In honour of Banned Books Week, we’re taking a look at some of the most controversial writing ever published.

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of objections to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. Since then, says the American Library Association, more than 11,300 books have been challenged – some for reasons that might surprise you.

American Psycho

Before Christian Bale brought him to life, Patrick Bateman was ruffling feathers in novel form. The story of the businessman-slash-serial-killer contains highly detailed and disturbing depictions of violence and murder, as well as graphic sexual content. Because Bateman’s victims are primarily women, American Psycho has also be called extremely misogynistic.

Brave New World

Brave New World may be less cited than George Orwell’s 1984 when it comes to dystopian literature, but it seems to have aggravated a greater number of readers. Ireland yanked it from shelves for its controversial themes around child birth, religion, and the traditional family. Some critics in the US also felt it was unfit for schools and libraries.

The Catcher in the Rye

Young Holden Caulfield has challenged censors for decades. The Catcher In The Rye is frequently removed from classrooms and school libraries for being “unacceptable,” “obscene,” “blasphemous,” “negative,” “foul,” “filthy,” and “undermining morality.” Oddly enough, it’s both the most banned and the second most taught book in American schools.

The Color Purple

Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning story about a courageous black woman’s struggle for empowerment features rape, spousal abuse, and homosexuality. The book has repeatedly been challenged for its depictions of sexuality and violence. Other censors have cited offensive language, “troubling ideas about race relations,” and unsuitability for a younger age group as reasons for banning.

The Grapes of Wrath

Kern County, California, is both the setting of Steinbeck’s novel and the first place where it was banned (1939). Detractors faulted the author’s sympathy for the poor, socialist tendencies, use of profanity, and sexual references. Objections continued well into the 1990s, both in the United States and abroad.

The Harry Potter Series

The beloved boy wizard isn’t beloved by all. Some religious groups take offense to the witchcraft portrayed in the explosively popular series. Of particular concern to them is the positive portrayal of witchcraft in literature aimed at children. The Harry Potter books have consistently appeared on most challenged books lists since 2000.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The first ban of Mark Twain’s American classic called it “trash and suitable only for the slums.” The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most challenged books in history, with today’s critics calling it “racially insensitive” and “oppressive,” and expressing concern that it “perpetuates racism.”

Lolita

A book about a man who becomes obsessed with, then embarks upon a ‘relationship’ with, a 12-year-old girl is bound to be controversial. Nabokov’s novel was called “the filthiest book I have ever read” by the editor of the Sunday Express, banned in various countries, and labeled pornography by a variety of authority figures over the years.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky’s cult-favourite coming of age story is a haunting modern classic in the vein of The Catcher in the Rye. Like that novel, it was met with hefty critiques for vivid descriptions of sex, abuse, and drugs. The book has been removed from library shelves in some places and regularly makes the American Library Association’s top 10 most challenged books list.

The Satanic Verses

It’s not exactly the shocker of the century that something called The Satanic Verses would spark controversy. Many in the Islamic community saw the book’s portrayal of Islam as blasphemous. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, forcing the author into hiding for a decade. Copies of the book were burned at rallies and several people associated with its publication were attacked.

Tropic of Cancer

Miller’s largely autobiographical book focuses on expats living abroad in France, particularly the lives of a struggling writer and his friends and colleagues. Turns out expat writers have all kinds of salacious sexual encounters, and not all readers are ok with that. A Pennsylvania judge called it, “a cesspool, an open sewer, a pit of putrefaction, a slimy gathering of all that is rotten in the debris of human depravity.” Orwell called it “the most important book of the mid-1930s.”

Ulysses

Many tremble in fear at the thought of reading this inscrutable novel, which the author himself said he hoped would “keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant.” Early critics who managed to get past the challenging prose banned the book in Ireland, Great Britain, and the United States for colourful depictions of sexual acts and bodily functions. Despite the severe disapproval from some, Ulysses is considered one of the greatest works of English literature.

The post 12 Of The Most Controversial Banned Books Of All Time appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Fear isn’t a word that registers within the psyche of Idris Elba. For the most part he just wants to inspire people to try new things. Kind of like a modern day Moses. Okay, maybe not. “Someone called me the other day and said I’m like the male Oprah. I’m like, ‘…chill out, man.'”

He might not consider himself the next incarnation of Moses or Oprah, but there’s no denying that this 44-year-old English actor has taken to the trenches and come out on top.

Where exactly is ‘top’ for Elba these days? A pretty damn sweet place it seems. He’s an accomplished actor, musician and DJ who has built a healthy reputation in Hollywood as the go-to tough guy for films requiring a mentor character.

