Shared posts

07 Feb 18:55

LEGO Icons Lord of the Rings Rivendell (10316) Officially Announced

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran
Malady579

gasp!

LEGO has officially revealed the highly anticipated Lord of the Rings set with the LEGO Icons Rivendell (10316). Releasing on March 5 for VIPs, the set has 6,167 pieces and will retail for $499.99/€499.99/£429.99/799.99 AUD/669.99 CAD and if you purchase it from March 5-7, you can get the LEGO BrickHeadz Frodo and Gollum (40630) for free.

The set showcases a number of scenes that were set in Rivendell such as the Council Ring, the gazebo/bridge area where the Hobbits start their journey, and Frodo’s room at the end of the saga. It also has a whopping 15 minifigures including the Fellowship of the Ring (Gandalf the Grey, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck, Peregrin “Pippin” Took, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, and Aragorn). There’s also minifigures of Elrond, Arwen, Bilbo Baggins, two additional elves, and a dwarf (Gloin).

REVEALED: LEGO ICONS THE LORD OF THE RINGS: RIVENDELL, THE ONE LEGO SET TO RULE THEM ALL

7th February 2023: The LEGO Group, in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, today announced the much-anticipated LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set, inspired by the award-winning film adaptations. This highly detailed, 6,167 piece set features the iconic Elven stronghold from Middle-earth and comes complete with 15 minifigures.

Home to the house of Elrond, Rivendell is a key location in Middle-earth and events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as the place where the Fellowship was formed and the quest to destroy the One Ring began.

The LEGO The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set

Continue

The post LEGO Icons Lord of the Rings Rivendell (10316) Officially Announced appeared first on The Brick Fan.

09 Jan 22:27

patrickredactedbrewer:OUTSTANDING NEWS for fans of...

Malady579

I love that this is the Library of Congress saying this.


photo of a cat in profile, wearing chainmail and a winged helmet, captioned "Brunnhilde"


photo of a cat facing the camera, wearing chainmail and a winged helmet, captioned "Brunnhilde"


tweet transcribed below

patrickredactedbrewer:

OUTSTANDING NEWS for fans of Brünnhilde!


[Text ID: Tweet from @LibraryOfCongress reading “One of the most beloved free-to-use photos in the Library’s collection is of Brünnhilde, for obvious reasons. We’re happy to report that 2023 comes with a freshly digitized photograph of Brünnhilde from another angle.”]

28 Jul 17:18

James Lovelock, creator of the Gaia hypothesis, RIP

by David Pescovitz

James Lovelock—creator of the Gaia theory positing that the Earth and everything on it is part of a single organism—died on Tuesday at 103-years-old. A pioneering ecologist, Lovelock's research had a significant impact on current thinking around climate change, fossil fuels, and pollution. — Read the rest

22 Jul 15:10

Ford's answer to EV supply chain hell: Cheaper batteries

by Joann Muller
Malady579

encouraging?

Automotive giant Ford is shoring up its battery supply chain — partly by importing lower-cost, iron-based batteries popular in China — as it sprints to increase electric vehicle production.

Why it matters: Employing cheaper, safer and more durable iron batteries could accelerate demand for mass-market electric vehicles (EVs), and help automakers sidestep nickel and cobalt supply problems that have been driving up EV prices.


The big picture: Carmakers' plans to shift away from gasoline-powered vehicles won't succeed unless they can secure reliable battery supplies. But with raw materials in short supply — and sourced primarily in Asia — the battery race is turning into a fierce geopolitical competition.

Driving the news: Ford said Thursday it had lined up enough batteries to meet its short-term goal of producing 600,000 EVs annually by 2023, up dramatically from the 27,140 battery-powered cars it sold in the U.S. last year.

  • The company, which is spending $50 billion to expand its EV lineup, also said it was 70% to its goal of securing enough batteries to produce 2 million EVs annually by 2026.
  • Ford announced a slew of supplier deals and partnerships — including contracts to buy raw materials directly from mining companies, as other automakers have done.

Details: One way Ford intends to meet its EV targets: adding a second type of battery chemistry to its lineup called lithium iron phosphate (LFP), alongside its existing nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) chemistry.

  • It will initially import LFP battery packs from China's Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL) for its Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning pickup, starting next year.
  • But Ford also wants to produce LFP batteries in North America, and plans to open a 40-GWh LFP cell factory by 2026. (That's in addition to three previously announced battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky.)

Between the lines: Iron and phosphorous are abundant, which is why LFP cells cost at least 30% less than today's nickel- and cobalt-based batteries, Sam Abuelsamid, principal analyst at Guidehouse Insights, explains in Forbes.

  • LFP batteries are also more durable, lasting up to 1 million miles, per CATL.
  • And they're less likely to catch fire because the chemistry is more stable.

Yes, but: LFP batteries pack 30% less energy than similarly-sized nickel-rich batteries, which translates into shorter driving range.

  • This isn't a huge issue in China because buyers there care more about price and durability than driving range.
  • But Americans, who aspire to take long road trips, want longer-range EVs capable of going 300 miles or more between charges.
  • Instead of installing a larger battery to meet their range expectations, carmakers can squeeze more LFP cells into battery packs by redesigning their module structure, per Abuelsamid.

What to watch: Tesla increasingly uses cobalt-free LFP batteries in its entry-level vehicles, and it's expected Ford and others will too.

  • Meanwhile, nickel-based batteries will be used for pricier performance cars.

