Daniel Craig Teaches His Kids Brutal Life Lesson With Big Inheritance ‘Spending Plan’
Daniel Craig Teaches His Kids Brutal Life Lesson With Big Inheritance ‘Spending Plan’

Daniel Craig is many things.He’s perhaps the most intense, scary James Bond ever. He’s an English gentleman with an exceedingly dry wit and impeccable dress sense. He’s also, as it turns out, a rather grounded guy – and one that wants his kids to be grounded, too.In an interview with Britain’s Candis Magazine, the 53-year-old actor, who has a net worth of $220 million, revealed that he has no plans to leave his children a large inheritance, saying that he thinks the idea of inheritance is “distasteful”. He also had this brilliant quip:

“Isn’t there an old adage that if you die a rich person, you’ve failed?”

“I don’t want to leave great sums to the next generation… my philosophy is get rid of it or give it away before you go.”

Daniel Craig with his daughter Ella back in 2010. Craig also has a daughter and stepson with wife Rachel Weisz. Image: Getty
It’s an admirable attitude, although we feel for his kids. Most people admit it’s better not to be brought up with a silver spoon in one’s mouth but still – how many of us would’ve leapt at the chance?Craig is but one of a growing number of celebrities and high-net-worth individuals who are deliberately cutting off their kids in order to prevent them from becoming spoilt, as well as for philanthropic purposes.Other big names making similar plans for their children include Bill Gates, Ashton Kutcher, Mark Zuckerberg, Elton John and Jackie Chan, who famously said on the matter back in 2011 “if he [his son Jaycee] is capable, he can make his own money. If he is not, then he will just be wasting my money.” Now that’s brutal.However, if you don’t share the celebs’ point of view and want to start building up a golden egg for your kids, you should check out our investing expert’s scoop on the best Australian & international shares to buy right now. It’s never too soon to start building a fortune…

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Man’s ‘Lewd’ In Flight Act Leaves Seat Mate Absolutely Horrified
Man’s ‘Lewd’ In Flight Act Leaves Seat Mate Absolutely Horrified

We live in a complex world. Some risqué acts – like joining the Mile High Club – are celebrated. Others are rightly condemned (and leave you questioning what the hell is wrong with some people).But then there are yet other acts, which straddle the line between hilarious and inappropriate. For these acts we turn to Oops the Podcast, a regular chat between two comedians who like to discuss life’s greatest f*ck ups, and to tease us with head-scratchers.Enter: co-host Francis Ellis’ latest plane story. After recently regaling listeners with an epic tale of a vicious window shade battle with a 40-year-old woman, today we were alerted to another incident, which occurred on a recent flight home from Indianapolis.“This is nuts” Francis begins the story.First, he sets the scene, describing how the middle seat was empty, separating him (Francis was sitting in the aisle seat) from a guy sitting next to the window, in the window seat.So far so comfortable.Then things get weird.“The last 20 minutes of the flight he was touching up a dick pic of his own,” Francis said. It remains unclear how Francis knew it was “of his own.” But we digress.

“He was lighting it and shaping it and making it really nice.”

Francis added: “He was trying to be covert about it, but I was also very covertly studying the orchestration of this photo.”“As we landed – as we were right about to touch down – he crossed himself.”“The father, son, holy ghost… As if Lionel Messi had just scored a goal. In my mind, it was very funny for this guy who had just spent 20 minutes very intensely fixing a dick pic to remember to thank God for delivering him safely back to the earth.”“If he believes that God is involved in the safe delivery of the plane… then he certainly has this fear that we’re going to crash, which means it should be on his mind that whatever he is doing as we’re descending could be the last thing he does.”

“The last thing on earth he’s doing is spending time looking at his own dick, improving it and those things are at odds to me.”

“If he believes in it then – in my mind – he should be looking at a picture of his family or looking out the window… instead it’s his own penis for completely aesthetic reasons.”Watch Francis describing the incident in the video below.