Think Prometheus, Pacific Rim, Takers, Thor and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, all big budget pictures which had Elba watching over a group of impressionable cohorts who looked up to him for guidance. Life, it would seem is imitating art in the land of Elba.

“Rather than sitting here taking the adoration for being an actor which I’ve been doing all my life, if I can just influence someone to step out of their comfort zone then I’ll go for it.”

On a regular old Monday in Sydney’s Superdry flagship store, Elba is ushered in to chat to us about all things fashion, fame and life on the road as a modern influencer. It’s a far cry from London’s East Ham where the actor grew up taking on odd jobs as a tyre-fitter, cold calling telemarketer and a night shifter at Ford’s Dagenham plant to make ends meet between his casual acting gigs.

He’s a big time star now but from our brief conversation he’d prefer not to let this kind of stuff get to his head.

“I’m an actor but I’m nothing special, nothing more than you. I’m a human being, you’re a human being,” he says.

Everyone is a self-proclaimed influencer these days and Elba doesn’t deny the fact that he’s somehow graduated to this profile. His latest collaboration sees him lending a keen eye to the British label, Superdry, who have released a few collections bearing his name.

Beyond the material world though exists a much more profound type of influence which piques Elba’s interest.

“When you’ve got a position where actors are typically idolised, it can affect you in two ways. One, you can live in a bubble and you’re the man and you’re not really giving anything back.”

“The other way it can affect you is by going, ‘Oh, you’re looking at me? Cool. How about I influence you to do something you’ve never done before. Check me out doing this and now influence yourself.'”

No prizes for guessing which group Elba sees himself in.

The scope of Elba’s fan base is growing rapidly. At present he’s been touted as one of the men to take the reigns from Daniel Craig as the next 007.

If he does score this coveted gig, he won’t just be taking on an iconic role but also the crown as the first black man to ever play James Bond. To some out there, this kind of has the same ‘Obama becoming America’s first black president’ ring to it.

Call it unintentional God-like status (he actually plays a God named Heimdall in the Thor films), but the expectations in the industry definitely has Elba a bit rattled.

“Someone called me the other day and said I’m like the male Oprah. I’m like, ‘…chill out, man.'”

So we pondered the question: Would that make him a bonafide…’Moprah’?

Laughter erupts across the media floor.

“Why’d you say that. It’s stuck in my head now. Fucken hell.”

“Fine. She’s [Oprah] influenced a lot of people to step out of their shell. I’m about that. I do a lot of different things. One because I want to live a full life. But two, because I realise people go, ‘If bitches can do it, I can do it.'”

“And rather than sitting here taking the adoration for being an actor which I’ve been doing all my life, if I can just influence someone to step out of their comfort zone then I’ll go for it. So that’s why there’s so many strings to my bow.”

What’s really a priority to Elba doing all these things is that he really wants to do it right from the start.

“I don’t want to do it all shit; be a jack of all trades and none of it’s good. With my Superdry range I’m not trying to be Kanye. It’s quality, it’s good, it’s affordable, it speaks to people like me and that’s the bottom line.”

As much as celebrity brand endorsements go, this particular one seems to have a breath of authenticity about it. A good deal of this could be due to Elba’s down to Earth persona, but regardless the man is still getting something intangible out of it for himself – a front foot into the world of fashion.

His partnership with the British label came about quite naturally. Superdry approached him and said that they wanted to step into a space with a more premium product. Elba expressed his penchant for men’s fashion, said yes, and the rest is history.

And what is his take on the current state of men’s fashion then?

“I think men are coming into their own now with fashion. We can be fashion forward,” he says.

The design process for Elba’s Superdry collection is a no-nonsense affair. The design team will sit down together with Elba and he will tell them what he likes or dislikes. From there they will use Elba’s influence to create the premium pieces for the fashion-forward men who are after something a little more masculine.

Humility doesn’t run short even in the fashion world for Elba.

“The first two seasons were safe in the way that I didn’t want to come out and say, ‘Hey-hey I’m a fashion designer, check me out!'”

“I don’t think I’ve reinvented the wheel. It’s all about the use of materials, neckline, how things fit on men and how they fit with other pieces they have. All round 24-hour gear.”

When Elba isn’t acting in blockbuster films or fiddling with threads, he can be found relishing in one of his favourite past times behind the decks.

