From Virgin Australia’s purple disco to Etihad’s $27,000 larger than life ‘The Residence‘ suite (or should we say, palace-like room), the aviation giants of 2020 all offer products and experiences that will unhinge your jaw.

But even as technology progresses and we make leaps and bounds in comfort that would put the Marquis de Sade to shame, sometimes we find ourselves thinking: the modern flying experience lacks a bit of soul.

Whether it’s first-class passengers complaining about the little known ‘stressors‘ at the front of the plane or the business class ‘cone of trust‘ being pricked, life at The Pointy End is not as idyllic as it seems.

But things were not always this way. Business and first-class passengers were not always submitted to the whims of rowdy passengers attempting to break David Boone’s record for Martinis across the pacific.

Not to mention: seats were not always measured in terms of “ergonomics” but actually had a little culture (or is it only that we see the value of their culture looking back on them?). In any case: chicken edamame salad was not always a ~thing~.

Whisky was drunk but the passengers weren’t.

A romanticised vision of the past? Sure. But there’s a grain of truth in many stereotypes and this is one of them. In fact, if the following images of the golden era of aviation, recently posted to Instagram by Car & Vintage, are anything to go by, flying in the 60s and 70s was a dream come true.

 

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A post shared by Car&Vintage (@car_vintage) on Jun 27, 2020 at 12:11am PDT

Car & Vintage, an account dedicated to cars, art and people with 563k followers, captioned the post as following: “The golden era of aviation. The 10 best vintage plane interiors of all time, from 1960/70.”

“Which one would you choose?”

From spacious fruit platters and jaundiced yellow 60s colour schemes (and, naturally, oodles of space) to whole legs of (what appears to be) Spanish Iberico ham, some of these jets rival the private plane experiences of today.

They might not be as flashy, but there’s a touch of class you don’t get anymore.

Of course, you had to be rich back then to fly at all, which perhaps explains why the experience was so nice across the board.

Interestingly, as Insider notes, as it became more and more common (relative to decades prior), flying was more relaxed in the 1960s: “Passengers didn’t dress up as much as before, though still looked nicer than we do today.”

“Passengers flying in the 1960s could also fly without any form of ID. That meant that they could just show up to the airport half an hour before departure and walk straight up to the gate. Even loved ones could walk all the way to the gate without a ticket to send people on their way,” Insider also notes and “Security screenings didn’t become mandatory until 1973.”

“Even those were highly relaxed compared to the airport security we go through today.”

As for the 70s, the start of the “Jumbo Jet” era (which made the skies accessible for millions of travelers who previously couldn’t afford it), as you can see in the above photos, even though jets became closer to what we sit in today, “there was plenty of legroom and flight attendants catering to passengers’ every need,” (Insider).

“From 1970 to around 1974, American Airlines even featured a piano lounge in the rear of their 747s, while Pan Am’s 707 Clipper was advertised as being ‘vibration-free.'”

Though technology has moved on, with the current global pandemic shuttering most leisure travellers jet setting hopes for the near future and potentially making globetrotting more expensive in the future, questions are now being asked as to whether, like the predicted imminent hotel industry renaissance, we could now see a return of (or a shift back towards) the golden era of travel – including both the good (exclusivity) and the bad (prices).

Read Next

• The Day I Realised The Golden Age Of Business Class Travel Was Over
• Embarrassing Mistakes Business Class Travellers Make When Flying Economy

The post Stunning 1960s Photos Emerge Showing 'Lost' Golden Era Of Aviation appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The problem with celebrities and cars is that they’ve got enough money to buy whatever they want, and enough power that people can’t say no to them when they want to do dumb sh*t.

Some notable offenders include will.i.am, who has a stable of terrible custom jobs; Conor McGregor putting his own face on his car; or Khloe Kardashian’s velvet Range Rover. Many of these crimes against metalwork have been courtesy of Burbank, California shop West Coast Customs, made (in)famous by the 00s MTV show Pimp My Ride.

Justin Bieber’s also been a frequent customer of West Coast Customs, and has commissioned some truly tacky rides over the years: most of them painted matte black. We’re not a big fan of matte black cars here at DMARGE – they only suit a very particular type of driver.