What they're saying: "We know that the battery material cost is where the war will be won in the short term," said Lisa Drake, vice president of EV industrialization for Ford's Model e division.

16 Jun 13:43

10 London Videos From The BBC Archive That You Have To See

by Will Noble
Malady579

Some of these are amazing. The Nelson column one is terrifying. Bob Hoskins is the guy who played Smee in Hook and so very London. The Big Ben one taught me that there are words to Big Ben's chime. A few others were decent

Explored the BBC's online video archive? It's an absolute treasure trove of vintage vids — and there's lashings of London content. We've cherry-picked 10 right gems.  

John Noakes perched on the very top of Nelson's Column
Clammy palms. every time. Image: BBC

Big Ben drops a clanger

We all have our off days, and Big Ben's no different. In 1986, an emergency clock repair team was called out to perform emergency surgery on the London landmark, when it lost one of its chimes. And the Beeb were there, armed with a fistful of, er, timely puns.

Going for a McDonald's in Hammersmith

From Big Ben to Big Macs. In the real life version of Look Around You's legendary casserole skit, the bold and intrepid John Craven ventures to Hammersmith and orders a Big Mac (with small fries, he's not that wild), in a bid to fathom if this whole 'fast food' thing is just a fad. Seriously though, if they still served you in 25 seconds at McDonald's, we might go more often.

A trip to the Science Museum

Remember the good old days, when children were entertained for hours by an automatic door? This spiffingly polite video from 1959 sees C.L. Boltz join a gaggle of school kids in the Science Museum, and there's a magical moment when a boy records and plays back his own cockney voice: "Allo my darlin'!"

A maestro of the motorway

Alan Whicker (you know, that zany moustachioed character the Pythons created) meets a composer with a cartoonish barnet, who gets inspiration for his music from the roaring traffic on the North Circular. "Of all these songs you've written, have you had any published?" asks an incredulous Whicker. To which our motorway maestro replies chirpily: "No, not yet".

Cutty Sark sails the Thames

We're used to seeing the Cutty Sark as an over-zealous marker along the London Marathon route, but this wonderful 1951 newsreel shows the nifty tea clipper actually sailing on the Thames, on its way for an MOT in Millwall, where it's to be determined if it's shipshape enough to be permanently moored somewhere, or otherwise smashed up. They made the right decision.

John Noakes' terrifying climb up Nelson's Column

Anyone else's palms getting clammy? Admirably masking his terror beneath a weak smile and a soft Halifax accent, John Noakes proves that being a Blue Peter presenter isn't necessarily the plum job it's made out to be — as he scales the side of Nelson's Column. On a janky ladder. With no harness. When he gets near the top, and the ladder angles outward... sorry, too much sweat on the keyboard to finish this.

A remarkable woman remembers a remarkable time

This video's certainly done the rounds on social media too — a florid but incisive precis on how the advent of television revolutionised the world as we know it, from an East End woman who experienced it first hand. No disingenuous lamentations on how TV killed conversation and civility. Instead our heroine quips: "What the bleedin' hell we was talking about before television, I don't know."

Bob Hoskins gets angsty with developers

Bob Hoskins wanders around Waterloo with Barry Norman (of film/pickled onion fame), and channels his splenetic Harold Shand character, as he goes on a vindicated rant about how developers are destroying the area with their concrete high-rise 'Mars bars'. It's good to rant.

A drive-through of the 1953 coronation route

Wish you could get a Queen's-eye view of the 1953 coronation? This drive-through footage is the next best thing, taking us along the heavily-festooned route of the parade on the eve of Elizabeth II's coronation. Just a shame that they didn't upgrade to colour film, like they did for the big day itself.

And finally...

Skateboarding ducks are a longstanding trope for the 'and finally' segment of the news, so thought we'd end with this quacking video. In 1978, the Nationwide programme went to visit Croydon-based duck Herbie, who eats cornflakes, fights with dogs and bullies kids off their skateboards. Different times.

17 May 21:46

LEGO Ideas The Starry Night (21333) Officially Announced

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran
Malady579

This is am interesting idea.

LEGO has officially revealed the next LEGO Ideas set with Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night (21333). Releasing on May 25 for VIPs and The Museum of Modern Art members, the set has 2,316 pieces and will retail for $169.99/£149.99/€169.99/259.99 AUD/219.99 CAD. The build features the iconic Vincent van Gogh painting from 1889 in a 3D layout that can be displayed standing or hung on a wall. The set will also include a minifigure of Vincent van Gogh as well.

LEGO® IDEAS THE STARRY NIGHT SET – PRESS RELEASE

REIMAGINE VINCENT VAN GOGH’S ICONIC PAINTING WITH THE NEW LEGO IDEAS STARRY NIGHT SET

17th May, 2022: In tribute to Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting, the LEGO Group has revealed the LEGO® Ideas The Starry Night set. This beautiful set was designed by Truman Cheng, a 25-year old Hong Kong based LEGO fan, through a submission on the LEGO Ideas platform, and has been created in conjunction with The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The three-dimensional set reimagines Vincent van Gogh’s renowned 1889 painting in LEGO form, with strong emphasis on the artist’s striking brush strokes and colour choice. Inspired by the view from his window at the Monastery of Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy, France, where the artist spent twelve months, The Starry Night is one of the world’s most well-known post-impressionist works and has been a visitor favourite at MoMA since it first arrived in 1935.

Art lovers can swap paint palettes for LEGO bricks and re-create one of the world’s

Continue

The post LEGO Ideas The Starry Night (21333) Officially Announced appeared first on The Brick Fan.

