Harmony Evans's Blog, page 608
December 7, 2023
Chevy’s Bolt EV is making a comeback in 2025
America’s cheapest EV will be making a bold return in 2025, with the next generation of the car confirmed to be on its way.
One of the main criticisms leveled at electric vehicles is that they’re still too weighted towards the lux market and unaffordable for the average person. Chevrolet’s Bolt entered the market at a $26,500 starting price, with some fluctuations depending on exact specifications.
It was initially reported that both the EV and the EUV models of the Bolt would be discontinued in April. However, Chevy later reversed that decision, promising instead to make a next-gen Bolt that would use GM’s Ultium platform instead.
Now, in remarks made during GM CEO Mary Barra’s address at an Automotive Press Association event, as reported by Inverse, it’s confirmed that the Bolt will return, new and improved, in 2025.
Chevy’s Bolt EV, second generationNot much else is known about the next-gen version of the Bolt, including whether it will be as affordable as the first iteration.
We know that the next-gen Bolt should use the Ultium platform, which features lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Because LFP batteries are easier to produce, this likely means that the cost savings will trickle down to the customer if all goes smoothly.
However, LFP batteries generally don’t perform as well as nickel manganese cobalt batteries do in cold weather. On the plus side, they can survive being charged up to 100% more frequently, meaning the lifetime of the next-gen Bolt (or at least its battery) might be longer – so long as you don’t live anywhere too cold.
In terms of mileage, considering the 2023 Bolt EV achieved an EPA-estimated 259 miles, anything close to or even exceeding that would be a welcome addition to the EV market. As a next-gen model, it’s not too much to hope for an improved range to take the Bolt to the next level.
Featured image: Chevy
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State of California Now Facing Record Deficit of $68 Billion, According to Non-Partisan Analyst | The Gateway Pundit
The state of California is now facing an eye-popping deficit of $68 billion dollars, according to a non-partisan analyst.
It has become so expensive to live in California that people are buying fewer homes and businesses are hiring fewer people. Add the massive population loss suffered by the state for the last two years and there is much less money on the table for the state to collect in taxes.
This is what the leadership of Gavin Newsom and progressive policies have brought to California. Wreck and ruin.
From the Associated Press, via KEYT News:
California faces record $68 billion budget deficit, nonpartisan legislative analyst says
California is facing a record $68 billion budget deficit, state officials announced Thursday, forcing hard choices for Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in his final term as he works to build his national profile.
The nation’s most populous state — with an economy that is the fifth largest in the world — has been struggling since last year because of the rising prices of most goods and services and how the U.S. government has been trying to control it.
It is now much more expensive for people and businesses to borrow money, meaning fewer people are buying homes and fewer businesses are hiring workers. That is leading to fewer tax collections for the state.
A series of damaging storms last winter have made the problem worse. The storms were so bad that state officials decided to give people and businesses more time to pay their taxes this year. Californians did not have to pay their 2022 taxes until November of this year. That meant Newsom and the Legislature had to come up with a budget over the summer without knowing how much money the state had to spend.
It turns out that they badly misjudged how much taxes people and businesses would pay. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office said tax collections were off by $26 billion, a major driver of the deficit. When combined with the economic slowdown California has been facing since last year, it leads to a predicted deficit of $68 billion, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek announced Thursday.
No state wants to be on a trajectory that looks like this.
California Faces $68 Billion Deficit in 2024
Unemployment up, incomes down: State budget report gives grim outlook for Newsom’s Californiahttps://t.co/yVaABlEpQV
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) December 7, 2023
Head-spinning to see California go from a nearly $100 billion surplus to a $68 billion deficit in just two years https://t.co/IyRksGneEE
— Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) December 7, 2023
Turning this around won’t happen overnight and it won’t even begin until the state has new leadership.
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Iphone 15 Pro to get big focusing boost shortly
Owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are set to get a boost on the telephoto camera lens on the handset, meaning improved snaps for capturing moving objects.
The software update, iOS 17.2, will also improve your selfies and portrait shots and is expected to be rolled out ahead of the end of the year, as reported by Tech Radar, although Apple has not specified an exact release date.
