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Young artists aged 6–13 are invited to join the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) virtually this winter break for a series of creative and interactive art workshops. Registration includes art packs with all the creative tools needed to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces. Participants can sign up for as many individual sessions as they please, or the full session. Following are the Winter Workshops: Monday, Dec. 21 ― Super Cyanotypes: Learn one of the oldest styles of photography. Gather your favorite small objects and get ready to learn about the special STEAM style of image making. Tuesday, Dec. 22 ― Picturesque Painting: Get inspired by MOCA's latest exhibition, “Life & Spirituality in Haitian Art," and learn to create your own portrait painting in the style of notable Haitian artists. Wednesday, Dec. 23 ― Beautifully Beaded: Pull inspiration from the ornate and intricate works of Raul de Nieves by viewing MOCA’s current exhibition, "Raul De Nieves: Eternal Return & the Obsidian Heart." Create your own beaded and embroidered mask or felt face to showcase your style. Monday, Dec. 28 ― Cast Creations: Learn all about mold making and simple casting to create unforgettable impressions out of plaster that will commemorate this moment in time. Tuesday, Dec. 29 ― Beautiful Books: Create your own handmade book and fill your book pages with your own mixed media collage inspired by Henri Matisse. Wednesday, Dec. 30 ― Kawaii Creatures: Create your own Kawaii creatures and learn about this unique art style from Japan. Thursday, Dec. 31 ― Powerful Prints: Share your thoughts on the end of this year and your hopes for the new year with layered printmaking techniques. Workshops for young artists aged 6–9 will be live from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Workshops for young artists aged 10–13 will be live from 1–3 p.m. The Winter Workshops are virtual via Zoom. The Zoom login information will be provided upon registration. Individual Session Cost: MOCA Family Level Members and above: $30 Non-Members: $40 a day Full Session Cost: MOCA Family Level Members and above: $200 Non Members: $270 To register for the Winter Workshops, visit https://111401.blackbaudhosting.com/111401/packagetickets?tab=3&txobjid=4e5e9548-63b1-48cc-b159-2f24b08aaa5f. To become a MOCA member, visit https://mocanomi.org/mocamembers/. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MOCA

Continuing their dedication to the enhancement of the Miami-Dade community, Ibrahim Al-Rashid, chairman of Limestone Asset Management, and his wife, Ryann, have donated $500,000 to Fisher Island Day School (FIDS) in support of its capital campaign. This is the largest single donation in the current capital campaign. The donation will go toward FIDS’s new school building, which will be named for the Al-Rashid family. The expansion will include two floors of classrooms, an art/music studio, a full working kitchen, and courtyard dining for the middle school students. FIDS is a co-educational, independent day school, which currently serves students enrolled in Early Learning (2 years old) through grade 8. It is located on picturesque Fisher Island, accessible only via an 8-minute ferry ride from Miami Beach. The school occupies a beautiful 1.8-acre campus, and is fully accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the National Association of Independent Schools. “There is a special place in our hearts for Fisher Island, a place I previously called home,” said Ibrahim Al-Rashid. “We are honored to donate to FIDS, which has garnered a reputation as one of South Florida’s finest independent schools. This donation is important not only to help FIDS to expand, but also to continue developing the mind, body, and spirit of each child it serves.” “We are extremely grateful to Ibrahim and Ryann Al-Rashid for this generous donation,” said FIDS Head of School Michael Bell. “As the largest single donation of our campaign, these funds will make a critical impact on the implementation of our next stage of strategic growth.” By ML Staff. Image courtesy of Limestone Asset Management

