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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.

Coachella 2019 Attractions

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Coachella wrapped up last weekend and social media buzzed for 30 days, with more than 8.3 million mentions and 49.8 million engagements (likes, retweets, shares) focused on the music festival, according to international social media analytics firm Talkwalker.

Influencer John Charles had two of the top trending Coachella articles on news and social over the last 30 days with 386,000 and 378,000 shares and likes, respectively, but a Vlog Squad video was number one with more than 431,000 shares and likes, Talkwalker reported. The top three were:

•Vlog Squad video – with alcohol, pool jumps and stupidity “HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS!! (BAD IDEA) (431.6K shares/likes)

• Influencer James Charles Coachella Makeup & Lookbook 2019 video (386K shares/likes)

• Infleuncer James Charles prank (378.2K shares/likes)

Top mentioned celebrities during Coachella 2019

The Korean girls-band Blackpink was mentioned 1.8M times and grossed 7.9M engagements in total, more than Beyone (due to her diet and film on Netflix) with 341K mentions and 2.4M engagements.

Celebrities Mentions

Beyoncé

306,897

Ariana Grande

222,996

James Charles (model)

216,748

J Balvin

141,166

Justin Bieber

108,699

Kid Cudi

50,653

Nicki Minaj

49,377

Selena Gomez

49,000

Kanye West

46,788

Jaden Smith

31,199

Top Hashtags

Hashtags Mentions

#Coachella

2,146,586

#BLACKPINK

971,595

#BLACKPINKxCoachella_D1

470,204

#LISA

237,650

#블랙핑크 (= Blackpink)

220,837

Official Coachella 2019 Sponsor mentions

Only video and music sponsors had real impact due to venue and event names. Beverage and beauty sponsors failed in creating momentum.

Coachella Sponsors Mentions

Youtube Music

11,336

Amazon

10,440

Uber

3,572

Calvin Klein

2,914

Postmates

2,838

Heineken

1,885

Square

1,658

1,180

American Express

1,080

Pantene

780

Method

632

NYX

582

Bose

567

T-Mobile

371

BMW i

245

Cupcake Vineyards

213

Red Bull

199

Absolut

181

Google Pixel 3

146

Marriott Bonvoy

Made by Google

Peets Coffee

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MIT: Millennials Drive A Lot

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While it is common to believe that Millennials are fundamentally disrupting a wide variety of industries due to their divergent preferences—especially the car industry—new research from MIT suggests that this is not the case.

“Many Millennials report they prioritize environmentally friendly products,” says Christopher Knittel of the Sloan School at MIT, but our study shows that the so-called “Green Generation” does not exhibit significantly different preferences when it comes to transport. And that’s bad news for the environment and our battle with climate change.”

The study, Generational Trends in Vehicle Ownership and Use: Are Millennials Any Different? by MIT Sloan School Professors Christopher R. Knittel and Elizabeth Murphy http://ceepr.mit.edu/publications/working-papers/700 focused on two main facets of personal mobility: vehicle ownership, measured by how many vehicles a given household owns, and vehicle usage, measured by annual vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Each of these provides different insights; vehicle ownership gives a better understanding of the market for personal vehicles, while vehicle miles traveled provides insight on vehicle fleet usage as well as environmental footprints.

The authors found that although a simple comparison of average ownership and use would suggest a difference, once you control for confounding variables there is no evidence of a difference. While we find that Millennials are altering life-choices that affect vehicle ownership, the net effect of these endogenous choices is to reduce vehicle ownership by less than one percent.

“These results underline the important of policy in addressing climate change,” says Knittel. “The low vehicle ownership statistics we’ve been quietly hoping will solve climate change are an artifact of the economic conditions and general life cycles Millennials have faced and do not represent some fundamental difference in their demand for cars.”

Despite the fact that many Millennials report that they prioritize environmentally friendly products, the so-called “Green Generation” does not exhibit significantly different preferences when it comes to transport. This does not inherently mean Millennials do not consider the environment in their auto-buying decisions, but for many Millennials having a vehicle may not be a choice.

Corvette-Powered Custom Defender 90

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E.C.D. Automotive Design, known for their prestigious, high-end luxury vehicles, delivered a Corvette-powered custom Defender 90 that flawlessly fuses American muscle with a classic, off-road British icon.

