McConnell defers vote on Senate health-care bill as McCain recovers from surgery – Washington Post

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) put off plans late Saturday to vote on a bill to overhaul the nations health-care system this week, after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced he would be at home recovering from surgery, leaving Republicans short of the votes they needed to advance the legislation.

McCain underwent surgery in Phoenixon Friday to remove a blood clot from above his left eye. On the advice of his doctors, Senator McCain will be recovering in Arizona next week, said McCain spokeswoman Julie Tarallo. A statement from the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phoenix said the senator is resting at home in good condition and that the surgery went very well.

[Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval still doesnt support the Senate health-care bill. Thats big trouble for Republicans.]

In a statement Saturday night, McConnell said that while John is recovering, the Senate will continue our work on legislative items and nominations, and will defer consideration of the Better Care Act,

Unless at least one of two Republican senators dropped their opposition to moving ahead on the bill, or a vote was postponed until McCain returned, the billwould not havehad the support to proceed.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell unveiled a revised GOP health-care proposal on July 13 but two other Republican senators released a competing plan. Here's how it all breaks down. (Peter Stevenson/The Washington Post)

Two Republican senators Rand Paul (Ky.) and Susan Collins (Maine) have said they will notvote yes to even proceed to the bill. Along with all 48 senators in the Democratic Caucus and without McCain their oppositionwould be enough to block the bill from proceeding to debate. There are 52 Republican senators.

Paul spokesman Sergio Gor said he still planned to vote against proceeding to the bill. A Collins spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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McConnell defers vote on Senate health-care bill as McCain recovers from surgery - Washington Post

Governors skeptical after ‘pretty atrocious’ session with top Trump health officials – CNN

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Vice President Mike Pence, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma made a frantic bid at the National Governors Association meeting Friday and Saturday to win over -- or at least silence -- skeptical GOP governors.

But their efforts left major questions unanswered, Republican and Democratic governors said.

And Pence's speech Friday resulted in the vice president openly feuding with Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican who didn't attend the governors' meeting.

Price and Verma had been dispatched to the meeting in Rhode Island to convince governors that their states could absorb the elimination of enhanced Medicaid funding for low-income adults who received coverage under the Affordable Care Act and the reduction of federal support for their overall Medicaid programs.

They urged governors to ignore Congressional Budget Office estimates that 15 million fewer people would be covered by Medicaid by 2026 and that $772 billion would be cut from the program, compared to current law, under a Senate Republican bill that would eliminate Obamacare's expansion of the program.

Their argument: States would gain flexibility to overhaul their traditional Medicaid programs through block grants or per-enrollee caps, allowing them to save money that could be used to stave off losses of coverage.

But the closed-door session with Price and Verma on Saturday was "pretty atrocious," said Connecticut Democratic Gov. Dan Malloy.

"They repeatedly pretended that the federal government saving hundreds of billions of dollars won't translate to actual cuts," he said. "I was told that I'll innovate sufficiently to save them hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars."

Republicans also emerged from the meeting saying they remain concerned about the long-term financial fallout of the bill.

"I think there's disagreement on the outcomes and what that means and whether that is manageable," said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican whose state expanded Medicaid.

"It is a huge challenge for us in terms of communicating what the future is going to be like to our health care providers," Hutchinson told CNN after the meeting. "That is the challenge for governors -- we're on the front lines here. ... It's the long term that people want to know about."

Another key governor, Nevada Republican Brian Sandoval, told reporters afterward that he remained concerned about the bill's elimination of funding for Obamacare's Medicaid expansion, which led 210,000 Nevadans to gain coverage. Nevada Republican Sen. Dean Heller has closely linked his vote to Sandoval's position.

Malloy said he argued with Price and Verma when -- after Verma had taken issue with the Congressional Budget Office forecasts of coverage losses -- Price cited the CBO analysis to back up a separate point.

"They were incredibly inconsistent between themselves," he said. "They support what they like from CBO, and they attack CBO. But at least the secretary was forced to admit that's the only public generated analysis."

Just before Price and Verma spoke Saturday morning, the consulting firm Avalere Health delivered a presentation that forecast cuts in federal Medicaid funding to the states of 27% to 36% by 2036 under the Senate legislation when compared to current law.

Some governors said that presentation left them less certain about the Trump administration's claims that Medicaid funding would not decline.

"I think there's still some confusion on numbers," said Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, a Republican. "And so, frankly, I wish we would have had more time this morning to ask questions. There's still a lot of questions from Republicans and Democrats."

Mead said there is a clear divide among GOP governors based on whether their states expanded Medicaid. Mead's state did not. But he said he's still struggling with a "state of flux" on Capitol Hill over health care.

At the center of the case Pence, Price and Verma made to governors was increased flexibility to make changes to their states' Medicaid programs. Under the bills, states could opt to receive a lump sum of money -- known as a block grant -- to cover certain Medicaid recipients. They would receive more control over their programs in exchange.

The bill's critics, however, say that cash-strapped states won't be able to make up for the losses in federal funding even with the additional flexibility. States would be forced to cut enrollment, benefits or provider rates, they argue.

The Trump administration has pledged to aggressively grant states' requests for waivers that would allow them to deviate from traditional Medicaid, and the House and Senate health care bills would give federal officials even further authority to grant those waivers, giving states additional freedom to craft their own programs using federal dollars.

That, Republican governors said, is good news. Hutchinson said Price and Verma gave governors "a number of new ideas that had not been considered before."

Pence's speech Friday drew a tepid reception from Republicans and Democrats in attendance.

He made a reference to Kasich, saying, "I suspect that he's very troubled to know that in Ohio alone, nearly 60,000 disabled citizens are stuck on waiting lists, leaving them without the care they need for months or even years."

That claim, though, is bogus, Kasich's office said. The waiting lists are related to Medicaid's home and community-based services and had nothing to do with Ohio's decision to expand Medicaid under Obamacare.

"The claim is not accurate. It's been fact checked twice," Kasich's communications department said on Twitter, linking to fact-checks from The Los Angeles Times and the Columbus Dispatch.

At the same time Price and Verma were attempting to win over governors, the White House was circulating a new op-ed in The Washington Post in which Trump aides Marc Short and Brian Blase argued that Americans and lawmakers should give "little weight" to CBO projections that millions would lose coverage under the Senate GOP bill.

"The CBO's methodology, which favors mandates over choice and competition, is fundamentally flawed," the two argued. "As a result, its past predictions regarding health-care legislation have not borne much resemblance to reality. Its prediction about the Senate bill is unlikely to fare much better."

CNN's Tami Luhby contributed to this report.

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Governors skeptical after 'pretty atrocious' session with top Trump health officials - CNN

VP Mike Pence on healthcare: ‘We’re on the verge of a historic accomplishment’ – ABC News

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Vice President Mike Pence spent his one year anniversary since being announced as President Trumps running mate working to drum up support for their 2016 campaign promise to repeal and replace Obamacare.

This week at the bipartisan National Governors Association meeting in Providence, Rhode Island, Pence was met by skepticism from state leaders concerned about proposed cuts to Medicaid expansion.

On Saturday night, while speaking to a crowd of cheering young conservatives at the Maverick PAC conference in Washington, Pence said hes confident the Senate will be able to move forward on the health care bill.

We're on the verge of a historic accomplishment here in our nations capital, said Pence. Because in the coming days, President Trump, working with the Congress that you helped elect, is going to keep our promise to the American people, and we are going to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Just two days ago, building on the good work of the House of Representatives, Senate leadership unveiled a new version of the Senate health care bill, said Pence. The Senate health care bill is the right bill at the right time to begin to repeal and replace Obamacare, and to rescue the American people from this disastrous policy.

Republicans are struggling to find consensus and enough support to hit 50 yea votes on the bill, despite Trump taking to Twitter on Friday to pressure Republican senators currently on the fence, and Pences pitches in closed door meetings with governors and in a his speech tonight.

The task of whipping up support for the bill during the crucial week before voting seems to have largely rested on Pences shoulders this week, as Trump traveled to Paris and Bedminster, New Jersey. The vice president told supporters tonight to ignore what theyre hearing on cable television, saying hes certain Republican senators will come together in support of the legislation.

