You haven’t been to France until you’ve been caught in a compromising position.

That’s what the cliché spouting, beret sporting expats will tell you.

The reality is though; France is a country like any other, with its cultural quirks and charm. And yes: its food is to die for.

The search for this food (and Instagram validation), however, has a tendency to leave tourists empty stomached (and briefly red-faced), not only when they drink their coffee the wrong way (the horreur!) but also when they go out to buy ingredients for lunch on a Sunday, and find all the shops shut.

This is something the below video, recently posted to Instagram by bilingual femme (and comedian) Tatty Macleod, illustrates perfectly.

Watch Tatty Macleod reveal the mistake many tourists (and returning Frenchies) make when they arrive in France

As Tatty points out, this is such a weird thing (having come from a country where shops are open every day), it also catches out French people returning to France.

Many commenters chimed in with their thoughts under the video.

“I have been living in France for 2 years but it’s never open on Sunday I never see any shop who is open on Sunday even in village they close also on Monday ” one wrote.

“And don’t forget to mention most of the individual shops/ pharmacies don’t open on Monday mornings too,” commented another.

Other Instagram users said they liked the quirk.

“But that’s the only charm i see in France. I mean, having a day where no one is working (at least most people) is great. I prefer it this way tbh,” said one.

The same user added: “Cute little imperfections that hurt no one are good. I mean we can feel alive, like the world is literally re starting every week, you can feel it when everything is closed. The pressure to make everything perfect is not always good.”

Another of Tatty’s Instagram followers said that what shocks her when returning to France is the rampant atheism.

“It’s the ‘You know that no one believes in God right’ for me .”

Finally, one enterprising British commenter suggested: “Now we need to see British Tatty hitting up Asda at 4:58PM for the last chicken in the shop and a brown lettuce.”

Tit for tat indeed.

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• The Truth About Why Parisians Are Rude To Tourists

The post The Embarrassing Mistake Every Tourist Makes In France appeared first on DMARGE.

Different people will tell you there are different signs of strength. For some, it all comes down to the size of your biceps, while for others, it’s determined by “how much you can bench bro?“. We’d argue, however, that a true sign of strength and athletic ability, is how well – and how many – pull-ups you can perform.

Pull-ups may look simple, they just rely on your pulling yourself up to a bar, but in practice, they’re an exercise that can really separate the men from the boys (mainly because boys, who are typically much lighter and fitter, can do more of them).

In any case: pull-ups are a fantastic exercise to work your upper back, arms, shoulders and even to an extent your core, pull-ups should definitely feature in any well-rounded workout routine.

But, while the standard variation of the humble pull-up is enough to give you boulder shoulders, fitness trainer and former world ranked pro duathlete Paul Sklar has revealed a subtle change you can make to your pull-ups, that could help your six-pack shine. Taking to Instagram to share a Reel of himself performing said variation, he reveals all you need to do to get those washboard abs is lift a knee up as you’re pulling yourself up to the bar. Simple, right?

“Looking for a great exercise to develop your six pack and then some? Here’s one of my all-time favourite ways to get it done. The alternating knee raise pull-up”, he says in the video.

The secret?

“The key here is to make sure that you keep your hips slightly forward the entire time to keep the abdominals engaged. And make sure that you only use your abs when lifting the knees.”

“Best part? You still get all the back and biceps gains you get from a [regular] pull-up.”

Watch Paul demonstrate the pull-up hack to shred your abs in the video below

For a little extra help with the technique, one user asks if you “engage and contract when you pull-up, or when you release?” The answer? “Mainly on the pull-up.”

He added: “Most people have no idea how much abdominal engagement occurs during a pullup, which is why it’s one of my favorite ways of all time to strengthen and develop my abs.⁣”

A quick look at Paul’s torso and we’re inclined to take his advice. And when you consider he’s 49-years-old, we’re confident he knows what he’s talking about.