The Defender 90 named Project Grey Goose, with no affiliation to the premium spirit, is powered by a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine that produces 430-horsepower. It’s plenty of horsepower in a lightweight, nimble Defender 90 such as this one. The LS3 engine is a popular choice among E.C.D. clients. In addition to being plenty powerful, it’s also incredibly reliable and is backed by a 2-year/50,000 mile warranty from GM.

Finished in classic Bonatti Grey metallic paint, the simplicity of the exterior of Project Grey Goose makes this truck more reminiscent of a heritage Defender. Subtle features such as the rear panoramic glass and sunroof give it a slightly modern edge.

The interior of Project Grey Goose is anything but classic. Premium Italian Spinneybeck leather in Cervo Black Sasso Nero with white diamond stitching throughout give this interior an ultra-luxurious, modern feel. A custom monogram on the headrests of the front seats offers a personal touch by the client. Technology features in Project Grey Goose include wireless charging for mobile devices, USB ports in the front and rear of the center console, back-up camera, and an amplified sounds system from JL Audio.

“One of the things we do best here at E.C.D. is combining luxury and utility – a heritage look on the exterior of the truck with modern luxury throughout the interior,” says Elliot Humble, co-founder of E.C.D. Automotive Design.

7 Tips to Increase Effectiveness of Your Workout

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Workouts can do a lot more than just improve your physical fitness, it builds your confidence, keeps stress and anxiety at bay, extends life expectancy and keeps you happy. If you spend hours at the gym for same reasons but are not satisfied with the result, then you have to bring in a few changes. Otherwise sooner or later you are bound to give up. Few practices can increase the effectiveness of your workout and make it a fun activity. Take notes, put your shoes on and get started.

Always Warm Up First

Never ever skip warm up sessions. If you think just doing heavy workout is enough to achieve physical fitness, then you are wrong. When you do warm up sets, you are conditioning your body for all the intense activities that are to follow. Warming up increases your speed and endurance, gives you flexibility and is very crucial to prevent injuries, which are very common during gym sessions.

Short and Intense Workout

Spending three hours in the gym would not yield result if all you do is few minutes of cycling, take half an hour break, then a few crunches and a juice break. When working out, focus on quality, not quantity. Thirty to forty minutes of intense workout is enough for the day. But make sure in that time you are doing everything from push-ups to squats to crunches to weightlifting. Time is not an excuse now.

Supplements

Even after a proper diet, your workout sessions can make you feel drained for the rest of the day. And that’s where supplements come in. Supplements like multivitamins, whey protein powder, creatine, and even caffeine is emerging as an effective supplement for workout. If you’re into taste then checkout best tasting protein powders 2019.

Golden Rule – Proper Diet

It has been stressed enough that a balanced diet is the key to living healthy and longer. All the workout would be of no use if you end up munching on burgers, pizzas, donuts and sipping coke every day. Your body needs fuel to keep up with your energy requirements during and after workouts. Design and follow a balanced diet and take a good intake of protein and carbs. Drink water regularly and switch from coke to natural juice.

Workout Partner

If going to the gym seems like an ordeal to you and you end up skipping gym days too often then get a workout partner. It can be your better half, any friend, family member or even a colleague. When you have a companion to accompany you, train with you, talk about the common topic and share progress with, you are most likely to stay motivated for longer duration ensuring continuity.

Let the Music Play

Many researches show that music enhances your durability during workout sessions. High beat motivating music gives you an adrenaline rush and gives you mental strength to do that one more set. It also motivates you and distracts your mind from recognizing body pain from exertion. Design your own playlist of songs that activates your mind and body and makes you want to move. You’ll see the difference.

Keep Track

How will you progress if you don’t remember the last milestone that you achieved? If you want to do better than yesterday, then it’s important to know what exactly you did yesterday so start keeping track of your workout sessions from the beginning. Note down the days, session time, break time and all the numbers. This way you can actually see if you made any progress or not. If not, time to increase those numbers.

If you’re into exercising and working out, then you are already in the right direction my friend. You choose to live better every day when you choose to work out every day so keep the spirit high and earn your good health.

Def Jam Recordings New Senior Executives

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Moving to solidify its already-accomplished management team with additional veteran leadership and experience, Def Jam Recordings has brought in widely respected industry veterans DJ Mormile and Jeff Burroughs to senior executive roles – in its Los Angeles and New York City offices, respectively – it was announced today by Paul Rosenberg, Chairman & CEO, Def Jam Recordings.

