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Introducing the special 488 Pista Spider Series, the 50th open-top model produced by Ferrari. It has a record power-to-weight ratio of 1.92 kg/hp. It combines the finest race-developed technological solutions with the joy of plain air driving to deliver an exhilarating experience behind the wheel. The model’s engine, dynamics, and aerodynamics are derived from two track cars: the 488 Challenge and the 488 GTE. The latter won the GT class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2017, thus giving Ferrari a total of five GT Manufacturers’ titles since the championship’s inception in 2012. Aerodynamic demands guided the work of the Ferrari Design Centre team. The 488 Pista Spider’s forms have been meticulously sculpted to ensure they are more performance-oriented than ever, with huge attention lavished on ensuring that while aerodynamic demands were met, the Maranello marque’s signature styling elements and aesthetic canons were respected. Click to view larger image > The Ferrari 488 Spider is powered by a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 with 661hp and 561 lb-ft of torque. Reach 60 mph in 3 seconds in any gear with the top speed of 203 mph. It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, Carbon ceramic brakes, rear parking sensors, leather sports seats. Customization is also available from a titanium exhaust system to multiple paint colors.  MSRP: From $280,900 Horsepower: 660 hp Curb weight: 3,362 lbs Dimensions: 180″ L x 77″ W x 48″ H Engine: 3.9 L V8 MPG: 15 city / 22 highway For more info, visit: www.ferrari.com/en-US By Miami Living Staff, Images courtesy of Ferrari

If you were to ask any director who's worked with the legendary Pam Grier they would likely tell you that having Pam on their set is a game changer. She knows what she wants and what she brings to the table. Just stand back and watch the force that is Pam. Throughout our conversation she made it clear that clinging to her perfectly proportioned black Barbie superhero past doesn't interest her. It's a lovely time capsule that will be well documented in biopic about her life based on her autobiography Foxy (Grand Central Publishing) that is currently in pre-production. These days Pam is focused on roles that represent mature, well rounded women living their authentic lives and not hiding behind a veneer of glam. Even stripped down to the studs, Pam Grier still exudes sensuality that leads men of all ages to her like the Pied Piper. In her first network sitcom role in Bless This Mess (ABC, 9:30/8:30c), Grier plays Constance, the local fix-it-all and know-it-all in small town Nebraska. She is the brilliant and funny foil to Dax Shepard and Lake Bell's transplanted Manhattanite characters, Mike and Rio. We witness Shepard and Bell's characters stumble and bumble through middle-American culture and country life through the eyes of Grier's amusement, as Ed Begley Jr.'s character, Rudy, tirelessly pursues her. Grier will also appear on the big screen alongside Diane Keaton and Rhea Perlman in Poms (out May 10th), a comedy about a group of women in a retirement community who reclaim their vigor and spice through starting a cheerleading squad. Allison Kugel: Let's talk about your new show, Bless This Mess. Is this your first time doing a network sitcom? Pam Grier: Let's see… yes, I do believe so. There was one with Michael J. Fox that was short lived, but I think this was the first one where it allows me to work with creatives like [the show's creator] Elizabeth Meriwether and [actress and co-creator] Lake Bell. I said to them, "Out here as country women, we take our Spanx off." I took my Spanx off and I did some chores before I came in to see them [for the role]. I was a little dusty and I smelled of barn and John Deere fuel. I smelled the part, so that helped (laughs). Allison Kugel: People don't know that about you. You're a country western girl. That's how you live when you're not working. Pam Grier: My upbringing had been military, rural and urban. It was the best of all worlds. I've learned from each aspect of my culture and I see the world through women who were offered the opportunity to be equals. My grandfather was the first feminist in my life. He was from Wyoming. He was my mom's dad, and his mom had a sugar beet farm. She was a single mom and they had a hotel for African- Americans, Native Americans and other people of color to stay in. He was accustomed to seeing independent women learn how to do things. He taught all his granddaughters how to be self-sufficient. Allison Kugel: What are some of the most notable things your grandfather taught you? Pam Grier: He taught all of us to hunt, fish, shoot, drive the tractor, bring the boat in, change tires and spark plugs… you name it. That way you could always survive, without waiting for someone to take care of you. Since I've been in film, since the seventies, this is something that's prepared me. When you're working in film, and then you're not working and you are home, how can you maximize taking care of your home and taking care of yourself, your family, your animals? I've had that and I bring that energy and information to my character, Constance, on this show. And my character wears a lot of hats. Allison Kugel: You're not known for comedy. Did they think you could be funny? Pam Grier: Yes, but Lake was talking about how she was afraid of cows. I said, "Cows won't hurt you, but if you come at a cow with a knife and a fork, you might have a problem (laughs). I would tell stories about things I would do if there's a mountain lion outside attacking my chicken coop and stuff like that. I would tell people not to go for long country walks in the night if there is no light. This is Jurassic Park for real. But what they really wanted to know about was the concept of inclusion, which is what this show is really about. My character is a sheriff, she owns the vehicle lumber yard, the hardware store; she's the theatre director, she sings, she knows everyone's business, she's the referee. Sometimes she has to pull people out of a ditch with her truck. Allison Kugel: How do you feel Bless This Mess handles inclusion, as far as steering clear of urban stereotypes of middle America? Pam Grier: I mentioned to Lake [Bell], when they didn't have a script and they had no idea what they might do or write. I said to her, "There is one thing I must implore you, and that is not to make fun of the heartland." People go to the heartland to find their hearts. I believe that the farmer is the hero or heroine of the day. They should be in every magazine, all the time. I'm a member of the Farmland Trust, and we try to keep people aware that farming should be organic, across the board. In Canada they know how to successfully do that. Here in the U.S., they