How and where you can watch "The Great Conjunction" Jupiter and Saturn will form a "Christmas Star" in a rare double planet event on December 21, 2020. In order to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event, just make sure you're facing southwest. In order to get a good view, the planets will appear low on the horizon (about 14 degrees up). It is recommended to start looking 40 minutes after sunset and the alignment is expected to happen a few hours later. all you need to know Dr. William Teets is the director of Vanderbilt University’s Dyer Observatory. In this interview, he explains what does and doesn’t happen during the winter solstice on Dec. 21. Another cosmic phenomenon is also going to occur on the same day called “the great conjunction,” where Saturn and Jupiter, both of which can be seen with the naked eye, will appear extremely close to one another. What happens on the winter solstice? The winter solstice this year happens on Dec. 21. This is when the Sun appears the lowest in the Northern Hemisphere sky and is at its farthest southern point over Earth – directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. For folks living at 23.5 degrees south latitude, not only does this day mark their summer solstice, but they also see the Sun directly over them at local noon. After that, the Sun will start to creep back north again. The sequence of images below shows the path of the Sun through the sky at different times of the year. You can see how the Sun is highest in the Northern Hemisphere sky in June, lowest in December, and halfway in between these positions in March and September during the equinoxes. The winter solstice is the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere but not the day with the latest sunrise and earliest sunset. How is that possible? The winter solstice doesn’t coincide with the latest sunrise or the earliest sunset. Those actually occur about two weeks before and two weeks after the winter solstice. This is because we are changing our distance from the sun due to our elliptical, not circular, orbit, which changes the speed at which we orbit. If you were to look at where the Sun is at exactly the same time of day over different days of the year, you would see that it’s not always in the same spot. Yes, the Sun is higher in the summer and lower in the winter, but it also moves from side to side of the average noontime position, which also plays a role in when the Sun rises and sets. One should also keep in mind that the seasons are due to the Earth’s axial tilt, not our distance from the Sun. Believe it or not, we are closest to the Sun in January. A photograph of the position of the Sun, taken at the same time on different days throughout the year, shows a figure-eight pattern known as an analemma. This photo was taken in Callanish, Scotland.Giuseppe Petricca, NASA What is ‘the great conjunction’? Saturn and Jupiter have appeared fairly close together in our sky throughout the year. But on Dec. 21, Saturn and Jupiter will appear so close together that some folks may have a difficult time seeing them as two objects If you have a pair of binoculars, you’ll easily be able to spot both planets. In even a small telescope, you’d see both planets at the same time in the same field of view, which is really unheard of. That’s what makes this conjunction so rare. Jupiter and Saturn appear to meet up about every 20 years. Most of the time, however, they’re not nearly as close together as we’re going to see them on Monday, Dec. 21. For a comparison, there was a great conjunction back in 2000, but the two planets were separated by about two full-Moon widths. This year, the orbits will bring them to where they appear to be about one-fifth of a full-Moon diameter. We have been encouraging folks to go out and look at these planets using just their eyes between now and Dec. 21. You’ll actually be able to see how much they appear to move over the course of a single day. The next time they will get this close together in our sky won’t be for another 60 years, so this is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event for many people. In fact, the last time they got this close together was in the year 1623, but it was really difficult, if not impossible, to see them then because they appeared much closer to the Sun and set soon after it. Go back another 400 years to 1226 and this would have been the last time that we would have had a good view of this type of conjunction. What advice would you give to people who want to see the great conjunction? If weather permits at Dyer Observatory, we’ll be streaming a live view of the conjunction from one of the observatory’s telescopes, and I’ll be available to answer questions. Even if you don’t have a telescope or a pair of binoculars, definitely go out and check out this very rare alignment with your own eyes. Remember that they set soon after sunset, so be ready to view right at dusk! William Teets Acting Director and Astronomer, Dyer Observatory, Vanderbilt University. Special thanks to The Conversation.

