Anyone who has sustained a serious knee injury knows the road to recovery can be as long as it is frustrating. And it’s a character building (or destroying) experience not limited to weekend warriors; many professional athletes—from NFL’s Tom Brady and soccer’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic, to surfing’s Tom Carroll—have undergone knee reconstruction surgery after rupturing their ACL (anterior cruciate ligament).Although medicine has come on drastically since the 80’s and 90’s, when doing your ACL was a career-ending injury, a team of microbiologists from central Queensland reckon there’s still significant room for improvement.As reported by the ABC, “Pardraig Strappe and a small team of researchers at CQ University have been working to perfect a process that extracts valuable growth factors from the cartilage of crocodiles and removes proteins that trigger an immune response in humans.”This gives them a soupy kind of glue that might be able to transform human adult stem cells into cartilage—a sought after resource and a big challenge among elderly populations (and people who’ve had knee operations in which they had damaged cartilage trimmed away).

“Crocodiles could hold the key to turning human stem cells into cartilage for the treatment of joint injuries and arthritis,” (ABC).

The scientists told the ABC, “After the croc cartilage ‘soup’ is added to the adult stem cells, a 3D printer is used to bio-print cartilage explants that could eventually be injected or implanted into damaged human joints.”

“If you have a traumatic injury to the articulating joint, particularly the knee, you are left with a crack or a fissure and that doesn’t have an endogenous repair system because cartilage doesn’t have a blood supply,” Dr Strappe told the ABC.

These patients are left with a hole that needs to be filled in, which is where the 3D printing comes in. “With 3D printing,” he said, “We can mimic that hole or that gap so potentially the orthopaedic surgeon could fill in that gap with a little cartilage explant to repair the joint.”

They said it was over. I said NO

A post shared by Zlatan Ibrahimović (@iamzlatanibrahimovic) on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:10pm PDT

Although it requires further testing, this promising technology could be a significant improvement on previous research, potentially even replacing the arthroscopy treatment that many cartilage-injury patients currently undergo.Although crocodile cartilage is unlikely to change the career stalling nature of an ACL injury (a recent investigation showed that despite no longer being a career killer, world class athletes with reconstructed knees in sports that require high speed cutting are rarely as good as they were before), it might be good news for weekend warriors who disobeyed their doctors orders and have ended up with arthritis.The only problem? It might be a few years before the technology is available (and proven to work) on the general public. Until then people with dodgy knees would be well advised to follow the Tom Carroll approach—optimism, gratitude and attention to detail.

“We” do this stuff…not “I”. Had the go ahead from the doc to ride small waves in a straight line () last Monday 15 weeks after TKR. Walked into my garage scanned the collection and paused…”which one speaks the loudest right now?” I thought. My down sized 7’0″ @rawsonsurfboard Pipe replica put up its hand Immense gratitude can’t be purchased over the counter nor online nor (surprisingly) briefly grasped on Instagram. But I can show it here @in.love.with.the.sea for your unconditional love always @collaroypete for the same Brother Nick @ncarrollsurf and all those who came visited during those perplexing 10days in hospital @_mimicarroll @grace.carroll @lucy_carroll @chris_athas @hookys096 our 93yr old Father Victor Joseph, Lindsay Lyon @shark_shield – apologies there are some I have forgotten I am sure. My medical support team Dr David Parker, your fine assistant Chloe. The Mater Hospital Physio team and of course @kieseraustralia Tim Dettmann and team Jess, Owen and Jakejust pure gold!! #AlanSarlo for helping over the line and giving boosts of confidence from way back before decision time Also on the longer term note re physical training @jchapman24 who knows this sinew and spark inside out pre and post TKR @andrewmarshmeditation for guidance within – the most precious kind This was only the introduction to action. Still slowly as she goes and taking @markrichardssurfboards very sensible advice with an open mind – “what I do Tom is when the doctor says it’s time now to surf, I take two extra weeks to avoid any nasty ramifications later on” Holy Crap I said to my self @surfmastery Mike Frampton for passing on your incredible mind and observations to offer deeper understanding outside the current square Oh yeah @kryptsurf how can I ever forgetthe journey continues

A post shared by Tom Carroll (@thomasvictorcarroll) on Aug 10, 2017 at 5:21pm PDT

RELATED: Scientists May Have Found A Way To Preserve Your Memories After Death

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If we could share with you the amount of monumental screw ups we’ve made during our dating lives, you would be entertained for hours. And you could probably write a disaster novel about it.Based on these idiotic experiences which have helped shape us to become the respectful and dashing men that we are today, these are the dangerous things you should never ever say to your dearly beloved unless you have a death wish.