have kept the subsidies and the information for the farmers away from them. Click to view larger image > Allison Kugel: Ed Begley Jr. plays your love interest. How's the chemistry between you too when you are working together? Pam Grier: He can sing, he can dance… he's got a bag of tricks! He and his wife Rachelle had me over to their home the first week, for dinner. Ed did a lot of the cooking, and he is exceptional. They are just two peas in a pod. The nicest people; they finish each other's sentences. He is so informative. You want to sit at his feet like he is Yoda. Ed is sustainable, he's a mad scientist, and he can teach you. We were talking about farming and growing and dirt and moisture and oxidization and nutrients in the soil to create a great bed for plants. We really enjoy that aspect of our relationship. Allison Kugel: Your career has done a 180. You're playing this quirky country role in Bless This Mess, and this month you are also in the film Poms with Diane Keaton and Rhea Perlman where you are poking fun at getting older. As someone who was an icon of sex appeal and glamour, how did that play a role, not just in your earlier career, but in your life? And how are you now processing going through the different stages of life? Pam Grier: I've always controlled my image for political, religious and spiritual purposes, and I've embraced aging. When I met Robert De Niro with his first wife, Diahnne Abbott, he was gaining weight in order to play Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. We were in his kitchen talking and I said to him, "I would like to gain weight for my roles." Because as a woman, society responds differently to your weight and to your appearance, and your sex appeal. I guess in certain cultures if you are not a standard size 4 or 6 you're not considered attractive. There are psychological aspects towards that. The younger, slimmer and more youthful looking you are, the better for child bearing and maybe you're thought to be more sexual or whatever. I love the fact that people do respond differently when I am a size twelve than when I am a size four; completely different dynamic and really interesting to me. Allison Kugel: People perceive that the more attractive you are considered by society, the easier that opportunities and good things will come your way. Why would you want to forfeit that? Pam Grier: When I did the play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune and I gained weight to play that role, I wanted to do that role and the producer said you should see Kathy Bates play this role. When I went to see her and I saw that she had this beautiful weight on her, which is very normal in certain cultures, while in other cultures not as acceptable, I just thought she was so stunningly beautiful. It brought a certain element and richness to her character. I don't know what it was, but I just felt this couple in love [in the show]. It was amazing. I thought, "If I can just reach half the energy she portrayed, I would be grateful. At the time I thought, "I'm really skinny. I run seven miles a day. How do I do this." Allison Kugel: You were known and celebrated for being beautiful, fit and strong. Pam Grier: Well, Robert De Niro had said it would be different for me as a woman. He said to me, "You'll lose your attractiveness in society." I said, "You know what? I'm controlling it. This is my work. This is my dream." I put on forty pounds. My body changed, and people reacted to me differently than when you're young and skinny. But you know what? When you have a little more weight on, yet you are still attractive, your skin is clear and your hair is well groomed, you're still going to get some doors opened for you. Allison Kugel: Are you comfortable in your skin at any weight? Pam Grier: At any weight. I can gain weight and lose weight, if I have to, for whatever reason. I remember when I was meeting with Spike Lee for a role while I was still doing Frankie and Johnny. When he saw me with weight on, he said, "Wow! You're a little bit heavier than I thought. Are you okay? Are you sick?" He didn't know I was doing a play. I told him it was appropriate for the character, and that it's working. I didn’t want people to come and see someone skinny and exotic looking and have them not see and hear [my] work. Allison Kugel: I am truly surprised by your point of view. It makes me wonder if people really knew you at the height of your fame. Pam Grier: I don’t know if it's psychological or just human nature, but people are used to seeing certain imagery in advertising continuously, so that's their filter. If I didn't gain the weight, I wouldn't have gotten that job. And women in this business won't gain weight because they're afraid of not working. They want to be attractive and have that value. I'm a person that doesn't look at weight and judge what's beautiful and what's not. I do know that these heavier actors and actresses are always working. Their work is fantastic, and you see this wisdom, you see this value. I know there is a designation within society about who is going to be wise and who isn't; who is going to be stupid. But let me tell you, maybe because I've had a sexuality and I still do now, it's kind of interesting that these young men in their forties are attempting to court me. Allison Kugel: This morning, someone said to me, "Tell her I love her. Tell her I think she is amazing." I said, "Take a number!" Pam Grier: (Laughs) Way back when women had weight on them, they were zaftig and Rubenesque, and very appealing to a lot of men. A lot of rugged, handsome men would have a woman that would be very zaftig, and not thin. They didn't believe thin women could do anything, and they would be hungry all the time. If a woman can do something, a man will have more respect for her. Maybe when I was younger, men assumed that I just went shopping and sat around by the pool and didn’t do much. Then they'd be shocked to see me changing my tire, fixing screens, putting the fence up, pushing manure and rock. Sometimes I would say to men, "What do you need? Don't have me have to fix this for you." Allison Kugel: Is that how you are in relationships? Are you the kind of woman who likes to do everything for herself? Pam Grier: Oh, no. I'm a partner. Whoever can do it for me, I'm game and I'm a listener. I love to listen. I am a researcher, but if you know more, then by all means share it. I don't have to do everything. But if it is life and death, I'm the person. At home, in all my fields, I have fire extinguishers because people flick their cigarettes out, and in a time of global warming fires are starting on the side of the road and burning up entire communities. Allison Kugel: They could have used you in California. Pam Grier: People have sprinklers on the inside of their homes. They should have them