Technically, This Is the Most Perfect Stretch of Beach In the World – Thrillist

East Coast of Australia: The Most Beautiful Beaches & Islands to Visit - Thrillist

Theres a pretty well-worn backpacker route that runs from Southeast Asia all the way down to New Zealand. Its spine is the east coast of Australia, from maybe as far north as Darwin to as far south as Adelaide, but definitely from Cairns down to at least Sydney. Theres a reason visitors favor this part of the continent. Perth is gorgeous but geographically isolated; Uluru is finally closed as a tourist attraction, a thing it never should have become in the first place. But that eastern coast is stuffed with back-to-back wonders; many of them famous, others less so. And one in particular that might be the most famous -- whether you know its name or not:

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Whitehaven is famous for a specific and undeniable reason: It has the whitest sand of any beach in the world, composed of 98% pure silica. Ive been there once and, four years later, can still see the afterimage burned into my retinas. Whitehaven is only accessible by boat or seaplane, so this is something youll have to join a tour group for rather than visiting independently. The water is shallow and warm and bright, and you wade through it alongside little lemon shark pups, squinting against a blinding stretch of white in every direction.

Whitehaven is just one part (albeit the most iconic one) of the larger Whitsundays, a collection of 74 remote islands nestled between the coastline and the Great Barrier Reef. If youve ever dreamed of seeing the reef in person, or have a newly burning desire to see it before it becomes a pile of Styrofoam, this is where you should go.

God this was fun. Fraser is another one for which youll need to join a tour, unless you happen to have your own car with serious 4WD. But Fraser Island group tours will place you in such a car and let you all take turns driving, which on my particular trip involved two minor accidents (NOT while I was driving), a medium amount of road rage, and a lot of stress, but the greatest possible amount of fun. Youll drive through shallow water along the beach, camp overnight, cook, drink, float down a river, and negotiate outhouses guarded by plate-sized spiders. Also, dingoes! Dingos live on Fraser Island. I should have led with that. You can see dingos here.

Sunshine Coast is just south of Fraser Island and contains a succession of dreamy beaches and national parks. You can splash into swimming holes hidden in the rainforest of Kondalilla National park; walk barefoot along Sunshine beach; and wander to the edge of the mesmerizing Mooloolaba Spit.

Noosa is one of the towns youll find along the Sunshine Coast. The main beach is a long-time favorite among surfers and a must-see for anyone passing through the region. Noosa National Park is enchanting in its own right, but has the added bonus of being a great place to see some koalas, if youre into that sort of thing.

Continuing our journey down the coast, we next come to Queensland's capitol city, which sits on the Brisbane River. Brisbane is often overlooked by tourists in favor of the more fashionable Sydney and Melbourne, but at the very least you should take a day and stop at Streets Beach -- the only inner-city beach in the country. Also, Brisbane is an excellent location to befriend some more koalas.

Below Brisbane lies the Gold Coast, where youll find long, long stretches of pristine beaches and all the good surfing sports you could ever ask for. Theres an abundance of hikable rainforest here too, but dont leave right away once youve finished getting into nature -- the city is known for its nightlife, too.

Below the Gold Coast we next come to Byron Bay. Lots of stops along this route get deservedly hyped up as surfing spots, but Byron Bay is the full experience -- a town that lives and breathes surf culture. It has all the charm of a (comparatively) smaller town, and yet you still get all the backpacking standbys: cafes, beachside bars, snorkeling, and even scuba diving and whale watching if thats what youre after.MORE: The best scuba diving destinations around the world

One of the most iconic beaches anywhere -- not just Australia, but anywhere in the world. A few miles from downtown Sydney, Bondi is massive. You can surf, you can swim, you can stay on land admiring the suspiciously endless parade of hot people walking past. Make sure to visit during the weekend to browse the beach markets, where you can get your lunch (and souvenirs) from scores of local vendors.

Just inland from Sydney lies Blue Mountains National Park, and first off its important to know that this is a choice destination for spotting kangaroos. But Blue Mountains National Park is worth visiting largely because it looks like something out of Avatar. Its also home to an adventure theme park where you can ride the worlds steepest passenger railway, or walk along a skyway suspended in the rainforest canopy.MORE: Heres an Australian golf course with 300 resident kangaroos

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Kastalia Medranois Thrillist's Travel Writer. You can send her travel tips atkmedrano@thrillist.com, and Venmo tips at@kastaliamedrano.

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Technically, This Is the Most Perfect Stretch of Beach In the World - Thrillist

Lee and Collier County upgrading tools to keep SWFL beaches clean – Wink News

Southwest Florida

A solution is coming for the effects of the red tide that is sticking around at high concentrations in Collier and Lee Counties.

There have been dead fish washing up for weeks, and on Wednesday, Naples is buying a critical tool to help keep your favorite beaches clean.

The city cant come through and remove all the fish by hand, so to clean up the beaches, they rely on large beach rakes. Right now, one of the beach rakes is too worn out to be able to do its job.

The one they want to replace is more than 15 years old and is no longer useful when it comes to clearing dead fish and debris.

Since it is not working properly, the city plans to spend $55,000 for a new one.

Beach clean up is important now more than ever with high and medium levels of red tide detected up and down the coast.

Lee County uses the same type of rake to clean the beaches as well. The machines are designed to scoop the dead marine life without creating a bigger mess.

If council signs off, Naples will trade in their old one and get a new rake within 2 months.

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Lee and Collier County upgrading tools to keep SWFL beaches clean - Wink News

Thousands of Glorious ‘Ice Eggs’ Wash Up on Finnish Beach – Livescience.com

Smooth balls of ice rolled ashore on a beach in Finland and piled up like a gigantic clutch of turtles' eggs.

But where did these "ice eggs" come from? Turns out, the frigid orbs were sculpted by a peculiar combination of weather and waves, according to news reports.

Amateur photographer Risto Mattila stumbled upon the strange sight while walking with his wife on Hailuoto Island, a land mass between Finland and Sweden, according to BBC News. The temperature hovered around 32 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 1 degree Celsius) that day, he said, and the wind whipped across the beach. "There, we found this amazing phenomenon. There was snow and ice eggs along the beach near the water line," he told the BBC.

Related: The World's 7 Most Interesting Eggs

The "ice eggs" littered an area the length of about one-quarter of a football field and ranged in size from that of an average chicken egg to that of a hefty soccer ball, Mattila said. He snapped a photo, noting that he had "never seen anything like this during 25 years living in the vicinity."

Others came upon the ice eggs, too. "This was [an] amazing phenomenon, [I've] never seen before. The whole beach was full of these ice balls," Tarja Terentjeff, who lives in the nearby town of Oulu, told CNN. Another local, Sirpa Tero, told CNN she'd seen icy orbs line the shoreline before, "but not over such a large area."

Although fairly rare, these ice eggs form similarly to sea glass or rounded stones that wash up on the beach, said BBC Weather expert George Goodfellow. Chunks of ice break off from larger ice sheets in the sea and either taxi to shore on the incoming tide or get pushed in by gusts of wind at the water's surface, he explained. Waves buffet the ice chunks as they travel, slowly eroding their jagged edges into smooth curves. Seawater sticks and freezes to the forming eggs, causing them to grow like snowballs do as they roll across the ground.

Once the ice chunks reach shore, pounding waves tend to buff out any lingering kinks on their surfaces, leaving behind nothing but sleek and shiny "eggs" for curious tourists to happen upon.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Suspect and victim in deadly shooting ID’d – WPTV.com

SUBURBAN LAKE WORTH BEACH, Fla. -- Deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office responded to a shooting in the 4300 block of Cambridge St. in unincorporated Lake Worth Beach on Sunday at 11 a.m.

