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☆ Killer Whales Targeting Boats Could End Badly for the Orcas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Killer whales near Spain and Portugal have been confronting, and even sinking, boats. The killer whales typically approach the ship from behind and then try to strike the rudder until the boat is immobilized. People online have joked the killer whales are "orcanizing" an "orca rebellion," with many social media users rooting for the whales. But the result could be an increase in fear of killer whales in the popular imagination, similar to what the movie "Jaws" did for sharks. In reality, killer whales — which got their names from hunting other whales — do not pose a significant risk of harm to humans.

Persons: —, Andrew Trites, Trites, Deborah Giles, Evan Brodsky, Luna Organizations: Service, Marine Mammal Research, University of British, NBC, Area, Nootka Locations: Spain, Portugal, University of British Columbia, Monterey Bay, Monterey, West, British Columbia, Canada, —

☆ For ILWU, West Coast port deal to be union-ratified, here's what has to happen next
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Eric Rosenbaum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But the proposed labor deal is a far way from being fully approved, according to the International Longshore & Warehouse Union. "The ILWU is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with PMA last night," said a statement from ILWU President Willie Adams on Thursday afternoon. "These delegates will carefully review the tentative agreement and make a recommendation to the rank and file who will then vote on the tentative agreement," Adams said. "We will not be sharing details of the tentative agreement publicly until we have completed the ratification process," he stated. President Biden nominated Acting Secretary Su on February 28 to replace Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who stepped down in March.

Persons: Julie Su, Willie Adams, Adams, Labor Su, Biden, Su, Marty Walsh, Price Rupert, CNBC's Lori Ann LaRocco Organizations: Biden, Labor, Warehouse Union, PMA, Pacific Maritime Association, United Mine Workers, AFL, Senate, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, ILWU, U.S . Locations: West Coast, California, San Francisco, Seattle, West, Vancouver, U.S . West Coast, Panama, East Coast

☆ ILWU Canada workers authorize strike in landslide vote, a 'significant blow' to West Coast ports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

In a landslide vote, over 99% of ILWU Canada union workers critical for West Coast port operations, including in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, voted in favor of supporting a strike. The biggest port to be affected is the Port of Vancouver, the largest port in Canada. It is estimated that Canadian West Coast ports handle almost $225 billion worth of cargo a year, with items transported by rail including many consumer products, from apparel to electronics and home goods. The threat of a strike is occurring as labor tensions have escalated at U.S. West Coast ports. "This is a significant blow to operations on the West Coast," said Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal at ITS Logistics.

Persons: Prince Rupert, Port of Prince Rupert, Prince Rupert Port Authority's, Brian Friesen, Berkshire Hathaway, Port, slowdowns, Paul Brashier, Adil Ashiq Organizations: ILWU, British Maritime Employers Association, Federal Maritime Conciliation, Port, Vancouver, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, U.S, BNSF, U.S ., Pacific Maritime Association, ITS Logistics, Cargo, MarineTraffic, CNBC Locations: ILWU Canada, West Coast, Vancouver, of Vancouver, Canada, Canadian, Vancouver Fraser, U.S, Port of Vancouver, Port of, West, CN, Canadian Pacific, Berkshire, U.S . West Coast, Port, Seattle, Midwest, Chicago, Panama, East, North America

☆ Killer whales near Spain have sunk 3 sailboats. A lonely orca named Luna who got separated from his family 20 years ago also damaged boats — but scientists say he just wanted to play.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Killer whales near Spain and Portugal have sunk three sailboats in recent years. An orca name Luna that was damaging boats near Vancouver Island in the 2000s just wanted to play. A population of killer whales near Portugal and Spain's Iberian Peninsula first began having "disruptive" interactions with boats in 2020. However, the encounters reminded him of a young male orca named Luna that engaged in similar behavior with boats around 20 years ago. "Being a social animal, he got very lonely and became quite attached to boats," Trites said.

☆ Fact Check-Vancouver speed gates not part of ‘15-minute city’ proposals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Yellow speed-reduction gateways in Vancouver are not part of the city’s “15-minute city” proposals. Although the city is implementing its version of the 15-minute city concept (here), the spokesperson said, the “15-minute City Ready” stickers were not applied to the concrete blocks by the City of Vancouver. Local reports about the yellow traffic calming tools (here, here and here) do not include any reference to 15-minute city proposals. Vancouver’s yellow gateways are a local government program for speed reduction and not part of the city’s 15-minute city proposals. Stickers referencing the 15-minute city concept were not applied or authorized by Vancouver officials.

