About 360 MAGAZINE

360 MAGAZINE is an award-winning international publishing on popular culture and design. We introduce avant trademarks to efficacious architects. We are a LGBTQIA2S+ friendly publication--officially recognized by the NGLCC. Our core demographic ranges from 19 to 39-year-old college-educated trendsetters within their respective international communities. The pages in this art book satisfy their strong interests including music, art, travel, auto, health, fashion, tech, philanthropy, design, food and entrepreneurship. It's an introspective digital/print/tablet portrait series, which encapsulates artists/brands/entities who embody the true essence of our publication- empowerment, equality, sensuality and most important of all, humanity within a global society.

Design illustration for 360 magazine.

The Best Art Deco Household Designs You Can Create in Your Home

The roaring ’20s are back, and with them comes the art deco period once again.  This period, marked by the sleek design and vivid colors with a velvety texture, is one of the most iconic design history parts. Many homeowners are drawing inspiration from the era where a couch can define a room.  Here are the best art deco household designs you can create in your home, without pushing it too far into the past.

Pick An Accent Metal and Stick With It

The 1920s aesthetic is rife with shiny and beautiful surfaces.  To avoid making a room seem too cluttered or busy, stick to only one type of metallic color per room.  You can have a warm gold in your living room, copper in the kitchen, and silver in the bedroom or any other combination of these.  Reflective surfaces were significant because they screamed money in a time where many didn’t have much. You got to admire yourself in the sleek surfaces as you walked by them.

Sleek and Hard Designs

Following through with the last note, sleek and stiff designs are big.  A tall dresser with deep shiny wood and a lacquered surface can fit perfectly, but so could vintage lamps, mirrors, and art.  Look for things that scream luxury without being too flashy.  Try to think of it like camp fashion, nearly pushing the envelope but pulling back just enough that it’s fun and quirky.  Stained glass was significant during the 20s, so don’t be afraid to replace a window or two and cast some colorful light.

Avoid Oranges and Ochres- Embrace Yellow and Peach

Because the 1970s were so inspired by the 1920s, leaning into orange or ochre colors could quickly muddle which era your home is supposed to be based in.  If you love warm colors, go for a cooler red.  If you’re not sure about a piece, and you’ve been considering it for a while, try to research bedrooms, offices, and living rooms in the roaring twenties and see if anything similar matches up with it.

Wallpaper Is A Friend

When I say wallpaper is a friend, I don’t mean farmhouse floral.  Wallpaper was more vivid, like royal blues with gold accents, or deep reds with patterns in a darker red colored into their paper.  Pick a wallpaper that matches the aesthetic you have planned out- or if you don’t have one picked yet, you can choose the wallpaper and then build out from there!  Accent walls weren’t quite a thing, but if you want to modernize it by having a substantial fence through the wallpaper, you can do that.  This house is your home, and being inspired by the 20s doesn’t mean you have to replicate it perfectly!

Dark Hardwood

If you already have dark hardwood floors, then perfect!  Just polish them and make sure they gleam.  If you don’t, though, aim for furniture that replicates that feeling.  Lower side tables and coffee tables made of dark hardwood with metal details can bring through that 1920s flavor.

If you have lighter hardwood floors, and you’d consider staining your floors, you can easily do this over a weekend.  You save money by doing it yourself, but using a professional helps protect you against staining your belongings and ensuring that it gets sealed correctly.  If you do it yourself, make sure to sample the stain’s color first before applying it to your whole floor.  If you’re aiming for dark mahogany and up with light cherry wood, you’ll have to stain the wood all over again.

Embrace the (Almost) Minimal

The classic home we generally think of when trying to conjure up a thought of the 1920s is usually pretty spacious and empty.  Your eyes are drawn to the detail of marble flooring, tall ceilings, beautiful art on every wall.  Unfortunately, we can’t all turn our houses into mansions, so it’s essential to do what you can to embrace minimal while also creating a sense of spaciousness.  If you have shorter ceilings, replicate the feeling of spaciousness by using tall curtains that draw the eye upwards.  Mirrors, a very 1920s decoration, especially when they’re oversized, are a fantastic way to make any room feel larger.