The Canadian pop star’s been at it again, having just sent his 2018 Lamborghini Urus to be done up by West Coast Customs. Previously he’d wrapped the Italian SUV in a bright pink wrap, which looked sh*t. This time, however, he’s kept things a little lowkey (by his standards), and debuted a more subtle matte treatment that actually looks halfway decent.

Bieber was spotted near his LA home behind the wheel of his freshly finished Urus, which sports a matte salmon pink vinyl wrap courtesy of the West Coast Custom boys.

We’re not a huge fan of the colour on this car (granted, it’s better than the bright pink), but the wrap is impeccably done.

As a rule, most vinyl wrapped cars you see on the streets look like they were done by a toddler – all bubbly, garish and ill-fitting. This Urus is an exception to that rule.

Powered by a 4.0L twin-turbo V8, the Urus is the spiritual successor to Lamborghini’s insane 1986 LM002 off-roader, developed for military use. The Urus is a far more performance-oriented beast, putting out a hearty 478kW (641hp), yet remains the closest thing to a ‘daily driver’ Lambo makes. It’s been a popular ride for celebrities, with Kanye West, Cardi B, and Kendall Jenner all other proud owners.

Hats off to West Coast Customs for such a clean job on the Urus, which couldn’t have been an easy car to wrap with all its harsh angles.

Read Next

• I Took A $400,000 Lamborghini Urus To A $2 Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
• Justin Bieber’s Oversized Sunglasses Could Be The Next Big Thing In Men’s Eyewear

The post Justin Bieber Lamborghini: Singer’s SUV Could Have This Summer's Coolest Custom Wrap appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Emirates’ first and business class customers can once again enjoy chauffeur services and the airport lounge experience in Dubai, with the re-instating of these services today taking effect.

Though seasoned Pointy End travellers have come to take these perks for granted, for those of us who only fly business occasionally, they are a little bit ‘extra’ (try walking into the Dubai lounge without thinking: ‘holy sh*t’).

Especially considering no-one has benefitted from them for the last few months, those who can now make use of them now will surely be appreciative.

The return of lounges and chauffeur services follows a health and safety review and comes as demand for air travel through Dubai continues to (slowly) climb.

To resume these services, much like when Emirates co-ordinated with the Dubai authorities to become the first airline in the world to introduce COVID pre-flight blood tests back in April, Emirates says it has implemented a “comprehensive” set of measures at every step of the customer journey to ensure the safety of its customers and employees.

To start, the Dubai flagship carrier will open one lounge in Terminal 3 Concourse B, Dubai International Airport (DXB) to serve First Class, Business Class and eligible Emirates Skywards members from 10am on the 1st of July (with more to follow around the world in the next few months).

Lounge guests will enter through biometric gates using facial recognition to reduce contact, and the 9,209 square metre space in DXB will offer Emirates’ premium customers a quiet haven to relax and recharge prior to their flights, with a reduced seating capacity and increased space between each occupied seat to aid social distancing.

Masks are mandatory, too.

“Lounge facilities and amenities have been modified to ensure customer comforts are offered in keeping with the highest health and safety standards, reducing contact and risk of infection,” Emirates says.

In keeping with this focus on hygine, “Food in the lounge are now offered in hygienically sealed meal boxes, including vegetarian options, instead of a buffet offering” and “complimentary beverages, including spirits, will be offered in single serve bottles” Emirates has announced.

Finally, “the lounge will be sanitised and fumigated at the end of each day” and “throughout the day, lounge employees will sanitise each seat and table after each customer leaves” whilst wearing PPE.

The chauffeur service is back as of today too, in Dubai and other cities.

New rules will see the cars cleaned and disinfected inside and out at the end of each shift, the drivers in Dubai wearing masks and gloves, and stringent checks to ensure drivers are fit for work.

The “high touch” points of the vehicle (think: door handles and luggage) will be sanitised at the end of the trip, and child car seats are available on request (and are disinfected and then shrink wrapped after each use).

In addition, “Each car will be limited to 3 customers and masks are mandatory for passengers in Dubai,” the airline says, and larger vehicles, which can accommodate 4 passengers, are available on request.

At the airport, multiple measures continue to ensure the health and safety of travellers including the distribution of complimentary hygiene kits containing masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes to all customers. Dubai International airport also employs enhanced disinfecting and deep cleaning throughout the terminal.

