World’s Most Endangered Tiger Cubs Born in Greece as Zoos Build Safety Net

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World’s Most Endangered Tiger Cubs Born in Greece as Zoos Build Safety Net (Maria)

The author writes, “The world’s most endangered tigers have started a family in Greece, offering hope for a predator rapidly vanishing from the wild. Three 2-month-old Sumatran tiger cubs received identification microchips and their first vaccinations Tuesday at a zoo near Athens as part of a global effort to build a backup population. As few as 400 of the critically endangered tigers, found only in Sumatra, Indonesia, are believed to remain in the wild.”

‘Zero Doubt’: The Story of WA’s 100% Accurate Mail-In Election (Reader Steve)

From The Seattle Times: “You may have heard some disparaging words recently about how Washington state votes, which is almost entirely by mail. ‘Mail-in ballots are how blue states cheat and win elections,’ declared the Washington State Republican Party, in June. ‘It’s a terrible thing, the mail-in voting,’ said President Donald Trump earlier this year. ‘They send ballots out everywhere, millions of them, and there’s no control. No more crooked mail-in ballots!’ That’s some loud megaphoning, when state parties and American presidents use their considerable platforms to repeatedly trash something. With that much smoke blowing, there must be some fire? As it turns out, this supposedly flimflam balloting system just got a real-world stress test, here in Washington state.”

How Many States Does It Take To Steal an Election? One, and It Already Happened. (Gerry)

From The Existentialist Republic: “Eighteen states have handed their complete voter files to the Trump Justice Department, the drivers license and Social Security numbers of every registered voter included. Between them, those eighteen states hold 148 US House seats, 36 Senate seats, and 184 electoral votes, roughly two thirds of what it takes to run the House, the Senate, and the White House. The administration does not need every state to comply for an effective election theft apparatus and they’re pushing on a dozen fronts at once. Only a few need to be successful for the federal election apparatus to be compromised.”

Constitution Doesn’t Cover Right To Clean Water, Court Rules (Sean)

The author writes, “The US Constitution doesn’t provide a right to clean drinking water or accurate information from public officials, a divided federal appeals court ruled. The decision affirms the dismissal of a lawsuit over alleged lead-contaminated drinking water in Jackson, Mississippi. The full US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit found that the lawsuit from the Jackson residents alleged violations of due process rights not granted by the Constitution. In a majority opinion by Judge Kurt Engelhardt, the appeals court said there was no historical basis to find such rights fall under that clause. ‘The Constitution does not provide redress for every governmental wrongdoing,’ Engelhardt said.”

The Poorest in the US Can’t Find Housing Even as Low-Income Units Sit Empty (Reader Jim)

The author writes, “The poorest people in the U.S. face the most acute shortages of affordable homes. But the majority of low-income housing financed in recent years is for those earning 50% of an area’s median income or above, according to a survey of state housing agencies. Some cities are now seeing an uptick in vacancies as rents for these units approach market rates. The result: Apartments designated as affordable sit empty because the poorest of the poor cannot afford them.”

Empowering Guatemalan Villagers Plagued by Plastic (Laura)

From Inside Climate News: “Indigenous Xinca villagers burn plastic to dispose of it and stoke cooking fires, unwittingly exposing themselves, their children and environment to deadly pollutants. An ambitious project aims to change that.”

Scientists Reveal How Breathwork Unlocks Psychedelic Bliss in the Brain (Mili)

The author writes, “High-ventilation breathwork with music can evoke psychedelic-like states, shifting blood flow in the brain and reducing negative emotions. Participants experienced unity and bliss, pointing to a natural therapeutic tool with powerful potential.” 

At 91, He Just Reclaimed His Age Record on the Appalachian Trail (Russ)

From The New York Times: “Dale Sanders was about 1,000 feet from the end of the Appalachian Trail when he lost his balance. The 91-year-old, who is known by the trail name ‘Grey Beard,’ was headed to the summit of Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine and the trail’s northern terminus. The weather on the mountain is too harsh for much besides lichen to grow, and he fell heavily onto sharp granite. He lay on the ground and prayed. After a few minutes, he was able to get to his feet. Soon, he was standing on the summit, having reclaimed his record as the oldest person to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.”