Trim and Borders

Trim and borders need to be ornate as well!  Although some homes did include gold detailing in these, you don’t necessarily need to have a metal finish on them to make it seem spacious.  If you use too much gold, it might make your living room feel like the dining room of a Cheesecake Factory restaurant.  Go for ornate and period similar trim and borders around your walls and ceilings; make sure they’re cut to fit and that they suit the aesthetic of the rest of your room. 

Rich and Colorful Extras

Velvet was huge in the 1920s, leaving many to have it on nearly every surface.  If you don’t want to replace your furniture with this fussy fabric, you can easily use it in other ways.  Velvet curtains block out heat and cold while allowing you to darken a room.  Velvet pillows are a pleasingly soft and luxurious feeling.  Go for richer colors with velvet since it compliments the softness of the fabric.  

Rich colors should be used through many of the details.  Stick to one to two bold colors per room.  A red and purple room, or a navy blue and emerald green room can go entirely as long as you choose your pieces carefully and work to ensure they match well together.  

The 1920s were a tumultuous and wild time, much like the 2020s are shaping up to be.  Take the time and care to bring the parts you like with you into your modern home, and you can keep a little bit of the fun of the 1920s alive.

Design illustration for 360 magazine.

How to Design a Modern House

Being able to design a house with a modern look which will be set apart from the old and unappealing houses is a dream of many. The good news is that it can be done! Many people choose to design their own homes and find this is the only way they will be completely pleased with a house. It allows you to choose which features are a must and the odd things that you could just do without.

This article will tell you everything you need to know about starting the design process, what it involves and how you can have a great involvement in the creation of your house. You could design a house from start to finish or you could plan the renovation designs of a pre-built building.

First, Consider Getting Experience 

Architects are most often the ones behind the design process of a house build. They must have completed a wealth of years’ training and education to be allowed to work as an architect. If you wanted to design your home and work with an architect to do so, that would be your safest option. However, if you wanted to gain some of your own experience and be able to do more of the design process yourself you could consider taking a course in something like Structural Engineering, House Designing or something similar. These would allow you to tailor your designing to meet your modern house visions. It may not be something that an architect could do to meet your wants and needs. In a structural engineering course, you would learn things like engineering drawings, structural fundamentals, design and computing and more. These are all things that you would have to know to make any designing plans for your modern house.

Make the Plan

Before you begin throwing your ideas at construction workers, you will need to make a plan for your modern house. For example, the number of bathrooms and bedrooms, drawings of the structure of the buildings, the sorts of shapes you want to be consistent across the build and the way you would like to optimise light and incorporate insultation.

You will also have to work with the site, planning out which way your bedroom windows would face for the best view and how you would optimise the space.

You will then have to either work with your architect or on your own, draw 2D and 3D drawings of the site, and plan dimensions and measurements. This is when having experience really comes in useful and you will be able to incorporate more into the project before asking for additional help (which would also cost lots!)

One crucial aspect of the planning process is also considering materials and budgeting. The materials you choose could be highly expensive and you want to make sure your modern house design plans will fit with your chosen budget. 

In addition, you may want to plan the design in ways that you will like for the foreseeable future. For example, if you design a windy staircase which looks pretty but is hard to navigate, will you be comfortable with that staircase for years to come? Or will the way you have placed the windows allow you to have privacy when you need it? The great thing about modern designs is that they are quite simplistic, there would not be any crazy designs that you would be unsure on when your design tastes change. In addition, the style suits everyone in the household, male or female.

Planning a Modern Renovation 

You may want to have a modern house, but not build an entirely new one. You could decide to renovate your existing house with modern touches. In order to do this you might want to take an online course. There are many courses in design and especially for emerging trends in interior design. Of course, you may not want to take a course and you could find other ways of learning about designs such as using platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram. These are both filled with accounts on various interior design ideas. Further, you could watch programs like Grand Designs which are often modern builds. 

A modern house usually has a block-type style to it. They are usually very minimal and look clean and open. It is a great design style to aim for if you have a relatively small space and want it to appear larger and more open. 

After you have gathered your ideas and made 3D and 2D drawings for renovations then you will be able to hand them over to the construction workers and start the process. Plans for building need to adhere to a number of standards and therefore it is very important that the designs are suitable.

The great thing about renovations is that you can do a lot with an existing house framework. You may be able to cut costs by doing this rather than building a new one.