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Taliban Take To The Street In ‘Luxury Assault Vehicles’ In Afghanistan
Taliban Take To The Street In ‘Luxury Assault Vehicles’ In Afghanistan

If a global pandemic wasn’t enough to contend with, the world has been shocked in recent days by the collapse of the Afghan government as the capital city of Kabul fell to the Taliban.

The speed of the Taliban’s capture of Afghanistan as the US and other Western forces, including Australia’s, have left the country is unbelievable – and heartbreaking, to say the least.

The Taliban have also quickly been able to snap up American-made military vehicles like be M1117 Guardians, MaxxPro MRAPs, Oshkosh ATVs and most famously, M1151/1152 Humvees – as their offensive has engulfed the country.


According to Forbes, “in the month of June alone the Taliban has captured a staggering 700 trucks and Humvees from the Afghan security forces as well as dozens of armoured vehicles and artillery systems.”

It’s a sight we’re likely to see more of as the Taliban consolidate their rule over Afghanistan.

How has the Taliban got their hands on so many Humvees? Simple. A single Humvee can weigh as much as 3,800kgs – so in many instances, retreating US forces simply left their vehicles behind or left them in the hands of the Afghan National Army. The Afghan National Army itself has also been equipped with thousands of Humvees over the years, so when they have either surrendered or been defeated by Taliban forces, the Taliban snapped them up.

Afghan security forces in Humvees in Kunduz, Afghanistan’s sixth-largest city, in May. Image: France24

Compared to the technicals or ex-Soviet vehicles the Taliban has used over the years, American Humvees are truly luxurious… And bloody expensive. A single, up-armoured Humvee sets the American taxpayer back over US$250,000. That’s almost as much as a Lamborghini Urus, or two Audi SQ7s.

RELATED: Toyota Land Cruiser ‘Blood Pact’ Shows How Crazy Australia’s Car Market Has Become

Indeed, there’s been some news that the Taliban is even selling Humvees on social media, literally reaping the profits of war, such as this tweet from a Pakistani news agency – although it’s likely that more than a few of these reports are hoaxes. With Afghanistan in such chaos at the moment, it’s hard to fact-check.


Again, it’s truly a perverse situation and one that’s likely a great source of satisfaction for the Taliban. It’s the ultimate middle finger to the West, for us to see the Taliban driving Humvees. But these so-called ‘good times’ won’t last forever for the Taliban, as many online have pointed out.

“As a prior mechanic in the army, it won’t take long until this is broken and undrivable,” one American has pointed out on Reddit, another chiming in that the average Humvee in Afghanistan “will be a real big paperweight when the transmissions fail, tomorrow.” So much for American reliability…

A Taliban Humvee mingles with normal traffic on the streets of Herat, Afghanistan’s third-largest city. Image: Getty

Beyond the demanding servicing a military vehicle requires, the Taliban – and their newfound power and riches (which extend far beyond American military equipment) – will now have to contend with the difficult task of running a country.

RELATED: Insane 4×4 Campervan Crowned Australia’s Most ‘Apocalypse Ready’ Vehicle

As respected political commentator and Middle East expert Thomas L. Friedman explained in The New York Times, “today, [the Taliban] are having a great morning-after celebration. They are telling themselves they defeated yet another superpower…”

Friedman then questions whether “the morning after the morning after” will be so successful for the Taliban, suggesting the jury is still out on whether Biden made the wrong choice in pulling America’s forces out.

“But will the Taliban simply resume where they left off 20 years ago — harbouring al-Qaeda, zealously imposing their puritanical Islam and subjugating and abusing women and girls? Will the Taliban go into the business of trying to attack US and European targets on their soil?”

“I don’t know. I do know they just inherited responsibility for all of Afghanistan. They will soon face huge pressure to deliver order and jobs for Afghans. And that will require foreign aid and investment from countries that America has a lot of influence with…”


“The early signs – all sorts of Taliban abuses – are not promising. But we need to watch how, and if, they fully establish control. The Taliban’s main beef with America is that we were in their country. Let’s see what happens when we’re gone.”

