Victoria Fox's Blog, page 82

The “best ever” chocolate chip bronc recipe for “squid cake” – baked in 30 minutes

With so many chocolate brownie recipes online, it can be hard to know which ones produce the tastiest results.

However, this BBC Good Food recipe has over 2,500 five-star ratings, with many claiming it’s the ‘best ever’.

One review said, “This is the only brownie recipe I will ever bake with my kids.”

The recipe notes state: “A very easy brownie recipe for Kalmar chocolate cake that will give you the perfect brownie every time.”

These brownies cook in just 30 minutes and keep fresh for two weeks in an airtight container.

Ingredients:

185 g unsalted butter

185g of the best dark chocolate

85 g plain flour

40 g of cocoa powder

50 g of white chocolate

50 g of milk chocolate

Three big eggs

275 g golden powdered sugar

Method:

Cut the butter into small cubes and break the chocolate into the same bowl before melting.

This can be done using a heatproof bowl in boiling water or in the microwave for 30 minutes at a time, stirring in between.

Allow the mixture to cool and in the meantime turn the oven to 180C or 160C fan before greasing and lining a 20cm square tin.

Then chop the white chocolate and milk chocolate carefully and set aside.

Crack three large eggs into a large bowl with the sugar and beat with an electric mixer until thick and creamy.

This will take about three to eight minutes, depending on the speed of the mixer. When it is done, it will be doubled in size and very pale.

Pour the cooled chocolate mixture into the egg and sugar mixture, fold gently with a spatula.

Sift in the cocoa powder and flour before gently folding it all together, being careful not to over mix.

Finally, stir in the chocolate chips until speckled, then pour into the prepared pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the surface is slightly crispy, but still soft and let cool completely.

Cut into squares and place in an airtight container to keep fresh for two weeks.

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Google will continue to sell the original Pixel Fold

Earlier this week, Google officially announced the Pixel 9 family, and among them is the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the successor to last year’s original Pixel Fold. Following the announcement, the Google Store marked the Pixel Fold as “unavailable,” but that apparently won’t be the case for long.

While we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Google decided to discontinue the Pixel Fold in light of its successor’s launch, that’s clearly not the case. Google’s statement clarifies the fact that the Pixel Fold will indeed be making a comeback.

The company will resume sales of the Pixel Fold after the Pixel 9 Pro Fold launches on September 4. So if you’ve been dying to buy a Pixel Fold but haven’t managed to do so before this week, rest assured, as you’ll have another chance in early September.

Google hasn’t revealed whether the original Pixel Fold will get a discount now that its successor is out, but we’re assuming the company could drop the price by $100 or so. Not enough to really boost sales, but enough so that people won’t complain that there’s no price cut. That’s the Apple way, and we don’t see why Google wouldn’t follow suit.

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Thunderstorms, heavy rains and strong winds. RCB sends alerts

The Government Security Center warns of storms with heavy rain and strong winds, as well as possible flooding and power outages. A warning on this issue has been sent to residents of nine voivodeships.

Illustrative photo

/Shutter

Attention! Today (17/08) storms with heavy rain and strong winds. Possible flooding and power outages. Protect items that could be blown away by the wind – we read on the RCB website.

Alert valid in the province: Lodz, Swietokrzyskie, Podkarpackie, Lesser Poland, Silesia, Opole, Lower Silesia (counties: Dzierżoniów, Jelenia Góra, Kamienna Góra, Karkonosze, Kłodzko, Oleśnica, Oława, Strzeliński, Świdnica, Wałbrzych, Wałbrzyski, Wrocław, Wrocławski, Ząbkowicki), Masovian Voivodeship (counties: Lipski, Przysucha, Radom, Radomski, Szydłowiec, Zwoleń) and Greater Poland (counties: Kępiński, Ostrzeszów).

As RCB recalled, in the case of flood risk It is recommended to move valuable items to the upper floors of the building, secure the building and prepare sandbags, and move vehicles from the property to non-hazardous locations. You should also ensure the safety of your pets and make sure your cell phone is fully charged.

You must immediately inform the fire department of any incidents that you believe are or may be of importance to safety by calling the emergency number 112. – RCB emphasized.

RMF 24

Source: RMF FM/PAP

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What is “price burning” and why is Vice President Harris proposing to ban it?

As inflation and high grocery prices continue to frustrate many voters, Vice President Kamala Harris proposed Friday that food suppliers and grocery stores ban “price gouging” as part of a broader program to lower the cost of housing, medicine and food. .

