‘Worst Passenger Ever’: Man’s ‘Trash’ Act Divides The Internet
‘Worst Passenger Ever’: Man’s ‘Trash’ Act Divides The Internet

Doing chin-ups on the overhead lockers. Sneaking into business class. Getting into petty arguments about the window shade. There are some things you should never do on a plane.

Adding yet another bullet point to that list is a recent video from Passenger Shaming. The mortifying social media platform late last month uploaded a video which seems to have half the internet claiming “that’s me” and the other half going “what on earth?”

The video, which was originally taken by the “best travel blogger in Croatia,” @kristijanilicic, shows a man living his best life, with no f*cks given, chilling with his bare feet up higher than his head on the bulkhead, his mask lower than his chin, and mucking about on his phone (some reckon having a conversation on speaker).

Watch the ‘worst passenger ever’ strut his stuff in the video below.

@kristijanilicic posted the video to TikTok with the caption: “Your opinion on this?”. Passenger Shaming wrote: “GAME TIME!! Spot all the #passengershaming infractions…aaaand GO.”

Followers were quick to gripe. One wrote: “No shoes, feet on wall, talking on speaker, no mask, but most importantly who wears pants that tight in public.”

RELATED: Business Class Passenger Kicked Off Flight After Sneaky Act

Further critical comments included: “Easier to say what’s ‘right’ with this photo” and “TRASH.”

“Shoes off, feet on bulkhead, mask down, and it looks like a speaker phone conversation in public. The entitlement I stg.”

Others, however, said they had sympathy, and suggested they might, given similar opportunity, do the same.

“That’s me,” one wrote.

“Lolol,” said another.

So: is this the worst passenger ever, or is this just the physical embodyment of all of us? The question will surely continue to divide the internet for the months to come as it is rehashed time after time on Instagram, with its greatly provocative nature.

The post Man’s ‘Selfish’ Act Leaves The Rest Of The Plane Stunned appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Is A Surprisingly Versatile Men’s Watch. Here’s Why
The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Is A Surprisingly Versatile Men’s Watch. Here’s Why

The following article was produced in partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre.

There are a few style essentials every Australian gentleman ought to have in his wardrobe: a decent pair of boots, some nice jeans, a bunch of white t-shirts, and a proper watch.

Of course, finding a proper watch is easier said than done. A watch is a real investment; something you’ll want to wear for years to come and maybe even pass down to your kids. If you’re going to invest in a proper watch, you also want something that’s going to be versatile and fit in with your lifestyle, not just something that’ll gather dust… And let’s be honest, you also want something that’s going to impress.

In that sense, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso makes perfect sense. One of the most iconic and respected luxury timepieces ever devised, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso has been the go-to watch for tasteful gents for over 90 years. And it’s not hard to see why: versatile, luxurious and available in a wide range of complications and designs, the Reverso is a foolproof style choice for any man and any outfit.

Firstly, the Reverso’s design lends itself well to a whole variety of outfits. It’s both quite sporty and very dapper all at once – perhaps that’s not a surprise, considering its origins as a polo player’s watch before it became the dress watch de rigeur. It’s classy enough to pair with the most formal of outfits, but can also be dressed down, perfectly complementing more casual looks. It’ll sit subtly under a cuff but also robust enough to be out in the open with short sleeves – elegant, but not dainty.

Just as you might change between a wide variety of outfits during the week, the Reverso, too, is available with a wide variety of strap options to suit any attire – and it’s easy to change straps with Jaeger-LeCoultre’s quick-release strap system. For a day by the beach, one of the new Casa Fagliano textile and leather straps might be up your alley. At the office? Maybe you put it on a silky-smooth steel bracelet, and then you could swap it out for a classic crocodile effect strap for after-work drinks. Choices, choices…

But the Reverso’s character as a style chameleon doesn’t just come from its rotating case or strap options. The purity of the Reverso’s design has enabled Jaeger-LeCoultre to create an expansive Reverso family, which contains everything from vintage classics to works of haute horlogerie unmatched in the world of watchmaking.

There’s a Reverso complication to suit virtually any taste. Would you like a small seconds dial on your Reverso? Perhaps a moonphase or day/night indicator? What about a second dial on the other side of the case? Or all of the above? Date windows, dial colours, case materials and sizes… The Reverso range is as voluminous as it is versatile.

Whether you’re looking for a ‘one watch’ that can do it all, or you’re looking for something unique to add to your collection, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso really ticks all the boxes. There’s a reason that it’s stayed so respected for over 90 years: when it comes to watches, there are few choices better than a Reverso.


Discover the full range of stylish Reversos at Jaeger-LeCoultre’s online boutique here.


The post The Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Is A Surprisingly Versatile Men’s Watch. Here’s Why appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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BREAD (BRD) Crypto Keeps Skyrocketing. Is It Too Late to Buy?
BREAD (BRD) Crypto Keeps Skyrocketing. Is It Too Late to Buy?

