Discretionary income is the amount of money left over after taxes are taken out, bills are paid, and basic needs are covered. Thanks to a recent study we learn how much extra cash Americans have on hand and what they’re doing with it. Check out this infographic created with Mint to see how a select few are spending a sizable portion of all the discretionary spending in the country.

Are you at the end of your rope deciding where to take your date? Follow this guide created with Credit Sesame and discover how the night might end.

Hot-headed. Cold-blooded. Warm and Loving. Cool as a cucumber. Fired Up. Chilled out. Temperature is often used to describe temperament, and we wanted to know more about the tendencies of these seemingly opposite groups. Data from Hunch revealed these interesting and unexpected correlations between warm and cool personalities and their tendencies.

(This is a guest post by Nathan Yau, who runs one of our favorite data visualization blogs, Flowing Data. Check out his amazing book, Visualize This.

This seems like a straightforward question, but it’s proven to be a difficult one to answer. Even visualization researchers – people who think about the subject all day and every day – don’t have a clear definition of what visualization is. Is it synonymous with information graphics? Does visualization have to be computer generated? Does data have to be involved, or can it be abstract? The answers vary depending on who you ask.

To me, visualization is a medium. It’s not just an analysis tool nor just a way to prove a point more clearly through data.

Visualization is like books. There are different writing styles and categories, there are textbooks and there are novels, and they communicate ideas in different ways for varied purposes. And just like authors who use words to communicate, there are rules that you should always follow and others that are guidelines that you can bend and break.

For example, you should always specify what visual encodings, such as color and shape, represent; however, while three-dimensional plots are usually unhelpful, they can sometimes provide an easier connection between the abstract and physical world.

When you think of visualization as a medium rather than a monolithic tool, it’s something much more flexible that can be used for a lot of things. It’s also more exciting. You can tell stories with data through analysis, journalism, or art. Visualization can be fun or serious; it can be beautiful and emotional or barebones and to the point.

In the end, it’s still all about the data, and visualization lets you see what you might not find in a table. There are stories in the numbers, and visualization can help you find or tell them.

Do you love your smartphone? Do you love downloading apps? If you said yes, you’re not alone. Smartphones have taken the world by storm! Check out this infographic we created with Lookout to learn more about mobile device and app growth.

Radio is one of the most important technological inventions in recent history, and paved the road for advanced communication, exploration, entertainment, and music discovery. Since its birth in the late 1890s, radio has evolved to fit the needs of the times. We trace its journey from Tesla to Turntable.fm in this infographic created with Sonos.

HISTORY is bringing back the most dangerous collision sport in the history of mankind, and looking to transform it into a 21st-century event. They’re making it just as brutal and intense as it was 500 years ago, but with a twist: Traditional Armor replaced by modern suits of steel, while action is captured by high-speed cameras. This is no Renaissance fair, and the last man standing looks to take home big money. Check out the interactive created in collaboration with HISTORY below.

As the presidential election continues to heat up and candidates are weeded out, we look to their bankrolls in this infographic done with Credit Sesame, to learn who has the most cash in the bank, and who’s funding their campaigns.

With over 42.9 million blogs reflagging animated gifs and Ryan Gosling memes, this community of blogging fanatics has developed a unique language and quirks that set it apart from the rest of the Internet. Use this guide created with Flowtown to recognize those Tumblr users.

Are you among the 62% of adults who say they celebrate Valentine’s Day? Discover the history of the most romantic day of the year in this infographic created in collaboration with History, and find out just how much sparkling wine, chocolate and candy Americans purchase in its honor.