PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.

Venezuela Bracing for Revolution (Jeff C.)

South American nation in the midst of economic collapse now facing turbulence after the socialist government blocked a presidential recall referendum.

Japan, Other Whaling Nations Defeat Plan for Sanctuary (Russ)

A minority of countries belonging to the international whaling authority didn’t want to protect whales, dolphins or porpoises — but approval of the sanctuary required that three-quarters of the members agree.

City Clerk Tried to Block Democrats (Russ)

Email shows she didn’t want to enable student early voting, worried that it would benefit Dems.

The Mystery of What’s Killing the Honey Bees (Reader Tigoni)

When variety is the spice of death: Fungicides, herbicides and insecticides — and nearly 100 different pesticides — are what’s killing honeybees more than any single one.

November 8th and Marijuana (Jimmy)

Besides voting for a Commander-in-Chief on November 8, about 20% of states will vote on marijuana policy. Five states will decide on adult recreational use, and four states on medical use.

Strange Source of Hope for Fighting Antibiotic Resistant Bugs (Milicent)

In the milk and pouch lining of the Tasmanian devil — a small Australian animal — are amino acids capable of killing MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant bug that is often fatal to humans. Scientists at Sydney University are trying to create a synthetic version of these germ-fighting chemicals.

Why America Should Quit Saudi Arabia’s War In Yemen (Trevin)

Around 4,000 civilians have died so far, all in the name of restoring a government sympathetic to the royal family. And blowback against America’s involvement has now begun.

Great Gadget for Stimulating the Brain (Milicent)

It’s called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) — a safe zap of electricity — and it ramps up that area of the brain associated with creativity, reports the journal Cerebral Cortex. But you won’t be able to buy this zapper at Radio Shack yet, nor should you try to create one at home out of spare parts.  

Obama Administration Looks to Take Seriously Police Brutality (Jesse)

More than 2 years later, the Department of Justice intends to charge officer Pantaleo in the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner (a move explicitly outlawed by the NYPD). Garner’s cries of “I can’t breathe” have since become a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter and anti-police brutality activists.

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