President Trump and I are confident, that when the time comes as early as next week, that Republicans and Senators are going to come together and they're going to move this bill forward and we will see the beginning of the end of the nightmare of Obamacare, he said.

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VP Mike Pence on healthcare: 'We're on the verge of a historic accomplishment' - ABC News

Paul: More conservatives will ‘discover’ GOP healthcare bill does not repeal ObamaCare – The Hill

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Sen. Rand PaulRand PaulPaul: More conservatives will 'discover' GOP bill does not repeal ObamaCare Paul: I don't think McConnell has votes to pass healthcare bill now New Medicaid worry emerges for centrists MORE (R-Ky.) said Sunday he thinks more conservative Republicans will realize the GOP Senate's healthcare bill does not repeal ObamaCare the longer theproposal is out there.

During an interview on CBS's "Face The Nation," Paul was askedabout Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellPaul: More conservatives will 'discover' GOP bill does not repeal ObamaCare GOP holdout: Cruz amendment not the solution on healthcare Paul: I don't think McConnell has votes to pass healthcare bill now MORE's announcement that consideration of the healthcare legislation would be delayed whileSen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) recovers from surgery.

"How will that change the way this goes forward?" host John Dickerson asked Paul, a vocal critic of the Senate GOP's proposal.

"And the more that everybody's going to discover that it keeps the fundamental flaw of ObamaCare."

Paul said the Senate GOP's bill keeps the insurance mandates that "cause the prices to rise, which chase young, healthy people out of the marketplace."

"And leads to what people call adverse selection, where you have a sicker and sicker insurance pool and the premiums keep rising through the roof," Paul said.

"And one of the amazing things to me is, for all the complaints of Republicans about ObamaCare, we keep that fundamental flaw."

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Paul: More conservatives will 'discover' GOP healthcare bill does not repeal ObamaCare - The Hill

Reihan Salam Of ‘National Review’ On The GOP’s Options For Health Care – NPR

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Reihan Salam Of 'National Review' On The GOP's Options For Health Care
NPR
Email. July 16, 20178:03 AM ET. Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday. Senate Republicans still can't agree on their health care plan. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Reihan Salam, executive editor of National Review, about the Republican Party's options.

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White House pre-buts CBO healthcare score: ‘Little more than fake news’ – The Hill

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Two White House aides are preemptively casting doubt on the accuracy of the Congressional Budget Office's assessment of Senate Republicans' healthcare plan, claiming the estimate will be "little more than fake news."

In an op-ed published in The Washington Post, White House legislative affairs director Marc Short and Brian Blase, a special assistant to the president for healthcare policy at the National Economic Council, urged Americans to give "little weight" to the CBO analysis, known as a score.

"The reason: The CBOs methodology, which favors mandates over choice and competition, is fundamentally flawed," they wrote. "As a result, its past predictions regarding health-care legislation have not borne much resemblance to reality. Its prediction about the Senate bill is unlikely to fare much better."

Short and Blase argue that the CBO's assessment of the Affordable Care Act in 2009 was far from accurate.

The independent scorekeeper predicted that 23 million people would enroll in the ACA's exchange plans. But in reality, they wrote, only 10 million people have enrolled in such plans.

But what the CBO failed to predict, Short and Blase wrote, were rising premiums and an overalldecline in insurance choice.

The preemptive effort by the White House to dismiss the CBO analysiscomes as the independent scorekeeper works on its latest estimate for Senate Republicans' healthcare plan.

The office's assessment of the Senate's original healthcare bill estimated that the plan would insure 22 million fewer people over the next decade than under ObamaCare.

Senate Republican leaders are hoping to hold a final vote on the measure next week. But some GOP members have voiced concern over the plan and two have already said they will not vote for it.

Republicans hold 52 seats in the Senate and need at least 50 votes to pass the bill, meaning that if any more GOP senators defect, the bill is certain to fail. Democrats are unanimously opposed to the bill.

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What if Sex Is Just a Garbage Dump for Genetic Mutations? – WIRED

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What if Sex Is Just a Garbage Dump for Genetic Mutations? - WIRED

China unveils gene technology to create SUPERHUMANS with hyper-muscular test-tube dogs – Express.co.uk

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The dogs, which are test tube bred in a lab, have twice the muscle mass of their natural counterparts and are considerably stronger and faster.

The canine genome has been especially difficult to engineer and replicate but its close similarity to the human genome means it has long been the prize of geneticists.

Now the Chinese success has led to fears the same technology could be used to create weaponised super-humans - typifed in Marvel Comics by Captain America and his foes.

MARVELEYEVINE

David King, director of Human Genetics Alert (HGA), voiced his fears over what is widely viewed as the first step on a slippery slope.

He told express.co.uk: Its true that the more and more animals that are genetically engineered using these techniques brings us closer to the possibility of genetic engineering of humans.

Dogs as a species, in respect of cloning are very difficult, and even more difficult to clone human beings.

Theres no medical case for it, the scientists are interested in being the first person in the world to create a genetically engineer child.

In terms of genetic engineering we will be seeing this more and more

David King, director of Human Genetics Alert

Theyre interested in science and the technology and their careers. They will continue pushing the regulations for it.

That does set us on the road to eugenics. I am very concerned with what Im seeing.

An army of super-humans has been a staple of science fiction and superhero comics for decades but the super-dog technology brings it closer to reality.

The Chinese researchers first self-bred cloned dog was named Little Long Long.

SINO GENE

The beagle puppy, one of 27, was genetically engineered by deleting a gene called myostatin, giving it double the muscle mass of a normal beagle.

The advance genetic editing technology has been touted as a breakthrough which could herald the dawn of superbreeds, which could be stronger, faster, better at running and hunting.

The Chinese official line is that the dogs could potentially be deployed to frontline service to assist police officers.

Dr Lai Liangxue, researcher at Guangzhou institute of biological medicine and health, said: "This is a breakthrough, marking China as only the second country in the world to independently master dog-somatic clone technology, after South Korea."

VCG via Getty Images

1 of 23

Armed police soldiers lift timbers during a drill on August 24, 2016 in Chongqing, China. As the highest temperatures reached over 40 degree Celsius at 5 districts in Chongqing, officers and soldiers of an armed police crop took outdoor training

Some 65 embryos were edited, and from that 27 were born, with Little Long Long the only one who was created without the myostatin gene. Myostatin is known to control muscle size in humans.

Dogs are one of the hardest animals to clone, with only South Korea thought to have successfully created a clone in the past.

As well as the enhancements, researchers said in the Journal of Molecular Cell Biology some dogs will be bred with DNA mutations in a bid to help medical research, including some which mimic Parkinsons.

Dr Lai added: "The goal of the research is to explore an approach to the generation of the new disease dog models for biomedical research.

GETTY

"Dogs are very close to humans in terms of metabolic, physiological and anatomical characteristics."

But some have criticised the experiments, citing ethical concerns.

Mr King said: This is the way its likely to proceed if the law is changed, first of all they will use it for medical purposes, most likely to treat a genetic condition.

In terms of genetic engineering we will be seeing this more and more.

There are also fears that, as well as medical, tinkering with genetics could also lead to a rise in designer or novelty pets.

Dr Lai said his team have no intentions to breed the bulked up beagles as pets.

But Mr King also voiced fears that this breakthrough, coupled with existing cases of altering human embryos, could lead to further calls for designer babies.

The director of HGA, and independent body, claimed there are multiple examples of eugenics going on already, citing women who are intelligent and beautiful are paid more for their eggs in the US.

Mr King said: Its not scaremongering.

Im seeing the beginning of a campaign within the scientific community to legalise human genetic engineering.

Weve seen how it happened with the thee-parent embryo.

SINO GENE

I can see the same thing building up with genetic engineering.

There are strict laws around cloning, but one example of a case in the UK is Dolly the sheep.

Born in 1996, she died aged six in 2003, half the normal life span of a Finn Dorset sheep.

And recently, an artificial womb for premature babies was tested on lambs, and showed significant success.

Lambs born at the equivalent of 23 weeks were placed inside the fake womb which contained fluid mimicking that found in an amniotic sac.