08 Oct 13:14

Spain wants to pay 20-somethings nearly $300/month to move out of their parents' homes

by Annie Rauwerda

If a proposal passes, Spanish Millenials may finally get the opportunity to move out of their childhood bedrooms. A housing bill announced on Tuesday includes a program to pay young people aged 18-35 €250 per month ($290 USD) to move into their own place. — Read the rest

06 Oct 01:37

LEGO Ideas Clockwork Solar System Achieves 10,000 Supporters

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

The Clockwork Solar System by ChrisOrchard is the latest project to achieve 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas. The 3,000 piece build is a fully functional clock that shows the orbits of various planets with the timing over 99.8% accurate to other planets.

The project now joins Land Ahoy, Terrariums, Great Coral Reef, Hyrule Castle 30th Anniversary, and Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Avatar Returns as the ones to reach the Third 2021 Review Stage.

The post LEGO Ideas Clockwork Solar System Achieves 10,000 Supporters appeared first on The Brick Fan.

05 Aug 14:02

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons Collectors’ Edition (76391) Officially Announced

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran
Malady579

Ooo, I might need this.

LEGO has officially announced its next LEGO Harry Potter exclusive set with the Hogwarts Icons Collectors’ Edition (76391). Releasing on September 2, the set has 3,010 pieces and will retail for $249.99.

The set features Hedwig as the centerpiece but it also includes a number of other Hogwarts related items including Harry’s glasses and wand, a chocolate frog, Tom Riddle’s diary, the Golden Snitch, a school scarf, and a potions tray with five potions such as Asphdel, Gillyweed, Polyjuice Potion, Infusion of Wormwood, and Felix Felicis. Also in the set are three exclusive golden minifigures of Albus Dumbledore, Minerva McGonagall and Rubeus Hagrid with a stand featuring the chocolate frog card box. Finally, there’s a Hogwarts acceptance letter from Professor McGonagall.

LEGO HARRY POTTER HOGWARTS ICONS COLLECTORS’ EDITION CELEBRATES TWO DECADES OF WIZARDING WORLD LEGO MAGIC

The LEGO Group is celebrating 20 years of LEGO Harry Potter with the reveal of the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons Collectors’ Edition, an intricate display model and a perfect homage to the fan-favourite Wizarding World.

The detailed new set follows the adventures of Harry Potter and his friends, capturing some of the most iconic characters and moments in one, single stunning model. The set also includes several famous artifacts found in the Wizarding World over the last two decades.

Sitting proudly at the centre of the set is Harry’s loyal owl, Hedwig, clutching the infamous Hogwarts letter. Fans will also find Harry’s wand and glasses, a chocolate frog, a potions tray including five potion bottles and ingredients, as well

Continue

The post LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Icons Collectors’ Edition (76391) Officially Announced appeared first on The Brick Fan.

16 Jul 15:51

Watch: Maskless man pushed off a train by passengers

by Carla Sinclair
Malady579

in Spain

Anti-maskers in Spain beware – using public transportation without a mask will get you nowhere. Not with passengers like the one on the train below, who didn't put up with any guff from a man who thought he could bend the country's mask rules by riding a train without a face covering. — Read the rest

23 Feb 16:52

LEGO Ideas A Map of Middle-Earth Achieves 10,000 Supporters

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran
22 Feb 16:35

Mariachi band brings Mexico to Ted Cruz's home

by Rusty Blazenhoff
Malady579

This is brilliant.

Ted Cruz's vacation to Mexico was cut short, so Mexico was brought to his Houston home on Sunday afternoon in the form of a live mariachi band. A big chef's kiss to the folks behind this brilliant stunt!

Their statement:

We are concerned patriots who felt terrible that Ted had to cancel the vacation that he so richly deserved, so we wanted to show him how much he is loved.

Read the rest
22 Feb 14:40

Why Does Your Cat Sleep At Your Feet?

by sodiumnami
Malady579

awwwwww

The reason is more endearing than you’d believe! Erin Askeland, Animal Health and Behavior Consultant for Camp Bow Wow shared with Popsugar that there are different reasons as to why cats would choose to lie at the edge of the bed or on their owners’ feet. The reasons are based on instinct, such as for security and safety purposes. When a cat goes to sleep, Askeland answers, they are aware of their vulnerability, so they would prefer to sleep at the foot of the bed for security: 

"The foot of the bed also provides a quicker escape, which is part of a cat's instincts, whereas at the head of the bed or even within the blankets, that escape route is not as clear. Often the foot of a bed is semi-centered in a room, so it not only gives the cat a perch and view from higher up, [and a] comfy place to sprawl, but also the ability to move in any direction quickly as needed."

Another reason as to why these feline creatures would decide to sleep at their owner’s feet is both sweet and honestly, self-serving: 

"While cats may be independent creatures, they are keen on who provides for them and are still quite social. They are aware of who puts down their food, water, and treats, who plays with them, and who gives them attention, so they will seek out that person (or persons) to be near and offer affection in return, or appease you so you continue providing for them," she said, which I thought was a sweet — though appropriately self-serving — notion.
However, Erin completely brought me back to earth with her last note, which for sure tracks: "Cats may also use you simply for your heat! This may be why some cats will move to your head or body during the night and then return to the foot of the bed. As your own body's temperature changes, your cat may move to warmer (or cooler) spots depending on their own needs."

Image via Popsugar 

18 Feb 19:07

History's Most Thrilling (and Dangerous) Piece of Playground Equipment

by Miss Cellania
Malady579

I love this story. It was the best! My friend lost a leg, but it was so much fun!

