[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image="248866" img_size="medium" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" link="https://huckberry.com/store/centric-instruments/category/p/61773-lightwell-field-watch-mkii"][vc_column_text]We hear a lot about hight end watches these days with new luxury bran...

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From glaring at smokers to ordering one too many Grand Marniers, there are a number of mistakes tourists make in Paris. Then there’s drinking so much wine you think you parle francais, getting your hair cut like Victor Hugo and taking ‘pensive’ snaps outside the Sacre Coeur.

So far so tourist.

When you live in Paris though, you start to notice a higher level of mistakes, that you make on a daily basis. But after you bash your toe for the thirtieth time in the 7th arrondissement apartment you really can’t afford, or after you start enjoying listening to your neighbours argue, rather than cursing them for keeping you awake, you start to realise: you’re learning.

Not everything will be applicable to your daily life back home. But some skills will stay with you for life (you might even pass on that improvised, shops-shut Sunday pasta recipe to your grandkids. Who knows?).

So: if you’ve only ever been a tourist and are interested in one day moving permanently to the city of classy clinches and surly serveurs, or whether you just want to live vicariously, here’s what you learn when you live in a tiny Paris apartment for four years.

You learn life is not to be lived within four walls (at least, not the ones you own or rent)

The whole point of being in Paris is to be out and about, so you shouldn’t expect a flat the size of the Taj Majal unless you drop top dollar (which, teaching English or clinking cutlery, is probably not within your capabilities).

One Kiwi couple who lived in Paris for four years, revealed on Domain how they came to this exact conclusion, after moving into a studio apartment in the Gambetta neighbourhood, in the 20th arrondissement, which measured 21 square metres (15 square metres smaller than the standard double garage).

The couple explained on Domain how, although it was initially a shock, it was much easier once they adopted the Parisian mindset: “In Paris, for a couple to live in a studio is not extraordinary. It’s a densely populated city where apartments are the norm and most people, especially young people, don’t expect to live in large spaces.”

“Instead they live a lot of their lives out of their apartments. In a city where kitchens and dining spaces are often small, delicious cheap restaurant options abound; Parisians make great use of public spaces like parks and town squares, and it’s totally acceptable to linger for an hour over a single espresso in a cafe.”

You learn to shop more thoughtfully

 

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The couple also found that living in Paris taught them to be more conscious of what they bought, and not just in terms of objects: “French people are in the habit of shopping for food more frequently and, in my experience, more thoughtfully.”

“There are few large supermarkets within Paris but most people buy bread fresh on the day they want to eat it. A wedge of cheese here, a few slices of cured meat there – when you have the equivalent of a beer fridge and one shelf to store food on, you don’t have the means to stock up (nor the corners in which things go off before you get to use them),” Domain.

You learn to buy furniture that folds down

And coffee tables with a top that comes up, acting as a dining table. Or – most inventive of all and courtesy of the aforementioned Kiwis – a chopping board that fits perfectly over the sink.

You learn polite invitations to parties… aren’t as kind and thoughtful as you think

As online publication TheLocal.fr points out, “‘French people are so polite,’ is what you’ll think to yourself the first time you see a notice in the lobby, letting you know that your neighbours are planning a party this weekend and that you are invited.”

“But fast forward to Saturday and you’ll quickly realise how naive you were, as music pounds through the walls and loud shouts of, ‘Ouuuiiiiiiiii!’ can be heard through the walls until the early hours of the morning.”

You get used to being an amateur exhibitionist

 

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“It’s known as vis-à-vis in French but refers to the fact that often the layout of flats and the windows mean neighbours in a separate building or those who live across the courtyard can see everything that goes on in your flat.”

You learn this Antipodean obsession with “becoming a home owner” isn’t a ‘thing’ everywhere in the world

In much of continental Europe, people are content to rent their whole life, and not stress about it. It’s also common to live with your parents until they’re 30, and to look after your grandparents yourself rather than send them to a care home (where possible). Of course this tends to be the case more so in areas with less employment, where people have more time (not so much Paris), but the overarching mindset of “I have to buy a house within commuting distance of Sydney CBD or I’m a failure” just isn’t there.

Read Next

• The Truth About Why Parisians Are Rude To Tourists
• Why Parisians Will Never Understand America’s Obsession With Low Carb Dieting

The post Living In Paris: What You Learn Living In A Tiny Apartment For Four Years appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Organised crime has been around ever since the start of civilisation. Their rides however have only ever been used effectively as statement pieces during the early Mafia days in the 1920s. Luckily, times have changed and everyday gangsters now have access to a plethora of exotic machinery in various tones of black. Herein lies ten of the world’s most badass cars for the everyday smooth criminal.