They remained inside for 28 days, and continued to develop, even growing white fleeces.

Guo Longpeng, the China press officer for the Asia division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said: "Cloning is unethical.

"Like any other laboratory animal, these animals are caged and manipulated in order to provide a lucrative bottom line."

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Boston author turns real life into Hollywood-ready stories – Boston Herald

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Boston author Ben Mezrich has a great track record when it comes to taking real events and turning them into made-for-Hollywood stories. His writing resume includes Bringing Down the House, which became the film 21, and The Accidental Billionaires, aka The Social Network on the big screen.

His latest, Woolly: The True Story of the Quest to Revive One of Historys Most Iconic Extinct Creatures is the saga of Harvard scientists attempting to bring back gigantic herbivores from extinction.

The Herald caught up with Mezrich in his Hub man cave/office.

HERALD: So this is where all the magic happens?

MEZRICH: Ive written all 18 of my books here thats why I can never leave. It looked like Charlie Sheens apartment before ... with black and leather ... Tonya (Mezrichs wife) helped me brighten it up.

HERALD: The view is stunning.

MEZRICH: The view is great ... You can see MIT from here, which served as inspiration when I wrote Bringing Down the House ... Theres Harvard ... Boston is the center of my writing career its where I do everything.

HERALD: Tell me about your latest book.

MEZRICH: Its about a Harvard lab and the eminent geneticist, George Church, who is just around the corner in his lab making a wooly mammoth. ...I Googled him and randomly wrote an email and he said come on in! So I embedded myself in his lab ... The idea that theres a wooly mammoth being made like a mile from here is just spectacular.

HERALD: Twentieth Century Fox is already making a movie about it will the movie come before an actual mammoth is born?

MEZRICH: We are only a few years away from an actual mammoth the fetus will be put in the womb of an elephant ... an elephant will give birth to one, as they are very closely related. The movie is already in the works! Marty Bowen (of Twilight fame) is producing it and Oscar Sharp ... who is like the next Spielberg ... will direct.

Check out our video with Mezrich and of our chat with the celeb author on bostonherald.com.

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Volkswagen’s EV Will Sell for $7-8K Cheaper Than the Tesla Model 3 – Futurism

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In Brief Volkswagen announced that the I.D. Concept, the company's electric concept car designed to compete with the Tesla Model 3, will sell for $7,000 to $8,000 less. The low price is part of VW's drive to compete with Tesla in the EV market.

Volkswagen chief strategist Thomas Sedran announced at the Automobil Forum that the I.D. Concept will sell for $7,000 to $8,000 less than Teslas model. Aside from competitive pricing, the I.D. Concept wasdesigned to compete with the Tesla Model 3across the board.The price cutting strategy is one of the companys more traditional competitive moves in a battle that has, at times, strayed into the unorthodox.According to Electrek, last year before unveiling the concept, VW misrepresented the Model s NEDC-rated range in a presentation designed to favorably compare the VW concept electric vehicle (EV).

At this point, it appears that the all-electric hatchback from VW will be available to compete with the Model 3 in the U.S., but not for more than a year after the Model 3 hits the market. Meanwhile, the concept vehicle which is about the size of the VW Golf will be part of the companys more focused EV efforts in the EU and China. Its crossover model made its debut in Shanghai in April.

While Tesla may see the VW model as a potential competitor, its marketing strategies are more centered on converting drivers of gas-powered cars to EVs. However, if VW follows through with its plan to offer 30 all-electric or hybrid models by 2025, it seems likely that it will remain acompetitor for Tesla and everyone else.

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Volkswagen's EV Will Sell for $7-8K Cheaper Than the Tesla Model 3 - Futurism

Freedom School in Greensboro teaches reading and more (Video) – Greensboro News & Record

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GREENSBORO As the music swelled, fourth-grader Floribert Kizumina squeezed his eyes shut.

Something inside so strong, he sang, before posing like a bodybuilder.

Fifty students are gathering five days a week at Hairston Middle in east Greensboro for the fifth-annual Childrens Defense Fund Freedom School run by Guilford County Schools. The session, which started June 19, ends July 28.

CDF Freedom School teaches reading with the promise that literacy is an important step toward power, in particular the power to do good. The camp starts with the theme, I can make a difference in myself, then shifts that theme outward week by week, to making a difference in family, then community, country and world.

Theres also a small advocacy or activism component. Campers and parents are participating in the Childrens Defense Funds National Day of Social Action asking lawmakers to keep funding for food stamps.

That ties into the agenda of the Childrens Defense Fund to promote policies and programs that lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation.

One very crucial part about Freedom School is that we dont just sit in the classroom and read books, said site coordinator Brandin Bennett. We give our scholars and ourselves the opportunity to do something for our community.

The modern Freedom Schools were inspired by events in summer 1964 during the civil rights movement.

That summer, organizers with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and other groups rallied black people across the state of Mississippi to attempt to register to vote in defiance of laws and practices aimed at suppressing or eliminating black voting.

Civil rights activists and allies also set up Freedom Schools for black children and teenagers. These privately organized summer schools taught subjects such as literacy, math and humanities, as well as civil rights.

The Childrens Defense Fund began its first Freedom Schools summer camps in 1995, drawing its name from the Freedom School tradition made famous in the 60s.

The organization partners with sponsoring churches, schools, nonprofits and juvenile correction facilities and looks to serve students who might not otherwise have access to many books over the summer. Children of all races can participate.

Im pretty much jealous for myself that I never had this program when I was in school, said Thomas Moses, the Page High teacher who heads Guilford County Schools Freedom School.

Freedom School begins each day with breakfast, followed by Harambee time. Thats Swahili for all pull together. At Freedom School its a daily, half-hour assembly full of enthusiastic singing, chanting, announcements and acknowledgements.

In the middle of all that singing, chanting and dancing, a guest community leader reads a book aloud to the students and discusses it with them. Guests this year include everyone from Democratic County Commissioner Skip Alston to Republican school board member Anita Sharpe.

After the Harambee time, students head to their classes. On Tuesday, Kizumina and his classmates gathered in a circle of desks with their teacher to pass around a book on Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, each reading a section.

The book told of challenges she faced as a child, everything from anti-Jewish signs in shop windows at the time, to being told to write with her right hand when she was left-handed, or that she couldnt take certain classes in school because she was a girl.

As the students and teacher read the book together, they discussed such topics as which hands they use to what prejudice is. Ginsburg, by the way, refused to follow that right-hand requirement fitting in to a running theme in I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, a picture book for young readers.

About 5 p.m. Wednesday, some parents, children and Freedom School staff members trickled into Hairstons media center for a parent meeting.

Moses and his staff wanted to share with parents what their children are doing at camp and also enlist some help with the National Day of Social Action project prescribed by the CDF.

They explained that this year the focus is on preventing child hunger, and that the action established by CDF involved writing messages on empty paper plates, symbolic of hungry children.

They passed out paper plates to the parents and suggested they write messages to federal lawmakers and local officials to oppose a proposed major cut to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps.

Freedom School leaders collected the plates with plans to mail them to members of City Council and Congress. Students will also get an opportunity to write messages on plates, and those will also be sent, Moses said. He said they are planning a march with signs with the children this week, but not out and about, just at the school, to show students a little bit of what marching for a cause is like.

Parent Tonya Byrd said her daughter was crushed when it looked like Freedom School wasnt going to happen this year and ecstatic when the district changed course and pulled it together in just a few weeks.

Parents Amber Bennett and Darius Harper attended the meeting together.

Bennett, the sister of site coordinator Brandin Bennett, was busy writing a detailed message on her paper plate about her own experiences with SNAP.

When I first moved out of my parents house and I moved up here to Greensboro, I didnt have a job so SNAP was very beneficial to me, she said. It helped me get on my feet and feed my child until I could find a job and do it on my own, so thats what Im writing to help other young people or young adults to start off until they can get on their feet and make it on their own.

Bennett said her son, who will be in second-grade next year, was behind during the school year in reading. When she found out about the Freedom School program, she hoped it would be an opportunity for him to become more confident and less shy about reading.

