Posts made in November 2020

Vaughn lowery illustrated by Allison Christensen for hair article

Know the Five Factors for Selecting a Forex Broker

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When you get down to the business of choosing a forex broker, there’s a lot to think about. In fact, of the dozens of factors to consider, five stand out. They can make or break an informed person’s decision about what platform to choose for daily trading. Here are more details about each of the five criteria.

Reliability and Reputation

It’s true when you choose any product or service provider that the company’s reputation means a lot. So does its reliability, but reputation should come first on your research list. How do you learn about a forex brokerage’s reputation? Check out several of the top review sites and see what current and former customers think. You have to be a bit careful here because some of the sites are bogus. If you’re like most people, you already know of a few trusted places you can go for honest reviews. While reading through people’s comments, see what they have to say about reliability, namely the broker’s ability to execute trades on time and for the correct amount. Try to see what customers say about overall reliability and about specific topics like response to customer inquiries, resolution of problems that come up, and the amount of website downtime that occurs, if any.

Trading Conditions

The list of trading conditions that forex enthusiasts should look for include low or no minimum balances, comfortable trading leverage, low fees on transactions, and a lack of add-on charges and expenses. Why do you want and need these conditions? Because they allow you to do what you do without having to fork over a substantial sum of money. For instance, if transaction commissions are large, you’ll find yourself constantly struggling to make highly profitable trades just to eke out a minuscule profit. Unless you’re wildly successful, commissions can eat up your bottom line rather quickly. Minimum balances are not as bad, but who wants to sign on with a brokerage firm that requires a $1,000 account balance before you can begin buying and selling currency pairs? The answer is no one. 

Likewise, the best forex platforms will offer you a significant amount of leverage. That means your $50 investment might be able to control 20 or more times that amount on a given trade. Leverage is the most potent tool you have for making large profits on small investments. Before you sign on with a broker, make certain that you clearly understand how much leverage you’ll have from day one. And if the website isn’t upfront about the issue, email or call to find out.

Selection of Instruments

The term instruments in the world of investing refers to things like stocks, bonds, foreign exchange currency pairs, precious metals, options, futures, and more. Our focus is forex, so what we’ll be looking for is someone who allows us to choose from as many pairs as possible. At a minimum, you’ll want access to the majors, namely the following pairs: EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, AUD/USD, USD/CHF, NZD/USD, and USD/CAD. The vast majority of daily volume takes place in the majors. Plus, from an individual’s point of view, these pairs are ideal instruments because they’re very easy to research, are often in the news, and have the highest liquidity of all.

Trading Platforms

Find out what platforms will be available to you. Some of the newer forex brokers only offer one, and that’s an in-house version that might not be suitable for your style of doing business. The good news is that many have versatile offerings that include the classic, best-known platforms. This is a key consideration because without an adaptable, versatile way to buy and sell, you might find yourself stuck in a rut. It’s usually simple enough to investigate this point just by visiting the main website.

Resources for Traders

Look for a provider who has extensive research, charting, news, and other resources. This point is especially vital for newcomers. Earning a profit in the markets is all about being informed and having the freshest information possible. Foreign exchange, more than any other trading instrument, is highly dependent on world news and current economic trends. If your information source is delayed even by an hour, your chance for profiting on a deal will decrease considerably.

Other resources include things like simulators, on which you can practice with fictitious money as you learn all the ins and outs of the order-placement systems. It’s also wise to check into whether you’ll have access to educational webinars and tutorials on important topics. Some providers offer extensive training for newcomers in addition to use of a simulator.

G-SHOCK releases Earth Tone Color Series and Utility Marble Series as announced by 360 MAGAZINE.

New G-SHOCK Series

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Today, Casio announces two new, fashion-forward collections of G-SHOCK men’s timepieces. The Earth Tone Color Series and the Utility Marble Series combine the iconic toughness of G-SHOCK with technical features and color palettes that bridge the gap between style and functionality.