“During this period, I sought to give collective efforts to a new dimension. Despite the disadvantages of distance, bringing a different perspective to our daily lives has given us strength and imagination,” states Maria Grazia Chiuri. This collection is a choral work that celebrates the memory, values, culture and furniture of exceptional craftsmanship. In an experimental expression of ancestral savoir-faire, fabrics from the Le Constantine Foundation are used for a series of jackets, including the emblematic bar. The collection also pays homage to the Luminaire that magnify and sublimate public squares and monuments with their luminous architecture. A craft that has given life to a figurative motif on multicolored scarves. Click below to launch slideshow >

I love to decorate holiday cookies. Once I get started, I can get into “the zone” for hours, happily wielding colorful icing bags and sparkly candies to create everything from dapper gingerbread men to ornate snowflakes. The challenge with iced holiday cookies is that, usually, the prettier a cookie is, the worse it tastes — and gingerbread cookies are the worst offenders! But that’s not the case with these adorable gingerbread men. Flavored with molasses, ginger and warm spices, and endowed with a crisp-outside/soft-inside texture, they taste as wonderful as they look. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE GINGERBREAD cookies STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS To begin, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and molasses. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined. The dough will be quite sticky. Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least one hour or up to a few days. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured work surface. Dust more flour over the dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to about 1/8-inch thick, turning and adding more flour under and over the dough as necessary. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake the cookies, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back midway through, for 8 to 10 minutes or until they feel firm. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for several minutes, or until set, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Use royal icing or store-bought icing to decorate the cookies. Let the icing set, then enjoy! METRIC CUP MEASURES These festive gingerbread men are easy to make, and they taste as wonderful as they look. Servings: About 45 cookies Prep Time: 30 Minutes Cook Time: 20 Minutes Total Time: 50 Minutes, plus at least 1 hour to chill the dough and time to ice the cookies INGREDIENTS 2-3/4 cups all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off 2 teaspoons baking soda Heaping 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1-1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar 1 large egg 6 tablespoons molasses, such as Grandma's Original Royal icing or store-bought icing, for decorating INSTRUCTIONS In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and black pepper. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or beaters, beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and molasses. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until combined. Divide the dough in half and shape into two discs. Wrap the discs in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 1 hour or up to three days. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F ; set two racks near the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. (If the dough has been in the fridge for longer than an hour, you'll need to let it sit out at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes and knead it briefly until it is supple enough to roll.) Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Dust more flour over the dough. Roll, turning and adding more flour under and over the dough as necessary, to about 1/8-inch thick (or for softer cookies, roll to 1/4-inch thick). Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets, using a spatula if necessary. Gather the dough scraps and knead into a ball, then roll out and cut again, adding more flour as necessary. Repeat until scraps are used up. Bake the cookies, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back midway through, for 8 to 10 minutes or until they feel firm. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for several minutes until set, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough. When the cookies are completely cool, decorate with icing. Let the icing set completely, a few hours, then store in an airtight container. Freezer-Friendly Instructions The Cookie Dough can be Frozen for up to 3 Months! Shape the dough into 2 discs, wrap each securely in plastic wrap, and place them in a sealable bag. When ready to bake, remove the disks from the freezer, thaw the dough until pliable, and then proceed with recipe. To Freeze After Baking: Let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature. NUTRITION INFORMATION Serving size: 1 cookie without icing Calories: 78 Fat: 3g Saturated fat: 2g Carbohydrates: 11g Sugar: 6g Fiber: 0g Protein: g Sodium: 73 mg Cholesterol: 12 mg Special thanks to Jennifer Segal, for the recipe and images. You can support Jennifer by purchasing her cookbook, "Once Upon a Chef, the Cookbook," featuring over 100 delightful recipes.

