Highlights of the Week (July 15, 2022)

There's nothing like a positive Covid test to throw a wrench in your weekend plans. After a recent event that had me hugging and chatting with more people than before the start of Covid, I finally have come down with Covid. Thankfully, my symptoms are mild: muscle aches, brain fog, and fatigue.

It seems that everyone is getting Covid right now, particularly among people who previously seemed immune. The data support my perception. This new variant, BA.5, is considered a highly infectious, even if less potent, variant that requires a rethink on our mask-free, sanitizer-less ways of recent months. Covid is not over.

Here’s a recap of the week’s top stories:

• We regrouped and responded to the increasing number of headlines showing hiring freezes, rescinded job offers, and layoffs. The power dynamics of workers vs. employers seem to be restabilizing to pre-pandemic levels. Find out more.

• Drinking my morning coffee is one of my favorite activities of the day. So we wrote a love letter to coffee roasters and the startups fueling our days. Check it out.

• Wednesday, we looked at how smart-home technology is vulnerable to hackers. From bored teenage pranksters to more sinister figures, find out who is hacking our thermostats and doorbells here.

• What goes up must come down, and that is certainly the case with special purpose acquisition companies. What’s happening with SPACs? Find out.