Earth Tone Color Series

The GA2110ET-2A and the GA2110ET-8A headline the Earth Tone Color Series in sleek, dark navy blue and gray colorways. Both watches maintain the classic octagonal bezel design features from the base GA2100 model in an updated, slim case. The timepieces uphold the strength of a typical G-SHOCK with an ultra-tough Carbon Core Guard structure that remains easy to read no matter where you are with Neobrite luminous watch hands.

The GA2110ET-2A and GA2110ET-8A retail for $110 each.

UTILITY MARBLE Series

The theme of paying tribute to the natural colors from the Earth continues with the Utility Marble series, which utilizes a mixed color resin molding technology to create designs that reflect similar styles to geological formations. This lineup includes several models with G-SHOCK’s most updated features, for example the GA2000WM-1A boasts a Carbon Core Guard structure and a large front button, with a black bezel for a simple, subdued look, while the combination analog-digital GA700WM-5A features a large bezel to create a bolder design. Rounding out the trio is the DW5600WM-5, which comes in G-SHOCK’s iconic origin case shape, with a two-tone design and a complementary blue-green EL backlight to give it a sleek look.

The GA700WM-5A and DW5600WM-5 retail for $110 each, while the GA2000WM-1A retails for $130.

All models in the Earth Tone Color Series and Utility Marble Series will be available for purchase at the end of November at select G-SHOCK retailers, G-SHOCK Soho Store, and gshock.com.

Photo by Cassandra Yany for 360 magazine

Stranger Things: The Drive Into Experience

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By Cassandra Yany

Stranger Things: The Drive Into Experience recently opened in downtown Los Angeles, giving fans the opportunity to enter the world of the hit Netflix series from the safety of their cars. Hidden on Alameda Street, the socially distant event transports you back to 1985 to attend the Hawkins High School Reunion. 

The socially-distant experience begins as you pull into the illuminated parking lot of the Starcourt Mall and tune into the FM radio station where you can hear all of the audio for the event. The pre-show is hosted by Hawkins Middle School science teacher turned emcee, Mr. Clark. The event is immersive right from the start, with Mr. Clark engaging drivers and passengers in different activities such as trivia, a lip sync challenge and a best-dressed contest.

Eighties music blasts through car speakers as vehicles are directed by parking lot attendants disguised as Lynx employees from season three of the series. After guests have their tickets scanned, they are given a menu to order food and beverages directly to their car. Drivers and passengers can place their order online and will be helped by a server dressed as a Scoops Ahoy employee. 

Every aspect of the event is themed, even with face masks being attributed to a “chemical leak” that had occurred in Hawkins. While you are waiting to get into the experience, you can watch Mr. Clark host the event from the stage, and you may even see Eleven or Max amongst the crowd. Mike, Lucas and Will weave through the cars on their bicycles and you might even get the chance to interact with them. 

When it is your turn to enter the experience, you drive past the Starcourt Mall, and into a parking garage where the remainder of the event takes place. As you are entering, Chief Hopper and Murray can be heard over the radio discussing how they have to save Dustin who is stuck under the mall. 

As you enter the experience, you are first greeted by Steve and Robin as Dustin tries to save them from the Russian soldiers who have infiltrated Hawkins and are stationed underneath Starcourt. In the process of doing this, Dustin accidentally released the demogorgon, who is chased through the cars until Steve is successfully able to trap it back into the Upside Down. The trio then enlists drivers and passengers to go and find the mindflayer. 

The next scene brings guests into what looks like the Upside Down where cars are surrounded by eerie red lights and other-worldly sets. Screens depict the mindflayer leaving Will’s body at the end of season two and entering Billy’s during season 3. Soldiers then come around, searching throughout the cars and shining their flashlights into windows. 

The third and final scene leads guests to the roof of the parking garage where the set is made up of a large stage and multiple screens. Billy emerges as the mindflayer from under the stage, and is joined by the other Hawkins residents who have also been “flayed.” Eleven then enters the scene and tries to fight the monster, as the audience is given a look at her past throughout the series. 

After an intense battle where Eleven flies above the crowd, she is victorious in defeating the mindflayer and is embraced on stage by her friends, and greeted by her past self. As the characters exit the stage, the sound of a news station talking about the mysterious events at the mall plays through car speakers. 