Final Thoughts

Planning to build a modern house is not easy. You will need a wealth of experience and drawing skills. The majority of people will work with architects and tell them what they would like before receiving housing plans to approve or edit. However, there is something about doing that whole process yourself which would be very rewarding. 

Designing can be hard as many people are not sure that they want but they know that they would like a combination of things. This is where having a designer for you can be very beneficial. You would be able to choose the right designer for you who specialises in modern houses. 

Some people even go on to take part in the building process themselves because they believe that they know exactly how the building should look or they simply enjoy the building process. A total DIY house project would be a lot of time though and may not be suitable for those who work full time or have other commitments. 

Employee Employment Rights in California

As an employer and employee, there are certain rights and laws that you should familiarize yourself with since these laws impact current, former, and future employees of a company. A lot of lawsuits that companies find themselves wrapped up in involve simple disputes that could have been avoided had everyone known and followed the laws. Both sides need to know the laws when it comes to employee rights and they are constantly changing and evolving to make it better for everyone involved. When employee rights are intentionally violated, one should seek out an employment lawyer

What Are Some of the Biggest Employee Employment Rights in California?

One of the biggest sections of the employee employment rights in the state of California has to do with discrimination. While discrimination is illegal at both the state and federal level, there’s still discrimination happening all over. Even though the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made discrimination illegal, it’s still a huge problem for companies as the rights evolve for certain groups.

  • It’s illegal for a company to discriminate against someone due to their gender or sex. A job applicant cannot be treated unfairly due to their gender identity. In California, this includes the transgender community. Both men and women also should be paid equally for equal work which was mandated in the Equal Pay Act.
  • You cannot be discriminated against for your nationality, race, and religion due to laws established by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 makes it federally illegal for an employer to discriminate against anyone for these characteristics. An employer cannot hire, fire, discipline, demote, harass, or refuse to hire someone based on race, religion, color, or national origin.
  • An employee also has rights when it comes to disabilities and the Americans with Disabilities Act protects employees with those issues. Employers cannot discriminate against someone with a disability, which includes hiring, not hiring, firing, demoting, or reassigning someone. Reasonable accommodations are expected to be given by the employer, such as more breaks if the person is diabetic and needs medication or needs food. If the person is in a wheelchair, proper parking spaces and accommodations must be made free of charge to that employee.
  • It’s also illegal for an employer to discriminate based on age due to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. An employer cannot fire or refuse to hire someone due to them being over the age of 40. It’s illegal for any company to fire older employees just to bring in younger ones at much lower pay.

California Wage & Hour Employee Rights

It’s important to note that in California, the wage and hour laws are only applicable to those that are non-exempt. Meaning, if you’re not a full-time employee or you’re an independent contractor, the overtime and meal break laws will not apply. Exempt employees often include those in administrative, professional, and executive roles.

  • Employers are required to pay an employee the minimum wage which changes quite often. By the year 2022, California will make it required that companies provide a $15 an hour minimum wage.
  • You also have the right to receive overtime pay if you work more than 40 hours in one week or more than 8 hours in one day. An employer cannot try to get around these rules by demanding an employee work off the clock. If there are more than 12 hours of work in a day, then the employer has to pay double time.
  • Meal breaks must be given if an employee works for more than five hours in one day and the meal break must be 30 minutes or more. If an employee works over 10 hours in one day, then they will also get an additional meal break of 30 minutes. Rest periods are a right for all employees as well. It’s a right that those within the non-exempt category get at least one 10-minute break every four hours.

Termination & At-Will Laws

California law is that most employees work in an “at-will” category, meaning that an employee can fire you at any time for any reason. The employer doesn’t have to justify the firing but it cannot be termination based on retaliation or discrimination. An example of this would be if someone was fired after they filed a sexual harassment complaint against a co-worker. Being fired for filing that complaint would be illegal. If there was discrimination or retaliation at play in the firing, a wrongful termination lawsuit would be justified. For overtime and unpaid wages, consult with an unpaid and overtime lawyer.

Who Is at Fault in a Rear End Collision in Texas?

In rear end collisions, there is generally only one person at fault, at least by 51%: the driver who did the rear-ending. So, in most cases in Texas, the driver who does the rear-ending is going to end up with their insurance company covering the costs and them being liable for further damages. 