When deputies arrived at the scene, they found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. A short distance away, law enforcement found another man suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Both men were transported to the hospital.

One of the men died and was identified Monday as 38-year-old Alberto Hernandez.

According to PBSO, an altercation led to the gunfire.

The sheriff's office says as a result of its investigation deputies have arrested 19-year-old James Bryant and charged him with the killing as well as using a firearm during a felony.

PBSO said he will not make a first appearance in court Monday because he's being treated for injuries at a hospital.

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Suspect and victim in deadly shooting ID'd - WPTV.com

IVGID to discuss golf carts, tennis center, bocce ball, beach house and summer wrap up – Tahoe Daily Tribune

The Incline Village General Improvement District will address agenda items this week that were mostly pushed off at the last months meeting.

Issues for the Board of Trustees include deciding on the leasing of gas golf carts, an issue many community members have expressed concern about in prior meetings. Several people have said theyd rather the board focus on repairing the cart paths rather than getting new golf carts.

The board will also address the tennis center renovation and finding a location for bocce ball courts.

While the search for a new finance director is ongoing, the board is moving forward, deciding on spending for these projects.

Some new items have been included on the agenda.

Interim District General Manager Indra Winquest will present a beach wrap up and Director of Golf/Community Services Darren Howard will give a wrap up report from the Mountain and Championship golf courses for the 2019 season.

The board will also discuss the possibility of a cost share funding agreement with the State of Nevada, Division of Environmental Protection.

The goal of this funding would be to study and reduce microplastic pollution in Lake Tahoe. It would require a $46,366 commitment from Tahoe Water Suppliers Association which is managed by IVGID, as well as, funding commitments from Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center.

The board will also reconsider the Incline Beach House project, a new beachfront hospitality center that was considered and tabled in March 2017.

The project has been identified as a priority in the Incline Village Community Service Master Plan. The new building would replace an existing building. In the 2017 proposal, the project was estimated to cost about $2 million. The same proposal is being presented at the meeting but that estimation does not account for inflation.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Chateau, 955 Fairway Boulevard, Incline Village, Nev.

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IVGID to discuss golf carts, tennis center, bocce ball, beach house and summer wrap up - Tahoe Daily Tribune

150kg of diamond cocaine washes up on French beaches, locals urged against treasure hunting – RT

Dozens of cocaine-containing packets labelled diamante have washed ashore on beaches along Frances Atlantic coastline, and more are likely to come, with police now warning residents against helping themselves.

Small one-pound packages wrapped in several layers of black plastic and cellophane have become a regular sight on the French Atlantic coast since late October. The bricks sport diamante or brilliante labels, but while their contents are precious, they are not filled with gemstones rather, with 80-90 percent pure cocaine, as several tests have shown.

The first package was discovered in Saint-Jean-de-Monts on October 18. Since then, things have escalated, with Le Parisien reporting Saturday, citing police sources, that new packages with the drug are now being discovered almost every hour.

In total, nearly 150kg (330 pounds) worth millions of dollars have been recovered on the beaches so far, including 36kg found scattered on a stretch of 10km in just one day, a find with an estimated street value of 3mn.

A massive law enforcement effort has been underway to locate and retrieve the white gold before it falls into the wrong, or even all-too-willing, hands.

The French authorities have warned beach-goers against attempting to beat police to the task.

Be careful not to believe in television series, an investigator, cited in the report, said. If a layperson finds and then attempts to sell the drug on the street they will have to deal with real thugs, he noted, while consuming cocaine of such high quality is bound to take a heavy toll.

The origin of the cocaine still remains a mystery. Investigators are looking into several versions, including cargo being dropped from a freighter or a sailboat from South America or the West Indies getting caught up in a storm and sinking with its cargo.

In early September, similar bricks with the same inscription washed up on a beach in Florida as Hurricane Dorian swept past the state.

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Jersey Shore beach fill project will begin after fight with feds over sand – NJ.com

Three Shore towns are proceeding with beach replenishment projects that have been stalled for years during a fight with the federal government.

Standing in front of the 7th Street area of the beach in North Wildwood on Friday, Congressman Jeff Van Drew, D-2nd Dist., Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi, along with Republican mayors North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello and Stone Harbor Mayor Judy Davies Dunhour, announced the towns would be replenishing their beaches.

Since 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has blocked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from using federally-owned sand from the nearby Hereford Inlet to replenish the beaches. The service wanted the state or the towns themselves to fund the project and find another source of replenishment sand, which they said would have cost $6.5 million.

Since then, the politicians said, the beaches have been suffering.

This area has been obliterated," Rosenello said. You would think that an agency with the name Fish and Wildlife would actually be in the business of preserving fish and wildlife. This interpretation did the exact opposite. It decimated natural areas.

The three mayors, pointing to an Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study showing the need to use the Inlet as a borrowing area, recruited Van Drews help. The Congressman and mayors eventually met with acting Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, who they said listened to the concerns.

Fish and Wildlife had blocked the Inlet from being dredged, but the Department of the Interior overruled the decision, and allowed the project to continue -- using the federal governments inlet.

It is not that we are trying to create an area for more development," Van Drew said. The point of this is to make sure that we save the taxpayers money, and that we use what is appropriate for beach fill to ensure that we protect the area thats so important to us, our beaches.

Rosenello said he grew up in North Wildwood and the area where the press conference was held Friday used to have numerous Bayberry bushes, large dunes, and an abundance of wildlife, which included foxes and migratory birds.

There is no way that we can move the sand from Wildwood quick enough to maintain this area, Rosenello said, suggesting that sand from the Inlet was the only solution to restoring the area.

If there is a legal challenge from the federal government to stop the projects, the towns would be ready to go to court, Pagliughi said.

These three communities are not going to be ruled anymore by low-level management from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife that make decisions on ego instead of science, he said.

A request for comment from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was not immediately returned.

Dunhour pointed to the success of a beach fill project in Stone Harbor Point, also known as South Point. The area had suffered significant erosion in 1990, and South Point was, as Dunhour put it, nonexistent." In 1998, a beach fill project was executed, with another one following in 2003. In 2005, a spit began to form.

If you go to South Point, it is now a mile and a half, Dunhour said. It is used for beach-nesting and a migratory bird habitat with vibrant plant life, and it has grown significantly."

"The Congressmans intervention here and our collaboration is a big win for Stone Harbor, in the resilience point of view, but also from that environmental point of view, he added.

The towns will now begin to apply for permits to begin the project.

Chris Franklin can be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @cfranklinnews or on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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Ice eggs: Thousands of rare balls of ice cover beach in Finland – CBS News

Seven weird weather phenomenons

A beach in Finland appeared to be covered in thousands of eggs this week, but an up-close look shows those white spheres are not shells, they are actually made out of ice. An amateur photographer came across the "ice eggs" on Hailuoto Island, located between Finland and Sweden.

The photographer, Risto Mattila, told BBC he has never seen anything like it before and experts say the "ice eggs" are actually rare. The phenomenon is caused when small pieces of ice are rolled over by wind and water, according to BBC News.

"That was an amazing view. I have never seen anything like this during 25 years living in the vicinity," he said.

While the smallest of the ice balls were the size of eggs, the biggest ones were the size of footballs and they can get even bigger, up to 3 feet, BBC News reports. According to Mattila, the eggs covered about 100 feet of beach near the waterline.

Mattila said he went to the island on a cold, windy day, which is prime conditions for this phenomenon, according to BBC Weather expert George Goodfellow. "The general picture is that they form from pieces of larger ice sheet which then get jostled around by waves, making them rounder," he said.

"They can grow when sea water freezes on to their surfaces and this also helps to make them smoother," Goodfellow added. "So the result is a ball of smooth ice which can then get deposited on to a beach, either blown there or getting left there when the tide goes out."