Just as you think the experience is over, Dustin and his long-distance girlfriend from science camp, Suzie recreate what is arguably one of the most iconic scenes from the series. From opposite ends of the stage, the couple sing the theme song from the 1894 film The NeverEnding Story, just as they do in the last episode of season 3, creating the perfect, feel-good ending to this one-of-a-kind experience. 

As you exit the experience, guests are given the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise. 

This event truly makes guests feel as if they have been placed in an episode of Stranger Things, caught up in the action of Hawkins and the Upside Down. It is the perfect way for super fans to come together safely as a community and feel that they are part of the beloved show. 

The drive into experience is presented by Netflix and Fever with Secret Cinema. Prices for the event vary depending on which day and time customers are purchasing tickets for. Standard Access includes admission and access to the Hawkins Online Portal prior to the event where you can create your student profile. In addition to this, VIP Access includes a special welcome to the event, faster entry and a mystery box containing merchandise, snacks and beverages. 

Guests remain in their car throughout the experience and masks are worn by employees at all times and by drivers and passengers when speaking to the staff. The event is currently scheduled to take place through Sunday, March 7. 

Jet Boys photographed by Deen Harrison

Jet Boys

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This shoot brings forth a new age of men’s wear with high fashion athletic men’s garments. With silk fabrics, these clothes are perfect for comfortable travel in style.

Photographer: Deen Harrison
Stylist: Winnie Stackz
Photographer: Deen Harrison 
Stylist: Winnie Stackz
Photographer: Deen Harrison 
Stylist: Winnie Stackz
Photographer: Deen Harrison 
Stylist: Winnie Stackz
Photographer: Deen Harrison @deensvision Stylist: @winniestackz
Photographer: Deen Harrison 
Stylist: Winnie Stackz

Smithsonian Channel – ULTIMATE VIKING

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By Cassandra Yany

Smithsonian Channel has authorized an innovative new series that combines adventure with rich history to unveil the never before seen secrets of Viking society. The series, whose working title is ULTIMATE VIKING, will be hosted by Kristofer Hivju, who played Tormund Giantsbane in HBO’s Game of Thrones, and award-winning journalist Gry Molvær Hivju.

“We are very excited to host this living history adventure series set in our beautiful country Norway,” said Gry Molvær Hivju and Kristofer Hivju, the co-founders of Tindefilm. “We are proud to show the fjords, ocean and wild mountains that our ancestors saw. For us, this series is all about a genuine extreme experience based on Viking society, set deep in the heart of the land of the Vikings. It’s going to be exciting, ambitious and based on historical evidence.”

The series is also set to include a one-hour documentary slated to premiere in 2021 on Smithsonian Channel. Filming for the show has begun and production will take place in Norway and the UK, with a custom Viking settlement being constructed on the Norwegian coast. The adventure series will feature a diverse cast of contemporary, highly skilled men and women who will be challenged to see if they have what it takes to live as true Vikings. 

Each episode is rooted in authentic Viking knowledge, exploring every aspect of the lifestyle to discover what it was truly like to live as a Viking over 1000 years ago. The show will follow ordinary people participating in remarkable expeditions under harsh Nordic conditions. The clans will compete against each other in a series of often extreme Viking survival expeditions, challenges and tasks based on historical facts, literature and archaeological evidence. 

“We are always looking for innovative ways to re-invent the entertainment experience for our curious global audience,” said David Royle, EVP and Chief Programming Officer of Smithsonian Channel. “Vikings have long captured the public imagination and this brand-new format pushes boundaries to create a new way for our audience to be enthralled, sometimes appalled and often surprised by the challenges of Viking life.”

The series’ cast lives side by side in a Viking settlement, with every detail true to the era, including the buildings, clothes, tools and food. Participants will need to master tools like axes and swords, learn to forage and fish in Norway’s snow-capped mountains, and master the art of sailing a Viking ship while mentored by the world’s leading Viking historians. 