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Chris Hemsworth’s Trainer Luke Zocchi Shares At-Home Workout Anyone Can Do
Chris Hemsworth’s Trainer Luke Zocchi Shares At-Home Workout Anyone Can Do

The situation in Australia right now isn’t great.

With the whole state of New South Wales in lockdown and growing numbers of cases in other states, it’s safe to say Australia has gone backwards in its fight against the pandemic.

That means gyms, fitness studios, yoga studios and any other space where you would usually get your fitness fix has had to shut its doors until the situation is under control. But, you don’t have to necessarily let that put a dent in your perfectly chiselled armour. It is still entirely possible to work out at home and still work on your gains.

Naturally, a lot of workouts require the use of dumbbells, weights or other equipment such as rowing machines or exercise bikes, which not everybody owns. However, we’re pretty confident everybody will be able to get their hands on some resistance bands, and if you do, Chris Hemsworth’s personal trainer Luke Zocchi recently shared a simple at-home workout using resistance bands, that anybody can do.

RELATED: Chris Hemsworth’s Trainer Luke Zocchi Reveals The Secret To Beating ‘Lazy Form’

Luke uses a singular resistance band to provide a full body workout, targeting the back, biceps, triceps, chest and shoulders, making it possibly the most versatile piece of equipment you could ever own. Best of all, this at-home workout can be performed anywhere, anytime.

Luke Zocchi Resistance Band Workout

You can follow Luke’s resistance band workout using the video below. He performs five movements for 10 reps each in one complete circuit, before resting for 60 seconds and repeating. It’s an example of an AMRAP workout – As Many Rounds As Possible – so you can either continue to complete it until you literally can’t move any more, or you can set yourself a time limit of 10 minutes, for example, and see how many rounds you manage to complete.

Watch Luke Zocchi demonstrate a resistance band workout in the video below

This will then allow you to repeat the workout at a later date to see if you can improve on your previous record.

  • Band resisted push up x 10: Loop the resistance band over your hands and position it behind your back. Get into a push up position and perform conventional push ups.
  • Seated row x 10: Sit down with your legs straight out in front of you. Strap the resistance band around the soles of your shoes and pull back, keeping your elbows close to your body. Squeeze when your elbows are behind you before completing the next rep.
  • Tricep extension x 10: Whilst standing, strap the resistance band around one foot and position it behind you. Start with your elbows bent and your hands behind your head, and press the resistance band upwards, feeling the burn in your triceps.
  • Hammer curls x 10: Keeping the resistance band around your foot, double loop the band in your hand so that it has a greater amount of tension. Keeping your upper arm close to your body, curl the resistance band up, bending at the elbow. Repeat on the opposite side.
  • Lateral raises x 10: Keeping the resistance band around your foot, hold the band with the opposite hand to the one it is strapped around. With your elbow bent, lift it out to your side until your forearm is parallel with the floor. You only want to bring your hand to around shoulder height, any further up and you’ll decrease the amount of tension placed on your shoulder muscles.

See, it couldn’t be simpler.

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‘Food Is Sex’: What Every American Needs To Understand Before Visiting France
‘Food Is Sex’: What Every American Needs To Understand Before Visiting France

From clumsy Netflix metaphors (like the whole “in France we don’t wash our omelette pans because it’s sexier that way”) to scathing Tripadvisor reviews (in which All American Tourists are written off as loudmouth locusts), there are a lot of cliches surrounding tourism in Paris, and how Americans and French people will typically interact.These stereotypes are rude, offensive, and – in many cases – correct…If you’d like to paint with a more finely tipped brush, however, and escape to a more detailed canvas, allow the following insight from the late chef, author and Parts Unknown host Anthony Bourdain to sweep your mind, potentially helping you see food through the eyes of a French person.In Word Travel: An Irreverent Guide, Bourdain is quoted as saying:

“In the English speaking world, there has always been a certain ambivalence about taking pleasure at the table. There has been this notion that if you take too much pleasure in your food, then it might lead to harder stuff, like sex, for instance.”