It’s an attempt to address Harris’ clear vulnerability: During the Biden-Harris administration, grocery prices have risen 21 percent, part of an inflation that has raised overall costs by about 19 percent and inconvenienced many Americans. in the economy, even though unemployment fell to a historically low level. Wages have also risen sharply since the pandemic, and have exceeded prices for more than a year. Yet research shows that Americans continue to struggle with higher costs.

“We all know that prices went up during the pandemic when supply chains were shut down and failed,” Harris said Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. “But our supply chains have now improved and prices are still too high.”

Will his suggestions do much to lower prices? And what is that “price increase” even? The answers to these and other questions are below:

What is a price increase?

There is no strict definition that economists agree on, but it generally refers to price spikes that typically follow a supply disruption, such as after a hurricane or other natural disaster. Consumer advocates argue that gouging occurs when retailers sharply raise prices, especially on essentials, in such circumstances.

Is it already illegal?

Several states already restrict price burning, but there is no ban at the federal level.

Federal restrictions involve related but different practices, such as price-fixing laws, which prevent companies from agreeing not to compete with each other and setting higher prices.

Will Harris’ proposal lower grocery prices?

Most economists would say no, even though his plan could affect future crises. First, it is unclear how much price increases are going on.

Grocery prices are still painfully high compared to four years ago, but rose just 1.1% year-on-year in July, according to the latest inflation report. This is in line with the increases before the pandemic.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that inflation has been defeated after Wednesday’s inflation report showed it fell to 2.9 percent in July, the smallest increase in three years.

“There’s a bit of a dissonance between claiming a win on the inflation front in one breath and then arguing that all this price increase is causing consumers to face really high prices in another breath,” said Michael Strain, an economist at the American Enterprise Institute.

Usually, after a spike in inflation, it is very difficult to bring prices back to their former levels. Sustained price declines typically only occur during a steep, prolonged recession. Instead, economists generally argue that the better approach is for wages to keep rising enough for Americans to handle the higher costs.

So why is Harris talking about this now?

Probably because inflation is still a very important issue politically. And many voters blame grocery stores, fast food chains, and food and packaging manufacturers for rising inflation over the past three years. Corporate profits increased sharply in 2021 and 2022.

“It could be that they’re looking at polls that show voters’ biggest concern is inflation and that many voters blame corporations for inflation,” Strain said.

Meanwhile, while prices won’t rise as much as Harris noted, they will remain high even after the kinks in the supply chain are ironed out.

Elizabeth Pancotti, a policy analyst at the progressive advocacy group Roosevelt Forward, points to the wood pulp used in diapers. The price of wood pulp has dropped by half from its post-pandemic peak, but diaper prices have not.

“So it just increases the (profit) margins for both manufacturers and retailers,” he said.

Did the rise in prices cause inflation?

Most economists would say no, that it was a more straightforward case of supply and demand. When the pandemic hit, meat processing plants were sometimes shut down after COVID-19 outbreaks, including supply disruptions. Russia’s attack on Ukraine raised the price of wheat and other grains on the global market. Car prices rose when automakers couldn’t get all the semiconductors they needed from Taiwan to make cars, and many car factories were temporarily closed.

At the same time, several stimulus checks fattened Americans’ bank accounts, and after the early stages of the pandemic rumbled, so-called “revenge spending” took over. The combination of strong demand and reduced supply was a recipe for rising prices.

However, some economists have argued that major food and consumer goods companies took advantage of the pandemic-era disruption. Consumers saw empty store shelves and heard numerous stories of broken supply chains, and felt, at least momentarily, that they had no choice but to accept higher prices.

Economist Isabella Weber of the University of Massachusetts Amherst called it “sellers’ inflation.” Others called it “greed.”

“Many companies took advantage of consumers’ willingness” to accept the disruption caused by the pandemic, Pancotti said.

Is banning prices the same as introducing price controls?

During the last spike in inflation in the 1970s, both Democratic and Republican presidential administrations sometimes imposed price controls, specifically limiting what businesses could charge for goods and services. They were widely blamed for creating gas shortages and long queues.

Some economists say Harris’ proposal would have a similar effect.

“It’s a heavy-handed socialist policy that I don’t think any economist would support,” said Kevin Hassett, a former Trump White House economic adviser.

But Pancotti disagreed. He argued that it was closer to a consumer protection measure. Under Harris’ proposal, the government would not set prices, but the Federal Trade Commission could investigate price spikes.

“The proposal is really about protecting consumers from unscrupulous business operators who are just trying to cheat the consumer because they know they can,” he said.