ULTIMATE VIKING (w/t) is produced by Wildflame Productions Ltd., Zig Zag Productions Ltd. and Tindefilm for Smithsonian Channel. The Series is directed by Showrunner Stephen Shearman, with original music composed by Silvia Strand.

“ULTIMATE KING (w/t) aims to re-imagine living history for television audiences across the world,” said Llinos Griffin-Williams, the Executive Producer of Wildflame Productions. “Our new adventure history format pushes living history to another level. It is an extremely ambitious series and one we are thrilled to be making for the Smithsonian Channel.”

View a sneak peak of the series here

About Smithsonian Channel

Smithsonian Channel™, a ViacomCBS Inc. network, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy® and Peabody awards for its programming, is the home of popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network’s offerings are hit series including Aerial America, America in Color, America’s Hidden Stories, Apollo’s Moon Shot, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, Black in Space: Breaking the Color Barrier, Walk Against Fear: James Meredith and Princess Diana’s Wicked Stepmother. Smithsonian Channel is available internationally in Canada, Singapore, Latin America, the UK and Ireland. 

About Wildflame Productions

Wildflame Productions creates extraordinary content for audiences throughout the world from its base in Cardiff.  This UK nations and regions factual powerhouse works closely with the best creative talent and a wide range of production partners to produce content for the UK and the international markets. CEO Paul Islwyn Thomas has built a strong reputation for producing factual and specialist factual programming for a wide range of broadcasters, including the full range of national BBC channels, Channel 5, S4C, Discovery and many more. Wildflame prides itself on its excellence in storytelling, bringing great ideas and ambitious concepts and formats to audiences globally. In June 2020, the company returned to being wholly independent, after exiting the Flame Media Group. 

About Tindefilm

Located on Norway’s wild and beautiful west coast, led by CEO Hilde Nerlund and DOP Tor Siverstøl. Tindefilm creates high quality, filmic content for the global market.  Their first production, Lysleite, a creative documentary about the dwindling light in the polar regions won a Gullruten (Norwegian TV awards) and their second documentary, Bit – Ballerina Bulldog was nominated for best documentary at BIFF as well asGullruten for best original score.

About Zig Zag Productions

Zig Zag Productions is one of the UK’s foremost independent television production companies. With offices in London, New York and Northern Ireland, Zig Zag has produced over 700 hours of non scripted programming and has grown to become an internationally recognised, respected and award-winning television producer both in the UK, USA and internationally. Zig Zag has produced programming for broadcasters including BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Five, TLC, MTV, Fox, National Geographic, Discovery, OWN, Logo and Syfy. The company has also won numerous awards including the Rose D’or for Best Format.

Allison Christensen Illustrates a Music Business Article for 360 MAGAZINE

VEVA Sound X Quansic

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VEVA Sound announced Tuesday that users of its platform are now able to register for an ISNI number for free.

An ISNI is an International Standard Name Identifier, a number uniquely identifying an individual in the music industry.

VEVA Sound verifies archived projects for clients. By partnering with Quansic, a leader in ISNI services, to facilitate registrations, it is now easier for creators to get credit and payment for their work.

FX Nuttall, the founder of Quansic, said the partnership made perfect sense for the company, as both Quansic and VEVA Sound share a vision that creators should be able to be identified easily and early in the creative process.

“As this partnership continues into the future, we are enthusiastic about introducing VEVA Collect’s users to our products — starting with ISNI registration before addressing the allocation of ISRC for Recordings and BOWI for Works,” Nuttall said. “We at Quansic are focused on enabling 100% identifier coverage for all, and our friends at VEVA provide an unprecedented opportunity for the independent creative community to do just that.”

President of VEVA Sound Deborah Fairchild said she is excited about the partnership and for the new opportunities for artists and creators who use VEVA Collect for payment for their work.

“FX Nuttall is widely respected in our industry, and we are proud to avail his expertise to our users through Quansic,” Fairchild says. “We believe it is imperative that we empower creatives with every resource available to receive authenticated credit for their work.

VEVA Sound was founded in 2002 and works to spearhead the movement to define, create and implement the standards for how sound is preserved and monetized. They now have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville and London where they work with clients to verify and archive audio and metadata.