All these changes come in a context where the Emirates network serves over 50 destinations, facilitating additional travel options through a convenient connection in Dubai for customers across the world, while undertaking full on measures to ensure the health and safety of customers and employees.

Also of note is customers from Emirates’ network (whose countries will let them) will also now be able to travel to Dubai as the city opens for business and leisure visitors from the 7th of July, with new air travel protocols that facilitate travel for UAE citizens, residents and tourists while safeguarding the health and safety of visitors and communities.

Read Next

• Super Rich Traveller Gives You Sneak Peek Into Incredible $200 Million Jet
• Take A Virtual Tour Inside Emirates’ Amazing First Class On-Board Lounge

The post Emirates Chauffeur Drive: Airline Brings Back Premium Perks For Passengers Brave Enough To Travel appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Many people wear nice watches just to stunt on people, but the best watch flexes are subtle ones; ‘if you know, you know’. And Tudor perhaps embodies this attitude more than any other watch brand.

Founded in 1926 by Hans Wildorf, the founder of Rolex, Tudor from the get-go developed fantastically reliable, beautiful Swiss watches at a more accessible price than their Rolex stablemates, earning the moniker ‘the everyman’s Rolex’. That’s not to say Tudors are just ‘bargain Rolexes’, however – Tudor as a brand has a distinct identity and are well-regarded in their own right.

Freed from the sometimes-stuffy connotations of the Rolex name, Tudor watches are more experimental and youthful than their Rolex brothers. Indeed, many Tudor models feature technical innovations before they make their way to Rolexes, and some are unique to the Tudor range: they’re that good.

Already starting on such a high note back in ’26, Tudor have gone on to develop a reputation for exceptional technical watches, their models making their ways to the wrists of American, French and South African military operators; British polar explorers; and celebrities like John Mayer and Will Smith, just to name a few.

Tudor has always been a highly-regarded brand in Australia – during the brand’s financial troubles in 90s, Tudor was forced to pull out of many overseas markets, but its popularity in Australia helped keep the heritage brand afloat.

In 1969, Tudor introduced a divers’ watch with a blue dial and bezel. The other sports watches in the collection were soon attired in blue, immediately creating a lasting aesthetic hallmark known as ‘Tudor Blue’. Tudor was adopted by the French Navy in the 70s, and started a long tradition of naval association for Tudor.

Tudor’s newest release, the Black Bay Fifty-Eight “Navy Blue” follows in this tradition with its stylish navy blue dial and bezel insert. The deep navy blue perfectly complements the classic technical design of the watch, letting its crisp details really pop (as you’ll see, further down, on Beckham’s wrist).

The Black Bay Fifty-Eight has become a bonafide icon. The modern incarnation of Tudor’s storied Submariner line that established its naval credentials, it’s one of the best watches pound-for-pound an enthusiast can invest in.

This edition of the Tudor stalwart is incredibly versatile. Whether worn with a classic NATO strap or more conventional bracelet, this Black Bay Fifty-Eight can be dressed up or down, or even taken into the water (although you’d best make sure you’ve got it done up nice and snug, you wouldn’t want to dive in and lose a beauty like this).

Technical Specifications

• 39mm steel case with polished and satin finish
• Movement: Manufacture Calibre MT5402 (COSC)
• Power reserve of approximately 70 hours
• Steel screw-down winding crown
• Waterproof to 200m (660ft)
• Unidirectional rotatable bezel in steel with 60-minute graduated disc in matt blue anodised aluminium and silver gilded markings and numerals
• Domed sapphire crystal
• Riveted steel bracelet with polished and satin finish, with folding clasp and safety catch
• ~5,000 AUD (3,455 USD)

The Fifty-Eight is good enough for David Beckham too

Turns out Tudor tapped their most famous brand ambassador to help with the launch of this new timepiece. David Beckham just posted this photo debuting the new Fifty-Eight and what looks to be some new blond hair too.

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My friends at @tudorwatch just released a new Black Bay. Love the blue details on the #BB58 #BornToDare

A post shared by David Beckham (@davidbeckham) on Jul 1, 2020 at 1:57am PDT

It seems his aggressive isolation haircut (which we reported on in April) has grown out quite nicely. Now, all we need is for the rest of us, who’ve gone slightly mad in lockdown and chopped our mops in weird and wonderful ways, to take inspiration from Golden Balls and get ourselves back on point.