Bourdain then points out something any American tourist would do well to remember before visiting The City Of Light.“I think the French have always understood that, yeah, hell yeah, it does lead to sex, and it should. That residual sense of food being good, food being important, food being worth waiting for, and food being worth spending time with: eating is, and should be, a joyous occasion.”This doesn’t mean you need to keep a tazer in your pocket in case your waiter attacks you with kisses. But it does mean you need to leave your low carb diet (if not your intermittent fasting, which the French arguably invented with their “coffee and a cigarette” ritual) at the door and learn the art of indulgence.RELATED: Why Parisians Will Never Understand America’s Obsession With Low Carb DietingA recent Instagram post by Paris based photographer Patrick Colpron represents the healthy relationship the French have with food quite well.

Food for thought. Oh, and – if that insight floated your boat – watch the below video to see the difference between how French people and English speaking people see wine, hilariously explained…

Difference between how French people and English speaking people see wine…

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Justin Bieber Channels Kurt Cobain With Latest Fuzzy Jacket Fit
Justin Bieber Channels Kurt Cobain With Latest Fuzzy Jacket Fit

Justin Bieber might be a real style chameleon, but there’s one thing all of his outfits have in common: they’re comfy.The 27-year-old Canadian pop superstar isn’t one to suffer for the sake of fashion, far from it: this is a dude who wears baggy tracksuits and Crocs out in public and loves nothing more than an oversized loud shirt or ratty cargo pants.But there’s something charming about his lackadaisical fashion sense. Actually, it reminds us of another musician who also gets teenage girls’ hearts aflutter: Kurt Cobain. The Nirvana frontman had a similar approach to fashion – idiosyncratic, relaxed and unostentatious.Bieber’s latest outfit really drives that comparison home. ‘The Biebs’ was spotted in Los Angeles on Monday wearing a big fluffy jacket over a white t-shirt and washed-out blue jeans – a very 90s look that just screams ‘Cobain’.

Bieber on Monday, and Cobain performing during Nirvana’s famed 1993 MTV Unplugged set. Images: Getty / Insider
Bieber’s also developed a love for cardigans, one of Cobain’s favourite items of clothing. Indeed, Bieber seems to be cresting the wave that is the cardigan revival, with other musicians and celebrities jumping on the trend in 2021.RELATED: Justin Bieber Raids Your Grandma’s Closet For His Latest Summer FitAnother style instinct Bieber has in common with Cobain is his love for out-there sunglasses. Cobain’s thick-rimmed ovoid white sunnies are iconic and have been imitated countless times over the years… Just look at these thick, round, aggressively pink sunnies Bieber rocked earlier this year and tell me Justin isn’t a fan of In Utero. You know what I’m saying?
Bieber in Paris in March, and Cobain with his famous sunglasses (and yet another comfy, fuzzy jacket). Images: Getty / W Magazine
Let’s just hope Bieber doesn’t completely follow Cobain’s example, if you know what we mean. He has just turned 27 this year…RELATED: Before & After Photo Reveals What Tattoos Look Like After 50 YearsBieber’s been enjoying a rather blessed summer holiday, flitting between Europe and the US along with a huge entourage including his supermodel wife Hailey, manager Scooter Braun and rising Australian hip-hop star The Kid Laroi.It’s not all play and no work, however: Laroi’s latest single Stay, which features Bieber as a guest vocalist, has been sitting on the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts for 4 weeks now. Smells like teen success.