Commenting About Her Size

“You are tubby”, “looking plump there…”, “you’re very portly today” or anything else in that same vein is a common big no-no. Like the airspace over Iran, commenting on a female’s weight is a relationship no-fly zone. It may sound obvious…but apparently not considering the stories we’re still hearing. The weight debate should never be entered – period. Calling her ‘plump’ in an effort to not call her fat never works and she’s likely to never forgive or forget. Learn the meaning of the words you’re about to use to avoid imminent death. And no, telling her there’s more to hug doesn’t make it better. Dig up, stupid.

Saying She Looks Fine

It recently dawned on us that ‘fine’ is probably the worst way for a man to describe how his girlfriend looks. And trust me, women never want to be told they look just ‘fine’. It’s like if she told you your penis looked fine – you know something’s up…and it’s definitely not your junk. Riding a bike on a sunny day is fine and their grandmothers soap on a rope is also fine. If they  put in the effort so should you. Pick words that are a little more dynamic and you’ll make her day.

Mentioning That One Of Her Friends Is Attractive

You might be speaking the truth but your girlfriend does not want to know you think her friends are better looking than she is. Say this and expect said friend to go bye-bye along with your brownie points. Thankfully for me, my best friend is a gap toothed weasel, so there’s no chance of my girlfriend running off with him.

Telling Her You Don’t Like Her Friends Or Parents

Nothing creates a healthy bit of unbearable tension like telling your girlfriend that you think her friends all suck. It’s a high possibility that they do suck and will continue to do so, however it should never be said. Instead, try to resolve it like an adult and if it gets dire, find another girlfriend who’s doesn’t choose the village idiot as her bestie.

Suggesting Plastic Surgery

Get it through your cave man skull – this isn’t even your call to make. We’ve heard stories from guys who love the idea of changing girlfriends like “second hand cars”. “Give them a tune up, a new coat of paint and she’ll be good to go”. Yikes. Suggesting to your better half that physical things need to change is best avoided. Boobs, lips, etc…just leave all that to their own influence. Or the Kardashian’s.

Saying Nothing At All

We learnt this one the hard way. As much as you think she only wants someone to listen to her, at some point your girlfriend will want to get some constructive feedback from you. Being mute will only make her want to gouge your eyes out. We recommend saying the right thing at the right time, however we’re yet to find out what that is…

Insulting Her Pet(s)

A wise man once said that “there’s a man out there for every woman, but in your case that man is five cats”. If she’s got a love of cats, dogs, salamanders or any other critter, it’s best to not share your concern of their growing numbers. Simply run.

Judging Her Drunken Antics

Just like when Homer Simpson thought back to his disorderly behaviour at the house party, your girlfriend will have a completely different picture of how she behaves when she’s drunk. Happy, funny and loved by all. We all know this is not the case, but if you would like to avoid WW3 then avoid telling her the truth. Or just tell her she’s more fun when she’s tipsy as opposed to off her face and passed out next to a wheelie bin.

Telling Her What She Can/Can’t Eat

Back on the chunky train we have the gentle guidance of telling her that she probably shouldn’t eat that. Even if she’s about to punch down a 4kg Toblerone chocolate or eat a block of brie cheese for dinner, it’s advised you don’t comment on her food consumption. It will only incur her wrath and make for an evening of playing the ‘guess why I’m angry game’. Let her eat what she wants then suggest going for a run with her the next day. Disaster averted.RELATED: How To Successfully Ask Out The Girl Of Your Dreams

The post Dangerous Things You Should Never Ever Say To Your Girlfriend appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Deep down we all have body dysmorphia. Some of us are overcritical and self conscious, while others shamelessly point out their barely-existent six pack every excuse they get. Fortunately, for most of us these rose (or mud) tinted glasses are not too great a problem, but for people who would like to get to know their bodies in 3D, 4-million points of data detail, Naked Labs Inc would like to propose… a solution.