Of course, you should probably try and nail the perfect pull-up before attempting Paul’s alternate knee raise variation, and for help with that, look no further than Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who has previously provided some surprisingly helpful advice.

With that complete, give Paul’s tweak a try and see the results for yourself.

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• Best Push Pull Workouts For Men To Simplify Their Training

The post Fitness Trainer’s Simple Trick To Maximise Your Pull-Ups appeared first on DMARGE.

First-class may be going the way of the Dodo (becoming less and less distinguishable from business class), but private jets appear here to stay.

To that end, Qatar Executive – a subsidiary of Qatar Airways – recently celebrated the order of a lavish new jet which will next year be added to their private jet roster.

“Today’s showcase of the #G700 in Doha marks one year to the delivery of the aircraft to #QatarExecutive in 2022,” the airline announced last week.

 

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Equipped with the all-new Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and an advanced high-speed wing design, the G700 is able to fly at record-breaking speed and range with what has been described as “outstanding” environmental efficiency.

The G700 will form part of Qatar Executive’s state-of-the-art fleet of long-range and ultra-long-range aircraft. Qatar Executive has ordered 10 of the world’s largest business jets, and will take delivery of the very first aircraft off the Gulfstream assembly line in Georgia, U.S. in 2022.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We take great pride in the expansion of Qatar Executive throughout the ongoing pandemic. The arrival of the Gulfstream G700 in Doha emphasises our position as one of the leading business jet aircraft service provider in the Middle East and around the world.”

“As the global launch customer for this technologically-advanced jet, we look forward to welcoming the G700 into Qatar Executive’s fleet in 2022 and continuing to set new standards in air travel for years to come.”

“As a launch customer, we are also proud to reaffirm our commitment to addressing climate change and other environmental impacts through the addition of the technologically advanced G700 to our fleet.”

Qatar Executive, a fleet of first class jets, created in 2009, caters to global business travellers. Last year Qatar Airways introduced a new feature to this Executive program, which it calls The Diamond Agreement.

An “Unparalleled Private Jet Travel Programme,” Qatar Executive’s new Diamond Agreement offers maximum flexibility at industry leading pricing. How? Customers are able to pre-purchase flight time at fixed-hourly rates on state-of-the-art long-range and ultra-long-range private jets.

“The Diamond Agreement is precisely tailored to the individual customer’s needs and requirements, offering a truly unique flying experience.”

To join this program, customers purchase a minimum of 50 hours flight time, without any associated membership fees. The all-inclusive and fixed-hourly rates cover both flight hours and taxi time.

Designed to simplify private jet travel, pre-purchased Diamond Agreement hours have no minimum annual usage and no maximum carry-over, making the Diamond Agreement program unrivalled in terms of its flexibility. Qatar Executive’s customers are also offered guaranteed availability for reservations booked from just 72 hours in advance.

 

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Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said of the agreement: “As part of Qatar Airways Group, Qatar Executive offers an exceptional travel experience for private jet customers. With the Diamond Agreement, we can now offer even more flexible and bespoke travel options for Qatar Executive passengers, who can continue to expect our high levels of service and safety onboard our state-of-the-art aircraft.”

But how much, exactly, does it cost to fly on Qatar Executive?

When DMARGE contacted Qatar Airways they were unable to provide any particular pricing range/options for Qatar Executive “because the offering is all price upon application.”

Qatar Executive’s services and price list, which outlines the price of everything from “baggage pet handling” ($158) to “lavatory service” ($165), starts to give you somewhat of an idea of what you might be up for.

However, we’re not the first sleuths to try and figure this out.

According to Insider, Qatar Executive’s Gulfstream G500 costs around $160,000 to fly from New York to London. We imagine the G700 will cost something similar (or more).

The G500 can seat 13 passengers and can travel 5,200 miles on a full tank, which means it could fly non-stop from Hong Kong to London.

“It has high-speed WiFi, a satellite phone, a coffee maker, a fridge, and even an oven,” Insider reports.

