The Propeller – What did you do this weekend? – 10-5-2025

Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere: powering our smartphones, laptops, e-bikes, power tools, and more. Their efficiency and compact size make them ideal for modern devices, but they also come with risks that many users overlook.

Understanding how these batteries work, and how to handle them safely, can help prevent accidents and extend the life of your devices.

Common Lithium Battery Risks

While lithium batteries are generally safe when used correctly, improper handling or damaged devices can lead to serious hazards. Here are the most common risks:

1. Fire Hazard
   Lithium-ion batteries can catch fire if they’re damaged, overcharged, or exposed to high heat. Fires can cause property damage and personal injury.  Once they catch on fire, it is VERY difficult to stop the fire.

2. Overheating & Thermal Runaway
   A malfunctioning battery may enter “thermal runaway,” a dangerous chain reaction where it overheats rapidly and may explode. This can be triggered by physical damage, charging issues, or excessive use.

3. Swelling or Leaking
   Batteries can swell or leak over time, especially if left plugged in too long or exposed to heat. This can damage your device and increase the risk of fire or explosion.

4. Short Circuiting
   Exposure to water or internal damage can cause a short circuit, leading to overheating and potential fires.

How to Reduce the Risks

Here are practical tips to keep your devices and yourself safe:

• Use the Right Charger
  Always use the charger that came with your device or a certified replacement. Avoid cheap or counterfeit chargers.  That cheap charger you picked up at the gas station because you left yours at home can cause damage.

• Don’t Leave Devices Charging Unattended
  Avoid overnight charging or leaving devices plugged in inside your car. Overcharging can degrade batteries and increase fire risk.  Do not charge devices in your bed!

• Charge on Hard Surfaces
  Soft surfaces like beds or couches can block airflow and cause overheating. Use a hard, flat surface instead.

• Keep Vents Clear
  Make sure vents on laptops and other devices aren’t blocked to allow proper cooling.

• Inspect for Damage
  Regularly check your devices for swelling, leaks, or excessive heat. If you notice any issues, stop using the device and seek professional help.

• Update Your Software
  Software updates often include battery management improvements and safety features.

• Recycle Properly
  Never throw lithium batteries in the trash. Use e-waste recycling programs or drop them off at designated centers.

• Choose Reputable Brands
  Stick with manufacturers that follow safety standards. Avoid counterfeit batteries and accessories.

• Store Safely
  Store batteries in a cool, dry place with a 40–60% charge. For added safety, consider using fireproof or explosion-proof storage bags.

Lithium batteries are essential to our tech-driven lives, but they require care and attention. By following these safety tips, you can enjoy the convenience of your devices while minimizing the risks.

In 1776, Thomas Jefferson declared our right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But let’s be honest, most people today interpret that as chasing pizza, dopamine hits, and binge-watching Breaking Bad until 4AM.

We’ve mistaken happiness for comfort. For pleasure. For distraction.

But Jefferson wasn’t talking about fleeting highs. He was drawing from a deeper well, one that reaches back to Aristotle, who defined happiness not as feeling good, but as living well.

Two Kinds of Happiness

Aristotle taught that there are two kinds of happiness:

1. Hedonic happiness – pleasure, ease, escape.
2. Eudaimonic happiness – purpose, virtue, fulfillment.

Hedonic happiness is cheap. It fades fast. It’s the sugar rush of life: sweet, but empty.

Eudaimonic happiness is harder. It requires sacrifice, discipline, and alignment with your values. But it’s the only kind that leaves you whole.

Why This Matters

If you’re into tech, you know the joy of solving problems and building something meaningful. If you’re into personal finance and investing, you understand the power of long-term thinking and delayed gratification. These are eudaimonic pursuits: rooted in purpose, not just pleasure.

But even these achievements won’t satisfy if your soul is starving.

Spiritual Happiness Is Real

True happiness, the kind that endures through hardship, is spiritual. It’s found in the quiet strength of faith, in the wisdom of sacred texts, and in the peace that comes from knowing your life has eternal meaning.

• The Bible teaches that joy comes not from circumstances, but from walking with God.
• The Book of Mormon reminds us that “men are that they might have joy” not fleeting pleasure, but divine purpose.
• The Torah, the foundation of Jewish wisdom, callsthose to “choose life,” to walk in righteousness, and to find joy in covenant and community.

These texts don’t promise a life without struggle. They promise a life with meaning. A life where happiness is not the absence of pain, but the presence of purpose.

The Real Pursuit

So, if your happiness disappears the moment the pleasure does, it was never happiness. It was just an escape.

The real pursuit of happiness is the pursuit of truth, virtue, and spiritual alignment. It’s the pursuit of a life that matters, not just to you, but to something greater.

And that’s a pursuit worth everything.

Ideas don’t sleep — neither should your curiosity.

This is re-published from the weekly email sent by Leonard Mack entitled The Propeller.  To subscribe, visit https://www.LeonardMack.com/subscribe and read it every Sunday evening.

This intellectual nourishment is intended for informational purposes only. One should not construe anything herein as being legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

My rule is this – I have no advice to give, only experience to share. I have no interest in being a guru or telling people what they should do. Rather, I share my own experience because there is no right or wrong. Your mileage may vary.