In the past couple of days, the price of Bread token (BRD) has rocketed to its highest point in years, breaking the 2021 high set by price spikes just over a week ago. From what appeared to be a resistance level at around $1.22 AUD on December 1, BRD’s value shot up to a peak of approximately $2.20 AUD in the span of 24 hours, a rapid increase of almost 100%, before settling back down in the $1.60 AUD – $175 AUD range.

But what is Bread, and what’s causing its price to blow up?

Originally known as Breadwallet, BRD is a tech company that specialises in providing cryptocurrency holders with a simple and secure way to store their digital assets. Since launching the first truly decentralised iOS wallet app in 2014, BRD has amassed more than 10 million Android and iOS users, building a reputation as a market leader that prioritises ease-of-use and robust security for its users, whilst also remaining free to download.

BREAD 1 year price graph. Image: CoinMarketCap

The BRD token itself, based on the Ethereum blockchain and released in 2017, is integral to the BRD rewards program which provides users of the platform with incentives to promote beneficial activity. For example, keeping a certain value of assets stored in the wallet can be incentivised through in-app rewards like transaction fee discounts and Ethereum network fee reductions.

But, you may be asking, what’s causing renewed interest all of a sudden?

Bread’s price rocketing is likely the result of BRD’s official announcement of its acquisition by crypto giant Coinbase, the largest US’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. This was likely perceived by investors to be a major sign of BRD potential future growth and further integration as a major industry player, which will now be bolstered by the extensive influence and resources of Coinbase.

In the announcement, BRD co-founders Adam Traidman and Aaron Voisine stated: “members of our team will be continuing our mission at Coinbase, where we will work together to bring the power of decentralization to even more users around the globe.”

The prospect of millions of new users joining BRD through the acquisition creates the possibility that BRD tokens will experience even more demand, as new BRD customers would logically want a token in order to receive the benefits of its rewards program. It seems that many recent investors are counting on Coinbase’s plans for BRD’s expansion being successful, and as a result, the anticipation of that potential reality is seemingly a major factor that has contributed to its sustained elevation in value.

A suggestion to “stay tuned for more details to come in 2022” on their website may also be a contributing factor, signalling to BRD buyers that further announcement frenzy may send its price even higher next year.

Whether its current price levels will be maintained by anticipatory hype is yet to be seen, but the trajectory of BRD, with its recent developments, will be worth paying attention to in 2022. 

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. This is not financial advice. Never invest more money than you can afford to lose into any crypto.

The post BREAD Crypto (BRD) Keeps Skyrocketing. Is It Too Late to Buy? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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John Legend Does The Unthinkable With Combat Boots
John Legend Does The Unthinkable With Combat Boots

John Legend is indeed rather legendary as one of the best-dressed male celebrities on the planet. In particular, the 42-year-old singer, multi-instrumentalist and EGOT’s suit game is rather impeccable – but sometimes his taste in shoes raises a few eyebrows. Case in point: his latest fit.

In attendance at Nordstrom’s flagship New York department store for the launch of his collaborative footwear collection with iconic boat shoe brand Sperry, Legend paired a grey tweed Bottega Veneta suit and open-necked shirt (a classic John Legend look) with a pair of black combat boots from the aforementioned collection.

Suits with combat boots? That’s a risky style move. But he actually looks pretty slick. These boots were made for walkin’…

Image: Getty

Sperry’s known more for making boat shoes and duck boots rather than combat boots, so these stompers are something rather different for the brand. Legend apparently designed them in collaboration with his long-time stylist David Thomas, who’s the man responsible for his consistently on-point suiting.

RELATED: James Bond’s Favourite Shoes Are A Perfect Smart Casual Style Move

Legend’s well-known for his love of boat shoes, actually (probably why he linked up with Sperry) and loves pairing them with suits – take this outfit he wore in summer last year. Boat shoes aren’t necessarily something you’d think of pairing with suits, but they can work rather well. Take a leaf out of Legend’s book: pair your boat shoes with high-hemmed, tailored trousers and wear invisible socks (or none at all).

In fact, the only thing Mr Legend loves more than boat shoes and suits is watches. Check out some of the coolest pieces from John Legend’s insane watch collection below.

The post John Legend Does The Unthinkable With Combat Boots appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests: What They Are & Where To Get Them
COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests: What They Are & Where To Get Them

Rapid antigen tests have never been more vital in Australia. With restrictions now eased but the new Omicron variant of the virus rapidly spreading across Australia, getting an indication as to whether you’re contracted the virus or not has never been more paramount.

This is exactly what a rapid antigen test is designed to do: give you a test result in a matter of minutes, which can inform you whether you have contracted the Covid-19 virus or not.

Ever since the Covid-19 virus became a ‘thing’ and slowly but surely spread across the globe, virtually all of us have had to become accustomed to getting ourselves tested at our local GP, a drive-through test centre or at a hospital.

