Next opponent: Wildcats

Both UA and Alabama come in on winning streaks as both swept their opponents in the regionals and Super Regionals. However, Alabamas is actually quite a bit longer. The Crimson Tide hasnt lost since April 17 to Florida, and are 18-0 since then.

Alabama, behind Montana Fouts, eliminated Arizona in 2019. Fouts (25-3) is still around and still one of the best pitchers in the country, with a 1.49 ERA. She threw two shutouts in the three-game regionals and struck out 28 batters in 14 innings. She struck out another 11 batters against Kentucky in a Super Regional win.

None of that intimidates the Wildcats.

Alabama's Montana Fouts, center, celebrates her win over UA two years ago in Oklahoma City. The Wildcats are looking forward at another chance to face her Thursday.

I dont think you ever forget a loss that a team gives you, UAs Jessie Harper said of Fouts three-hit shutout in that 2-0 win over the Wildcats two yeas ago.

I definitely remember it its etched in there (she points to her head). I wont forget it. We are definitely just going to come out and just play our game. I think thats really the key. Im really excited, its going to be a very fun experience.

With both teams hot at the moment, Candrea said when you get to the WCWS, its really about you not your opponent.

Right now, its really not necessarily the opponent but how you play, and, if you execute the game in the circle and you execute the game offensively and defensively, then you got a chance to play with anyone, Candrea said.

Excerpt from:
Not going out that way: Cats motivated by missing last year's WCWS due to COVID-19 - Arizona Daily Star

When Gov. Jared Polis announced the states latest attempt to convince holdouts to get vaccinated, he placed a giant prop check for a million dollars on a stand and assumed his best carnival barker act.

Thats right! You can win one million dollars, and you may already be entered! the governor declaimed from a podium. Anybody who got the vaccine in Colorado or who gets the vaccine will be an automatic participant in not one, not two, not three, not four, but five drawings for a million dollars!

Yeah. It was bad.

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The idea of offering cash prizes to get vaccine-hesitant people to do what should be considered a civic duty was popularized in Ohio, whose leaders announced the states Vax-A-Million drawings earlier this month. In Colorados program, modeled on Ohios, every adult who has been vaccinated for COVID-19 will be entered in five drawings to choose a million-dollar winner in each. The first drawing in whats called Comeback Cash is scheduled for June 4, the last on July 7.

Its hard to imagine anything else that could so perfectly encapsulate American societys pitiful response to the pandemic. That response has been characterized by stupendous acts of selfishness, complete abandonment of social responsibility, extremist elevation of the individual over the community, lethal rejection of the common good, and nauseating displays of personal entitlement. The million-dollar drawing is not only necessitated by the selfishness of so many Coloradans but it relies on it.

From the start of the pandemic, right-wing lunacy created a more dangerous environment for everyone. It fueled resistance to social distancing measures. It celebrated defiance of public health orders. It jeopardized the lives of public health care workers. It encouraged rejection of mask-wearing protocols. It normalized the view that COVID-19 was a hoax. And it gave license to outrageously antisocial behavior under the banner of individual freedom.

Thats the banner Republican Rep. Ken Buck raised in opposition to the vaccine. I have the freedom to decide if Im going to take a vaccine or not and in this case I am not going to take the vaccine, he said on Fox News in December.

Herd immunity when a large enough proportion of a population is protected from a virus for it to be eliminated as a community threat is estimated to be at least 80% for COVID-19. But about 30% of the U.S. population is reluctant or unwilling to get vaccinated, including a sizable portion of Coloradans. Some, especially from communities of color, harbor an understandable distrust of vaccines, or they have a medical condition that precludes vaccination. But many have gone unvaccinated out of hesitancy or laziness, as Polis once described it. Others subscribe to the Buck brand of responsibility-free personal choice, no matter how many fellow Coloradans it kills.

But public health officials are betting that pecuniary selfishness will overpower political selfishness. And its probably a safe bet. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine claimed that after implementation of his states lottery, shots increased 49% among people 16 and older. Coloradans seem to have an insatiable appetite for gambling in other arenas. And the roughly 1-in-500,000 odds of winning the vaxx prize are attractive.

But even if the program works, theres no avoiding the profound failure at its heart. We might acknowledge that methadone clinics offer an effective treatment for heroin users, but we dont celebrate them. Comeback Cash is at best a regrettable expedient to address shameful behavior. The state essentially is spending $5 million in bribes to persuade residents to do the right thing at a time when Colorado unemployment remains at double pre-pandemic rates, when a wave of evictions could be imminent, when the pandemic is believed to have contributed to a significant increase in homelessness, and when COVID-19 has killed more than 6,700 people and counting in the state.

During his announcement of the drawings, Polis quoted The Hunger Games and said to eligible Coloradans, May the odds be ever in your favor. In the movie the line referred to a deathmatch among children for entertainment in a dystopian future society. Odds are that Polis was careless with the quote, but, given the dystopian qualities of our own societys approach to the pandemic, it was apt.

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Originally posted here:
People were killed by the thousands. But only cash will motivate some Coloradans. - Colorado Newsline

With the NHL draft lottery just a few days away, I thought it would be a fun excercise to take a look at who the Calgary Flames might consider drafting if they get extremely lucky and get themselves a Top 2 pick at this years draft. The lottery will be held on Wednesday June 2 and the Flames will come in with the 13th best odds. This means their chances of winning the lottery will be very slim, with just a 2.2% chance of the #1 overall pick, and a 4.6% chance of a Top 2 pick.