This month, Miami Living features visual artist Uwe Heine Debrodt. With a distinct creative style, Uwe specializes in an array of digital art including video, electronic music, gifs, animation and more. Uwe Heine Debrodt has participated in different art festivals around the world including Argentina, Austria , Brazil, Colombia, Costarica, Equato, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, United States, Serbia and Venezuela. He has performed electronic live sets at The Alameda Art Laboratory and the Rufino Tamayo museum. Click to view larger image > HOW DOES TECHNOLOGY AFFECT YOUR WORK ? Technology is very important in the production of all spheres of art. The artist must always be studying the management of software to have the tools and the techniques to be able to improve the work and express it properly, always trying to experiment and innovate. However, technology is only a tool and does not solve all the technical or training voids. I think that in some cases this has been abused, leading to works without spirit or value. So we must remain cautious. WHAT OTHER FORMS OF ART INFORM YOUR WORK? My experience in plant studies provided me with ideas about what I wanted to show in my pieces, which was to emulate organic forms and structures in nature. I replicate from the micro to the macro and everything they represent, like the golden mean that connects these universes. The medium that has suited me best to represent these shapes has been painting and ceramic sculpture. For years, I have been creating this style of plastic work, and for the time being I’m interweaving photos of my sculptures with 3D environments. When I make a video art production I always do the sound part myself, so I’m involved with technologies to create music and I have ambient electronic and experimental projects such as Apeiron 432. WHAT WAS THE WORST REACTION YOU HAVE HAD TO YOU WORK? My general subject in my plastic works are organic forms and textures. I’ve come to the conclusion that most people are afraid of nature (I see it when they spray their gardens in an absurd and constant way, same for the indifference of destroying the natural environment). I think a big part of this fear is the total disconnection with society in a natural environment. Same with the gifs I make or photographs I take with similar subject matter. HOW DO YOU DETERMINE IF YOUR WORK HAS BEEN A SUCCESS? If I'm finished with a plastic or audiovisual piece, I like it in every aspect. Then it is already successful without hearing what everyone else has to say about it. Nevertheless, it’s nice to know that other people like it too or if they’re selected to be presented in festivals. HAS YOUR WORK EVER GOTTEN YOU INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION? I think the dangerous situation in general is to stop creating, to have a more stable economic situation. In Mexico, the situation is more difficult than in other places. Here a lot of galleries want to squeeze your money out of you by asking you to pay them for presenting your work, the more serious ones just want to present already recognized artists. The scholarship program for art is corrupt because only a few can get them and they’re friends with the people in charge of giving them. WHAT CAN’T YOU LEAVE HOME WITHOUT? When I leave home even if it’s just to the corner I always take my camera because you don’t know what might happen. Especially because everything I’ve seen on various occasions, shooting things in the sky that have no other explanation than being Unidentified Flying Objects. I always look up to the sky! For more info visit uweheinedebrodt.com Images and gifs courtesy of Uwe Heine Debrodt. Interview courtesy of The Bosco. The creative agency pioneers in delivering unique photo experiences and pushing the creative boundaries. With a team of designers, artists, and engineers The Bosco has delivered creative projects for the biggest brands and agencies around the world.

The Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series is returning to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach on Saturday, January 23, 2021. Launched in 2017 as part of 1/ST’s mission to modernize the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, the $4 million Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series has captured the attention of the racing industry, celebrities, and fans from around the world and has cemented itself as a premier event on the racing calendar. Evolving into a Championship Invitational Series featuring two Grade 1 (G1) stakes races, the Pegasus World Cup in 2021 will feature a combined $4 million purse. The Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), run on the dirt at 1 1/8 miles, offers a $3 million total purse. The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1), run on the turf at 1 3/16 miles, offers a $1 million purse. 