I think he loves it, I see a big difference in him, she said, even in the space of just a couple of weeks. He seems like, I dont know how to put it ...

He comes home singing every day, Harper interjected.

... more energetic and brighter about actually learning and doing things, Bennett finished. I think its made a great impact on him thus far.

Contact Jessie Pounds at 336-373-7002 and follow @JessiePounds on Twitter.

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Bikers gear up for one final Freedom Fest motorcycle ride – News8000.com – WKBT

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LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) - Saturday marks La Crosse's tenth and final Freedom Fest, celebrating veterans and their service to the U.S.

Just as Freedom Fest has become a tradition in the area, so has the motorcycle rally and ride starting in the Veterans Hall of Honor parking lot the morning of the festival.

Riders say it brings a sense of camaraderie, and for the Gold Star families who have lost a loved one, the rally has extra meaning.

"Motorcycles, veterans, I think it's been a natural fit forever, said Gary Rudy, director of the ride and rally.

About 200 riders, many with family members who are veterans or who have themselves served the country, started gearing up for the 100-mile ride through the Coulee Region at 9 a.m.

"I feel honored to be here with all the veterans, Sparta resident Don Whitacre said. They're my friends. Weve got each other's backs."

"It's just a chance for us to thank them and realize they haven't been forgotten, Rudy said.

"I like the freedom, Kathryne Humble, from La Crosse, said.

That freedom is at the heart of the day's celebrations.

"We live in a country where we are able to do things like this, Humble said.

Of course, as many at the rally said, freedom comes at a price.

"We consider that our son. It's an Army bear that was given to us, Hartford resident Colleen Lemke said, pointing out a stuffed bear on the bike of her motorcycle.

Lemke, her husband and their ride-along passenger are annual visitors to the ride and rally.

"A few tears, a little bit of laughter, she said.

Lemkes son, Cpl. Jason Lemke, died in Iraq in 2008.

Of course, some days you wish they were home, she said.

Since then, she's added a necklace she never takes off, and a few tattoos in his memory all just a reflection of how different life is now.

"Your whole outlook on life changes, Lemke said. Certain things that used to bother you no longer bother you, and you look at things totally different from day to day."

Support, however, comes in seemingly unlikely places, such as at a motorcycle rally, where there are other gold star families.

"You feel kind of proud, but a little bit of sorrow knowing what we're riding for today, Lemke said. You have a connection with everybody around you. You know they're there for the same reason we are. (Its) a little bittersweet."

Bittersweet is a word many were using at the rally, especially with the knowledge that with Freedom Fest ending, this will likely be the final ride.

"I'm sorry to hear this is the last one, Whitacre said.

Riders, however, said that they'll make the most of it..

"Today, we'll just celebrate today, Rudy said.

And they'll always be celebrating freedom.

"(There's) a lot of freedom being outside enjoying the ride, Lemke said.

Gates opened at the UW-La Crosse Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex at 4:30 p.m. Saturday for the live music, including The Remainders and John Fogerty.

General admission tickets cost $60 at the door.

Since Freedom Fest began, it has raised more than half a million dollars for veteran causes.

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Bikers gear up for one final Freedom Fest motorcycle ride - News8000.com - WKBT

If you’re pro-freedom, you should be in favor of legalizing marijuana – Salon

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The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add an useful plant to its culture. Thomas Jefferson, Memorandum of Services to My Country

I know what youre thinking. Another liberal hippiecalling for decriminalization and full legalization of marijuana because hes breaking the law right now by smoking it. Well, think again.

People probably think Im a hippie because I like wearing tie-dyed shirts or because I grew up in the 60s or because to this day one of my favorite bands is the Rolling Stones. When I was eighteen years old in 1969, I enlisted in the US Navy. I am a Vietnam veteran and hardly a hippie. I dont drink alcohol and Ive long since given up my vices of chewing tobacco and smoking cigars. Im not an alcoholic, and I have nothing against drinkers, but its a personal preference of mine not to drink. I choose not to drink, not to use tobacco, and guess what. It happens to be healthier for you in the long run if you dont do either of these activities. I also dont drink coffee or caffeinated beverages. Again, personal preference. More on that later.

So have I rolled a joint and smoked it before? Yes. Absolutely. And Ive always been up front about this.

Ive smoked pot beforenot while I was governorbut I have used it in the past in a recreational capacity. If I someday require it for medical reasons, I wouldnt be opposed to using it. In fact, I would prefer to use it, especially if it keeps me from relying on prescription pills with all those awful side effects. My friend Tommy Chong says there shouldnt be a distinction between medical and recreational marijuana because any way you look at it, its a medical plant. Instead of going to a doctor to get a prescription of Prozac or an antidepressant, those who are smoking it specifically for the euphoric feeling are doing it for mental health reasons.

I believe in marijuanas medicinal uses because Ive seen it significantly benefit people I know. A dear and very close member of my family, who has suffered from seizures, is now seizure-free due to medical marijuana. She takes a few drops of cannabis oil twice a day and now shes seizure-free and off of all her medication. Im so glad to see shes off all those pills that had to be constantly adjusted, each with a long list of side effects that sometimes seemed like a worse trade-off from the seizures. She no longer has to take those pills because she now lives a normal life with taking just drops of cannabis oil per day. I am fully convinced of the medicinal benefits of marijuana because Ive seen the positive effects it has had on her quality of life.

The fact is Big Pharma just cant duplicate what this plant is capable of doing. And the fact that our government continues to deny sick people access to this plant is truly a crime against humanity. Who knows when you might need medical marijuana? How do you know what the future has in store for you? You dont.

Every month and every year that goes by, we find out more positive things about marijuana. The list is getting longer and longer and longer to the point where I question why they kept all this information from us. Why was marijuana demonized all those years when obviously this plant has a great deal of positive attributesnot only medical. Its also a renewable resource! Thats the part that troubles me the most.

How did we go down this road to ruin about marijuana? Well, marijuana is a cash crop, and that means its bad for the pharmaceutical industry. Marijuana is also competition for the energy people because its an alternative source of energy. And now there are studies proving it can help our veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. So when are we going to take the blinders off and do whats right for humanity and legalize this stuff once and for all?

At this point, to get the DEA to declare the end of the war against marijuana means that they are going to decide to quit their jobs for the betterment of society. Yeah, that aint gonna happen. Marijuana will remain illegal because it creates more jobs and puts more and more people in prison (which in turn, creates more jobs). Our national anthem states American is the land of the free, yet we have more people locked up in prison than any other industrialized nation. So those who are benefiting off of the drug trade arent just drug lordsremember that. Our government wont do the right thing and legalize marijuana unless we the people demand it because there are many people within our own government on the payroll all thanks to the War on Drugs.

Yes, mybook calls for ending the War on Drugs. Mybook calls for ending the marijuana prohibition. Im not an anarchist. I believe in laws and regulations, but I also believe in common sense, and the government hasnt been doing a good job in that department when it comes to cannabis. Before she passed away, my mother often told me that the prohibition of alcohol is identical to the War on Drugs. And she should know because she lived through both. You can either read and study history or youll find youre destined to repeat it. Alcohol prohibition is what started all the trouble in Mexico. Mexican border towns like Tijuana became cesspools of crime, corruption, prostitution, and drugs all because of the prohibition of alcohol. Americans would go across the border to drink in towns like Tijuana, and then once the ban on alcohol was lifted, the criminals just strengthened their stronghold on the supply of marijuana until it became a major industry.

Ive said it a million times: just because something is illegal, that doesnt mean it goes away, it just means criminals now run it. Take the Mexican drug cartels. Theyre now more powerful than the government. Guns are illegal in Mexico, yet they have guns. They have the money and they have the power. Its not rocket science. If we end the War on Drugs, then the cartels no longer have the power. It just takes politicians with the courage to do the right thing. Remember, as I said before, its not just the drug lords who are getting richer off of the War on Drugs. Our politicians in Washington are making big money by keeping drugs illegal. As Deep Throat in All the Presidents Men said, Follow the money. Always follow the money. It will take you to the answer.

To all the parents out there who are worried about how marijuana legalization will impact their children, I say, parent. Its as simple as that. Ive been for the legalization of marijuana for years. Neither one of my adult children are drug addicts. Its that simple.