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PO candidate? Budka: Trzaskowski’s position is the strongest

Borys Budka, one of the PO’s vice-presidents, believes there should be no rush to announce the presidential candidate, because there is still a lot of time left until the elections. “It seems that Rafał Trzaskowski’s position is the strongest today, although formal decisions are ahead of us,” he noted in an interview with PAP.

Budka said that in September, Civic Platform would likely open the political season by convening a meeting of the party’s National Council or board of directors. He added that decisions regarding the calendar of meetings of the party’s statutory bodies would be taken by its chairman, Donald Tusk.

READ ALSO: Stuck in the presidential election: I don’t intend to run. Trzaskowski seems to be the most popular candidate in the polls

PO is delaying the response

According to the former Minister of State Heritage, no decisions will be made about the presidential candidate at these meetings, as it would be – as he assessed – definitely too early.

We have a lot of time until the presidential elections, almost a year

– noted the PO MEP. In his opinion, the decision on the candidate can be made at the end of the year and primary elections are very unlikely.

It seems that Rafał Trzaskowski’s position is the strongest today, although formal decisions are still ahead of us.

– Budka emphasized.

When asked whether it was possible to present a common candidate for the ruling coalition, he replied that all variants were taken into account.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk, asked on Friday whether he considered running for president and whether the candidacy of Foreign Ministry chief Radosław Sikorski was an option, assured that he did not intend to run in the presidential elections himself.

I have a problem, because the more I say that I will not run for public office, the more I read that we don’t know what will happen to Tusk.

– he added. He noted that he felt good as prime minister.

We should announce the decisions on the candidate of the Civic Coalition, or perhaps more broadly, perhaps of the entire coalition, on October 15, before Christmas. It is never too early to start your campaign. If names of obvious candidates appear, such as the Mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski. He himself asked me: until there is a decision, I cannot be a candidate because I am the Mayor of Warsaw. Minister Sikorski is a minister

– said the head of government.

Trzaskowski is the favorite

He also said that PO and KO have no problems selecting candidates and have “strong names”. He considered the mayor of Warsaw the most likely candidate.

It is no coincidence that Rafał Trzaskowski, in all possible polls organized by all possible media outlets, seems to be the most accepted by Poles as a presidential candidate. So this is definitely the most likely scenario.

– said Tusk.

In early August, PO Secretary General Marcin Kierwiński, MEP, acknowledged Trzaskowski as the most serious candidate. He added that Tusk would like to remain prime minister until the end of his term. Tusk’s statement on Friday was not the first of its kind.

I will not run for president. There is a whole group of candidates determined to fight for the presidency

– said the Prime Minister in May.

gah/PAP

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Is a bullish rise coming?

In 2024, Bitcoin miners have drastically reduced their activity on exchanges, marking a massive behavioral shift that could signal a deeper shift in the market. Historically, high levels of miner-to-exchange transfers have often led to sharp price corrections, but this year’s trend points to a more strategic approach. As miners continue to adapt, the implications for Bitcoin’s future are worth examining.

.video-sizes{ width:100%; } .header_banner_ad img{ width:100%; } .header_banner_ad{ margin: 35px 0; background: #eaeff3; padding: 10px 35px 20px; border-radius: 10px; }]]>Decline in Miner Transfers to Exchanges

Recent data from Crypto Slate shows a noticeable decrease in Bitcoin miners transferring their holdings to exchanges. However, miners would typically sell their Bitcoin holdings during price increases, leading to increased activity on exchanges.

However, the 2015 to 2024 graph shows a consistent downward trend in these transfers since 2018, even as the price of Bitcoin has risen dramatically.

This decline in activity suggests that miners are becoming increasingly confident in Bitcoin’s long-term value, choosing to hold onto their assets rather than liquidate them during price increases. This strategic shift signals greater financial stability and efficiency within the mining sector, with miners potentially anticipating future price increases.

Rising Bitcoin Network Hashrate

In addition to the drop in exchange transfers, US-listed Bitcoin miners reached a major milestone in August. Their share of the Bitcoin network hashrate increased for the fourth straight month, reaching a record high of 26%. This growth underscores their strengthening position within the global mining landscape.

JUST IN : August saw lowest price ever, according to a JPMorgan analyst #Bitcoin mining profitability. Meanwhile, the US share of the network hashrate rose to a record 26%. Stay ahead of the curve with us. #CryptoNews #Blockchain

— THΞ FΞNNΞC (@FennecSpirit) August 16, 2024

However, the overall network hashrate also increased by about five exahashes per second (EH/s) in the first two weeks of August, bringing the average hashrate to 621 EH/s, an increase of 1%.

Despite this increase, the current hashrate is still 30 EH/s below pre-halving levels, which could indicate potential volatility in the short term.