Getting tested for Covid-19 has been vital for countries to determine how best to navigate the virus to keep their residents safe. This has usually resulted in a halt on domestic and international travel, strict lockdowns, keeping people inside their homes, unable to enjoy the usual freedoms and niceties we now take for granted.

But, while getting tested has the power to tell us if we have contracted the Covid-19 virus or not, the downside to them has been the fact we’ve still had to self-isolate at home until we receive the results. This can take up to 72 hours, which, if you were to return a negative test result, will feel like especially wasted time.

There are currently 15 rapid antigen tests approved by the Australian Health Department’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, most of which have been available in Australia since 1 November, with some coming at a later date.

There are still some drawbacks to these at-home rapid antigen test kits, however; you won’t be able to use a result to board an international flight, for example, but on the whole, they offer a much quicker alternative to something such as a drive-through centre.

We’ve compiled a list of all the rapid antigen test kits currently approved for use in Australia, along with all the rules and regulations surrounding them, including what you can and can’t do following a test result.

Fingers crossed the vaccination rates continue to increase so we can eventually say goodbye, or at least, see you later, to this damn virus.

What Is A Rapid Antigen Test?

A rapid antigen test (RAT), is a form of rapid diagnostic test – one that is easy to perform and delivers quick results – that has most commonly been used to detect SARS-CoV-2, otherwise known as Covid-19. Rapid antigen tests have been designed to give a user a test result within as little as five minutes, and a maximum of 30-minutes. They’re also affordable and require very little in the way of medical training in order to be used.

How Do I Use A Rapid Antigen Test?

How you use a rapid antigen test depends entirely on which type of test you buy, as there are a few options. We’ll go into more detail later, but as a general overview, the two types of test that are currently improved require either an oral fluid sample, obtained by spitting into the test tube, or via a nasal swab.

Which Type Of Rapid Antigen Test Is Most Accurate?

If you’ve already been tested for Covid-19, then you’ve most likely been given a nasal swab. This is because nasal swabs have often been considered to deliver far more accurate results than saliva. However, according to The Scientist, Anne Wyllie, an epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health, carried out a study testing the accuracy of both sample methods.

She ultimately found that saliva can be just an effective method of testing for the Covid-19 virus, however, this was in a controlled setting. A further study carried out at the Université de Guyana in French Guiana, which used participants from deep in the South American jungle, as well as small villages, found saliva testing was less sensitive, but results could have been affected by “a person’s viral load.”

Ultimately, a rapid antigen test requiring a saliva sample should still give you an accurate result, and obviously, it’s far more comfortable to perform than a nasal swab. However, it could be worth buying both just to make sure.

The Pharmaceutical Journal

Where Can I Buy A Rapid Antigen Test Kit In Australia and How Much Do They Cost?

All Australian states, except South Australia and Western Australia, have now made rapid antigen tests available for Australians to buy over-the-counter. They can be bought in pharmacies and supermarkets, including Coles and Woolworths and are designed to be cost-effective, so don’t expect to pay too much for them.

It’s worth noting that you won’t be able to have the cost of your test covered by Medicare, you’ll have to pay out of your own back pocket.

Woolworths

Woolworths now offers 2-pack and 5-pack varieties of the Hough Covid-19 Home Test kit. They can be bought online or in-store, although, at the time of writing they are currently out of stock on the Woolworths website. Rapid antigen tests at Woolworths cost $30 for a 2-pack or $50 for a 5-pack.

Woolworths also stocks the LYHER rapid antigen test in 1-pack and 7-pack varieties, along with the oral fluid version of the All Test rapid antigen test. Both of these are also out of stock on the Woolworths website at the time of writing.

Coles

Coles also offers the same Hough Covid-19 Home Test at its stores, and online, in 2-pack, for $30, and 5-pack, $50, varieties. Coles, like Woolworths, is currently out of stock on its website, so you may want to check your local store for stock levels.

MedCart

MedCart is Australia’s one-stop destination for various over-the-counter medical supplies. The online store stocks a range of Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits (mentioned below) in various quantities, including 1-pack, 2-pack, and 20-pack.

Rapid antigen tests at MedCart range from $18.95 for a single-pack, up to $1,074 for a 100-pack of the RightSign test.

Blooms The Chemist

You’ll likely find Blooms The Chemist in most towns, but you’re also able to buy a test from the online store. Blooms currently offers Ecotest test, Roche Diagnostics test and and the AccessBio test.

The Ecotest tests will set you back $25.99 for a 2-pack, or $59.99 for a 5-pack. The Roche-supplied test also costs $59.99 for a 5-pack.

The Roche Diagnostics nasal swab test is available in a 5-pack for $59.99 and the CareStart nasal swab test, manufactured by AccessBio, is available in 1- and 2-packs for $14.99 and $24.99, respectively.

Chemist Warehouse

Discount chemist Chemist Warehouse has the RightSign rapid antigen test available to buy online only. You can pick up a 2-pack for $24.99, or a 5-pack for $49.99.