Think about it this way: what does marijuana actually do to you? You cant overdose on it. You might gain a couple of pounds, you know, from eating too much once the effects kick in and you get the munchies. You might have to work out a little bit harder the next day to compensate, but other than that, whats the downside? Oh yeah, it makes you high and it makes you feel good. Thats a negative? Ha! Give a guy a joint, some Jimi Hendrix music, and a pizza, and that guy will be entertained for hours. Give the same guy alcohol and he might drink and drive or get violent and hurt someone.

I say legalize marijuana because we have a chance to leave this world a better place for our children. Marijuana legalization is job creation, tax dollars, something to rejuvenate our pathetic economy. This is a multibillion-dollar industry. This is about jobs; this is about economics; this is about freedom. This is about taking our country back. This is about getting out of these useless wars and getting back to what matters most to Americans: taking care of our own economy and our own citizens.

Cannabis is a plant that grows abundantly, that has been around long before laws existed, before our country even existed, and has a multitude of modern-day usesaside from getting hippies high. If you read mybook, youll find out that this plant can literally cure cancer. This plant can literally end our dependence on foreign oil and fracking. This plant can literally rebuild our economywe can make everything from car parts to airplane parts to paper to clothing to nutritious meals cheaply from it, but only if the American people are smart enough to recognize the truth from the bullshit.

The truth is, none of those uses for cannabis that I just mentioned is new. They might seem groundbreaking, almost too good to be true, but there are other countries taking advantage of those uses right now, and the United States is falling behind again. Weve known about these and many other unique benefits of cannabis for generations, yet we continue to dig a hole deeper and deeper into the sand and stick our heads in it. Why? All because of a ridiculous movie called Reefer Madness? All because the DARE program says marijuana is a gateway drug? All because our government doesnt want us to believe there are more uses for this plant other than just hippies getting high?

The conspiracy against this plant is one that dates back hundreds of years. Our country was founded on this plant. I bet you didnt know that. I bet you didnt know that when the thirteen colonies paid their taxes to the British crown, the colonists had the option of paying for it in hemp because hemp was more valuable than money. Yet, our country has been successful in morphing a negative connotation of this plant for a select few peoples political gains and for a select few corporations profits. The select few in both cases just happen to be powerful enough to create a propaganda campaign that is still in existence today... primarily because those same forces from our history books have changed hands over the years, but they still carry the same agenda.

Mybook presents the facts and evidence from primary sources, such as scientific research documents and medical studies, to prove the greatest cover-up of all time: Weve been at war with a plant for generations.

And for what purpose? Youll soon find out.

My book will also show you the practical, everyday applications of this plant. From biodiesel fuel to cooking and baking recipes to nutrition facts, mybook will show you what this plant can do to change your every day life for the better.

And for all those religious people reading mybook, remember this: God supposedly created the earth and everything in it... including cannabis. So if God created everything on earth for us to use, how dare we try to eradicate a plant that He put here for countless uses? Think about it. Its here for a reason. Let me prove to you how valuable that reason is.

When I was governor, I tried to legalize hemp. I would have done anything to do it, but the legislature wouldnt even give the people of Minnesota the opportunity to vote on it. Well, I left office in 2003, and I find it ridiculous that today there is only limited medical marijuana legislation in my home state. Hemp makes the best biodiesel fuel on the planet. Medical marijuana helps people who are sick from chemotherapy eat. I challenge anyone in government: What right do you have to tell someone what they can or cannot use if they have cancer? Do you have a medical license? What right do you have to turn sick people into criminals so that they can eat?

There was a time when I was proud to be an American. There was a time when I looked at the United States and looked at the future of my country with hope. I dont necessarily have that feeling today. Most days I dont recognize my country or the American values that my parents fought so hard to uphold in World War II. I wrote abook with the hope that this might change in my lifetime. When it really comes down to it, youre reading a book written by a veteran, a former mayor, a former governor, and a former Harvard (yes, the Ivy League university) professor. I am pro-freedom, I am pro-marijuana, and Ive written this book to show you how we can take our country back.

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If you're pro-freedom, you should be in favor of legalizing marijuana - Salon

When Is Speech Violence? – New York Times

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Your body also contains little packets of genetic material that sit on the ends of your chromosomes. Theyre called telomeres. Each time your cells divide, their telomeres get a little shorter, and when they become too short, you die. This is normal aging. But guess what else shrinks your telomeres? Chronic stress.

If words can cause stress, and if prolonged stress can cause physical harm, then it seems that speech at least certain types of speech can be a form of violence. But which types?

This question has taken on some urgency in the past few years, as professed defenders of social justice have clashed with professed defenders of free speech on college campuses. Student advocates have protested vigorously, even violently, against invited speakers whose views they consider not just offensive but harmful hence the desire to silence, not debate, the speaker. Trigger warnings are based on a similar principle: that discussions of certain topics will trigger, or reproduce, past trauma as opposed to merely challenging or discomfiting the student. The same goes for microaggressions.

This idea that there is often no difference between speech and violence has stuck many as a coddling or infantilizing of students, as well as a corrosive influence on the freedom of expression necessary for intellectual progress. Its a safe bet that the Pew survey data released on Monday, which showed that Republicans views of colleges and universities have taken a sharp negative turn since 2015, results in part from exasperation with the speech equals violence equation.

The scientific findings I described above provide empirical guidance for which kinds of controversial speech should and shouldnt be acceptable on campus and in civil society. In short, the answer depends on whether the speech is abusive or merely offensive.

Offensiveness is not bad for your body and brain. Your nervous system evolved to withstand periodic bouts of stress, such as fleeing from a tiger, taking a punch or encountering an odious idea in a university lecture.

Entertaining someone elses distasteful perspective can be educational. Early in my career, I taught a course that covered the eugenics movement, which advocated the selective breeding of humans. Eugenics, in its time, became a scientific justification for racism. To help my students understand this ugly part of scientific history, I assigned them to debate its pros and cons. The students refused. No one was willing to argue, even as part of a classroom exercise, that certain races were genetically superior to others.

So I enlisted an African-American faculty member in my department to argue in favor of eugenics while I argued against; halfway through the debate, we switched sides. We were modeling for the students a fundamental principle of a university education, as well as civil society: When youre forced to engage a position you strongly disagree with, you learn something about the other perspective as well as your own. The process feels unpleasant, but its a good kind of stress temporary and not harmful to your body and you reap the longer-term benefits of learning.

Whats bad for your nervous system, in contrast, are long stretches of simmering stress. If you spend a lot of time in a harsh environment worrying about your safety, thats the kind of stress that brings on illness and remodels your brain. Thats also true of a political climate in which groups of people endlessly hurl hateful words at one another, and of rampant bullying in school or on social media. A culture of constant, casual brutality is toxic to the body, and we suffer for it.

Thats why its reasonable, scientifically speaking, not to allow a provocateur and hatemonger like Milo Yiannopoulos to speak at your school. He is part of something noxious, a campaign of abuse. There is nothing to be gained from debating him, for debate is not what he is offering.

On the other hand, when the political scientist Charles Murray argues that genetic factors help account for racial disparities in I.Q. scores, you might find his view to be repugnant and misguided, but its only offensive. It is offered as a scholarly hypothesis to be debated, not thrown like a grenade. There is a difference between permitting a culture of casual brutality and entertaining an opinion you strongly oppose. The former is a danger to a civil society (and to our health); the latter is the lifeblood of democracy.

By all means, we should have open conversations and vigorous debate about controversial or offensive topics. But we must also halt speech that bullies and torments. From the perspective of our brain cells, the latter is literally a form of violence.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, a professor of psychology at Northeastern University, is the author of How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion), and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter.

A version of this op-ed appears in print on July 16, 2017, on Page SR9 of the New York edition with the headline: When Is Speech Violence?.

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When Is Speech Violence? - New York Times

Cris Cyborg believes Holly Holm could be next after UFC 214 – MMA Fighting

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Holly Holm is open to fighting for UFC gold in both the bantamweight and featherweight divisions if the opportunity is right and Cris Cyborg is once again interested in facing her inside the Octagon.