Naked Labs are a Silicon Valley startup engineering $1,395 full-body smart-mirrors designed to give you “honest feedback” on how fit you really are.

Naked, their recently launched 3D body-scanning mirror, uses infrared light to assess your body, telling you your body-fat percentage and ratio of fat to muscle mass. And once you link it to your smart-phone and use it regularly, it will even help you track your progress over time.

Maxim call it, “A stand-in for that humiliating, albeit motivating, diagnostic they give you during a comp personal training session when you join a new gym.”

Although that’s what the Valley’s fitness freaks and micro-dosing execs will undoubtedly be using it for, the mirror can also be a trendy, everyday tool for gym-shy tech-lovers.

As Digital Trends points out, Naked is more than a smart-mirror—it’s also, “A connected rotating scale and a companion mobile app… enabling users to track how their bodies change over time,” making it a “potentially game-changing device” for casual joggers as well as olympic athletes.

“One page in the press kit stands out, helpfully titled ‘Take nudes.’ At least the device’s creators explain their thinking. ‘For your eyes only, of course,’ it reads. This data goes far deeper than the numbers on the scale. Naked helps you understand how your body is changing so you can stay motivated to hit your goals,” (Digital Trends).

“We have been looking forward to this day for a long time,” Naked CEO Farhad Farahbakhshian said in a statement. “Today, people are searching for evidence-based methods to track health and fitness that aren’t solely focused on weight. We are excited to get Naked into people’s homes to give them better insight into exactly what’s going on in their body and help them work toward their goals.”

As long as there are no leaks a la iCloud, it seems like a great product for closet masochists with a grand burning a hole in their pocket.

RELATED: Hidden Apple Feature Reveals Just How Addicted To Instagram You Are

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He’s widely considered as one of the next generation of style influencers but Justin Bieber has instead taken to the 90s for his latest style inspiration.

Call it cringeworthy, call it a fitting tribute, whatever it is it’s been done before and the Biebs made no subtle hints about the vibe he was channelling. Stepping out in the streets of Manhattan in New York City, Bieber rocked an oversized Tommy Hilfiger hoodie with baggy blue tracksuit pants and a pair of Supreme Air Force 1 sneakers.

The decade which defined an era of bad fashion choices (looking at you denim-on-denim Justin Timberlake) was further polished off with the ultimate 90s accessory: a bloody Rubik’s Cube.

Bieber held a completed one in his hand as he went about his errands but it’s anyone’s guess as to whether or not he actually completed it himself or bought it that way.

If there were any doubts as to the decade that the pop star was trying to channel, simply take a look at the fluoro Carhartt cap which polishes off the look.

Is 90s men’s really back? We sure hope not. Here’s why.

RELATED: Retracing The Glorious Fashion Of A 90s Man’s Wardrobe

The post Justin Bieber Is Singlehandedly Bringing Back This 90s Boy Band Look appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Travelling while single is (literally) a world of possibilities. Last minute flight to Greece? Why not. Torrid one night stand? Wish this would happen at home. Late night kebab? Don’t mind if I do. Menage a trois? I’ve no idea what you just said, but sure…

The only problem with solo travel, is that despite the incredibly rich pickings, most men’s flirting skills leaves a lot to be desired. Sure, our carefully curated Instagram captions depict us as suave, worldly bastards, but let’s be honest: we’re more McLovin’ than Romeo (and how many of those captions were outsourced to wittier mates?).

This was placed into stark relief when we asked 40,000 Instagram followers what they would say if Emily Ratajkowski—famous for her drop dead looks, beauty regime and not using a trainer—sat down next to them in economy. Now of course, you expect a variety of responses. But what we didn’t expect, from our usually articulate commentariat, were pick-up lines ranging from boring:

“Why do the seats look like lego bricks.”

To delusional:

“Nothing, she’d come on to me.”

To arrogant:

“Sure, I’ll give you my autograph. No problem at all.”