Read Next

• David Beckham’s Tudor Was The Star At Wife Victoria’s Runway Show
• Tudor Black Bay P01 Pays Tribute To 1960s Battleships

The post David Beckham Tudor: Footballer Helps Launch Latest Black Bay Fifty-Eight Timepiece appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Before we were all worried about the spread of COVID-19, the most pressing infection control concern most men had was making sure you don’t get an STI or someone pregnant when you sleep around.

Now, with research having discovered traces of the virus in people’s semen, many are concerned that their casual ‘linen shuffling’ days may now be over (or putting them at risk).

Never fear: an enterprising Australian company has come up with an antibacterial prophylactic that will help prevent the spread of 99.9% of germs (and 100% of pregnancies).

OrbitKey, a Melbourne design firm famous for their handy key management systems, have developed a retractable hand sanitiser holder. The novel design includes a clip you can attach to the hand sanitiser of your choice, connected to a retractable reel you can connect to your belt. Like a chastity belt.

It’s also extremely cost-effective, only costing a paltry $22.90. A 60-pack of condoms from Chemist Warehouse would set you back $32, so with this you save yourself about 10 big ones (and this lasts a lifetime).

That’s enough to buy one of those fun mobile phone holders for your belt, too, just to doubly ensure no one comes near you.

We applaud OrbitKey’s dedication to preventing the spread of coronavirus, as well as making sure that Australian singles really take the time to get to know each other.

Read Next

• James Bond Bachelor Pad With ‘Sexytime Spa’ Goes Up For Sale In Sydney

The post 'World First' COVID Sanitizer Guaranteed To Kill Germs & Your Love Life appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

While most of us have been more idle than a rusty Subaru, some individuals have taken lockdown by the horns and got super jacked.

One among them is NBA star and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, who on Monday took to Instagram to show us the most extensive fitness routine of his we’ve seen yet.

While, to be fair, he had less of a task in that he only had to keep himself ripped (as opposed to the rest of us, who have pudgier mountains to climb), the workout – and mindset he brings to it is epic.

 

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A post shared by Damian Lillard (@damianlillard) on Jun 27, 2020 at 10:20pm PDT

“Stay ready and you won’t have to get ready. If I come up short EVER… whether I was prepared or not won’t be the reason,” Lillard captioned the post.

The workout itself is (from the point of view of a slovenly journo) insane. It also shows how he keeps everything from his glutes to his triceps in ‘cover athlete’ condition.

Just for good measure, one day later (on Tuesday) Lillard posted another workout clip, this time of a pulley bicep workout, further demonstrating what it takes to build the body of a ‘cover athlete’ (beyond, obviously, the on-court prowess).

 

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A post shared by Damian Lillard (@damianlillard) on Jun 29, 2020 at 8:15am PDT

On that note: as NBA News reported on Tuesday, Lillard will be featured on the cover of the next NBA 2K video game release.

At hearing the news the five-time All-Star (and first Trail Blazers player to receive the honor)  took to Twitter to call it a “dream come true.”

Being on the cover of @nba2k is a dream come true. I’ve been playing 2K since the Dreamcast days! Hyped to be the #NBA2K21 Current Gen Cover Athlete. #YKWTII #DameTime pic.twitter.com/d1bPKTm0je

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 30, 2020

Read Next

• Kevin Hart’s Impressive New Workout Proves How Quickly You Can Get Back In Shape
• 52 Year Old Gianluca Vacchi Reveals Testosterone Boosting Secret Every Man Should Know

The post NBA Star Damian Lillard Shares Insane Way He Maintains 'Cover Athlete' Gains appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Perth is a city widely regarded as being one of the most isolated in the world, with ocean one side and voluminous Australian outback on the other. So with competition likely to be more fierce within the confines of the city walls, shops, retail outlets and other necessities have to provide a service that is second to none. Nowhere is that more apparent than with barber shops.

Getting your haircut right and getting it wrong can make the difference between strutting your stuff down the street with more confidence than Kanye West and hiding at home in fear of people laughing at your dodgy barnet. Fortunately, Perth is home to a high number of excellent barber shops dotted around the city, each of which provides sublime cuts – alongside modern grooming regimes such as straight razor shaves, waxing and beard trims – and even greater customer service (whiskey or beer anyone?) to ensure you keep heading back to their chair for a follicular freshen up.