Discount Drug Stores

Discount Drug Stores stocks the RightSign Covid-19 rapid antigen test kit too, in 2-pack, 5-pack, and 10-pack varieties for $29.99, $59.99, and $99.99. At the time of writing, there is currently no stock online.

What Are The Best Rapid Antigen Test Kits?

There are currently nine rapid antigen tests approved by the TGA for use in Australia. Three require a saliva sample, and the remaining six require a nasal swab. These are all the current tests approved in Australia, along with links to their instructions, so you can formulate a good idea of which test(s) you’ll want to look out for when they become available.

The various nasal swab tests, for example, require you to rotate the swab inside your nose a varying number of times, and the number of times you need to squeeze the test tube into which it’s placed can vary too. So be sure you know exactly how to use the tests in order to get the most accurate result.

  • All Test Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid): This rapid antigen test is manufactured by Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd in China, and supplied in Australia by AM Diagnostics. As the name suggests, this test works by testing a saliva sample and delivers a test result at 15-minutes. The guidelines say to not read it earlier than 15-minutes, or after 20-minutes.
  • All Test SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test (Nasal Swab): Made by the same company as the saliva-based test above, this rapid antigen test requires a nasal swab. Also similar to the saliva-based version, the results of this test should be read at 15-minutes.
  • CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test: This test is manufactured by AccessBio Inc of the United States of America and supplied in Australia by Pantonic Pty Ltd. It too requires a nasal swab, with a result delivered after just 10-minutes. Super speedy.
  • Ecotest COVID-19 Antigen Saliva Test Kit: Manufactured by Assure Tech Co Ltd of China and supplied by Emergence Technology Pty Ltd in Australia, this test also works using a saliva sample and will be available in 2-pack and 5-pack variants. Results can be read at 15-minutes.
  • Hough Covid-19 Home Test: This is the rapid antigen test that is available to buy at. It’s manufactured by BIOHIT HealthCare Co Ltd in China, and supplied by Hough Pharma Pty Ltd in Australia. This is a nasal swab test and takes around 15-minutes to deliver a test result.
  • InnoScreen Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test Device: Manufactured by Innovation Scientific Pty Ltd in Australia, this rapid antigen test is one of the latest to be approved for use in the country. This testing kit also requires a nasal swab, with results given in 15-minutes.
  • LYHER Novel Coronavirus Antigen Test Kit: Manufactured by Hangzhou Laihe Biotech Co Ltd in China and supplied to Australia by 2San Pty Ltd, this test, which also uses a nasal swab, is said to offer high sensitivity. It will give your results in 15-minutes.
  • My Covid Test Antigen Rapid Test (Oral Fluid): This test is also manufactured by Hangzhou Alltest Biotech Co Ltd in China and is supplied by AM Diagnostics. Testing requires a saliva sample and results can be read at 15-minutes.
  • OnSite COVID-19 Ag Self Test: Another nasal swab testing kit, this rapid antigen test, with very high sesnsitivity, is made by CTK Biotech Inc in the USA, and supplied to Australia by MD Solutions Australasia Pty Ltd. It is the latest test to be approved for use in Australia, being approved on 3 November.
  • Orawell COVID-19 Ag Rapid Saliva Test Device: As its name suggests, this test, manufactured by Jiangsu Well Biotech Co Ltd and supplied to Australia by Motion One Pty Ltd, works by analysing a salvia sample, making it more accessible to more people. It will give results in 15-minutes.
  • Panbio COVID-19 Antigen Self Test: The Panbio test, made by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Jena GmbH in Germany, and supplied to Australia by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics Pty Ltd will be available in single-pack, four-pack, 10-pack and 20-pack varieties. It requires you to take a nasal swab and results can be read between 15-20-minutes.
  • RightSign COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test Cassette (Nasal Swab): Another test manufacturer in China, this one comes from Hangzhou Biotest Biotech Co Ltd, and is supplied to Australia by Medsupply Australia Pty Ltd. It too requires a nasal swab and results can be read between 10-15 minutes.
  • SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Self Test Nasal: This Republic of Korea-manufactured rapid antigen test, made by SD Biosensor Inc and supplied by Roche Diagnostics Australia Pty Limited also uses a nasal swab, with results being delivered between 15-30-minutes after the sample has been placed into the test tube.
  • TESTSEALABS Covid-19 Antigen Test Cassette: Another nasal swab test, this rapid antigen self test is manufactured but Hangzhou Testea Biotechnology Co Ltd. in China, and supplied to Australia by Pharama Soul Pty Ltd. Claiming high sensitivity to detecting the Covid-19 virus, and will give you a result in 10-minutes.
  • V-Chek Covid-19 Antigen Saliva Test: China’s Guangzhou Decheng Biotechnology Co Ltd is responsible for this saliva test that promises “very high sensitivity,” so could be the best rapid antigen test kit to look out for. It’s supplied to Australia by Cole Workwear PL and requires you to place the spongey end of the swab in your mouth for 90-seconds before placing into the cassette for analysis. You should take note of the reading at 15-minutes.