If you’ve been rear-ended and the other driver was at fault, it’s crucial to collect information about the driver at the scene. You can follow the link to learn more about the steps you need to take after a vehicle accident. You will need any evidence you can collect if you need to prove fault in court. 

Texas vehicle accident liability laws fall under the category of “comparative fault,” whereby each driver is liable based on the percentage by which they were responsible for the crash. In this state, If one driver is determined to be more than 51% at fault for the accident, that driver is not eligible to receive any compensation from liability damages. 

What are the laws regarding rear-end accidents in Texas?

Any car accident is a huge pain to deal with. Even if no one is hurt, damage to one car or another can open you up to liabilities and lengthy civil suits. In 2019, the Texas Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Traffic Deaths report estimated that vehicle accidents caused over $39 billion in damages. Even more troubling were the 3,610 lives lost in the same year in Texas due to car accidents.

Before you get behind the wheel of a car in Texas, you are legally obligated to carry insurance. This insurance will, by law, carry a minimum coverage limit of $25,000 in property damage and $30,000 in bodily injury per person, or $60,000 in bodily injury per accident. This is the bare minimum, and your  insurance coverage may go higher. 

What kind of follow-up should I do if I’ve been rear-ended?

If you have been rear-ended, and particularly if there has been some substantial damage to your person or vehicle as a result of the accident, you should contact a personal injury lawyer who has handled cases like yours. They can give you some sense of what to expect and deal with the insurance companies. It is not a good idea to deal with the insurance company of the at-fault driver yourself. 

Why? In short, the insurance company of the driver who is at fault is probably going to try to shortchange you on the settlement offer. If you get yourself a good attorney who deals with the insurance company directly, not only will you likely receive a higher settlement offer, you will also have a decent chance at a successful suit. 

What should I do if I am the guilty party?

If you rear-ended someone in Texas, the possibility that you’ll be found liable is rather high. It is always a good idea to hire legal counsel to represent you if you find yourself on the wrong end of a civil lawsuit, because a case like this can drag on for months if not years. 

There are ways that you and your attorney can put together a case to argue that you weren’t at fault:

  • If the car that you struck stopped suddenly, in a move that is illegal on the road, you could make a case that you are less than 51% at fault, or even not at all at fault 
  • If the driver you struck drove erratically, swerved in front of you, you have a stronger case 
  • If the other driver was intoxicated, your case becomes quite a bit easier. However, even if the other driver is arrested for a DUI, you may still want to retain outside counsel to ensure that you can recover as much damages as possible.
  • You may also be able to demonstrate a mechanical failure in the car, such as a sudden brake problem or electrical issue that rendered braking impossible

No matter who is at fault in an accident, your attorneys may still be able to negotiate a better deal for you. A lawyer will also be able to give you an accurate value of the damages so you won’t be left short of what you need to cover the bills. 

Adaptogens for Athletic Performance: What You Should Know

Could adaptogenic supplements and herbs help improve athletic performance? Well, every athlete is looking for an edge, and it should be something that will make them better than their competitor – legally, of course. At the very least, it should help them improve endurance, focus, strength, oxygen utilization, mood elevation, and recovery from long workouts faster.

While various solutions can help them reach peak performance levels, the list of natural solutions is relatively small. Some synthetic solutions are banned for their specific sports, while others come with side effects. Finding a natural solution that will elevate their performance without these side effects can be a blessing for the typical athlete.

Luckily, adaptogens offer just that. All an athlete will need to do is to introduce them into their diet. Here is what you should know about adaptogens and how they can elevate an athlete’s performance:

What Are Adaptogens?

Adaptogens are non-toxic plants that help the body cope with stress better, whether physical, mental, or biological. These herbs have been around for centuries and have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic healing traditions. While some can be consumed as part of a diet, others are mainly brewed into teas or consumed as supplements. Each herb’s benefits might differ from one herb to another, but the general benefit is stress relief.

How Adaptogens Work?

Adaptogens help maintain the right balance in the adrenal system, which is responsible for releasing the stress hormone. Anytime you are dealing with stress, you are likely to develop adrenal fatigue. While stress is supposed to be a temporary state of wellbeing, people are always stressed in today’s environment.

Stress might arise from heavy workout sessions for athletes, having their name circulated in the media, and even family and career problems. The faster they can deal with this stress, the easier it will be to focus on improving their performance.