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I Took Joe Rogan’s Brain Boosting ‘Nootropic’ Pills For A Month. I Don’t Feel Any Smarter
I Took Joe Rogan’s Brain Boosting ‘Nootropic’ Pills For A Month. I Don’t Feel Any Smarter

Nootropics, also known as cognitive enhancers, are drugs, supplements, and other substances that claim to improve cognitive function, particularly executive functions, memory, creativity, or motivation, in healthy individuals.Sounds dodgy, right? Not when it’s coming through the dulcet tones of a podcaster! For me this was Joe Rogan, a curious soul/fitness freak who gets paid to promote a nootropic called Alpha Brain.It is claimed that Rogan has been consistently using Alpha BRAIN since 2010, “taking it before every podcast, before commentating UFC fights, and before stand-up sets. He says it’s noticeably easier to recall words and form sentences when he uses Alpha BRAIN.”

Watch Joe Rogan talk about how he feels on ‘nootropics’ below

While nootropics aren’t necessarily a brand new genre of self chemical help, recently they’ve started getting more mainstream attention – particularly the one Joe Rogan takes. It’s called Alpha Brain and it has been created by the company Onnit, for many years. The comedian and notorious podcast host is someone who is often more than happy to play guinea pig when it comes to futuristic methods of (potentially) improving the human body.Speaking back in 2014, Joe says one of the first things he noticed after taking nootropics was that he had a “better recall of words” and that “forming sentences seemed smoother, it’s like I had an extra gear.” He further claims that other people he had given Alpha Brain to to try for themselves experienced some sort of “mental boost.”Indeed, the Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), describes nootropics as a “cognitive enhancer” and something people take “to improve memory, increase mental alertness and concentration, as well as boost energy levels and wakefulness.”They could, therefore, be likened to a real-world version of the drugs Bradley Cooper’s character takes in Limitless. Ones that help us to unlock the full potential of our brain.As with many other supplements, there are both prescription and over-the-counter versions, with the former specially designed to help treat “sleepiness and narcolepsy”, according to the ADF.I was intrigued to find out if nootropics would have any actual benefit in my life, or if I could continue to rely on my daily dose of two large coffees to help with brain stimulation. I secured myself a sample of Alpha Brain Black Label – the same brand used by Joe Rogan himself – which claims to provide the effects of “a cold shower, meditation and a slap around the face all in one hit.”Too good to be true? Probably. But I had to try (and ask experts if they thought I was deluding myself or if it could actually be working).This is what I discovered.

First things first

Before trialling my sample of Alpha Brain Black Label, it’s safe to say I was a skeptic. I’ve never been someone to really dabble in supplements of any kind, other than the protein powder that I put in my smoothies. I’m unsure if even this has any monumental effect on my ability to build muscle, but given the amount of research to support it, I’m going to continue to do so.The idea that a supplement could enhance my cognitive abilities, however, is one that I definitely took with a pinch of salt. I’m no scientist, so even the basic function of the brain and the chemicals and signals that are associated with it does go over my head a little. I definitely lean more towards the side of believing your brain is your brain, and the only way you can generate noticeable differences in your way of thinking is to do things such as meditate. This opinion is in no way the result of my moving to Byron Bay at the beginning of 2021, I’ll have it be known.

Dedication could be key…

Onnit recommends you take no more than 4 Alpha Brain Black Label supplements in a 24 hour period. I’ve personally only taken the maximum dosage of 4 in a single day once. This is mainly because I keep forgetting to take them (perhaps if I took more my memory would improve?) as opposed to just not wanting to – although, I was sick for one week during this experiment and so didn’t want to put anything in my body that didn’t need to be there.I’ve been good at taking one each morning soon after waking up, but once I’m head down into work or heading to the gym, I’ve been forgetting to take the rest of the maximum dosage.

…to noticing an effect

Which has meant I’ve not been acutely aware of any real benefit. I wouldn’t say I’m someone who suffers from fatigue or lack of alertness on a regular basis, so taking a supplement that claims to increase these may be a little lost on me.I’m prepared to admit that I was probably expecting some sort of ‘buzz’ after taking each serving, which I didn’t. So their effects could have gone under the radar.Veonika Larisova, exercise physiologist and nutritionist says that you’re realistically unlikely to feel any ‘buzz’ from taking nootropics, especially from the ingredients found in Alpha Brain Black Label.