Similar "ice eggs" have been spotted in Russia and even on Lake Michigan in Chicago.

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Ice eggs: Thousands of rare balls of ice cover beach in Finland - CBS News

Several Birds Found Dead On Huntington Beach Test Positive For Very Unexpected Type Of Botulism – CBS Los Angeles

HUNTINGTON BEACH (CBSLA) Several Western gulls which were found dead on Huntington Beach last month have unexpectedly tested positive for a type of botulism which is more commonly detected in humans.

The nonprofit Wetland and Wildlife Care Center (WWCC) initially reported that eight Western gulls were discovered dead, and four more in critical condition, on Oct. 10 at high tide on Huntington Beach.

The four gulls found alive were unable to move or close their eyes. One of them died and the other three survived after being cared for by WWCC staff.

The University of California, Davis conducted necropsies on five of the deceased gulls and discovered that they had the toxin botulism type A, which is more common in humans and often caused by improperly canned food, the WWCC reported Friday.

In a news release, the WWCC explained that gulls infected with botulism usually have type C or type E.

Over the past few weeks, five more gulls have been brought in to WWCC showing similar symptoms. Two of those have since died.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, botulism is a rare bacterial illness in which a toxin attacks the bodys nerves. It can cause difficulty breathes, muscle paralysis and even death. It can be transmitted through contaminated foods or if the spores of the bacteria get into a wound.

The WWCC is asking the public to bring any gulls they see to their animal hospital, which is located at 21900 Pacific Coast Highway.

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Several Birds Found Dead On Huntington Beach Test Positive For Very Unexpected Type Of Botulism - CBS Los Angeles

Feature: Long Beach Poly’s James Chubba Maae In The Middle Of It All – The562.org

Long Beach Polys roster lists senior James Chubba Maae with a series of numbers: he wears jersey number 53, hes 62, and he weighs 335 pounds.

As significant as those numbers may be, they dont tell the story of Maaes significance to the Jackrabbits football program. The captain has played all over the teams offensive line and has been dominant at defensive tackle as well, impacting almost every play of every game. His skill and size have earned him several Division 1 scholarship offers, but even that info doesnt fully tell the story.

Hes a real leader, and he does everything the right way, said Poly coach Stephen Barbee after a recent practice. You want a whole team full of James Maaes.

Maae started playing tackle football at the age of four, when his uncle told his mom to bring him out to the Long Beach Browns, since Maae already towered over most other kids his age. His nickname came from his cousin, Samoana Poyer.

When I was born, everyone called me chubs, he said. She couldnt say it, she kept calling me Chubba, so it just stuck.

His first year of football, Maae played at fullback. Since then, hes been a lifelong lineman, playing on offense and defense, and learning to appreciate both. Hes a ferocious competitor and is often cheered by his teammates as he plows a defender 20 yards downfield on a block. But hes also a happy warrior, quick to put his arm around a teammate literally and metaphorically.

Hes everyones friend, but he holds everyone accountable, said Barbee. Hes the hardest worker on the team, and he leads by example, not by talkingon the field, and in the classroom. He makes sure everyone feels at home, whether youre a freshman or a senior.

The above characteristics all apply to Maae, but they also apply to other Polynesian players to have come through Poly over the years. Maae is a leader in his community as well, having been chosen by teammates and coaches to lead the teams pre-game patia chant.

One of the joys at Poly for Maae this year has been the influx of Polynesian players in the programs lower levels. For decades, Polynesian players filled Polys roster, but their presence had waned in the last few years.

When I was younger all my cousins played here, and I would shadow them at school, there was a whole bunch of Samoans, he said. The last few years, there werent that many of usits great know, its like having a family away from home.

Barbee is happy to have more Polynesian players involved this year, and to have a senior leader among their ranks.

The Polynesian community had dwindled a little when I got here, he said. We had five players in the programthis year we have 31. As a culture and a community they bring a sense of hard work and honesty and family. There are high expectations, and James has been a big part of bringing everyone together.

Long Beach Poly will play at Rancho Cucamonga this Friday in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals.

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Feature: Long Beach Poly's James Chubba Maae In The Middle Of It All - The562.org

Seattle faith groups reckon with AI and what it means to be truly human – Seattle Times

On a recent Sunday at the Queen Anne Lutheran Church basement, parishioners sat transfixed as the Rev. Dr. Ted Peters discussed an unusual topic for an afternoon assembly: Can technology enhance the image of God?

Peters discussion focused on a relatively new philosophical movement. Its followers believe humans willtranscend their physical and mental limitations with wearable and implantable devices.

The movement, called transhumanism, claims that in the future, humans will be smarter and stronger and may even overcome aging and death through developments in fields such as biotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI).

What does it mean to be truly human? Peters asked in a voice that boomed throughout the church basement, in a city that boasts one of the worlds largest tech hubs. The visiting reverend urged the 30 congregants in attendance to consider the question during a time when being human sounds optional to some people.

Its sad; it makes me feel a lot of grief, a congregant said, shaking her head in disappointment.

Organized religions have long served as an outlet for humans to explore existential questions about their place in the universe, the nature of consciousness and free will. But as AI blurs the lines between the digital and physical worlds, fundamental beliefs about the essence of humanity are now called into question.

While public discourse around advanced technologies has mostly focused on changes in the workforce and surveillance, religious followers say the deeper implications of AI could be soul-shifting.

It doesnt surpriseJames Wellman, a University of Washington professor and chair of the Comparative Religion Program, that people of faith are interested in AI. Religious observers place their faith in an invisible agent known as God, whom they perceive as benevolent and helpful in their lives. The use of technology evokes a similar phenomenon, such as Apples voice assistant Siri, who listens and responds to them.

That sounds an awful lot like what people do when they think about religion, Wellman said.

When Dr. Daniel Peterson became the pastor of the Queen Anne Lutheran Church three years ago, he hoped to explore issues meaningful both to his congregants and to secular people.

Petersons fascination with AI, as a lifelong science-fiction fan, belies a skepticism in the ubiquity of technology: Hes opted out of Amazons voice assistant Alexa in his house and said he gets nervous about cameras on cellphones and computers.

He became interested in looking at AI from a spiritual dimension after writing an article last year aboutthe depiction of technologies such as droidsin Star Wars films. In Petersons eyes, artificially intelligent machines in the films areequipped with a sense of mission that enables them to think and act like humans without needing to be preprogrammed.

His examination of AI yielded more questions than answers: What kind of bias or brokenness are we importing in the artificial intelligence were designing? Peterson pondered. If AI developed consciousness, what sort of philosophical and theological concerns does that raise?

Peterson invited his church and surrounding community to explore these questions and more in the three-part forum called Will AI Destroy Us?, which kicked off with a conversation held by Carissa Schoenick from the Seattle-based Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, followed by Peters discussion on transhumanism, and concluded with Petersons talk on his own research around AI in science-fiction films.

Held from late September to early October, the series sought to fillwhat Peterson called a silence among faith leaders about the rise of AI. Peterson and other religious observers are now eager to take part in a new creation story of sorts: Local initiatives held in places of worship and educational institutions are positioning Seattle as a testing ground for the intersection of AI and religion.

The discussion on transhumanism drew members of the community unaffiliated with the church, including David Brenner, the board chair of Seattle-based organization AI and Faith. The consortium membership spans across belief systems and academic institutions in an effort to bring major religions into the discussion around the ethics of AI, and how to create machines that evoke human flourishing and avoids unnecessary, destructive problems, Brenner said in an interview at the church. As Brenner spoke, a few congregants remained in the basement to fervently chat about the symposium.