We’ve searched around the extensive number of barber shops waiting to give you a fresh fade haircut in Perth in order to settle on a curated list of the very best ones that will guarantee you’ll be looking your very best.

Ugly Men’s Association

Address:

State Buildings, Corner of St Georges Terrace & Barrack Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

0426 655 236

Opening Hours:

Monday – Friday: 9.30am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 4pm
Sunday: Closed

Book Online

Ugly Men by name but not by nature, this barber shop in the centre of town is dedicated to the fine craft of barbering, with its entire team well-versed in traditional cutting and shaving techniques. Kick back with a drink on the house while you wait, before choosing from a variety of cuts or shave, including classic cut-throat. Want to truly pamper yourself? With stocked products including the likes of Baxter of California and Proraso and a number of complete packages available to choose from, you’ll leave looking better than ever.

The Godfather Barbershop

Address:

534 Hay Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

0410 830 410

Opening Hours:

Monday – Wednesday: 9am – 5.30pm
Thursday – Friday: am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: 10am – 4pm

This barber shop doesn’t hide the fact it takes its names from the cult classic movie of the same name. Inside you’ll find several movie posters stuck to the walls and various other pieces of film memorabilia, including a giant statue of Alien in the shop window. This isn’t just a place for movie nerds, however, as the quality of the haircuts leaving through the door are up there with the very best. Better yet, prices are some of the lowest around.

Young Turks Barbers

Address:

618 Stirling Highway, Mosman Park, 6012

Opening Hours:

Monday: 8am – 6pm
Tuesday: 10am – 6pm
Wednesday: 8am – 8pm
Thursday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 4pm

Book Online

Situated out west, away from the city centre, is Young Turks. And boy is it worth the trip. The design and décor alone are enough to warrant a visit (along with the Kevin Murphy grooming products it stocks) and so it’s no surprise that Young Turks highly recommends you book an appointment. The website provides imagery and a description of each service on offer, so you know exactly what you’ll be getting, and the only request the team makes is that you arrive with clean, washed hair. We think that’s fair.

Westons Barbers

Address:

456 William Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

08 9228 2692

Opening Hours:

Monday – Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 4pm
Sunday: Closed

Book Online

Westons has two barber shop locations in Perth, this one on William Street in the CBD and a second further north in Joondalup, so if you live on the outskirts, you can still be treated to a first-class barber experience. Not content with just offering you a coffee or beer while you wait, Westons has a god-damn pool table set up in the shop for you to challenge other customers, or even if the staff if they ever find themselves with an empty chair. That’s not likely though, as the level of service on offer is some of the best in town.

Lord Street Barber

Address:

266 Lord Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

0401 790 508

Opening Hours:

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
Saturday: 9am – 1pm
Sunday: Closed

Book Online

For what could easily be considered the ultimate ‘man’ experience in Perth, head to Lord Street Barber. Situated right above a car showroom that has classic Ford Mustangs, Lamborghinis and McLarens for sale, the barber shop continues to offer more of what guys love: beer, arcade games and pool. Of course, you’re going to go there for a top-rate cut too, and that’s exactly what master barber Nico Carbognin can offer, and you’ll even sit in the same chair as Aussie F1 great Daniel Ricciardo.

The Barber Shop In Leederville

Address:

2/224 Carr Place, Leederville, 6007

Phone:

08 9328 8972

Opening Hours:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Wednesday: 8am – 5.30pm
Thursday: 8am – 7pm
Friday: 8am – 5.30pm
Saturday: 8am – 4pm
Sunday: 10am – 4pm

No prizes for working out where this barber shop is located. It may be small and there may be a short wait for a chair to become free, but once you’re settled you’ll be treated to a truly amazing haircut. It’s so good in fact that some customers say they’ve been going for over 10 years. With great chat to be had over some drinks, and a solid range of grooming products and gifts stocked in-store too, Leederville could be home to your new barber.

Guys Grooming

Address:

848 Hay Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

08 9226 3022

Opening Hours:

Monday – Tuesday: 10am – 6pm
Wednesday – Thursday: 10am – 8pm
Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: Closed

Book Online

From a simple, traditional barber to the ultimate grooming lounge for guys. Founded in 2008 as a one-stop destination for guys to indulge themselves a little and to break down the age-old stereotype that guys shouldn’t care about how they look, Guys Grooming has since become the most awarded male grooming lounge in all of Australia. Not just a place to get a haircut or beard trim, Guys Grooming offers waxing, body massages, facials and services for your hands and feet, all in a luxurious space of leather chairs, big mirrors and high-quality products.

