Insane 2023 Stock Market Surge!

Daily Upsider on January 4, 2024

In 2023, the stock market experienced a remarkable year, with the S&P 500 surging by 24%, marking its best performance since 2020. This success was largely driven by the tech and AI sectors, which saw significant growth and contributed to the overall market’s strength.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average also had a strong year, gaining 14%, and even setting multiple record highs in the last few trading sessions of the year. Meanwhile, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index outperformed both the S&P 500 and Dow, with a remarkable 43% gain in 2023.

Despite a challenging year for some individual stocks, such as Meta, Tesla, and Amazon, these companies still managed to make substantial gains. In fact, the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks – Nvidia, Meta, Tesla, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Apple – all experienced significant growth, with Nvidia leading the pack with a 239% increase!

Meanwhile, the vast majority of the media loved to drive recession fears all year…

World’s Top New Electricity Source by 2025

Daily Upsider on January 4, 2024

The International Energy Agency’s latest Electricity Market Report 2023 brings news of a significant change in the global energy landscape. Projections indicate that 90% of the new upcoming demand for electricity, from now until 2025, will be met by clean energy sources like wind, solar, and nuclear power.

This shift is also expected to make renewables the dominant global electricity source within the next three years, accounting for 35% of the world’s electricity and surpassing coal. The report highlights the desire for increasing sustainable energy solutions. The future seems geared towards renewables taking a leading role in meeting the world’s growing electricity needs.

All-Terrain Wheelchairs

Daily Upsider on January 4, 2024

The All Terrain Georgia initiative, driven by the motto “Everyone deserves a chance to play,” provides free all-terrain wheelchairs at select Georgia parks for individuals facing physical challenges. These robust, motorized wheelchairs, resembling off-road vehicles with large, sturdy wheels, play a practical role in improving access to outdoor spaces.

In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Aimee Copeland Foundation, founded by Aimee Copeland—an integrative therapist and outdoor enthusiast who faced a life-changing accident resulting in amputations, established her foundation to promote healing for people of all abilities by creating accessible outdoor environments.

These all-terrain wheelchairs are specifically engineered to navigate rough, wet, sandy, or snowy terrains, enabling individuals who may struggle with traditional wheelchairs to explore trails safely. Given that 11.1% of U.S. adults have a mobility disability, and only a limited percentage of national park trails are wheelchair-friendly, the initiative addresses a significant need.

The all-terrain wheelchairs can be expensive, costing between $13,000 to nearly $30,000. Luckily, All Terrain Georgia offers free wheelchair usage to eligible individuals who meet requirements, get certified, make reservations, and have a buddy for assistance at participating state parks in Georgia.

Melanie Dunn, a double amputee and the assistant director of the Aimee Copeland Foundation, stresses the practical impact of experiencing nature. The initiative aims to help individuals with mobility impairments feel a sense of normalcy, connected to friends and family while enjoying outdoor activities like fishing or picnicking at Georgia State Parks.

Looking ahead, the foundation plans to extend its reach by moving the all-terrain wheelchairs to other parks within the Georgia Department of Natural Resources System.

NFL Shake-Up

Daily Upsider on January 3, 2024

As the NFL regular season comes to a close, the power rankings have seen a significant shake-up in Week 18. The Baltimore Ravens have overtaken the top spot after a convincing win against the San Francisco 49ers, while the Kansas City Chiefs have dropped a few spots following a disappointing loss. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins have slipped down the rankings as the playoffs approach.

The Dallas Cowboys have replaced the Philadelphia Eagles in the top five, with both teams looking to secure their playoff spots in the final week of the regular season. The Denver Broncos have also made a strong push, climbing to the 14th spot after a string of impressive performances.

The New England Patriots, on the other hand, have fallen out of the top 10 after a tough loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos have also experienced a drop in the rankings, with both teams struggling to find their form in recent weeks.

As we enter the final week of the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. The top contenders are jockeying for position, while the teams on the bubble are fighting for their postseason lives. The next few days will be crucial for many teams as they look to secure their spot in the NFL playoffs.

The Future of Streaming

Daily Upsider on January 3, 2024

As we step into 2024, the world of streaming is set to undergo a significant transformation with the introduction of various planned service bundles. This comes in the wake of many streaming services adding advertisements to their bottom tiers in an attempt to stay, or even become, profitable. These include Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Max, and Prime Video.

Very few streaming services made a profit this year. Netflix, Apple TV+, and HBO’s rebranded Max being among the few to make profits.

The increase in bundles seems like a decent strategy to get more subscribers onto their respective platforms. Let’s take a closer look at some of the streaming service bundles of 2024.

Disney+ and Hulu
This bundle, which launched at the beginning of 2024 will be an alternative bundle to the current Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu trio. This partnership will bring together two popular streaming services, offering a vast collection of movies, TV shows, and original content.

Verizon, Max and Netflix
Verizon is offering a $10/month bundle with Max and Netflix. This is available to Verizon customers and is for the ads versions of Max and Netflix.

Apple TV+ and Paramount+
There are also talks about a partnership between Paramount Global and Apple. These two companies are reportedly considering a bundle that combines the best of Apple TV+ and Paramount+, giving subscribers access to a vast library of sports and news content.

If you already have have some of these streaming services. Changing to a bundle could save you some decent money.