To learn more about VEVA Sound, you can click right here. You can also follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

You can learn more about Quansic by clicking right here.

Kaelen Felix Illustrates a COVID-19 Article for 360 MAGAZINE

Antidepressant x COVID-19

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Based on a trial from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, the antidepressant fluvoxamine appears to prevent COVID-19 infections from worsening, even keeping patients out of the hospital.

The clinical trial was conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Fluvoxamine was compared with a placebo in 152 adult patients who were infected with the coronavirus.

80 participants received the fluvoxamine, and not one of the 80 became seriously ill after 15 days. Six patients receiving the placebo became seriously ill with four being hospitalized for between four and 21 days. One of the four in the hospital was on a ventilator for 10 days.

Though the sample size was relatively small, the data is believed to be statistically significant. The plan is to launch a larger trial in coming weeks.

Eric J. Lenze, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine, said patients who took fluvoxamine did not require hospitalization because of issues in lung function.

“Most investigational treatments for COVID-19 have been aimed at the very sickest patients, but it’s also important to find therapies that prevent patients from getting sick enough to require supplemental oxygen or to have to go to the hospital,” Lenze said. “Our study suggests fluvoxamine may help fill that niche.”

UVA’s Alban Gaultier, PhD, and former graduate student Dorian A. Rosen, PhD, found in 2019 that fluvoxamine may stop sepsis, a deadly inflammation causing the immune system to spiral out of control. The findings of Gaultier and Rosen inspired the tests at the Washington University School of Medicine.

Gaultier and Rosen determined that fluvoxamine reduces the production of cytokines, which have been linked to deadly cytokine storms, which are thought to occur in severe cases of COVID-19

“Because elevated cytokines levels have been associated with COVID-19 severity, testing fluvoxamine in a clinical trial made a lot of sense to us,” said Gaultier. “We are still unclear about the mode of action of fluvoxamine against SARS-CoV-2, but research is under way to find the answer.”

Washington University’s Angela M. Reiersen, MD, said the drug works by interacting with the sigma-1 receptor to reduce the production of inflammatory molecules.

“Past research has demonstrated that fluvoxamine can reduce inflammation in animal models of sepsis, and it may be doing something similar in our patients,” Reiersen said.

The limitations of the research were emphasized. The small sample size was noted along with the fact that 20% of participants stopped answering surveys during the trial. Though the researchers could rule out hospital visits for those who stopped answering, they did believe it possible that the participants sought treatment elsewhere.

Because of the limitations, the findings should be considered encouraging and worthy of further research rather than iron clad truth.

Gaultier said, “If a larger clinical trial (phase III) confirms the results, fluvoxamine would be a perfect treatment for COVID patients newly diagnosed. Fluvoxamine is not an experimental drug, it is cheap and safe and could be available as a first line of defense to unburden the hospitals that are overwhelmed by the COVID health crisis.”

For more medical research news from UVA, you can click right here.

Champion x Super Mario Bros.

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Champion® Athleticwear and Super Mario Bros.™ Level Up with Limited-Edition Anniversary Collection

The New Collection Brings Rare Super Mario Bros. Graphics to Life to Commemorate 35 Years of the Iconic Video Game

Today, Champion Athleticwear, makers of authentic athletic apparel since 1919, launched a limited-edition capsule collection in partnership with Nintendo® to celebrate the  35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. Available to shop globally, the new Champion x Super Mario Bros. collaboration features unique Super Mario Bros. graphics playfully displayed on classic Champion apparel.

The Champion x Super Mario Bros. collection uses some of the Japanese box art created for the original Super Mario Bros. and utilizes the vintage prints, reinventing them through a Champion lens. Using the authentic apparel brand’s products as the canvas, the collection puts a new twist on classic characters. From a monochrome Toad jumping atop Champion’s Cloud Dye Tee to Fire Mario bouncing fireballs across Champion’s Reverse WeaveTMHoodie, each apparel item taps into nostalgic facets of the popular video game. Plus, there’s even a nod to Mario’s well-known outfit with a super-limited quantity of red Super Fleece 3.0 Overalls, emblazoned with Champion’s script logo.