A former champion at Strikeforce and Invicta FC, Cyborg is slated to meet Tonya Evinger for the vacant 145-pound championship on July 29 at UFC 214 in Anaheim, Calif. The Brazilian told Ariel Helwani on a recent edition of The MMA Hour that Holm would be a great option for her next fight, if she wins in Anaheim.

"I think the next fight could be with her, said Cyborg, pointing out that she already accepted to face Holm three different times at UFC 184, UFC 198, and UFC Fight Night 95, but the fight never happened.

"I think (its a) great fight for all the fans, Cyborg said. She already fought at 145 (pounds) with (Germaine) de Randamie and people say that she win, she lost. Let's make the fight with me for the belt. She just defeated Bethe Correia, I think shes the big name for the next fight. She's a great fighter.

Cyborg (17-1, 1 NC) scored a pair of dominant TKO victories in the UFC in 2016, finishing Leslie Smith and Lina Lansberg in 140-pound catchweight bouts after a 5-0 run as a featherweight in the Invicta FC cage.

Holm (11-3) recently put an end to a three-fight losing skid two of those losses having come in UFC title bouts with a devastating knockout win over Correia in Singapore.

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Cris Cyborg believes Holly Holm could be next after UFC 214 - MMA Fighting

WWE News: Cris Cyborg wants to face Becky Lynch at Summerslam – Sportskeeda

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Whats the story?

Cris Cyborg recently used a fan-made poster to challenge Becky Lynch to a match at Summerslam, and the Irish Lass Kicker was quick to retort.

Cyborg is a former Strikeforce and Invicta FC Womens Featherweight Champion who currently competes in the UFC. Although shes had certain issues with various promoters, the Brazilian mixed martial artist hasnt tasted defeat in almost twelveyears.

Cyborg and Lynch had a rather lengthy back and forth on Twitter; in fact, they even mentioned Triple H and Dana White during their exchange. While this was nothing more than playful banter, it appears that the worlds of mixed martial arts and professional wrestling are more willing to cross over than ever.

Cyborg has an iron clad contract with UFC, and she cant make an appearance at Summerslam without her employers permission. She also doesnt have a recognised professional wrestling background, so its practicallyimpossible for her to have a meaningful match with Lynch.

Becky Lynch and Cyborg are two talented performers who are the top of their respective professions. They might never have a professional wrestling match, but both of these women have a lot to offer the world of combat sports.

Send us news tips at fightclub@sportskeeda.com

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WWE News: Cris Cyborg wants to face Becky Lynch at Summerslam - Sportskeeda

Rhode Island Beaches – Best Beaches in Rhode Island

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This tiny state, with the nickname of "The Ocean State," has only 1,545 square miles of land area, but more than 400 miles of coastline, one of the highest proportions of land to coast in the US. This means that water sports, rock and shore fishing, and Rhode Island beaches are major state attractions. You'll find scores of beaches in Rhode Island all along the coast, in the sheltered waters of Narragansett Bay, along the Blackstone River Valley that spreads northwest from Pawtucket, and in inland state parks elsewhere in the state. Most of the beaches in Rhode Island are open to the public, some for a nominal entry fee.

Narragansett Bay, New England's largest river estuary, undoubtedly has the most sheltered Rhode Island beaches because of its breakwater barrier protection. There are numerous beaches in this sheltered bay, including on its more than thirty islands. They are excellent for novice swimmers and families with children. Narragansett Beach lies at the southern end of the bay, and benefits both from its location on the bay as well as its location on the scenic coastal Route 1A. The lovely mansions of Newport are just a short boat ride away, and just down the road is the historic nineteenth-century octagonal Point Judith Lighthouse that played such an important role in the state's maritime history. Narragansett Beach also features a more varied and fluctuating surf, unlike the beaches directly facing the ocean. This is a half-mile long public beach with two full-service pavilions, lifeguards, dining concessions, restrooms and changing rooms, and rental cabanas. Narragansett Beach also has picnic areas and a beach access boardwalk. Surfing lessons are available and a number of events are held here, including musical concerts, sand sculpting contests, and a kite festival.

Along the coast, on the western part of the state, are miles and miles of Rhode Island beaches that continue on to the Connecticut coastline. Charlestown Beach and Westerly Beach are two of these. There are numerous vacation rentals available along this stretch of coastline, as well as golfing resorts.

Charlestown Beach is about halfway between Narragansett and Misquamicut Beach, which is near the Connecticut border. Charlestown Beach actually consists of two adjacent stretches of sandthe town beach, which is actually on Ninigret Pond, and Charlestown Breachway State Beach and Campground, located on the ocean. Between the two, you have long stretches of fine white sand, a boat ramp for fishing, and 75 camping sites. You're also near some of the state's wildlife refuges, with wonderful marine bird life including the magnificent fish-eating osprey.

The town of Westerly is so named because of its location on the state's western border with Connecticut. Its Westerly Beach is a public town beach encompassing three acres, and with 300 feet of beach frontage. It adjoins the seven-mile long Misquamicut Beach, and is in close proximity to a number of local golfing resorts and several coastal fishing ponds. Westerly Beach is also within two miles of the only one of the airports in the state with flights to nearby Block Island.

Virtually no state or town beaches in Rhode Island allow pets. If you're bringing a pet on your Rhode Island vacations and want it to accompany you to the beach, you will need to find pet friendly lodging with access to a private beach.

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Rhode Island Beaches - Best Beaches in Rhode Island

20 idyllic beach getaways – CNN

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(CNN) Life's a beach, and in Asia there's a whole lot of good living to be had.

We've researched and uncovered the top beach destinations to be found in the region.

We've even broken them down into three categories -- secluded beaches, action beaches and local flavor -- so all you need to do is decide exactly how much coastal paradise you can handle.

Yunokawa may be known as an onsen (hot spring) district but there are lovely, largely deserted beaches all around town.

The true charms of the coastal city don't show themselves until the winter months. The area is scattered with onsens directly facing out to the shore and we can think of few things better than bathing in a hot spring while looking out at a beach covered with snow.

Yunokawa is largely ignored by both foreign and domestic tourists during winter, as most Hokkaido vacationeers opt for Sapporo for skiing, so shops close early, which adds to the town's sedate ambience.

The picturesque Bai Dai beach.

Phu Quoc is being fashioned as the "next Phuket" and will soon be turning in a pretty profit for the Vietnamese government and resort operators.

But if unspoiled charms are what you're after, there's still time for you to check out the island and find out why the government finds it bankable in the first place (the international airport won't open until next year).

Phu Quoc is frequently touted one of Vietnam's most beautiful islands and the Bai Dai Beach, which squats in a Viet military area, is blissfully secluded with white sands and expansive vistas stretching to the horizon.

Most tourists know Goa for its Anjuna beach, hippie heaven of the 1960s and now tourist magnet. If the cacophony of flea markets and tourist raves are not your thing, head down to the lesser-known shores of Patnem, which is a stone's throw away from the increasingly crowded Palolem beach.

Patnem may be smaller than its famous neighbor but it's also less claustrophobic, with cheaper beach hut accommodation. It's the perfect place to kick back and enjoy the sunset while congratulating yourself on ducking the Goan tourist radar.

Another stunning beach, another spectacular sunset.

The island cluster of Langkawi is spearheading Malaysia's bid to become the next major resort destination in Southeast Asia, and while on the main isle (also called Lankawi) most tourists flock to Pantai Cenang beach, we like the quieter Tanjung Rhu for its earthy beauty and serene atmosphere.

The two-mile Tanjung Rhu beach area is surrounded by ancient limestone caves, rippling waterways and dense mangroves. The newly opened Four Seasons resort offers boat tours around the mangrove forests led by naturalists.

Vijaynagar beach on Havelock Island.

The idyllic Havelock Island may be the most visited stop on the Andaman Islands circuit, but visitor numbers there are tiny compared to the throngs at other equally charming locations in Thailand.

At the low-key Havelock Island, visitors get to taste what rustic island life is all about. The buses that operate on the island look like they're just about to fall apart, and locals, while friendly, have a charmingly disaffected demeanor. Those seeking corporate comforts will not find it here as Havelock is free of chain resorts.