BMW M3 CSL

Like an RS badge to a Porsche enthusiast, CSL – for Coupe, Sport, Lightweight – is an adornment to deify for any BMW fan. But where these days a RS Porsche is an expected 911 variant, the CSL moniker has only ever graced two coupes from Bavaria. Released in 2000, BMW’s third generation M3 was the last of the series powered by the classic in-line naturally aspirated six, the 3.2-litre unit offering the highest specific output of any naturally-aspirated car on the market at that time. With individual throttle-bodies, VANOS variable valve-timing, forged steel conrods and crankshaft plus graphite-coated cast aluminium pistons, the S54 motor gave almost instant response and revved all the way to the 8200rpm cut-out, developing a peak 252kW at 7900rpm.

Maybach Exelero

More for a mobster king (or Jay-Z) than your everyday gangster, the Maybach Exelero sets the standard for menacing road presence and police magnet. With its super elongated front end which could easily fit a pair of mini guns, you’d think the Exelero would be slow. You’d be wrong. The high performance luxury sports car packs a twin-turbo V12 that churns out 700hp – an engine specially requested by Goodyear’s German division to test wide tyres. More importantly the design is a tribute to the original streamlined model from the 1930s. If you’re interested, it last sold for $8 million.

Plymouth Barracuda

You can’t be an everyday gangster without some American muscle thrown in. The 1972 Barracuda captures the perfect balance of true bad-assery with rubber burning performance. It has naturally received lashings of modifications since its debut from the day, but in factory fit out the top of the line model could afford you 425hp from its big-block power options in the form of a 7.0-litre V8.

Rolls Royce Phantom

Proving that the Royces aren’t just for distinguished gentleman with a lot of money, the Yakuza –  Japan’s version of the Mafia, took hold of it and modified it to their liking – VIP style. Extremely low, extremely black, blacked-out windows, body kitted and rocking massive wheels might not be to everyone’s tastes. But really, you wouldn’t care if you ran Japan’s underworld. Status and luxury is purely paramount here as the Japanese traffic wouldn’t allow you to get very far in a chase anyway. An aluminium body wraps around exotic materials and a big V12 that pumps out 453hp.

Bentley Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition

The exclusive range of Mulliner Limited Editions finds its inspiration in many places. The Continental GT V8 Convertible Galene Edition by Mulliner has been inspired by the sleek, aesthetic of luxury motor yachts by Princess. It is named after the Greek Goddess of calm seas – the embodiment of perfect sailing weather in what we call ‘Colombian white’. This is the Wolf Of Wall Street edition for the man about town.

Cadillac Ciel

Get your gangster rapper game on with the concept that is the 4-seater Cadillac Ciel. Don’t tell the boys it’s a hybrid though otherwise you might lose some street cred. With its massive 125 inch wheelbase, the Ciel combines the classic looks of a luxury convertible cruiser with a powerful silhouette featuring suicide doors that open up to make it super easy for gangsters to exit and enter the beautifully sculpted leather seats whilst, uh, working. A twin-tubro V6 hybrid pumps out a respectable 425hp.

Range Rover Extended Wheelbase

Land Rover revealed the Range Rover L back in 2014, a long wheelbase version of the fourth-generation SUV. This is the ultimate SUV for the yuppie gangster. The British automaker has added 20 centimeters to the aluminium chassis of the car, which translates into 14 extra centimeters of legroom in the car.

Conquest Knight XV

We lied about nothing surpassing the big Porsche. This can. If your enemies don’t just want to take you out but want to chop you and your family up into a million pieces, bunker down in one of the Knight XVs. The tank, yes because it’s larger than a Hummer, is Conquest’s flagship SUV featuring full armour-plating to withstand some serious ballistic material. It’s also ultra luxurious too with quilted leather all round and enough legroom to play football inside. Powering this beast is a unique bio-fuel 6.8-litre V10 with 326hp. It also weighs 6 tonnes and comes with air-conditioning.

Mercedes S63 AMG

Made for the classy gangster, the stunning S63 AMG coupe exudes badass without trying too hard. It’s subtle yet dangerous looking enough to spark suspicions to unweary onlookers of your status. Given it’s an AMG variant, you’ll also be assured that it’s fast. Like 577hp fast from a 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8.

Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition

Badass Cars FAQ

The post Badass Cars For The Inner City Gangster & Occasional Yuppie appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The land of the rising sun is a place of vast juxtaposition. It’s a country where you will find some of the world’s most conservative people participating in some of the most outlandish activities.

