karen
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geekaren.bsky.social
karen
@geekaren.bsky.social
1.5K followers 2K following 560 posts
Was a Pacific Northwest geek, now a New England geek
⛈️ skywarn weather spotter
🏡 heat pumps
🐶 foster mom
🚫 DMs or lists
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geekaren.bsky.social
From Providence PD fb pg (12/17 12:40pm ET):

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in these photos who was in proximity of the person of interest.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the tip line at 401-272-3121.

#BrownUniversity
Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying and speaking to the individual shown in these photos who was in proximity of the person of interest. Anyone with information is urged to contact the tip line at 401-272-3121.
December 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Brown University is canceling all exams, papers, and classes through year-end.
Facebook post screenshot: Brown University Dear Members of the Brown Community, I'm writing to follow up on President Paxson's update from a short time ago to provide additional information on academic operations for the campus. Given the deeply tragic events that took place on our campus yesterday, all remaining undergraduate, graduate and medical classes, exams, and papers or projects for the Fall 2025 semester will not take place as scheduled. This choice was made out of our profound concern for all students, faculty and staff on our campus. In the immediate aftermath of these devastating events, we recognize that learning and assessment are significantly hindered in the short term and that many students and others will wish to depart campus. Students are free to leave if they are able. Students who remain will have access to on-campus services and support. At this time, it is essential that we focus our efforts on providing care and support to the members of our community as we grapple with the sorrow, fear and anxiety that is impacting all of us right now. University leaders are committed to providing care and mobilizing resources to assist our community members through this difficult time. We know there will be many academic concerns about the implications of not holding classes and exams as scheduled. We will follow up with more information in the coming days. For the moment, we encourage everyone to focus on their own safety and well-being. We will continue to share updates with emergency information on Brown.edu, and to work directly with students and other community members to provide services and support. Sincerely, Francis J. Doyle III Provost Updates: https://www.brown.edu/
December 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
The Brown Daily Herald screenshot Breaking News: Active shooter on campus, no suspects in custody, Department of Public Safety reports University News Active shooter on campus, no suspects in custody, Department of Public Safety reports The alert and call were sent to students immediately by DPS following the incident, urging students to hide, run or evacuate until further notice.
December 13, 2025 at 10:26 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Paramount launched a hostile takeover offer for Warner Bros. Discovery WBD 6.28%increase; green up pointing triangle Monday, taking its case for acquiring the storied entertainment company directly to shareholders just days after Warner agreed to a deal with Netflix. Paramount, run by David Ellison, is arguing that its all-cash $30 a share offer for all of Warner, owner of networks such as CNN, TBS and HGTV as well as the HBO Max streaming service, is a better deal for shareholders and more likely to pass regulatory muster. Paramount said its offer “provides shareholders $18 billion more in cash than the Netflix NFLX consideration.”
December 8, 2025 at 2:22 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
But Costco also has a degree of independence that not all retailers have, in part because of its cult following, Saunders said. As of the end of August, the company had more than 145 million members globally, a 6 percent year-over-year increase, and a 92.3 percent renewal rate in the United States. “It’s Retail 101: They’re true to their customer; they’re adamant about maintaining value and price and experience for their members,” McMahon said. “And they do a better job than anybody else.”
December 7, 2025 at 9:08 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
There's a great book about IVDD written by a rehab vet.
The IVDD Handbook: Helping your dog through back and neck problems by Marianne Dorn "The Rehab Vet"
December 6, 2025 at 5:24 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
I had no idea!
Article excerpt: Joining the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is no small feat. Everyone who is part of the team must have some kind of degree in food. Beyond that, training for the hotline begins in October and every person, no matter if it’s their first year or 10th, goes through the training before the service launches for the season.
November 27, 2025 at 11:05 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Currently reading The City We Became by NK Jemisin. Very immersive fantasy novel.
Book cover of The City We Became, A Novel by N.K. Jemisin. The cover includes a brief review by Neil Gaiman, "A glorious fantasy." The bottom cover notes Jemisin is a New York Times Bestselling and Three-Time Hugo Award-Winning Author.
November 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
From the STAT Morning Rounds newsletter (article by @helenbranswell.bsky.social): "Only a plane ride away"

Me: Of all the diseases with dropping vaccination rates, polio worries me most.
Infectious disease ‘The virus is only a plane ride away’ Germany’s public health agency revealed yesterday that wild poliovirus had been detected in a sewage sample in the country. The virus likely arrived in a person infected in either Pakistan or Afghanistan, the only two countries where wild polioviruses still spread, said Mark Pallansch, a retired CDC virologist and polio expert who noted that as long as polioviruses continue to circulate anywhere, “the virus is only a plane ride away.” Paralysis occurs in only about one out of every 200 people who contract polio, so an infected but symptom-free traveler could easily serve as a vector. The German health agency said there have been no human cases reported and rated the risk of that happening as low because of the country’s high polio vaccination rates. But this type of long-distance transmission has triggered cases elsewhere. In 2021-2022, wild polioviruses from Pakistan made their way to Southeast Africa, resulting in a case in Malawi and eight cases in Mozambique before transmission was stopped. — Helen Branswell "
November 13, 2025 at 11:46 AM
geekaren.bsky.social
www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aur...
November 13, 2025 at 1:36 AM
geekaren.bsky.social
Sad news: Long-time CT meteorologist Geoff Fox has passed away from cancer.
Screenshot of Facebook post from the Geoff Fox account posted at about 1:30pm ET 11/12, that contains the following text: This is Helaine. I'm sorry to say Geoff lost his battle last night and passed away in his sleep. All the thoughts, prayers and memories you posted kept Geoff going these past few months. He really was grateful for the connection he shared with all of you. As public of a life he lived, his wish was to be cremated with no fanfare. I will honor his wish. Though it will be impossible to answer everyone's posts, I promise to read each and every one of them. Thank you for loving Geoff. He really loved all of you, too.
November 12, 2025 at 6:56 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Aurora borealis over the CHARLES W. MORGAN last night at Mystic (CT) Seaport. Photo credit: Mystic Seaport Museum.
An old fashioned schooner backlit by reds and greens of the Aurora Borealis in Mysic CT.
November 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
geekaren.bsky.social
This is so nice.