Thailand's Koh Kood is possibly one of the very few places that can live up to the myth of the unpeopled Asian beachy paradise. It's got the prerequisites -- a rainforest, quaint fishing villages, coconut plantations, snorkeling spots, and a population of less than 2,000.

One of the star attractions is the immaculate Ta Pho Beach, a wide swathe of sugary-white sand fringed with coconut trees.

Pulau Derawan, Indonesia is perfect for turtles and tourists alike.

Tourists seeking to escape corporate comforts can't go wrong with the Indonesian island of Pulau Derawan. Tourist accommodation is no-frills, and locals are unassuming and chatty. The luckier visitors will be able to spot turtles wading about on the island's spotless silvery beaches.

The waters surrounding Derawan are known to be a top-notch spot for splashing around with mantra rays and green turtles.

Phra Nang Beach, Railay, Thailand is a Dali-esque paradise.

With Dali-esque limestone structures, hundreds of challenging cliff-side climbing routes and Tiffany-blue waters, the peninsular of Railay is the seasoned rock climber's dream. Phra Nang, the area's fine-grained main beach, offers a sweeping view of the area's rugged beauty and is flanked by stalactite-rimmed cliffs that tourists can jump from.

Although Railay is only accessible by long-tail boat from Krabi and Ao Nang, it can get crowded during tourist peak seasons.

One of Sipadan's many sea-huts is seen in the waters near Sipadan Island.

For divers, it doesn't get much better than the beach-rimmed Sipadan. It's been voted the best dive site in Asia with good reason -- Sipadan is blanketed with lush corals and supports an extraordinarily healthy marine ecosystem, including robust reef shark and green turtle populations.

More divers won't pass up on the opportunity to visit Barracuda Point to experience what it's like to have thousands of barracuda milling around them. To conserve the area, only 120 diver permits are issued at Sipadan every day.

With its political woes apparently easing, Sri Lanka's efforts to become known as a tourism hotspot rather than a terrorism hotbed are no doubt aided by its world-class surf spots.

Surf Mecca Hikkaduwa, one of Sri Lanka's most popular beach destinations, has close to a dozen reef breaks that stop short of being life-threatening, and plenty of sea corals to keep snorkelers happy.

To complete the Asian getaway experience, Hikkaduwa has sumptuously spicy local fare and Buddhist cultural spectacles for vacationers to write home about.

Gaya Island is a eco-friendly paradise.

For those looking for underwater action, Gaya Island is an excellent dive spot for its corals, warm waters and exotic fish.

Boats docked at Mui Ne beach.

Thrill-seekers will not want to miss out on Mui Ne, Vietnam's de facto adrenalin capital. It's famous for kite-surfing for its strong winds and clear skies, and is also generally considered a prime surfing and wind-surfing spot.

Mui Ne has looks, too -- parts of the beach consist of massive sand dunes, like a section of the desert crazily juxtaposed next to the sea.

The Philippines crowning glory.

The Bacuit archipelago, which comprises of over 45 islets, is recognized as one of the Philippines' crowning geological wonders for its sheer karst cliffs and sensational limestone rock formations. The whitewashed shores in the region -- notably the excellent beaches at Cadlao Island -- are also great places to get your adrenalin fix, be it snorkeling, kayaking, trekking, cliff-climbing or diving.

The islet of Akajima of Okinawa's Kerama Islands may be popular among Japanese day-trippers during the summer, but foreign travelers are a rare sight there.

Indeed, Akajima retains a blissfully sequestered charm even during peak season. The beaches are spotless, usually with just a handful of Japanese surfers, and locals are effusive and friendly. Further inland there is a quaint Ryukyuan heritage house open to visitors. If you're lucky you may even befriend a local and have him teach you the shamisen while you sip on cold beer.

Beidaihe, China, is a refuge from the city.

Hainan Island may be China's beach getaway de jour, but it's Beidaihe up north that's been amusing China's upper echelons for decades.

Beidaihe is a few hours from Beijing and offers a fascinating alternative view of China's bygone political intrigue. Rulers such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping hashed out national policies in their private villas here, and it's popular among Russian tourists -- an offhand reminder of erstwhile Sino-Soviet ties.

Cloaks and daggers aside, Beidaihe's restaurants offer simpler pleasures with good seafood and ice-cold beer.

There's more to Om Beach at the coastal town of Gorkana than sand and sea. Gorkana, which is the site of one of India's most sacred Shiva shrines, is a major stop on the Hindu pilgrimage circuit and Om Beach offers a fascinating glimpse into Hindu religious life.

The craggy bay is named for resembling the Hindu symbol for oneness and peace, and is backed by coconut palms and verdant hills. Downtown Gorkana is rich with old-world charm, with bare-chested Brahmin priests wandering about, and chillum-smoking masses.

Full moon partiers dance the night away on the beach of Haad Rin.

Haad Rin beach's infamous full moon parties are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Every full moon evening, tens of thousands of (predominately Aussie) travelers flock to the island for drunken, drug-fueled revelry. Lining up for toilets and drinks can get annoying, and there's a lot of shoving and swearing going on, but for many party fiends, the buckets of cheap alcohol, the great food and the maddening crowd makes it all worth it.

Iho Beach could be Hawaii.

With its Hawaii-like aesthetic, Jeju has long been a favorite among Korean domestic travelers and honeymooners, and a standout in the region is Iho Beach, famous for its mixture of yellow and grey sand. The beach is shallow and good for a swim, and when you've dried off, we recommend heading off to downtown Jeju-si to people-watch at the raucous student bars.

White Beach might be a tourist haven, but it's still worth a visit.

Boracay may be a pimped-out tourist central but there's a reason why it remains a superlative on travel rankings.

Tourism and development have crept up on the tiny island but it still lays a respectable claim to its "tropical paradise" name. Boracay has something for everyone, from powdery beaches to water sports and spas. And while the famous White Beach is lined with luxury resorts and kitschy souvenir shacks, watching the sun go down over the water still rates as a very special moment for many.

Nearly all the beaches in the Maldives are faultless, but in terms of beach-side luxury, the staggeringly expensive Soneva Gili resort reigns supreme. Each over-water villa is equipped with little indulgences that you didn't know you needed -- room service by speedboat and outdoor bathrooms, for instance -- and private butlers will drop you off at deserted private beaches complete with hammocks and picnics on request.

Editor's note: This article was previously published in 2010. It was reformatted, updated and republished in 2017.

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20 idyllic beach getaways - CNN

15 best beaches in Sydney – CNN

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(CNN) When it comes to the best beaches in Sydney, it's hard to know where to begin.

Around 100 beaches are speckled around the harbor and along the coast, both north and south of the Harbour Bridge. The only vex for travelers and locals can be picking the best one.

To make it easy, this list of the 15 best beaches in Sydney showcases our picks for the top of the top.

The lifestyle mecca of Manly, often referred to as "God's Country."

After alighting from the 30-minute ferry ride from Circular Quay, there's a sign at Manly Wharf that reads: "Five miles from the city, a million miles from care." Such is the lifestyle of "God's Country."

A cosmopolitan mall and promenade add to the sight of young, hip, beautiful and sun-kissed bodies. A day trip here is enough reason to consider relocating to the northern beaches. Whether it's from the beach itself, or one of the nearby cafes, Manly is a pleasing place to catch a wave or simply to people-watch.

Manly Beach, South Steyne, Manly.

Just south of Bondi, Tamarama is a challenging swim, but a great view in more ways than one.

Known as "Glamarama" for the eye-catching locals sun-baking on the beach --- it's traditionally been a haven for the gay and modeling communities.

Parking near the beach is impossible, but it's worth the fight because the beach is as beautiful as the locals adorning it. Being small and intimate adds to the feeling that this is an exclusive beach reserved for the lucky ones.

A word of warning, though: it's also one of Sydney's most dangerous beaches, with two rips coming in from either side of the bay. While this makes it a haven for surfers catching waves from the northern head adjoining nearby McKenzies Beach, it can be tough if you're not a strong swimmer.

Tamarama Beach, Tamarama Marine Drive, Tamarama.