Bitcoin Price Analysis

Bitcoin’s price has seen some fluctuations in recent days, but is still up 35% year-to-date and 104% year-on-year. These trends suggest that while US-based miners are increasing their share, Bitcoin’s price movement has slowed somewhat.

Currently, Bitcoin is trading at $59,190, reflecting a 1.5% increase in the past 24 hours. Despite this price increase, trading volume has dropped by 23%, with a market cap of $1.16 trillion.

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How did the Romans declare war? Thanks to this mechanism, they built a powerful empire

Nazi Germany and later Japan deliberately ignored the idea of ​​the Hague Convention. In Germany’s case, it was not for logistical reasons. The Hague Convention did not set any requirements regarding the time that had to elapse between the declaration of war and the start of military action. The Germans could therefore have notified the Polish Foreign Ministry of the outbreak of war shortly before the aggression, which would in no way have diminished the benefits of surprise.

Hitler ignored the Hague Convention because it symbolized the order that the Führer sought to destroy. It is therefore not surprising that World War II further reinforced the common belief that declaring war is a characteristic of civilized societies that care about justice.

Spear Throwing. How the Romans Started Wars

The Roman procedure for declaring war, together with the procedure for concluding interstate agreements, constituted the so-called special law (ius fetiale). The name comes from the ancient priestly college of twenty fetiales, the foundation of which was most often attributed by the Romans themselves to the legendary Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, successor to Romulus. The fetiales participated both in the transition of the Roman state from peace to war, by declaring it, and in the transition from war to peace, by participating in the conclusion of treaties.

The appearance of the archaic procedure for declaring war was told to us by the historian Titus Livius, writing at the turn of the era, in his monumental work “The History of Rome from the Foundation of the City”. His first step was to demand compensation from the enemy. One of the fecials, with his head covered with a woolen cloth, went to the borders of the enemy territory and there, summoning the borders and Jupiter as witnesses, demanded from the opposing side compensation for the damage that (as he claimed) the Roman state had suffered. Then he called Jupiter, saying: “If I am demanding this unjustly, do not let me set foot on my native land.”

He repeated the same formula several times, heading to the enemy city, where he pronounced it for the last time, giving 33 days to meet the Roman demands. After that date, if his demands were not met, he would address the gods for the last time: “Hear, Jupiter, and you, Janus Quirinus! Hear, all you gods of heaven, earth, and under the earth! I call you to witness that this people is unjust and refuses to do what is right.”

Then he returned to Rome and reported the matter to the authorities: initially to the king, and after the establishment of the republic – to the Senate. If it was considered right to start a war, it was declared appropriately. The fecial returned to the border of the enemy country with an iron-tipped spear (according to another version: charred by fire and bloodied) and in the presence of three witnesses threw it into enemy territory. From that moment, in the eyes of the Romans, a state of war began, regardless of whether military action was taken immediately or not.

Keeping up appearances. The “lofty” goals of the Romans

The first declaration of war according to the fecial procedure occurred during the reign of the fourth king of Rome, Ancus Marcius (according to tradition, he reigned in the years 642–617 BC), and was used against the Latins neighboring Rome, who were carrying out plundering expeditions into Roman territory. In historical times, the procedure of declaring war preceded by a demand for reparations is clearly attested in the first half of the 2nd century BC, but in the 3rd century BC the fecials were replaced in the declaration of war by the legates of the Senate. Due to the wars fought against adversaries increasingly distant from Rome, the ritual of throwing a spear into enemy territory also changed. According to later tradition, the change occurred in 280 BC, when, in view of the war with Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, a captive from Epirock was ordered to buy the land near the temple of Bellona, ​​and it was there, as if he were in enemy territory, that the priest threw his spear, thus fulfilling the ritual obligation.

The procedure of declaring war experienced its revival at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Augustus. Preparing for war with Mark Antony, he intensively sought propaganda means to present the real civil war as a war against an external enemy. Therefore, declaring his opponent not Antony himself, but his lover, the unfortunate Egyptian queen Cleopatra, Augustus organized a political nativity scene in Rome, in which he, as a member of the college of faculties, played the main role. During the solemn procession of the entire Senate, in front of a crowd of citizens, he threw a spear into the aforementioned area near the temple of Bellona, ​​thus declaring war… on Egypt.

The last case of a ritual declaration of war that we hear of occurred in the year 178. During the expedition against the Germans, Emperor Marcus Aurelius once again resorted to this ancient rite, throwing a spear into the territory of the Quadi. It is possible that, in addition to evoking the ancient triumphs of Roman arms, the emperor and philosopher wanted to symbolically mark the civilizational superiority of the Romans over the barbarians.