RELATED: Grooming Brands You Didn’t Know Were Australian

Uncle Joe’s

Address:

74 – 76 King Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

0417 783 222

Opening Hours:

Monday – Tuesday: 10am – 6pm
Wednesday: 10am – 8pm
Thursday – Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5pm
Sunday: Closed

Uncle Joe’s is more than just a barber shop in the centre of town. It’s a brunch spot or quick coffee hangout, and even a clothes store. On the barber side of things, the team at Uncle Joe’s are all well-qualified and can cater to your every whim while you relax in one of the antique barber chairs. High-quality and luxury products are both used and available to buy so you can continue to obtain your fresh new look at home. Once you’re done, or even before you get the chop, you can pay a visit to The Mess cafe which serves its own in-house blend of coffee, alongside a full breakfast and lunch menu.

The Dapper Scoundrel

Address:

Shop 44, London Court, 647 Hay Street, Perth, 6000

Phone:

08 9221 1569

Opening Hours:

Monday – Friday: 9am – 5.30pm
Saturday: Check availability
Sunday: Closed

General FAQ

Read Next

• Coolest Hotel Stays In Perth
• Coolest Restaurants To Dine At In Perth

The post Best Barber Shops In Perth For The Freshest West Side Shaves appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I want to be a part of it: New York, New York! America’s biggest city and the world’s most important financial hub is a metropolis unlike any other on Earth. In many ways, NYC is a microcosm of the United States, and the world at large: misanthropic, endlessly diverse, complicated.

Millionaires sip prosecco at Upper East Side hotspots while hustlers grind out a living on the mean streets of Downtown Brooklyn. Both Donald Trump and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez call New York City home – Trump was born in Queens, AOC in the Bronx. From Wall Street to Greenwich Village, the ‘Big Apple’ is a city of juxtapositions.

Acclaimed photographer and New York native Sam Youkilis has made a career out of exploring the absurdity of the human condition through images. His latest work, a series of videos filmed in Manhattan posted on his Instagram, expose how bizarre our current state of events are.

A particularly jarring film shows New Yorkers dining outdoors, enjoying summer and chatting away with their friends, while a huge Black Lives Matter protest march streams past down a perpendicular street.

 

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A post shared by samyoukilis@gmail.com (@samyoukilis) on Jun 28, 2020 at 11:48am PDT

Precipitated by the unlawful killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis, the United States and many other countries around the world including Australia have seen the global Black Lives Matter movement renewed. Protests across America and Australia decrying police brutality and the systematic oppression of people of colour have dominated the headlines – almost drowning out the other incessant concern of 2020, The Bat Kiss.

Both the protestors and the diners in Youkilis’ video seem unconcerned by the need to socially distance; they’ve got bigger fish to fry. Some people just want things to go back to normal. Others, like the protestors, don’t want a return to ‘normal’: the virus might be what’s important right now but the hundreds of years of discrimination against people of colour needs to be properly addressed, they argue.

It’s a scene; a mood; a juxtaposition that’s no doubt been replicated in countries all over the world. Take Sydney: a city whose state government doesn’t want protests to go ahead on a Sunday ‘because of COVID’ but will allow all sport to resume on a Wednesday, whilst Bondi baristas get fired because ‘locals are a bit racist’.

The metaphor in the video is obvious, but the beauty of Youkilis’ art is that he leaves things up to the audience’s interpretation. Many commenters were outraged by the seemingly “unbothered” attitude of the diners compared to the protestors, or were angry at both groups not observing social distancing or wearing PPE. Others observed how such a crazy scene could only happen in New York.

“Actually it looks like a healthy society. Everyone minds their own business and don’t [sic] disturb each other,” one commenter mused.

In any case, the video reveals how crazy things are in America. While other countries are taking more proactive steps both to address COVID-19 as well their complicated legacies of racism, race relations and the coronavirus crisis continue to deteriorate in the United States.

The climbing death toll in America – both from the virus, and the metaphorical virus of prejudice – should serve as ample warning for countries like Australia to clean up their act.