The upgrade will deliver “improved Telephoto camera focusing speed when capturing small, faraway objects on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.”
The 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are two of the most advanced, best camera phones on the market just now, so this news of a further increase in their capabilities will delight those that have either of the handsets.
Performance boost for iPhone 15 ProiPhone 15 Pro users will benefit from capturing sharper (and moving) objects more quickly than before, reducing unnecessary blur and time spent editing photos, later.
These improvements show that there are further gains to be made with the telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro series so if you are considering upgrading your Apple device now, you may want to wait on the 16 Pro when it lands in 2024.
Moving on from the camera, one particularly exciting addition is the arrival of the spatial video feature as part of 17.2.
That will enable users to watch content on the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset, which is expected to be announced within the early stages of next year. The product was first introduced in June with a pledge that Vision Pro will “let users interact with digital content in a way that feels like it is physically present in their space.”
Other new features to come with the iOS 17.2 update include a new journal app, improvements to AirDrop, an iMessage update, as well as the addition of an ‘Action Button.’
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Ukraine’s Zelensky Running out of Time While Russia Motors On | The Gateway Pundit
The news out of Ukraine late today is dire for Volodomyr Zelenksy. General Zaluzhny reportedly gave him the Clint Eastwood threat, “Go ahead punk; make my day. According to a Ukrainian Telegram channel:
Zelensky demanded that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Zaluzhny, resign of his own free will or due to health problems, etc. (to leave for any personal reason in order to avert suspicions that the commander-in-chief is being leaked personally by ZeErmak).
Zaluzhny refused to leave himself, believing that he brought many victories to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, saved many lives of ordinary soldiers and did/will do a lot more good. According to the source, Zaluzhny said directly in army style: “I myself will not leave, if you are personally dissatisfied with me – “fire”, but this will be your personal decision for which you will have to answer.”
Start your countdown clock. If this report is true then Zaluzhny has taken the first step in launching a coup to oust Zelensky (the Penis Piano Player). When you’re in the military and you refuse an order like the one reported above you are in a state of rebellion. You either win or you die/are defeated. As I have written previously, when it comes to a coup I always bet on the guy with the guns. In this case, Zaluzhny has more guns than Zelensky and he and his team have better fire discipline.
All of this is taking place against the back drop of the Republicans growing a spine and refusing to approve Biden’s funding request for Ukraine until that cranky, old man ponies up a solid border protection program. In short, Ukraine will be out of U.S. tax payer dollars to steal in a few weeks and there is no hope of new funding in sight.
Meanwhile, Russia does not know there is a war on. It is discussed on some popular radio shows and the TV, but I have not seen any protests, any signs or any graffiti. I did see one soldier strolling across Red Square and he appeared relaxed, just taking in the sights.
Speaking of sights, Red Square in Moscow is phenomenal. It is a major winter party and the five inches of snow that fell on Sunday simply adds to the festive atmosphere.
I am standing in the middle of Red Square. Lenin’s tomb is to the right of me as you look at the picture. That is St. Basil’s Church over my shoulder. Guess what? No homeless. No one defecating on the cobblestones. No maurading muggers. Just a bunch of people keen on celebrating Christmas.
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Bitcoin price surges by 175% amid US ETF hopes
The price of Bitcoin has seen its biggest value boost since the 2022 cryptocurrency market crash.
On Wednesday (Dec. 6) Bitcoin was trading above $44,000, a far cry away from the $17,000 it was trading at during early 2023 – after the collapse of the Terra LUNA cryptocurrency ignited the biggest sell-off in the history of the sector last November. Leading many in the industry to wonder if crypto would ever recover from the crash.
The price surge for Bitcoin comes amidst boosts for other cryptocurrencies – with Ethereum (ETH) up 10% in the last week, Solano (SOL), Cardano (ADA) and Dogecoin (DOGE) up between 7% and 27% in the last week as well. This surge comes alongside blockchain messaging service Wormside receiving $225m in funding – the largest market raise of 2023 for crypto.