Sadly, this constant stress often leads to adrenal fatigue. This results in people experiencing symptoms like having a craving for salty foods, extreme fatigue, weakened immune system, and irritability. Different adaptogens relieve the body of this stress in a variety of ways. Here are three adaptogens every athlete should consider trying:

  • Ashwagandha

Athletes who want to perform optimally can always rely on Ashwagandha benefits. Being among the most vital Ayurvedic herbs, Ashwagandha is known to improve brain health, boost adrenal functions, increase stamina and endurance, and improve moods. It also plays a crucial role in controlling cortisol levels in the body.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that is mainly released by the adrenal glands to respond to stress. If the cortisol levels in the body become chronically elevated, the athlete can experience increased fat storage in the abdomen and high blood sugar levels.

  • Rhodiola Flower

The impact of Rhodiola on athletic performance and recovery is an issue that has been widely researched. The plant boasts anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxic, anti-stress, immune-enhancing, antioxidant, and sexual stimulation properties. Besides increasing oxygen rate use in the muscles, it also helps produce creatine phosphate and ATP.

The fact that it is also an antioxidant and can lower elevated cortisol levels also makes it ideal for athletes’ consumption. These benefits can help enhance muscle strength and stamina during periods when peak performance is required. Research has also shown that the herb can also help with perceived exertion, assisting athletes in working harder for longer.

  • Ginseng

Ginseng has, for long, been a prized energy enhancer in Chinese medicine. The adaptogenic herb has its primary active ingredients in its roots, which are known as ginsenosides. These active ingredients increase strength by enhancing creatine production. In one Canadian research, ginseng was administered to rats for four days. Observations showed that the rats extended their exercise time to exhaustion since the herb encouraged the body to burn fat for fuels and spare glucose.

This proved that the herb could increase endurance and aid in fat loss. Ginseng also helps lower muscle fatigue by inhibiting the production of serotonin in the body. Since the body has low levels of hormones that signal exhaustion, you can train for longer.

How to Include Adaptogens in Your Diet

For athletes to enjoy the benefits adaptogens have in store for them, they need to include them in their diet. While they are used to complement well-balanced nutrition plans, adaptogens aren’t in any way meant to substitute living a healthy lifestyle. They should be included in a diet that already has whole food components like carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins within them.

In case you want to add them to your diet, you might only need to buy premixed powder before using it to spice up your food. Alternatively, you can also mix most of these herbs with teas or combine their tinctures with water.

Some adaptogens are also sold as capsules to be taken as supplements. However, athletes need to be careful with the specific pills they choose. Reading the ingredient list will help them assess whether the supplements will improve their workout routines and performance, without causing any side effects.

Adaptogens Contribute To Your Long-Term Health

When taken consistently, adaptogens will do more than enhance an athlete’s performance in the gym or a sport. They promise long-term health benefits without the side effects of most exercise supplements, such as sleep disruption and irritability. Unlike other supplements that the body forms a tolerance towards and demands more of, to enjoy the same effects, adaptogen benefits increase with usage.

The more you use adaptogens, the more you can enjoy their stress-reducing qualities. These herbs are also known to adjust themselves to the specific needs of the user. For instance, if one user has low cortisol levels, they can encourage the body to produce more. Ideally, the herb you opt for during your training will depend on the benefits you need and its availability.

Adaptogens Are Great for Your Overall Health

Your training sessions and performance need every boost they can find out there. Adaptogens happen to offer performance enhancements while improving your overall health. Consider including them into your diet today to enjoy the above benefits and more. 

Men's underwear illustration for 360 MAGAZINE by Kaelen Felix.

DickPrint has the Best Gift for National Boyfriend Day

As a society, we love to celebrate the important people in our life and those things we enjoy the most. For that reason, we have a national day for most everything. From fries and pie to our parents and significant others. We have so many special dates, there is a website to help you keep track of those things and people you want to celebrate: National Day Calendar.

This October 3rd is National Boyfriend Day to “recognize the sweetheart in your life.” People usually celebrate this day by gifting their boyfriends any items they would enjoy. In 2020, you should consider buying your boyfriend premium underwear, swimwear, or t-shirts from DickPrint, the brand that encourages every man to become as desirable as he wants to feel.