It’s this odd mash-up of tradition and modernisation that makes Japan a truly unique destination  for explorers seeking an assault on the senses. Beyond the facade of salary men and neon lights, you’ll discover a country which has long-hidden traditions alongside the general encounters of ‘WTF-ery’ around every corner.

RELATED: Neon Jungle: The Complete Men’s Guide To Tokyo

The post Things To Do In Japan: 8 Crazy Things To Try appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

TAG Heuer pioneered the luxury smartwatch segment in 2015 and has since introduced various models, most recently the Connected Modular Golf Edition in 2019. And, in news guaranteed to get everyone from high tech business owners to workout warriors (with savings) stroking their wrist in anticipation, as of yesterday, the new TAG Heuer Connected watch is available in boutiques and authorised retailers and Tag Heuer’s online store via Australia, Japan, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

Where does it sit in the market? With the cheapest being AU$2,600 and the priciest being AU$3,400, Tag’s Connected timepieces hover between a conventional smartwatch like an Apple Watch or a Suunto and more traditional timepieces like the Carrera. With the third generation of its visionary Connected timepiece, TAG Heuer has put yet another flag in the sand, proving itself yet again to be an industry leader in both technology and style.

As for the construction philosophy, the TAG Heuer Connected watch is a chronograph-inspired timepiece crafted in the purest watchmaking tradition, with a state-of-the-art, custom-designed digital experience geared towards performance.

That’s not just a buzzword; Tag Heuer’s Connected watch provides customers with everything from daily connected services offered from Wear OS by Google, to immersive sports experiences thanks to the new TAG Heuer Sports app, which provides detailed tracking for golf, running, cycling, walking, fitness and other sessions, thanks to the watch’s built-in GPS and heart-rate monitor, among other sensors.

“The navigation has been deeply refined so the product is as intuitive and easy to use as possible, both in everyday life and during sports sessions. It expresses the brand in a completely new way and offers limitless possibilities in terms of innovation for the future. Thanks to the talent and dedication of our teams, the new Connected is a truly brand-defining product that will lead the way into a new era for TAG Heuer.”

Read Next

• Tag Heuer Goes Carbon With Two Of Their Most Famous Watches
• The Coolest TAG Heuer Watches To Buy In 2020
• This Oversized Smartwatch Could Be The Best Alternative To The Apple Watch Yet

The post TAG Heuer Connected: Luxury Watchmaker Reveals New Generation Smartwatch appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Lifestyle labels don’t get anymore prolific than Saturdays N.Y.C. Established in 2009 by three guys who wanted to change the way daily menswear was worn, Saturdays N.Y.C has today catapulted itself from the trendy streets of SoHo in a single store to a global fashion force. What makes the love project of Morgan Collett, Colin Tunstall, and Josh Rosen so special? Their odd but unique pairing of laid back beach vibes with the distinct aesthetics of the Big Apple. The result is a range of effortlessly cool men’s weekend pieces like sleek board shorts and cotton t-shirts that are made for the beach – whether you live near one or not.

Whether you’re looking to score yourself some killer new t-shirts or want to take your comfort to new heights with some quality sweatpants, you can currently score up to 40% off at Saturdays NYC and boy are there some steals to be had. Click the button below to shop the sale.

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On the track, Daniel Ricciardo drives the world’s briskest cars. Off the track, you’d assume it’s a similar story: the Australian Formula One racer’s annual salary of 26.5 million GBP (AU$52.8 million) means he can flaunt whatever he wants over the rest of us. But as News.com.au reported on Thursday, that isn’t (always) what he does.

In fact, Daniel Ricciardo’s weekend car – the one he drives for fun, or to get around the city – is quite a surprise. It’s not a Porsche 911; not a Corvette; not a Ferrari, Nissan or a suped-up Audi; it’s a $63,000 Renault Megane RS Trophy.

Cynical? You might point out that he drives for Renault (and that after they tripled his salary it’s logical he would do them a solid in return). And you’d be right. You’d also be correct in assuming he doesn’t only drive a Renault Megane RS Trophy when cruising for leisure. He also has a Porsche GT3 RS and a Vespa (which he keeps in Italy) and a Ford F150 Raptor pickup that he keeps in America (among others).

But Daniel Ricciardo genuinely likes to drive his Renault Megane RS Trophy on his days off – and it’s not as much of a sacrifice in performance as you might think. As Ricciardo told The Sunday Times last year, “If I want some fun, then the Mégane R.S. is really grippy.”