However, for the sake of content, lets say the Flames win a Top 2 pick. What would they do? This years draft class is a little bit different than other years in that there really isnt a consensus number one pick available, and surely isnt really a consensus number 2 either as a result. This would leave a lot of options for the Flames should they win a top pick.

I guess the biggest question we would want to answer first is what the Flames currently have for holes both at the NHL level and in the system. With recent first round picks Jakob Pelletier and Connor Zary in the forward system, it appears that the Flames would be wise looking at defence with the #1 pick.

After not selecting a defenseman since the first round of 2017 (Juuso Valimaki), the Flames chose four last year, including three consecutive picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds (Yan Kuznetsov, Jeremie Poirier, Jake Boltmann). With Kuznetsov set to join Stockton next year, hes likely still at least a few years away from really factoring in at the NHL level.

I think its really a simple decision if the Flames get the first pick, and thats to draft Owen Power who has been the closest thing to consensus #1 throughout the year. With the development of Juuso Valimaki and likely departure of Mark Giordano in the near future, adding a LHD could really supplement the team well in the present and future.

I have watched Power at the World Championships over the last few weeks and have really been impressed with his play as hes earned more time in the lineup for Canada. I think it would make the most sense to add to the defensive core should the Flames have the top pick.

If the Flames end up with the 2nd overall pick, I think the answer on who they would draft is a lot more debatable. This years draft features a number of players who could climb to the #2 spot or fall back as the gap between each is fairly minimal.

I think it has become apparent that the Flames could use some help at the center position should they not make a blockbuster trade. Out of the available players, I think someone like William Eklund could be a good fit for the team. He is currently the top ranked European skater by Central Scouting and had a solid season playing in the SHL as an 18 year old.

Eklund is a very well rounded player both offensively and defensively with the ability to play both Center and Wing positions as needed. Even if hes not quite NHL ready this year, he would be a great piece to have in the system for a season.

Matthew Beniers is another center who has been projected to go as high as #2 in some mock drafts. He fell to #6 in the rankings among North American skaters but projects as a player who could be in the NHL as soon as this upcoming season.

If the Flames decide to stick with defense with the pick, adding Luke Hughes so they could have a Hughes brother would be a strong pick as well, although maybe a touch high for the #2 spot. Out of all the players mentioned, I would lean towards Eklund, but I could be swayed to any side really.

One thing that winning a lottery and getting a top 2 pick also does is provide the Flames with a ton of extra and unexpected trade value. If the Flames pick suddenly becomes Top 2, could they use it to entice Buffalo for a Jack Eichel trade?

I feel like Eichel is probably the only player worth trading a pick this high for, but it would certainly be an intriguing possibility especially if Buffalo wins the other lottery and can select 1-2 this year. Another option would be trading back as well and picking up some picks for later in this draft or next year. BT showed his mastery of that last year when he picked up a pair of 3rds and still got the player they wanted in Connor Zary.

Of course all of this probably wont matter with the Flames holding just a 4.6% chance of a top pick, but its fun to see what could happen. What will actually happen Im sure though is the team with the 12th best odds winning a lottery and the Flames missing out because they won an actual game against Vancouver. That would maximize the misery, and thats just what happens when youre a fan of the Flames. The lottery goes Wednesday night at 5:00 PM MT.

See the article here:

Who Would the Flames Pick if they Win the Draft Lottery? - Matchsticks and Gasoline

Baseball BC president Chris Balison stopped by McArthur Island on Wednesday (May 26) to catch a glimpse of return-to-play exuberance.

For the first time in nearly two years, Kamloops Minor Baseball Association house league teams are playing games, with the pandemics grip loosening across the province.

The sheer joy and excitement, it was unbelievable, said Balison, the KMBA past-president who spoke for the organization on Thursday. Its exactly whats meant to occur at McArthur Island. Theyve been waiting a long time.

Step 1 of B.C.s restart plan began on May 25 and allows for local outdoor games and practices for both adult and youth teams. Indoor low intensity group exercise is allowed, with limited capacity.

Contact play, thats great, we can start getting into games, said Ciaran McMahon, technical director for the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association. Its starting to look like a normal season.

The general tone from local sports organizations contacted on Thursday was positive, but confusion, which has come to be expected during COVID-19 transitional stages, is accompanying Step 1.

Both the KMBA and KYSA are waiting for clarification on the definition of local, as the provinces restart plan can be interpreted to allow for more leeway than what is currently sanctioned under viaSport guidelines, which is games between teams from the same association.

ViaSport is the government agency that has been establishing return-to-play protocol throughout the pandemic.

Within KYSA, we havent had updates from viaSport or BC Soccer, McMahon said. Its mildly frustrating, but theyre not getting heads up from the provincial government. We have to define what local is within your zone.

For now, the KYSAs community-program teams can play each other. Select teams are limited to intrasquad matches, unable to travel to Kelowna, Penticton, Salmon Arm or Vernon.

The KYSAs current season wraps up at the end of June.

We want to offer more, McMahon said. Three or four weeks of games beats one or two weeks. Were hoping for clarification sooner than later.

KMBA rep teams are also awaiting clarification.

