Meet the Bundlers Behind the Money
In 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama proposed legislation that would have required all presidential candidates to disclose information about supporters who raised at least $50,000 for their campaigns during the two-year period prior to Election Day. That legislation was never adopted, but as a presidential candidate Obama voluntarily released certain information about his top fundraisers.
Jarrett Walker’s Human Transit: Are we thinking about urban planning all wrong? - Slate Magazine
A Nation No Longer On The Move (Part II) : Planet Money : NPR
I love this – thousands of tiny people hold up a glass floor.
by artist Do Ho Suh
“Teachers in black state schools work an average of 3.5 hours a day, compared with 6.5 hours in the former white state schools known as “Model C”. A fifth of teachers are absent on Fridays, rising to a third at the end of the month. The education minister herself admits that 80% of schools are still “dysfunctional”.” — Officially, 25% of South Africans are unemployed; the real figure is probably nearer 40%. Some accuse the country’s education system of churning out candidates that are largely unemployable. (via theeconomist)
(via theeconomist)
Interviewer: You’ve long argued for the decriminalization of marijuana. Do you smoke weed?
Barney Frank: No.
Interviewer: Why not?
Barney Frank: Why do you ask a question, then act surprised when I give an answer? Do you think I lie to people?
Interviewer: I thought you might explain why you support decriminalizing it but don’t smoke it.
Barney Frank: Do you think I’ve ever had an abortion?
Awesome.
“Just as having a lot of pens doesn’t make you a great writer, having a lot of ideas doesn’t make you a great thinker.” — Ezra Klein challenges Newt Gingrich’s identity of an idea man. (via washingtonpoststyle)
(via markcoatney)
How Often Should I Charge My Gadget’s Battery to Prolong Its Lifespan?
Dear Lifehacker,
What is the deal with lithium-ion batteries (the kind found in smartphones and laptops)? I’ve heard lots of different things about how to take care of them, like that they need to be kept charged between 40% and 80%, or that they should be drained completely and charged to 100%. What is the ideal approach to maintaining a good battery-life-to-battery-health ratio?Sincerely,
Befuddled About BatteriesDear Befuddled,
There is a lot of confusion surrounding this issue, mostly because lithium-ion batteries are different from older, nickel-based batteries (which suffered from a nasty memory effect not present in lithium-ion batteries). You’re right, though—charging them incorrectly can decrease their lifespan. Most lithium batteries should last you a few years, but improper care can decrease that lifespan, meaning that your battery will be unable to hold a charge—or unable to hold as big a charge as it used to—quicker. So, to clear things up, here’s how to actually extend your battery’s health as much as possible.
- Perform shallow discharges. Instead of discharging to 0% all the time, lithium-ion batteries do best when you discharge them for a little bit, then charge them for a little bit. The table at the right, from Battery University, shows that discharges to 50% are better for your battery’s long-term life than, say, small discharges to 90% or large discharges to 0% (since the 50% discharges provide the best number of cycles-to-usage ratio).
- Don’t leave it fully charged. Similarly, lithium-ion batteries don’t need to be charged all the way to 100%. In fact, they’d prefer not to be—so the 40%-80% rule you heard is a good guideline. When possible, keep it in that range to prolong its life as long as you can. And, if you do charge it to 100%, don’t leave it plugged in. This is something most of us do, but it’s another thing that will degrade your battery’s health. If you need to charge it overnight, use something like the Belkin Conserve Socket to stop it from charging after it’s full.
- Fully discharge it once a month. This may seem contradictory, but hear us out. While lithium-ion batteries shouldn’t be discharged regularly, most modern batteries are what’s known as “smart batteries”, which means that they can tell you how long you have until your battery dies (e.g. “2 hours, 15 minutes remaining”). This feature can get miscalibrated after a lot of shallow discharges. So, manufacturers recommend fully discharging your battery once a month to make sure this stays accurate.
- Keep it cool. Most people overlook this one. Excess heat is not only bad for your processor (and your lap), but your battery as well. Once again, see thetable from Battery University at the right—which you can click on for a closer view—a hot battery will degrade in health much quicker than a cool one. As such, we highly recommend using a laptop stand, like one of the many DIY options we’ve featured here at Lifehacker. When it comes to your phone, check out our previous Ask Lifehacker on keeping your phone temperature down.
Keep these things in mind and your battery will last longer. That said, remember that you don’t need to be super strict about these things. Don’t sacrifice practicality just to keep your battery alive—if you’re in a situation where you don’t have a charger, it’s okay to discharge it to 0%, or charge it up to 100% if you want to do so for a long plane ride. Remember that your battery is going to die in a few years, no matter what you do—even if you just let it sit on a shelf. So don’t go overboard: use your battery as you need it. But, if you’re just sitting at home or in a coffee shop, these guidelines will help you keep it healthy for as long as possible (and when it’s dead, check out what do to when your battery doesn’t last as long as it used to).
If you want a more detailed look at how lithium batteries work and how to take care of them, check out the links below from Battery University.
- How to Prolong Lithium-Based Batteries
- Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries
- How to Store Batteries
- When to Charge Table
Sincerely,
Lifehacker
(via crookedindifference)
PALAEOBLOG: The Caudal Basket of Pachycephalosauria
“Bed-bugs can drink seven times their own weight in blood in a night, leaving itchy welts on the victim’s skin and blood spots on his sheets as they do so.” — Neither five-star hotels nor top-notch apartments have been spared bed-bug infestation in New York, and hoteliers from London to Los Angeles are getting nervous. Now two researchers have come up with a bed-bug trap baited with something the bugs find irresistible—the smell of their own droppings. (via theeconomist)
(via theeconomist)
Every phrase of this run-on sentence was spoken by Newt Gingrich in the debate last night.
I’d like a big version of this one.
(Source: fauxmo)
[video]
Paying Attention: THE GREATEST -
Picture 1 shows Cassius Marcellus Clay, a Louisville, KY abolitionist. When his slave-holding neighbors assembled at his home to burn down his printing press, they found Mr. Clay had put a cannon on his front porch.
Generations later, a black woman in Louisville named her son after…
Fresh snow.
For a small window, the ground is covered in moon dust:
Holding short histories of neighbors.
Slips, reversals, distractions, meanderings, wheeled objets dragged or shoved, size and style of shoe.
I just got some badass new boots.
