RadioLab (podcast): The Unpopular Vote
As the US Presidential election nears, Radiolab covers the closest we ever came to abolishing the Electoral College.
In the 1960s, then-President Lyndon Johnson approached an ambitious young senator known as the Kennedy of the Midwest to tweak the way Americans elect their president. The more Senator Birch Bayh looked into the electoral college, the more he believed it was a ticking time bomb hidden in the Constitution that someone needed to defuse. With overwhelming support in Congress, the endorsement of multiple presidents, and polling showing that over 80 percentof the American public supported abolishing it, it looked like he might just pull it off. So why do we still have the electoral college? And will we actually ever get rid of it?
Will Prowse (YouTube): $192 Siekon Mini 12V! But are Mini LiFePO4 Worth the Extra $$$? Hmm…
Battery technology continues to advance.
Wired: What Are Hall Effect Sensors and How Do They Work?
More and more keyboards and video game controllers employ Hall effect sensors, but what exactly is this technology? We break it down.
All you need to know!
iPhone in Canada: Bell Hits Customers with $5 Price Hike on Popular Plans
Bell has increased the price of select 5G plans on November 1, 2024.
According to changes on its website today, entry 5G plans have increased in price by $5 per month. This comes ahead of Black Friday, where most carriers bring on cellphone deals.
Bell’s wireless pricing as of today, can be seen below. It’s never been more confusing to navigate Bell’s plans and prices on its website (after a $10/month autopay credit): …
iPhone in Canada: Apple Confirms iPhone 14 Plus Camera Flaw: Check if You Qualify
Apple is offering free repairs for a small number of iPhone 14 Plus devices that may have a faulty rear camera, and it applies to Canadians as well.
Some users have reported that the camera preview doesn’t work on these devices, which were made between April 10, 2023, and April 28, 2024.
If you have an iPhone 14 Plus with this problem, you can use Apple’s serial number checker to see if your device qualifies for the repair program. Only the iPhone 14 Plus is covered, not other iPhone models.
MacRumors: Find My Gains Option to Share Lost Item Location With an ‘Airline or Trusted Person’ in iOS 18.2
Apple in iOS 18.2 beta 2 added a new feature to the Find My app, which is designed to allow you to share a lost item’s location with a trusted person. Apple says that the feature is meant to help you locate an item through a third-party, like an airline employee.
NYT: The Powerful Density of Hypertextual Writing
The NY Times has had a difficult time covering the 2024 election in a clear, responsible manner. But I wanted to highlight this short opinion piecefrom the paper’s editorial board, which I’m reproducing here in its entirety:
You already know Donald Trump. He is unfit to lead. Watch him. Listen to those who know him best. He tried to subvert an election and remains a threat to democracy. He helped overturn Roe, with terrible consequences. Mr. Trump’s corruption and lawlessness go beyond elections: It’s his whole ethos. He lieswithout limit. If he’s re-elected, the G.O.P. won’t restrain him. Mr. Trump will use the government to go after opponents. He will pursue a cruel policy of mass deportations. He will wreak havoc on the poor, the middle class and employers. Another Trump term will damage the climate, shatter alliances and strengthen autocrats. Americans should demand better. Vote.
NYT: A Record Number of States Are Experiencing Drought
Almost the entire United States faced drought conditions during the last week of October.
Only Alaska and Kentucky did not have at least moderate drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor system.
NYT: Murray McCory, 80, Dies; JanSport Founder Created the School Backpack
He brought lightweight packs to millions of students and transformed the way they carried their textbooks to school.
CleanTechnica: Con Ed And First Student Bring Solar Microgrid To New York
Recently, Con Ed and First Student started a trial program that will use solar panels to supply some of the electricity needed for those electric school buses. Assuming each bus has at least a 100 kWh battery, that translates to 1 GW of storage for the fleet. That’s a lot of storage capacity that can be used to support a dedicated microgrid for those electric school buses. The economic advantages are self-evident. Con Ed would not have to build new generating capacity and transmission infrastructure to support the bus fleet, and the buses could provide grid stabilization services to Con Ed. The result? Everybody wins, especially the students who do not have to breathe in a miasma of diesel fumes every day as they travel back and forth to school.
LA Times: Trump campaign gets equal time from NBC after Harris' ‘SNL’ appearance
According to people familiar with the discussions, campaign officials for Trump contacted the network and asked for time. The request was honored and Trump was given two free 60-second messages that appeared near the end of its telecast of a NASCAR playoff race and during post-game coverage of a “Sunday Night Football” contest in which the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Indianapolis Colts 21-13.
Last Updated: 04.Nov.2024 22:22 EST