Iconic Bondi Beach, where cafes and restaurants are dotted around the district.

Australia's most famous beach is more than 100 meters wide and stretches for well over a kilometer. This allows plenty of space for the overwhelming amount of tourists -- and locals -- that park themselves along the sands. On a good day every grain of sand is covered with bodies, with crowds swelling into Bondi Park and into nearby bars and cafes.

It's sometimes criticized for being too big, too busy, and too touristy --- but it's also the hot spot for fashionable Sydneysiders and travelers and lots of fun.

Bondi Beach, Campbell Parade, Bondi.

The family-friendly Bronte Beach has the best barbecue spot in Sydney.

Bronte's sea pool offers a protected ocean swim and is regarded as one of the best in Sydney -- and much like beach culture itself, it's free.

The nearby parkland has spacious barbecue areas for gatherings and is the most family-friendly beach in the eastern suburbs. On public holidays, the park becomes a sea of frenzy as parties take place.

Bronte's east-facing beach picks up plenty of swell and swimming can be tricky at times thanks to the bulky headlands and underwater rocks. Waves can dump close to the shoreline.

But the vibes and views on offer make it ideal for those looking to laze around on the popular beach.

Bronte Beach, Bronte Marine Drive, Bronte.

Adjoining a national park, the harbor beach feels secluded.

It still calls itself the city's "hidden secret" despite near-impossible parking and a crowded beach, but Nielsen Park is a little gem. The more adventurous can walk along the harbor foreshore through a national park to reach it.

It feels secluded, even though it's packed, and has a quaint charm because it's not touristy -- you won't find a backpacker in sight.

The views back across the bays to the city center are impressive. A net, which makes it a family picnic or snorkeling special, encloses the swimming area.

Nielsen Park, Greycliffe Avenue, Vaucluse.

On the north shore, Balmoral Beach is ideal for unwinding.

Balmoral, on the north shore's Middle Harbor near Taronga Zoo, has an air of peaceful serenity. Life moves at a more leisurely pace here. If it's loud and proud you're after, this isn't it.

What Balmoral does have in spades is impressive views. And its calmness makes it a great swimming spot for families.

Balmoral Beach, The Esplanade, Balmoral.

If it's too busy at Manly Beach, just take a walk, swim or kayak to Shelly Beach.

Shelly Beach is just around the corner from Manly on the north head. If Manly gets too crowded -- as is often the case -- then this is your nearby destination.

Because it's protected from the ocean swell, you'll see lots of scuba divers under the water and paddle boarders gliding along the surface.

And they won't be the only ones making the most of the ideal visibility and calmness of the water, with swimmers flocking to the beachfront as well.

Shelly Beach, Bower Street, Manly.

Parties at Milk Beach in summer strike a contrast with the abandoned beach in winter.

Located behind the heritage Strickland House on Vaucluse Road, this intimate and tucked-away beach gets pretty busy during the summer months, but is near deserted throughout the rest of the year.

A great spot to impress, Milk Beach is a little-known spot that still packs a mighty punch when it comes to commanding views of Sydney. And you'll often see a lot of kayakers moored to take in a spot of lunch.

It's also been the scene of some thumping parties during summer, so you could find yourself walking into a beachy dance floor.

Milk Beach, Vaucluse Road, Vaucluse.

A local secret: Wind down the coastal road to Bilgola Beach.

Descending down the windy roads that lead to Bilgola Beach from the headlands that surround it, you instantly feel you're travelling a path not well trodden.

The rips crashing into the northern end of the beach create some great surf for "waxheads" living on the "insular peninsula."

Bilgola isn't mentioned much and is kept as a relative secret by locals. Quiet and unspoilt, the beach is a real in-the-know spot.

Bilgola Beach, The Serpentine, Avalon

Camp Cove is a place to catch a harbor sunset.

Close to the mouth of the harbor, Camp Cove has some of the most breathtaking views of Sydney. It's also westward facing so gives east-coasters the chance to watch the sunset over water.

It's close to a large park, children's playground, pub and institutional fish and chips -- what more do you need for a day on a harbor beach?

Views also open up in the opposite direction to the vastness of the Tasman Sea, in contrast to the city vista. Quiet, secluded, and quaint, the picturesque Camp Cove is a stunning swimming spot and the elevated promenade gives visitors a chance to languidly take it all in.

Camp Cove, Victoria Street, Watsons Bay.

A cliff view between Bronte and Clovelly.

Arguably one of the best options for snorkeling and exploring what lurks beneath the water's surface, Clovelly is a small and tranquil beach that's noted for its unique narrow bay between two rocky ridges.

Instead of a long sweeping beachfront, Clovelly is protected and therefore provides a tranquil swimming experience away from the hustle and bustle of its busy neighboring beaches.

It's a good base for Gordons Bay, where you can check out snorkeling routes through the waters, or take a coastal walk to Bondi or Bronte.

Clovelly Beach, Donnellan Circuit, Clovelly.

Surfers stick on one end of North Narrabeen, while sun-seekers occupy the rest.

Boasting some of the best and most consistent surf, the beach attracts board enthusiasts from all over Sydney. Surfers have no qualms making the 25-kilometer trip north of the city center to get to the three-kilometer-long beach.

The northern end of the vast, sandy strip is protected from the northeasterly winds and is a surfer's destination, while the rest of the vast beach is ideal for swimming.

North Narrabeen Beach, Ocean Street, North Narrabeen.

Just north of Manly, Freswater Beach is protected by its southern head.

Flanked by headlands on both sides, excellent surf is often produced at "Freshie."

Perhaps fittingly, Freshwater is also the location where Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku first introduced surfing to Australia in 1915. The beach is only 350 meters long and is a popular destination for surfers. It's also the perfect spot for a sunset body surf.

There's also an eight-lane rock pool at the northern end.

Freshwater Beach, Moore Road, Freshwater.

In the Royal National Park, Garie Beach is worth the journey.

Located in the Royal National Park, 54 kilometers south of Sydney, Garie Beach isn't one for beach-lovers without a car. The large beach is spectacular, though.

It's well preserved and is the perfect spot for a relaxing day at the beach away from the city and the "same old" spots. The facilities are top-notch and there's a great fishing spot off the east-facing rocks.

Garie Beach, Garie Beach Road, Royal National Park.

Palm Beach has a tropical feel on a sunny day.

Part of Sydney's "insular peninsula" in the far north, it's the scene of the long-running "Home and Away" TV series and endless celebrity spotting.

The great views take in a salt water lagoon, typical of beaches of the north side of the harbor.

On a sunny day, Palm Beach is a postcard-perfect sand destination -- even though it's 45 kilometers north of the city center. As with so many beach journeys in Sydney, it's worth a drive as you'll catch some breathtaking views along the way.

Palm Beach, Ocean Road, Palm Beach.

Editor's note: This article was previously published in 2011. It was reformatted and republished in 2017.

Read more:

15 best beaches in Sydney - CNN

Advisories issued for six Monadnock Region beaches – The Keene Sentinel

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Six beaches in the Monadnock Region have been closed due to high levels of fecal bacteria found in recent water samples.

Picnic Beach and Camping Beach in Greenfield and Wares Grove Town Beach in Chesterfield were closed on July 13, according to the N.H. Department of Environmental Services database.

State officials closed Sunset Town Beach in Harrisville, East Washington Beach in Washington and Island Pond Public Beach in Stoddard Friday.

There are about 35 public beaches in the region.

This is the first time Island Pond Public Beach has been closed for high levels of bacteria.

East Washington Beach was last closed for high bacteria levels in July 2014, Camping Beach in June 2013, Ware Groves Town Beach in August 2015, and both Picnic Beach and Sunset Town Beach in July 2016.

The advisories will remain in effect until fecal bacteria counts return to levels below state standards, according to the N.H. Department of Environmental Services website.

The agencys database notes new samples were collected at Camping Beach and Picnic Beach Friday; new test results will be available Saturday.

Sunset Town Beach, Island Pond Public Beach and East Washington Town Beach will be tested on July 17, with results released the following day.

Retesting information wasnt available for Wares Grove Town Beach.

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Advisories issued for six Monadnock Region beaches - The Keene Sentinel