on the outside of their homes. Turn them on, wet down your property and leave. At least it will be so wet that the embers won't land on your house or around your house and burn it down. At the very least, it's a retardant. It will slow it down, if it won't completely stop it. I live in a forest and I am responsible for six animals. I'm responsible for not starting a fire and burning down everyone else's home and killing people. Aside from the comedy, that's also what our show is about. Having fun, enjoying and respecting our naturally occurring resources. Allison Kugel: And having a sense of responsibility for the earth, our ecosystem, our land and other people. Pam Grier: People are fear-based because they have given up a lot of their own confidence and strength to other people. "Here, handle my politics, do my taxes, you take care of me." And then when other people mess up, they feel victimized by the person they gave their power over to. People don't even realize how much power they have. They have acquiesced; they've given it away. I'm around people here in Colorado (where Grier lives most of the year) who've never flown before. They've only seen black people on television. When they meet me, they go, "Oh, she's just like us." It's astonishing. I can't criticize them, but they are so glad to meet me and to know that everything's going to be alright, that I'm not gonna open up a meth lab down the road. When they get to know me, it shifts for them in an instant. They realize that whoever told them, or whatever perception they had that was negative about other cultures, is now gone. Allison Kugel: You've been in show business now for about 50 years? Pam Grier: Fifty years, plus. My career is older than you! Allison Kugel: (Laughs) How do you want your body of work to be studied? Because it will be studied in years to come? Pam Grier: It already is studied, and they always tell me I'm a master class or thesis, and I'm going, "Whoa. Oh boy!" I'll tell you this, when I started doing stunts, that I'm feeling the pain from now, I didn't have a sports bra and it was a lot harder to be very physical and authentic. I don't want to be remembers as being perfect. I want to be remembered as being real. Allison Kugel: You are thought to be the first African- American female to headline action films. Where are your successors? Where is the next Pam Grier? Pam Grier: They're probably out there limping, as I did. They got hurt and said, "Don't wanna do that again!" I was a gymnast and I skied; I ran track. Anything to keep from doing the dishes, I loved. You have to have a little bit of that in your nature to be that physical. Not everyone is, or can be. You might be able to act the part, but If they didn't have that in their upbringing, they may not be following in my footsteps. Right now I see some white actresses like Charlize Theron and Rachel Weisz, who I never thought would do martial arts and stunts and action movies, who really enjoy them. But they did say they got a couple of "ow-ies," and they don't know if they will do it again. Not everybody is rushing into doing that kind of physical work. Allison Kugel: Is there any type of role you wouldn't take on, because it's not in your wheelhouse? Pam Grier: I was sexually attacked and raped at the age of 6, and then again at 18 in college, and then there was a third attack that I fought off. I couldn't believe what was happening. I didn't understand it. But I know that I cannot portray that in a movie, because I don't want to revisit those moments and emotions. A lot of actresses who will be up for the casting to play me in the film of my life, many of them may have had those same experiences and won't be able to re-live them, okay? Not everyone can do that; not everyone wants to re-visit that. If they can, it will be fantastic, but I know that I have had to turn down roles that have those kinds of attacks, because I couldn't do it. I had to pass. There were major directors and producers through the years, where they didn't know why I was passing, but I just passed. I knew I might snap. I don't know if I can go there. Not every actor can play every role, and there is a reason, and it may be private. Allison Kugel: But you are enjoying having audiences get to know the part of you that shines as Constance on Bless This Mess. Pam Grier: I'm sharing my rural side, my military side, my pragmatic side and my sexy side in this wonderful role that has been bestowed upon me by actress and co-creator Lake Bell and [co-creator] Elizabeth Meriwether; and ABC and Fox and Disney. They support me greatly, they listen to me, and they laugh at some of the funny things I do. Even the way I came into my initial meeting with them, all stinky from doing chores. Who does that? Allison Kugel: That's not so much method acting as it is the real Pam Grier! You're a roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty kind of woman. Pam Grier: That's right. For fifty years of my career, I would commute. I would come off the plane ready to work, in character, and I was very serious about my work. I couldn't do all the roles because I'm tall. For example, I couldn't play Tina Turner, because I was 5'9" and she's 5'1". I'm not going to get roles where the characters are diminutive. I was always asked why I didn't play Tina Turner. I'm actually, like, a foot taller than Tina. I'd be the tallest Tina Turner in the world. Like Geena Davis and a lot of my peers who are tall, we don't get a lot of the roles with husbands and love stories, because of our height and the perception that the husband should be taller than the woman. Allison Kugel: This interview reminds me of how film directors will say that sometimes they'll have an actor on set, and they know the best thing they can do is get out of their way and just let them do their thing. With this interview, I couldn't direct you. You directed the interview, but I learned a whole lot and I thank you! Pam Grier: Well, I love to share and I love to teach. I've got a PhD. from the University of Maryland in the Humanities, and an honorary degree in Science from Langston University in Agriculture. It's who I am. Watch "Bless This Mess," starring Lake Bell, Dax Shepard, Pam Grier and Ed Begley Jr. on ABC, Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c. Pam will also star in "Poms" with Diane Keaton and Rhea Perlman, in theatres Friday, May 10th. Follow her on Twitter @PamGrier Interview and words by Allison Kugel. Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, and author of the book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record available on Amazon and owner of Full Scale Media. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com. Photo credits: BLESS THIS MESS - ABC/John Fleenor © 2018-2019 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved.