The recovery has been welcome news for many, but especially the country of El Salvador – which yields the most federal holdings of bitcoin in the world – which now looks at a profit from its investment in the market for the first time since 2021.
Hope of US ETF approval drives Bitcoin priceBitcoin’s price has been reinforced by renewed calls for the US to approve a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) – which would invite more mainstream investment into the crypto sphere.
Approval would be a milestone achievement for Bitcoin and validation it is a conventional asset. However, there have been discussions for years on this topic with nothing having been motioned so far.
Although analysts do warn that failure to approve an ETF for cryptocurrencies, by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), could result in another crash for the bitcoin market.
Speaking to The Independent, research analyst for the investment firm Fineqia International Matteo Greco said:
“An approval (from the SEC) is expected to bring short-term capital influx from the traditional finance investors, fuelling the uptrend, while a rejection might trigger a short-term negative price action due to high expectations of approval by market participants.”
“A rejection could prompt market participants to adjust their positions, potentially leading to a downward trend in January. Analysts remain confident, however, maintaining a 90% probability of approval.”
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Apple tipped to launch new M3 MacBook Air and iPad models in 2024
Apple will launch a host of new iPad and M3 MacBook Air models in early 2024, according to a new report.
The company announced its all-new family of M3 chips as part of the latest MacBook Pro refresh at the end of October. Now that new chip is tipped to be coming to the MacBook Air in fairly short order, whilst the iPad line is set to receive a new variant and a handful of enhancements.
That’s the claim being made by journalist Mark Gurman, at any rate, which is a typically a pretty accurate indicator.
NEW: Apple plans spring launch for revamped iPad Pro, new iPad Air (including in 12.9-inch size), revamped Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil and M3 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Airs. https://t.co/zVvMGmKSub
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) December 6, 2023
Gurman claims that Apple is planning a spring launch event for new iPad Pro and iPad Air models, including an all new 12.9-inch iPad Air. To date, only the iPad Pro has received the super-sized treatment.
According to Gurman’s expanded Bloomberg report, the next iPad Pro model will switch to a more vibrant OLED display. There should be some new iPad accessories too, with a revamped Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil said to be on the cards.
On the Mac front, the spring even will also feature a new M3-powered MacBook Air in 13-inch and 15-inch flavours.
Apple is said to be moving swiftly with these new iPad and MacBook models following a sales slump for both lines, as consumer tech spending has declined. It hasn’t helped that the iPad line has been somewhat stagnant, with no new models released in 2023 – a first for Apple’s tablet family.
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White House Interns Send Demand Letter to Biden: ‘We Will No Longer Remain Silent’ | The Gateway Pundit
A group of 40 or more White House interns are demanding that President Joe Biden work toward a permanent cease-fire between the nation of Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas that wants to destroy it completely.
Or maybe not. The letter is signed “40+ White House & EOP Interns for Palestine” but it otherwise anonymous — meaning that there is no evidence that anyone supports its language beyond whoever wrote it.
Nonetheless, NBC News reported on the letter as if it were a legitimate piece of communication worthy of public attention.
“We heed the voices of the American people and call on the Administration to demand a permanent ceasefire,” said the letter, which NBC attributed to multiple “interns” without any external evidence. “We are not the decision makers of today, but we aspire to be the leaders of tomorrow, and we will never forget how the pleas of the American people have been heard and thus far, ignored.”
You can read the letter in its entirety below.
White House Letter by The Western Journal on Scribd
According to the letter, which makes no original arguments but merely recites hackneyed claims about Israel’s “genocidal response” to the barbaric October 7 attack by Hamas while ignoring the fact that Israel warned occupants of Gaza to evacuate prior to its ground war, it was written by interns who are “Palestinian, Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian, Black, Asian, Latine, White and Queer.”
The letter also claims to come from interns representing at least ten White House offices, including both President Joe Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ executive offices.
It is addressed to both Biden and Harris.
Biden as recently as Tuesday showed no sign of budging on his support for Israel, stating simply that Hamas had ended the temporary cease-fire when it refused to release further hostages and accurately describing the terrorist organization as using “rape to terrorize women and girls.”
Reaction to the letter after the article’s author posted a link to it on X was largely dismissive.