Alpha Brain Black Label bottle and packaging
Image: Packaging Strategies

A closer look

Before I go any further, I thought it would be important to note down the ingredients that make up Onnit’s formula.

  • Mucuna pruriens; also known as velvet bean, Veronika says this is “anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, and it’s being researched as a potential cure for Parkinson symptoms. Some studies also show it can improve sperm count. This is something that can potentially improve your health when taken long term, but you won’t feel any buzz from it.”
  • Lion’s mane; “is great and I love taking it before sleep”, says Veronika. “It gives me the best vivid dreams.” Indeed, Joe Rogan has also mentioned the effects Alpha Brain has on his dreams, and reckons if it was marketed as a “dream enhancer”, it would appeal to an entirely new demographic.
  • Citicoline; “has some neuroproactive properties and may improve cognitive function”, according to Veronika. “It won’t give you a buzz and again, is something to be taken long term. You can also get it from meat, fish and eggs.”
  • Phosphatidylserine; “is required for healthy nerve cell membranes and myelin. Aging of the human brain is associated with biochemical alterations and structural deterioration that impair neurotransmission.”It supports humans cognitive functions, including the formation of short-term memory, the consolidation of long-term memory, the ability to create new memories, the ability to retrieve memories, the ability to learn and recall information, the ability to focus attention and concentrate, the ability to reason and solve problems, language skills and the ability to communicate.”It does a lot, then, but Veronika adds it “won’t make any difference in a young person.” Damn.
  • Caffeine; which is a natural nootropic and one “I think we can all agree works.”
  • L-Theanine; which “is found in green tea. It has some anti-anxiety and anti-stress properties.”
  • Marigold extract; “anti-inflammatory and potentially anti-cancerous. It’s been used for wound healing, but I’m not sure if it has much effect on the brain other than reducing inflammation.”

Veronika adds that for me personally, “the ingredients can help to improve health and brain function but they will not enhance my natural capabilities.”“For that, I would need the hardcore meds such as modafinil. What is recommended to get the extra buzz and super-efficient days is cycling coffee and non-coffee days.”

“If you get off caffeine for two weeks and then you have a strong coffee you feel like you are on speed.”

There could be hope

Taking this into account, after taking each serving, I certainly haven’t felt like I’m lagging or that I wished I had more energy to complete some work, such as writing this article.I also completed an online short term memory test (Alpha Brain Black Label is meant to improve your brain memory, after all). And after taking two servings I scored 76% on brain recall with an average response time of 757ms. A good average response time is said to be less than 900ms, but “good performance” is rated at 90% brain recall.I then took another two servings during the course of the day and completed the same memory test six hours later. I scored 80% brain recall (still not “good”) and an average response time of 695ms (but an improvement on my first test). Could this be as a result of taking the Alpha Brain supplement? Ultimately, it’s hard to prove, but who knows…

And there is (some) research to support their claims

Veronika adds there is in fact much “research in the pharmaceutical field, and medications such as Modafinil definitely work. However, they are addictive and have nasty side effects.” The only downside to this piece of research is that modafinil isn’t in Alpha Brain Black Label, so it is hard to distinguish whether the ingredients used do have any profound effect.Barry Gordon, MD, PhD, director of the cognitive neurology/neuropsychology division at Johns Hopkins Medicine adds, “The circuits that are involved in human cognition are very complicated and not fully understood.”According to WebMDhe adds, “You can’t just ‘turn up the dial’ that easily.” He also says that people who think their mental performance has increased because of taking nootropics are largely being influenced by a placebo effect. “If you’re more confident and think you’ll do better, you will do better.”

I’m willing to continue

So while I may not have noticed any major changes in my cognitive function, I also haven’t felt addicted or noticed any real side-effects, which encourages me to continue taking them for a longer period of time to see if they can eventually generate noticeable improvements.