All the rapid antigen tests available in Australia deliver results in a similar fashion. The fluid sample, whether it be from nasal or saliva, is dropped onto a test cassette, which is what gives you your test result. There are markers for a control region (C) and a test region (T).

Image: 4BC

How Do I Read The Test Result Of A Rapid Antigen Test?

If lines appear next to both the C and T markers, then your result is positive. Even a faint line next to the T can indicate a positive result. You should always take your test result to a health professional for further examination.

If no line appears next to the T marker, but there is a line next to the C marker, then you have returned a negative test result.

If no lines appear next to either the C or the T markers, then the test is regarded as invalid and you will need to complete the test again using a new test cassette.

What To Do If I Get A Positive Test Result?

If your rapid antigen test kit does return a positive result, then the TGA recommends going to an official Covid-19 testing site as soon as possible to have another test performed. As is currently the requirement, you will then need to isolate until the results of this PCR test are returned to you.

Can The Results Of A Rapid Antigen Test Be Used To Travel?

The quick answer to this, is no. Right now, no Australian state that has approved the use of rapid antigen tests will allow someone to travel domestically or internationally, should they return a negative result.

The post COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests: What They Are & Where To Get Them appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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American Man’s ‘Beast Mode’ Bench Press Highlights Difference Between Strength & Size
American Man’s ‘Beast Mode’ Bench Press Highlights Difference Between Strength & Size

If you’re new to weight training, then whatever you do at the gym will result in increased muscle size and strength. But, if you find a love for it, and become truly dedicated, there will come a time where you will need to decide whether you want to pursue strength training or hypertrophy training.

Strength training does exactly what it says; it helps you to increase your strength. Hypertrophy training, meanwhile, works to increase the size of your muscles. While you will gain some strength benefits from hypertrophy training, the main reason for going down this avenue is for aesthetic purposes.

If you ever needed a perfect demonstration of how sheer muscular size doesn’t necessarily equate to strength, and vice versa, you only need to take a look at this video of an American man bench pressing an ungodly amount of weight. While we will happily admit he is also a big guy, he doesn’t have the bodybuilder-esque physique exhibited by the likes of Jo Lindner, for example.

In the video (watch it at the top of this article), the man bench presses 495lbs/225kgs for eight reps like it’s a walk in the park. His incredible feat even receives gasps of amazement and exclaim from others in the gym.

It’s not just a one-off moment of muscular magic, either, as the man’s Instagram – @itsdreamworl – is full of other videos showing him performing ridiculously heavy lifts. 745lb/338kg squats anyone?

As we said earlier, his lifts perfectly highlight the difference between sheer strength and muscular size for aesthetics. To achieve such insane strength, you need to follow a strength training program. This, as Healthline states, requires you to “reduce the number of reps in a set, while increasing the intensity (adding heavier weights).” You also want to increase your rest periods between sets to 3 to 5 minutes, to allow your muscles to rejuvenate themselves a little before you complete another set at a heavier weight.

To increase the size of your muscles, a hypertrophy program is needed. This will see you “increasing the training volume (more sets and reps) while slightly decreasing the intensity.” Yes, the stronger you become, you are able to add heavier weights for hypertrophy programs, but you shouldn’t be afraid (read: leave your ego out of it) to lift using slightly lighter weights.

Check out “what a few rest days will do” in another one of @itsdreamworl’s videos here.

Strength training doesn’t just bring with it the benefit of being able to draw all the attention to yourself in the gym as you perform crazy heavy lifts, but it actually has multiple benefits for your health.

Healthline adds that these can include replacing body fat with lean muscle – which we’ve discussed before, citing a physician with expert knowledge of muscle, who claims to put on muscle is a far more effective route to fat loss – increasing your metabolism and increasing bone density and thereby reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

Strength training can also help to reduce symptoms of back pain, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and depression. Indeed, scientists have previously found that exercise of any sort can help to lower your risk of depression, claiming “15 minutes of ‘moderate to vigorous’ activity each day can reduce your depression risk by approximately 26%.”

So, while we wouldn’t expect many of you to be able to replicate the insane bench press seen in the video above, it may help you to rethink your training goals.

The post American Man’s ‘Beast Mode’ Bench Press Highlights Difference Between Strength & Size appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Bitcoin Flash Crash: Is Now A Good Time To Buy?
Bitcoin Flash Crash: Is Now A Good Time To Buy?

Bitcoin’s price has been on the decline since early November 2021, when it hit its all-time high of $69,000 (AUD $94,750). Since then, it has sunk as low as $33,503 (AUD $4,697), which occurred on the 24th of January. Since then, however, it has been increasing in price. Today, at the time of writing, on the 8th of February, it is sitting at $44,155 (AU $61,892) in price.

Bitcoin 30-day price chart. Image Credit: CoinMarketCap

So: is Bitcoin going to continue stabilising (or increasing) in price? Is Bitcoin going to plunge even further (say, back to $10,000 per Bitcoin, as one prominent investor gloomily predicted last year)? Or is this is all fun and games in a notoriously volatile market?