Going by the alias of ‘Big Driis’, Elba fell in love with DJing after he helped cover for his uncle’s wedding DJ business. A year later he started his own DJ company and eventually scored a break in the clubs at the age of nineteen. To this day, he still has his vinyls. All 4,000 of them.

“It’s a massive leveller for me,” he says.

“Like I said, you can get swept off in a bubble. There’s nothing like showing up to a gig where no one cares that you’re an actor and they’re just there to have a good night.”

Before parting ways Elba tells us that he has a gig in Sydney later this week before he heads back to Queensland for work on the latest Thor.

“People don’t know I’m coming. Looking forward to that. Going to rock out.”

The post Idris Elba Talks Changing The World, Just Don't Call Him The Male Oprah appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

So you’ve found the woman you want to spend your life with. Congratulations! That’s the good news. The bad news is, with the stress of selection out of the way, a whole new wave of stress is on the horizon. (Kidding. Kind of.)

We can’t tell you if she prefers princess cut or cushion, nor can we promise an affirmative answer, but we can help you choose a unique location for popping the question. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the Eiffel Tower, it’s just a little played out, dontcha think?

These unique places to propose guarantee a memorable moment, hopefully one you’ll be recounting to bored grandchildren for many years to come.

Neuschwanstein Castle | Bavaria, Germany

Let’s say your lady is the fairytale type. She wants a romance worthy of Shakespeare, a dress befitting Cinderella, and a proposal to match. In that case, whisk her off to Germany‘s Neuschwanstein Castle. This 19^th-century Romanesque Revival palace is so spectacular that Walt Disney used it as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle. The beautiful Bavarian scenery doesn’t hurt, either. Everywhere you look is something that could have come straight from the imagination of Hans Christian Andersen. Fairy godmother not included.

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Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve | Mt Cook, New Zealand

Located on New Zealand‘s southern island, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is almost completely free of light pollution, making it one of the best places for stargazing on the planet. First, hit her with a colossal dose of wonder as you observe the vastness of the universe together. Then, when you see her reach peak awe, pull out the ring and get down on one knee. The double dose of amazement will hopefully be all you need to secure the yes.

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The Mulia | Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia

A proposal calls for something special. The Mulia in Bali was recently named one of the world’s most beautiful beachfront hotels by CNN. Here, “special” comes standard. Guests have a choice between beachfront suites or luxury villas, all of which boast a relaxed yet polished sensibility. Style, comfort, service, and serenity are available in abundance, particularly by the stunning Oasis pool. If you and your fiancee fall in love with the location as well as each other, you can book your wedding in the Mulia’s floating glass Eternity Chapel.

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Huacachina | Ica Province, Peru

Your future bride will never forget this remarkable location – if you can find it in the first place, that is. Huacachina is a thriving oasis hidden in the barren desert of Peru. Nestled amongst towering sand dunes, the tiny village is home to only around 100 permanent residents. Visitors come by the tens of thousands each year to stay at the resorts, drive dune buggies and sand board, and take in the magnificent sunsets. If you can handle the trek to the top of a dune, you’ll have the perfect setting for popping the question.

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Crystal Ice Caves | Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland

Vatnajökull: where Iceland lives up to its name. Also known as the Vatna Glacier in English, this is the largest ice cap in the country and one of the largest in Europe. You may know it better as the setting for the opening sequence of the 1985 James Bond outing A View To Kill. After you’ve explored the surface of the glacier, head below ground for a tour of the crystal ice caves. The frozen chambers indeed look like they were cut from crystal, and a natural blue glow makes the setting even more magical.

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Hot Air Balloon | Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

From the ground, Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve is one of the most diverse and astounding eco-systems found anywhere. From the air, it’s even more likely to take your breath away. Book a hot air balloon safari for a bird’s eye view of the action. You could lay eyes on the entire cast of The Lion King, from hyenas to wildebeest to the King of the Jungle himself. Visit during the annual Great Migration, when 2 million hooved creatures trek from Tanzania to the Maasai Mara reserve, for the most impressive sight.

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Bonneville Salt Flats | Utah, USA

Seal the engagement deal here before the landscape changes forever. The Bonneville Salt Flats have played host to countless film shoots and land speed records, and given their name to the Triumph Bonneville motorcycle. Fun facts to keep in mind, but all you really know is how cool they look. Stand on this parched and pearly land and you’ll feel like you’re on another planet – making a proposal here all the more outta-this-world. Salt depletion may eventually wipe this unusual destination off the map, so don’t procrastinate if this is where you want to take a knee.

