Netflix, the hugely popular video streaming service, has just announced it will be introducing an ad-supported tier for $6.99 a month, for those looking to spend less on their on-demand video viewing habits. But the overarching question that really has to be asked is “what the f**k are you thinking?”

Ad-supported streaming services are nothing new. YouTube is a prime example, but because we regularly get the option to skip the adverts, coupled with the fact we come to expect the ads before watching whatever it is we want to watch, we accept it. YouTube does offer a paid Premium service which removes the ads entirely, and to be charged for this is perfectly fair.

But Netflix, which has always promised zero adverts, no matter which tier you subscribed to, whether it be Basic, Standard or Premium, has proven ridiculously popular with consumers. So, to now offer a new, slightly more affordable plan WITH ads and WITHOUT access to all Netflix content, just seems a little backwards, we think you can agree.

The Netflix Basic with Ads plan is set to launch in Australia on 4th November, along with 11 other countries including Canada, the UK and the US. Ads will be shown before AND during whatever it is you’re watching, with Netflix claiming there will be an “average of 4 to 5 minutes of ads per hour.”

Netflix has also said the Basic with Ads plan will only show content in 720p quality, which is lower than Full HD 1080p. For some, this won’t be cause for concern, but for true movie and TV buffs, the extra quality afforded by 1080p is worth it. Oh, and you won’t be able to download content to a mobile device for offline viewing either.

From November, Netflix will also be available in Australia from $6.99. Basic with Ads, Netflix’s new lower priced ad-supported plan. A plan for every fan! https://t.co/Qy1R8HyQpK

— Netflix ANZ (@NetflixANZ) October 13, 2022

To be honest, we’re struggling to see where the value in the new Basic with Ads plan lies. Technology commentator and host of the Technology Uncorked podcast, Geoff Quattromani agrees.

On the new plan, he told DMARGE, “Imagine sitting in a boardroom at Netflix and saying ‘Let’s make a new tier, with ads, with LESS content, in a low High Definition quality AND make it the same price as Amazon Prime.'”

“FYI Prime Video includes free shipping, Amazon Music and eBooks.” And on top of that, it also includes Ultra HD 4K content at no extra cost. Netflix charges $22.99 for the privilege.

“This new tier saving you a whole cup of coffee per month will play ads before and during your one moment of rest at the end of the week, it won’t show you content that your friends are all talking about seeing in the ‘premium tiers’ and you’ll be left considering why you don’t just watch 7Plus, 10Play or 9Now content which has movies, TV shows etc, with ads but without the monthly fee,” Geoff adds.

“I think the uptake will be poor, except the few wanting to see how the ad integration works, I think those that genuinely sign up as part of better budgeting in the home need to reconsider a lot more areas of their life also.”

“If $4 saving per month makes a difference in your life then take a lap of a Woolies car park and you’ll collect it on the floor quickly.”

Geoff Quattromani

But, we also proposed to Geoff that Netflix’s new tier could be a very clever marketing move, playing a psychological trick of sorts on consumers, to persuade them to stay on, or upgrade their current subscription.

To this, Geoff says, “I think the biggest thing they’ve done is reminded people of the other tiers available to customers. I was on the 4K $22 tier, cancelled because I saw the content I wanted, but then months later when I returned I only joined the Standard tier because there was no visible difference for everyday viewing. Saved money, no ads, same content library.”

Indeed, along with the new ad-supported tier, Netflix also quietly announced the $10.99 per month Basic plan will also have its content quality reduced from Full HD to 720p. This move is a little bit of a twisting of the knife, we feel, as it could be seen a move to encourage people to move up to the $16.99/month standard tier.

Netflix, to us at least, certainly has big cojones with this latest move. The service has previously announced it is contemplating charging users who share their account with people outside their household, and introduced price increases for standard and premium plans in 2021. When this happened, many users started migrating from the service to another that they felt offered better value.

• 23 Best Shows On Netflix Australia
• Best Movies On Netflix Australia 2022

The post Netflix Introduces “Bewildering” $6.99 Ad-Supported Subscription Plan appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Pharrell Williams has been one of the most influential and successful hip-hop artists of all time… And as such, he’s accumulated quite a lot of bling over his long career. Now he’s decided to get rid of it – including quite a few very expensive watches.

The 49-year-old rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer has just launched his very own auction house, called Joopiter, and he’s kicking things off with a huge auction of his own possessions called Son of a Pharoah.

“Joopiter is about letting go of the past. Of EVERYTHING,” Pharrell explains.

“[It’s] recognizing that I felt a compulsion and responsibility to hold on to what has passed and am setting myself free… For the beginning of a new era.”

Pharrell Williams

The auction itself is bonkers, and includes everything from rare sneakers, Louis Vuitton trunks, plenty of jewellery and even a gold-plated Blackberry phone. But it’s the watches that we’re most interested in and it’s also the watches that represent some of the priciest items in the collection.

Here’s a few of the highlights.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar

“I’m wearing Bathing Ape kicks, Audemars Piguet wrist.” Starting things off, we’ve got this clearly well-loved Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. There are actually four different APs in this auction, but this one is easily the coolest (and also the most expensive).