Moët & Chandon is one of the world's largest champagne producers and a prominent champagne house. Moët et Chandon was established in 1743 by Claude Moët, and today owns 1,190 hectares (2,900 acres) of vineyards, and annually produces approximately 28,000,000 bottles of champagne. History Moët et Chandon began as Moët et Cie (meaning "Moët & Co."), established by Épernay wine trader Claude Moët in 1743, and began shipping his wine from Champagne to Paris. The reign of King Louis XV coincided with increased demand for sparkling wine. Soon after its foundation, and after son Claude-Louis joined Moët et Cie, the winery's clientele included nobles and aristocrats. In 1833, the company was renamed Moët et Chandon after Pierre-Gabriel Chandon de Briailles, Remy Moët's son-in-law, joined the company as a partner of Jean-Remy Moët, Claude Moët's grandson. Following the introduction of the concept of a vintage champagne in 1840, Moët marketed its first vintage in 1842. Their best-selling brand, Brut Imperial, was introduced in the 1860s. Their best known label, Dom Perignon, is named for the Benedictine monk remembered in legend as the "Father of Champagne". Moët & Chandon merged with Hennessy Cognac in 1971 and with Louis Vuitton in 1987 to become LVMH (Louis-Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy), the largest luxury group in the world, netting over 16 billion euros in fiscal 2004. Moët & Chandon holds a royal warrant as supplier of champagne to Queen Elizabeth II. In 2006, Moët et Chandon Brut Impérial issued an extremely limited bottling of its champagne named "Be Fabulous", a special release of its original bottle with decorative Swarovski crystals, marking the elegance of Moët et Chandon. production Around 5 million bottles are produced in each vintage. The wine is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot noir, with 6 g/l dosage. According to Tom Stevenson, "All vintages need at least 12 years ageing to nurture Dom Pérignon's signature silky mousse". As of 2008, the current release of Dom Pérignon is from the 2000 vintage and the current release of Dom Pérignon Rosé is from the 1998 vintage. As of 2017 the senior winemaker was Richard Geoffroy, who has been chef de cave for Dom Pérignon since 1990. Domaine Chandon In 1973, the then Moët-Hennessy company founded Domaine Chandon, an outpost winery in the Napa Valley. It was the first French-owned sparkling wine venture in the United States. The fine dining restaurant étoile was situated at the winery, closing in December 2014. Chandon had already founded an outpost in Argentina in 1959, and was doing the same in the southern city of Garibaldi in Brazil in 1973. Domaine Chandon was later established in 1986 in Australia in Coldstream, Victoria, in the Ningxia region in China in 2013 and India's Nashik region in 2014. Moët & Chandon is thrilled to announce the launch of a new advertising campaign that signals a new communication platform for the French champagne house whose 275-year-old heritage and pioneering vision have, since 1743, redefined the art of celebrating life’s most memorable moments. For more information visit moet.com. Special thanks for Wikipedia for textual inserts. To ensure that Wikipedia continues to ensure that everyone has the right to free and open knowledge, please donate.

For the last 15 years, Terra has focused on creating sustainable, design-oriented communities that enhance both urban and suburban neighborhoods in South Florida. Our most recent residential endeavors have been focused in Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, Weston, and Doral. At the forefront are the Bjarke Ingels-designed Grove at Grand Bay and the Rem Koolhaas/OMA-designed Park Grove, two new luxury condos that are breathing new life into Miami’s oldest, authentic neighborhood, Coconut Grove. In Miami Beach, Terra recently completed Glass, a 10-unit condo designed in collaboration with Rene Gonzalez in the SoFi district; and we’re starting construction at Eighty Seven Park, Renzo Piano’s rst residential building in the United States suspended above the lush urban oasis’ of North Beach along the Atlantic Ocean. Our commercial portfolio embraces areas like Doral and Pembroke Pines with projects like Doral Commons, our newest mixed-use development in Doral bringing 140,000 square-feet of retail with 319 single-family homes, and Pines City Center, a master-planned development set to feature a mix of retail space and multifamily units. With the urbanization phenomenon rising as a dominant force in U.S. real estate, the country is seeing an influx of residents transitioning from homes to high-rises. Rest assured, moving into an apartment or condo doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing the elements that make a home feel like “home.” To win over buyers accustomed to large, spread-out homes, we are incorporating high ceilings, expansive floor plans, outdoor green spaces, and even private garages to create new residential retreats. Conventional wisdom tells us urban areas are swelling as working professionals prioritize factors like location and access to jobs over the sheer size of their home, however the appeal of city living is growing amongst retirees and empty nesters. In a recent study conducted by the AARP, half of adults 45 or older said living in a walkable area during retirement is important. With land in metro areas becoming scarce, developers are taking to the skies to meet housing demands in urban neighborhoods – especially when it comes to catering to buyers 50 and up, which are projected to control 70 percent of the nation’s disposable wealth in a few years. Click to view larger image > Additionally, advances in architecture and construction are also dramatically improving the way developers design and build their projects. Factor in the lifestyle advantages found in many urban neighborhoods – including a tight-knit sense of community that converts strangers into neighbors – and you begin to see how high-rise living can mean heightened quality of life and added convenience. While international media has characterized South Florida’s real estate market as being dominated by extravagant condos owned by absentee buyers, more than half of the buyers at Grove at Grand Bay, for instance, are end users who will spend all or part of their time here – blatantly dispelling that notion. There’s this perception that our market is one-dimensional due to the sheer number of high-rise condos that have risen over the last decade, but today there are thriving single family home and apartment communities underway in neighborhoods like Doral, Weston, Pembroke Pines, and even in and around downtown. The neighborhoods are dynamic, the interest is alive, the residents are here, and these are the buyers we’re building for. For more information, visit: www.terragroup.com Words by David Martin David Martin / President, Co-Founder As the President of Miami-based development firm Terra, David Martin has cultivated a portfolio of more than five million square feet of residential and commercial real estate valued in excess of $8 billion.