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Sydney’s Strict Lockdown Taught Me To Become A Better Traveller
Sydney’s Strict Lockdown Taught Me To Become A Better Traveller

Sydney’s not Paris. That much is pretty clear. But our current ‘5km radius’ lockdown rule has forced me to learn an invaluable lesson that will help me enjoy The City Of Love better when I’m allowed to travel internationally again (before you ask, no: I’m not talking about the Bondi couple that got sprung on a cliff-face on the weekend).Speaking of being stuck between a rock and a hard place… let’s cross over to a man who loved a risqué analogy: Anthony Bourdain. The late chef, writer, and Parts Unknown host shared a useful piece of advice for anyone looking to visit Paris (and, arguably, any city in the world) more ~authentically~ in World Travel: An Irreverent Guide (the book was published after Bourdain’s death, and contains quotes from throughout his career).“Paris remains one of the greatest, most beautiful, most magical cities in the world. And like a lot of other really great cities, it’s entirely possible to have a bad time. Please don’t do that. Just avoid the obvious,” Bourdain says of Paris in World Travel.

“The absolute worst thing to do when you come to Paris is plan too much. Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Arc de Triomphe, stand in line for hours to experience what everybody says you have to. Me? I like to take it easy in Paris, especially if I’m only in town for a few days.”What’s this got to do with Sydney’s 5km radius rule? Well, as an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald this morning pointed out, “Research from the fields of psychology and behavioural economics suggests that [the narrowing of your ‘scope of choice’] might not be as terrible as you think.”

“Rather than liberating us, the existence of too much choice – of jeans, of cars, or places to visit – can result in analysis paralysis and decision fatigue.”

“So strap up your shoelaces, folks, and walk around the block,” (Sydney Morning Herald).

“Sure, it might not be the finest, most picturesque walk in town (or, indeed, the world), but it’s the only choice you have right now. And it’s highly unlikely you’ll regret it.”

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Having lived in Sydney’s Inner West for the last six months, and driven to the beach for (up until the 5km rule cut me off) all of that time, I found myself getting ~travel~ feels the other week (when the radius was still 10km) when I decided to run to Bondi.Why? Though I’ve seen most of where I live, this trip had me traipsing through streets I’d never seen in my life – and probably would never have seen on foot ever – if it weren’t for the lockdown.From the weird semi highway ramp just before Bondi Junction (where, believe it or not, clutching the side, is a hidden Japanese-esque garden) to the run-down hoarder’s house in Redfern with a blackboard advertising various breakfast options, to the Bondi sharehouses with sunroofs like Moroccan hostels, there was a lot I’d never noticed from my car.The takeaway? There’s nothing like exploring on foot.

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It’s also worth adding that this theory ‘having less choice can be good’ doesn’t apply to everyone equally. Anyone who didn’t have the army patrolling their streets – and who was able to access the beach during the last couple of months (and anyone with the luxury of aspiring to visit Paris, for that matter) – should count their blessings.As the Sydney Morning Herald points out: “The theory applies best to the citizens of affluent, peaceful and free nations, and, additionally, the individuals within such societies who enjoy equal access to all those economic resources and liberties. For the excluded, the increased choices that would come from higher incomes and greater civil liberties would undoubtedly be a good thing.”Getting back to the topic of ‘exploring by foot though’ – and ‘limiting your horizons to expand them’ – we’ll allow Bourdain to leave you with a few more gems on how to get a grittier feel for a place.“Most of us are lucky to see Paris once in a lifetime. Make the most of it by doing as little as possible. Walk a little, get lost a bit, eat, catch a breakfast buzz, have a nap, try and have sex if you can, just not with a mime.”

“Eat again. Lounge around drinking coffee. Maybe read a book. Drink some wine, walk around a bit more, eat, repeat. See? It’s easy.”

On café culture, he adds:“Ah, Paris, city of light, city of love, city of…breakfast? Yes, please. The most important thing to do the instant you arrive in Paris is stop. Find someplace inviting, and slip comfortably into the Parisian pace of life.”