 

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A post shared by samyoukilis@gmail.com (@samyoukilis) on Jun 30, 2020 at 11:43am PDT

For another example of New York insanity captured by Youkilis, check out this collection of videos showing waiters at a fancy Manhattan restaurant serving bottles of hand sanitiser to customers with all the delicacy of a fine cocktail.

Further images of New York’s ‘new normal’ can be seen in Youkilis’ latest collection on Vogue.

Read Next

• Scientist’s ‘Contamination’ Experiment Proves Why Masks Are Still So Damn Important
• Why American Nutritionists Don’t Understand Their Own Country

The post Incredible 'New Normal' Manhattan Scene Shows Everything Wrong With America appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Fresh pressed linen. A shimmering bathroom. A pristine minibar. A mattress so clean you could eat off it. When you go to a high end New York hotel you expect to slurp and sleep your money’s worth.

Unlike some of New York’s notoriously (and hilariously) awful budget hotels, in the upmarket places (ranging between three and five stars) the following investigation went (literally) undercover in, piece of mind regarding cleanliness should be a given.

The investigation, however, found three Manhattan hotels ranging from $150 to $600 a night (Hyatt Place Times Square, Hampton Inn Times Square Central and Trump International Hotel) were not cleaning properly between guests.

 

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A post shared by ⋆ (@maragamb) on Feb 5, 2019 at 4:07pm PST

In fact, they found what news.com.au has called a “disturbing” trend: sheets hadn’t been cleaned and surfaces hadn’t been wiped.

The investigation, conducted by TV program Inside Edition, involved sending producers with the program to each of the hotels and using a washable spray to stencil an Inside Edition logo – only visible under UV light – to the pillows, bed sheets and bath towels.

They also hit commonly touched surfaces, like the airconditioning control, TV remote and desk.

The next day, using a different name, they checked into the same room to see if the linens had been changed and surfaces wiped.

As Inside Edition reported on Monday, “At the Hyatt Place Times Square, producers found the logo glowing brightly on the bed sheet and pillowcase, indicating they had not been changed between guests. While the desk had been wiped down and the towel was replaced, the gel was visible when the remote control was placed under a UV light.”

“The results were shocking, especially considering the struggling hotel industry is trying to lure back guests on the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic with promises of rigorous new cleaning protocols.”

When Inside Edition showed what they found to a manager, they claim they were told the hotel would “definitely look into it” and “that [it] shouldn’t be possible at all.”

 

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A post shared by awk1984 (@awk1984_) on Jan 8, 2020 at 12:08pm PST

A Hyatt spokesperson then told Inside Edition, “We are deeply concerned about the situation described, as it is not representative of Hyatt’s rigorous and enhanced cleaning protocols that have been deployed globally due to COVID-19,” adding, “We are working with the hotel’s owner to ensure the hotel is implementing proper cleaning protocols that are consistent with Hyatt’s commitment to cleanliness for the safety and well-being of our guests.”

Meanwhile at the Hampton Inn Times Square Central, it was found a pillowcase had not been changed, and the remote control and thermostat hadn’t been wiped down.

“When Inside Edition alerted a manager about the situation, he said he would need to get a different manager, but no one ever came back.”

In response, a spokesperson for the Hampton Inn said retraining would be in order, telling Inside Edition: “Our hotel’s cleanliness is one of our highest priorities, especially during these unprecedented times. An internal investigation revealed that our housekeeping team relied on a visual inspection of the room’s cleanliness to determine which areas received attention, deviating from our protocols.”

“This is a violation of our standards to thoroughly clean each room. Both our housekeeping team and management apologize for this mistake and we are retraining our team members to reinforce our procedures.”

Finally, at Trump International Hotel, while the sheets and bathroom towel had been changed, Inside Edition found “the pillowcase had not” and “the counter area above the minibar and the remote control also had not been wiped between guests.”

A hotel spokesperson then gave a classically ‘Trumpian’ response: “Following an internal review, we have concluded that the claims made by Inside Edition are categorically false.”

“Trump International Hotel & Tower New York is one of the premier luxury hotels anywhere in the world and has received countless accolades, including the Forbes Five-Star award for the past 13 years, for its consistently impeccable service.”

Of course, during normal times, it’s hardly a secret to anyone that has worked anywhere near the industry that hotels take short cuts. But in these unprecedented times, it’s simple: consumers expect better.

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