1/ST entirely provides the $4 million total purse contribution. This year’s event will provide exciting opportunities in North American Thoroughbred racing for horse owners by showcasing their equine athletes competing free of medications on race day while providing the winner of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational with an automatic entry into the 2021 $20 million Saudi Cup. The medication-free format, for both the Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational, is consistent with the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) standards and reflects the commitment that 1/ST, along with other major racing organizations and associations, made in April 2019 to eliminate Lasix in all graded stakes races in 2021. In 2021, the Pegasus World Cup continues to innovate by redefining the guest experience with limited, socially distanced ticket offerings for every race day enthusiast. From the action of the Grandstand to elegant dining in Ten Palms to the luxury of the Flamingo Room and Suites, guests will enjoy a day of world-class Thoroughbred racing excitement and gourmet food and hospitality in safety. Reserved seating tickets and packages range in price from $100.00 - $1,150.00+. Limited Tickets Now Available Offering a Variety of Socially Distanced Experiences. Tickets are available online at https://www.pegasusworldcup.com/tickets/ or by calling the Pegasus World Cup Box Office at Gulfstream Park at 1-833-464-7924 between 9:00 am - 6:00 pm ET, daily. Wagering on the 2021 Pegasus World Cup can be enjoyed regardless of where fans view the race day card with handicapping tools available on the 1/ST BET app. Part of the 1/ST TECHNOLOGY suite of handicapping and betting products, 1/ST BET is changing the game by delivering a user-friendly experience that suits everyone from the experienced horseplayer to the first-timer. Since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, 1/ST has developed and implemented industry-leading COVID-19 safety measures at its tracks and facilities across the United States. The 2021 Pegasus World Cup will implement strict social distancing protocols and new health and safety guidelines for riders and spectators. On-premise, attendance for this year’s event has been reduced to 20% to allow all guests to socially distance accordingly. Thermal sensing cameras at all entrances check guest temperatures, and masks are required. Cleaning protocols provide regular sanitizing of public spaces, and cashless wagering via 1/ST BET eliminates handling of currency. For more information on the health and safety measures for the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, please visit https://www.pegasusworldcup.com/health-safety/. At the 2020 Pegasus World Cup, Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Vin Diesel, Justise Winslow, Kelly Olynyk, DJ Cassidy, Jake Paul, Dr. Mike, Zion, Alec Monopoly, and Cedric Gervais witnessed Mucho Gusto win the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational purse and Zulu Alpha win the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf Invitational. Afterward, guests and stars alike enjoyed a concert with performances by Nelly and T-Pain. NBC Sports returns as the official broadcast partner of the 2021 Pegasus World Cup and will broadcast the race day excitement live from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm ET. For more information about Pegasus World Cup, please click here and follow the excitement on social media @PegasusWorldCup and #PegasusWorldCup #RunWithUs. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Pegasus World Cup

Thēsis Hotel Miami, an urban hotel located at the intersection of three historic South Florida neighborhoods: South Miami, Coral Gables, and Coconut Grove, across the street from the University of Miami. The 245-room hotel boasts modern-appointed guest rooms and suites; a sun-filled rooftop pool with tropical views and a poolside bar; two on-site restaurants, Mamey and Orno, both led by Food & Wine Best Chef of 2020 winner and James Beard nominee Niven Patel; and 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting and event space. With a robust, year-round calendar of programming and events, THēsis is not only a hotel, but a destination that fosters genuine connection and creative expression. It’s a place where curious, like-minded individuals exchange ideas, celebrate art, discover new cultural experiences, and engage with their community. Unique partnerships include custom Zebra Bikes, a Run Club hosted by Club X Fitness and a yoga partnership with AhanaNow. Tropical Winter Wonderland: From December 1 to January 3, experience the magic of a tropical winter wonderland at the new Paseo de la Riviera development featuring light spectacles, festive cocktails and coffee drinks by La Colombe, champagne and more! During Christmas week, guests can enjoy an array of special interactive family activities ideal for kids of all ages such as donut decorating, a chocolate milk stand and more. Staycations: Locals can take advantage of several special offers including the Backyard Explorer Package for an overnight staycation or the Day Use Package to use as an office for the day. Located across the street from the University of Miami, the hotel also offers special rates and packages such as the Extended Study Package for students to escape from campus life. Signature Experience Package: This new package takes guests on a curated THesis experience with VIP tasting and cocktail experience at Mamey led by Chef Niven Patel, along with a guided visit through his very own Racho Patel where the restaurant’s fresh ingredients are sourced. The package also includes a special food and wine tour through the local neighborhood on the hotel’s custom Zebra Bikes. Meetings + Events: THesis offers 9 flexible meeting and event spaces equipped with high-speed wireless internet, built-in A/V technology and a savvy technical support staff who’s standing by to ensure a seamless experience. Guests can also enjoy personalized F&B offerings by Chef Niven Patel. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of Thēsis Hotel Miami.