The Roman procedures described above had no analogues in the ancient world. This is most clearly seen if we compare them with the practices of the world of the Greek city-states, from which the Romans inherited many other cultural achievements. For the Greeks, war was not an abstract state that arose as a result of someone’s decision, but always a real state: the conflict between two Greek cities began with the physical violation of the border of one of them by the troops of the other and the beginning of the plundering of the opponent’s fields. Even if there were cases of ultimatums, a formal declaration of war was not part of the Greek custom of war. Modern jurists were therefore right to regard the ancient Romans as the inventors of the declaration of war. The question is whether they were right in attributing to the Romans the lofty goals they had in mind.

History is written by the victors. How the Romans built an empire

In writing their history, the Romans claimed that they had conquered the known world, guided by principles that in modern science are called defensive imperialism: surrounded by aggressive and infidel neighbors, the Romans from time to time demanded from them formal compensation for the wrongs they had suffered, and only when they refused to make amends did they declare war on them. As a result, they conquered them one by one, as if by punishment, until they finally controlled the entire Mediterranean basin.

Until recently, a surprising number of historians were able to believe this intellectual construction, just as they were able to believe other creations of Roman propaganda, which used the term “Punic/Greek loyalty” as a synonym for perfidy. Today we realize that the Carthaginians and Greeks could learn a lot from the Romans when it came to not fulfilling their commitments. In fact, not only did the Roman procedures for starting a war have nothing to do with the search for justice, but, on the contrary, they were part of the precise mechanism that fueled Roman imperialism, which between the 4th and 2nd centuries BC drove the Romans from one war to another, so that over the course of 300 years we can count on one hand the years of peace.

The essence of the ultimatum procedure and the declaration of war is revealed to us by the greatest Roman orator, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Reflecting on what kind of war is just (bellum iustum) in his treatise “On Duties”, he states that a just war is identical to a war that begins after a demand for compensation and after a prior declaration. Cicero’s reflections show that for the Romans of his time, the concept of justice in war referred to purely formal issues: if I follow the procedures, I have the right to wage war, regardless of what the issue is. The demand for compensation before declaring war was not an attempt to avoid armed conflict, but an escape from negotiation on controversial issues. At first, the Romans refused to listen to the arguments of the other side, which could only agree to the Roman dictum or face war. The Romans rejected common compromise, which means they rejected diplomacy and the institution of arbitration (both well known to the ancient Greeks).

All cases of reparation demands that we know of were in fact excessive demands (e.g., giving up important territory or giving the Romans their own leaders), the fulfillment of which led to the subjugation of the opponent. To limit myself to one example, in 274 BC the Romans demanded that the inhabitants of the Etruscan city of Caere submit to them and hand over half their territory.

By closing the door to negotiations, the fecial procedure also provided the Romans with extraordinary psychological comfort in waging war. When the priest returned to Rome safely – after invoking the wrath of Jupiter if his demands were unjust – he was clear proof that the gods, acting as judges between the Romans and their opponents, accepted the Roman argument. The successes of subsequent wars confirmed this. It is no coincidence that the abandonment of the rituals of declaring war in the second century BC coincides with the moment when the Romans no longer needed any justification for their conquests, because there was no longer any independent international public opinion: the entire civilized world accepted the Roman dictate as a state of affairs so natural that it no longer required any justification.

Paradoxically, the procedure today associated with the civilization of war served to build the world’s first empire resulting from the constant plundering of neighboring lands.

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Did you love Street 2? Check out these horror comedies next

New Delhi:

Street 2 opened on the big screen on Independence Day, August 15. The sequel to the 2018 hit features Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao in prominent roles. Directed by Amar Kaushik, the film tells the story of a headless monster named Sarkate who kidnaps women in a small town in Chander. Needless to say, the presence of Pankaj Tripathi and Aparshakti Khurana is the icing on the cake. For those who have already seen the movie and are craving more horror comedies, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Below is a list of the best Bollywood horror-comedy movies that you must watch over the long weekend:

1. Street (August 31, 2018) – Disney+ Hotstar: As much as we expected Street 2it was just because the first batch had a lasting effect. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch this movie again because “Vo stree hai, Kuch bhi kar sakti hai.”

2. Bhediya (November 25, 2022) – JioCinema: Another blockbuster from Dinesh Vijan’s horror comedy universe. The film sees Varun Dhawan’s character in tough spots as he transforms into a wolf at night. Abhishek Banerjee’s hilarious presence adds charm to the film.