Champion celebrates teams across all facets of sports, redefining what ‘team’ looks like in today’s culture. While staying connected to one’s squad proves more important, albeit challenging, than ever this year, Champion wanted to reinforce the value of team with this playful collection. To commemorate the whole squad of beloved characters in Super Mario Bros., Champion utilized unique graphics including Mario, Princess Peach, Toad, and Bowser throughout the product assortment, all against a Champion backdrop.

“As a brand that celebrated its centennial anniversary last year, Champion was thrilled to commemorate another iconic brand’s milestone,” said David Robertson, Director Champion Global Brand Marketing. “From the beginning, Super Mario Bros. has represented teamwork by introducing many beloved characters who work together for the greater good. Champion is a brand that celebrates teams, in any shape or form, and we’re excited to welcome the whole Super Mario Bros. crew to ours.”

Featuring notable Champion apparel items, the collection includes a variety of Reverse WeaveTM hoodies, crews, joggers, anoraks, and t-shirts, offering a unique play on beloved fan-favorite characters and items. Spanning men, women, and youth apparel, items range in price from $30 to $150. Starting November 18th, assorted pieces can be shopped in the U.S. on Champion.com and in various retail partners, including Finish Line, PacSun, Jimmy Jazz, Tilly’s, Zumiez, and Shiekh Shoes, before it’s game over for this collection.

To learn more about the Champion x Super Mario Bros. collection, visit Champion.com and follow the brand on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.

About Champion® 

Since 1919, Champion Athleticwear has offered a full line of innovative athletic apparel for men and women including activewear, sweats, tees, sports bras, team uniforms, and accessories. Champion uses innovative design and state-of-the-art product testing to ensure uncompromised quality and innovative apparel for its consumers. Champion Athleticwear can be purchased at department stores, sporting goods, specialty retailers, and at Champion.com.

For more information, please contact us at 1-800-315-0563 or at Facebook.com/Champion, follow us on Twitter @Championusa or on Instagram @Champion. Champion is a brand of Hanesbrands Inc.

Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires for Ford F-150 as announced by 360 MAGAZINE.

Pirelli Scorpion ATR x Ford F-150

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A new “tailor-made” Pirelli Scorpion ATR tire has been designed specifically for the all-new Ford F-150, part of F-Series, America’s best-selling vehicle for 38 years.

For more than 20 years, Pirelli and Ford have had a strong relationship, working together to develop tires specifically designed for a wide range of more than fifteen different Ford models. These joint efforts manifest today in this new version of the Scorpion ATR with innovations designed to emphasize the performance of the new F-150. This new tire design will be the basis of a range of tires within the Pirelli Scorpion family that will be released in the coming months.

Over the past two and half years, engineers from Pirelli and Ford worked together through a rigorous homologation process, which involved co-design, prototyping, industrialization phases, severe indoor testing as well as hundreds of hours of simulation and modelling.

The goal was to design a perfect-fit tire that incorporated all of Ford’s targets. In particular, Pirelli’s engineers designed mold profiles specifically for the new F-150, in order to offer a maximum level of grip with improved rolling resistance.

In addition, the tailor-made Scorpion ATR for the Ford F-150 presents a dedicated tread design to reduce tire noise by up to 3 decibels. Pirelli’s technicians also worked on a new generation of tread compound to provide secure wet handling and snow performance for this heavy duty vehicle.

To achieve these goals, Pirelli deployed its most advanced simulation and engineering tools to meet Ford’s demanding tire specification targets at every iteration of development. This digital and collaborative design approach significantly increased development speed and optimized tire performance, along with a reduction in the number of physical tires tested.

The Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires designed for the Ford F-150 are available in two sizes: 275/60R20 and 265/70R17.

The ATR is part of the Pirelli’s range of Scorpion SUV and light truck tires, offering comfort, excellent traction and better wear resistance. As an All Season tire, it provides controlled performance on the most diverse surfaces and weather conditions.