An anonymous letter from interns making policy demands seems like something out of a parody https://t.co/1kyMO7GPpT
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) December 6, 2023
This courageous letter was *anonymously* signed by more than 40 White House interns – or so they claim.
Prove it. Sign your real names, otherwise let your DNC donor parents keep paying your DC rent and pipe down.
— Tim Murtaugh (@TimMurtaugh) December 6, 2023
NBC News reporting it as real news is is beyond parody
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) December 6, 2023
The original 1988 charter published when Hamas was formed called for the “complete destruction of Israel as an essential condition for the liberation of Palestine and the establishment of a theocratic state based on Islamic law (Sharia),” according to a summary published in The Atlantic three days after the October 7 attack.
A revised charter issued in 2017 “differs little from its predecessor,” The Atlantic reported, despite its obvious effort to moderate its language to make it more acceptable to the international community.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
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Elon Musk won’t be playing GTA VI because it has you ‘doing crime’
Another day, another Elon headline. This one is a bit less controversial than most, although it has still had the Internet poking fun at X’s head honcho.
In response to one of Musk’s employees on X who was talking about not playing Grand Theft Auto, he replied, “Tried, but didn’t like doing crime. GTA5 required shooting police officers in the opening scene. Just couldn’t do it.”
The original comment has since had 1.7 million views and hundreds of comments – something the original poster was probably not expecting before his boss joined in.
Tried, but didn’t like doing crime. GTA5 required shooting police officers in the opening scene. Just couldn’t do it.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 5, 2023
Plenty of people were quick to point out that Grand Theft Auto is only a game and that they aren’t real policemen while others tried to change their pairs’ minds.
Musk, currently trying to raise a billion dollars for his xAI startup, is a known big fan of Elden Ring and its fantasy violence, does make an interesting point though that realistic uber-violent videogames are not for everybody – even self-professed hardcore gamers like himself.
Meanwhile, as predicted yesterday, streams of Tom Petty’s ‘Love is a Long Road’ – the song featured in the GTA VI trailer – have increased 36,979% according to the BBC on Spotify alone. You can imagine there will be a clamor to be the soundtrack of future trailers with royalties like that on the table.
With the trailer already having racked up 104 million views on the official Rockstar Games YouTube channel, and many millions more on unofficial outlets, it has already surpassed the lifetime views for the GTA V trailer. All this in a whirlwind few days for a game that might not be out for another 18 months, and even then, only making an appearance on console.
PC gamers continue to be furious about being left out of the launch plans with PC Gamer stating, “There is no technical reason why a PC version of GTA VI isn’t arriving with the console versions.”
Paul McNallyPaul has been around consoles and computers since his parents bought him a Mattel Intellivision. He spent over a decade as editor of popular print-based video games and computer magazines, including a market-leading PlayStation title. Has written gaming content for GamePro, Official Australian PlayStation Magazine, PlayStation Pro, Amiga Action, Mega Action, ST Action, GQ, Loaded, and the Daily Mirror. Former champion shoot ’em-up legend.
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December 6, 2023
Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley Calls for Allowing Incarcerated Persons and 16 Year-Olds to Vote (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit
Massachusetts Rep. and ‘Squad’ member Ayanna Pressley held a press conference this week to announce that she is pushing to allow incarcerated persons and people as young as 16 to vote.
This issue comes up every few years. Democrats want to lower the voting age so that their most radical base members, young impressionable people, can vote.
She is trying to make this look like she is doing something for incarcerated people and the young, but this is all about upping the odds for the Democrat party. That’s all it as.
FOX News reported:
‘Squad’ member Ayanna Pressley calls for allowing ‘incarcerated citizens’ and 16-year-olds to vote
Democrat Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley, a far-left ‘Squad’ member, called for allowing “incarcerated citizens” to vote in federal elections while referencing her support for permitting individuals as young as 16 years of age to cast a ballot.
Pressley made the comments during a Wednesday press conference while introducing legislation alongside Democrat Vermont Sen. Peter Welch that would restore felons’ voting rights.