The questions that are being presented by AI are fundamental life questions that have now become business [ones], said Brenner, a retired lawyer. Values includinghuman dignity, privacy, free will, equality and freedom are called into question through the development of machines.

Should robots ever have rights, or is it like giving your refrigerator rights even if they can function just like us? Brenner said.

Religious leaders around the world are starting to weigh in. Last April, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission the public-policy section of the Southern Baptist Convention published a set of guidelines on AI adoption that affirms the dominion of humans and encourages the minimization of human biases in technology. It discourages the creation of machines that take over jobs, relegating humans to a life of leisure devoid of work, wrote the authors.

In a speech to a Vatican conference in September, Pope Francis echoed the guidelines sentiment by urging tech companies and diplomats to deploy AI in an ethical manner that ensures machines dont replace human workers. If mankinds so-called technological progress were to become an enemy of the common good, this would lead to a form of barbarism dictated by the law of the strongest, he said, according to The Associated Press.

On the other hand, some faith perspectives have cropped up in recent years that hold AI at the center of their value systems. Former Google and Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski formed Way of the Future church in 2017 with the aim of creating a peaceful transition into an imminent world where machines surpass human capabilities. The churchs website argues thathumanrights should be extended to machines, and that we should clear the path for technology to take charge as it grows in intelligence.

We believe it may be important for machines to see who is friendly to their cause and who is not, the websitewarns.

But Yasmin Ali, a practicing Muslim and AI and Faith member, has seen AI used as a tool for good and bad. While Ali believes technology can make peoples lives easier, she has also seen news reports and heard stories from her community about such tools being used to profile members of marginalized communities. China, for instance, has used facial-recognition technology to surveil Uighur Muslim minorities in the western region, according to a recent New York Times investigation.

I think we need to get more diversity with the developers who provide AI, so they can get diverse thoughts and ideas into the software, Ali said. The Bellevue-based company she founded called Skillspire strives to do just that by training diverse workers in tech courses such as coding and cybersecurity.

We have to make sure that those values of being human goes into what were building, Ali said. Its like teaching kids you have to be polite, disciplined.

Back at Queen Anne Lutheran, congregants expressed hope that the conversation would get the group closer to understanding and making peace with changes in society, just as churches have done for hundreds of years.

Bainbridge Island resident Monika Aring believes the rise of AI calls for an ongoing inquiry at faith-based places of worship on the role of such technologies. She shared the dismay she felt when her friend, a pastor of another congregation, said the church has largely become irrelevant.

It mustnt be. This is the time for us to have these conversations, she said. I think we need some kind of moral compass,one that ensures humans and the Earth continue to thrive amid the advancement of AI.

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Seattle faith groups reckon with AI and what it means to be truly human - Seattle Times

6 Celebrities Whove Gone Vegan, From Miley Cyrus to Ariana Grande – Refinery29

"When you come down to it, it just depends on what your diet is made up of," Jen Bruning, MS, RDN, LDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Chicago and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, previously told Refinery29. The idea that [veganism] an automatic improvement in health or nutrition is probably one of the biggest myths.There's also evidence that meat such as fish and chicken are good for you. And a recent recommendation in The Annals of Internal Medicinenoted that red and processed meat isn't as bad for us as previously believed. With that said, plenty of people have tried going vegan or are vegan including some of your favorite celebrities. November is World Vegan Month, according to The Vegan Society, and many may take this as an opportunity to reaffirm their allegiance to the vegan community or try it out for the first time. So if you need some inspiration to give up your favorite burger spot, here are a few stars who've tried it for reasons ranging from the environment to their health.

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6 Celebrities Whove Gone Vegan, From Miley Cyrus to Ariana Grande - Refinery29

Justin Bieber Thinks Vegans Should Get Paid $100K a Year – LIVEKINDLY

Justin Bieber believes vegans should be given $100,000 a year.

American rapper Riff Raff shared a post on Twitter which said, I just remembered I can run for president. He listed the changes he would make if he was elected, which include free health care, free college, and no taxes. If you are vegan you get $100k a year, the rapper added.

Bieber shared the post on his Instagram Story to his 121 million followers. The 25-year-old celebrity added vote stickers to the post.

In 2017, Bieber was spotted enjoying a vegan breakfast with his former flame, Selena Gomez. The pair dined at JOi Caf, an organic, plant-based cafe in California.

Biebers interest in cruelty-free living spans further than diet. In May 2019, the artist teamed up with Schmidts Naturals to launch a cruelty-free, vegan deodorant.

The deodorant is called Here + Now. Its made with natural ingredients like coconut oil and arrowroot powder.

The time was right to make something happen and bring to life an exclusive product collaboration that will bring new fans into thenaturalscategory,Schmidts CEO and co-founder Michael CammaratatoldPEOPLE.If Justin can make the switch from conventional tonatural, its a choice thats open to everyone.

Here + Now is more than just a deodorant, Cammarata said. Its a lifestyle and a connection to those around you. Its about the small, but intentional choices we make every day that help us to lead happier and healthier lives, mentally and physically.

More high profile names are speaking out about veganism. Seventeen-year-old singer-songwriter Billie Eilish went vegan in 2014. On the 10th anniversary of the Meat Free Monday initiative, Eilish encouraged her millions of Instagram followers: Help the world. I try.

Jermaine Dupri, will.i.am, Ariana Grande, and Jason Mraz are all vegan. Miley Cyrus went vegan five years ago and by 2018, she had 16 rescue animals living with her. A$AP Rocky says his plant-based diet helps him to clean my mind, body, and soul.

I started doing research and found out how they treat those animals before they, you know, service them. They inject them with steroids and drugs that enhance their growth. None of that sh*t is healthy, and on top of that those [expletive] animals were stressed and compressed the whole time, he said to Complex. That kind of food going into your body is unhealthy. I dont mean to sound like some weirdo, but it is what it is.

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Justin Bieber Thinks Vegans Should Get Paid $100K a Year

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Singer-songwriter Justin Bieber and rapper Riff Raff think vegans should receive $100,000 a year. Bieber also just designed a cruelty-free, vegan deodorant.

Author

Jemima Webber

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LIVEKINDLY

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Justin Bieber Thinks Vegans Should Get Paid $100K a Year - LIVEKINDLY

Vegan in NJ: VegFest returns to feed thousands at the Meadowlands Expo Center – Asbury Park Press

In just four years, the New Jersey Vegan Food Festival has evolved into a cultural force across the Garden State, advocating for a plant-based lifestyle.

It's launched events in cities from Secaucus to Atlantic City, drawing thousands of attendees and featuring appearances by vegan luminaries such as Democratic New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, Wu-Tang Clan mastermind RZA and record-breaking ultramarathon runner Scott Jurek.

Watch a video of Cory Booker's appearance at an Asbury Park vegan pop-up in the player at the top of this story.

But it all started with a simple goal: "I really just wanted something to eat," said co-founder Kendra Arnold.

[ Want more vegan news? Download our mobile app today. ]

New Jersey VegFest, seen in these shots from 2017, returns to the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus on Nov. 16 and 17.(Photo: Courtesy of Janet Zappasodi)

On the scene: Must-try vegan restaurants in NJ, NYC and Philadelphia

Based in Morristown, Arnold and her co-founder, Marisa Sweeney, launched their endeavoras a one-day, 30-vendor gathering at a Morristown hotel in 2016. When the event returns to the Meadowlands Expo Center in Secaucus on Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17, there will be approximately 170 vendors and thousands of attendees.

The big weekend, the largest event in the organization's history, is set to include food and drink vendors from across the region as well as live music from Buntopia and the Ocean Avenue Stompers, tunes from DJs Candace V and Chef Rootsie, andscreenings of Simon Amstell's mockumentary "Carnage." There will be trail hikes, a women's networking event, a kids area and more.