The playground staple known as the giant stride rose in popularity with playgrounds themselves around the turn of the 20th century. It was simply a sturdy pole with a wheel on top, from which hung ropes or chains for children to grab and ride. It was called the giant stride because the centripetal force of the circle allowed a child to take giant strides in their steps.   

It was the most thrilling thing that had ever existed on a playground, before or since. In the words of Canadian history writer Anita May Draper, “those who’ve taken a spin on this ride agree it’s the most exciting one of all.” Denver Post columnist Jack Kisling once eulogized the apparatus as “mad fun.” When Iowa’s Quad-City Times canvassed its older readers for memories of the thing in 1991, they received a torrent of positive mail, with one woman even citing it as evidence that growing up during the Great Depression was “more fun.”

But it came at a ghastly cost: cracked skulls, shattered limbs, horrific lacerations and dead or permanently maimed children. In an age of radium toothpaste, lead-paint baby toys and decorating Christmas trees with asbestos, even this pleasure was deemed too dangerous for the world’s children. This is the forgotten story of the giant stride, the most notorious piece of playground equipment in history.

The effort to remove giant strides from playgrounds began in the 1920s, but the structures lingered on for decades here and there. Read about the hazardous giant stride at the National Post. -via Fark

(Image source: Library of Congress)

17 Feb 19:13

Watch this husky's hilarious reaction when told to come inside

by Carla Sinclair

Huskies are known to be stubborn when told to come inside on a nice (as in cold) snowy day, but this dog actually argues – like a young child. He whines, with as close to a "noooooo!" as he can get, and even shakes his head back and forth. — Read the rest

13 Dec 02:40

Decorate Your Office With a Periodic Table of LEGO Colors

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

A few of you have messaged in about a neat item from We Love What You Build called the Periodic Table of the LEGO Colors. Featuring 70 different colors in 12 different pieces, the table also tells you the official LEGO names of the colors as well as the BrickLink names and ID. In addition, it also tells you when each particular color was used. It sells for $39.99 and its measurements are 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.6 in / 40 x 30 x 1.5 cm.

23 Nov 14:32

LEGO Botanical Collection 2021 Sets Revealed

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran
Malady579

how cool

LEGO will have a brand new theme for the 18+ line with the Botanical Collection and we have some official images of two sets coming out of Polish shop Bonito. These two sets will focus on the adult builders some realistic plant builds.


Flower Bouquet (10280) – 756 pieces


Bonsai Tree (10281) – 878 pieces

The post LEGO Botanical Collection 2021 Sets Revealed appeared first on The Brick Fan.

02 Nov 23:40

Hot New Electric Cars That Are Coming Soon

by Benjamin Preston

Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

The coronavirus pandemic has slowed auto development and production, but manufacturers’ plans to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) continue unabated. A record number of almost 100 pure electric EV models are set to debut by the end of 2024.

On the menu are cars, and an increasing number of SUVs and pickups, along with a broader array of plug-in hybrid models, which can run on mostly electric power for stretch before a gasoline engine kicks in and operates the vehicle more like a traditional hybrid.

The rollout of new EV and plug-in hybrid models across different segments is good news for consumers looking for an alternative-fuel vehicle that will fit their needs.

Here’s a rundown of some of the models that are most worth watching over the next couple of years. The list is alphabetical by automaker. Prices are estimates in most cases. 

Audi Q4 E-Tron

Audi will expand the E-Tron nameplate later this year with the Q4 E-Tron. A close relative of the Volkswagen ID.4, Audi’s compact electric SUV will be built on the Volkswagen MEB modular electric vehicle platform. Based on its size, the Q4 E-Tron will compete with the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Volvo XC40 Recharge. Audi has not yet announced the Q4 E-Tron’s driving range, which is the distance a vehicle can go between charges or fueling. The current range estimate for the Q4 E-Tron is 280 miles, but it is based on EU test standards, which are more optimistic than the U.S. ones. That is considerably less than the Model Y.
Cost: $45,000
On sale: Late 2021

Audi E-Tron GT

Audi's new flagship, the E-Tron GT, shares the electric vehicle architecture that underpins the Porsche Taycan, an EV that also falls under the aegis of Volkswagen Group, one of the world's largest automakers. The E-Tron GT features a layout and electric powertrain similar to the Taycan, but the styling and infotainment system are distinctively Audi. All E-Tron GT models will feature all-wheel drive. In performance-oriented RS trim, combined output from the front and rear motors is 637-horsepower, which Audi says is capable of launching the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph. EPA range estimates are not yet available for the E-Tron GT, but Audi's estimates are 238 miles for the base model and 231 miles for the RS.
Cost: $99,900
On sale: Summer 2021

BMW i4

The new BMW i4 is a conventional-looking EV that broadens the appeal of BMW’s electric offerings. There are two versions available. The eDrive40, with 335 hp and rear-wheel drive, is estimated to have a range of 300 miles. The all-wheel drive M50 with a maximum of 536 hp promises sports-car performance and 0-to-60-mph acceleration in under 4 seconds, but a lower range of 245 miles. It’s probably no coincidence that those acceleration numbers are similar to Tesla’s Model 3, a rival. With high-power 200-kW DC charging, available only in public venues, the i4 can gain up to 90 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Standard active safety systems include FCW, AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection, LDW, and LKA.
Cost: $55,000-$66,000
On sale: Early 2022

Learn more about the BMW i4.