When DickPrint was founded, they had three very special motivators to create a high-quality menswear brand that would stand out from the rest. The first one was to create premium high-performance clothing for men. How are they doing this? By designing products made out of premium performance fabrics that are more comfortable, longer lasting, and better for maintaining your manhood.

The second motivator was to empower men to feel sexy and confident. Clothing can be empowering every time you wear something you feel makes you look good. DickPrint’s goal is to design outfits to help men feel sexy and at the top of their game. They want you to “stop wasting money and mojo on cheap clothing that does not last and that you are not proud to wear.”

Last but not least, they are looking to inspire men to greatness through their own actions. Their main goal is men to be desirable, have manners, and live an exciting successful life. So, what would be better than gifting your boyfriend clothes that will help him feel confident and sexy while making him look good? It sounds like the perfect gift!

For this occasion, you can buy your man one of their sexy underwear options to keep their sweaty parts cool day and night. Their boxer briefs come in different sizes and colors to fit what your boyfriend likes. Or you could buy him one of DickPrint’s soft, flexible, and board swimming shorts. Those come in black, but also in fun and vibrant colors like orange and red. And if your boyfriend is more into t-shirts, they have four different designs. These are soft, breathable, classic cuts that fit perfectly and make bold statements.

DickPrint is a brand that believes in the power of men to be great. For them, the best kind of man is one who is a gentleman who does not succeed through the arrogant, sexist, racist use of force. They represent the men who are confident and respectful. The ones who are sexy and have manners. This is exactly why they should be your first gift option on this National Boyfriend Day. Buy your boyfriend a piece of clothing that will empower him, give him confidence, and push him to be the best version of himself. What are you waiting for? Which item will you buy for him?

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John Lewis illustration by Kaelen Felix for 360 MAGAZINE

HHF × JOHN LEWIS

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) today announced that the late U.S. Representative and Civil Rights Leader John Lewis will be honored with a special Recognition as an Ally for his work in fighting for justice and equality for all communities including Latinos through a tribute musical performance during the October 6th PBS broadcast of the 33rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards.

“The Hispanic Heritage Foundation is proud to recognize the legacy of our compadre John Lewis, a true champion of civil rights for all our communities,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, President & CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. “The Congressman was a passionate friend and champion of the Latino community through his courage, morality, decency, fire, action and collaboration for justice and human rights. He was ready to speak – no, shout – on behalf of the voiceless or the ignored including the immigrant community. The Congressman indefatigably supported Latinos by fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, denouncing family separations, and trying to ensure our right to vote. The Congressman will continue to serve as an inspiration to anyone who is in la lucha for justice and how our communities can make an even bigger impact when we work together.”

The Hispanic Heritage Awards are among the highest honors by Latinos for Latinos and are considered “America’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration” after being established in 1988 to commemorate the creation of Hispanic Heritage Month in America by the White House.  Linda Ronstadt (Legend), Bad Bunny (Vision), Selena Gomez (Arts), Jessica Alba (Business), and America’s essential farmworkers (Heroes) will be awarded.

“The Congressional Black Caucus is known as the ‘Conscience of the Congress’ but John Lewis was known as the conscience of our caucus,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Karen Bass (D-CA). “One of the greatest honors of serving in Congress was that I had the possibility of serving with him. His legacy to our country is that he devoted his life fighting racism and injustice wherever he confronted it, from boycotts, sit-ins, to protests in the streets, to championing bold, progressive policies in Congress including the Voting Rights Act, and being a moral compass. Mr. Lewis also led the effort to build the African American History Museum and when we visit the museum, this is another opportunity for us to always remember him and what he stood for. Now that he is no longer with us, we have to live up to his legacy and protect the right to vote for all Americans. As we continue to face the challenges due to coronavirus, we must protect our democracy even in the midst of adversity. Most especially in this election.”

John Lewis was an iconic civil rights leader who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th congressional district from 1987 until his passing on July 17th in 2020.  He was also the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) 1963 – 1966.