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"As veganism has grown and that curiosity and that awareness has grown, it's allowed our event to grow," said Sweeney, noting that planing for the Meadowlands gathering is a year-round process.

'Game changing':Jon Stewart talks benefits of plant-based diet at Monmouth U

Sweeney said she and Arnold work towardbeing "accommodating to what people are really looking for. People are looking for more local vendors and they're looking for health food and comfort food and they're looking for drinks and they're looking for lifestyle products."

The booming popularity of Arnold and Sweeney's operation, which included an epic July festival in Atlantic City, is part of a movement towardgreater accessibility and interest in vegan products.

NJ restaurants: 12 new restaurants at the Jersey Shore

These days, it's easy to find the meatless Impossible Burger at Burger King or a Beyond Sausage Sandwich at Dunkin', and there are hundreds of plant-based options coming to Disney's theme parks.

New Jersey VegFest, seen in these shots from 2017, returns to the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus on Nov. 16 and 17.(Photo: Courtesy of Janet Zappasodi)

"Once a choice is put infront of (people), like at Burger King, if they can have a vegan burger or a regular burger, it sounds like a lot of people are going for the vegan burgers just because it's an option," said Arnold."Before you didn't have that choice, and now you doso people are opting to make that choice and seeing more and more places have it, it's pretty exciting."

We tried the new plant-based Impossible burger and compared it to Beyond Meat. Grateful

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17

Where: Meadowlands Exposition Center, 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus

Tickets: $15 per day, $20 for a weekend pass if purchased by Friday, Nov. 15, $20 per day and $30 for the weekend at the door, kids 13 and under free.

Info:sprouteverywhereevents.com/events-new-jersey-vegfest

Become an Asbury Park Press subscriber today and get unlimited digital access and support stories like this one.

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Vegan in NJ: VegFest returns to feed thousands at the Meadowlands Expo Center - Asbury Park Press

These 19 Celebrities Ate Vegan Wings on Hot Ones – LIVEKINDLY

If youve ever clicked onto YouTube, its likely youve come across the name Hot Ones. The web series is a favorite for many, with millions of viewers flocking to watch the latest video of the show with hot questions, and even hotter wings. Created in 2015, the interview-style series now boasts more than 160 episodes.

Hot Ones was created by Christopher Schonberger. Its produced by Complex Media and First We Feast, the latter of which shares the videos on its YouTube channel. First We Feast has 7.45 million subscribers and its channel has amassed more than 1.1 billion views.

Hot Ones is hosted by Sean Evans, an American YouTuber and producer. The web series concept sees Evans interviewing a celebrity guest whilst the pair chow down on wings. The wings are dipped in hot sauce and the sauce gets spicier every round. There are 10 rounds and 10 wings. The first sauce is typically something mild, like Sriracha, which has a Scoville rating of 2,200. The final round can include sauces with a Scoville rating of 2,000,000+.

As the show progresses, the guests struggle more and more to get through both the wings and the questions. Theyre offered ice and glasses of water and milk to cool the burn. Guests who cant eat all 10 wings are added to the shows Hall of Shame.

Most Hot Ones guests eat chicken wings on the show, however, Evans offers a vegan option, too. Many guests also choose plant-based milk like soy or oat rather than cows milk to counter the effects of the hot sauce. Whatever the guests eat and drink, Evans does the same.

During one segment, Evans told celebrity guest Kristen Bell that he backs the idea of eating vegan a couple of days a week. He explained that animal products harm the planet and public health. You eat so much terrible stuff, he said. So I think that you know, its good not to have the wing thing all the time.

And according to a Tweet from 2017, he may even prefer the vegan version. Writing about the vegan wings, Evans said on Twitter, Far and away the best-tasting wings weve ever had on Hot Ones.'

Billie Eilish appeared on Hot Ones earlier this year. The 17-year-old vegan musician conquered all 10 meat-free wings and came back for more, taking extra bites of the hottest plant-based wing. Eilish drank water and soy milk and crunched on ice to cool the burn.

The songwriter has been vegan since around 2014. She frequently uses her platform to raise awareness about animal cruelty. On the 10th anniversary of the Meat-Free Monday campaign, she encouraged 41.4 million Instagram followers to get involved, writing, Help the world. I try.

Natalie Portman hasnt eaten meat since she was nine-years-old, so naturally, the actor and filmmaker went for plant-based wings for her episode of Hot Ones.

Portman has now been vegan for around eight years. In 2017, Portman produced and narrated a documentary called Eating Animals which looks at the environmental, economic, and health risks linked to factory farming. Evans said to Portman that watching the documentary made me really consider the future of this show.

Portman commented: If everyone cut out meat, dairy, and eggs from one of their meals a day or from one day a week that would make such a huge impact environmentally and with how many animals are put into difficult conditions.

English actor, comedian, and director Ricky Gervais tackled the Hot Ones challenge in 2017 with spicy vegan wings. Gervais is a longtime vegetarian, but its been rumored that the entertainer has now gone vegan. During his Hot Ones segment, Evans highlighted Gervais longtime obsession with cheese but spoke about it in the past tense. He showed the actor images of cheese to get his opinion of them from your cheese days.

When I used to have cheese and beans on toast it was always a mature cheddar, Gervais said.

Gervais is an animal rights activist. He speaks out against trophy hunting, animal testing, horse racing, and the fur trade.

British television presenter, fashion designer, and longtime vegetarian Alex Chung snacked on vegan chicken for her 2017 episode of Hot Ones. Her preference for animal-free food goes further than diet; when Chung launched her eponymous fashion label, she promised to never use fur, angora, or exotic skins in any of her designs.

Sixty-seven-year-old Jeff Goldblum graced the season six finale of Hot Ones in August 2018. The actor answered Evans questions whilst feasting on tofu and tempeh wings.

A month later, Goldblum bumped into vegan filmmaker Kevin Smith at the vegan fast-casual chain, Veggie Grill. Smith wrote about the encounter online, saying, Makes sense that hes plant-based, considering he was almost eaten that one time,alongside a gif of Goldblum running from a tyrannosaurus rex in the 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park.

Weird Al Yankovic has been eating meat-free food since 1992. And that didnt change for his 2018 Hot Ones episode when the singer-songwriter chowed down on vegan wings. Hes not usually a fan of plant-based meat, though. Yankovic told PETA in 2016 that he prefers to fuel his body with vegetables, fruit, juices, rice, and pasta.

When it comes to food, actor Vanessa Hudgens doesnt stick to the status quo (if you know, you know). The 30-year-old High School Musical star ate vegan wings with Evans on her Hot Ones segment. Hudgens is a pescatarian, but said the vegan wings were really delicious.

Im actually not a vegetarian but Im trying to become better, Paul Rudd told Evans during his Hot Ones segment as the pair ate vegan cauliflower wings. The 50-year-old actor conquered all 10 wings on the segment and finished up the segment with a historic dab, whereby he mixed all 10 hot sauces together and dipped a vegan wing in it.

Rudd recently said he avoids killing insects, including stepping on ants, because he doesnt believe he is better than them. Am I really so much better than a spider?he asked.

English comedian and actor Russell Brand stopped eating meat at age 14 because its mean to animals. The entertainer has dipped in and out of veganism since then. He recently returned to his vegan lifestyle, saying on a podcast, When people are awakened, they dont want to have the blood of people or animals on their hands.

For his Hot Ones segment, Brand ate vegan wings from the Temple of Seitan, a London-based vegan takeout shop offering meat-free fried chicken and burgers. Brand said the vegan wings were glorious.