One of only 34 examples that AP produced in platinum, this highly complicated take on the Swiss watchmaker’s iconic luxury sports watch features an openworked dial with a full perpetual calendar plus moonphase indicator.

Joopiter estimate this Royal Oak will go for between US$275,000 – $375,000. You’ll only be able to afford a room without a roof if you splash out on this one.

RELATED: It’s About To Become Much Easier To Get An Audemars Piguet Watch

Casio G-Shock × BAPE DW-6900 “Unauthorized”

Without Pharrell, A Bathing Ape (better known as BAPE) would probably never be known in the West. Pharrell was absolutely obsessed with the cult Japanese streetwear brand, which was founded by DJ and tastemaker Nigo (he was in the Teriyaki Boyz!) To this day, Pharrell and Nigo are very close, with the former still boosting his clothes and producing his music.

Pharrell and BAPE are peak 00s and this is the most 00s watch ever. As the name implies, Pharrell took this BAPE x G-Shock and got its case redone in 14ct yellow gold and then flooded out with diamonds by the famous jeweller, Jacob Arabo (who would go on to found Jacob & Co.)

In addition to the flooded bezel and case, the back is also frosted with a diamond-studded caricature of Pharrell, borrowed from the album art of his 2006 record, In My Mind. Auction estimate? US$17,500 – $27,500. There’s also a white gold version up for grabs, too.

Jacob & Co. 5 Time Zone Royal Collection

Many of the pieces in the Son of a Pharoah auction have either been made by or customised by Jacob Arabo, who became famous as the go-to jeweller for rappers throughout the 90s and 00s, with artists like The Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, Kanye West and of course Pharrell all being regular customers of the celebrity bling-dealer.

This particular 2005 example of Jacob’s popular 5 Time Zone watch features an 18ct white gold case and is paved with over 300 white diamonds across the face, bezel and case. Indeed, this is actually edition 001 of the watch, increasing its rarity.

The perfect statement piece for the globe-trotting rapper, the auction estimate for this outrageous watch is US$250,000 – $350,000.

RELATED: Why The ‘Ugliest Watch Ever Made’ Will Sell Like Hotcakes

Chopard Imperiale

Last but by no means least, we have this Chopard Imperiale, which has an eye-watering auction estimate of US$300,000 – $500,000. Like the previous Jacob & Co. piece, it’s completely diamond-covered… But Chopard is a storied, respected Swiss jeweller of the highest calibre – hence the higher price.

As the listing puts it, “while everyone was out here with bustdown Rollies and mega-millimetre bezels, Pharrell was already onto the next time zone. No aftermarket mods here, this Chopard Imperiale came from the factory with a modestly sized 18ct white gold dial and bezel, paved with a stunning array of baguettes.”

RELATED: Justin Bieber’s Latest ‘Outrageous’ Rolex Flex Imparts Timeless Truth About Watch Investing

These insane watches – as well as plenty of other lavish possessions of Pharrell’s – will be going under the hammer in 5 days’ time. Check out all the lots here.

• Pharrell Williams Shows You How To Wear A $1,000,000 Watch With Leopard Print
• King Charles Has One Of The Most Unique Watch Collections Ever

The post Pharrell Williams Is Flogging Off His Absolutely Mental Watch Collection appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From early next year, parental leave is increasing to 20 weeks. This has sparked calls for companies to encourage parental leave ‘equity’ to get rid of the stigma around men taking leave. But how do men feel about this? And what’s it like taking parental leave? DMARGE spoke to a bunch of Australian guys who’ve done it, to learn about the pressures, pitfalls and perks of taking parental leave.

In light of the news that parental leave is being bumped up to 20 weeks in early 2023, Studio 10 yesterday had a fiery discussion about why many men don’t feel like they are able to take all of it.

Host Tristan Macmanus said that when he had his kid, he didn’t feel comfortable taking 20 weeks off due to the nature of the industry he worked in.

“Obviously I don’t feel like I can take 20 weeks off in a year,” he said. When asked: “Why not?” he said “Well, that’s TV, or that’s radio, or that’s whatever industry that you’re in.”

“It’s one thing saying: ‘We’re happy to do this’ and ‘you know what, we’re progressive and we want to help everyone’… It’s very well to say that but it just depends on what’s the actuality of what’s happening or not. It looks better for a company to write down: ‘We’ll give you everything that you need,’ but it’s another thing to be actually living that.”

“If it were up to me, both parents would get 20 weeks off. But it’s not the reality of it.”

Tristan Macmanus

“We can’t just say it’s women who want this to happen. Everyone does, but there is a reality in the society that we live in that it’s not [always] possible.”

When another panel member put it to him that this is what the latest change is all about, he clarified: “I’m fully onboard with it, I’m just saying if this is the chance we have then… it has to be actions not just words and I feel as though it’s still words.”

I was fortunate enough with both my kids that I was able to take parental leave and absolutely loved it. And no, it didn’t impact my career negatively, quite the opposite.

