The Geek

Geeking Out on Science & Tech

What is a coronavirus?

As the disease has spread, patients are now reporting they’ve not been anywhere near the animal markets, which means the infection is now being transmitted from person to person.

Geeking Out on Sports

Sign stealing rules

Runners on second base watch the catcher so they can tell their batter what to expect from the next pitch. That’s legit. But, watch (from somewhere else) with binoculars, and it’s illegal. In the 1950’s, the Giants used a telescope. That was illegal too.

Geeking Out on Politics

Simplest summary ever: What is Medicare-for-all?

Medicare-for-all is a topic that divides Democratic candidates so it’s probably going to come up many more times in future debates. No worries. Here’s a simple explanation you’ll never forget.

Geeking Out on World

Timeline leading up to killing of General Soleimani

In Iran, oil prices spiked this fall sending thousands of protestors to the streets. They were considered the biggest protests against the government in decades, and the authoritative government cracked down hard, killing hundreds of its own civilians and injuring thousands more.

Geeking Out on Environment

Plastic fast facts

Last year, only 9.5 percent of plastic was recycled and 15 percent was burned to create electricity or heat.

Geeking Out on Business

Cars.com study on how “American” a car is

They considered five factors: where a car is assembled, its domestic-parts content, where its engines and transmissions come from, and how many U.S. factory workers its parent automaker directly employs relative to vehicle sales.

Geeking Out on Politics

Articles of Impeachment – full report

“President Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law.”

Geeking Out on Business

WeWorkers letter to management

…we have watched as layers are peeled back one-by-one to reveal a different story. This story is one of deception, exclusion and selfishness playing out at the company’s highest levels. This is a story that reads as a negation of all our core values. But this story is not over…

Geeking Out on Politics

Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989

The purpose of this Act is to strengthen and improve protection
for the rights of Federal employees, to prevent reprisals, and to help
eliminate wrongdoing within the Government by–
(1) mandating that employees should not suffer adverse consequences as a
result of prohibited personnel practices;

Geeking Out on Business

Letter from Airbnb CEO explaining new “trust” initiative

In response to the massacre at a California Airbnb “party house” that resulted in the death of five people, Airbnb promises a comprehensive review of all of its 3 million listings to ensure that users can have “peace of mind” when they book.