First, let’s look at why it might have dropped. First of all, it should be pointed out that crypto has a natural cycle where people have a tendency to sell soon after assets hit record highs (which Bitcoin did in November).

Even before this latest drop first started to really fall, the market had, in hindsight, warning signs. Forbes reported on December the 3rd, 2021, that Bitcoin and other crypto prices had fallen sharply, wiping around $300 billion USD off the combined crypto market in just two days.

Bitcoin one-year price graph. Image: CoinDesk

Bitcoin was trading as high as $69,000 just weeks before that. So it fell by about 30% in that moment, and in the following weeks up until January the 11th, shed almost half its value.

Bitcoin’s drop was followed by serious slumps in other prominent tokens, including Ethereum, Binance’s BNB, Solana, Cardano and Ripple’s XRP.

But why did Bitcoin itself drop?

The Bitcoin price plunge of December 2021 came alongside some large stock market declines, as well as a warning made by big wig investor Louis Navellier that Federal Reserve tapering could pop the Bitcoin and crypto bubble.

“The Fed is tapering, and this should create a correction in risk assets, of which Bitcoin is a part,” Navellier said, according to an article published by Business Insider in December.

“The more the Fed tapers, the more volatility we should see in both stocks and bonds—and yes, bitcoin, too.”

The Fed is now beginning to “taper” its money slinging, following a hard rise in inflation and a recovering labour market.

While some believe there is still plenty of money sloshing around, even though the Fed is beginning to taper, and doubt the Fed will let markets ever fall too far, others are making more dire predictions.

Navellier, for instance, warned that Bitcoin could fall to $10,000 per Bitcoin, a stinging decline of 80% from its all-time high set last month of almost $70,000 (Bitcoin hasn’t been as low as $10,000 since September 2020).

“I would take a decline below $46,000 (the 200-day moving average) to be a yellow flag and a decline below the spring low of $28,500 to be a completed massive double top which points to a decline to below $10,000, which incidentally would match many of the multiple 80%+ declines in its storied history,” Navellier wrote, according to Business Insider.

Forbes reports: “The Bitcoin price has recorded similar such declines in the past, although bullish bitcoin and crypto investors remain confident Bitcoin’s price is going far higher in coming years.”

Business Insider reports: “While Navellier is making a dramatic prediction, Bitcoin has endured a few 80% dives before, the most recent of which started in December 2017 and spanned most of 2018. There were plenty of causes, including the government’s refusal to allow a Bitcoin ETF to trade, fears about hacks, and warnings from prominent investors like Warren Buffett.

The Sun reported in December that Bitcoin’s rapid decrease in price had come after China has “ramped up its clampdown on Bitcoin mining, which helped cause the last crash earlier this year.”

“The omicron variant has also led to risk aversion over concerns about what it might mean for global economic reopening in the coming months,” The Sun reported, too.

Bitcoin’s crash also comes a few weeks after Twitter’s CFO Ned Segal said he wasn’t down with investing Twitter’s corporate cash in crypto right now.

The Wall Street Journal reported in November that in an interview Segal said: “We [would] have to change our investment policy and choose to own assets that are more volatile,” adding that Twitter prefers to hold less volatile assets (like securities) on its balance sheet.

Additionally, The Wall Street Journal reported that Twitter is “assembling a team called Twitter Crypto to look into ways to help creators on the app to earn money or accept cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin for payment, and other ways to use blockchain technology.”

The Wall Street Journal also cited a bunch of other tech companies which have disclosed they do hold crypto assets, like Tesla and Square.

Watch Elon Musk and Mark Cuban discuss the potential real-world applications of meme coin ‘Dogecoin’ in the video below

On that note: though there’s a long way to go before taming this wild west, certain aspects of the crypto world have achieved some milestones of late in terms of legitimacy, leading many to become frustrated (see Jordan Belfort’s recent comments) with the hype around shitcoins giving the industry a bad name, and calling for more regulation to drive the space forward.

This in mind, if you have faith Bitcoin will bounce back, and you are a long term believer, this could indeed be a good time to buy (so long as you are prepared for volatility and worst-case scenarios and can afford to lose everything you put in).

If you are a short term investor, however, then you are heading into the unknown with not even a shred of a compass (i.e. gambling). This is because there’s no way of knowing if Bitcoin is going to fall further, or bounce back, in the coming days and weeks.

Some were quite bullish in January, in one of the moments when Bitcoin looked like it was starting to recover (before, ironically, it fell even lower again).

One – Hong Fang, who is the CEO of a cryptocurrency exchange – told CNBC recently that despite the uncertainty currently surrounding Bitcoin: “I still believe that the $US100,000 price point is reasonable.”