Maisie Williams is the latest vegan celebrity to appear on Hot Ones. The 22-year-old Game of Thrones star ate cauliflower wings and drank oat milk with Evans. During the interview, Williams revealed she almost missed her Game of Thrones audition because she wanted to visit a pig farm. She also spoke about her work on the dramatic thriller Heatstroke, in which she acted alongside hyenas. She explained that you have to respect the incredible animals.

Williams has spoken out against animal testing, the pet trade, and keeping animals confined for human entertainment.

Kristen Bells good place is eating vegan wings with Evans. The 39-year-old actor told the host she was impressed that he offered a meat-free option. Its nice. Youre nice,she added.

Bell has been living meat-free since she was 11-years-old. She hasnt missed eating meat, either. She told Today in 2017, I have no craving for it. Though she isnt vegan anymore (Bell went plant-based in 2012 but transitioned back to vegetarianism shortly after), she commented: I think being vegan is a wonderful way to live and it has great effects on the body. I also think it has really good effects on the environment.

Earlier this year, American comedian Abbi Jacobson appeared on Hot Ones with fellow co-star and co-writer of Comedy Central series Broad City, Ilana Glazer. The pair chowed down on vegan cauliflower wings whilst discussing their careers, weed, and Instagram. Jacobson joked on Twitter afterward: We were sick for two days not because of the hot sauce, but from the huge amount of cauliflower.

During the episode, 32-year-old writer and actor Glazer shared a recipe for Firecracker edibles, which is drunk as a smoothie on Broad City.

You mash up weed into something really fat-based like almond butter Im like a health nut so, I do my Firecrackers with almond butter, she said to Evans.You can put it on a rice cracker, graham cracker, whatever, or you can just put it on a baking sheet and put it in something after.

She added that the Firecracker is to be taken seriously. We would lose our minds,she said.We would go into fetal position in our respective rooms.

RZA was the first vegan to ever appear on Hot Ones. He made his appearance in August 2016, eating plant-based nuggets and drinking almond milk. Evans swapped between animal meat and vegan meat throughout the episode.

RZA told PETA in 2014: Im quite sure [animals] do not wanna be on my plate When you eat [animal products] youre eating that stress, eating that sickness, eating that fear,he said. He added, I dont need a dead animal or dead piece of flesh to go into my live body.

He also said he believes veganism could lead to a better tomorrow.

Canadian actor Thomas Middleditch took to the Hot Ones table in 2017. Middleditch went for meat-free wings, which he said were super tasting.

Two months prior, Middleditch told Food GPS that he was an aspiring vegetarian who loves the fast-casual vegan restaurant, Veggie Grill.

Stunt performer and actor Steve-O best known for his work on Jackass chatted about activism during his Hot Ones episode. Steve-O climbed 150 feet in the air on a construction site with a blow-up toy whale that read SeaWorld sucks. Steve-O has also protested against fur and circuses. The entertainer was once vegan but now eats fish.

American musician Anderson Paak met with Evans in October 2018. Theyre all vegan, are you sure? Paak asked about the nuggets before biting into one (he also made sure the milk was dairy-free). Its all vegan today, Evans assured, and commented that the Almond Breeze milk is so good.

Paak also shouted out the fast-food chain Fatburger, arguing that its better than In-N-Out because, at the time, it was one of the only fast-food spots where you could get the Impossible Burger.

Canadian YouTube star and talk show host Lilly Singh braved spicy meat-free wings on Hot Ones last year. Singh recently opened up about being vegetarian on her new late-night talk show, A Little Late With Lilly Singh. She called herself a proud vegetarian and encouraged her viewers to give the lifestyle a go. She said: I originally decided to become a vegetarian because I figured if I can live without killing an animal, why shouldnt I?

She added, If youre on the fence about becoming a vegetarian, I highly recommend it. Youre saving animals. Youre saving the planet. Youre saving a lot of time at Thanksgiving.

Hot Ones welcomed American comedian Pete Holmes in December 2018. Holmes ate spicy plant-based wings with Evans and chatted about the beliefs surrounding veganism.

We also have to fess up the idea that most of us even though Im a vegan werent vegan for decades and decades and decades so we have to have compassion for people that eat meat or whatever, Holmes said.

He added, Try to eat plants as much as you can. Its good for you and its good for the planet and its good for animals but if you [expletive] up, dont be embarrassed. Thats what were all doing.

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These 19 Celebrities Ate Vegan Wings on Hot Ones

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These 19 celebrities all decided to eschew meat and chow down on spicy vegan wings during their appearance on the popular YouTube series "Hot Ones."

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Healthy Living: The benefits of yoga – ABC27

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season approaching, many will look for a way to relax their mind or body. Yoga may be the answer.

There are different styles of yoga and Brittany Holtz, founder of Studio B Power Yoga, says there is something for everyone.

We were all beginners at one point, says Holtz. Be compassionate to yourself and open to learning.

At Studio B, Holtz offers power vinyasa and yin yoga. She describes power vinyasa flow as a more athletic style while yin yoga is more of a deep stretch for relaxation.

Youre going to build strength, see increased flexibility and get a cardiovascular workout in a power yoga class but theres also mental health benefits, she explains. It really becomes a moving meditation where we do lots of breath work and the focus is connecting your breath with your movement.

The physical health benefits include increased balance, flexibility and strength but there are mental health benefits, too.

What Ive found is that what keeps people coming back is the mental health benefits. They feel calmer, more connected with themselves, they feel more grounded and thats shocking sometimes to some people, says Holtz.

While all levels of ability are welcome in every class, Holtz offers a beginner series for those new to yoga. The next session starts in January.

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101-year-old WWII veteran credits moderation, healthy living as secret to longevity – Daily Herald

Mark McKell of Spanish Fork was two years out of college and living in Provo when he received a draft notice. It was 1942, and he was being asked to join the Army in the fight against Germany in World War II.

The Brigham Young University graduate, who had gotten married a year and a half earlier, boarded a train to Salt Lake on a freezing cold January morning and transferred onto a bus to Fort Douglas. He was sworn in, took his placement exams and headed to Fort Warren in Wyoming.

I was expecting it, McKell said about being drafted. The war had been going on for about two years, and he knew that his participation in it was both imminent and inevitable.

In a way, McKell was destined for the war. He was born on Sept. 17, 1918, less than two months before Germany signed a peace agreement that marked the end of World War I. But he was too young to be drafted for that one, he jokes.

Mckell ended up being stationed in Trinidad, a Caribbean island that is part of the British West Indies, for two years. Though he was never trained to use it, he remembers being armed with a pistol while driving to the Port of Spain to pick up mail, in case of danger. Id have to wear a pistol around there and never learned to shoot it! McKell remembers.

McKells older brother, Arthur Art McKell, also served in the war. After getting sick with a bad cold, Art ended up transferring to the same island as his younger sibling. There, they got to sleep in the same barracks for a year and eight months.

The stroke of luck didnt end there. Art received a 30-day pass to return home to Utah. The day before he departed, McKells commanding officer made an announcement to the unit. One of you gets to go home, the commander told the seven-person unit. To decide who got to temporarily leave Trinidad, the soldiers drew straws.

And I drew the lucky straw, Mckell said. He and Art got to go home together.

Still, the fortune continued. McKell and his wife had been married for four years, but had never been able to have any children with McKell overseas. During that trip home, they conceived their first child.

McKell was in Trinidad when he got word that the U.S. had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He knew the war would soon be over.

But McKell was ignorant to the haunting and horrific details of the Nazi regime, including the existence of concentration camps and the ethnic cleansing of Jews and other ethnic minorities.

We never knew about all these camps where they were killing people, he said. We didnt know that until after the war.