Until viaSport tells us exactly what we can do in terms of travel for sport, were in a holding pattern, Balison said, noting the current KMBA season wraps up near the end of June.

Clearly, these kids see everyone else playing on the fields and want to play themselves. These are athletes that play at the highest level for their age and theyre itching to play, anxiously waiting.

At the university sports level, TRU WolfPack athletics director Curtis Atkinson is thrilled with the return-to-play timeline.

Canada West recently established schedules and pushed back starting dates. Soccer season, traditionally the first TRU team-sport varsity campaign to begin, was pushed back to September from August.

The B.C. restart plan calls for a return to normal sport competitions on Sept. 7 at the earliest, with an updated COVID-19 safety plan in place.

It was as good of news as we hoped for, Atkinson said. It lines up perfectly with our season.

Canada West schedules for WolfPack teams in 2021-2022 will not feature out-of-province play during the regular season.

Fewer games will be on the Canada West schedule than in traditional years, both as a cost-cutting measure and to allow for rescheduled contests in off-weeks.

On the professional sports front, Sean Smith, business operations and events supervisor for the City of Kamloops, said the B.C. Lions have confirmed they expect to be in the Tournament Capital in July for training camp.

Farhan Lalji of TSN reported on Wednesday the CFL is aiming to open training camps on July 10.

Smith said the Lions players required to quarantine prior to camp are likely to begin arriving in Kamloops on July 1.

THE SPORTS PLAN

Below are the sports-and-excercise timelines outlined in the B.C. restart plan:

Step 1: Starting May 25

Indoor low intensity group exercise allowed with limited capacity

Outdoor games and practices for both adults and youth group/team sports allowed

No spectators at any indoor or outdoor sport activities

Step 2: Earliest start date June 15

Indoor high intensity group exercise allowed with reduced capacity

Indoor games and practices for both adults and youth group/team sports allowed

No spectators at any indoor sport activities

Outdoor spectators up to 50 allowed

Step 3: Earliest start date July 1

All indoor fitness classes allowed, usual capacity

Limited indoor spectators allowed

Step 4: Earliest start date Sept. 7

Return to normal sport competitions with an updated COVID-19 Safety Plan in place

Increased outdoor and indoor spectators

Original post:

Sports in Kamloops elation, confusion part of B.C. restart plan; Lions aiming to arrive in July - Kamloops This Week

Credit: Woodside National Historic Site

A go-to list of family activities and events in Kitchener Waterloo Region in June.

You can cast a line and reel in that big catch at Ontario Provincial Parks. However, please obey any fishing location restrictions in the park as well as all public health guidelines on group sizes and physical distancing.

Enjoy License Free Fishing on June 19 20, 2021. Fishing regulations and other rules still apply during license-free days and National Park fishing license is required to fish in Canadian National Parks.

What do you get when you bring together 5 esteemed musicians from Canada who also happen to be Eagles aficionados, who revere & feel privileged to perform the timeless music of the Eagles & Don Henley? You get EPIC EAGLES Canadas Definitive Eagles Tribute Band, bringing you back to the golden days of the legendary band the Eagles all the way through to the present. Details

Monday, June 14, 2021 | 8:00 PM

Bingemans Drive-in Amphitheatre, Kitchener at the Camping Resort Entrance

$44.24

Tired of staying at home? Head out for a small walk. Check out some of the green spaces in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region where you can enjoy a walk.

Do not travel to other regions and restrict your travel to nearer to you due to Covid-19.

Join a virtual tour as artist Esmaa Mohamoud and curator Matthew Kyba present the works in To Play in the Face of Certain Defeat. Taking inspiration from the African American writer Ralph Ellison, artist Esmaa Mohamoud explores the ways in which Black bodies at once appearand yet are rendered metaphorically invisiblewithin the spaces they navigate. Details

Various dates

Online

Free

Annual FCLMA Classical, Jazz & World Music Awards Gala.

Ft performances by: Mark Swan Music Quartet Marque W. A. Smith Tony Deluca Anthony Borek Magisterra Soloists Rant Maggie Rant Kings University College Chamber Choir Rachelle Courtney Jazz Vocalist Nevin Campbell Erich Knapp Camila Montefusco Matthew Bermudez Michael Vanhevel And a special performance by the Middlesex-London Health Unit #Allstars. Details

June 6, 2021

Facebook livestream

Presented by Unifor Canada with performances by Lost in Japan, Thunder Queens, Typo & King Cruff, Leanne Mayer, CJ Lee, and Patrick James Clark. Details

June 12, 2021

Facebook livestream

Shop groceries or weekend meals, including meat, produce, dairy, and specialty items from the Farmers Market. Details

Saturdays | 7:00 AM 2:00 PM

300 King St E, Kitchener

Enjoy a taste of Bingemans at home with turkey dinner, southern BBQ or a brunch. Details

Sunday Night Turkey Dinner | June 13, 2021 Fathers Day Southern BBQ | June 20, 2021 Extreme Brunch | June 27, 2021

Pick-up at Bingemans Commisary Kitchen, 40 Shirley Avenue

$44 $56; Add-ons available

View original work in print from members of the printmaking community at this Annual Juried Exhibition. Details

May 1 June 4, 2021

Online

Cycling is a great way to excercise and also to explore new places and well trod plaths. So wheel out your bicycle and check out the bike paths and lanes in your neighbourhood.

Do not travel to other regions and restrict your travel to nearer to you due to Covid-19.