Wearing a fitness tracking device could earn you cash from your health insurance company. At first, this sounds lucrative for the people who participate, and good for the companies, who want healthier insurance customers. But it’s not quite so simple. Under the program, people who have certain health insurance coverage plans with UnitedHealthcare can elect to wear a Fitbit activity tracker and share their data with the insurance company. The data would be analyzed by Qualcomm Life, a company that processes medical data from wireless sensors for doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. Depending on how active participants are, as measured by the Fitbit, they could earn as much as US$1,500 toward health care services each year. Interest in wearable fitness trackers is booming. More than half of people who already own one believe their devices will help them increase their life expectancy by 10 years – even though it’s impossible to actually know that because the clinical trials necessary would take at least a decade. Adding free money to the mix only makes the devices seem more attractive. Before we celebrate this new partnership, though, it’s important to consider potential costs to the patients. We are not far from days when wearable health devices will be able to diagnose illnesses. While this is not legal now, if Obamacare were repealed, as Republicans have vowed to do, corporate partnerships like this one with UnitedHealthcare and Fitbit could pave the way for insurance companies to use fitness tracker data to deny coverage or hike up rates for consumers. Diagnosis by device There are positive elements to pairing wearable fitness trackers with health data. An existing flu treatment medication works best when administered within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. But it’s difficult to catch the flu so quickly. A Fitbit could make that much easier. If the device measures a sudden decrease in the number of steps the person takes per day, plus perhaps an elevated resting heart rate, that could signal the presence of a virus. If an insurance company has access to those data, it could send a message to the patient. If the person really was feeling poorly (rather than just having decided to watch TV all day or gotten snowed in), she could be directed to go to her doctor or an urgent care clinic. The person could see a health professional quickly, get an effective treatment and be on the mend sooner – thanks to her Fitbit data. This ability will only increase in the future. There are more than 20 clinical trials using Fitbits underway, studying the role of activity in treating pediatric obesity and cystic fibrosis, and even how it can boost chemotherapy’s effectiveness and speed in recovery from surgery. As those studies are published in the coming years, researchers and doctors will get even better at identifying signals of specific diseases in wearable devices’ data. Beyond the Fitbit Similar efforts include one to detect influenza with a portable heart-rate monitor. Other researchers are analyzing voice and speech patterns to reveal neurological disorders and other diseases – and are using calls to a health insurance company as a data source. Even eye-tracking software could measure cognitive understanding, which could identify signs of dementia. Detecting symptoms earlier through Fitbit data could allow faster, more effective treatment. The biggest push, though, is coming from Qualcomm, which has offered a $10 million prize to the team who can develop a specific type of multifunction medical device. Without involving a health care worker or facility, the device must be able to accurately diagnose 13 health conditions, including pneumonia and diabetes. It must also be able to capture in real time five vital signs, such as heart rate and breathing rate, and process the data locally. The global competition is down to finalists; the winner will be announced early this year. That could bring wearables’ insights to doctors – and insurance companies – much sooner than we might think. Cause for concern Wearables’ data can definitely be used to help patients. But it could also be used to harm them, particularly in light of recent political developments. With the Affordable Care Act (also called Obamacare), insurance companies were barred from denying coverage to customers who had preexisting medical conditions at the time they signed up for insurance. If that rule is lifted by Republicans in Congress, insurers might look to wearable devices for evidence they could use to refuse to pay for patients’ health care. This development would have enormous consequences. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as many as half of all Americans have some sort of condition that could be used to exclude them from coverage, such as asthma, cancer or mental illness. Might insurance companies ask prospective customers for their Fitbit data, in addition to – or even in lieu of – a physical exam or laboratory tests? If that provision of Obamacare were repealed, could insurance companies set rates based on what those data show – or deny coverage entirely? Car insurance companies are already using similar methods. Some insurers provide their customers with devices to install in their cars, measuring drivers’ behavior and calculating the risk involved – and the rate they pay for coverage. Assembling the data At the moment, the algorithms connecting activity tracker data and health conditions are still under development. But the biggest thing UnitedHealthcare would need is a large data set of customer Fitbit measurements, so it can link them to insurance claims. Its new cash-for-data program will begin to assemble that information. As insurance customers signed up to use a Fitbit and get some extra cash for sharing their data, United would be able to match their Fitbit measurements with any health conditions identified in their medical records. Over time, the company could build up enough information from, say, people with asthma and people without it to be able to tell asthma patients apart by looking just at their data. The company could do this for other common diseases, too, or even adapt the algorithms from the contestants in the Qualcomm competition. It’s unclear what the company would do with what it learned. But one possibility is that when evaluating a prospective customer, the company could look at his data