In his years of service, McKell never found himself in any life-threatening situations. This wasnt the case for some of his fellow BYU class of 1936 alumni, three of whom served in the Air Force and never returned home.

After the war, McKell took a job with the Spanish Fork post office after his mother suggested he apply. He ended up working there for 38 years until he retired.

McKell remembers leaving work one day to check on his mother, who lived three blocks away, as he did two or three times a day. On this occasion, he called her name and didnt hear anything. He rushed down the hallway and found her stuck in the bathtub, unable to get out.

If I hadnt come that day she wouldve died, McKell said. She only weighed about 80 pounds.

McKell turned 101 in September and credits his long life to avoiding extremes, staying physically active and eating healthy.

He walks around his Spanish Fork neighborhood six times every morning and another six times most afternoons. He eats tossed salads and creamed corn and has a healthy obsession with KFC mashed potatoes. For dessert, he usually opts for ice cream, Jell-O or Tapioca pudding.

The WWII veteran also likes to play the organ, something he picked up 30 years ago, and spending time with his 41 great-grandchildren.

McKell documents his life by writing in journals, a habit he learned from his great-grandfather who migrated to the states from Scotland. He keeps one of his great-grandfathers passages that he finds to be particularly profound: I was born in a land of kings and queens, it reads. But there is no royal blood (in the U.S.). We are all enjoying equal rights and privileges.

Even with all the writing, McKell finds it hard to get the thoughts out of his head. My biggest problem is going to sleep at night, he said. I guess I get too much on my mind.

Ironically, McKell was awarded a plaque at his 1981 Spanish Fork High School reunion that read The Only One Thats Never Gotten Old.

Im probably the only one in our class left, McKell laughs.

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‘Healthy Living’ event slated, and more health news items – NOLA.com

"HEALTHY LIVING": Lakeview Regional Medical Center and the Mandeville Lions Club are co-hosting a Healthy Living event in recognition of National Diabetes Awareness month. The event, to include a cooking demonstration and giveaway items, will take place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Lion's Hall, 720 Lafitte St., Mandeville.

HOSPITAL SCORES A: St. Tammany Parish Hospital has again been awarded an A during Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade review period, the eighth consecutive grading period in which STPH has earned the highest safety rating. The designation recognizes efforts to protect patients and deliver safe, high quality health care. The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.

ONGOING

BETTER BREATHERS CLUB: The Better Breathers Club, a program of the American Lung Association, meets from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the Magnolia Room of Lakeview Regional Medical Center, 95 Judge Tanner Blvd., Covington. Meant for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their caregivers. Register atlakeviewregional.comor call (985) 867-3900.

CAREGIVERS WORKSHOP: The Council on Aging St. Tammany Parish caregiver support programs allow those caring for people with Alzheimer's, dementia or other age-related illnesses to share struggles and successes. Guided by gerontologist Matt Estrade. The free Caregiver Support and Education group meetings are at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Covington Senior Center, 19404 N. 10th St., and at the Slidell Senior Center, 610 Cousin St. For information, call (985) 892-0377.

CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTIONS: The St. Tammany Parenting Center has appointments for free inspections of child safety seats. Call (985) 898-4435. Inspections are from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the Louisiana State Police Troop L headquarters, 2600 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are appreciated. For more, call (985) 893-6250 or email greg.marchand@la.gov.

GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: GA meets several times a week throughout the New Orleans area. It is a gathering of men and women who share their experiences, strength and hope with one another to solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.For more, call (855) 222-5542 or visitgamblersanonymous.org.

LAMAZE COURSE: Register now for two-hour class sessions for four weeks on the natural interventions and benefits of modern-day Lamaze at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Nov.19 at Slidell Memorial Hospital's Founders Building, 1150 Robert Blvd. To register, call (985) 280-2657 or visit http://www.slidellmemorial.org.

LSVT LOUD FOR LIFE: A speech treatment for people with Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions, this exercise class is for those who have completed the LSVT LOUD treatment protocol. A speech language pathologist will lead the classat 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Lakeview Regional Medical Center's Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine facility, 19055 Kane Lane, Covington. Cost is $10. For information, call (985) 867-4054.

HEALTH INSURANCE COUNSELING: The Council on Aging St. Tammany and the Louisiana Department of Insurance Senior Health Insurance Information Program will host a series of meetings in Covington and Slidell. Counselors are Medicare-certified and able to explain original Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D. Meetings are from 9 a.m.-noon on the third Wednesday of each month at alternating COAST centers in Covington at 1940 N. 10th St. and in Slidell at 610 Cousin St. For more, call COAST at (985) 892-0377 or the state Senior Health Insurance Information Program at (800) 259-5300, or visit http://www.ldi.la.gov/SHIIP.

NEW BABY SUPPORT GROUP: A support group for parents with babies from birth to 6 months meets from 11:15 a.m.-noon Thursdays at theSt. Tammany Parish Hospital Parenting Center, 1505 N. Florida St., Suite B, Covington. For information, visitwww.stph.org/ParentingCenter.

SAIL AND TAI CHI: Council on Aging St. Tammany is registering seniors 60 and older for free exercise classes at the Covington Active Aging Center, 19404 N. 10th St. Stay Active and Independent for Life is a strength, balance, endurance, flexibility and fitness class for older adults and will be offered at 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tai Chi, according to wellness coordinator Nick Pichon, is a "Chinese practice that is moderate and nonstrenuous in nature, with classes at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. For information, call Pichon (985) 892-0377.

STROKE SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS: Lakeview Regional Medical Center holds a 5:30 p.m. class on the second Wednesday of each month to provide education and socialization for caregivers and survivors. The group meets at the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine facility, 19055 Kane Lane, Covington.

YOGA FOR CANCER PATIENTS: Patricia Hart conducts free yoga classes for cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers from 5:30 -6:30 p.m. Mondays on the second floor of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Wellness Pavilion, 501 Robert Blvd., Slidell.Wear loose clothing; mats are available. Registration and a medical release are required. For more, call Hart at (985) 707-4961.

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'Healthy Living' event slated, and more health news items - NOLA.com

Health briefs 11-11-19 | Healthy Living – Uniontown Herald Standard

Events

n Medicares annual open enrollment period runs now through Dec. 7. The APPRISE Program can help answer questions. Those interested in having a free, confidential plan comparison done can contact a local Area Agency On Agings APPRISE Program to meet with a certified Medicare counselor to discuss needs. For a list of enrollment centers and their dates and times open for enrollment or contact information about local Area Agency on Aging offices, call Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, Inc. at 724-489-8080.

Courses

n Exercise classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Center in the Woods, 130 Woodland Court, Brownsville. Classes include chair dancing at 9:30 a.m. followed by healthy steps at 11 a.m. Information: 724-938-3554.

n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host an American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED course from 4-8 p.m. Nov. 26 in the education conference center. Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR/AED) classes are offered by Monongahela Valley Hospital. The fee for the class is $50 to cover the class and required materials. Registration: 724-258-1333 or https://www.monvalleyhospital.com/registration.asp.

n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host American Heart Association Family and Friends CPR/AED 9-11 a.m. Nov. 26 in the Simulation Center. This course is designed for the layperson that has little or no medical training, and is taught by a certified instructor. This course is for people who do not need a certification card for a job. Content includes an orientation to CPR for adult, child, infants, choking and use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Cost of this course is $35 to cover the cost of the book, which includes a class participation card. Registration: 724-258-1333 or https://www.monvalleyhospital.com/registration.asp.

n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host the program Managing your Diabetes from 9-11 a.m. Nov. 12 and 19 and 6-8 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20 in the education conference center. This education program is designed to help you with diabetes self-management. You will learn, What is diabetes? Other topics include the importance of controlling your blood sugars, diabetes medications, lifestyle changes, meal planning and methods to reduce your risk of complications. The program is three consecutive Tuesdays. Registration is required at least one week prior to the start date of class by calling 724-258-1483.

n As part of their Innovations in Medicine series, Monongahela Valley Hospital will offer a free talk on Irritable Bowel Syndrome at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Anthony M. Lombardi Education Conference Center. Dr. Jungmin L. Lee, a physician with the Pittsburgh Gastroenterology Associates, will host the free talk titled The ABCs of IBS. Lee will discuss irritable bowel syndrome and various treatment options for the conditions. The session will include light refreshments and free parking. Registration: monvalleyhospital.com or call 724-258-1333.

