First Century: Two thousand years ago, at the dawn of the first century, the ancient world was ruled by Rome. Through the experiences, memories and writings of the people who lived it, this series tells the story of that time - the emperors and slaves, poets and plebeians, who wrested order from chaos, built the most cosmopolitan society the world had ever seen and shaped the Roman empire in the first century A.D. -- The Greeks: Crucible [melting pot] of Civilization - The Greeks - Classical Greece of the 4th and 5th centuries, B.C. was a magnificent civilization that laid the foundations for modern science, politics, warfare, and philosophy, and produced some of the most breathtaking art and architecture the world has ever known. Through the eyes and words of the great heroes of ancient Greece, this dazzling production charts the rise, triumph, and eventual decline of the world's first democracy. Now, through dramatic storytelling and state-of-the-art computer animation, you witness history, art, and government with giants like Pericles, Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Japan's #1 personal development author shares new lessons on success and abundance founded on Zen principles and delivered in a spirit of compassion, freedom, and joy.

A national leader of education reform and the "Godfather of Afterschool," Terry K. Peterson, PhD, channels years of expertise into expanding afterschool and summer opportunities across America collaborating with many local, state and national groups

Soon after filming began, Al Pacino was almost fired from The Godfather. Then Francis Ford Coppola shot a now-iconic scene that changed everything.

Braehead Foods, one of Scotland’s largest food wholesalers, is using Podfather’s fleet planning, route optimisation and ePOD software to streamline deliveries following their partnership with national food service company Reynolds.

Unisurge is using Podfather logistics software to ensure that hospital equipment and supplies are delivered on time and in optimum condition.

Walter Rose & Son, the multi-award-winning butcher, has rolled-out a digital distribution system with software from Podfather.

JW Filshill, one of Scotland’s oldest independent food and drinks wholesalers, is using Podfather logistics software to improve customer service. 

The grand buildings of Washington, D.C. would look quite different were it not for the work of Palladio. Read more at Smithsonian.com

Photographer Drew Gardner has a passion for history. His long-term project, “The Descendants,” (https://www.drewgardner.com/descendants)  wherein he recreates famous portraits of historical figures featuring their direct offspring, is his most visible expression of this interest. But like a lot of people who study history, Gardner has in recent years begun to contemplate more deeply the question of whose stories have been judged worthy of preservation, and whose have been allowed to fade into obscurity. That was how he decided to shift his specific focus to locating and photographing Black American descendants of Civil War veterans. You can take a look at Gardner’s photographs and read magazine editor Jennie Rothenberg Gritz’s exploration of their meaning here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/descendants-black-civil-war-heroes-wear-heritage-pride-180983397/) . On the latest episode of the Smithsonian podcast “There’s More to That,” (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast)  I speak with Janisse Flowers and her 9-year-son, Neikoye, who are descended from the Civil War drummer boy David Miles Moore Jr. After some reflection, Janisse and her husband decided to grant Gardner’s request to photograph Neikoye dressed in a replica of Moore’s Union Army uniform. Both Janisse and Neikoye share their surprise over how this experience made them more conscious of their heritage. I’m also joined by Gardner himself, who describes the challenges—and, he hopes, the potential benefits—of asking Black Americans to revisit one of the most painful chapters of America’s history by (almost) literally stepping into their ancestors’ shoes. You can learn more about Drew and his work at his website (https://www.drewgardner.com/) . Find prior episodes of our show here (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/podcast/) . There’s More to That is a production of Smithsonian magazine and PRX Productions. From the magazine, our team is Chris Klimek, Debra Rosenberg and Brian Wolly. From PRX, our team is Jessica Miller, Adriana Rosas Rivera, Genevieve Sponsler, Terence Bernardo, and Edwin Ochoa. The Executive Producer of PRX Productions is Jocelyn Gonzales. Fact-checking by Stephanie Abramson. Episode artwork by Emily Lankiewicz. Music by APM Music.

The Department of Foreign Affair­s and Trade has renamed its meeting rooms in honour of pionee­ring female diplomats.

What was supposed to be a guest appearance, then an 'extended cameo' for Salman, has now become a full-fledged role.

'The moments of laughter you've gifted us will always remain.'

Defying stereotypes, teenager Vilde Westeng aims to be the best halling dancer.

Few movies have captured the attention of an audience and left as many lasting memories as The Godfather

Copyright 2018 NPR. To see more, visit SCOTT SIMON, HOST: A note written in March of 1930 said, difficult times of war lie behind us. We hope for better times soon to come. Poor roofers who worked on a cathedral in Goslar, Germany, left that note in a glass bottle, stashed it in the roof and patched it over. Eighty-eight years later, a roofer named Peter Brandt was working on that same roof and found the bottle. He knew one of the names on that note, Willi Brandt - his grandfather, not the former leader of Germany. Peter Brandt used to work with his grandfather and eventually took over the family business. The Washington Post reports Peter Brandt has memorized a line from his grandfather's 1930 note. (Reading) We worked an entire week for one pound of butter and one bread. Every day, we're discussing the many problems we have as a city, says Peter Brandt, but with this letter from 1930, we can see that the many problems that we perceive aren't really problems. The note is now in the

The standard of care provided to an elderly man, often found in soiled pants, at a regional Queensland aged care facility was so appalling even his own granddaughter was too distressed to visit, the royal commission into aged care hears.

Little Richard obviously never released a heavy metal album, but it's safe to say without Little Richard heavy metal wouldn't...

The post Little Richard, Godfather of Rock, Dead at 87 appeared first on Metal Injection.

We already know far more about this virus than scientists ever knew during the Spanish flu epidemic

Talia Shire has a new release, 'Working Man,' that she calls a powerful film that 'spoke to my soul.'

On the 7th of June, 1753, Dr Archibald Cameron was executed at Tyburn. "The body, after hanging twenty minutes, was cut down: it was not quartered; but the heart was taken out and burnt. " 250 years later, his sixth great grandson, Robert Syned found himself deeply involved in the process of execution, as an expert witness in a case about the use...

MULTI-Grammy Award-winning singer Michael Bublé honored his grandfather’s last wish by turning over his home in Vancouver, Canada, to his longtime Filipina caregiver Minette. In an episode of the HGTV show “Celebrity IOU,” the international star behind the hit songs “Feeling Good,” “Haven’t Met You” and “Home” said Minette took good care of his grandfather […]

Karisma was rejected by her own grandfather Raj Kapoor for his film 'Henna'

The passing of former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the age of 93 is rightly provoking much reflection on his life and times. While most people know the political history of Peres, and his globe-trotting efforts on behalf of Middle East peace (he won the Nobel Prize for the Oslo Accords) there is another side […]

Already suffering a perilous decline, the deaths of 4 North Atlantic right whales in the Gulf of St. Lawrence this month doesn't bode well for the species.

George Milling-Stanley, who helped create the SPDR Gold Trust, says the precious metal is not just a hedge against inflation but against the unexpected.