3. Bhootnath (May 9, 2008) – Disney+ Hotstar: Watch this movie again for its endless entertainment because “Hamare Bhoto-World Me Teen Cheezo Ki Bhut Kami Hai, Entertainment, Entertainment and Entertainment.“

4. Laxmi (November 9, 2020) – Disney+ Hotstar: Witness what happens when a transgender ghost haunts Akshay Kumar in this Raghava Lawrence film.

5. Bhool Bhulaiyaa (October 12, 2007) – Disney+ Hotstar: Vidya Balan’s portrayal of the ghostly Manjulika is unforgettable. A flashback of a love story to melodious songs like Mere Dholna, this film lives rent-free in our hearts. Oh, and did we mention that Vidya Balan will be making a comeback in the third installment, which will release in November this year?

6. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (May 20, 2022) – Netflix: Kartik Aaryan’s role as Rooh Baba won us over in the second installment of the series. The chemistry between Karthik and Kiara Advani along with Tabu’s brilliant acting make this Anees Bazmee movie worth watching.

7. Grass (March 11, 2021) – Netflix: Janhvi Kapoor shines as Rooh, a girl possessed by a ghost. Remember Varun Sharma’s dialogue – “Bhindi sa shareer Lekar Undertaker ki diet follow kar rahi hai Yeh toh.”

8. Golmaal again (October 20, 2017) – Prime Video: While all the installments in the Golmaal series provide plenty of laughs, the fourth film adds a scary, ghostly twist. The cast includes Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Arshad Warsi, Kunal Kemmu and Parineeti Chopra. Phew!

9. Bhoot police (September 10, 2021) – Disney+ Hotstar: Follow the funny yet terrifying adventures of ghost hunters Vibhoot (Saif Ali Khan) and Chiraunji (Arjun Kapoor). A duo of siblings are hired to capture a demon that haunts a tea estate in Himachal Pradesh. Jacqueline Fernandez and Yami Gautam are also part of this project.

10. Phone Bhoot (November 4, 2022) – Prime Video: This film is the first collaboration between Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ishaan Khatter and Katrina Kaif. The film is directed by Gurmmeet Singh.

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Honor 200 Review: The Perfect Balance of Style and Camera

Honor has been spreading its wings in India with a series of launches. The company recently launched the Honor 200 series in the country to expand its portfolio in the mid-range and high-end segment. While the Honor 200 Pro is aimed at the premium segment, it is the Honor 200 that will be the one to take on the real heat in the Indian smartphone market. The company’s latest smartphone is priced at Rs 34,999 for the 8GB + 256GB and Rs 39,999 for the 12GB + 512GB option.

The Honor 200 offers some interesting features and a high-quality design. This time, there is a special focus on the cameras, which were designed in collaboration with Studio Harcourt, a photography studio known for its portraits. Will this be enough to convince users to skip the competition and choose this one? Let’s find out in this review.

Honor 200 Design: Elegant and stylishDimensions – 161.5 x 74.6 x 7.7 mmWeight – 187gColors – Moonlight White and Black

Honor was one of the few brands that took phone design seriously even when it was operating in India before the ban fiasco. Fast forward to today, and you’ll see bits and pieces of the same design philosophy in the Honor 200. The smartphone looks unique and stylish in its price segment. I picked up the Moonlight White variant for review and it looks elegant straight away, which is a rarity in this price segment.

Honor 200 is available in two color versions: Moonlight White and Black.

The wave pattern on the back panel looks quite attractive and the oval camera module adds a little cherry on top. However, the camera module makes the camera wobbly on flat surfaces too. The handset is quite comfortable to hold, although the frame is made of plastic, which is a disappointment.

The handset is slim, measuring 7.7mm thick and weighing 187g, which is comparable to its competitors. The only downside to this design is that it’s quite slippery, so you’ll need a case, especially since it doesn’t come with any official Gorilla Glass protection. You also don’t get any official IP rating, which is a bit of a dealbreaker for me at this price point.

Honor 200 display: clear and vividDisplay – 6.7-inch 1.5K curved AMOLED displayRefresh Rate – Screen refresh rate 120 HzOther Features – 3840Hz PWM dimming, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, 4000 nits peak brightness

The latest Honor phone features a quad-curved display and offers sharp and colorful images. You also get 4,000 nits of peak brightness, making it a bright display for outdoor use.

The Honor 200 has an AMOLED display with vivid colors.

The phone offers a 120Hz screen refresh rate, which makes scrolling smooth. The quad-curved screen looks like a premium design while minimizing accidental touches. When it comes to content consumption, you will definitely love this device. While watching “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” on Apple TV+, the color saturation was on point and was not an issue in the darker parts of the show.