Even among crypto believers, there is much disagreement about the future’s likely winners. Some people believe Bitcoin and Ethereum will always be the benchmarks and stores of wealth (more so Bitcoin than Ethereum), even if newer tokens outmanoeuvre them in certain ways (like speed and environmental bonafides). Others, meanwhile, are searching further afield into (lesser proven) disruptors like Nano, Solana and Cardano.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. This is not financial advice. Never invest more money than you can afford to lose into any crypto.

The post Bitcoin Is Increasing In Price Again. Is Now A Good Time To Buy? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Petty Act’ Proves Why He Is The True GOAT
Cristiano Ronaldo’s ‘Petty Act’ Proves Why He Is The True GOAT

Cristiano Ronaldo is known as prissy and inscrutable. An enigma. A one-man show. A guy who sometimes looks annoyed when his teammates score.

The New Yorker once wrote that Ronaldo’s compulsion for goal scoring “seems the product of addiction rather than joy.”

They also pointed out Ronaldo’s petty behaviour. Describing a game in the 2018 World Cup, they wrote about a wink (which Ronaldo directed at ex-Real Madrid teammate Dani Carvajal after winning a penalty) which “exhibited the kind of vengeful coldness that Ronaldo-haters find frustrating.”

This isn’t the first time Ronaldo has made a controversial gesture with his eyelid. In 2006, playing for Portugal, he winked at the Portugal bench after Wayne Rooney had been sent off for stamping on a Portugal player’s gonads.

Much of England speculated the sending off was masterminded by Ronaldo. Though that seems a stretch, many people were furious with Ronaldo regardless, due to his protesting to the referee.

These incidents, along with various other moments in Ronaldo’s career, have given him a reputation for being low key vindictive, with a desperate need to satiate his ego by demonstrating his superiority (and being super pissed off in the rare occasions he doesn’t succeed in doing so).

This might explain why he took Messi’s Ballon d’Or win this year so messily.

Lionel Messi made history in Paris earlier this week after lifting his 7th Ballon d’Or award, extending his lead over Ronaldo who has won the prestigious award 5 times.

After the announcement, CR7 reportedly commented “factos” (facts) and a thumbs up emoji on a fan page’s Instagram post which said Messi didn’t deserve the Ballon d’Or and which listed a bunch of statistics suggesting Ronaldo was hard done by in being ranked #6 in the world.

The post has now been removed. Many media outlets, however, have reported on Ronaldo’s liking and commenting on it, calling it evidence he is a sore loser.

Ronaldo also recently had a bit of a spat with France Football’s Pascale Ferre. Ronaldo wrote on Instagram (translated from Portuguese): “Today’s outcome explains why Pascal Ferré’s statements last week, when he said that I confided in him that my only ambition was to finish my career with more Golden Balls than Lionel Messi. Pascal Ferré lied, he used my name to promote himself and to promote the publication he works for.”

“It is unacceptable that the person responsible for awarding such a prestigious prize could lie in this way, in absolute disrespect for someone who has always respected France Football and the Ballon d’Or. And he lied again today, justifying my absence from the Gala with an alleged quarantine that has no reason to exist.”

“I always want to congratulate those who win, within the sportsmanship and fair-play that have guided my career since the beginning, and I do it because I’m never against anyone. I always win for myself and for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and for those who love me. I don’t win against anyone. The biggest ambition of my career is to win national and international titles for the clubs I represent and for the national team in my country.”

“The biggest ambition of my career is to be a good example for all those who are or want to be professional footballers. The biggest ambition of my career is to leave my name written in golden letters in the history of world football. I will end by saying that my focus is already on Manchester United’s next game and on everything that, together with my teammates and our fans, we can still achieve this season. The rest? the rest is just the rest.”

Whether or not you believe Ronaldo or Pascale, what’s not up for debate is that being petty is a personality trait Ronaldo shares with a lot of high achievers, which typically leads people to dislike you (while also leading to an unusual degree of success).

Even Messi has an element of this to him. Remember the ‘remember my name’ moment when the battered and bruised Argentine scored the 500th goal of his club career, against Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu, in the dying moments of that 2017 El Clasico (winning the game in the process)? Remember his celebration with his shirt raised overhead? Yeah. That.

Messi silencing the Bernabéu

The petty trait is even stronger in Ronaldo. There is an abundance of examples to choose from. A pertinent one though, beyond his recent spat with the French bureaucrats, is another game from 2017, also between Madrid and Barcelona, this time in leg one of the Supercopa, where Ronaldo comes on, scores to make it 2-1, gets yellow carded for taking his shirt off to celebrate, then – minutes later – gets sent off for (in the referee’s view) diving to try and get a penalty and then makes a move to shove the referee, before thinking better of it (once he’d already given him a light push).

On your way… Ronaldo lightly pushes referee. Image: Daily Mail UK

Ronaldo isn’t alone in being a sore loser with an inferiority complex. All the greats are. You don’t become a champion by enjoying losing, after all. Just look at Kelly Slater, Michael Jordan, Sergio Ramos, Conor McGregor. The list goes on.