Mr. Mormile – the seasoned LA-based hitmaker and manager who counts superstar producer Mike Will Made It, west coast rap giant YG, and trap legend Soulja Boy among his clients – has been appointed Executive Vice President, West Coast. In his new role, Mr. Mormile will work closely with Def Jam’s artists and managers, its Santa Monica-based executive team, and within the creative community as a whole. Mr. Mormile also brings his own label venture to the company, where he will sign and develop talent exclusively for Def Jam Recordings. Mr. Mormile will report directly to Mr. Rosenberg.

“DJ brings to Def Jam over twenty years of experience in the industry and a resumé that includes a long string of decorated accomplishments and accolades,” said Mr. Rosenberg. “We are very lucky to bring his sharp ear, experience and strong relationships into our fold.”

“It’s an honor to be reunited with Paul Rosenbergafter beginning our careers together almost 20 years ago,” said Mr. Mormile, “Now here we are at Def Jam, the label with the strongest brand and legacy in Urban music. I am excited to be joining the renowned Def Jam team, and I look forward to developing artists with its talented staff.”

As Senior Vice President of Marketing, Mr. Burroughs – a widely-respected marketing veteran and entrepreneur with over twenty years of executive-level experience – will direct marketing activities coming out of Def Jam’s New York City headquarters, leading Def Jam’s team of product managers in creating and executing strategic campaigns on behalf of the label’s diverse roster of marquee names and emerging artists. Mr. Burroughs will report to Scott Greer, EVP marketing & Commerce and Rich Isaacson, GM & EVP.

“Jeff is the embodiment of the forward-thinking renaissance marketing executive,” said Mr. Rosenberg. “He has mastered the subtleties of high-profile brand leveraging and new product launches, experiencing an extraordinary level of success whose lessons can be brought to bear in today’s competitive music marketplace. I am confident that Jeff will play a transformative role in Def Jam’s future.”

“I’m excited to re-enter the major label system,” said Mr. Burroughs, “and proud to be joining Paul Rosenberg, Rich Isaacson, Scott Greer and the talented Def Jam executives at the undisputed home of hip-hop. I intend to make sure that I add value at a critical and opportune time in the history of this legendary label.”

DJ Mormile is a 14-year alumnus of Interscope Records, a division of Universal Music Group (UMG). His tenure at the label began in the Urban A&R Department in 1998, coinciding with the Interscope arrival of global megastar Eminem, managed by Mr. Rosenberg. Mr. Mormile was promoted to Head of the Urban A&R Department in 2005, and after four years was promoted to Head of Interscope’s entire Urban Music Department, where he stayed until 2012. He joins Def Jam after a three-year stint as Senior Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records, beginning in 2015. Mr. Mormile attended Boston College, where he graduated in 1999, with the Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Marketing.

Mr. Burroughs comes to Def Jam from Rise Entertainment, the Los Angeles-based marketing, consulting and brand strategy firm that he founded and helmed. He began his career at Bad Boy Entertainment in 1995, where he was Executive Vice President. During his five-year tenure, the company became one of the highest grossing conglomerates in the entertainment industry, whose profitable ventures – including Sean John Clothing, Ciroq, Justin’s Restaurants, and Blue Flame Marketing – actually shifted culture. In 2004, Mr. Burroughs moved to RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, as Senior Vice President. As Head of Commercial for Simon Cowell’s SYCO in 2011, Mr. Burroughs pioneered the first ever product developed for a TV show; the introduction of the ultra-premium X headphones, a joint venture with Sony Electronics which became the most successful headphone launch in Sony Electronics history. This led to the orchestration of successful integrated marketing campaigns for The X-Factor involving Pepsi, GM, Sony Electronics and Verizon.

How to Get a Lower Car Payment

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As of February 2019, the average new car transaction price was $36,590. This is according to Kelley Blue Book, the leading automotive valuation authority in the United States. While that figure is actually lower than it was in January of 2019, when the average price was $36,765, it’s considerably higher than February of 2018 when it was $35,597.

With that said, along with these higher prices have come larger car loans. This doesn’t have to mean they’re unaffordable though. Here’s how to get a lower car payment—even with a larger loan.

Know Your Credit Score

Too many people go shopping for cars without knowing their credit score and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on a loan they’re entitled to, based upon that score. The higher your credit ranking, the lower your interest rate should be. The lower your interest rate, the less money you have to pay each month to service the loan. In other words, knowing what your credit history qualifies you to receive is one of the fastest ways to lower a car payment.