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Mayan Ruins | Tulum, Mexico

Marriage is an adventure a couple embarks upon together, so why not begin that journey with another adventure? Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula offers plenty of proposal-worthy spots, from tropical cenotes to vanilla sand beaches, but our bet is on the ancient Mayan ruins. Check into one of Tulum’s many haute resorts to set the mood, and when the time is right, take your gal to one of the picturesque coastal relics for the actual proposal. The Castillo, which looks over the Caribbean from its perch on the edge of a 12-metre limestone cliff, is a good bet for a “yes”.

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Bioluminescent Beach | Maldives

Hollywood couldn’t invent a location more perfect. Picture a proposal on the beach – but not just any beach, a beach where the water looks like it’s full of stars. That aquatic galaxy is in fact a natural phenomenon caused by bioluminescent plankton. At night, when waves break on the shore or bare feet sink into wet sand, a bright blue glow appears courtesy of those tiny organisms. Bioluminescence can be found in multiple sites dotting the Maldives, including the resorts at Kuredu, Reethi Beach, and Dusit Thani.

The post 9 Of The Coolest Places To Propose Around The World appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Mars may still be 55 million kilometres away but that hasn’t stopped Elon Musk from attempting to bridge the gap between us and the martian red planet.

At the International Astronautical Congress meeting on Tuesday, the SpaceX founder revealed that humans will one day be able to travel to Mars for a meagre sum of $200,000 – if his grand plan succeeds.

The goal of course is colonisation, a motive which Musk says is necessary for the survival of humanity.

“One path is to stay on Earth forever, and there will be some extinction event,” he said.

“The alternative is to become a multi-planetary species, which I hope you will agree is the right way to go.”

With an intricate shuttle and mid-space re-fuel plan set in place, Musk explained that the project will involve 1,000 space ships transporting up to 200 people per ship. A self sustaining Mars city meanwhile will take anywhere between 40 to 100 years to complete.

Musk didn’t stop there either, revealing a host of solutions to overcome the exponential cost of space travel and travel times. He will set in place four key criteria which involves reusable spacecraft, re-fuelling in orbit, choosing the right fuel and extracting propellant (methane) from Mars for two-way travel.

It might sound sketchy for now but rest assured Elon Musk has you in safe hands (just ignore that exploding rocket a few weeks ago). He said that being on the spaceship will be “like, really fun to go – you’ll have a great time.”

Ok sure, guy who hasn’t seen Total Recall.

2023 is the tentative year that Musk plans to take space flight bookings to Mars. As for the future…

“If we have a propellent depot, you can go from Mars to Jupiter, no problem. It means full access to the entire greater solar system.”

The post Elon Musk Has Revealed How He Plans To Send Humans To Mars appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Once we’ve got the transportation part of commercial space travel sorted, accommodations are the next logical step. Those space lodgings might look something like this: Marriott’s physics-defying Gravity Room.

Located in the Greatroom of the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, the Gravity Room is an inverted replica of a guest room. The temporary installation is one part interior design showpiece, meant to hype the chain’s new in-room décor, and one part social media event, meant to refresh the Marriott brand image.

Guests are invited to explore the miniature Marriott room, which is turned at a 90-degree angle so the floor and ceiling serve as walls, and share their experiences using the hashtag #MGravityRoom. A desk, platform bed, and functioning flatscreen TV adorn the ceiling/wall (depending on your perspective), appearing to float within the space. The Gravity Room also boasts a model of a glass-walled shower and sink beneath the desk setup and a small open air closet hanging on a wall.

On the desk, visitors find instructions that explain how to position themselves to appear as if they are walking on the walls and ceiling of the room. After striking a pose and snapping a photo, simply rotate the image 90-degrees and it will appear to return to an upright position. Any human subjects in the picture look like they’re levitating or standing on the wall.

“Travellers today crave inspiration and unique experiences,” said Matthew Carroll, vice president and global brand manager, Marriott Hotels. “We see the #MGravityRoom as a creative way of showcasing the transformation of our brand and how we’re meeting the evolving needs of our guest. We have pushed the limits in our design and this allows us to have some fun with it while sharing our newest ideas.”

The post Marriott's Gravity Room Literally Flips Hotel Design On Its Head appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In a world driven by social media and radically publicised bouts of excess, there is no shortage of token millionaire ballers.

Dan Bilzerian pioneered it with his overzealous showboating of assault rifles, naked women and private jets and today he’s getting some classier competition. Say hello to the 49-year-old Italian business tycoon with abs known as Gianluca Vacchi.