www.wtnh.com/news/connect...
Photo of a tall teenage boy with brown hair manning a hot cart cart with a customer wearing a dark coat and backpack waiting nearby. The location is a suburban tree-lined street with leaves on the ground.
November 10, 2025 at 5:37 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
On 11/19, Netflix is debuting a new documentary about Nathan Carman (the guy accused of killing his grandfather in Windsor CT and also letting his mom die at sea).

www.netflix.com/tudum/articl...
A screenshot of Netflix's tudum website with a video still of Nathan Carman and his mom Linda. The text reads, "Linda Carman and her son, Nathan, left and never returned." (He was accused of abandoning his mom to her death at sea, and also of having killed his grandfather.)
November 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Maybe it's not such a great idea for US Senators & Congresspersons to get paid during shutdowns.

www.sdnewswatch.org/fact-brief-u...
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Via brucemehlman.substack.com/p/six-chart-...
November 7, 2025 at 12:41 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
If you live near an Ocean State Job Lot store, they're currently collecting donations to help Alaskans displaced by the recent typhoon... indigenous villagers who've been moved to urban centers because their homes were destroyed.

(OSJL matches customer donations dollar-for-dollar.)
Ocean State Job Lot facebook post dated 10/22/2025 10:01am. The post features pallets of merchandise being shipped to Alaska with this text: What could a closeout retailer in Rhode Island possibly have to do with Alaska? ❄ Well, a LOT, actually. Through our partnership with the United Cajun Navy, Ocean State Job Lot is helping out multiple Alaskan towns that got hit hard by a recent, tragic tsunami. More than 2,000 people have been displaced and have lost pretty much everything. We're doing our part by donating much-needed items, including more than 1,000 warm coats and thousands of pounds of food. We'd love your help in donating even more! You can donate any amount at our registers to help raise funds to provide warm clothing for the people in Alaska who are in desperate need. Together, we are making a difference!
October 23, 2025 at 6:32 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Amazon best seller list as of 8am 10/21/25. Giuffre's book was just released today.
Screenshot of today's Amazon bestseller list with Nobody's Girl (Virginia Giuffre's book) at #1. Virginia Roberts Giuffre's book has a beige cover and partially obscured photo of Giuffre as a teenager.
October 21, 2025 at 11:58 AM
geekaren.bsky.social
This is enraging.

Despite a long history of interations with her family, CT DCF had no contact with them for the last 2 years of this poor girl's life. She was apparently starved and murdered by her mom. 😞

It's unbelievable to me how often DCF lets down kids who are at risk.
Screenshot of a WTNH News 8 Facebook post that reads - BREAKING: CT's Dept of Children and Families has released a timeline of its involvement with Jacqueline "Mimi" Torres-Garcia's family. Below the text is a photo of a young girl smiling in what appears to be a school photo.
October 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Drop the last movie you watched! 🖤
October 3, 2025 at 11:58 AM
geekaren.bsky.social
Article excerpt screenshot: California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia together committed to ambitious heat-pump adoption goals last year. Washington state joined the pact last week. Their targets: By 2030, heat pumps will make up 65% of the sales of residential heating, air conditioning, and water heating equipment. By 2040, that percentage is to climb to 90%.
October 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Chuck and Hakeem are awful at messaging... Why aren't Dems using AOC's talking points (which make clear how the end of ACA credits will impact premiums)?

This NY Times commenter on @steverattner.bsky.social's Op-Ed makes a similar point.
Thank you for the cogent explanation of the stakes. I was perplexed by the dems rallying cry….this gives me a better view of the nuts and bolts of it all. More of this from dems please. Continued COVID funding did not seem like enough of a justification and that was the only message I was reading.
October 2, 2025 at 3:18 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Text summary & corresponding map:

"Areas affected...northern Mid-Atlantic into southern New England

Heavy rainfall...Flash flooding possible

Valid 251854Z - 260050Z

Summary...Training axes of heavy rain are expected from
northern Mid-Atlantic into southern New England this afternoon & evening."
September 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Bloomberg: Tech Companies Warn H-1B Visa Holders to Avoid Foreign Travel

Interesting table.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Table labeled "heaviest users of H1-B Visas" showing Amazon as having highest number of H1-B employees at 10,044, following by these companies: Tata Consultancy Svcs (5,505) Microsoft (5,189) Meta (5,123) Apple (4,202) Google (4,181) Cognizant Tech Solutions US (2,493) JPMorgan Chase (2,440) Walmart (2,390) Deloitte Consulting (2,353)
September 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
geekaren.bsky.social
Ugh. Apple TV+ monthly subscription price increase.
September 16, 2025 at 2:23 PM