Get Pre-Approved for a Loan

Another thing you should do before shopping for a car is get preapproved for a car loan by your bank, credit union or another independent lender. That way, when you get to the dealership, you’re in a better position to negotiate your interest rate, because the seller knows they’ll have to compete with your existing offer.

Increase Your Down Payment

Most lenders like to see at least 20 percent down on a new car purchase. Meeting this figure can earn you a lower interest rate, which in turn will shrink your monthly obligation. What’s more, if you can go higher than 20 percent, you’ll lower your loan amount, which reduces the payment and the interest charges. Yes, you can get a car with less money down, but the more money you borrow, the higher your payment will be.

Longer Loan Term

Perhaps not surprisingly, another byproduct of those higher transaction prices is lengthier loan terms. In many cases people are stretching car loans out to 84 months. This can have the effect of lowering a car payment significantly. Then again, it also makes the car cost more in the long run. The longer the loan term, the more time interest has to accrue, which means the borrower pays more.

Refinance Your Car

Even if you’ve recently bought your car, you might qualify to refinance into one of the low APR car loans like those offered by RoadLoans. Therefore, it always pays to keep an eye on interest rates. What’s more, the newer your loan, the more likely you are to benefit from a refinance. It’s never too early to look into this possibility.

Lease Rather than Buy

Instead of taking on a loan for the full price of the car, you’ll pay only for the amount of its value you use over the term of your lease. This can result in significant monthly savings. If you decide you really like the car and want to keep it, you can buy it outright at the end of the lease term as a used car and keep those lower payments. Be sure to run the numbers on this strategy to ensure it makes good financial sense. But it’s a great way to get a nice used car, the history of which you can be absolutely sure.

The six tactics will help you get a lower car payment. However, be careful which strategy you employ. Some can wind up costing you more in the long run.

The Mueller Report

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THE MUELLER REPORT: THE COMPLETE AND FINAL FINDINGS AGAINST PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

The highly controversial, and long-awaited Mueller Report featuring a shocking introduction by Carter Page, Ph.D.

Click here for purchase

Paperback | Ebook

Fifty years from now, American children will read about how The Mueller Report was a, if not the, defining document of our time. Quite often the history books gloss over the “uglier” parts of our past. Let this be one of those times when we choose to collectively remember, rather than forget, in the hopes of forging a brighter, stronger future for the American people.

With an introduction written by Carter Page, former foreign policy advisor to President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 presidential election campaign, this edition frames the findings in a different light than we have previously seen. Some can argue that the investigation primarily targeted Page as a path to President Trump. His private life was utterly disrupted throughout the epic witch hunt by the Mueller investigation, though he ultimately was not accused of any wrongdoing whatsoever.

With only the redacted report available, much is left open to interpretation as our country finds itself on a precipice of serious change. Page frames the report with his unique perspective, calling into question the gross abuse of power by the Democratic party, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the operatives who seek to, ironically, obstruct the Constitution themselves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The U.S. Department of Justice is the federal government’s justice administration agency, set with the task to defend the interests of the United States according to its laws by securing public safety against domestic and foreign threats, preventing and controlling crime, implementing justice for guilty parties, and guaranteeing unbiased law enforcement for all Americans.

ABOUT CARTER PAGE, Ph.D.

Carter Page, Ph.D. is Founder and Managing Partner of Global Natural Gas Ventures LLC in Oklahoma City and Global Energy Capital LLC in New York. Those businesses have been temporarily derailed due to a multimillion-dollar 2016 smear campaign funded by the Democratic National Committee and their associates, shortly after he volunteered for the Trump campaign’s early foreign policy committee early that year. Following this election interference by political operatives in Washington and abroad, Dr. Page has more recently focused on helping to repair and protect American democracy. His current initiatives include various nationwide legal projects that may eventually assist in restoring the U.S. Constitution, including often forgotten principles such as Due Process and the Rule of Law.

Dr. Page has decades of experience as a foreign policy scholar, including a six-year term as a Fellow at the Center for National Policy where he focused on energy and foreign policy issues. He has lectured extensively worldwide and past teaching experience includes service as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University. Dr. Page is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, where he was a former International Affairs Fellow and Co-Director of the Council’s study group on the Caspian Sea region. In this capacity, he conducted research on economic and investment policy in the former Soviet Union.