BMW iX

The iX is BMW’s new electric flagship SUV. Designed from scratch and a showcase for the automaker’s latest tech, it’s nothing like any BMW we’ve seen before considering its massive grille, squared-off steering wheel, and wraparound floating touch screen. According to BMW, the iX will have 500 hp and employ two motors to give it AWD capability, and it will sprint from 0-62 mph in under 5 seconds. Range is claimed to be 300 miles, and it can add 75 miles of charge in 10 minutes of DC fast charging. Charging from empty on 240 volt will take 11 hours, which is par for the course.
Cost: $80,000-$100,000 EST
On sale: Early 2022

Cadillac Lyriq

The Cadillac Lyriq showcases next-generation styling for the brand and introduces a new modular electric platform. It is roughly the length and width of the Cadillac XT6 SUV. However, the Lyriq has a much different profile, being 6 inches lower in height and riding on a 9-inch-longer wheelbase. The dominant feature in the cabin is a curved 33-inch LED display that stretches from the instrument panel all the way to where the infotainment screen is traditionally placed. This builds on the presentation found in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade, which has a 38-inch curved OLED display. The initial Lyriq is a 340-hp, rear-drive model with a 100-kWh battery—a combination that the automaker estimates is good for at least 300 miles of range. Production starts in early 2022 at the Spring Hill, Tenn., facility. GM has pledged a $2 billion investment in that factory to support electric vehicle production. In addition, the company is spending $2.3 billion on a new battery manufacturing plant in the same town, as part of a joint effort with LG Energy Solution.
Cost: $59,990
On sale: Early 2023

Learn more about the Cadillac Lyriq.

Chevrolet Bolt EUV

The Bolt EUV, a new small front-wheel-drive SUV, is built on the same platform as the freshened 2022 Bolt EV. It features clean and uncluttered styling. The EUV is more than 6 inches longer than the hatchback model, has a longer wheelbase, and more legroom for rear passengers. Both the Bolt EV and EUV share the same 200-hp electric motor that drives the front wheels. EPA range estimate for the EUV is 247 miles on a full charge. The instrument panel features a multicolor instrument display and a large center stack touch screen, along with a smattering of buttons and switches. Active safety features including FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a following distance indicator come standard. Super Cruise, the driver assist technology that allows hands-free driving as long as the driver pays attention to the road ahead, is available.
Cost: $33,995-$43,495
On sale: Summer 2021

Learn more about the Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV.

Ford F-150 Lightning

The Lightning name returns on an electrified F-150 crewcab truck with prodigious power and strong work capabilities. On sale in spring 2022, this pickup is offered in two power configurations, with 426  and 563 hp. The standard-range battery promises 230 miles of range, and the extended-range battery is projected to provide up to 300 miles. Among the benefits for going electric is a large front trunk that can hold two sets of golf clubs. Further, the F-150 Lightning boasts up to a 2,000-pound payload capacity (standard range) and 10,000-pound tow capacity (extended range). Power plugs in the “frunk” and bed add to the truck’s versatility. And familiar innovations carry over from the regular F-150, such as foldaway gear selector and deeply reclining seats. The Ford Co-Pilot 360 2.0 suite is standard, with FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, BSW, lane keeping assist, parking obstruction warning, and rear automatic braking.
Cost: $40,000-$90,000
On sale: Spring 2022

Learn more about the Ford F-150 Lightning.

Genesis GV60

Genesis has unveiled its first electric vehicle, based off a platform shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. Details will be released as its production date draws closer. 

On sale: 2022

GMC Hummer EV

The Hummer badge was once antithetical to alternative fuels, representing hulking, gas-guzzling SUVs inspired by military vehicles. But the all-new, electric Hummer EV SUV and pickup truck promise to be both green and off-road ready, with gratuitous power and sports-car-quick acceleration. The nameplate's revival is led by the five-seat, four-door pickup truck. Its 5-foot pickup bed features a power tonneau cover and multifunction tailgate. Both vehicles have removable glass roof panels to create an open-air driving experience. Among their tricks are the ability to "crab walk," or move diagonally; up to 18 cameras for negotiating trails; and available Super Cruise driver assistance. The Hummer EV pickup truck launches in 2022 with the pricey, full-featured Edition 1 boasting 1,000 hp and promising 350+ miles of range. The SUV follows a year later, with top output being about 830 hp. Over the following two years, other less expensive versions of each will be offered with reduced power and range.
Cost: $79,995 to $112,595
On sale: Early 2022

Learn more about the GMC Hummer EV.

Kia EV6

The Kia EV6 is the brand’s first car designed from the ground up to be electric. Sized like a Ford Mustang Mach-E, the EV6 crossover promises to be the first in a series of upcoming EV models. The EV6 will be offered in a number of powertrain configurations, with rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, and several motor combinations. Acceleration is said to be as swift as 3.5 seconds 0 to 60 mph. The EV6 is compatible with 400- and 800-volt fast charging stations in public places, enabling the car to go from 10 to 80 percent charge in 18 minutes. A neat feature: The EV6 is capable of powering other equipment or serving as an emergency power source for your home. A comprehensive suite of active safety features, including FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, BSW, RCTW, lane keeping assistance, and a driver attention monitor, will be offered.
Cost: $45,000-$55,000
On sale: Late 2021

Lucid Air

A large, sleek, all-wheel-drive sedan designed to compete with ultraluxury models such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Tesla Model S, the Lucid Air will eventually be available in a few formats. The first to arrive will be the most expensive one—a 1,080-hp dual-motor sedan with a $169,000 price. Less powerful versions will arrive later, including a 800-hp dual-motor model and a couple of single-motor models with either 480 or 620 hp. The car, its batteries, and the 900-volt electric architecture were engineered in-house, and have already been tested and proved on Formula E cars. Lucid says the base model will have more than 400 miles of range, with a proprietary charging system that makes it possible to add 300 miles of range in 20 minutes using a DC fast charger. An SUV based on the Air is expected to follow.
Cost: $77,400 to $170,000
On sale: Late 2021

Learn more about the Lucid Air.

