It’s time we gave you a tip. Not that tip, a serious tip. You’re a smooth operator between the sheets. You’re a stallion who rules the steed. You’re a straight shooter in a bendy world. We’re just going to come out and say it. You rule at sex.

But, because there’s always a but, you thought that you could escape the clutches of sexually transmitted diseases because you always played it safe. You’d be wrong. It’s a commonly known fact that STDs can be contracted without sexual intercourse and through the most innocent of acts or physical interactions.

Here are the lesser known ways you can contract an STD without actually having sex.

Make Out Sessions

A kiss may just be an innocent peck on the lips but even that’s playing with fire if either of you have an STD. Sexually transmitted diseases like herpes can be transmitted via tongue kissing or any form of saliva transfer.

Get this and you’ll know about it when the virus causes cold sores to break out around your mouth in the form of little blisters.

Oral Sex

Many believe oral sex isn’t “real” sex since there’s no penetration or direct contact between genitalia. Unfortunately this isn’t true. STDs can be transmitted through oral sex if the either partner’s penis, vagina or anus is infected. The most common form of of genital herpes is the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), which causes secretions, sores and broken skin. Go down on someone with this and you’re pretty much infected.

Adding salt to the wound is the fact that chlamydia can also be contracted by the throat if you engage in oral sex. And if you’re wearing a condom, it still won’t make a difference.

“Condoms will only protect the area that is covered; genital herpes can be on the inner thigh area and not everyone has symptoms. Most people who pass on genital herpes are not aware that they have it,” says sexologist and sex therapist Heidi Gee.

“If a person has oral sex and has a cold sore, they risk passing on the oral herpes to the genital area which then becomes genital herpes (HSV-2).”

“To protect yourself against genital herpes it’s important to wear protection like condoms or use dental dams during oral sex.”

Skin To Skin Contact

“Sexually transmitted infections are passed on by skin contact (herpes) or bodily fluids,” says Gee. And we’re not even talking about genitalia on genitalia contact.

If there’s a break in the skin on your body and you manage to get into contact with someone with herpes or HPV, it could be enough reason for an infection. Think touching beards or any other general region in the body.

Whilst it is rare, contracting it in this way depends on the skin’s condition and the severity of the infection.

Dry Humping

Similar to skin to skin, dry humping could encourage bouts of skin-to-skin contact and STD infection. And we all know how that ends…HPV, herpes, syphilis or molloscum contagiosum. Take your pick.

Eating Contaminated Food

One of the lesser known ways to contract an STD is through the innocent act of eating. If the person preparing your food has hepatitis A (HAV) and didn’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom (believe us it happens a lot), you could end up contracting an STD through contaminated food. And no, the hot chips isn’t worth it.

Sharing A Towel

Believe it. There might not be STD viral infections lingering around in your favourite towel but if you borrow someone else’s towel, there could be a parasite called trichomonas vaginalis hiding in the fibres. This parasite is responsible for the onset of trichomoniasis, the most common of sexually transmitted infections.

It’s handy to bear in mind that this parasite thrives in damp fabrics and can linger for an hour before finding its host. And that’s not to mention the crabs or pubic lice which are also notorious for making beds and clothing their home.

“Oral herpes or cold sores (HSV-1) can be passed on by contact with the skin or saliva. If someone has a cold sore they can also transmit it between blistering, sharing toothbrush, utensils or towels,” adds Gee.

Sharing Razors

This one’s a big no-no. Whilst the partner may love to borrow your razor, it can put you at risk of contracting a sex infection. Those who usually shave their pubic region are also more prone to contracting an STD since the skin is often broken and irritated.

Solutions From An Expert

Sexologist Heidi Gee says that there is a lot of unnecessary stigma around genital herpes.

“It can be treated with medication and suppressed. If a person gets cold sores, it’s important that they are mindful during a break out that they are very contagious and should avoid kissing their partner’s genital area.”

“Play it safe whilst having fun.”

RELATED: A Gentleman’s Guide To Bathroom Sex

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Forget the skeletons in your closet: end of financial year means it’s time to think about that overcrowded draw of receipts.

For those that have dropped money on crypto, here’s the D’Marge guide to saving money come end of financial year.

According to Fernando Prieto, CA (Solid Partners Accountants & Advisors), the first step in deciding how to deal with cryptocurrency losses, “Is to determine whether you bought them on capital account or revenue account.”

Capital Account Tax

If you bought your crypto on a capital account as an investment, you will most likely be taxed under the capital gains tax provisions.