You may like: Top Bicycle Tours to Explore Ontario

June 20th marks the 23rd Annual walk/run for prostate cancer. This signature event is one of Prostate Cancer Foundation BC (PCFBC) largest fundraisers which allows us to continue to promote awareness, assist support groups, and support research. Details

Sunday, June 20, 2021

Wherever You Are, Canada

Free to $35

On June 27, 2021, join the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada for live-streamed opening ceremonies and gather a group of family and friends to #EndBrainTumours.

The Brain Tumour Walk Program raises money to fund brain tumour research, support services, trusted information, and advocacy to help brain tumour patients and survivors live longer, better, and with hope. Details

June 27, 2021

Wherever you are

Fundraiser

Spend the day at Laurel Creek Conservation Area. Their 4.5 km groomed and tracked pine forest trail network is ideal for hiking, and bird watching. Details

Daily | 8:00 AM 5:30 PM

Laurel Creek, 625 Westmount Rd. N., Waterloo

Admission fee when an attendant is on duty: $2.65 $6.64; Automatic Gate admission (attendant off duty) $13.27/vehicle

Get to know your city and explore new spaces near you. There are many fabulous birding locations in Ontario to visit,download a bird ID app, and try to name all the birds that you can spot. Details

Only visit places nearer to you due to Covid-19.

Join the Kitchener Market and Chef Rob from the comfort of your own home as we present our virtual cooking class series.

June 2 to 18

Fried Chicken Sandwich | Wednesday, June 2, 2021 | 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Art of Sous Vide Part 1 | Friday, June 11, 2021 | 6:30 PM 7:00 PM One Pan Shrimp and Chorizo Skillet | Wednesday, June 16, 2021 | 6:30 PM 7:00 PM Art of Sous Vide Part 2 | Friday, June 18, 2021 | 6:30 PM 7:00 PM

City of Kitcheners Facebook page

Explore 35 films from Indigenous artists and filmmakers from around the world. Find animated films, documentaries, short films, feature lengths films, and music videos, among others. Details

May 31 June 7, 2021

Online

$25

Enjoy a day out with family or bubble friends at Victoria Park! Pack a picnic with goodies and treats from your favourite restaurant and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Enjoy a family time or just spend the day relaxing with a book from the Waterloo Public Library.

Learn more about this historic part of town with the free self-guided walking tour available from the city of Kitchener.

Join the Kitchener Market for a private virtual cooking class complete with ingredients, with Chef Rob and TWB Brewing in the comfort of your own home!

June 9 to 26, 2021

Pasta Family Meal | Wednesday, June 9, 2021 | 6:30 PM 8:30 PM Date Night with Chef Rob | Saturday, June 12, 2021 | 6:30 PM 8:30 PM Summer Solstice with Chef Rob | Monday, June 21, 2021 | 6:30 PM 8:30 PM Date Night with Chef Rob | Saturday, June 26, 2021 | 6:30 PM 8:30 PM

City of Kitcheners Facebook page

Virtual Kids in The Kitchen is an online version of our popular cooking classes that can be enjoyed by the whole family, right in your own home. Chef Nicole welcomes you into her kitchen every Saturday to make wonderful dishes. Details

Saturdays, June 5, 12, 19, 26, 2021 | 10:00 AM 11:00 AM

City of Kitcheners Facebook page

You might like: Chef D Tours the Farmers Market on Thursday, June 3, 2021 | 6:30 PM 7:30 PM

Enjoy a virtual tour of Resolution: A Century of Photographic Art with narration by curator Cassandra Getty. This exhibition has something for everyone including Micheal Lambeths early social realism, Suzy Lakes feminist portraits, the Indigenous voices of Shelley Niro and Greg Staats, and Osheen Harruthoonyans fantasy photographs. Details

Ontario provincial parks are open to visitors. Be it to enjoy a walk or just relax in the outdoors, fish or enjoy boating, provincial parks are great places to spend your time.

Did you know that Ontario Provincial Parks are Free to Visit Four Days a Week this Summer. You can also get permits in advance.

You can now visit Ontario parks for free by borrowing day-use permits from participating Ontario libraries.

Explore the manygeocaches located throughout the city. If you though geocaching is challenging, try geocaching in winter! This family-friendly activity uses a mobile app or a GPS device. Check out the trails where you can enjoy Geocaching Trails.

All outdoor courts and recreational areas like Baseball diamonds, Batting cages, Soccer, football and sports fields, tennis, platform tennis, table tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, BMX parks, skate parks, cycling tracks and bike trails, horse riding facilities, shooting ranges, including those operated by rod and gun clubs, playgrounds, portions of parks or recreational areas containing outdoor fitness equipment, arche1y ranges, lawn game courts, including lawn bowling, bocce and croquet courts are open.

Waterloo Park is open daily to enjoy. Have a picnic or enjoy a quiet walk. Do maintain physical distancing. Details

Daily | 6:00 AM 11:00 PM

Waterloo Park, 50 Young Street West, Waterloo Free vehicle parking is available from the Young Street West and Westmount Road North entrances to the park. Follow roads into the park and watch for signage. There is also free three-hour street parking along Father David Bauer Drive.