— Geoff Quattromani (@GQuattromani) October 12, 2022

Speaking of putting your money where your mouth is, DMARGE spoke to Geoff Quattromani, who works for a large healthcare company, and who told DMARGE that taking parental leave was actually beneficial for his career.

“I have a day job, then I do all this tech stuff on the side,” Mr Quattromani explained. “In my day job, they offered me 8 weeks of parental leave when I had my first kid. I think it was 12 [weeks] by the time I had my second. Honestly, it’s the best thing ever – someone telling you that you don’t have to use your annual leave and you can freely take that time when you want to, in whatever increments that you want to as well.”

Mr Quattromani said he understands why the stigma exists (“For the guy, it’s not like the mother who just literally had a baby”), but he is reckons it’s beyond time we get over it – for the good of both men and women alike.

Mr Quattromani told us he used his first month off to help out after the birth to help his wife feed and care for his kid and his second month off towards the six month mark: “Where the baby was a bit more playful, a bit more enjoyable instead of you just worrying about keeping it alive.”

Mr Quattromani told us: “I broke mine up into two sections because after that first month we felt like we got the hang of what we were doing. Once we got in a rhythm I didn’t feel bad going back to work.”

He also said that taking a month doesn’t have to be that big of a deal (while recognising that he was in a fortunate situation): “The reality was I wasn’t going to be replaced. During that month there were measures in place to ensure my work could continue, or if it was not important it could be on pause for that month. It actually was a positive thing in a lot of ways.”

“It actually worked out better for me because while I was away, yes things continued to hum along, but when I did return it was an example for other males in the organisation to do the same.”

“That exposure, especially when you work in a very large company and you start getting in front of town halls to say ‘this is what I did,’ it actually was a good thing in terms of my career and what it allowed me to do from an exposure point of view – it’s massive.”

“I think anyone should be doing it. Why wouldn’t you?”

Geoff Quattromani

“I don’t want to sound arrogant in a way but I think if someone is sitting at their desk worried that if they take four weeks off it’s going to impact their career, then maybe they’re not very good.”

“If you’re so nervous that you think if you’re away from your email and everything else for four weeks that they’re going to realise we don’t need this person anymore, then maybe that’s already the reality and you just hiding behind that.”

“Women take sometimes a year off and they still come back to their job, they still keep working.” Mr Quattromani said. He also said we need more guys doing this, and indeed they are: “By the time I had my second, my first is now four, the second time it was [considered] a lot more normal.”

“It’s not uncommon for someone to take time off to be there for their baby. It sounds so weird now to think back when I was born: I think my dad was there but was he there the next day? I have no idea. That was the reality, sometimes they just got a message while they were at work saying congrats you’ve had a boy…”

“Now it’s much more normal. I wish I could have taken more.”

“I haven’t been there for everything. I remember I was at an event, and I got a video from my wife of my son taking his first steps. I wasn’t there and it was because I chose to go to a product launch and have a glass of wine and I was like, ‘Oh bugger.'”

“You go out for a couple of drinks and suddenly your son starts walking. The chance to be there for those sorts of opportunities, if your workplace offers it, I think you should take it.”

Geoff Quattromani

“The more the better. The increase is great [because it gives you options]. You might want to do it together and learn how to parent together and that’s great. Also, if the lady wants to go back to work soon or sooner because maybe her job is more important than your job, you should be able to step up [at parenting]. The gender part shouldn’t matter anymore, it should just be the same.”

“What if two men adopt a kid? Should they not get time for bonding? Of course, they should.”

As for his best advice, for any men about to take parental leave, Mr Quattromani said: “Planning ahead was the biggest thing.” Just think of it like a (sleepless) trip to Europe…

“You’ve got a 9-month window for when you need to plan for that, so start that conversation early – say look the baby is due in such and such month; I’m thinking about taking some of my parental leave. That’s usually a better tactic than taking all of it at once if your job is very critical.”

“You might say I’ll take four weeks here and then four weeks later on. Sit down and say, ‘Look I want to do this. I think it can work.’ Look at what you’re working on and work to end projects before or know who can carry them on to finish them while you’re on leave.”

“If you’re not having that conversation to plan it out you are being a bit negligent. You can’t leave it until the last minute”

Geoff Quattromani

Mr Quattromani also said there were a few things he did that helped ease the stress on both himself and his employer during the process of taking parental leave. The first was making his OOO pretty clear “to avoid email stress when you get back.” Specifically, Mr Quattromani recommends saying: “If it’s important please follow up” rather than leaving the onus on yourself to go through everything on your return. He also said that for him, “Checking in a couple of times” during his leave to have a light chat with his employer about how things are going on, was useful.

“I’m all for leave equity so long as there are no conditions around it – some companies say [men can take parental leave] only if the mother is going back to work – as if the company should care whether your partner is home or not!? But I have heard of that being a thing in some companies.”

“There are no second chances. You can watch your kid grow up through your phone or you can be there for them.”

Geoff Quattromani

Another Aussie bloke, Steven, who took six months of parental leave “during a pretty long lockdown in Victoria” told DMARGE that – though it was rough, due to the lockdown – it was a positive experience for him. He said: “I’m in the public service. [Taking parental leave] was definitely a positive move.”

