Ford Motor Company’s $19.5 Billion EV Bust

Technology, What's Up With That?

What’s Up With That?

In the news . . .

From the Wall Street Journal (Dec 15 2025):

Ford Motor said Monday it expected to take about $19.5 billion in charges, mainly tied to its electric-vehicle business, a massive hit as the automaker retrenches in the face of sinking EV demand.

Ford, which has lost $13 billion on its EV business since 2023, said it would bolster its lineup of gas-powered vehicles while shifting to hybrid and so-called extended-range electric vehicles that include onboard gasoline engines. 

I warned my readers 3 years ago.

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I added an Astrophotography Image Gallery to PopUpBackpacker

Astrophotography, Camping

Given that astrophotography is something I do on most of our camping trips and that many astrophotographers go camping, I decided to add an Astrophotography Image Gallery of my deep sky pictures to PopUpBackpacker.

One great thing about this gallery is I can upload high resolution images that are normally too large to email, text, or even post on the internet. Plus I think they can be downloaded (I haven’t tried).

In addition to the link above, you can also reach the gallery via the Menu Bar

Montbell EX Light Down Jacket & Vest: Long Term Review

Backpacking Gear, , ,

Back in 2008 I bought these two garments. A Montbell EX Light Down Jacket and a Montbell EX Light Down Vest. They are identical pieces although one has sleeves and the other doesn’t.

At the time they were probably the lightest down garments on the planet — truly minimalist — all of which doesn’t tell us much at all.

Today, 18 years later, the Montbell jacket is still my “go to” insulation for most backpacking trips, followed by the vest. Neither item is still sold by Montbell. In this article I will explain why these pieces of gear have remained my favorites and also share similar garments that Montbell sells today.

Continue reading Montbell EX Light Down Jacket & Vest: Long Term Review →