MedSquare Health, the first off-campus Class “A” Medical Office Building by owners/developers AJP Ventures and Mas Group (MAS*AJP) located next to Baptist Hospital of Miami, has signed new leases with Dental Care Alliance (10,500 sq.ft.), DermCare Management (6,500 sq.ft.), and LifeStance Health (4,500 sq.ft.). The new tenants will join the roster of existing healthcare and wellness companies leasing at MedSquare Health, including Gastro Health, VITAS Healthcare, My OB/GYN Specialists, Village Pharmacy and Compounding, and MedSquare Café, operated by Concession Service Systems. MedSquare Health’s exclusive leasing agent is Gordon Messinger, Executive Managing Director of global commercial real estate leader Cushman & Wakefield. A 116,000-square-foot Medical Office Building, MedSquare Health opened in November 2020 at 9408 Southwest 87th Avenue in Miami, offering tenants a desirable combination of prime location, ultimate access and modern amenities, including an on-site café and a shared conference room for all tenants. “We’re excited for our new tenants and this opportunity for more healthcare companies to expand their footprint in South Florida to better serve our community,” stated Alberto J. Pérez, Founder and President of AJP Ventures, and owner/developer of MedSquare Health. By ML Staff. Image courtesy of MedSquare Health.

Amusement and pleasant surprises – and the laughter they can trigger – add texture to the fabric of daily life. Those giggles and guffaws can seem like just silly throwaways. But laughter, in response to funny events, actually takes a lot of work, because it activates many areas of the brain: areas that control motor, emotional, cognitive and social processing. As I found when writing “An Introduction to the Psychology of Humor,” researchers now appreciate laughter’s power to enhance physical and mental well-being. Laughter’s physical power People begin laughing in infancy, when it helps develop muscles and upper body strength. Laughter is not just breathing. It relies on complex combinations of facial muscles, often involving movement of the eyes, head and shoulders. Laughter – doing it or observing it – activates multiple regions of the brain: the motor cortex, which controls muscles; the frontal lobe, which helps you understand context; and the limbic system, which modulates positive emotions. Turning all these circuits on strengthens neural connections and helps a healthy brain coordinate its activity. By activating the neural pathways of emotions like joy and mirth, laughter can improve your mood and make your physical and emotional response to stress less intense. For example, laughing may help control brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, similar to what antidepressants do. By minimizing your brain’s responses to threats, it limits the release of neurotransmitters and hormones like cortisol that can wear down your cardiovascular, metabolic and immune systems over time. Laughter’s kind of like an antidote to stress, which weakens these systems and increases vulnerability to diseases. Getting the joke is a good workout for your brain. Thomas Barwick/Stone via Getty Images Laughter’s cognitive power A good sense of humor and the laughter that follows depend on an ample measure of social intelligence and working memory resources. Laughter, like humor, typically sparks from recognizing the incongruities or absurdities of a situation. You need to mentally resolve the surprising behavior or event – otherwise you won’t laugh; you might just be confused instead. Inferring the intentions of others and taking their perspective can enhance the intensity of the laughter and amusement you feel. To “get” a joke or humorous situation, you need to be able to see the lighter side of things. You must believe that other possibilities besides the literal exist – think about being amused by comic strips with talking animals, like those found in “The Far Side.” Laughter’s social power Laughter creates bonds and increases intimacy with others. Linguist Don Nilsen points out that chuckles and belly laughs seldom happen when alone, supporting their strong social role. Beginning early in life, infants’ laughter is an external sign of pleasure that helps strengthen bonds with caregivers. Later, it’s an external sign of sharing an appreciation of the situation. For example, public speakers and comedians try to get a laugh to make audiences feel psychologically closer to them, to create intimacy. By practicing a little laughter each day, you can enhance social skills that may not come naturally to you. When you laugh in response to humor, you share your feelings with others and learn from risks that your response will be accepted/shared/enjoyed by others and not be rejected/ignored/disliked. In studies, psychologists have found that men with Type A personality characteristics, including competitiveness and time urgency, tend to laugh more, while women with those traits laugh less. Both sexes laugh more with others than when alone. Laughter has value across