Mr. Lewis was one of the “Big Six” leaders of groups who organized the 1963 March on Washington. He fulfilled many key roles in the civil rights movement and its actions to end legalized racial segregation in the United States. In 1965, Mr. Lewis led the first of three Selma to Montgomery marches across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In an incident which became known as Bloody Sunday, state troopers and police attacked the marchers, including Mr. Lewis. He was a leader of the Democratic Party in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1991 as a Chief Deputy Whip and from 2003 as Senior Chief Deputy Whip. Mr. Lewis received many honorary degrees and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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About the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

The Hispanic Heritage Awards serve as a launch of HHF’s year-round, innovative, high-impact, actionable programs focused on education, workforce, leadership and culture.   HHF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  For more information, visit www.hispanicheritage.org and follow the Hispanic Heritage Foundation on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter

7 Things to Know Before Using an Auto Transport Service

At some point in your lifetime, you’ll find yourself in need of auto transport services. You could be moving your car or motorcycle from one state to another. In other cases, you may need to ship your vehicle overseas for an extended vacation or work retreat. Instead of grappling with shipping yourself and coordinating tedious logistics, trust the experts at Guardian Auto Transport to oversee the process.

If this is the first time hiring an auto transport company to ship your vehicle, there are a few things you should know before scheduling your pickup date.

What insurance coverage is offered?

Ensure that the auto transport of your choice offers sufficient insurance coverage for the items you are shipping. Be wary of companies that offer low shipping costs and compromise on insurance. Your automobile is one of the most treasured possessions, and you won’t want to gamble with its safety.

Even though your car is insured, your current insurance plan may not be comprehensive enough when crossing state borders. Ensure your shipping company provides adequate insurance coverage that will protect your vehicle from unsightly chips or dents or other catastrophic roadside accidents.

For optimal safety, request a copy of their insurance documents to better understand the extent of coverage. If you aren’t satisfied with the current level, ask them to adjust it upwards. It will cost you a bit more, but it’s well worth the investment, as you won’t have to worry about financially-devastating damage that could potentially drain your bank account. When it comes to your automobile, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Do I need to prepare my car for shipment?

Are you seeking auto transport services to transport your car? Do you know how to prepare your vehicle before shipping? If you identify as a clueless first-timer, below are some vital pointers to keep in mind:

  • Wash your car: A clean car will make any scratches and scrapes visible to the owner. Once you’ve spotted these blemishes, you can document them accordingly.
  • Disable any alarm systems of your car
  • Empty personal belongings from the car
  • Leave minimal gas in the car
  • Lock your car
  • Inspect for any leaks or damages before shipping
  • Ensure it has a valid license

Adequate preparation expedites the shipping process tremendously and saves you from unnecessary delays. Some vehicle owners might be operating under a tight deadline, making timeliness all the more vital.

How much will it cost to ship?

The first question a majority of customers usually ask is: How much will it cost me to ship? Unfortunately, it’s not a simple yes-or-no question that representatives can answer in a few seconds. Instead, pricing shipping depends on a multitude of factors. The transportation costs calculator allows you to estimate the cost of shipping goods from one location to another based on factors such as distance, weight, mode of transport, and shipping speed. Some factors bound to influence the total shipping cost include the following:

  • Size and weight of your vehicle
  • Distance to be covered
  • Time of the year (prices tend to increase in the summer due to increased demand)
  • Make and model of your car (Note: classic and luxurious vehicles tend to cost more)
  • Method used (whether open, enclosed, or expedited auto transport)

Is you shipping provider registered?

Safeguard yourself from scams. Ensure that the auto transport company of your choice is registered by the Department of Transportation. A registered company has an active USDOT and MC number. You can verify the validity of these numbers with the US Department of Transportation.

To prevent rip-offs, use caution when dealing with brokers. These professionals bear no responsibility for your shipment and will not feel obligated to maintain your vehicle’s pristine condition.

For those beginners, you’ll need to be able to distinguish between shipping companies and brokers. Unlike shipping companies, brokers don’t have a USDOT number. They only hold an MC number. Requesting their USDOT number is an easy way to differentiate between the two.

Do I need any documentation?

Always have the correct documentation in your possession when shipping your car. At a minimum, you’ll need to have your car insurance certificate and registration documents on-hand. To be on the safe side, confer with your auto transport company and ask about the paperwork you’ll need beforehand.

How long does it take to ship?

The duration of shipping depends on the distance covered and the method of transportation. Your auto transport company should advise you on the likely duration of shipping. A company that values its customers should promptly communicate when faced with unexpected delays for customer satisfaction guaranteed.

How do I make payment?

Consult with your shipping company and inquire about the modes of payment they accept. Some don’t accept checks. Other shipping providers don’t like cash, as it is risky and burdensome to the driver to carry on-the-go.