In this case, if you hold onto the cryprocurrency for more than 12 months, you will be eligible for a 50% discount on the capital gain.

Similarly, if you make a capital loss, you will be able to carry forward the losses and apply them against future capital gains you make.

However, if you plan to do this, remember: capital losses cannot be applied against other income (i.e. wages, rental income etc.), but only against capital gains.

On the other hand, if you bought your crypto as a personal use asset, your loss may be disregarded if certain conditions are met.

“If you acquired your Cryptocurrency for personal use, any capital gain or loss will be disregarded. The capital gain will only be disregarded if the cryptocurrency cost was less than $10,000.”

If you want to apply the ‘personal use asset test’ to disregard the gains you made, it’s important that you keep good records to prove that you were only using the cryptocurrency to transact—and you had no intention of investing.

If you consistently acquire cryptocurrency over a period of time (and your intention was to wait for a favourable exchange rate) then during the acquisition phase you also buy some goods and services, you would still be deemed to have purchased the cryptocurrency for investment and thus be taxed as a capital gain.

In order to avoid this, the ATO has listed on it’s website that the following records should be kept:

• The date of the transactions
• The value of the cryptocurrency in Australian dollars at the time of the transaction (which can be taken from a reputable online exchange)
• What the transaction was for and who the other party was (even if it’s just their cryptocurrency address)

Revenue Account Tax

If you are deemed to be ‘carrying on a business’ ​then income from cryptocurrency is included in your assessable income. In this case, losses would be allowed as deductions.

Below are some examples of business involved in cryptocurrency:

• Cryptocurrency traders
• Cryptocurrency mining businesses
• Cryptocurrency exchange businesses (including ATM’s)

Fernando also pointed out that ​the purchase of cryptocurrency could be deemed to be a profit​-making undertaking, in which case you would be taxed on any profits as assessable income. Losses could also be offset against other income (i.e. wages, rent etc).

If you are profit making in this scenario you would be taxed as ordinary because losses can be offset against other income. As this is a complex and rare case, he encourages anyone in it to seek independent advice.

Disclaimer: The information provided below is general in nature and should not be relied upon by any tax payers as it does not take into consideration your circumstances. We are not responsible for any damages or penalties that may arise from the information we have provided.

RELATED: A Guide To Dealing With Tax On Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Profits

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Air travel has always provided a great excuse to switch off your phone and ignore your emails.

However, Qantas recently upped its game, prioritising customers’ mental health, enabling them to take an inflight meditation program, “Designed to bring a sense of calm and help (you) unwind in the air.”

The program is conducted via a video series, comprising of 10-minute guided meditation sessions; set to aerial footage of some of the most beautiful landscapes around Australia.

According to a Qantas press release, “Customers can choose from five different scenes including Australian deserts, bushlands, coasts, forests and locations at twilight as they listen to the meditation.”

Qantas Chief Customer Officer Vanessa Hudson said the expanded inflight entertainment offering opened up more opportunities for customers to enjoy some “me time” during their flight.

“Customers tell us they value being able to take time for themselves inflight and watch a movie or read a book, and now we can help them find a little extra relaxation with guided meditation.”

The series is currently available to view on YouTube, and an immersive virtual reality version can be downloaded before travelling via the Qantas VR App.

But for those keen to try it onboard, the video series will be available from June on Qantas’ inflight entertainment system.

RELATED:  Blockchain Rewards Program For Frequent Flyers Released By Cathay Pacific

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Have you ever wondered what would happen if you stopped striving for inbox zero?According to the latest developments in cognitive science, it could make you more creative and in tune with the world. Oh and also: chores aren’t a way of managing life: they are a way of avoiding it.In Edward Slingerland’s book, The Art of Science and Spontaneity, he asks: “Why is it always hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and relaxed on a first date? What is it about a politician who seems wooden or a comedian whose jokes fall flat or an athlete who chokes?”Slingerland, Research Chair in Chinese Thought and Embodied Cognition at the University of British Columbia, believes that in all these cases our built-in human desire to “control everything” is counter productive. And according to him, “If you can figure out how to shut that tendency down and open yourself up, then the world will carry you along” (Quartz).More important than labelling tupperware is to make your mind, “Empty and tenuous”. To make the case, he cites the ancient Chinese philosopher, Zhuangzi, who warned us of the evils of organisation more than two millennia ago.To Zhuangzi a regimented life doesn’t reflect a sense of duty so much as a desire to control personal circumstances (which becomes stronger the more insecure you are). In his book, Slingerland says this is a problem, because, “If we invest sensibly and have zeroed inboxes and clean houses, then we can kid ourselves that our careers will progress smoothly and we won’t be rocked by unexpected twists.”