In addition to multiple tours in Europe and the Middle East as a U.S. Navy surface warfare officer, Dr. Page previously served as the Navy’s working group representative for nuclear nonproliferation policy issues at the Pentagon where he focused on negotiations with Russia. He also initiated and led weekly meetings following the Navy’s selection as lead service for a Joint Staff issue team during an in-depth Department of Defense strategic counterproliferation review.

An Eagle Scout and previously a Catholic altar boy, Dr. Page graduated with Distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy where he was a Trident Scholar. He holds an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business, an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a Ph.D. from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.

Follow Carter Page on Twitter.

Zucker and Cutler To Release brent

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JEREMY ZUCKER AND CHELSEA CUTLER TO RELEASE brent ON MAY 3RD

“you were good to me” OUT NOW

LISTEN HERE

“a pop power duo” – PAPER Magazine

Singers, songwriters and producers Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler are surprising their fans with an extended play titled brent, releasing on May 3rd. Their new single, “you were good to me,” is out now—watch the video HERE!

In just three days, “you were good to me” amassed more than one million Spotify streams and is currently featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday, It’s A Hit and Pop Rising playlists. brent was written and recorded by Zucker and Cutler in a remote cabin in upstate Connecticut last December. Read their letter to their fans announcing brent HERE!

When Jeremy Zucker and Chelsea Cutler joined forces for “you were good to me,” it was much more than two rising stars combining their natural-born talents; it was two friends sharing their personal conversations (set to music) with the rest of the world. Over the past few years, Zucker has galvanized a dedicated fan base with his early independently-released EPs and continued with his breakout singles “talk is overrated” ft. blackbear in 2017 and “all the kids are depressed” in 2018. He’s continued his upward mobility by outdoing himself with “comethru,” which has reached a staggering 80 million Spotify streams and 35 million video views. Meanwhile, Cutler has become a force, starting with a series of covers on Soundcloud that gave way to her own self-written and self-produced work, like 2017’s “Your Shirt,” which cracked the Spotify charts with over 62 million streams, and her two-part Sleeping With Roses mixtape series in 2018. Both artists have been paving the way in their respective lanes; however, their union was serendipitous, happening in 2016 at a college neither of them attended: The University of Connecticut. Fast forward three years and two signings with Republic Records, there was no better time to make music together. Returning to a cabin in Connecticut where they first collaborated on their duet single “better off,” Zucker and Cutler wrote and recorded “you were good to me,” a reflective piece on lost love.

JEREMY ZUCKER

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

CHELSEA CUTLER

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

DJ SNAKE RELEASES “ENZO”

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DJ SNAKE RELEASES NEW TRACK “ENZO” FT. OFFSET, 21 SAVAGE, GUCCI MANE & SHECK WES

DJ Snake has shared his new single “Enzo,” a powerhouse hip-hop anthem featuring Offset, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, and Sheck Wes. Released via Geffen Records, “Enzo” premiered today as Zane Lowe’s latest World Record on Apple Music’s Beats 1.

Listen to “Enzo” by DJ Snake ft. Offset, 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, and Sheck Wes HERE.

Revealing DJ Snake’s deep roots in hip-hop and its enduring influence on his music today, “Enzo” features some of the genre’s most vital artists: Offset (of the platinum-selling, Grammy Award-nominated trio Migos), 21 Savage (whose critically acclaimed 2018 album i am > i was debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200), Gucci Mane (the trap pioneer and founder of 1017 Records), and Sheck Wes (a 20-year-old songwriter/rapper from Harlem known for his triple-platinum breakthrough single “Mo Bamba”). With its menacing beat and undeniable hook, the hard-hitting but hypnotic track also showcases DJ Snake’s boundary-warping ingenuity as a producer.

Last Friday night, DJ Snake teased “Enzo” as part of his explosive set at Coachella Weekend 2. During Weekend 1 of the festival, DJ Snake delivered one of Coachella 2019’s most-talked-about and instantly iconic moments by bringing Cardi B, Ozuna, and Selena Gomez onstage for the first-ever live performance of their massive hit song “Taki Taki.” The second global #1 record for DJ Snake — his first being “Lean On” ft. MØ, a 2015 collaboration with Major Lazer — “Taki Taki” premiered last September, and quickly became the ninth-fastest music video of all time to hit 100 million views on YouTube.