“It’s no accident that the café is so closely associated with the French. And what do we have here? We have a cup of coffee and a ham sandwich, a row of chairs all pointing in one direction, a little table staring out into the street… the simplest of life’s pleasures, and yet for many Parisians, this can be an afternoon’s entertainment.”“I think this gets right to the kernel of what distinguishes the French. Once you allow your senses to guide you, you may begin to find pleasure in many things you would ordinarily overlook… You are now ready to begin to graze through the wondrous, sensual feasts that elude so many of us when we take trips here.”Cuisine for contemplation.

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Drake’s Latest Nike Collaboration Proves Celebrities Can’t Get Enough Of This Sport
Drake’s Latest Nike Collaboration Proves Celebrities Can’t Get Enough Of This Sport

Drake is one of those celebrities whose star power is so immense that anything they touch turns into gold. A modern-day Midas.Needless to say, Drake’s ventures outside of music have been as successful as they are various. He has his own best-selling bourbon brand, Virginia Black. He has his own record label, OVO Sound, which also produces a highly successful clothing line. Drake’s also recently founded a sub-label with Nike called NOCTA.It’s this sub-label that’s the focus of today’s story. Over the weekend, Drake shared a sneaky glimpse of a forthcoming Nocta collaboration with golf equipment brand TaylorMade, showing off a close-up of a new TaylorMade P790 Iron club adorned with the Nike ‘swoosh’ logo and NOCTA branding. Drake’s also been spotted wearing ‘NOCTA GOLF’ jackets in recent days and has even shown off NOCTA branded golf balls.It’s an exciting collaboration for sure, but it’s also one that points to a growing trend. Perhaps reflecting the broader rise in popularity golf’s experiencing as a sport, more and more celebrities are coming out with their own golf collaborations or brands – especially musicians you might not expect to be a fan of the game. They just can’t get enough of it.

Image: @champagnepapi
For example, fellow rapper Macklemore has come out with his own line of golfing apparel called Bogie Boys, which features deliberately kitschy, very 70s-inspired clothing and accessories like head covers and ball markers.Another rapper who’s big on the gentlemen’s game is Tyler, the Creator. His streetwear brand GOLF WANG might not actually be named after the sport (it’s actually an anagram of Wolf Gang, the shorthand for his old rap collective Odd Future Wolf Gang) but like Macklemore’s Bogie Boys, boasts a very distinct 70s preppy aesthetic that’s perfect for the fairway. Indeed, Tyler’s even filmed music videos and comedic skits featuring golf over the years, such is his affinity for the game.Outside of the rap world, Bill Murray, a noted fan of golf who’s known for his outlandish on-green attire, also has his own golf clothing brand: William Murray Golf. The brand, founded by the famous actor and his brothers, is deliberately a bit off-kilter (sensing a theme here?) As Murray himself puts it, “let’s be honest here, golf can be stuffy and somewhat boring… [we] introduce fun and irreverence to the game of golf.”RELATED: Bill Murray Exposes The Duality Of Man With Offbeat Double-Wristed Watch Flex
L-R: Macklemore wearing a Bogie Boys shirt from their upcoming 2021 collection; Tyler, the Creator in Lacoste and Golf Wang in 2019; Bill Murray at the 2018 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament.
Something all these golf brands/collaborations have in common is that they aim to open up the traditionally very exclusive, conservative world that is golf to new blood. People who may have previously been put off by golf’s uptight image are discovering, through their favourite celebrities, that it can also be a fun, irreverent and – shock, horror – cool sport to play.RELATED: The Best Golf Gifts For Men Who Love A Bit Of Fore PlayEven if you see these sorts of celebrity golf ventures as superficial, it’s hard to deny that getting new blood into the sport isn’t a bad thing. If Drake putting his logo on some golf clubs inspires some kids to take a second look at the sport, who knows? We could end up with a new Greg Norman on our hands…Speaking of, we put some of The Great White Shark’s most radical fitness advice to the test ourselves and found out that it’s actually pretty genius. Read that story here.

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