“They are consumed with anxiety over trivial matters but remain arrogantly oblivious to the things truly worth fearing” (Zhuangzi).

Of course, “While it’s healthy to accept some disarray, embracing it entirely can be harmful both to yourself and others, and can be another way of eschewing meaning in life” (Quartz). So the key is balance (i.e. don’t feel obliged to do your dishes straight away, but at least put them in the sink to soak).

“There’s a balance between obsessing over organisation and descending into chaos.”

Guy Claxton, a Psychology professor at the University of Bristol, backs this claim up in his book, How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less. Drawing from the latest research in cognitive science, he argues, “Patience and confusion—rather than rigor and certainty—are the essential precursors of wisdom.”If you find yourself getting a bit OCD when stressed, remember this: our minds work best when we trust our unconscious. Aside from giving you the perfect excuse to be lazy less analytical, under the guise of “letting creativity have free rein”, this has two implications.Firstly: Chill out. If your irritatingly ambitious #LinkedIn friends really are more organised than you; life will punish them accordingly.Secondly: Don’t worry if your style of organisation, to the untrained eye, looks like junk-mountain. As Daniel Levitin, a McGill University professor of behavioural neuroscience, told The Washington Post:

“People have different styles: Some are filers and some are pilers. The people who pile things often know exactly where things are, and they’re often just as organised as the people who file things.”

RELATED: Study Reveals Whether Material Goods Really Make You Happy

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Defending an aerobics instructor on trial for murder, Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods once said, “Happy people just don’t kill their husbands”.Although she may be right, mortality aside, exercising as a couple has a number of surprising upsides. Despite this, not many people are taking advantage of this endorphin-boosting activity. ‘Couples that train together, stay together’, we caption our bi-annual jog around the cul de sac—but few regularly put it to practice.However, after talking to Tim Robards (a talented Chiropractor, human biomechanics enthusiast and TV personality) about his upcoming Twosome 2018 Challenge—and his training routine with Anna Heinrich, his fiancee—we’ve come away inspired to work up more of a sweat with our partners.So, what are the common challenges to training with your partner? According to Tim Robards, one of the main barriers is one person is typically fitter than, or has different objectives to, the other.

“If you go to the gym with your partner, usually the guy wants to go to the weights section and the girl wants to do a class or go to the area with the lighter weights.”

To overcome this, Tim created ‘The Robards Method’, a training system where using bodyweight (and Olympic rings) you are able to adjust your workout to any level.

“On the same TRM Rings I could give you something that my grandma can do and I can give you something only an elite level gymnast can do.”

This means you can go down to the park and train together in the same spot, “Basically using the same equipment, but having two totally different levels of work outs—from gentle 45 degree pull ups to the (infamous) iron cross.”

As to convincing a reluctant partner to join you, he said it is important to set time-based, emotional goals.

“People who have weddings coming up do well at getting in shape – because there is an emotional goal attached to it.”

If you’re not quite ready to pop the question, he reckons Uniworld’s river cruise from Amsterdam to Frankfurt—the prize for the Twosome Challenge’s most transformed duo—which includes return flights to Europe, studio accommodation on the ship, on-shore and off-shore excursions, rooftop yoga on the deck, wine tastings, silent discos, farm-to-table brunches and dinner, might be enough to pique even the most Netflix addicted bae’s interest.Training together also keeps you accountable, as well as strengthening your relationship (and muscles).

“When you’re doing something healthy as a couple, you are releasing serotonin together which then subconsciously, you know, makes you think – well actually if we spend time together we’re happier together.”

If after all that you’re still looking for a reason to sit at home and order Uber-Eats, consider this: “Training together will make you more playful around your partner, improve your relationship, and if you have kids you’ll be able to play with them longer without getting tired and grouchy.”And if that’s not enough, check out the various studies that show how exercise can significantly improve your sex life.

RELATED: Study Reveals A Relationship’s Expiry-Date Is Set The First Time You Have Sex

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Damn son, where’d you get those threads from? The best dressed celebrity men of the week, that’s where.It’s a stacked collection of well-dressed guys this week thanks to a succession of events rolling out across the northern hemisphere.Jason Derulo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jensen Ackles, Lewis Hamilton, Steven Yeun and Will Arnett were all front runners whilst their attire was notably diverse.From double-breasted tuxedos to statement overcoats to linen and camo, nothing was off limits in the menswear scene.Don’t believe us? Check out Lewis Hamilton’s diamond studded loafers. Now you’ve seen it all. The hard part is picking the look you want to steal.