Nissan Ariya

The Ariya will be Nissan’s first electric SUV when it goes on sale in the U.S. in late 2021. The compact SUV has a starting price around $40,000. There will be standard- and long-range battery versions and a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Front-drive versions make 215 hp, with the dual-motor AWD models producing 389 hp. The front-wheel-drive model equipped with the long-range battery will have an estimated driving range of up to 300 miles. The cabin has a large, horizontal display screen that serves as both the instrument cluster and the infotainment system. The Ariya will have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Standard driver assistance features include FCW, AEB with pedestrian detection, BSW, RCTW, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams.
Cost: $40,000 to $50,000
On sale: Late 2021

Learn more about the Nissan Ariya.

Porsche Macan EV

The Macan was Porsche’s entrée into the popular compact SUV segment and quickly proved to be a best-seller. A battery electric version will accompany its gasoline-powered counterpart, albeit on a different, EV-specific platform co-developed by Audi and Porsche. The Macan EV will use the same 800-volt electric architecture that’s now in the Taycan electric sedan. (Current Macan GTS shown.)
Cost: $75,000
On sale: 2022

Rivian R1T and R1S

The R1T is an all-electric pickup scheduled to beat Tesla’s Cybertruck to the market by two years. It has a promised range of up to 400 miles, up to 750 hp, and 11,000 pounds of towing capacity. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is claimed to be 3 seconds. It also has a transverse tunnel between the bed and the cab for storage. The R1S is a three-row luxury SUV version. Rivian is the rare tech startup that has attracted heavy-duty investors, including Amazon, Ford, and Cox Automotive. Unlike other EV companies that have faded like vaporware, Rivian may have the ability to sop up some of the pent-up demand for an electric pickup while Tesla is still developing its Cybertruck concept.
Cost: $67,500 to $77,500
On sale: June 2021 (R1T) and August 2021 (R1S)

Learn more about the Rivian R1T and R1S.

Subaru Solterra

Subaru has announced its entrance into the EV market in 2022 with an all-electric SUV called the Solterra. Subaru faithful have been waiting with bated breath for news of the automaker’s plans to go electric as other automakers, one after another, have signaled their intent. Details are scant—mirroring other automakers’ announcements of upcoming EVs—but Subaru said the Solterra was developed as part of a joint venture between itself and Toyota, and will be built in Japan and China on Toyota’s new dedicated all-electric vehicle platform, known as e-TNGA. Subaru calls it the e-Subaru platform.

Learn more about the Subaru Solterra.

 

Tesla Cybertruck

The Tesla Cybertruck is an upcoming all-electric pickup. Aside from its one-of-a-kind angular experiment of a truck, the design replaces the traditional truck frame with a hard stainless steel "exoskeleton," similar to airplane design, and extra-strong glass for the windows. Tesla announced a base price of under $40,000, but we would take that with a grain of salt, based on the company's record of frequent price hikes. The truck will come in three variations, with battery ranges of 250, 350, and 500 miles. The top-end version promises acceleration of 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds, combined with the ability to tow 14,000 pounds. The prototype is expected to evolve, and decrease in size slightly.
Price: $39,900-$69,900
On sale: Available for preorder now. Delivery estimated to be late 2022 at the earliest.

Learn more about the Tesla Cybertruck.

Toyota bZ4X

Toyota said in April 2021 that it is developing an SUV in partnership with Subaru based on a new dedicated all-electric vehicle platform, known as e-TNGA. Dubbed bZ4X, the new EV will incorporate Subaru’s deep experience developing all-wheel-drive systems. Toyota says the bZ4X will fall under its Toyota bZ—“beyond zero,” a reference to zero emissions—brand umbrella, which includes six other bZ models to be introduced by 2025. Both automakers are withholding further details on their upcoming SUVs until closer to production. 

Volvo C40 Recharge

Based on the XC40 SUV, the C40 Recharge combines the ride height of an SUV with just the cargo space of a hatchback car. In addition to the scrunched rear roofline, Volvo says the C40 is “lower and sleeker” than the XC40 recharge. The C40 also has a slightly different front end, a totally new rear view, and a leather-free interior. Like the XC40 Recharge and the Polestar 2 model with long range and all-wheel drive, the C40 will have a dual-motor setup and 78-kWh battery, and an estimated range over 200 miles.
Price: $58,750
On sale: Fall 2021

Learn more about the Volvo C40 Recharge

Electric Cars 101

Electric cars are bringing some of the biggest changes the auto industry has seen in years. On the “Consumer 101” TV show, Consumer Reports expert Jake Fisher explains to host Jack Rico why these vehicles might not be as newfangled as you think.

Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.

02 Sep 11:20

Watch this unbelievable shot at the indoor bowls championships

by Andrea James
Malady579

Click the "skip to the money shot" if you don't want to watch the first three minutes, but it's amazing.

Nick Brett somehow managed to thread the needle in this brilliant shot from the last indoor Bowls championship in Paris. The red team had effectively blocked him from a shot that would hit the yellow jack in the center. It's worth watching the relaxing first three minutes for context, but if you want to skip to the money shot, it's here.