☆ I lost my ID in another country and forfeited $2,500 when my trip was cut short. Here's what I learned and how I got home.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Crystal Raypole | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I lost my ID while traveling in Canada, which ruined my planned six-day, $2,500 trip to Churchill. I recently planned a trip to Churchill, Canada, — a tiny, frigid town that happens to be extremely remote and difficult to reach. But I had to cancel my trip when one of the worst things happened: I lost my ID somewhere on the streets of Vancouver, my first travel stop. If I'd lost either form of ID, I could have kept going with the other. I'm pretty sure showing Canadian customs a photo of my lost ID would have helped me get through the tense interview a little more smoothly, too.

In part due to disruptions in supply stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, street drugs are increasingly laced with toxic or unknown ingredients, resulting in drug users overdosing and dying. Police in British Columbia file thousands of drug possession charges annually. Canada faced the challenge of an adulterated illicit drug supply before the United States did and has been quicker to adopt harm reduction tools to address drug overdose cases, said Lindsey Richardson, a research scientist at the B.C. Some of them still buy street drugs. 's latest plan is of no help to him because he runs the risk of taking something deadly each time he buys street drugs.

☆ Canadian province tries decriminalizing drugs to fight overdose crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Jennifer Gauthier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The province declared drug overdose a public health emergency that year. By not prosecuting people carrying small amounts of drugs, the B.C. government hopes to tackle the issue as a health problem rather than through the criminal justice system. Robert Schwartz, a professor at the University of Toronto, said the measure was commendable as a first step, but that more needed to be done to tackle the drug problem. They also face a rise in drug overdose deaths.

Yogesh Raut on "Jeopardy!" Fans of the venerable answer-and-question show were introduced to Raut on Jan. 11 when he won the first of three games, which were taped in mid-November. That true quizzing talent isn't displayed on "Jeopardy!" Raut was annoyed that word leaked that another big name in the quiz community, Troy Meyer, was on the "Jeopardy!" It is fundamentally incompatible with incentivizing the next generation of quizzers to excel, and it is fundamentally incompatible with true social justice.”A "Jeopardy!"

☆ Why Faulty Streetlights Are Turning Cities Purple — and Why It's Worrisome
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

LED streetlights are supposed to shine for the better part of a decade. Every city with purple lights that responded to my queries or has public records on the matter bought its LED lights from Acuity. The blue LED, with its narrow wavelength, enabled all sorts of modern tech, from the compact disc to flat-screen monitors. Acuity and the purple cities haven't been entirely transparent on that matter. "The purple streetlights are a result of the phosphor coating delaminating from the LEDs," says Fiona Hughes, a representative for the city of Vancouver.

☆ Canada house prices to tumble 17.5% peak to trough, say analysts: Reuters Poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Indradip Ghosh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

House prices need to fall 25% from peak to trough in order to make them affordable, according to the median response to an additional question. (Reuters Poll - Canada housing market outlook: )That was in line with BoC Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers who said this week house prices needed to fall to restore balance to the housing market. A majority of property market experts said the risk of a crash in house prices was low. During the financial crisis, U.S. house prices crashed as much as around 40% but the Canadian market fell only 9% then. “In more ‘normal’ times before the pandemic, a 30% drop in house prices would be considered a crash.

☆ A 'dystopian horror story.' Inside the thriving underground market for used Amazon seller accounts that's causing chaos, identity theft, and distrust in the company's massive online marketplace
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Rob Price | Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

On Telegram and forums like Swapd and PlayerUp, a gray market for secondhand Amazon seller accounts thrives. On public Telegram groups, Amazon account sellers openly advertise their goods and how they've passed Amazon's verification checks. She'd never had an Amazon seller account and sold jewelry directly through her website. Amazon is asleep at the wheel"Amazon is asleep at the wheel," Jason Boyce, a consultant for Amazon sellers, said. AI engineer François Chollet has been plagued by counterfeiters selling fake copies of his books via Amazon accounts with stolen identities.

☆ Dispensaries selling illegal magic mushrooms in Vancouver could lead to the legalization of the substance, like they did with cannabis, shop keeper says
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-05 | by ( Gabrielle Bienasz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

He's trying to push Vancouver to manage or legalize it, as cannabis sellers did in 2015. Larsen told the Vancouver Sun that Canada would not have legalized cannabis without store owners like himself, who sold cannabis before it was legal. Now, he's betting that selling the substance will push the government to go ahead and make it legal. Canada legalized cannabis in October 2018, but the illegal or semi-illegal market in Vancouver persisted, especially because of licensing issues. As of November, there were multiple stores openly selling mushrooms in the city, in one case as a way of making up lost pandemic revenue, according to the Daily Hive Vancouver.

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