DJ Snake will be in Las Vegas this week for the Latin Billboard Awards, where he has five nominations including Crossover Artist of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Hot Latin Song of the Year for “Taki Taki” (with Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B). Catch DJ Snake performing at many of the world’s biggest festivals this spring and summer. Visit http://djsnake.com/tour/ for upcoming tour dates, which include the sold-out Pardon My French (also featuring Tchami x Malaa and Mercer) this Friday at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

DJ SNAKE TOUR DATES

April 24 – Las Vegas, NV @ Intrigue

April 26 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre

May 4 – Taipei, Taiwan @ Hard Summer Taiwan

June 8 – Chicago, IL @ Spring Awakening Music Festival

June 21 – Heber City, UT @ Bonanza Campout

June 22 – Ottawa, ON @ Escapade Music Festival

June 23 – Dover, DE @ Firefly Music festival

June 29 – Marmande, France @ Garorock

July 4 – Plainfeld, Austria @ Electric Love

July 5 – Figueira da Foz, Portugal @ RFM Somnii

July 6 – Petrovaradin, Serbia @ EXIT Festival

July 7 – Zamárdi, Hungary @ Balaton Sound

July 10 – Athens, Greece @ Primer Music Festival

July 11 – Neustadt-Glewe, Germany @ Airbeat One

July 12 – Joensuu, Finland @ Ilosaarirock

July 13 – Barcelona, Spain @ Barcelona Beach Festival

July 20 – Boom, Belgium @ Tomorrowland (Main Stage)

July 27 – Boom, Belgium @ Tomorrowland (Main Stage)

August 9 – Saalburg-Ebersdorf, Germany @ SonneMondSterne

August 10 – Cannes, France @ Les Plages Électroniques

August 11 – Landerneau, France @ Fête du Bruit

August 16 – Kraków, Poland @ Kraków Live

Follow DJ Snake

Website I Twitter I Instagram I Facebook I Youtube

Five Steps for Prevention from Watson Institute Experts

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The Majority of Children with Autism Are Bullied—Do You Know How to Help?

Children with autism face unique social and education challenges that require attentive support. 1 in 59 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism. Autism affects all ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Autism spectrum disorder encompasses a wide range of challenges with repetitive behaviors as well as social and communication skills.

For students with Autism, school can be daunting, as they are faced with social interactions and not feeling accepted. Coupled with that, children with Autism are at higher risk for being victimized or bullied by peers. Nearly two-thirds of children with autism between the ages of 6 and 15 have been bullied—over twice the rate of children without autism. 65% of parents report that their child had been victimized and 50% report being scared by their peers (Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing (2009)).

These pressures can lead to refusal to attend school, anxiety or depression, and an overall decline in academic performance. This is borne out in the high school graduation rates for students with disabilities, which is only 67.1% (U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics), compared to an overall 84% graduation rate.

Clinical experts from the Watson Institute have five tips on combating bullying among all students, especially those with autism:

Highlight individual strengths. Parents and teachers can be proactive by teaching children that it’s natural to expect others to be just like us, but the things that make us different are often the very things that make us special. Make a habit of complimenting students on their strengths—including in front of their peers.
Widen perspectives. Teaching children to see things from more than one perspective is a key part of developing empathy. Help children connect beyond surface circumstances to underlying emotions. If a child makes fun of a student for not being good at something, ask them to reflect on something that is hard for them.
Praise kindness. Children risk being teased or bullied themselves when they reach out to a student who is being bullied. It takes courage for students to act. Turn this perceived liability into an asset by applauding acts of kindness. This can be done individually, (“I saw how you stood up for Kyle and I’m really proud of you.”) and corporately, through public recognition or incentive programs.
Get involved. If a bullying situation has developed, adult intervention is usually required. Leaving students to “work it out themselves” will often exacerbate or prolong a negative situation. Involve students and parents in addressing the situation. Approach the conversation with a problem-solving, not a punitive attitude.
Provide support. Children can feel a range of emotions—from fear to shame and many more—when they’ve been the victim of bullying. Don’t assume because a child is no longer actively being bullied, that the situation is resolved. Make space for them to talk about their feelings and provide any additional support they need.

ABOUT THE WATSON INSTITUTE

The Watson Institute is organization providing special education programming as well as outpatient mental health services such as social skills groups, therapy, and evaluations for children ages 3 to 21. www.thewatsoninstitute.org.