To understand how difficult this is, he rolled his bowl between the two red bowls furthest left in the cluster below, hitting the small yellow jack without touching either red bowl.

Image: YouTube / Canadian Bowler

01 Sep 21:16

How to defend genocidal dictators, serial killers, and other evil people with conservative FACTS and LOGIC

by Thom Dunn

Australian comedian Greg Larsen posted a challenge on Twitter: give him the name of someone who is universally agreed upon to be evil, and he'll figure out how Fox News or Ben Shapiro or any other Right Wing pundit would defend them.

The results are bleakly hilarious, if not painfully accurate. Here are a few of my favorites:

27 Aug 17:09

Painting one wind turbine blade black reduced bird deaths by over 70%

by Andrea James

A 9-year test in Norway found that painting just one wind turbine blade black can decrease birds deaths by about 72%. Via Ars Technica:

At the Smøla wind farm, regular checks of four particular wind turbines—each 70m tall with three 40m-long blades—found six white-tailed eagle carcasses between 2006 and 2013. In total, the four turbines killed 18 birds that flew into the blades over those six years, along with five willow ptarmigans that are known to collide with the turbine towers rather than the blades. (Another four turbines selected as a control group were responsible for seven bird deaths, excluding willow ptarmigans, over the same timeframe.)

And so, in 2013, each of the four turbines in the test group had a single blade painted black. In the three years that followed, only six birds were found dead due to striking their turbine blades. By comparison, 18 bird deaths were recorded by the four control wind turbines—a 71.9-percent reduction in the annual fatality rate.

Image: Pixabay

19 Aug 12:57

Company makes beautiful RPG miniatures of characters in wheel chairs

by Gareth Branwyn

As someone who spent years needing the assistance of a wheel chair, seeing these miniatures made me very happy. It's wonderful to think of special needs kids (and adults) being able to see characters they can relate to, whether they choose to roleplay that way or not. I love the attention to detail in the designs of the wheel chairs.

The minis are available as downloadable STL files for 3D printing or as resin/metal casts. 25% of the sales of these minis goes to support work with the physically challenged.

H/t Richard Gould

Images: Product photography

14 Aug 20:13

Lack Rack: Ikea's cheapest table is perfectly sized to rackmount computers

by Rob Beschizza

I recently saw a Lack Rack—an inexpensive Ikea Lack table put to use rackmounting servers—and now I keep running into them. Pictured above is Paul Curry's £5 example, replete with vinyl wood texture.

They need little explanation: Ikea makes a cheap little table whose legs are exactly 19" wide and (barely) sturdy enough to accept screws and the weight of most rackmount equipment. (I wouldn't chance a loaded Apple Rac in it). Here's an orphaned photo posted to reddit featuring a typical example:

Eth0 entertains a specification and offers a fantastic IKEA-style manial for the Lack Rack. The most notable recommendation: use cavity screws to increase the load-bearing strength of the mostly-hollow legs if you're putting in machines more than 5cm down from the tabletop.

Its low-cost and perfect fit are great for mounting up to 8 U of 19" hardware, such as switches (see below), or perhaps other 19" gear. It's very easy to assemble, and thanks to the design, they are stable enough to hold (for example) 19" switches and you can put your bottle of Club-Mate on top! Multi-shiny LackRack can also be painted to your specific preferences and the airflow is unprecedented!

And of course the tabletop is perfect for placing a monitor or laptop, like the one in Frank Denneman's lab:

A little finish goes a long way:


Things sometimes get quite out of hand.

24 Jul 15:45

This electromagnetic light might be the coolest home or office light you'll ever own

by Boing Boing's Shop
Malady579

this is fun

If you’re a regular visitor to Boing Boing, chances are you’re into cool stuff. So when you’re looking to pick up something fairly generic like a toaster oven or a clock or a lamp, you’re probably also looking for something that brings with it a little personality, a little pizzazz, and a little personal style that signals you as its owner are not cut from the ordinary cloth.

So if you’re looking for cool and off the beaten path, there’s no excuse for not taking a serious look at the Marangoni Electromagnetic Light. Because... damn, this thing is cool.

This lamp can sit in your office, hallway, bedroom, or other space and look entirely at home...because it doesn’t even look like a lamp. It doesn’t even have an on or off switch. Point it out to a visitor and they might be hard-pressed to tell you what it is beyond a piece of trippy home or office decor.

But the trick is when this sleek, modern design gets a touch of electromagnetism thrown in. The lamp features two magnetic spheres positioned at opposite ends. When the two spheres are moved close enough together for their magnetic properties to kick in, the spheres lock together, and the LED light ring springs to life. To turn the light back off, all you have to do is break the connection.

The LED bulbs are virtually invisible, casually positioned inside the lamp’s frame, so rather than a harsh blast of light, you get a warm, more subtle, indirect light that casts an off-kilter vibe to any room. From a soft glow to a burst, you can switch between six different temperature levels from 3000K to 6000K to strike just the light volume you want.

The entire piece is run by a built-in 1500mAh rechargeable battery, so even if it isn’t plugged into an AC outlet, it can still shine on for hours.

An instant conversation piece, you can pick up a Marangoni Electromagnetic Light now for over 10 percent off its regular price, just $79.95.

Prices are subject to change.

Do you have your stay-at-home essentials? Here are some you may have missed.