“I found that my workplace was very supportive of me taking the leave, but definitely had a couple of conversations that were like: ‘We’re going to give it this job to someone else, given the other stuff you’ve got going on.’ For other blokes I’d say, be prepared for it to be a bit lonely, because a lot of the advice out there for stay-at-home parents is mum-focussed. You feel a bit invisible.”

“I think the fact that it has traditionally been viewed as a thing that is only available to mothers, rather than both parents, actually puts women at a disadvantage in the workplace as employers will always see maternal leave as a liability or risk that they have to take on when employing women, but not men. But if both mums and dads have equal parental leave entitlements, then that ‘risk’ is applied to both genders, and so it puts men and women on a more equal footing.”

DMARGE also spoke to Sach, a Melbourne man who is taking paternity leave this month. He told us: “I’m not entirely happy with my leave as it’s only for one week paid, my client company is giving 3 months paid leave.”

“I feel paternity leave should be minimum one month paid to help out my partner.”

Sach

Paul, another Aussie bloke, told DMARGE that he has had four kids, and the experience was different each time.

“My experience with the first couple was stressful as I was a new dad and had no idea how to navigate a new baby and my partner’s undiagnosed PND, work pushed me to only have a week or so which made things terribly difficult for the mother and myself.”

“It’s one thing in hindsight I should have pushed back on, and taken more time away from work.”

Paul

“For the last two I had about 3 weeks off for each of them, and that particular partner did a lot better with the kids, as did I. Work (different job, corporate) was understanding and happy to give me the time off, but I essentially had to be available to reach via phone to keep the cogs turning – which I didn’t mind all that much as I was rarely called.”

“A fuckload to catch up on when I returned though. Emails through the wazoo.”

Paul

Finally, DMARGE spoke to Aussie bloke Tyson, who told us: “It was incredible! You never get that time again with your kids and it’s rare for men to get it at all. Really helped build a great bond with my kids which we still have today and have only built on. Can’t recommend it enough.”

Tyson said he had “the usual concerns before” such as “time out of work hurting career progression, missing opportunities, etc.” but that ultimately they “didn’t hold me back at all.”

“If anything,” Tyson claimed, “[Taking paternity leave] gave me better perspective and has probably helped my career in a round about way. I now run a team of 50, deliver billion-dollar projects and just turned 40 six months ago.”

There you have it – an insight into what it’s like to take parental leave as an Aussie bloke. Good luck, and happy papoose prepping…

• How To Be A Fashionable Dad
• Cool Dads: The Secret To Attaining ‘Cool Dad’ Status

The post ‘Taking Paternity Leave Actually Helped My Career’ appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Over the last 20 years the superyacht industry has gone from “wild west” to “highly profesh”. To get an insight into how this happened, DMARGE spoke to Greg Newby, director of Superyacht Crew Academy.

When you think of superyachting, you may be liable to think of a red-faced billionaire flanked by models, snorting cocaine off a gold-plated tray, while sitting in a hot tub next to a helipad (jetskis and eFoils buzzing in the background). But the industry has changed a lot over the years. Now, according to Greg Newby (the director of Superyacht Crew Academy, and a guy who worked on superyachts for more than 15 years), unprofessional operators generally don’t last long. This is because, among other things, boats are getting bigger, and standards are getting higher.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Superyacht Crew Academy (@superyachtcrewacademy)

It wasn’t always like this, though. As Mr Newby explained, “superyachting took off in the early 2000s when it appeared in an article in the Lonely Planet, which basically said: ‘Go the the south of France and you can earn some quick cash while you are backpacking.’ I think that really lured in a lot of Australians and New Zealanders on their gap years.”

“It’s only got more and more popular since, but the yachts have got bigger and bigger and there are so many jobs now that really most people that turn up will land a job with or without experience.”

Greg Newby

Mr Newby added that there are certain entry-level qualifications that you need (that Superyacht Crew Academy provides), but really if you don’t have any boating or hospitality experience if you turn up and give it a go and stick it out you’ll get a foot in the door.”

“Once you get a foot in the door,” he added, “you’re away.” Mr Newby told DMARGE superyachting has becoming a mainstream aspiration partly due to social media, saying: “It’s become a lot more mainstream – pretty much everyone knows about it whereas 15 years ago it was just… you knew someone that knew someone that had made it over there, and you would just try and find out information by talking to friends.”

“Now all the information is out there. It’s more well known that if you want to finish high school and go do a bit of travelling and get paid you can do it.”

Mr Newby added: “It’s not so much the wild west anymore. There used to be fewer rules; more partying. I don’t know how I survived some of it. Now there’s definitely a lot more control over it because you’re talking about partying on these yachts that are travelling in the sea – obviously, there’s a lot of danger to go along with that.”

“Superyachting is a lot more heavily regulated. The rules in place are all there for safety reasons. If you can’t follow those rules then you don’t really last too long. Having said that, it’s still a ‘work hard, play hard’ environment.”

Greg Newby

“The biggest thing to have changed is the size of the yachts,” Mr Newby said. “When I first started there were a few superyachts around the 100m mark, and the majority were 60 or 70m. These days the majority are 90 metres plus.”