the whole lifespan. Steve Prezant/The Image Bank via Getty Images Laughter’s mental power Positive psychology researchers study how people can live meaningful lives and thrive. Laughter produces positive emotions that lead to this kind of flourishing. These feelings – like amusement, happiness, mirth and joy – build resiliency and increase creative thinking. They increase subjective well-being and life satisfaction. Researchers find that these positive emotions experienced with humor and laughter correlate with appreciating the meaning of life and help older adults hold a benign view of difficulties they’ve faced over a lifetime. Laughter in response to amusement is a healthy coping mechanism. When you laugh, you take yourself or the situation less seriously and may feel empowered to problem-solve. For example, psychologists measured the frequency and intensity of 41 people’s laughter over two weeks, along with their ratings of physical and mental stress. They found that the more laughter experienced, the lower the reported stress. Whether the instances of laughter were strong, medium or weak in intensity didn’t matter. Maybe you want to grab some of these benefits for yourself – can you force laughter to work for you? A growing number of therapists advocate using humor and laughter to help clients build trust and improve work environments; a review of five different studies found that measures of well-being did increase after laughter interventions. Sometimes called homeplay instead of homework, these interventions take the form of daily humor activities – surrounding yourself with funny people, watching a comedy that makes you laugh or writing down three funny things that happened today. You can practice laughing even when alone. Intentionally take a perspective that appreciates the funny side of events. Laughing yoga is a technique of using breathing muscles to achieve the positive physical responses of natural laughing with forced laughter (ha ha hee hee ho ho). Some tips on how to get started with laughing yoga. Researchers today certainly aren’t laughing off its value, but a good deal of the research on laughter’s influence on mental and physical health is based on self-report measures. More psychological experimentation around laughter or the contexts in which it occurs will likely support the importance of laughing throughout your day, and maybe even suggest more ways to intentionally harness its benefits. By Janet M. Gibson - Professor of Cognitive Psychology, Grinnell College Special thanks to The Conversation for this story and images. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today.

The Oscar de la Renta Pre-Fall 2021 collection looks forward with hope to joyful summer days. Optimism shines through every piece, with bold silhouettes, vivid color blocking, and refreshing prints. Pristine hand crocheting adorns tops and dresses. A boxy and sharp rickrack group hints subtly at mid-century designs, translated into modern grids embroidered with sequins and stones and punctuated with zigzag hems. Taffeta reigns as the go-to for eveningwear, rendered in distinctly feminine, easy-to-wear caftans in saturated colors—perfectly suited to entertaining at home. Long and fluid fringes lend texture and drama to simple monochromatic styles. Brilliantly hued flowers drawn from Oscar’s archival prints have been reimagined with hand-rendered dots and stripes, adorning dresses, gowns, and jumpsuits. His much-loved pineapples add a touch of playfulness and whimsy. The enduring spirit and timeless creativity of Oscar de la Renta are reflected throughout the collection, inspiring new techniques and designs relevant to the way we live now. Images courtesy of Oscar de la Renta

Monday – start diet. Tuesday – break diet! Wednesday – plan to start again next Monday. If this is you, it’s probably time to get off the diet roller coaster and make some bigger changes to the way you eat, drink and think about food. Here are six tips to help you get started. 1. Improve your diet quality score When trying to lose weight, it might be tempting to quit carbs, dairy or another food group altogether. But to stay healthy, you need to meet your requirements for important nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, vitamins B and C, folate and fibre. These nutrients are essential for metabolism, growth, repair and fighting disease. Our review of diet quality indexes used to rate the healthiness of eating habits found that eating nutritious foods was associated with lower weight gain over time. Improving your diet quality means eating more fruit and vegetables, lean meats, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, legumes, dried beans, wholegrains and dairy (mostly reduced fat). 