You may be wondering: Should I pay in full before shipping? The payment requirements and deposits will differ from one company to another. However, it’s advisable to choose a company that bills you only after dispatching a carrier for your shipping order. Remember, a trustworthy auto shipping provider will never charge you for a quote. If they request payment upfront, consider looking elsewhere for auto transportation services.

Final thoughts

Failure to complete the necessary steps associated with the shipping process may result in additional charges or costly damages. To guarantee quality customer service interactions and a seamless shipping process, scan through online reviews posted by former customers. These customer testimonials or negative reviews can point you in the direction of a reliable auto transport company.

Bruce Springsteen illustration by Kaelen Felix for 360 MAGAZINE

Bruce Springsteen × AARP

Music legend Bruce Springsteen, known for hits including “Born To Run,” “Thunder Road,” and “Badlands,” as well as five decades of exhilarating live performances, is making an exciting return to his native genre with a new rock album, “Letter To You,” releasing Oct. 23. The 71-year-old welcomed AARP The Magazine to his New Jersey farmhouse overlooking 378 acres of beautiful horse country, for a socially distanced conversation on his career, family, marriage, friendships, new album and more.

With 20 GRAMMYs, two Golden Globes, a Tony Award, an Oscar, inductions into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and more than 150 million records sold worldwide, Bruce Springsteen is a music icon. In his 20th studio album, “Letter To You,” the esteemed songwriter and the E Street Band make a powerful return to rock ‘n’ roll with 12 new tracks that touch on the great mysteries of life and death, the shedding of past lives, the passage of time and looking forward.

The following are excerpts from ATM’s October/November 2020 cover story featuring Bruce Springsteen, written by Editor in Chief Bob Love. The issue is available in homes starting in October and available online now at www.aarp.org/magazine/.

On his return to writing rock and roll songs:

“It’s part of the anxiety and mystery of the job that I do – which is a magic trick, because you take something out of the air that isn’t there… You can go for long periods without picking up anything significant. Or you’ll just pick up different things. It’s like you’re in a mine and one vein has gone dry, so you tap into another. A pop vein or a folk vein, and so you start working there. … But because I am primarily a rock ‘n’ roll musician when I’m operating sort of at my peak—I like to…every once in a while, come up with some rock songs.”

On his long career:

“I heard something of mine from 1975 on a record the other day, and I said, ‘That was about seven or eight lives ago. It was a full and entire life of its own.’ And I lived that one, and it was a great one, and now I’m living another one. I lived a life where we raised our children. That life is gone now. Now Patti and I are living another life. So, you live a lot of lives over the course of your one life.”

On loss of loved ones:

“So, this idea is you don’t lose everything when someone dies. You do lose their physical presence, but their physical presence is not all of them, and it never was all of them, even when they were alive. Spirit is very strong. Emotion is very strong. Their energy is very strong. And a lot of this, particularly for people who are very powerful, really carries over after death. It’s like my friend George passes away and leaves me with all of these songs. Clarence passes away and leaves me with these songs. Danny passes away, leaves me with these songs. And what are songs but dreams, at the end of the day? It really is all my dreams that I put down on paper and on tape.”

On finding inspiration in today’s economic climate:

“You have your antenna out. You’re just walking through the world and you’re picking up these signals of emotions and spirit and history and events, today’s events and past remembrances. These things you divine from the air are all intangible elements: spirit, emotion, history. These are the tools of the songwriter’s trade before he even picks up the pen.” 

On recording new album, “Letter To You”:

“We spent one week in the studio—five days—and cut the entire record. It was all live, no overdub vocals and just a few overdub instruments. It’s the first truly live, in-the-studio record of the band we’ve ever made.”

On self-care and therapy:

“The talking cure—it works. But you’ve got to commit yourself to a process. And I was pretty good at doing that. I enjoyed the investigative examination of issues in my life that I didn’t understand. I learned a lot and therefore was able to exploit what I had learned and turn it into a real life.”

On his post-pandemic plans:

“All I can tell you is, when this experience is over, I am going to throw the wildest party you’ve ever seen. And you, my friends, are all invited.”

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About AARP

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Bruce Springsteen’s Official Site

Bruce Springsteen’s Wikipedia

Bruce Springsteen’s Twitter