“That’s why we’re here today, to introduce the Inclusive Democracy Act — a historic, brand new, first-of-its-kind bill that will end the stain of felony disenfranchisement in America and guarantee the right to vote for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated citizens,” Pressley said.
“Our bill is a reflection of bold, progressive, democratic values. Because of Republicans and the Supreme Court stopping at nothing to undermine voting rights and to exclude Black and brown folks from participating in our democracy, we must be just as relentless at protecting and expanding access to the ballot box, including for incarcerated citizens,” she continued.
Here’s the video:
Rep @AyannaPressley: We must “expand access to the ballot box, Including for incarcerated citizens” & teenagers as young as “16” pic.twitter.com/bP9SjGm84d
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) December 6, 2023
Notice how she keeps invoking Jim Crow? Which party was responsible for that?
The post Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley Calls for Allowing Incarcerated Persons and 16 Year-Olds to Vote (VIDEO) | The Gateway Pundit appeared first on Harmony Evans.
TikTok trends 2023: Top viral videos this year, revealed
TikTok, love it or hate it, there’s no denying the impact of the world’s fastest-growing social media platform. As 2023 draws to a close the company has revealed the most popular trends and videos of the year in its “Year on TikTok 2023” list.
So what have TikTok’s 1.67 billion active users been watching this year? DIY, makeup routines, music, and lifehacks mainly with a sprinkling of cute animal videos (this is the internet after all).
The top trends list from the firm, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, may come with a few surprises for even the most avid TikToker. That’s because it’s a compilation of popular videos in the ‘For You’ feed – the algorithm-generated feed which suggests videos based on your viewing preferences. It means if you don’t like the aforementioned topics then you might never have been served any of these clips.
The ‘For You’ page is designed so you scroll through an endless amount of targeted videos. There is no pause between each video, you just keep swiping. It’s relentless. And that can be seriously addictive driving up the time users spend on the app.
Year on TikTok 2023: Top trends and videosUnited States
@dollievision: A makeup routine, 504 million views
@justinflom: Iron Man DIY, 418 million views
@through.the.lleaves: A huge kitten, 394 million views
@selenagomez‘s skincare routine, 229 million views
@chrishoffish: Parking garage singing, 206 million views
@thezachchoi: Food ASMR, 554 million views
@kaaaathhhhy: Unhappy French bulldog, 213 million views
@kristy.sarah: Onion cutting ‘hack’, 172 million views
@tubbynugget: Cute positivity cartoon, 102 million views
@bwpottery: Pottery blunders, 185 million views
Around the world
@seanthesheepman: Farmer and his dogs, 111 million views
@kirbyquimado: Bread roll ideas, 142 million views
@jazephua: The Capybara Song, 30 million views
@unknowndazza: Frog gets 3D printed house, 62 million views
@gabryellurlan: Birds arguing comedy skit, 81 million views
“A Year on TikTok 2023 is a way for us to honor some of the standout moments that have happened on TikTok throughout the year,” says Adam Presser, Head of Operations at TikTok.
“It’s a window into stories that have inspired, entertained, and educated over 1 billion people around the world. Thank you for another year of bringing joy to our community and sharing your creativity with us.”
Should TikTok be banned?Yes, it may seem like TikTok is a happy, fluffy place full of giant kittens, dancers, and life hacks but the company has faced serious controversy in Europe and the United States over alleged links to the Chinese state.
In 2020 the Trump administration accused Zhang of being “a mouthpiece” for the Chinese Communist Party and calls to ban TikTok due to its alleged links to the Chinese state have intensified. The state of Montana became the first in the U.S. to pass a complete ban on the app on Dec. 1. Meanwhile, in September, the European Union slapped the company with a $370 million fine for breaching privacy laws in processing children’s data.
Meanwhile, Australia, Canada and the UK have already banned the app from all government devices and India implemented a complete ban in 2020 on TikTok and other Chinese apps after it accused China of “[engaging] in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of state and public order.”
Featured Image: Eyestetix Studio on Unsplash
Sam SheddenSam Shedden is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience in online news. A seasoned technology writer and content strategist, he has contributed to many UK regional and national publications.
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