Come meet Chef Rob at the Kitchener Market to pick up a special Fathers Day BBQ Kit! This deluxe kit has everything you need for a BBQ dinner at home while supporting local KW businesses! Each kit includes steaks & chops from Charles Quality Meats, charcuterie supplies from Finest Meats and Sausage, Seafood from Caudles Catch, Bast Cheese, and Mickey McGuires Cheese, salads from Almadina Cuisine and Naranj Blossom, grilling potatoes from Gmach Gardens, mushrooms from Shrooms, and a fathers day beer and gift pack from TWB Brewing. Each kit has ingredients for a family of four to cook together. Details

Pick up on Saturday, June 19 | between 11:00 AM 1:00 PM

Marketplace on the upper level of the Kitchener Market, 300 King St E, Kitchener

$125; Registration is limited.

Get creative this weekend with virtual paint nite. Browse through the many pictures, select the one that strikes your fancy, get your supplies and start! Details

Various dates

Online

$15

It is now the time for planning your summer vacation in Ontario. Gather your family and plan what you are going to do this summer.

Plan to go camping either in provincial parks or national parks (reservations open) and plan your Ontario adventure.

For more, see Explore Ontario

Ideas:

Original post:

Things to Do in Kitchener-Waterloo Region in June - To Do Canada

CHICAGO (CBS) Thanks to the coronavirus vaccine, one block in the Auburn Gresham community is looking a lot different this year than it did last Memorial Day.

As CBS 2s Jim Williams reported, fellowship resumed up close in the 8700 block of South Elizabeth Street on Monday. Burgers were back on the grill for all to enjoy, and people were dancing again together.

It is so good to be out here today, said DJ Quenton Lee. A year later, we got our friends and our families here.

Lee supplied the music for his family and for his neighbors who watched him grow up in the area.

The neighbors are like moms and dads to us, Lee said.

One year ago on Memorial Day, CBS 2 was at the same site when Quenton hand-delivered invitations.

You are welcome to sit on your porch and enjoy some relaxing music, they read.

The invitation stood even if COVID-19 kept them on the front porch.

I thought it would be a great idea because our seniors have been in the house for so long, Lee said last year.

A year later, up and down the block, residents been vaccinated. Lees dad, Elton, got his shot in February and has persuaded others to get the vaccine.

I have talked to several, many, and encouraged them to do, said Elton Lee. Got to do it. Got to do. Theres no getting around it.

Michelle Lewis-McCanns social circle is much larger today.

Now having my shot, Im able to enjoy, family, friends, and neighbors wasnt able to do that last year at all, she said.

By Memorial Day last year, nearly 100,000 Americans had died of COVID. More than 400,000 Americans would die after Memorial Day.

Eula Hartney survived the coronavirus last year, but she was very sick.

Yes, I was actually hospitalized for about three days, and I was on oxygen, Hartney said.

Today, shes vaccinated and enjoying her neighbors and Quenton Lees dance party.

Its so great to be back out here doing what I love to do making people happy making people laugh, Lee said.

And he is doing just that off the porch and in the street.

Neighbors said theyre especially grateful that they havent lost anyone on the block to COVID.

Read this article:

Now Vaccinated, People Are Dancing Together Again This Memorial Day In Auburn Gresham - CBS Chicago

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In 2021, art is no longer confined to a blank wall surrounded by motion detectors and ominous guards. At Superblue, art exists in the form of flowers hanging from the ceiling, clouds sticking to clothes, and mirrored, climbable staircases that resemble lungs. Here, visitors are encouraged to touch and stand inside various massive installations that allow art and visitors to coexist and create a symbiotic meaning.

As Superblue likes to say to visitors, You complete the art. It truly is an immersive experience in every sense of the word, resulting in something memorable, individualized, and powerful.

Rather than display a multitude of artists, Superblue focuses on only three, attesting to the company's care and desire to celebrate artists. The former can be seen in Superblue's decision to pay featured artists a percentage of ticket revenue a move that's unheard of in a traditional museum or gallery setting.

Appropriately for an inaugural program, "Every Wall Is a Door" highlights the foundation, future, and experimental aspects of the experiential art movement. The program debuts a new immersive environment by Es Devlin, a transcendent digital experience by TeamLab, and an enveloping light-based Ganzfeld work by James Turrell.

As president and CEO of Pace Gallery, Marc Glimcher has worked with experiential artists for years and created Superblue as a response to his experience in the industry. Traditionally, galleries and museums have a restricted space that confines experiential artists and limits their ability to truly bring their ideas to life. The 50,000-square-foot industrial building in Allapattah, then, is an ideal choice for Superblues mission of creating an immersive art experience.

TeamLabs "Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life"

Photo courtesy of Pace Gallery

Before entering the installations of Superblue Miami, visitors are met by Amsterdam-based Studio Drift's kinetic installation, "Meadow." Looking almost supernatural, the upturnedflowers hang from the ceiling while opening and closing, giving visitors a brief introduction of the ingenuity to come. Visitors are then asked to don shoe covers as a way to protect the art; those who paid extra for TeamLabs "Massless Clouds Between Sculpture and Life" are also provided with a rain jacket and goggles.

The real magic begins asvisitors enter the first experiential space. The walls and floors display images of flowers that reflect the seasons, shifting through each season in the span of an hour. In response to human touch, the flowers wilt and fall, suggesting humanitys impact on nature.

With the idea of nature and environment in mind, visitors are invited into the clouds with TeamLab. Relaxing music fills the cube-shaped area as masses of soap-made clouds envelop the room. The unsettling feeling forces the viewer to consider their existence in the space.