Read more about Qatar Executive (and the “flat hourly rate” payment option) here. In the meantime, we’ll continue wondering how much the G700 would cost to charter…

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• The Bizarre New Reality Of Flying Business Class To Europe
• Private Jet Party Learns Hard Way What Counts As ‘Essential’ Travel

The post The Exorbitant Cost Of Flying On Qatar Airways' 'Secretive' Private Jet Service appeared first on DMARGE.

The Gyllenhaals are a Swedish noble family that have certainly left their mark on history. They count among their ranks military generals, influential politicians, journalists and scientists – and more recently, film directors, producers and actors.

Indeed, one can only describe Jake Gyllenhaal as ‘noble’ – especially if you take a look at his latest outfit. The 40-year-old Hollywood heartthrob is one of the best-looking and best-dressed men in show business, both on and off the red carpet, but he really pulled out all the stops last Friday at the Venice International Film Festival for the world premiere of his sister Maggie’s film, The Lost Daughter.

Gyllenhaal hit the red carpet in an all-white ensemble, pairing a bone blazer and trousers with an unbuttoned, slightly lighter shirt, plus some rich brown oxfords and a gold Cartier Santos watch (a timepiece he seems to be a really big fan of, having rocked a stainless steel example on a number of occasions).

It’s a somewhat unconventional outfit to wear at such an event, but it’s brilliant. It straddles the line between formal and casual perfectly; it’s eye-catching, but not so ostentatious that it would steal the limelight away from his sister Maggie, who he was there to support and was the real star of the night. In short: classy as hell. Good work, Jake.

RELATED: A White Suit Is The Sharpest Style Statement A Man Can Make; Here’s The Right Way To Wear It

As for his own filmic exploits, there’s been a flurry of conjecture over whether Gyllenhaal will reprise his role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe villain Mysterio in the upcoming blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Gyllenhaal has yet to be officially confirmed to appear in the film, which is set to feature characters from all the modern Spider-Man films since 2002 – such as Alfred Molina’s Doctor Octopus, Jamie Foxx’s Electro and J.K. Simmons’ J. Jonah Jameson – but fans are fairly confident that Gyllenhaal will also be making an appearance. Watch this space.

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The post Jake Gyllenhaal Is The Venice Film Festival's Best-Dressed Man appeared first on DMARGE.

Travelling broadens the mind, extends the spirit, opens the eyes, and makes you more respectful to your fellow earthlings. Unless you travel by van… and have a noisy generator.

This throbbing piece of equipment makes everyone hate you.

This is something I learned earlier this year.

In June, when Sydneysiders were still allowed to travel, I went down to Perisher in my car.

RELATED: I Jumped Onboard 2021’s Most Cliché Travel Trend. It Was A Complete Disaster

Whilst there, I discovered a type of infuriating traveller – one who even the most vociferous Sky News pundit would agree deserves to be cancelled.

Campers with noisy generators.

Before you accuse me of exaggeration… hear me out – it was so bad that I had a better night’s sleep on the side of the road at Jindabyne, with other ‘free campers’ drinking beer and talking nearby, than the night of the trip I was unfortunate enough to find myself in a remote national park campsite, with some genius running his generator.

Though it turned out the guy had “fallen asleep and forgotten about it” (and apologised to everyone in the morning), I’m still salty.

The most annoying part? The noise turned a dream-like setting into a nightmare.

It’s also irritating that the only socially acceptable way to express your disapproval is only effective in the aftermath (applauding loudly when the offender turns their generator off).

I’m not alone in my narrow minded views either – as The Sun reports, an angry mum recently called for people who snore to be banned from campsites, complaining on Mumsnet: “Having finally managed to get to sleep on our mysteriously but persistently deflating air mattress, someone in the field next door wakes me up making a noise like a food processor being turned on and off.”

I’ve never sympathised so strongly with a ~Karen~.