To the absurdly creepy:

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life. And I’d like to strip you down and butter you like a slice of wonderbread, and shave your armpits, and pour honey all over your naked body. And for the next two weeks pretend I was a… hungry bear.”

To squirrel-brained:

“G’day sweetheart, you gonna eat those nuts?”.

To casual:

“Soz, do you mind letting me pass so I can get to the shitter?”

To the brazen:

“Do you prefer a grower or a shower?”

@emrata sits next to you in economy. What’s your opener? #emilyratajkowski

A post shared by D’Marge (@dmarge) on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:06pm PDT

Although we maybe (probably) should have realised the thought of sharing a plane ride (awkward middle seat “excuse me I need to go to the toilet”  shuffle and all) with Em Rata would be enough to fry most men’s brains, there were at least a few promising responses.

Some had room for improvement, but if applied alongside some bumbling charm, might at least elicit a smile:

“Still dunno where he’s gonna land this thing.”

Others contained situational humour:

“Rock paper scissors for the armrest?”

The rest relied on innuendo:

“Mustard or ketchup?”

And one attempted to predict the future:

“Excuse me but that’s my wife’s seat.”

And one other was just brutally honest:

“I’d probably open with “gfdgbkkh fdsghjjh Ché ghjbbjb” and then piss myself.”

As you were.

The post Emily Ratajkowski Reveals The Woeful State Of Men's Pick Up Game appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It’s not every day you get to see the Prince of Wales behind the stick of an F-35 fighter jet in a double breasted suit.

For that reason alone, Chuck receives our top honours for this week’s wrap of the best dressed celebrities. Joining Charles are guys like Ewan McGregor at his latest film premiere, Justin Bieber in transit with Supreme gear, Thor’s Taika Waititi in searsucker Michael B. Jordan rocking the bomber.

Elsewhere around the world it’s all about Alexander Skarsgard, Simon Pegg and a quick Kid Cudi throwback.

The post Prince Charles, Michael B. Jordan & Justin Bieber Are This Week's Best Dressed Men appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Have you ever put down a month’s salary on a poker table? If not (and it’s probably best you haven’t), imagine what it’s like to rely on the flip of a card to decide your fate. Stressful, no?

Luckily for you, investing in Australian wine doesn’t have to be like this. In fact, if you follow the advice of Sydney-based artist Luke Storrier, it can be an experience as enjoyable as investing in art.

We hit up the renowned sculptor, who has been developing his own unique style for over 10 years (having worked with brands like Absolut, Hermes and M&C Saatchi), to get the low-down on the Australian arts and wine scenes.

But first: an introduction. When he’s not gathering inspiration from the outback, Luke Storrier can be found playing with ideas of isolation and solitude, collecting natural materials from his surroundings, and letting them inform his work.

The result? Would-be lifeless landscapes injected with majestic movement. Storrier also likes to experiment with the notions of flight and flow, mixed with a firm sense of weight, drawing inspiration from the shapes nature provides such as feathers, bones, rocks and dirt.

His signature style has landed his work in several issues of Inside Out magazine and on display at the Edit Studios launch party. Interest piqued? Dig in.

First off, Luke likened the natural flavours of Austraila’s cornerstone wines to his organically inspired sculptures. “As with art, each artist is an individual soaking up the environment around them, ultimately reinterpreting their experience for other to see.” In the same way, he explained, “The wine makers and the grapes are similar; they come to the table with their own unique qualities and inject that into the overall colour, depth and flavour of the finished wine.”

“The talent of the winemaker lies in harnessing the potential of the natural flavour of the grapes, perfectly balancing the power of intense fruit with the elegance of fine tannins to create wines that are the best possible expression of each vintage.”

Take the St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and the St Hugo Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon, he said: “The regions are in the same state, but the same vintage and the same varietal will give you two entirely different wines. The Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense eucalyptus and mint nose, where the Barossa Cabernet shows a much more savoury spice and berry nose.”

In terms of the similarities between investing in art vs. investing in wine, Luke said, “There are certainly similarities, but ultimately it’s about personal taste. The most important factor to consider, “Is finding a personal connection to you that drives the enjoyment.” Also worth noting is, “While a lot of art is made to last for generations, not every wine is made to cellar… So it is definitely worth educating yourself on how long is ideal for each wine and individual vintage.”