Support groups

n Breaking Addiction, HEAL Group for Men. This small group meeting for men is designed to help those who have a desire to overcome addictions and find a new direction in life. All sessions give instruction for practical life skills through Biblical Principles found in Gods Word. Discussion and interaction are encouraged at each group meeting. They are scheduled at 7 p.m. the first, second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Eagle Ranch Ministries Inc., 1579 Pleasant Valley Road, Mount Pleasant. Registration: 724-542-7243.

n Breaking Addiction, HEAL Group for Women. This small group meeting for women is designed to help those who have a desire to overcome addictions and find a new direction in life. All sessions give instruction for practical life skills through Biblical Principles found in Gods Word. Discussion and interaction are encouraged at each group meeting. The meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. every Tuesday at Eagle Ranch Ministries Inc., 1579 Pleasant Valley Road, Mount Pleasant. Registration: 724-244-5261 or 412-969-8520.

n Caregiver support group, 6:30-8:30 p.m., the fourth Wednesday of the month at Lafayette Manor. Classes meet in the new physical therapy department. Light refreshments are provided. Open for family and friends who have lost a loved one to cancer. Registration: http://www.excelahealth.org or 877-771-1234.

n Uniontown Hospital will host a stroke support group at 6 p.m. Nov. 19, in Community Room 1 located in the Main Lobby of the hospital. Monthly meetings will include a guest speaker, blood pressure readings, medication review and any other information requested. This months meeting will focus on nutrition and light refreshments will be provided. Information: Andrea Lint, stroke programming coordinator, 724-430-5716 or lint@utwn.org.

n Mon Valley Hospital will host a suicide bereavement support group 12:30 p.m. Nov. 25 in the education conference center. This support group is a four-month program that meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month and is led by a licensed psychologist and is free and open to all those touched by suicide. Required registration: 724-678-3601.

n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host an Alzheimers support group 6-8 p.m. Nov. 12 in the education conference center. This free support group meets once a month. It is designed to help the families, friends and caregivers of those suffering from Alzheimers disease or other forms of dementia. Discussion topics include the challenges of coping with this disorder as well as techniques for managing stress and methods of encouraging social engagement. Reservations: 724-258-1333.

n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host a prostate cancer support group from 6-7 p.m. Nov. 13 in the education conference center. All prostate cancer patients, families and caregivers are invited to attend this free support group. Information: 724-292-9404.

n Monongahela Valley Hospital will host a weight control and wellness support group at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 in the education conference center. The bariatric support group activities are designed to reinforce key principles of success and help participants learn concepts that are sometimes difficult to grasp after bariatric surgery. Professionals such as dietitians, psychologists and fitness instructors may be invited to speak. Other presenters may discuss topics such as grooming, dating and cooking. The sessions are designed to educate, inform and provide a well-rounded foundation of knowledge for long-term success. Registration: 724-258-1333.

n Grief support group, 6-8 p.m. first Tuesday of every month, at the St. John the Evangelist Church on West Crawford Avenue in Connellsville. The group is a collaborative effort for those facing grief due to the loss of a loved one from addiction. Information: 724-628-6840.

n Al-Anon Family Groups, 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Trinity Church parlor, Fayette and Morgantown streets, Uniontown. Please enter at the handicapped ramp entrance. A second is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Christian Church, Pittsburgh Street, Connellsville. These meetings are for anyone who has been affected by or is having problems from someone elses drinking. Information: al-anon.alateen.org or pa-al-anon.org.

n Survivors of Incest Anonymous group, 6:30-8 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month, excluding holidays. This 12-step recovery program is meant for men and women aged 18 or older who were sexually abused by a trusted person as a child. The group meets at the Mount Macrina Retreat Center. A similar group, Healing Friends, is from 6:30-7:30 p.m., East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. Information: peopleofcourage@gmail.com siawso.org, or healingfriends8@gmail.com.

n Missing Piece of My Heart support group, 6-8 p.m. the last Thursday of each month at the Crime Victims Center conference room in the Oliver Square Plaza. The group is for families who have lost a child to a violent crime. Information: 724-438-1470.

n Silver Generation Support Program, 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, East End United Community Center, Uniontown. The program is for ages 55 and older. Information: 724-437-1660.

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Health briefs 11-11-19 | Healthy Living - Uniontown Herald Standard

Healthy Living: Better Together | Opinions – The Capital Journal

They said it couldnt be done. No person in history had ever broken the two-hour mark for a marathon run. The closest anyone had ever come was short one minute and 39 seconds. So the question was still left in the air. Could the human body be trained to push that limit. The short answer is yes. How that happened takes a little longer to explain.

It officially started in 2016, but honestly Eliud Kipchoge had been dreaming of this for much

longer. Nike announced that they were going to train the first person to break the two- hour barrier in the marathon, a 26.2 mile race. Three runners were selected to train together in their fancy running shoes and specially-formulated hydration drink & diet on a closed course with perfect weather. It was a spectacular event, only so see Kipchoge miss the mark by 25 seconds.

Fast forward to October 12th of this year. Kipchoge was set to try again, but with several noticeable changes. He was the only runner attempting to break the barrier. The course was still closed with perfect weather, however there was a pace car in front that shot out a green laser to keep him on point with his speed and also show the best path to take. The other big difference? He had a team to run with. A total of 41 runners were prepared to run along with Kipchoge in an open V formation to act as a wind tunnel and also help with pace. These pacers were split into teams that would switch out in a beautiful piece of choreography every three miles. This kept them fresh, as they had the most important job of working together to help Kipchoge break the record. As a team they would train 124-140 miles per week. They would eat together, live together. They became a family along with the race directors and staff.

Because of the methods used for this project it will not go down as a world record, but it does prove that it is possible. The pacing alone is incredible. To break two-hours would mean running a 4:34 minute mile, for 26 miles with an average speed of 13.16 mph. Simply put thats cooking.

I am the happiest man in the world to be the first human to run under two hours, and I can tell people that no human is limited, Kipchoge said. I expect more people all over the world to run under two hours after today.

My biggest take away from all of this was the pacemakers. They were chosen to do one job, which was to ensure Kipchoge stayed motivated and on pace. They knew that while Eliud would receive a lot of the praise, they were part of the bigger picture of what this meant for other runners, even themselves worldwide.

The pacemakers did a great job they are among the best runners of all time, Kipchoge said. I thank them and appreciate them for accepting to do the job.

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The moral of the story? While running may look like an individual sport at first glance, its really the most amazing team sport, with strangers and friends encouraging each other along the way. Whenever I go to a race, by goal is not to win but to first have fun and finish, and secnd try to run a little faster than the last time.

When you are working out, know that you are never truly alone. While your results are geared towards you, there are many giving you a nod, even if it is silently from the person next to you on the treadmill or in a group exercise class. We are community. Thats why I always say we are better together, stronger together and in this together.

Aaron Fabel, B.A. in exercise science & wellness, is the CEO at the Oahe Family YMCA. He can be reached by email at ajfabel@oaheymca.org.

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Healthy Living: Better Together | Opinions - The Capital Journal