“There are a lot of yachts over 100m now, and some of these boats have 60-70 crew on them. You’re really just running a small hotel at that stage, so the personal side comes out of it. I try to stay on smaller yachts.”

Mr Newby also shared some of his stories from the earlier days in the superyachting industry, where he said people would “party like rockstars” with the money they made from tips. He said that on one charter boat he worked on, he had a safe, where he would put all of his tips. At the end of the season, he cracked it open and went through it. There were 18 thousand euros in there, from tips alone.

“When you’ve got 18,000 euros in tips, going and dropping $1,000 in a nightclub is just nothing.”

Greg Newby

“I met my wife on yachts and she’s got a lot of stories about certain American rappers and how they treat boats and getting banned from them – and moving onto the next one… and having the chief stew in the main guest cabin once because she jumped into bed with a rapper. Every day is bizarre.”

“I’ve heard stories of U2 coming on as guests and recording on these yachts. The bizarre just becomes normal, which is the weird thing about it.”

Greg Newby

Mr Newby continued: “Sometimes you just pinch yourself when you’re standing in a particular location next to some of the richest people in the world and you look around going: ‘What am I doing here?’ One minute I’m working on Dive Boats and just driving little tenders and next thing I’m standing next to Bill Gates or some Russian Oligarch or the captain’s given you the keys to the Bentley or Rolls Royce and you’ve got to run down to the carpark to drive it back up.”

“You’re sitting in this world that is just bizarre: you’re in the Monaco GP and getting invited to these ridiculous parties.” Mr Newby then went on to tell us about how he was in Athens on a yacht in 2004 and the owners “didn’t even turn up to anything” for the Olympics so “we had tickets to every single event.”

WATCH: How Much Superyacht Crew Get Paid

“We’d do a day of work, go up to the bridge and talk to the captain, and he’d give us tickets to whatever event was on and we would just go. It would have cost the owners hundreds of thousands of dollars and they didn’t even show up.”

Mr Newby also spoke to DMARGE about the demographic change (or the lack thereof) he has seen in superyachting. He said this aspect hasn’t actually changed as much as you might think, and owners can still largely be broken down into new money and old money.

“I think you’ve always had the nouveau riche – they’ve always been there and as a generalisation, they are the worst because they… don’t understand how to be rich. They really just expect everything rather than just trying to chill out.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Superyacht Crew Academy (@superyachtcrewacademy)

“There’s only so much a human can do and these yachts, although they are glamorous, the upkeep on them is huge. The amount it costs just to keep the thing afloat is millions of dollars every year and I don’t think the nouveau riche realise you have to spend millions to keep these things running.”

“When you work on a private yacht with billionaires generally it’s a lot more structured: there is definitely a difference between the rich and the super-rich.”

• How Much Superyacht Crews Really Get Paid
• Superyacht Captain Shares ‘Unbelievable’ High Sea Stories

The post ‘The Chief Stew Jumped Into Bed With A Rapper’: Superyacht Worker Spills Their Wildest Tales appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Cheating is, unfortunately, part of life. Whether it’s having a physical affair with someone else, or even an emotional one, it seems some of us just can’t be truly satisfied in a monogamous relationship. And now new research suggests that anti-f**kbois could actually become the person they hate, through that meddling phenomenon that is peer pressure.

Despite Ashley Madison’s best efforts to encourage affairs, it could actually be the influence of those around us that is more likely to make us cheat on our partners, according to new research unearthed by Vice. We often link peer pressure to encouraging things like drinking, smoking or Jackass-style stupid shit, but it appears it can have its links to more serious unethical behaviour, too.

The new study, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour in August 2022 discovered that being exposed to the infidelity of others caused people to be unfaithful in their own relationships.

The study consisted of three separate studies conducted on participants who were already in heterosexual monogamous relationships. They were then “exposed to others’ cheating behaviour and then had to think of, or encounter, attractive strangers.”

The first study saw undergraduate students, all of whom were in relationships of at least four months, watch one of two videos. One video suggested “infidelity was present in 86 percent of relationships,” and the second “suggested that it was present in 11 percent of relationships.” Students were then asked to write about a sexual fantasy, and the researchers evaluated the fantasies for “levels of desire towards the current and alternative partners.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Samantha Rothenberg (@violetclair)

In the second study, undergraduate students in relationships of at least 12 months were asked to read an account of either an actual act of infidelity, or another unethical behaviour, such as cheating on schoolwork. Following this, the participants were shown images of “attractive strangers of the opposite gender,” and asked whether they would see the strangers as potential partners.

The group who read about the actual act of infidelity responded “yes” to more images than the second group.

Ultimately, the researchers concluded, “Following exposure to others’ cheating behaviour, participants were less likely to devalue the attractiveness of alternative partners and to be committed to their relationship. These findings suggest that environments that foster a greater prevalence of infidelity lessen the motivation to protect the bond with the current partner, possibly setting the stage for unleashing the desire for alternative partners.”

In short, they were more likely to cheat, with the implication being that the exposure to cheating behaviour made the participants feel more ok with engaging in it themselves.