“Collecting and investing are very different things—if you are merely collecting for investment purposes you can find other avenues—but if you’re looking to invest in culture then fine wine and art are very similar.”

Could investing in art actually be more lucrative than investing in wine, we asked? His response: “Why not invest in both! There’s nothing like looking at art while you sip a glass wine. For me it’s about investing in your own enjoyment; not making a decision based on what will be a lucrative purchase.”

“I would never suggest anyone purchase an artwork that they don’t love, just as one should never open a bottle of wine they are not excited to drink.”

“Investing is about making the right decision for you and choosing things for yourself that show craftsmanship and quality,” he continued. “To me, the value lies in the story of the maker and the tangible expression of how the product was created.”

To further explore the similarities between wine and art, we asked Luke to compare the sensual experience of a good bottle of red compared to a well-crafted piece of art. “As a sculptor my visual language to inspire my audience is colour, light, form and weight. Depending on what you’re trying to convey with a particular piece, one utilises the parts of that visual language to transfer that to the viewer.”

“As with a combination of viticulturist and wine maker they use their knowledge and understanding of the science and care of wine to convey different tasting notes, flavours and smells. Both (the artist and the wine maker) use the senses available to them to create connection.”

This is why different environments can encourage different feelings towards both art and wine, he points out. “Drinking wine at your kitchen table is a very different experience to drinking the same wine at the St Hugo home in the Barossa Valley. As with looking at art or sculpture in a gallery, vs. seeing it where it will spend the rest of time in your home.”

Feature Image Credit: Nikki Phillips 

The post Why Buying Wine Is Better Than Investing In Art appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Shirt. Chino. Sneakers. And that’s it.

Okay it’s slightly more thought out than that, but if it’s a minimal effort summer look you’re after then Alexander Skarsgard is your stylish saviour.

Mustard, off-yellow, Simpsons-face, whatever you want to call it, it works on men and Alexander Skarsgard is living proof. At the recent press conference for ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ in London and California, the award-winning actor showed up in a very cool and casual look that drew him just the right amount of attention without looking too gaudy.

Skarsgard’s tonal patterned button-up shirt in the bright yellow was the real hero. Whilst most guys would normally shy away from the bright colour, it’s a welcome change to see how the shirt can be paired for a more reserved look. Simply slap it on with cropped black chinos, a classic timepiece and fresh white mid-tops sneakers.

Think Bond…if Bond were ever to retire and live in trendy SoHo.

Need a bit more colour in your life? See the colour that Chris Pine recently wore that men also need in their life.

The post Alexander Skarsgard Shows You How To Score A Killer Summer Look With Three Simple Pieces appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Welcome to the grand old thirties, a defining period of a man’s life which often creeps up out of nowhere to bark a familiar set of orders. Grow up, stop going to rave parties, revel in stability, stop going to warehouse parties, get married, start going to random kid’s parties and start a family. The struggle is real.

In the world of personal finance management though, that’s easier said than done. No longer will a man at this stage be looking after himself, but possibly a partner, a child and a fresh monetary wound they call a mortgage. Diversity during this period is also rife which means that most men will be well into forging their career based on differing needs and circumstances.

“You should have an emergency fund set up for those unexpected, but guaranteed to occur at some point, expenses.”

All of these factors still allude to one overbearing query: How can a man get ahead financially during this decade?

The money pile doesn’t need to run thin just because your hair is. We talked to an expert in finance to score five money saving tips specifically curated to help you stay on top of the game.

Expect Unexpected Expenses

Forget about your Dirty Thirties for a second and spare a thought for his responsible mate, Thrifty Thirties. This guy gets zero action but all the boring responsibility that comes with ageing. One of the banes of his existences? Expenses.

Luke Laretive who is the Senior Private Wealth Advisor over at Shaw & Partners explains that there is often a tendency to upgrade lifestyle as one’s income increases. This is especially true for some men during their thirties.

“You might move into a nicer place, buy better quality clothes and instead of back packing through South America you’re booking a luxury yacht in Croatia.”