and know all about any preexisting conditions. That might mean a person doesn’t get insurance, or has to pay more for coverage. Making coverage decisions The financial power of the health insurance industry is enormous. Not only are there many large companies, but they have the ability to determine whether a sick person gets well or doesn’t – and whether the cost is ruinous or merely expensive. Would people feel able to object if insurance companies required customers to wear fitness trackers or other monitoring devices? Would new patients provide access to past data a Fitbit collected? Could an insurance company consider it fraud if a user didn’t wear the device? If used – and regulated – well, the devices can help individual patients change their daily habits to become healthier, saving insurance companies money, and passing some of those savings along to customers. Alternatively, the devices could provide justification for denying coverage to the inactive or unhealthy, or boosting their insurance rates. Consumers should not assume their insurance companies will use their data only to improve patient care. With millions of dollars on the line, insurers will be sorely tempted. With the legal landscape around preexisting conditions in flux, people should think twice before signing up. Words by Andrew Boyd, Assistant Professor, Biomedical and Health Information Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago. Image by Kamil S, Unsplash. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today

According to TheKnot's 2019 Real Wedding Study, “The average cost of a wedding in 2019 was $33,900 (including the engagement ring, ceremony and reception).” This is a median price tag for the entire United States, with even higher numbers in large cultural hubs like Miami, which has traditionally seen higher household incomes and more extravagant celebrations than other parts of the U.S. With Miami being hit especially hard as nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality and tourism services shutdown, couples looking to tie the knot during fall and winter 2020 and into the early months of 2021 will likely seek out nuptials that are romantic and memorable, but more modestly priced. One of the most popular wedding destinations in the world, Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, is a great option for South Floridians who want to ditch the east coast tropics for the mythical desert setting of the southwest. Before you start thinking Las Vegas strip, drive through chapels and Elvis impersonators, we're talking about Las Vegas' picturesque surrounding mountains, desert and canyon terrain and all of their breathtaking beauty as the backdrop to a more affordable destination wedding celebration. Some of these natural locations around Las Vegas allow couples to take their wedding vows surrounded by million-dollar views in intimate settings, and for nominal rates that will be more fitting to the economy we will all be facing going into the autumn months and beyond. “With the toll that this coronavirus pandemic is taking on our economy, once this crisis passes, many couples will simply not be in a position to spend tens of thousands of dollars on their weddings. They’ll be looking for alternatives that are just as special, but for more modest rates,” says Las Vegas destination wedding and elopement expert, McKenzi Taylor. McKenzi’s company, Cactus Collective Weddings, is in the unique position of offering all-inclusive micro-wedding and elopement packages around Las Vegas’ iconic natural outdoor settings that range in price from $1,870 to $3,300. The company has access to these remote locations at some of Las Vegas' most famous outdoor natural wonders through exclusive arrangements with the city of Las Vegas which allows them to obtain permits for these wedding locations. To help couples who will be reeling financially in the coming months, but who wish to marry at the end of 2020 and into the beginning of 2021, McKenzi Taylor and her team are making wedding packages that much sweeter by offering couples credits towards their transportation and bridal hair and makeup. In addition, McKenzi adds that “getting married in an outdoor, natural setting is kinder to the environment, and we can all use a bit more of that right now. If nothing else, I hope what we are collectively going through will make us all want to be better stewards of our planet.” Natural outdoor settings mean less need for artificial decorations that get thrown away after a wedding, and less use of energy, from lighting design to air conditioning and heating. It reduces waste down to almost nothing. From locations with names like Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, Cactus Joe’s Blue Diamond Nursery and Floyd Lamb Park, to name a few, this unique experience offers a seductive combination of earthy, adventure-filled, romantic serenity. According to McKenzi, “It’s bringing things back to nature, and the focus is 100% on the two people who are getting married. What’s more romantic than that?” Dream Las Vegas Wedding Destinations Valley of Fire is ninety minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and boasts a myriad of stunning red rocks that gives the desert a fiery glow at sunset, hence its name, Valley of Fire. The dramatic Red Rock Canyon landscape in the famous Mojave Desert, just 20 minutes from Las Vegas, is breathtaking and powerful with its unique red rock formations created millions of years ago. There are even historic dinosaur tracks left behind. Click below to launch slideshow > Local, original and romantic, Cactus Joe’s Blue Diamond Nursery is one of the largest cacti nurseries in the region and offers a quaint, hand-built pink chapel and a beautifully landscaped desert garden. Floyd Lamb Park at Tules Spring is a unique wedding location for couples seeking tranquility and a park setting where ducks, geese and peacocks roam free. Gorgeous lakeside views surround the park, with shady trees with lush greenery throughout. There is also a gazebo for an outdoor ceremony and amazing views of the sheep and Spring Mountain Ranges. “We’re happy to provide a beautiful alternative for couples who won’t be able to plunk down $30,000+ for their wedding a few months from now. Let’s all get back to simplicity.” Cactus Collective Weddings is moving forward with a flexible approach to booking Las Vegas destination weddings and elopements, allowing couples to reserve their weddings now, while allowing them to wait until the month of June to commit to their wedding date. You can learn more Cactus Collective Weddings Las Vegas destination wedding and elopement packages at Cactus-Collective.com. Story by Allison Kugel