The phone also comes with Widevine L1 support along with HDR10+, which means you can watch HDR content on Netflix on this device conveniently. You can get two different modes, Normal and Vivid, to suit your preferences. However, I would suggest you leave the Vivid mode on for the best result.

The handset offers various options to customize your display settings.

Another interesting thing is the Always-On display. The phone has two options for this mode: Full screen and Partial screen. Full screen mode darkens the lock screen version and you get full screen AoD, which is a cool feature.

The phone also has an in-display fingerprint sensor that works well, although it’s positioned a bit lower than I like. You can still choose between animations, which are always a pleasure to use.

Honor 200 Software: Lots of bloatwareSoftware – MagicOS 8.0Version – Android 14Promised updates – 3 years of OS updates and 4 years of security patches

The Honor 200 comes with MagicOS 8.0, based on Android 14. The UI is easy to get used to and offers some good levels of customization and features. The company says it has added a few AI features like Magic Capsule, Magic Portal, Magic Ring, and more. Some of these features are useful, while others feel more like a gadget.

Magic Portal is one of the useful features. This feature basically lets you drag and drop text, photos, and videos from one app to another. For example, you can copy the text you like on Instagram by simply long-pressing the text until you see a blue tint in the corner. Now, simply drag the content to Notes or other apps like Gmail, WhatsApp, Notes, and more. You also have a Favorites place that lets you store all your screenshots and videos and access them anytime.

On the other hand, the Magic Capsule seems to be more of a gimmick here. The company took inspiration from Apple’s Dynamic Island, but forgot to take inspiration from all the features it offers. Music playback and a timer can also be seen in this time. Hopefully, the brand will add more features in the future.

Other than that, the UI offers a good level of customization. On the other hand, the bloatware issue still persists. So you have dual apps for email, gallery, app market, calculator, docs, etc. Fortunately, you don’t get spammy notifications from these apps, which is a blessing in disguise.

Honor 200 Performance: Decent for Everyday UseProcessor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3Memory – up to 12 GB (LPDDR5)Storage – up to 512GB (UFS 2.2)

The Honor 200 offers decent hardware for the price. The phone is equipped with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor found in the Vivo V30, OnePlus Nord CE4, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, and others. However, considering the competition at this price, the phone’s performance is slightly below average, as you can see in this synthetic benchmark comparison:

BenchmarkHonor 200Motorola Edge 50 ProOppo Reno 12 ProRealme GT6TGeekbench 6 Single Core1145114210131843Geekbench 6 Multi-Core3304312429384756AnTuTu v10821 670818 387619 1491 462 980PCMark Work 3.012 72313 73012 80619 5173DM Slingshot Extreme OpenGLMaximum utilizationMaximum utilization5180Maximum utilizationSlingshot 3DMMaximum utilization83936606Maximum utilization3DM Wild Life591753943170Maximum utilization3DM Wild Life Unlimited60435457316211481GFXBench T-Rex601165960GFXBench Manhattan 3.159614960GFXBench Car Chase38322960

In everyday use, you won’t encounter any issues or delays. Even with demanding tasks, the phone doesn’t limit you too much, which is a good thing.

As for gaming, you can play most of the regular games on this device without much stress. I played Call of Duty: Mobile with the default graphics and frame rate settings of High and Very High respectively. Even with Very High Quality and maximum frame rate, I didn’t notice any drop in frame rate. However, the phone did get a bit warm around the camera module. But it wasn’t to an alarming level.

Honor 200 Cameras: Almost Top of the LineRear – 50MP Sony IMX906 image sensor with f/1.95 aperture + 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera + 50MP Sony IMX856 2.5x portrait image sensorFront – 50-megapixel Sony IMX906 sensor with f/2.1 aperture

Cameras are probably its biggest strength. The Honor 200 has an interesting camera setup that includes everything you need in a good camera-centric smartphone.

Honor 200 photo examples with 2x Daylight (top), Ultra Wide (middle), and Normal (bottom). (Tap to expand)

In daylight conditions, the phone takes excellent photos with good dynamic range and vibrant colors. The photos were sharp and detailed, although colors were slightly oversaturated in some cases. However, the ultra-wide-angle lens was a letdown, as quality was often subpar. Daytime shots do show some loss of detail in the corners.

Sample image from the Honor 200 Portrait camera using the Harcourt Colour (bottom), Harcourt Vibrant (middle), and Harcourt Classic (top) cameras. (Tap to enlarge image)

The star of the show, however, is the portrait sensor. The phone has a Sony IMX856 2.5x portrait sensor that takes really good photos in a variety of lighting conditions. Skin tones were natural and the bokeh worked well. There are also three different Harcourt portrait modes: Harcourt Vibrant, Harcourt Color, and Harcourt Classic. My favorite was the Classic mode, which delivered really good results in a variety of lighting conditions.