The study doesn’t reveal if the participants were male or female, but it was recently suggested that women are more likely to cheat than men. Although, the reasons for cheating differs between the genders. Men are said to commit adultery because they’ve fallen out of love with their partner, and so seek emotional intimacy with someone else.

Women, on the other hand, get bored of sexual sameness and so seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere, some studies have suggested.

DMARGE presented the findings of this study to Australia’s leading relationship expert, Samantha Jayne, to get her two cents as to whether she believes infidelity can indeed be contagious.

“I totally agree with this,” she begins.

“It all goes back to you are coloured by the company you keep. Think about it, if you spend time with fit people you get fit yourself; spend time with angry people and you get angry; happy people, you feel happy.”

“Cheaters, well you might start to justify that it’s ok if you listen to the story long enough and often enough. It’s like being sold to or peer group pressure when it comes to smoking or drinking. You think you are against it, but over time with enough pressure and justification, you can be influenced.”

“The mind tends to normalise things with enough exposure.”

Samantha Jayne

“Some people are also more likely to cheat, especially if they are driven by variety and adventure and if you get bored easily and if you look externally for excitement. Ideally, your relationship should never be your only source of variety and adventure, you need other things to stimulate you or it will collapse.”

But what if you really are a good person and are totally, 100 percent against cheating? Is it really impossible for you to be influenced by your scum bag friends? And if not, how do you survive the constant onslaught of peer pressure?

“Some people just can’t cheat, it’s not within them,” Samantha tells DMARGE. “If that is you, you don’t resonate with cheaters and, therefore, move away from the cheaters who are not aligned with you and gravitate to those who are.”

“If you’re not ‘one of the lads’ and you’re not ok with observing the cheating, then you should have the confidence to speak your truth.”

“It is up to that person as to how they do this, and maybe it’s an opportunity to give the cheaters your perspective and remove yourself from the drama. The problem with being around a cheater is, if people find out about them, then you will likely be branded with the same brush.” I.e., external people will just assume you are a cheater too.

“So maybe have a ‘man up’ chat with your friend, maybe they are not even thinking because they have so much support from the lads. Either way, whatever you decide to do, make sure you stay true to yourself.”

“If you’re ok with it, then you’re ok with it. If you’re not, then say something and find aligned, honest people.”

• Should I Leave My Significant Other? Here Are The Subtle Signs It’s Over
• Why Cheaters Don’t Stop Cheating, According To Science

The post Cheating May Be Contagious, Study Finds appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Sergio Ramos may not be likely to head to the upcoming world cup with Spain, but he has at least finally found some form at PSG. The latest workout he posted to Instagram shows how he is keeping himself fit, and will – we’d wager – leave many strikers shaking in their boots.

Sergio Ramos is a warrior. An old-school defender with a bit of bite, many traditional Spain supporters are still holding out hope he will make a surprise last-minute entry into La Furia Roja come world cup time. Though – according to Spanish football experts Phil Kitromilides and Sid Lowe – this is highly unlikely (due to Ramos’ age and the dip in form he suffered when he first left Madrid for PSG), it hasn’t stopped him focussing on the here and now.

WATCH: Sergio Ramos’ ‘Champions League’ Workout

What does focussing on the here and now comprise? Getting as fit and strong as possible, and absolutely smashing it every time he puts on a PSG shirt. Case in point: Ramos took to Instagram on Tuesday, posting a video of a tough-looking (and predominately upper body) workout. He captioned the video: “Ready for the Champions League.”

The iconic (former) Madrid number four then hammered out sets of single-arm overhead presses, weighted pull-ups, lateral raises and dips. He also did an unconventional exercise where he pumped his arms as if sprinting, while holding dumbells.

Commenters on Instagram weighed in with quips like: “ready for your next red card” and “the machine of defense.”

RELATED: Sergio Ramos Breaks Gym Taboo With Dramatic Floor Shattering Workout

Though you might expect a football player to focus more on their lower body than their arms, you have to remember this is Ramos we are talking about – the guy who put Liverpool’s (at the time) unstoppable Mo Salah out of action in the 22nd minute of the 2018 Champions League final with what some called a Judo move (Ramos denied it was overly foul play, telling media in the aftermath of the incident: “I am only missing Roberto Firmino saying he got a cold because a drop of my sweat landed on him”).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sergio Ramos (@sergioramos)

In any case, Ramos’ fitness regime seems to be working. He is now getting regular game time at PSG, and his team recently drew 1-1 against Benfica in the early hours of this morning in their Champions League clash (they are currently top of Group H, with a healthy 8 points).

Just another day in the life of a defensive superstar.

• Sergio Ramos’ Chastity Belt Workout Could Be Your Ticket To Killing Chicken Legs
• Sergio Ramos Joins 2021’s Most Controversial Activewear Club

The post Sergio Ramos’ Latest Workout Will Have Strikers Fearing For Their Lives appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The cult-favourite Japanese watch brand has just unveiled its first-ever Australian exclusive limited edition – and it’s not only stunning but has a very fitting, very Australian backstory.