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As long as they are not attached to a lycra-wearing cyclist, women find longer legs more attractive than longer arms, according to a study carried out by Cambridge University scientists.This is because having legs a bit longer than average may be linked to strength and good health.But before you go buying a pair of Cuban heels: the study found that the most attractive legs weren’t too long—just a little longer than average. So looking like a Japanese spider crab is not a turn-on.Arm length was found to have little or no effect on male attractiveness, the same research showed. As reported by BT Sport, the explanation for this is that longer legs, “Offer a balance between greater size and ‘averageness’, which is associated with good health.”The attractiveness of different leg and arm proportions were tested on 341 American women who were asked to give computer generated male figures marks out of seven.The results showed that the most attractive ‘figures’ had legs about 0.5 standard deviations above baseline: i.e. they were slightly longer legged than average.“LBRs (leg body ratios) that are slightly above the mean are associated with high socioeconomic status, good nutrition and developmental stability, as well as biomechanical efficiency during locomotion,” said Dr William Skylark, the head researcher, in the journal of Royal Society Open Science.

“High LBRs are also linked with larger overall stature (because leg length is the main contributor towards height increases beyond the average), which suggests that LBR can serve as a proxy for overall size.”

On the flip side, short legs were linked to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and dementia, while very long legs “often indicated deleterious genetic conditions.”The scientists concluded that the observed preference for legs that are at or slightly above the population’s average length accords with the idea that leg length signals the fitness of a prospective mate.RELATED: Women Are Happier With Less Attractive Men, According To Science 

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If there was any confusion on how Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton likes to blow chunks of his US$140 million contract, then this probably answers that question.Hamilton arrived at the amfAR Gala Cannes 2018 event yesterday at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in France wearing what is probably one of the most audacious and over-indulgent menswear looks of the year.A white pinstripe waistcoat and fitted trousers with contrast tear print was combined with an untucked granddad collar shirt with black ribbing. That’s not the hero piece here though. Gaze your eyes over Hamilton’s feet, chest, ears, fingers and wrists and you’ll likely be blinded with the shimmer of diamonds (and how diminutive your bank account is).It’s a hell of lot of diamonds and it’s definitely not a look for every man – even if you could afford to walk in what looks like $100,000 loafers. A closer inspection of Hamilton’s look pairs monochrome vertical lines with the aforementioned diamond encrusted loafers, diamond encrusted ring, a diamond studded IWC timepiece, a pearl bracelet, a diamond chest pin and two diamond earrings.Still with us? Good. By this point we’re actually surprised he didn’t slap diamonds on his Fedora hat and specs.Some slack does need to be cut for Hamilton though as frivolity was likely a theme of the party. Nonetheless we probably would have given props to the look was it not for the overzealous ‘I’m-an-F1-playboy-and-I’m-here-to-steal-your-bae’ look.Be warned men, diamonds are forever, but they might not be your best friend on the red carpet, according to this pleb.

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Business class seats often receive much of the fanfare and hype in commercial flying so to make things right again, Airbus revealed a concept for a new standard of First Class in their A350 and A380 aircraft.Welcome to Day & Night First Class. The luxury cabin designed by Airbus Interiors Services (AIS) features two separate spaces to replicate how a passengers would play out their day back home. A “day” living zone is made up of a premium seat, a dining and working table and a personal screen. There’s also an adjustable partition which allows the enclosure to be shared with a partner.The “night” living zone meanwhile is reserved for quiet time. The space is noise-insulated and features a full-height enclosed suite with a comfortable two metre long bed – yes, an actual bed – and individual storage alongside a personal In Flight Entertainment screen.The bold concept is made up of several suites with up to 3.4 square metres of personal space on board. That puts it on par with the standard First Class real estate in the current market, albeit with a full sized bed.The goal of such a design is to allow passengers the ability to work, rest and entertain in different zones whilst also providing the option to travel alone or with a partner. Whilst no pricing details have been released, Airbus did confirm via their site that the product is currently under development with the prospect of suite delivery happening between 18 and 24 months pending an airline’s complex requirements.Until then ballers will just have to settle for standard old Business Class.RELATED: Being A Wine Enthusiast Could Be The Secret To Your Next Upgrade

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