The ominous fear is exciting and a part of what the experiences are about, notes Shantelle Rodriguez, Superblue's director of experiential art centers.

TeamLab's "Universe of Water Particles, Transcending Boundaries"

Photo courtesy of Pace Gallery

Afterward, visitors enter James Turrell's light-based Ganzfeld work. This six-minute experience is intended as a moment of reflection and meditation. As the viewer stares into the light that reflects off the back wall, dimensions are blurred and minutes feel like seconds.

Finally, Es Devlins "Forest of Us" uses the immersive art movement as a call to action. The artist invites viewers to consider humanitys impact on the environment and how human bodies, particularly the lungs, resemble nature. At the end, a glowing red wall serves as a reminder of climate change and invites the viewer to take action.

Superblue opened in Miami on May 20 as the flagship location for the brands first experiential art center, a new term employed to avoid the stigma associated with the word "museum."

"We that think in the future, itll be museums, galleries, and experiential art centers,"Rodriguez says.

Unlike some other immersive art experiences in Miami right now, Superblue intends to stay, with plans to showcase more than 25 different artists in coming years.

Superblue. 1101 NW 23rd St., Miami; superblue.com/miami. Tickets cost $32 to $36 via showclix.com.Sunday through Wednesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Keep Miami New Times Free... Since we started Miami New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Miami with no paywalls.

Read more:

Review: Superblue Miami Gets the Immersive Art Experience Right - Miami New Times

Face masks are always a favourite. Just the thought of an ice-cold glass of lemonade on a scorching summer's day is enough to cool you down a bit. Now, imagine these cool face masks with the infusion of soothing ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber, green tea and other refreshing combinations that will give your summer skin an absolute chill time. The scorching summer is knocking at the door! Our skin needs extra care during summer and cooling face masks are the best way to keep our skin healthy, hydrated and beautiful in difficult summer weather. The best part about these face masks is that they are easy to use and bring refreshment to your face. No matter your skin type or concern, there are plenty of cooling mask options to try to make your "at home" sessions cool and chill.

Celebrate life with the Berry Bang face mask as it will leave you with skin that embodies all the qualities this natural face mask boasts of. Formulated with berries and other fruit extracts that work best with one another to provide an all-around beauty treatment. This mask tackles dullness, sensitive skin, combats congestion and revives youthfulness.

This is a coffee clay face pack that delivers a spa-like experience in the comfort of your home, to the tune of your own schedule. Put on some relaxing music, feel the world slip away, and wake up with the hydrating skin of your dreams. Harnessing the phenomenal powers of cocoa the mask hydrates and brightens for a more hydrated, clarified and radiant look.

(543 ratings & 1,667 reviews)

This is a gentle face mask made of a combination of gentle clay having pink, red and rhassoul clay that leaves the skin gently exfoliated, bright and clear. This face mask will leave your complexion brighter and visibly nourished. Since it is a gentle cleanser, it makes sure that your skin's natural oils are not stripped away.

Formulated with pink clay and vitamin C serum, this face pack gives radiant, dewy-looking skin. Having glow enhancing ingredients, it hydrates and plumps skin and helps in getting the skin's lustre.

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This is a face pack that cleanses and hydrates your skin. Aloe Vera flesh can be used as a cooling gel for the face. You will get a cooling effect and healthy glowing skin if you try this face mask.

With soothing ingredients like chamomile, white tea leaf and liquorice root extract, this mask deeply cleanses and relieves skin from oxidative damage by daily exposure to the sun. The mask also feels very delicate on the skin.

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This clay mask with its super volcanic cluster capsules powerfully absorbs sebum to intensively resolve pore concerns. The strong absorption of sebum and cooling effect of the clay refreshes the skin and contracts pores.

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This creamy mint green coloured mask has hyaluronic acid that helps to soothe dehydrated skin and is best used on a weekly basis to extract all the pollutants gathered through daily outings.

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These Cooling Face Masks Are What You Need To Beat The Heat - NDTV Swirlster

Reiki may sound new age to some, but its anything but new. In fact, its a form of energy healing with roots in ancient cultures. Reiki uses whats known as universal life force energyki or qito improve peoples lives and ailments.

The term reiki comes from the Japanese words rei, meaning universal, and ki, which means vital life force energy that flows through all living things. Some practitioners describe reiki as acupuncture without the needles.

Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands on or just above different areas of the body. Its based on an Eastern medicine belief that living beings have energy fields that support their health and vitality.

Energy blocks, on the other hand, impede innate flow of energy, causing not only health problems, but also negative life circumstances like financial troubles or relationship problems, according to belief. Energy blocks of any living being can be treated, according to belief, which is why some practitioners also work on animals and plants. Reiki practitioners focus on sensing energy blocks and moving the energy for the greatest good of the client.

There are at least 30 slightly different branches of reiki, but Usui is by far the most popular form. Usui is the method practiced and taught in Japan as early as the 1900s by Makao Usui, who is credited as the founder of modern reiki.

Usui reiki came to the West via Hawaii in the 1930s thanks to a Japanese-American woman named Hawayo Takata. She traveled back to her native Japan to seek healing for her own physical and mental ailments, including a lung condition, asthma and a nervous breakdown after the death of her husband. One of Makao Usuis students, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, taught reiki to Takata. Her healing experience was so profound that Takata returned to Hawaii and became the first person to teach reiki in the West.