It’s called the Grand Seiko SBGJ269, and it features a unique pink dial inspired by the pink flannel flower (Actinotus forsythii), a rare perennial flower that’s most commonly found in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It’s a somewhat obscure Australian native, but one that’s highly symbolic.

As Grand Seiko themselves put it, “the pink flannel flower is a symbol of the Australian spirit of resilience. It blooms under rainfall in the season following bushfires to bring new life and new colour to landscapes scorched at the hand of bushfires. It is a sign of rebirth and renewal that showcases nature’s ability to overcome adversity.”

We think that’s a beautiful sentiment, as well as one that’s really representative of Australia. It’s a touching and solemn tribute to the agony we as a nation experienced during the recent 2019-2020 bushfires… Beauty out of adversity.

We Aussie Grand Seiko fans have been lusting after our very own limited edition release for years – so to have one that’s so considered; so appropriate for Australians, is a real gift.

Aesthetically, the SBGJ269 (might just be easier to call it the ‘Pink Flannel’) is a knockout. Grand Seiko do dials better than any other watchmaker, and the Pink Flannel’s is lovely: subtly textured and coloured, at some angles it appears almost white, but then the light catches it and the vivid pink shines through.

The pop of red from its GMT hand, which reflects the colour of pink flannel flower buds just before they bloom, is a lovely contrast… As is the mirror shine of its softly contoured 39.5mm stainless steel case, which has been Zaratsu polished to a distortion-free finish.

A GMT complication is also perfectly suited to Australia, too. Not only do we love to travel, but we’re a multicultural nation – most of us have family overseas many time zones away, so to have a uniquely Australian watch we can use to stay connected to loved ones across the globe is very fitting.

Under the hood beats Grand Seiko’s in-house Caliber 9S86: a high-beat conventional automatic movement with a 55-hour power reserve and 30m of water resistance. Unlike many Grand Seiko models, there’s no graphic adorning the sapphire crystal caseback, which means you can fully admire the brilliantly-finished movement in all its glory.

Now we Aussies are a canny bunch, so I suspect you want to know the price. It’s AU$10,600, which actually is rather reasonable. Honestly, it just ticks all the boxes as far as I’m concerned.

There’s only one negative about the Pink Flannel: it’s limited to only 50 pieces. We guess if you’re going to make a limited edition, it truly has to be limited… But seeing how strong demand was at the launch event for the watch (a sumptuous dinner at the Sydney Opera House’s famous Bennelong restaurant, probably the most iconic restaurant in Australia), we’d be very surprised if all 50 weren’t already accounted for.

This landmark Grand Seiko Australian exclusive will be available from October 24th at Australian Grand Seiko boutiques and select Australian retail partners. It’s currently live on Grand Seiko’s online boutique if you want to have a geez.

• The New ‘Holy Trinity’ Taking The Watch World By Storm
• Grand Seiko Makes A Splash At Their First Watches & Wonders

The post Grand Seiko’s Latest Watch Pays Tribute To Australia’s Bushfires appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

George Kambosos Jr. is a Greek-Australian professional boxer who is currently ranked as the number one lightweight boxer in the world by The Ring and TBRB. BoxRec currently ranks him as the third best lightweight boxer in the world.

Beginning his boxing career in 2013, George Kambosos has made his way up the ranks and is now set to fight American boxer Devin Haney in a rematch on Saturday 15th October 2022 (Sunday 16th October in Australia).

Much of the world’s – and undoubtedly Australia’s – attention will be on Kambosos at the weekend, so before the big rematch, it’s time you learned all about George Kambosos and his rise to boxing stardom.

George Kambosos Jr Quick Facts

Name: George Kambosos Jr.
Age: 29
DoB: 14 June 1993
Nationality: Greek-Australian
Height: 5 feet 8 1/2 inches / 174cm
Weight: 134.49lbs (last weigh-in) / Lightweight
Reach: 69 inches / 173cm
Net Worth: $1.5 million (estimated)
Instagram: @georgekambososjr – 535k followers

Who is George Kambosos Jr.?

George Kambosos was born in Sydney, New South Wales and initially started playing rugby league for the Gymea Gorillas at a young age. He was actually deemed to be overweight as a child, and so his father persuaded him to take up boxing classes to help shift some weight, when he was just 11 years old. He lost the weight, and soon enrolled with the Cronulla Sharks rugby league development squad.

But, having found an interest in boxing, he had to choose which sport he wanted to pursue. He ultimately settled on boxing and soon racked up 85 wins out of 100 fights, before turning professional.

George Kambosos Jr. professional boxing career

Kambosos won his May 2013 debut professional fight against Jayson Mac Gura via a second round technical knockout. Three years later, Kambosos secured himself the WBA Oceania championship when he beat world number nine Brandon Ogilvie. On a continued run of success, George Kambosos defeated Qamil Balla and Krai Setthaphon in 2017, the latter securing him the WBA Oceania and IBF Pan Pacific lightweight championships.

Recognising his serious talent, Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao selected Kambosos to be his sparring partner in June 2017 and in 2019, Kambosos fought on the undercard of Pacquiao’s fight against Adrien Broner at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Kambosos won his fight against Rey Perez.