“This is natural and the point of making more money.  It’s good practice though to have a budget, save first and spend your money on things that matter to you.”

These things that matter could come in the form of rising rent prices, rising child care fees, health insurance premiums and the cost of raising a family and putting bread on the table. For a lot of men in their thirties, their life isn’t just about them anymore.

As Laretive has said before in our previous guide to managing money in your twenties, “the easiest way to navigate the lifestyle-vs-saving landscape is to decide and set your goals earlier on and the then set up your finances so you don’t have to think about it.”

Ideally you would have also had your budgeting habits in check by now. “Budgeting is a boring and depressing affair for everyone so the key is to find whatever works for you – an app, a family accountant, whatever – just make sure it’s as easy and simple as possible to manage,” says Laretive.

Change Your Spending Habits

Sorry gents, but thirty is not the new twenty. Especially not when it comes to spending habits.

As the chances of accidents increase with the arrival of loved ones dependent on you, it’s important to have things such as an emergency fund lying around. This can help with things such as unexpected illnesses, natural disasters damaging your home or a partner losing their job.

Laretive says that by the time a man is in his thirties, he would have hopefully gotten the hang of living life as an adult and a being responsible with managing money.

“Your income is likely to be higher than in your twenties so you should have an emergency fund set up for those unexpected, but guaranteed to occur at some point, expenses such as car or home repairs.”

Maximise Earnings During This Decade

Here’s what the money makers came to hear. Assuming that most men in their thirties would have settled down in a career to earn a stable income, how else could he possibly earn more?

“In terms of switching jobs or sticking it out for a promotion, every individual situation will be different,” explains Laretive.

“I believe the most important thing is to have a strategy and to be valuable and unique. If you want to earn more money you can’t be waiting around for someone to just give it to you. Make your ambitions known and work for it.”

More importantly, Laretive says that the easiest way to realise your true market value is to  get another job offer for more money.

“Take that to your current employer and you may be able to negotiate yourself a raise.  Most smart managers understand the cost of losing good staff is often higher* than the pay rise the person would need to stay. (*assuming you are good)”

“Investing should be looked at as one component of your financial plan. In terms of investing vs career you shouldn’t neglect one in favour of the other, it’s both.”

Future Planning

It’s not rocket science to see that planning for your future will make life a lot easier in the long run. Your early thirties is the optimum time to start this.

“If you’ve got a partner, they should be involved in the discussion as well so you’re both on the same page and working towards the same goals,” says Laretive.

“Things such as insurance and wills become particularly important once you’ve got debt and dependants.  Having your affairs in order will save everyone a lot of hassles if you get hit by a bus.”

A superfund should also be accumulating nicely at this stage in your life. Given there’s been the ballpark 9.5% savings earned over the last ten years (or more), a man should start considering a retirement age and quality of life after you’ve pulled the last shift ever.

It might sound daunting but there’s a legitimate reason for this according to Laretive.

“At this age you’ve still got enough time ahead of you to readjust if you’re not on track to be able to afford the retirement you want.”

Intelligent Risk Taking

There’s a new trend amongst professional males and females which sees the onset of thirty as a sign to throw in the towel for the rat race in favour of becoming one’s own boss.

There’s easily a decade’s worth of capital saved, the life experience is there and you know how to hustle for someone else, so why not for yourself, right? Close.

“Entrepreneurship is really fashionable at the moment but the reality is that running a business is not suited to everyone,” says Laretive.

“You need to know yourself and determine if that’s what you really want or are you just following a trend?”

Laretive believes that the side-hustle approach is a much better option that’s a reasonably low risk way to dip your toe in the water without leaving the security of your job.

“Start your business and work on it after work and on the weekend. If you get to the point where you can justify giving up your salary (and the majority of your free time) for the business opportunity and that’s what you want to do, go for it.”

Special thanks to Luke Laretive who is a Senior Private Wealth Adviser @ Shaw and Partners. This is general advice and you should consider it in light of your personal circumstances.

Feature image: Pacifico Optical. 

The post Money Saving Tips To Get Filthy Rich In Your Thirties appeared first on DMARGE Australia.