However, due to the abundance of anti-Japanese and anti-Asian sentiments in the United States around World War II, Takata shied away from using the name reiki and instead referred to her establishment on the island of Kauai as a healing studio, according to researcher Nat Newton, Ph.D., a Usui reiki master in Orange County, California.

Takata modified some of the teachings for her English-speaking students and ended up training 22 students in reiki as we know it today, says Newton. Today, thousands of people worldwide are trained in Usui and similar reiki methods.

While reiki can easily be done in just about any setting, a typical reiki session takes place in a relaxing environment or treatment room, akin to massage therapy. Newton holds some of her reiki sessions in well-ventilated outdoor spaces. Meanwhile, many reiki practitioners do remote healing where they arent even in the same building as the client.

In a typical treatment room setting with a reiki practitioner and a client, the client begins face up and fully clothed. They might briefly discuss their ailment or situation they hope to heal. The session might begin with a brief meditation, and then the practitioner uses various hand movements to lightly touch or hover over various parts of the clients body while they are face up and face down. Throughout the session, the practitioner focuses specifically on their intent for healing.

We usually think about activating whatever is in the highest good for the client, says Newton. Sometimes well visualize the client as healed. But always well set a positive intention for whatever they need at the moment that would serve their highest good. We dont know what that is and dont presume to know. We let reiki do what it needs to do.

A typical session lasts 30 minutes to an hour, and a client-practitioner discussion uses a good amount of that time, according to Newton. After the session, I always spend time talking to my clients about what came up for them and perhaps also what I intuited, she says.

The most well-documented benefits of reiki revolve around the relaxation response, which practitioners say invokes the bodys natural healing process.

Dr. Rachel Lampert, M.D., a professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and her colleagues studied 37 patients after having a heart attack. The patients were randomized into three groups: patients who simply rested, those who received a single session of reiki treatment from a nurse trained in reiki and those who listened to relaxing music. The researchers measured activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and digestion.

Lamperts team zoomed in on heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of the pattern of heartbeats thats controlled by the ANS. The higher the HRV after a heart attack, the better the outlook for the patient, explains Lampert.

In the Yale study, patients who received reiki had a higher HRV and improved emotional state. Our study was a very nice demonstration that doing things that are relaxing has benefits, says Lampert. We showed increased activity of the healthy arm of the nervous system.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School followed 99 patients at multiple sites to determine the effects of a single reiki session. The studya single arm effectiveness study published in 2019 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicinefound statistically significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as pain and nausea.

Additional research suggests reiki helps with depression and insomnia. A 2012 study in the Indian Journal of Positive Psychology looked at 40 women who suffered from depression and anxiety. Half of the group received a reiki treatment twice a week for 10 weeks and the other half received no treatment. The women who received reiki saw significant improvements in both their depression symptoms and sleep quality.

A range of studies address reikis role in pain alleviation after knee surgery, the restoration of range of motion in injured shoulders, post-cesarean section recovery, hypertension management and the improvement of quality of life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or patients undergoing various cancer treatments.

Portuguese researcher Zilda Alarcao and her colleagues looked at the impact of reiki treatment versus sham or fake reiki in two groups of patients with blood cancer. Each group contained 58 patients who received an hour-long treatment once a week for four weekseither someone trained to administer reiki worked on them or someone pretending to do reiki (sham reiki) spent an hour with them.

The researchers found the patients who received real reiki showed significantly more improvements than the other group in general, physical, environmental and social dimensions of quality of life using the Portuguese version of the World Health Organizations Quality of Life survey (WHOQoL-Bref), a well-regarded research tool that measures pain and other quality of life issues after undergoing an intervention. They published their results in 2016 in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine.

Multiple studies report no adverse effects of reiki, likely because its a noninvasive treatment. Practitioners note clients usually report feeling relaxed after a session, but some feel energized. Depending on the nature of the problem, Newton says some clients also may feel more emotional or have other intense feelings in the days or weeks following a session.

While there is a professional code of ethics that governs reiki practitioners, there are no licensing boards like there are for doctors, nurses or even hair stylists. Reiki master is the highest level of training, but theres a wide range of training and expertise among practitioners. To ensure the best result, practitioners advise clients to do their homeworkask a practitioner about their training and credentials, but also find someone you connect with and trust.

One potential risk is that clients can misunderstand the role reiki should play in a treatment plan. The code of ethics of the Reiki Alliance, a professional reiki association, clearly states that reiki practitioners work as a complementnot a replacementto the medical care a patient receives. Reiki is also not a practice intended to instill doubt in other medical treatments and interventions. Clients are strongly discouraged from viewing reiki as a substitute for medical doctors, surgery, therapy or prescribed medications.

Clients should also be aware that while reikilike yoga or meditationmay have roots in spiritual practices from long ago, modern reiki is not a religion. Practitioners and clients come from all walks of life and belief systems. Receiving reiki is not intended to interfere with or change a clients spiritual or religious beliefs.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, reiki has been studied for a variety of conditions, including pain, anxiety, and depression, but most of the research has not been of high quality, and the results have been inconsistent.