News.com.au’s Thursday piece backs that up, and provides us with a few extra details on this spicy hot hatch: “Topping the Megane RS range now that the lightweight carbon-fibre clad Trophy-R has sold out, Renault’s circa-$63,500 drive-away Megane Trophy has the same engine as the Trophy-R, as well as rear seats, a less fanatical weight obsession and a saving of about $20,000.”

“The Trophy adds eye-catching 19-inch wheels with red highlights, sports exhaust, retuned suspension and more,” News.com.au reports. However, “This is not a comfortable car… Renault engineers did not observe the trend to fit fast cars with multi-mode suspension and instead specified fixed-rate springs and dampers aided by rally-bred hydraulic bump stops. The result is a machine with impressive body control when driven hard and an uncompromisingly stiff ride around town.”

“Seats and steering wheel get a motorsport vibe thanks to leather and Alcantara (we’re puzzled by the latter’s placement on the top and bottom of the wheel rim, as if we drive with hands at 12 and six). Among other moans: the paddle-shifters in the auto version are fixed to the steering column, not the wheel, and are much too small; the portrait-style touchscreen freezes from time to time; and it needs proper sports seats.”

Anything else? Apparently so: “Fast, loud and engaging… the 1.8-litre turbo works hard, abetted by the whip-crack action of the brilliant dual-clutch transmission. The new exhaust, extra power and more focused suspension make it a memorable proposition.”

The only hang-ups, according to News.com.au’s review, are the “skatey Bridgestone tyres” and “divisive rear-wheel steering” (some owners love how the car swivels from the rear to rotate into bends, but critics call it unstable and artificial feeling).

Read Next

• The Most Anticipated Cars Of 2020, According To Australia’s Top Motoring Journalists
• Why Men Who Drive Convertibles Will Never Be Taken Seriously

The post Daniel Ricciardo Renault: What Daniel Ricciardo’s Hot Hatch Is Really Like To Drive appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

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Put your baguette in the oven and turn the settings to incinerate: low carb dieting could reverse age-related brain deterioration. That’s according to a recent PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) study, published March 2020.

By analysing brain scans, researchers found brain pathways begin to decay in our late 40s: “Neurobiological changes associated with ageing can be seen at a much younger age than would be expected, in the late 40s,” said Lilianne R Mujica-Parodi, one of the study’s authors and professor in the department of biomedical engineering at Stony Brook University in New York.

“However, the study also suggests that this process may be prevented or reversed based on dietary changes that involve minimising the consumption of simple carbohydrates.”

To better understand this, researchers focussed on young people whose grey matter showed no signs of ageing – the period during which prevention may be most effective.

As reported by The Guardian, “Using brain scans of nearly 1,000 individuals between the ages of 18 to 88, [the] researchers found that the damage to neural pathways accelerated depending on where the brain was getting its energy from. Glucose… decreased the stability of the brain’s networks while ketones – produced by the liver during periods of carbohydrate restrictive diets – [and] made the networks more stable.”

“What we found with these experiments involves both bad and good news,” said Mujica-Parodi in the study, “The bad news is that we see the first signs of brain ageing much earlier than was previously thought.”

The good news, for those that like their coffee with butter and their pasta replaced with Zucchini, is that we may be able to prevent or reverse these effects with diet “by exchanging glucose for ketones as fuel for neurons,” she added.

“We think that, as people get older, their brains start to lose the ability to metabolise glucose efficiently, causing neurons to slowly starve, and brain networks to destabilise… So we tested whether giving the brain a more efficient fuel source, in the form of ketones, either by following a low-carb diet or drinking ketone supplements, could provide the brain with greater energy,” she said.

“Even in younger individuals, this added energy further stabilised brain networks.”

So: what the hell is a ketogenic diet? If you’re not up with the latest folds in Lebron James’ abs and bulges in Kim Kardashian’s glutes, here’s the lowdown: a ketogenic diet is one where you eat foods high in fat and protein (think meat, dairy, and certain vegetables) and low in carbohydrates (no pasta, no bread etc.). This forces your body to burn fat (a stabler source) for fuel rather than carbohydrates.

Originally used to treat certain forms of epilepsy in children (and also experimented with to alleviate some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), it’s now a health trend everyone from office workers to professional athletes are dabbling in, rumoured to provide extra concentration and kick start your weight loss (though it does carry some risks of its own).

Whether or not it really can keep you whipping your grandkids’ asses in Scrabble into your ’90s remains to be seen, but this is a promising start that will no doubt spark more research.

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• Michael B. Jordan’s Trainer Reveals The Painful Truth About Building An A-List Rig
• The Satiating Diet Could Be Your Ticket To Burning Fat Faster Than Lebron James

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