Quick facts first. Vacchi went viral after posting a quirky and well-choreographed dance routine with his wife on Instagram. Along the way Vacchi managed to befriend America’s golden child Zac Efron and the pair immediately hit it off, going on excellent adventures together whilst documenting their yacht diving exploits along the way. This was bromance in the making at its finest.

Beyond this Vacchi has no shortage of disposable income as he’s the head of manufacturing company, SEA Società Europea Autocaravan. Paired with killer dad style to boot, a full head of hair, charming dance moves and a lavish lifestyle, Gianluca Vacchi is today the envy of middle-aged men leading a life more ordinary.

Here’s a few more things you need to know about the rise of the ‘GV Lifestyle’.

#1 He Basically Danced His Way To Stardom

He’s got moves that could destroy Jagger and he’s got the videos to prove it. With body rolls and co-ordination like that for an almost-fifty-year-old, it’s no wonder the tatted-up businessman is going viral.

Watch and learn.

Sundaydance @jogiorgiajo #gvlifestyle #sundaydance

A video posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Jul 31, 2016 at 6:31am PDT

#2 He Dresses Like An Italian

We’re staunch supporters of dressing like an Italian here at D’Marge. So much so that we even did a guide on how to dress like an Italian. If you’re more visually inclined then simply look to Gianluca for some style inspiration. It’s pretty damn immaculate and oozes pure Italian charm.

Enjoy #gvlifestyle

A photo posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Jul 6, 2016 at 12:11pm PDT

#3 He Lifts (And We Don’t Mean The Surgery Type)

No Gimmicks, no surgery, no ‘good’ angles for Instagram. Vacchi is a machine at 49 and often shares his training routine with the world to prove it. With his perennially oiled skin, perfect tan and built frame, Vacchi is well on his way to pissing off an entire generation of lazy middle-aged men. And we love him for it.

Mai mollare..!un grazie al mio nutrizionista Saverio Militano @resilienzaofficial #resilienza #gvlifestyle

A video posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on May 14, 2016 at 3:08am PDT

#4 He Has An Epic Bromance With Zac Efron

Back in 2014 Zac Efron embarked on a holiday with Vacchi in Italy. Regardless of the twenty year age difference, the pair somehow managed to bond through their carefree antics which eventually brought them to the past time of topless horseback riding and synchronised yacht diving:

synchronicity…enjoy Z and me @zacefron

A video posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Jul 5, 2014 at 5:15am PDT

This was followed by even more dancing of the sychronised persuasion.

dancing on the table for girls me , Zac @zacefron ,youssef @youssefgiga

A video posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Jun 28, 2014 at 3:37pm PDT

And just to prove that this wasn’t a one-time bromantic affair, Efron posted on his Instagram a solo photo of Vacchi with the caption: “To my friend @gianlucavacchi – the real life ‘most interesting man in the world’, never above you, never below – always by your side. Luv and respect.”

Someone cue Kenny Loggins’ ‘Playing with the boys’ please.

#5 He Partakes In Extreme Sports

Old doesn’t need to mean boring and Vacchi is taking this point rather literally. The social media star is an adrenaline junkie and wouldn’t look out of place in a Ken Block campaign with an immaculate dress sense complementing his skill behind two bars.

Take a look at the man casually riding his Harley Davidson down the street and you’ll understand.

Crazy biker…enjoy #GVlifestyle

A video posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Jul 11, 2014 at 12:00pm PDT

Even jet-skiing in a suit doesn’t escape the wild pursuits of this tatted-up boss with charisma.

In life it doesn’t matter what you drive, is how you drive it that makes the difference. Enjoy #gvlifestyle

A video posted by Gianluca Vacchi (@gianlucavacchi) on Mar 16, 2016 at 1:00pm PDT

The post Who The F*ck Is Gianluca Vacchi (And Why You Need To Follow Him) appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

‘Shitting gold’ used to be a widely regarded colloquial term. As usual though the Italians have taken it seriously and created a toilet seat made out of solid gold.

This peculiar exhibition of art imitating shit imitating excess was designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. What’s even more surprising is that the Kohler-style art piece is fully functional for patrons and guests to do their business in.

Made of 18K solid gold, the toilet is currently on display at New York’s Guggenheim Museum and is aptly named “America”, likely making a political statement that the country is a shit hole lined with riches.

America is reported to be worth anywhere between US$1.47 million and US$2.53 million. Thankfully the museum staff have ensure that the toilet will always be spotless with cleaners coming in to clean the artwork every 15 minutes.