 

Marangoni Electromagnetic Light - $79.95

Style up your home for $79.95
20 Jul 14:12

The government in Barcelona is seizing empty apartments from landlords who won't rent them out

by Thom Dunn
Malady579

Does only Barcelona do this?

The Bloomberg CityLab reports:

Barcelona is deploying a new weapon in its quest to increase the city’s available rental housing: the power to force the sale of empty properties.

This week, the city’s housing department wrote to 14 companies that collectively own 194 empty apartments, warning that if they haven’t found a tenant within the next month, the city could take possession of these properties, with compensation at half their market value. These units would then be rented out by the city as public housing to lower-income tenants, while the companies in question could also face possible fines of between €90,000 and €900,000 ($103,000 and $1,003,000), according to Spanish news outlets.

It's actually been legal since 2016 for municipalities in Catalonia to take over properties that have been vacant more than two years. There is obviously an eminent domain argument to be had here; but there's also the argument about greedy landlords hoarding property and artificially inflating property values for everyone even as they write off their vacant units as business losses, thus leading to even more profits in the long run. (I don't know enough about Spanish or Catalonian tax structures, but it can work that way in the United States.)

Barcelona’s Latest Affordable Housing Tool: Seize Empty Apartments [Feargus O'Sullivan / Bloomberg City Lab]

Image: Todd Dominey / Wikimedia Commons (CC 3.0)

17 Jul 20:41

This is the deepest hole we've ever dug

by David Pescovitz
Malady579

know of this?

Starting in 1970, Soviet scientists began drilling into the Earth as far as they could possibly go. The project ended in 1992 at 12,262 meters due to temperatures of 356 °F that far down into the Earth's crust. The Kola Superdeep Borehole remains the deepest artificial hole on Earth.

17 Jul 11:56

Henry Cavill filmed himself as he built a gaming PC: nerdy-hot or nope?

by Kaiser
Malady579

I can't believe I watched the whole video, but he was geeky cute about it. I don't quite get what all he did, but he seems to be rather smart about it all. Is this hard to do?

Oscar® nominee, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost arrive on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at...

Whenever I’ve had to set up a new laptop over the past decade, I inevitably have to call CB to talk me through something or other. I’m not completely helpless, but I’m not the most tech-savvy person and I’m okay with that. I could never build a gaming PC, or put one together. I would cry. Then again, I’m not a gamer so it’s not like I would ever need to put one together! Henry Cavill, on the other hand, is a major gamer. He’s been a serious gamer for many, many years. The ladies may come and go but the gamer life stays. So obviously, Cavill spent a day in lockdown putting together his own gaming PC, and he made a little video of his journey. This seemed to take the better part of two days.

It’s so nerdy! There was a lot of talk about those dreadful curtains – I don’t understand if Cavill is in England (where his family lives, and where I think he has a home) or in LA, where I know he has a home? If he’s in England, the curtains make sense, because that’s the vibe of the decor – English country home, with muddy rose paint and chintz and floral curtains. If this is LA, the decor makes no sense (unless Cavill let his grandma decorate his LA pad). As for the tank top, the sweat and the meaty man… it’s nice. I could definitely see curling up with a mocha frappe and calling out inane suggestions at Henry as he grew more and more annoyed with me for breaking his concentration. Something I do appreciate: he really studied the f–k out of those directions. Most men don’t.

THE WORLD PREMIERE OFTHE WITCHER

Photos courtesy of WENN.
Oscar® nominee, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost arrive on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at... Oscar® nominee, Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost arrive on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at... The World Premiere of 'The Witcher' held at the Vue Leicester Square - Arrivals THE WORLD PREMIERE OFTHE WITCHER

06 Jul 18:04

LEGO Ideas Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Achieves 10,000 Supporters

by Allen "Tormentalous" Tran

Terry Pratchett’s Discworld by BrickHammer is the latest project to achieve 10,000 supporters on LEGO Ideas. The set is based on comic fantasy series that is set on a flat planet balanced on backs of four elephants which stand on the back of a giant turtle. The build itself contains about 2,650 pieces.

It now joins The Mountain Windmill, Community – Greendale Community College, LEGO HeroQuest, Brickwest Studios, House from Up, Animal Crossing New Horizons: Nook’s Cranny, Trabant 601, Night at the Museum, Fast Food Corner, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Portal 2 – GLaDOS vs Chell and Wheatley, BMW M1 (E26), Caribbean Clipper, Sheriff’s Safe with Combination Lock, 31 Minutos T.V. Studio, and Southwest 737-800 as the projects to reach the Second 2020 Review Stage.

The post LEGO Ideas Terry Pratchett’s Discworld Achieves 10,000 Supporters appeared first on The Brick Fan.

06 Jul 12:48

Few Covid Meme’s to get your week started

by TRACEY COYLE

This weekend I got to enjoy fireworks out my window.  Which is the same every night, only this weekend it made sense so that was a little different.    The closest I got to a boardwalk was watching a clusterfuck of people mosey down the boards in Seaside Heights, NJ on Earthcam.  I’ve never been happier not be at the shore.

And now we start our work week again. Or whatever strange version of work you do now. Be safe and for obama’s sake, wear a mask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Few Covid Meme’s to get your week started appeared first on Today's Evil Beet Gossip.

26 Jun 18:35

phoenixonwheels:It would be a real shame if instead of being covered by paint, which can be removed,...

phoenixonwheels:

It would be a real shame if instead of being covered by paint, which can be removed, bronze statues of racists were to come into contact with saltwater or tomatoes and be destroyed by irreversible bronze disease.