Sample photos taken with Honor 200 camera in low light. (Tap image to enlarge)

Moving on to the Honor 200’s low-light performance, the primary sensor once again does a good job. Noise is kept to a minimum, and the phone is able to retain colors in low light. The ultra-wide angle was once again not up to par, as shots came out less detailed and full of noise.

Honor 200 Battery: Impressive Battery LifeBattery capacity – 5200 mAh (silicon-carbon)Wired charging – SuperCharge 100WCharger – 100W (not included)

The Honor 200 is one of the few smartphones on the market that offers a silicon-carbon battery. Silicon-carbon batteries tend to hold higher energy density and take up less space compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The result is a slimmer form factor while maintaining high battery capacity, which is the case with this device.

The Honor 200 has a 5200mAh battery with 100W fast charging support.

With normal usage, the phone easily lasted a full day with an average screen on time of 6 hours. In our battery loop test, the phone lasted for 28 hours and 27 minutes, which was quite impressive. It also supports 100W fast charging. However, you have to buy the charger separately. We tested the charging speed using a 68W fast charger. The phone was charged to 37 percent in 15 minutes, 70 percent in 30 minutes, and fully in 49 minutes.

Honor 200 Judgment

The Honor 200 is a good package if you are looking for a premium camera phone in the mid-range price range. The phone has a sleek and lightweight design that looks unique. The display is clear and good for consuming content. However, the camera takes centre stage here and delivers good results with its primary sensor and portrait camera, although the same cannot be said about the wide-angle sensor. The performance is decent and you won’t have any issues during day-to-day usage.

However, the phone has stiff competition in the form of the Realme GT 6T, Motorola Edge 50 Pro, OnePlus Nord 4, Oppo Reno 12 Pro, and more. So, if you are thinking of buying a camera-centric smartphone that offers consistent performance, you may want to consider the Honor 200.

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Jon Stewart says he thought the Trump-Musk X live stream was just “like two old guys in a basement talking about how hot each other is.”

Jon Stewart says he didn’t expect Monday’s Trump-Musk X live broadcast to be so boring.

The live broadcast was like “two old guys in a basement talking about how hot each other is,” he said.

Stewart said that without Biden in the race, Trump’s age is becoming more apparent.

Former President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s X Live on Monday was boring, says “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart.

“The one thing I didn’t think I was in it was boring. I was bored as hell,” Stewart said on the latest episode of “The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart” podcast, which aired Thursday.

Stewart mocked the Trump-Musk live broadcast in the opening of the podcast, noting that the interview had inadvertently highlighted Trump’s age. The real estate mogul turned 78 in June.

“But holy shit, was it just like two old guys in a basement talking about how hot each other is? Like, wow,” Stewart said.

Stewart said Trump’s age has become a focus since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month.

“I think he’s going to be the Biden before our eyes in this race,” Stewart said of Trump’s slurred speech on the live broadcast.

“The whole idea was that Biden’s appearance in the debate was so shocking to the functionality system where you look at the guy and go, ‘Oh shit.’ Like this is a real decline in a way that we didn’t expect, but it also obscured what’s clearly going on with Trump,” he continued.

And now that Trump is no longer running against Biden, he will not be able to present himself as a relatively younger, energetic candidate, Stewart said on his podcast.

“When you take that out of the equation, you just have a much sharper focus on his decline. And then you listen to those Twitter statuses. And again, like he’s always been a little bit flamboyant, but holy shit,” he said.

This isn’t the first time Stewart has mentioned Trump’s age while weighing in on the presidential race.

During an appearance at the “Netflix Is A Joke” festival in May, Stewart said putting Biden and Trump on the ballot was a mistake.

“Why do we allow this? And now we have a president who is the two oldest people to ever run for president,” Stewart told the audience, per The Hollywood Reporter .

Then in June, Stewart said on “The Daily Show” that the Biden-Trump rematch was turning into two candidates taking potshots at the other’s age.

“I think the election basically boiled down to each candidate blaming the other for the soup where the brains should be,” Stewart said.

Despite this, Trump, now vying with 59-year-old Vice President Kamala Harris for the presidency in November, does not consider himself old.

Last month on Truth Social, the GOP candidate said he thought Harris was voting poorly “against a good and brilliant young man.”

Representatives for Trump and Musk did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment sent outside normal business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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