We often set aside articles that are longer, deserve a re-read, are broader in scope…or just for fun — for weekend reading. Below are some from this week — pour yourself a hot cup of coffee & enjoy...
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Building the Bell System: For most of the 20th century, AT&T was one of the largest and most important companies in the entire world. (Construction Physics)
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Mass Transit That Can Move a Megalopolis: Growing cities around the world are creating “rapid regional rail” systems that allow residents to commute across metro areas at high speeds. Will the US get on board? (Citylab)
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Magnitsky case: How Switzerland failed to investigate Russian millions (Swiss Info)
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Wild fine dining. Iris, set in the middle of a Norwegian fjord, qualifies as one of the most daring restaurants on earth.
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Watch the Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Concert. It was held at Massey Hall on May 23, with performances by Blue Rodeo, Burton Cummings, Tom Coffey, Lightfoot’s original band, and more. You can see it on CBC Gem (sign-in, but free).
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You can be a GeoGuessr. The online game presents you with a randomly selected photo of a stretch of road on Google Street View; at the top of the screen is a timer, and at the bottom is a world map. GeoGuessr has 75 million user accounts.
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New technology allows patients with amputations below the knee to control the movement of their prosthetic legs through neural signals (IEEE Spectrum)
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These people still believe in democracy (little d) and are working to keep it. On this July 4th holiday, America’s system of democracy is under threat. These people are working to keep it alive and well. (USA Today)
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The Fried Chicken Sandwich Wars Are More Cutthroat Than Ever Before (Businessweek)
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America’s startup boom is still going strong. Here’s what it means for the economy: we’re now well past the pandemic crisis and even the pandemic recovery. It has been almost exactly four years since the startup boom began — and there’s still a bonanza of new business creation in the United States. (NPR)
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A Bugatti car, a first lady and the fake stories aimed at Americans: A network of Russia-based websites masquerading as local American newspapers is pumping out fake stories as part of an AI-powered operation that is increasingly targeting the US election, a BBC investigation can reveal. A former Florida police officer who relocated to Moscow is one of the key figures behind it. (BBC)
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RFK Jr.’s Family Doesn’t Want Him to Run. Even They May Not Know His Darkest Secrets. The Kennedys have voiced support for Joe Biden, but certain aspects of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s character are only just now coming to light. (Vanity Fair)
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The Most Innovative Countries in the World in 2023 (Visual Capitalist)
What are you reading or listening to?