Food for thought, anyway. At least we don’t have (quite) the same problem Europe does of toilet paper plaguing any and all nice clifftop car parks.

Yet.

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The post This Infuriating Type Of Australian Traveller Should Be 'Cancelled' appeared first on DMARGE.

The myth; ‘champagne gives you a headache’ is as persistent as a thirsty fly in the Outback.

No matter how many French princesses, Russian oligarchs, Silicon Valley bros, Formula One winners or club promoters spruik the stuff, your average person typically avoids it (as a regular drink) due to its price point and migraine marauding reputation.

We save it for Christmas, New Year’s Eve, promotions – and even then we drink with dread.

On one hand, you can hardly blame us. We’re not gaslighting you – you probably did get a headache the last time you drank sparkling wine. But as Kyla Kirkpatrick – Founder & CEO of Emperor Champagne and The Champagne Dame – points out, champagne itself is not to blame.

There are a few reasons for this. The first? There is a big difference between sparkling wine and champagne, which many people forget about.

Kyla told DMARGE: “It is definitely a myth. It’s not champagne that gives you a headache, it’s the additives and sulfur. People often put all sparkling wine into one category, instead of talking about champagne and sparkling wine separately.”

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A post shared by CHAMPAGNE WORLDWIDE© (@champagneworldwide)

Kyla added: “Champagne is a controlled region that has very strict production standards and qualities. No other region in the world has the rules and the attention to detail that Champagne does. There are lower sulfates and no additives in the Champagne region, that paired with the movement towards biodynamic and organic means even lower levels of sulfur are in champagne these days.”

“You’re much more likely to find additives or sulphur used as preservatives in sparkling wines that are made en masse.”

Kyla told us part of the problem is that people are not identifying champagne as a unique product and region, instead putting it in a singular category of sparkling wine.

“As someone who has worked in the champagne industry for over fifteen years I find that very hard to combat, but it’s about educating consumers that Champagne is a unique region with a unique set of rules and that really comes down to educators like me and champagne specialists, such as Emperor Champagne, to really sing the praises and the uniqueness of the region.”

“Through my work as a champagne educator and presenter I have spoken to thousands of people about champagne and most will tell you that champagne is the only wine that doesn’t leave them with a headache or any nasty side effects the next day. As Madame de Pompadour says, ‘Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman more beautiful after drinking it.’”

Another factor to take into account is that studies have shown, if you drink too much, or if you mix your drinks (as we often do on those celebratory days when we tend to drink champagne) then you are more likely to feel hungover.

RELATED: These Are The 10 Most Expensive Champagnes On The Planet 

Frederick Freitag, associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago and a board member of the National Headache Foundation, gets behind this theory, telling the Wall Street Journal “sulfites can cause allergy and asthma symptoms, but they don’t cause headaches.”

Others argue it could be because of the sugar. Thrillist rejects this though, writing, “In Champagne’s case specifically, some attribute the headache symptoms to the higher-than-normal sugar content of bubbly.”

“But the science here is murky at best.”

“While sugar does dehydrate you – which can lead to a headache – the sugar content present in Champagne is probably not what is making your noggin pound. Especially if you don’t usually get headaches when you eat a chocolate bar, for instance.”

Thrillist adds: “the real answer here is kind of obvious…”

“Unsurprisingly, the alcohol content in Champagne is what delivers the skull-shattering headaches. When you drink Champagne – or any other type of alcohol – the hormone that balances your internal hydration is suppressed. So, you end up peeing a lot more. This leads to dehydration. Which leads to headaches in the morning,” (Thrillist).

“The reason the alcohol in Champagne – as opposed to beer or other wine – seems to hit harder is primarily due to its high levels of carbonation.”

The bubbles allegedly increase the pressure in your stomach, forcing alcohol out through the lining of your stomach into the bloodstream, the argument goes.

Another argument is that it’s more that – because we drink it less often – we are not as good at judging our limits and are more liable to drink enough alcohol to give us a headache.

