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Labor Dispute Halts Canadian Freight Trains; Threat of Major US Economic Disruption (Maria)
The author writes, “Both of Canada’s major freight railroads have come to a full stop because of a contract dispute with their workers, an impasse that could bring significant economic harm to businesses and consumers in Canada and the US if the trains don’t resume running soon. Canadian National and CPKC railroads both locked out their employees after the deadline of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Thursday passed without new agreements with the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference that represents some 10,000 engineers, conductors and dispatchers.”
The Bitter Fight Over the Meaning of ‘Genocide’ (Russ)
The author writes, “Today conflicts around the globe, including Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslim minority, are forcing a reappraisal of genocide’s legal definition. Dozens of states are now directly or indirectly involved in one of four genocide cases pending before the I.C.J. … Final decisions in the suits are not expected for several years, but they’ve already altered an ongoing debate about whether the definition of genocide ought to be updated for the 21st century.”
Why Is Oracle Assembling a Secret Database of Trump Loyalists? (Reader Steve)
From the San Francisco Chronicle: “Oracle Corp., the $370 billion cloud-computing giant started in Santa Clara, California, is not shy about promoting a 430,000-plus-deep client roster that includes San Francisco-born tech companies such as Open AI and Palantir or the government of Saudi Arabia. But Oracle’s public-facing financial disclosures, its exhaustive customer index and searchable media releases do not mention its purported contract to build a secretive personnel database of politicos willing to implement Project 2025, a radically conservative agenda designed for a second Donald Trump term.”
Reclusive Tribe Attacks Loggers Suspected of Encroaching on Their Land in Peru’s Amazon (Laura)
The author writes, “Peru’s reclusive Mashco Piro ethnic group recently used bows and arrows to attack loggers suspected of encroaching on their territory in the Amazon, according to a regional Indigenous organization. FENAMAD, representing 39 Indigenous communities in the Cusco and Madre de Dios regions, said Monday that it believes illegal logging was taking place on Mashco Piro territory and that one logger was injured in the July 27 attack. A few weeks ago, photos emerged of the uncontacted tribe searching for food on a beach in the Peruvian Amazon, which some experts say was evidence logging concessions are ‘dangerously close’ to its territory.”
Intelligence Doesn’t Make You Immune to Conspiracy Theories — It’s More About Thinking Style (Taimi)
From The Conversation: “Over the last two decades, and in particular over the last five years, there has been a growing scientific interest in conspiracy theories and people who believe in them. Although some may think belief in such stories is linked to intelligence, research is beginning to show that how people think could be more important. Scientists agree that having a measure of skepticism about official accounts of events is healthy and important, but conspiracy theorising can lead to dangerous consequences for the individual and for society.”
Dogs Hacked Tesla’s Cybertruck To Escape (Sean)
The author writes, “Cybertruck users have reported yet another security loophole in Tesla’s electric vehicle, this time affecting the owner’s pets. Cybertrucks, like other Tesla vehicles, have a special Dog Mode installed in their interface. This mode allows pet owners to leave their animals inside the car with controlled air temperature. … The Mode also deactivates all electronics to prevent accidents or escapes if a dog inadvertently steps on the window button — at least, that’s what the manual says. One Cybertruck owner named John detailed on the community forum how his dogs managed to escape from the vehicle while he was having breakfast at a restaurant.”
This 16-Foot-Tall Pigeon Sculpture Is Coming to New York City’s High Line (Dana)
From Smithsonian Magazine: “A looming sculpture of a pigeon will be arriving on New York’s High Line Plinth in the fall. While humans typically tower over the city’s winged residents, the new 16-foot-tall artwork — titled Dinosaur — will make the viewer feel small. ‘I feel this sculpture could generate an uncanny feeling of attraction, seduction and fear among the inhabitants of New York,’ says Iván Argote, the artist who created the piece, in a statement. Beginning in October, Dinosaur will spend 18 months on the High Line Plinth, located above 10th Avenue and 30th Street.”
