Article: Time replaces its logo for the first time in its history. Now, it says 'Vote'

For the first time ever, Time magazine's logo will be replaced with an imperative -- "VOTE." It's both a call to action for readers and a mission statement for the November 2 double issue, which covers the final days of the 2020 presidential election. "Few events will shape the world to come more than the result of the upcoming U.S. presidential election," Time editor-in-chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal wrote in a note to readers.

- CNN

CNN: Czech nudists told to wear face masks by police

Face masks aren't mandatory everywhere, but strict rules on wearing them have been enforced in the Czech Republic -- even for nudists. The European country has begun to relax restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus, but at the height of concerns late last month, police were called in to remind people that while it was OK to get naked in designated public places, mouths needed to be covered. Czech law enforcers issued a warning after officers were called out on March 27 in the small town of Lázně Bohdaneč, east of Prague, because of complaints about maskless naturists basking in warm weather. "Unfortunately, many of the sunbathing citizens were gathered in large groups, and some were not wearing face masks.," a police statement said. "Upon the arrival of the police, everyone agreed to respect the government regulation [that face shields are compulsory outside the home].

- CNN

Learn more about naturism at Paya Bay Resort.

CNN: How he became a bodybuilder with one arm and no legs

So inspiring!

CNN: Dare to bare: 15 of the world's best nude beaches

I bet some of Paya's clients would vote to include clothing-optional Bliss Beach on this list!

Although still taboo in many places, casting aside your clothes at the shore has become a customary practice around the world in recent times. From rocky coastlines to talcum powder fine sands, and big city bays to secluded shores, there are now hundreds of beaches where it's perfectly legal (or at least de facto legal) to sunbathe, swim and otherwise frolic beside the sea in nothing more than your birthday suit. "Soft, smooth sand, warm ocean breeze, gentle ocean waves and lots of other naturists makes for a great clothing-optional beach," says Nicky Hoffman of The Naturist Society, who's also the managing editor of Nude & Natural magazine and co-author of "The World's Best Nude Beaches & Resorts." While clothing-optional beach destinations may seem like a modern invention, it's actually quite an old idea, a product of the otherwise prudish Victorian era.During the 1880s, American poet Walt Whitman extolled the virtues of the "Adamic air bath" -- his nude walkabouts and swims along Timber Creek in New Jersey, writing of "The free exhilarating ecstasy of nakedness in Nature." Channeling that same vibe, the naturist movement took off in Europe and North America during the first half of the 20th century, with city parks, camp grounds and eventually beaches established for those who wanted to experience nature nude in their most natural state.

- CNN 

May we suggest:

#16 - Bliss Beach at Paya Bay Resort, Roatan,
Bay Islands of Honduras.

CNN: Dead whale in Indonesia had swallowed 1,000 pieces of plastic

In just the latest reminder of the dangers of pollution in our oceans, a dead whale in Indonesia has been found with 13.2 pounds (six kilograms) of plastic waste in its stomach. The 31.17-foot sperm whale was found near Kapota Island in Wakatobi National Park, southeast of Sulawesi. Park officials found bags, plastic bottles, sandals and 115 plastic cups in the whale's stomach, as well as a sack containing more than 1,000 pieces of string. "Although we have not been able to deduce the cause of death, the facts that we see are truly awful," said Dwi Suprapti, marine species conservation coordinator at WWF-Indonesia, in a statement to CNN.

- CNN

Greta Thunberg's letter

My name is Greta Thunberg. I am 15 years old. I am from Sweden.

I speak on behalf of Climate Justice Now.

Many people say that Sweden is just a small country and it doesn't matter what we do.

But I've learned you are never too small to make a difference.

And if a few children can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school, then imagine what we could all do together if we really wanted to. But to do that, we have to speak clearly, no matter how uncomfortable that may be.

You only speak of green eternal economic growth because you are too scared of being unpopular. You only talk about moving forward with the same bad ideas that got us into this mess, even when the only sensible thing to do is pull the emergency brake.

You are not mature enough to tell it like is. Even that burden you leave to us children. But I don't care about being popular. I care about climate justice and the living planet. Our civilization is being sacrificed for the opportunity of a very small number of people to continue making enormous amounts of money.

Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich people in countries like mine can live in luxury. It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the luxuries of the few.

The year 2078, I will celebrate my 75th birthday. If I have children maybe they will spend that day with me. Maybe they will ask me about you. Maybe they will ask why you didn't do anything while there still was time to act.

You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.

Until you start focusing on what needs to be done rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope. We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis.

We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground, and we need to focus on equity. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, maybe we should change the system itself.

We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again.

We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time.

We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people.

Thank you.

- CNN: "Teen tells climate negotiators they aren't mature enough"

Article: Caribbean island of Dominica bans plastic and Styrofoam

The fight against single-use plastic has been gathering steam over the past months, but the Caribbean nation of Dominica has taken the crusade to another level. The island nation has announced its aim to completely ban common plastics and single-use Styrofoam cups and food containers -- effective January 2019. Announcing this intention in June's budget address, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said his government wanted to help preserve Dominica's famously beautiful natural landscape. "Dominica prides itself as the "Nature Isle". We must in every way deserve and reflect that designation," reads Skerrit's statement. "The issue of solid waste management affects that perception and we continue to grapple with it."

- CNN

CNN: Successful trial of 'coral IVF' gives hope for Australia's Great Barrier Reef

"There's a very clear outcome, the higher the numbers of larvae that you put into the reef system, the more coral recruits you get," Harrison said. "The pilot studies at small scales are giving us hope that we will be able to scale this up to much larger reef scales." The 2,300km-long (1,500 miles) Great Barrier Reef -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site -- lost around half of its coral in the past few years after two mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017, a pattern repeated on coral reefs around the world.

- CNN

cnn: greenland is melting

think before you hit send

During a conversation with the poet Elizabeth Alexander, [Michelle] Obama offered young people some simple advice on tweeting: Think before you hit send and use spell check. "When you have a voice, you can't just use it any kind of way, you know?" she said at the Obama Foundation's inaugural youth leadership summit in Chicago. "You don't just say what's on your mind. You don't tweet every thought. Most of your first initial thoughts are not worthy of the light of day." As the audience laughed, Obama clarified that she was not "talking about anybody in particular, I'm talking about all of us." Obama described Twitter as a "powerful weapon that we just hand over to little kids." "A 10-year-old, 'Here you go. Tell it like it is,'" she said. "No you don't. You need to think and spell it right and have good grammar."

- CNN

a new, better idea

This CNN's Christiane Amanpour interview of Phillip Pullman is absolutely brilliant.

the emperor has no clothes

"This spell will eventually break. That is my belief." Senator Flake is an American hero.



The best thing that occurs to me about the world's current bristling political climate is the concept that it's always darkest before the dawn. Maybe, just maybe, we are experiencing the labor pains and the birthing process of a New Age/New Earth. Earth 2.0. One can hope.

Right, President Obama?

facts first

Genius: "...they may put "banana" in ALL CAPS..."

my thoughts are with Texas

Sending my love and best wishes to my family and friends in Texas as they face catastrophic circumstances.

More photos of the Hurricane Harvey disaster at CNN.

eclipse 2017

More great photos from CNN.

fareed's take

One of his most profound statements ever.

video: ana navarro: "stop acting like a mean girl!"

LOVE her! Ms. Navarro's rant is in response to this latest Twitter meltdown. (It's noteworthy that she's a Republican.)

overheard

Don't let the gray hair fool you.

- CNN's Anderson Cooper, last night.

which shade of pantone are you?

- CNN

Our infinite diversity is what makes our species so amazing.

Honduras in CNN's top 16 up-and-coming destinaions

"Its primary allures are the fine white-sand beaches of the Bay Islands, Mayan ruins and colorful colonial cities. Delve deeper still though and you'll uncover forested mountains, jungles, coral-clad dive sites and wildlife such as jaguars. The Western Caribbean Bay Islands Roatan, Utila and Guanaja get the press for waters graced by whale sharks, rays and turtles. [...] "Honduras has everything," says Thornton of Intrepid Travels. "It's certainly emerging as one of the hottest destinations in Central America.

- CNN Travel