Carbonation for contemplation.

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The post Expert 'Pops The Cork' On Biggest Alcohol Myth You Still Believe appeared first on DMARGE.

When your strength goal is to get as physically fit as someone like Australian movie star Chris Hemsworth, it can sometimes feel like you’re pissing into the wind.

But get yourself the right tools (and turn around and face the other direction), and results could flow naturally – as some photos DMARGE just stumbled across, posted by Hemsworth’s personal trainer Luke Zocchi, attest.

Taking to Instagram way back in February, Zocchi was keen to show off the positive outcomes of some users of the Centr training app – developed by Chris, Luke and a number of other fitness and nutrition specialists, and the same one a very optimistic DMARGE correspondent tried for himself.

The photos show what the ‘Average Joe’ can achieve if they follow similar workouts to those used by the Australian poster boy himself. While no one looks exactly like Chris Hemsworth himself by the end, the photos show you can make a remarkable impression on your physique if you commit to the right training.

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A post shared by Luke Zocchi (@zocobodypro)

While the first picture is an anomaly (this guy isn’t quite an Average Joe – it’s Chris’ stunt double for the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder movie, Bobby, looking decidedly ripped), the rest of the photos show what more regular Centr users might hope to achieve during a period of using the app.

Trainer Luke says himself in the comments Bobby’s transformation took place “over 12 weeks.” And hey: he still benefitted greatly from the program.

As for the other users, no specific time frames are given on the images, but a closer look at the comments sheds some light on how long it took.

“I’m the dude in pic 4. Did that in about 8 – 10 weeks.”

“I’m pic 3. Those are about 5 months apart.”

Scroll through the photo series to see their results.

Some other Instagram users are less than convinced, arguing that there could be no way the results could have been achieved without the use of performance-enhancing drugs. But hey: you can never please everyone (plus, as we have previously investigated, it’s impossible to tell someone is on steroids for sure simply from a photo).

RELATED: Supplement Specialist Busts Steroid Myth You Probably Still Believe

Of course, it should be said that curling some dumbbells and hitting the treadmill aren’t solely responsible for the results you see in the photos. A proper meal plan is also required to give you protein, carbohydrates and fats, which the body uses to turn into muscle and to shed body fat. If you want to know how to eat like Chris Hemsworth, to go in tandem with working out like him, check out my personal experiences. 

The takeaway here is that no goal should be seen as unattainable. Yes, Chris has an incredibly enviable rig, but if you commit yourself to a serious workout routine and have a meal plan to back it up, you too could see a serious transformation in just a few months.

Watch how to get huge like Chris Hemsworth in the video below

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The post Stunning Photos Show What Happens When Average Joes Work Out Like Chris Hemsworth appeared first on DMARGE.

We have enough fodder to fill our eyes for the rest of the Formula One racing calendar if Lewis Hamilton is anything to go by. Just last week we saw him pay homage to his hometown of Stevenage with a ‘geezer’ outfit the likes of which will have any ‘road man’ salivating – and that’s just the beginning.

This weekend, however, arguably the greatest Formula One driver to have ever graced the tarmac appears to have played a tactical move in the hope of securing some crowd noise of his own during the Dutch Grand Prix.

Understanding that closest rival for the 2021 Championship, Max Verstappen, will have the lion’s share of the crowd on his side come Sunday, Lewis arrived at the Circuit Zandvoort wearing all-orange, in what we’re calling a potential attempt to tug at Dutch heartstrings.

If you’ve ever seen the Dutch play football – soccer, to our American and Australian readers – you would be hard pressed to not notice their retina-searing orange jerseys. This is because orange is the official colour of the Dutch Royal Family. Yep, despite the country’s national flag comprising red, white and blue, orange is the colour most closely associated with the European country.