WATCH: George Kambosos Jr Prepares For His Fight Against Lee Selby

George Kambosos racked up yet more victories, against IBF lightweight champion Mickey Bey and IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby, in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Upon beating Selby, George Kambosos became the mandatory fighter for the IBF lightweight championship, which he eventually contested on November 27, 2021 against Teófimo López following complications that arose due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

George Kambosos won the fight via split decision, thus becoming the new unified lightweight world champion.

George Kambosos vs Teófimo López

George Kambosos challenged American boxer Teófimo López on November 27, 2021 at the Hulu Theatre at Madison Square Garden. The fight lasted the full 12 rounds and had to go to a judge’s decision.

Kambosos was named victorious, with two of the three judges scoring in favour of Kambosos 115-111 and 115-112. The third judge scored in favour of López 114-113.

George Kambosos vs Devin Haney

One of the biggest boxing matches of George Kambosos’ career took place on 5 June 2022 when he squared up against American boxer Devin Haney at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. The winner would become the first undisputed lightweight champion of the four-belt era.

Kambosos actually weighed over the legal limit at his weigh-in, by just 0.36lbs. However, just an hour later he weighed-in again and came in under the limit at 134.49lbs. The fight went again, but Kambosos unfortunately lost by unanimous decision. But, due to a clause in the contract for the fight, an automatic rematch between the pair was agreed upon.

When is George Kambosos’ next fight?

Because George Kambosos exercised his right for an automatic rematch with Devin Haney, he is now due to take on the American boxer once again on Saturday 15th October at 10.30pm E.T. / Sunday 16th October at 12.30pm A.E.S.T.

The fight between Kambosos and Haney will take place in Australia, at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia. Once again, all lightweight championship belts will be on the line, these being the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring.

George Kambosos Jr net worth?

According to Essentially Sports, George Kambosos’ net worth stands at around US$1.5 million. However, Sporting News adds that he earned a guaranteed purse of $10 million for his first fight with Devin Haney.

George Kambosos Jr record

George Kambosos Jr currently has an impressive fight record. He has currently competed in 21 fights, wining 20 and losing 1. George Kamboso’ full fight record is as follows:

• Fights: 21
• Wins: 20
  • Wins by KO: 10
  • Wins by Decision: 10
• Losses: 1
• Draws: 0

George Kambosos wife & family

George Kambosos Jr is engaged to Bec Pereira. Bec said yes to George’s proposal on 12th August 2022, and together, they have 3 children; daughter Evaliah and sons Leonidas and Santiago. Judging by an Instagram post on Bec’s Instagram, the couple have been together for over 7 years.

• Who Is Harry Garside? The Australian Boxer Pushing For Social Change
• Who Is Martin Nguyen? The Australian MMA Fighter Competing In Asia

The post Who Is George Kambosos Jr? Next Fight, Career, Devin Haney & More appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Good things come in small packages – BMW has just pulled the covers off the second-generation M2, and it looks to be a proper pocket rocket.

The first-generation M2 was one of the best-regarded performance cars BMW has ever made. The German brand’s tagline has long been ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’ and the M2 fits that philosophy perfectly: a compact, rear-wheel drive coupé with a big engine, no bullshit and plenty of smiles per gallon.

Even the story of its creation is the stuff of legends. A secret passion project put together by a skunkworks at BMW’s M department that grabbed all the best bits from BMW’s range to save costs and smushed them into an improbably small chassis – then unveiled when the boss was on holidays, forcing his hand to bring it to market – the first-gen M2 is already a future classic.

In short, it’s a tough act to follow. Thankfully, the new M2 doesn’t just look like a fitting successor, but it’s flying the flag for small performance cars at a time when fewer and fewer of them are making their way to market.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by DMARGE (@dmarge)

So, some stats. It’s powered by a 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six, which is good for 338kW/550Nm plus a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds. The engine is actually an S58, the same engine that goes into the new M3/M4… Although the new M2 is almost a foot shorter than the M3.

Two things we particularly love about it: the fact you can get it with either an eight-speed auto or a six-speed manual… And that boxy kidney grille. Very different to the new M3 and M4 (which we happen to love as well, truth be told). We reckon it’s the best-looking car BMW’s made in years, too.

RELATED: The Simple Solution To BMW’s Big Grille Problem

The new BMW M2 is expected to be the final fully petrol M car… And what a fitting send-off.⁠ Where other brands are falling out of love with small performance cars (think Ford discontinuing the Fiesta ST or Subaru not making an STI variant of the new WRX), BMW is still flying the flag for compact thrills.

It’ll be priced from AU$119,000 before on-road costs – $17,000 more than the previous M2 Competition – and will hit dealerships in early 2023. Honestly, we can’t think of another car we’ve wanted to drive more… You can bet your bottom dollar we’ll be getting into one ASAP. Watch this space.

• BMW’s New M3 Made Me Reconsider The #1 Sports Car Must-Have
• BMW’s New Electric Luxury ‘Barge’ Should Have Mercedes-Benz Nervous

The post The New BMW M2 Is The Last Of A Dying Breed appeared first on DMARGE Australia.