Naturally, scientists who study reiki beg to differ with that assessment. They say institutions simply need to catch up with the rapidly evolving science. At this point, there are probably 60 or more published studies that I can point to that show reikis benefit, and yet theres still this persistent myth that no credible science backs reiki, says neuroscientist Natalie Dyer, Ph.D, president of the Center for Reiki Research, a nonprofit that aims to advance the scientific knowledge and study of reiki.

Dyer acknowledges, however, that some studies have lacked rigor and some have not found statistically significant benefits with reiki. She calls for more high-quality research to understand the practice, how it works and its limitations.

In the Yale study of reiki following a heart attack, researchers note that its unknown whether the beneficial effects of reiki treatment over music stem from the presence of another person, the presence of a person with healing intention, the light touch technique, or a combination of factors.

Like any intervention, reiki practitioners warn it isnt a cure-all and shouldnt be viewed as such. But its deemed safe and potentially effective enough that a considerable number15% and growingof U.S. hospitals offer reiki healing specifically. Leading institutes like Yale, Harvard, the University of Minnesota, the University of Arizona, UCLA and others offer reiki as a complement to medical interventions.

Costs for reiki sessions vary nationwide, but expect to pay about what youd pay for a massage. In a major metropolitan area, you might pay $80 to $150 for a one-hour reiki session.

Professional associations are a great way to locate reiki practitioners and teachers who take the practices and training seriously. The Reiki Alliance, the International Reiki Association and the International Association of Reiki Practitioners all offer online tools for locating a practitioner in your area.

Friedman R, Burg M, Miles P, Forrester L, Lampert R. Effects of Reiki on Autonomic Activity Early After Acute Coronary Syndrome. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;56(12):995-6.

Baldwin AL, Vitale A, Brownell E. The touchstone process: An ongoing critical evaluation of Reiki in the scientific literature. Holist Nurs Pract. 2010;24:260276.

Dyer NL, Baldwin AL, Rand WL. A Large-Scale Effectiveness Trial of Reiki for Physical and Psychological Health. 2019:1156-1162.

Assefi N, Bogart A, Goldberg J, Buchwald D. Reiki for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2008;14(9):1115-1122.

Salles LF, Vannucci L, Salles A, Silva MJPD. The effect of Reiki on blood hypertension. Acta Paulista de Enfermagem. 2014;27(5):479-484.

Alarco Z, Fonseca JR. The effect of Reiki therapy on quality of life of patients with blood cancer: results from a randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2016;8(3):239-249.

Bondi A, Morgan T, Fowler SB. Effects of Reiki on Pain and Anxiety in Women Hospitalized for Obstetrical- and Gynecological-Related Conditions. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2020.

Shirani N, Abdollahimohammad A, Firouzkouhi M, Masinaeinezhad N, Shahraki-Vahed A. The Effect of Reiki energy therapy on the severity of pain and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A Randomized clinical Trial Study. Med Sci. 2014;23(96):205-210.

Buyukbayram Z, Saritas SC. The effect of Reiki and guided imagery intervention on pain and fatigue in oncology patients: A non-randomized controlled study. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing. 2021;31:1-5.

Baldwin AL, Fullmer K, Schwartz GE. Comparison of physical therapy with energy healing for improving range of motion in subjects with restricted shoulder mobility. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013.

Fleisher KA, Mackenzie ER, Frankel ES, Seluzicki C, Casarett D, Mao JJ. Integrative Reiki for Cancer Patients: A Program Evaluation. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2014;62-67.

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What Is Reiki And How Does It Work? - Forbes

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Clockwise from top left: It's not even a competition that these are best chips; the bridge to nowhere; Mark Bickley; the beautiful Flinders Ranges. Photo - Shutterstock.

Mr Rissole intimated the title could be a 'good tourism opportunity' for Port Pirie as many of the Facebook page followers have vowed to visit the town.

Although after visiting Port Pirie or even living here, you'll begin to realise how great this small tight-knit community is.

One of the greatest things about this place is that everything you need is less than a five-minute drive away - unless its peak hour or the Christmas season then its less than a seven-minute drive.

Seriously, we have one traffic light.

There are so many beautiful hikes in the Flinders where you can find yourself adventuring through for hours.

After spending a day in the wilderness you can fill your stomach up on the world-famous Happy Birds chips. This takeaway is unique to our town and no one else has chips quite like it.

Get yourself some of the best chips or a Port Pirie cheeseburger (yes, we're the only place that has a squash dog as a cheeseburger) and head on over the Bridge to 'no-where' and enjoy the tranquillity.

That's right, we have a bridge that leads to nothing of any importance, and its amazing.

Head over the bridge at night, park the car, put on some relaxing music and look up at the thousands of stars you can see.

Did you know AC/DC played in Pirie before they were huge?

There are so many individuals to be proud of in this town that when you see them you think, "hey, they're from Port Pirie."

Our very own Mark Bickley captained the Adelaide Crows to two consecutive premierships.

C'mon we can't be the s***test town if we're raising sporting icons like him.

We are proud to have raised Keith Michell, who won a primetime Emmy award for his role as King Henry VIII in the movie, Six Wives of Henry VIIII.

He's that good we even named our theatre after him.

Actor, John Noble who played Denethor in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, was born in Port Pirie so Mr Rissole wasn't completely wrong when he labelled us the 'Bogan Eye of Sauron'.

But overall, it's the friendly community who makes us proud to be from Port Pirie.

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Town full of pride, wonder and not at all sh*t - The Islander