Lewis clearly did his homework, arriving in an orange jumpsuit, orange tie-dye coat and even a pair of orange Police sunglasses, which have been designed in collaboration with the man himself. We haven’t yet tracked down where his jumpsuit or coat are from, but don’t expect them to come cheap and don’t expect to be able to pull them off as effectively as he does, were you to find them yourself.

 

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A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)

Taking to Instagram, Hamilton posted a slow-motion video of himself in his full orange ensemble, accompanied by the caption “Rolling with that orange drip.” Suffice to say, his style and choice of colour have earned him serious brownie points in the comments section, with more fire emojis than we care to count.

Lewis will be hoping to extend his 3-point championship lead over Verstappen at this weekend’s race, which sees the Circuit Zandvoort and the Dutch Grand Prix return for the first time since 1985. In the years since that last race, the track has been modified extensively, which has seen the addition of two banked corners – corners with a 19-degree incline – which is also a feature we rarely see in Formula One racing anymore.

With full support likely to be given to his Red Bull Racing rival, Lewis will no-doubt be hoping those high turns will provide the difference between running away with the championship, or see Max take full control.

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• Daniel Ricciardo Uses Popular Dutch Snack To ‘Test The Banking’ At Circuit Zandvoort
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The post Lewis Hamilton’s 'Tactical' Orange Jumpsuit Could Secure Him The Dutch Vote appeared first on DMARGE.

Mack Horton is a man after our own hearts.

The 25-year-old Olympic gold medallist and OAM recipient isn’t just an absolute gun in the pool and bold advocate for fair play in international sports, but he’s also a man of exceptional taste. He’s a big fan of fine Swiss watches, crisp fashion, outdoor adventures with his dog and nice cars – which are all some of our favourite things, too.

He seems to have a particular affinity for Land Rovers, however. Off-roading in Defenders, ducking down to the beach in the Range Rover… But the car he seems to have the most fun in is his 1965 Land Rover Series II, which he almost always drives with the top off.

If you’re like us and have a low-key man-crush on Mack, then you’re in luck. Horton’s actually selling his Land Rover – so while you might not be able to be Mack Horton, you can at least drive like Mack Horton. And Horton’s Land Rover just so happens to be one of the nicest examples of the classic 4×4 in the country.

With less than 30,000kms on the clock, needle-straight bodywork and resplendent in the right colour – green – it’s an absolute pearler that’s been the fortunate recipient of a lot of restoration work.

“Mechanically it doesn’t get better for 56 year old Land Rover,” Horton shares on the vehicle’s Carsales listing.

“Lots of work done by Ritter Australia Land Rover to get this car in tip top shape. Wolf rims and Ko2 tyres, both with only a couple thousand km’s on them. Hard top roof and door tops all in good condition but currently being stored and not on the vehicle. Rear ExmoorTrim bench seats and belts that match original front seats.”

The car is an absolute time warp, looking (and probably built) better than it did when it left the factory in the 60s. The Series II was the most popular and enduring variant of the original Land Rover Series – plenty made their way Down Under, especially in ute form – but you’d be hard-pressed to find one as nice as this one.

RELATED: Land Rover’s Newest Defender Labelled ‘Pointless’ By World’s Top Motoring Journalist

This car might be pretty, but it’s also pretty basic. There are no mod cons and it only makes 57kW (we think Horton puts out more power with his freestyle strokes). But this car isn’t meant to be some ballsy off-roader or track car – it’s meant to be the ultimate summer cruiser. Imagine rocking up to summer’s first pool party in this…

RELATED: ‘Tough As Nails’: The American 4×4 The Australian Car Market Is Crying Out For

Horton’s asking $56,000 for it, which when you consider how unbelievably good the condition of the thing is (and the insane prices Defenders are fetching at the moment), is a pretty fair deal. The celebrity association is just icing on the cake. Get on the blocks and dive onto Carsales if you’re keen to pick up the vehicular equivalent of a gold medal.

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The post Australian Olympian Is Selling His Vintage Land Rover…. & It's Bloody Awesome appeared first on DMARGE.