Sole’ on the Ocean is centrally located within the popular communities of Golden Beach, Bal Harbour, and Aventura, and only minutes from the culture and night life of South Beach and the Art Deco District. Overlooking the shimmering sand and turquoise Atlantic waters, Solé on the Ocean sits midway between Miami and Fort Lauderdale on picturesque Sunny Isles Beach. Amenities include an award-winning restaurant, an ocean- side pool, a private beach club, and a fitness center. Guests are invited to get swept-away in enchanting interiors and ocean views via floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor dining terraces overlooking white sand beaches. Global from the ground up, interior design firm Dupoux Design pulled inspiration from the nearby Caribbean islands’ elegant European identity. With hints of maritime influences as well as neo-Victorian architecture, the suites and guestrooms at Sole’ on the Ocean are wildly popular. BALEENkitchen, located at Sole’, is a beloved Miami destination that has returned to Sunny Isles. Worth the decade-long wait, BALEENkitchen reintroduced itself to the city of Miami as a globally-inspired, locally- sourced dining outpost. The restaurant offers fresh takes on dishes highlighting the land and sea. Many are fused with exotic flavors and local produce, further paired with a robust list of craft cocktails and exotic takes on the classic Moscow Mule. Visitors and locals alike have found a new favorite in BALEENkitchen. Click below to launch slideshow > Solé on the Ocean is located at 17315 Collins Avenue, Sunny Isles Beach, FL, 33160. For more information, visit www.soleontheocean.com or call 786-923-9300. For more information on BALEENkitchen at Sole on the Ocean, call 786-923-9388 or visit www.soleontheocean.com/baleen-kitchen. By Miami Living, Images by Noble House

The Aventador SVJ Roadster --the open top version of the coupé-- made its worldwide premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. "The Aventador SVJ Roadster inherits all the power, performance, and ground-breaking aerodynamic technologies of the coupé, but with its own iconic presence and prowess," says Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, Stefano Domenicali. "It is as fundamentally exciting to drive as the Aventador SVJ, but with an added exclusivity: the option of the open air. With the same extraordinary performance roof on or off, the Aventador SVJ Roadster incorporates the dynamism of the coupé with the unique spirit of a Lamborghini roadster." Benchmark performance comes from the most powerful series production V12-engined car produced to date by Lamborghini, outputting 770 hp (566 kW) at maximum 8,500 rpm. The SVJ Roadster delivers 720 Nm of torque at 6,750 rpm, with a weight-to-power ratio of 2.05 kg/hp. The SVJ accelerates from standing to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 8.8 seconds.  A top speed of more than 350 km/h is complemented by a braking distance of 100 km/h to 0 in 31 meters. The roadster roof, constructed from high pressure RTM carbon fiber, is removable via quick-release levers in the cabin, and securely stored under the front hood. Weighing less than 6 kg each part, the roadster adds only 50 kg to the SVJ coupé's weight of 1,525 kg. Priced at $573,966, just 800 units will be produced of the Aventador SVJ Roadster. For more info, visit www.lamborghini.com Click to view larger image > By Miami Living. Images courtesy of Lamborghini

Tucked away behind lush greenery in the heart of South Beach, the chic Casa Tua is a hidden gem – a rare boutique dining and social experience that has become an icon in Miami. Step inside the intimate Mediterranean villa, outfitted with orchids and fine art, and you’re instantly transported to your home away from home. “The literal translation of Casa Tua is your home,” said Casa Tua founder Miky Grendene, who opened the Italian restaurant, boutique hotel and Miami’s first private members club in 2001. “I am a host by nature. Growing up in Italy, I always loved to have a home filled with friends laughing and eating and creating memories together – this is something I learned from my mother and continued with my wife Leticia. When we moved to Miami 22 years ago, we wanted to build an extension of our own home – and that is how Casa Tua was born.” Whether you’re cozying up while enjoying meticulously prepared truffle mushroom risotto in the library, toasting with a glass of wine in the candle-lit garden or celebrating a special occasion at the private 20-seat Chef’s Table by the kitchen, Grendene says he wants guests to feel like family. “Casa Tua isn’t just a restaurant or hotel – it’s a lifestyle. It’s a total experience of good, ethically sourced food, fine art, warm service and, of course, great company. Paired with authentic Italian food, familiar service and privacy, I was lucky enough to develop a place with soul. It is the soul that keeps people coming back.” The curated lifestyle expanded to a second outpost in Aspen, then in 2018 with the opening of a new concept – Casa Tua Cucina inside of Saks Fifth Avenue at Brickell City Centre in Miami. The 18,000-square-foot gourmet marketplace is a twist on the original Casa Tua concept but on a larger scale. Guests can taste delicate and decadent flavors across 10 distinct dining stations – from pizza and pasta to sashimi and fresh salads – all made to order. “The common denominator is love for what we do, and we symbolize this with a heart on each one of our dishes,” said Grendene. “Casa Tua is about providing authentic food made of the finest quality ingredients to enjoy together with loved ones. At Casa Tua Cucina, we’ve been able to keep the same standard of quality and translate it to a larger audience, allowing more people to share the Casa Tua experience.” The brand is now taking that experience overseas for the first time with a Casa Tua restaurant opening at the new JK Hotel in Paris. Plans are also in the works to expand the Casa Tua membership club globally with a shared philosophy of passion, love and sustainability. Now that’s what we call a bella vita. For more info visit Casa Tua.