2. Mum was right – eat your veggies Fruit and veg are high in fibre, vitamins and phytonutrients, but low in total kilojoules. So eating more can help you manage your weight. A study of more than 130,000 adults found that those who increased their intake of fruit and vegetables over four years lost weight. For each extra daily serve of vegetables, there was a weight loss of 110 grams over the four years. It was 240 grams for fruit. Small, but it all adds up. Drilling down to specific fruit and veg gets interesting. Increasing cauliflower intake was associated with a four-year weight reduction of about 620 grams, with smaller reductions for capsicum (350g), green leafy vegetables (230g) and carrots (180g). The reduction was 620g for blueberries and 500g for apple or pears. It was not good news all round, though. Corn was associated with a weight gain of 920g, peas 510g and mashed, baked or boiled potatoes 330g. 3. Limit your portion size If you are served larger portions of food and drinks, you eat more and consume more kilojoules. That sounds obvious, yet everybody gets caught out when offered big portions – even when you’re determined to stop when you’re full. Research shows offering larger portions leads adults and children to consume an extra 600 to 950 kilojoules (150-230 calories). This is enough to account for a weight gain of more than seven kilograms a year, if the kilojoules aren’t compensated for by doing more exercise or eating less later. 4. Watch what you drink A can of softdrink contains about 600 kilojoules (150 calories). It takes 30-45 minutes to walk those kilojoules off, depending on your size and speed. Children and adolescents who usually drink a lot sugary drinks are 55% more likely to be overweight. Switch to lower sugar versions, water or diet drinks. A meta-analysis of intervention studies (ranging from ten weeks to eight months) found that adults who switched had a weight reduction of about 800 grams. 5. Cue food Our world constantly cues us to eat and drink. Think food ads, vending machines and chocolate bars when trying to pay for petrol or groceries. Food cues trigger cravings, prompt eating, predict weight gain and are hard to resist. They can make you feel hungry even if you are not. Try to minimise the time you spend in highly cued food environments. Avoid food courts, take a list when you go to the supermarket and take your own snacks to places where highly palatable food is advertised, like the movies. This will reduce autopilot eating, which sabotages your willpower. 6. Resist temptation A treatment for food cue reactivity is called exposure therapy. With the help of a psychologist or health professional, you expose yourself to the sight and smell of favourite foods in locations that commonly trigger overeating, like eating chocolate when watching TV. But, rather than eat the chocolate, you only have a taste without eating it. Over time, and with persistence, cravings for chocolate reduce, even when cues such as TV ads or people eating chocolate in front of you are present. You can also draw on your brain’s own self-management skills to resist temptation, but it takes conscious practice. Try this food cue acronym, RROAR (remind, resist, organised alternative, remember and/or reward), to train your brain to resist temptation on autopilot. When you feel yourself pulled by cues to eat or drink: Remind yourself that you are the boss of you, not a food cue. Resist the tempting food or drink initially by turning your back on the cue. (This gives you time to think about next steps.) Have a pre- Organised** A**lternative behaviour to use against food cues. Grab a drink of water, walk around the block, check your phone messages, read, take a walk in the opposite direction. Diversion works. Remember what your big-picture goal is. Do you want to eat better to help you feel better, reduce medications, lower blood pressure, improve diabetes control or manage your weight? You can add another R for** R**eward. Financial incentives help change behaviour. Each time you complete your organised alternative behaviour put $1 in a jar. When it builds up, spend it on something you really want. You need a plan The journey off the diet roller coaster needs a cunning plan. Here’s how you can put it all together. Start by assessing your diet quality using the Healthy Eating Quiz. Next, plan weekly meals, drinks and snacks. Write a grocery list and buy extra fruit and vegetables. Swap to small plates, cups and serving utensils. You’ll serve and eat less without thinking. Aim for half your plate covered with vegetables and salad, one-quarter lean protein (trimmed meat, chicken, fish, legumes) and one-quarter grains or starchy vegetables (potato, peas, corn). Change your food environment to avoid constant prompts to eat. Minimise the places you allow yourself to eat and drink to reduce food cue exposure (not in front of TV or computer, at a desk, or in the car). Keep food out of sight (unless it is fruit and vegetables). Store in opaque containers. Remove workplace food displays, such as food fundraisers. Plan driving and walking routes that do not take you past fast-food outlets or vending machines. Prerecord TV shows and fast-forward food ads. Special thanks to The Conversation. Clare Collins Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle. Image by Unsplash