The post Patrons Can Now Use This 18K Gold Toilet In The Name Of Art appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Think the food is the grossest thing you’ll encounter on your next flight? Think again. A recent review by Drexel Medicine revealed the germiest places on airplanes, and by the looks of it, it may be time to start packing a hazmat suit in your carry-on.

“Airplanes, like most forms of public transportation, are filled with germs,” says the report. “Whenever you cram a bunch of people in a tight space for a few hours – especially one with limited air flow – germ accumulation is inevitable.”

Bathrooms

No surprises here – airplane lavatories aren’t exactly bastions of cleanliness. A single bathroom serves roughly 50 passengers, so you can imagine the tapestry of germs and bacteria that’s coating every surface. Skip the lav if you’re on a short enough flight. If not, use paper towels when you touch the faucet, toilet seat lid, and door handle. Be sure to close the toilet lid before flushing to prevent further germ dissemination.

Blankets and Pillows

That snuggly blanket and cuddly pillow aren’t so snuggly and cuddly after all. You’re likely not the first passenger who’s come in contact with them, and they probably weren’t washed between flights. Do you really want to snooze with your cheek pressed against someone else’s drool? Bringing your own sleeping accoutrements is the better bet.

Touchscreen Entertainment Systems

Everyone loves the seatback touchscreens, but with touch in the name, you know they’re a prime breeding ground for germs. Every single person who sat in that seat before you probably had their hands on it, and who knows where their hands were before? Your own electronic devices – or one of those retro book things – are safer. If you can’t resist the siren song of the touchscreen, bring hand sanitizer and avoid touching your face.

In-Flight Magazines

We both know you don’t need a solar powered cooling hat or a mini vacuum cleaner for your desk, so put down that SkyMall. There’s no way to know how many passengers have flipped through an in-flight magazine before you. What you do know is that they’re never “cleaned” unless a new publication comes out – and that’s only once a quarter.

Seat Pockets

Do not be deceived by the seemingly innocent seat pocket. What appears at first to be a handy storage solution for your headphones, sunglasses, and snacks is in fact one of the worst offenders when it comes to in-flight germs. Passengers stuff all kinds of disgusting material into the pockets, from fingernail clippings to used tissues and diapers. They’re essentially trash bins. Your knickknacks are better off stowed in your luggage below the seat.

Tray Tables

You may have heard the horror stories about tray tables already. That thing you’re supposed to eat off of is used for all manner of icky activities. Flight attendants have reported seeing passengers use their tray tables to hide chewed gum or even change dirty diapers. Avoiding the tray table completely is a major inconvenience, so bring along disinfectant wipes to perform a scrub down before you chow down.

The post These Are The Grossest Things You Touch On Airplanes appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Still feeling the effects from your wild weekend on drank?

Worry not men, a new solution is on its way. Scientists have discovered a new synthetic alcohol which will allow avid drinkers to enjoy the social effects of drinking without the nasty hangover.

According to its creator, the aptly named Professor David Nutt, and the new beverage named ‘Alcosynth’ will leave drinkers without the dry mouth, nausea and throbbing headache from a solid session.

Nutt who is an Imperial College Professor and former government drugs advisor told The Independent that out of the ninety different alcosynth compounds, two are currently being tested for widespread consumption.

There’s a catch though – Nutt says that after lengthy testing of alcosynth required for public consumption, it should take over traditional alcoholic beverages by the year 2050. That’s a hell of a longtime to wait to get drunk.

Nutt told a UK press, “It will be there alongside the scotch and the gin, they’ll dispense the alcosynth into your cocktail and then you’ll have the pleasure without damaging your liver and your heart.”

“They go very nicely into mojitos. They even go into something as clear as a Tom Collins. One is pretty tasteless, the other has a bitter taste.”

Nutt went on further, explaining that the motive behind alcosynth came about because of current health trends.

“People want healthier drinks,” he said. “The drinks industry knows that by 2050 alcohol will be gone.”

“They know that and have been planning for this for at least 10 years. But they don’t want to rush into it, because they’re making so much money from conventional alcohol.”

Naturally there’s been criticism over the components of alcosynth with some saying it has the same elements found in the drug valium.

Nutt refutes these claims and says that his drink does not contain benzodiazepine but stopped short of divulging his secret patented concoction.

For now the verdict is out until 2050 as rigorous testing continues to ensure that alcosynth is the real deal.

And that means you’ll have to stick to more traditional methods to nurse that nasty hangover.

The post Brace Yourselves, Hangover-Free Alcohol Is Coming appeared first on DMARGE Australia.