Italian shipyard Rossinavi once again joined forces with leading global design firm Pininfarina to present Super Sport 65, a new super yacht concept. Taking inspiration from high performance sports cars and integrated tell-tale fluidity of Pininfarina’s iconic style, Super Sport 65 is a nod to Aurea, the brand’s first collaboration with Rossinavi introduced in 2017, and will focus on a project that connects the bow to the stern with a single line, dressing it with incredibly captivating and sporting features. Made entirely in aluminium, Super Sport 65 has an overall length of 65.50m, a maximum beam of 11m and a draft of 2.20m for easy access to those bays and ports that otherwise would not be able to accommodate a boat of such stature. Super Sport 65’s design is characterized by wide open spaces and includes six cabins to host at least twelve guests in addition to the seven cabins reserved to the captain and crew members. The automotive reference to Pininfarina’s world-famous Gran Turismo is evident in the upper-deck which echoes the design and proportion of such sports cars while still guaranteeing large spaces for outdoor entertainment featuring several lounge areas. These are all bespoke and arranged over various decks but also including two Jacuzzis, one at each edge of the boat. The sinuous design of the main staircase is inspired by the air intakes of the most performing road vehicles and merges organically into the floor to ceiling windows. A hot tub and a custom made spacious sofa at the stern warmly welcome the guest on board this majestic jewel of the sea. Click below to view larger image > “The only limit in the design of sports boat is the impact on the general floorplan. For this reason, creating a nice balance between interior architecture and exterior design is always challenging. With Super Sport 65 we have overcome this limit. We enter a new design dimension with the lower deck’s layout to the large areas dedicated to the crew and to the captain’s cockpit and engine room. The elegant and spacious design of the common areas including the main saloon and a larger owner’s cabin at bow all the way to the salon of the upper deck are the result of this new design direction which culminates in the flying bridge with Pininfarina’s signature super car design.”. Federico Rossi, COO of Rossinavi. “Pininfarina and Rossinavi speak the same language and share the same passion and values. Leveraging on this common background and vision, Pininfarina is in the best position to express its creativity, taking inspiration from our sports cars and translating their sleek and fast lines into the design of a super yacht. The result is innovative, a pure synthesis of elegance and sportiness.” explains Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Group. Pininfarina’s deep knowledge of elegance and innovation in both interior and exterior design allows the new Super Sport 65 to offer a highly enjoyable and voluminous environment, combining at the same time a dynamic and sleek style with all the essential comforts for an exclusive navigation experience. For more info visit Rossinavi

The oasis of calm in the rough seas of Miami Art Week, Pulse Art Fair creates a memorable experience for the engaged buyer in a welcoming and dynamic setting of contemporary art. In celebration of our 15th anniversary, PULSE Art Fair is dedicating this edition to creating an atmosphere that will have you lingering for hours and leaving with artwork to add to your collection. In the overwhelming environment that is Miami Art Week, we are your calm in the palms. Experience the energy of stimulating art and balance it with cocktails in hammocks and engaging conversations with friends over a meal in our restaurant. PULSE isn’t just an art fair, anymore. PULSE Miami Beach is located at Collins Avenue and 46th Street with direct access from the beach and the boardwalk. Private Preview Brunch Thursday, December 5 | 10AM - 1PM Fair Open to Public Thursday, December 5 | 1PM – 7PM Friday, December 6 | 10AM - 7PM Saturday, December 7 | 10AM – 7PM Sunday, December 8 | 10AM – 5PM PULSE Art Fair www.pulseartfair.com Indian Beach Park 4601 Collins Avenue Miami Beach FL 33140 Click to view larger image > By Miami Living. Images courtesy of Pulse Art Fair

The Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel The top choice for comfort and convenience near LAX The Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, A Marriott Luxury & Lifestyle Hotel, is one of our top recommendations for anyone looking to stay near the Los Angeles International LAX Airport. Centrally located, the boutique hotel is just 1.2 miles from the airport, only 3 miles away from Manhattan Beach and 1.9 miles from Westchester Golf Course. Guests can also visit popular destinations nearby such as Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or the Santa Monica Promenade. The property offers 443 guest rooms and 59 upgraded suites. All guest rooms feature contemporary design, modern furnishing and are fully-equipped with flat-screen cable TVs, coffee machine, mini refrigerator, and high-speed internet. Suites offer additional perks such as separate living spaces, deluxe amenities and additional sleeping area, if needed. Executive Level guests enjoy exclusive lounge access and other benefits. While staying at The Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, take the time to relax by their outdoor swimming pool or enjoy their fitness center featuring the latest cardiovascular and weight equipment. The hotel lobby bar and lounge area regularly feature live entertainment from local talent. The restaurant and bar Studio 12 serves authentic California cuisine. Enjoy daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring a variety of regional Californian wines as well as craft beers. For special events, the property offers 18,000-square-feet of newly-renovated space, ideal for business meetings and special occasions. Other worth-mentioning hotel features and amenities include, rental and transportation assistance, free shuttle service to the airport, outdoor hot tub, sauna, business center, ATM, currency exchange, parking and non-smoking rooms, terrace, wedding services, babysitting and child care services, laundry, dry cleaning and ironing services and concierge. Click to launch slideshow > The Marriott virtual concierge app (https://mobileapp.marriott.com/) is currently available for guests staying at Marriott hotels. The app is a must-have for those looking for travel efficiency, including mobile check-in. The Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel is located at 9620 Airport Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90045.