The best surfer of all time, Kelly Slater, routines gets into arguments with internet trolls and flat earthers, allowing them to get under his skin in the absurd way only someone with a massive ego (and a huge amount of internal drive) might. He’s also known for playing mind games in the water.

Kelly Slater about to drop in on Joel Parkinson at Kirra, 2013

Michael Jordan was another notorious poor loser. Examples range from his iconic “sore winner” speech to his refusal to obey a golf club dress code and being banned for life.

Michael Jordan standing tall. Image Credit: Business Insider

Sergio Ramos, another footballing icon (although not quite on par with Ronaldo), is another great in his own right and another great example of how – on the field at least – many sports greats have a giant, inbuilt, competitive chip on their shoulder (and a desire to potentially wrench out someone else’s shoulder).

Need evidence? Just have a look at some of his red cards and tackles. Then there’s the other example we cited, Conor McGregor, who speaks for himself (no – literally).

What can we take from this? To be true champion, you need a bit of an inferiority complex, a bit of a chip on your shoulder. A competitive drive that can’t be satiated.

Conor McGregor 13 second KO of Jose Aldo

Out of all of these examples, however, Ronaldo appears to be the gift that keeps on giving, having not seemed to have mellowed out over the years in the slightest (as Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and France’s Pascale Ferre will attest).

I’d argue that’s what will make him – in many people’s view – the greatest footballer, when we look back on this era. Far from being mature, to be a true world-class great you need to be easily slighted. Who knew?

Messi might be a better playmaker, but judging by this emotional metric, as many people do, Ronaldo is the true GOAT footballer. 2021 stats (and Pascale Ferre) be damned.

The other way of looking at it is this: Ronaldo resonates with strikers, and Messi resonates with attacking midfielders and wingers. But that’s a debate for another day.

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Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Is A Must-Have In Every Man’s Wardrobe
Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Is A Must-Have In Every Man’s Wardrobe

The following article was produced in partnership with Jaeger-LeCoultre & Watches of Switzerland.

When it comes to men’s fashion, few accessories are more essential or enduring than the wristwatch. But just as fashion trends ebb and flow, what watches have been in vogue have changed dramatically, too.

These days, the prevailing trend is towards big, chunky watches. In the 90s, we wore smaller, rounder pieces. In the 70s, angles were king, with boxy pieces all the rage. But one watch has stayed consistently stylish and in-demand since its introduction 90 years ago – the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.

One of the most iconic and innovative watch designs of all time, the Reverso has the uncanny ability to match just about any outfit or setting you can think of. Moreover, its pure, versatile design means there’s a Reverso to suit any man out there. From classic and demure to eye-catching and bold, this watch is the ultimate daily wearer for the 21st-century man – and beyond.

What makes the Reverso so unique? Well, its rotating case, for starters. With a simple click, you can fold over the main watch body to hide the watch’s dial from view, or reveal another detail on the caseback – a luxurious touch. But more than that, the Reverso is perhaps the only watch that’s both a dress watch and a sports watch at the same time.

Maybe that’s because its signature rotating case was originally designed to protect the watch from the rough and tumble of a polo match (a gentlemanly sport if there ever was one). Maybe it’s the little things, like how its triple gadroons both ooze class and purposefulness at the same time. Whatever the case, the Reverso’s unique aesthetic makes it a real style chameleon: perfect for any sort of activity, occasion or outfit a man can throw at it.

Part of the Reverso’s enduring appeal and versatility comes from its Art Deco design. Art Deco, which emerged in the 1920s and 30s, is unlike many other art styles or design movements throughout history in that it’s really withstood the test of time: it remains popular; fresh; relevant. The Reverso really embodies the enterprising spirit of its age.

Something else gentlemen knew how to do back then was dress – and they also knew how to have fun. Indeed, that’s what makes the Reverso such a versatile watch: it’s classy enough for a formal outfit, such as a suit and tuxedo, but practical and honest enough for more casual attire or occasions. It’s a watch you can wear to a wedding and then keep on for the raucous afterparty.

The Reverso’s versatility also extends in a broader sense to its model range. From reliable classics to complex works of haute horlogerie to pieces of timekeeping art, the Reverso family is large and diverse.

Because that’s what the modern gentleman truly is – diverse. He escapes easy definition. We men like to wear wildly different things, have lots of different hobbies, lead active lifestyles that demand a watch that can keep up with us. That’s what the Reverso does better than any other watch, in our humble opinion.

In short, if you’re looking for a trusty companion for all your adventures – or a stylish addition to one’s collection – you can’t look past the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso.

Watches of Switzerland, the authorised retailer of Jaeger-LeCoultre, delivers an expertly curated customer experience through its boutiques in major cities across the country: Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Canberra as well as the Melbourne International Airport. Alternatively, if you know the Reverso you are after, click through to the Watches of Switzerland Australia website now to secure your dream watch and get it delivered to your door.

The post Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Is A Must-Have In Every Man’s Wardrobe appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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