Should you feel bad for watching The Simpsons in 2018?

This Sunday’s episode flashed a middle finger at concerns that Apu (a 7/11 store owner with an exaggerated Indian accent), is a racist caricature of South Asian people. It was only a matter of time until the topic came up, since the controversial documentary, The Problem With Apu came out late last year.

Towards the end Lisa—the show’s moral compass—breaks the fourth wall, turning to the viewer to say, ““Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?” The shot then pans to a picture of Apu with the phrase, “Don’t have a cow”, inscribed.

Predictably, fans are divided. The scene doesn’t deny Apu is a cruel caricature: it implies you shouldn’t get upset about it. As the show’s success is based on making fun of everyone and everything (particularly a white dude called Homer), some argue that this is all just a ridiculous display of faux-sensitivity.

Imagine being someone that get’s offended about a stereotypical character in a show comprised of stereotypical characters.

Now imagine being so offended by it you make a documentary about it and cry when the show’s creators tell you to GTFO.

There’s nothing wrong with Apu.

— Punished Bunty King (@buntykingtv) April 9, 2018

Others say it’s easy not to be offended when you’ve never experienced being a minority in an (at least) occasionally racist environment—and when any jokes made at your own demographic’s expense you wrote yourself (the Simpsons’ writing team is virtually all white, middle-age men).

In “The Problem with Apu,” I used Apu & The Simpsons as an entry point into a larger conversation about the representation of marginalized groups & why this is important. The Simpsons response tonight is not a jab at me, but at what many of us consider progress.

— Hari Kondabolu (@harikondabolu) 9 April 2018

The question then becomes: should you only make fun of your lived experience? Surely not. Writers might fail, but saying they can’t try would be liberal-fascism. For most of The Simpsons’ history Apu was seen as funny, but now is being retroactively judged. Whether this is an ‘awakening’ of true empathy, or a virtue-signalling epidemic that will end in ever-blander sitcoms remains to be seen.

Although political correctness has no place in cartoons, contrary to popular belief, The Problem With Apu documentary doesn’t advocate political correctness. Hari Kondabolu (its creator) isn’t criticising the Simpsons’ right to ridicule a racial minority—he’s criticising their decision to do so (and how they did it). Whether you think this is patronising or progress is another matter entirely.

It’s also worth noting that although Carl (one of the show’s African American characters) is obviously a caricature, the depiction has never really been complained about. This doesn’t necessarily mean the creators were biased, but does indicate that they had a better (or at least, less wrong) understanding of African American culture than they did of Indian American.

Either that or they realised, given the country’s history, that middle class America (the show’s main audience) had more of an appetite for making light of South Asian immigrants than African Americans.

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With a bar and fully-reclining seat, it’s hard to go wrong in business. But if you’re spending a small fortune to be cradled over the clouds, you really ought to pick the best crib.

After a disappointing experience on a wrinkled old 747 we did some recumbent research—wetting our lips on only the finest champagnes and resting our weary limbs on only the comfiest of beds—so you didn’t have to.

6. Qantas

Seats: The second generation SkyBed cocoon seats are comfortable, and offer massages (and of course, you get the trademark Qantas PJ’s). No-where to store your laptop close by though. Business Suite on the 787 is what we’re waiting for, however the rollout has taken so long the seats will be dated by the time it’s across the fleet. (pssst… Just hope you don’t get stuck on a 747 with the now incredibly old First Class seats.)

Food: Trays set with white linen, where roast beetroot salad and a chicken, leek and chestnut pot pie will appear with a smile. Lighter options include chicken schnitzel and Swiss cheese toasted sandwiches, while for dessert there’s a seasonal cheese selection and ice cream with almond praline.

Lounge: Clever sectioning offers various spaces for relaxing, working or enjoying a meal pre-flight. Showers are available, as is a family zone—for when the kids need to be entertained. QANTAS First lounge in Sydney is what makes the trip special as well as First check-in. Yes, it’s true QANTAS destroy the competition when it comes to lounges, however you only spend 1 hour on the ground and 14 in the air.

Aircraft: From Sydney there are two options—the Airbus A380, and Boeing 747—both of which are non-stop flights of about 14 hours. The Airbus comes in a 2-2-2 seat configuration (which means people in a window seat don’t have direct aisle access), while the Boeing features a 2-3-2 configuration, meaning that on full flights everyone—window seat or not—will either be climbing, or climbed over, to stretch their legs. It’s worth noting that if you fly from Melbourne you can get a QF95, a modern Dreamliner with a superior 1-2-1 seat configuration.

Price: $11,255 (July 1 – July 31 2018 – Non-flexible Fare)

Our Two Cents: After some recent lacklustre flights on antique 747’s, we can’t wait to see the Qantas fleet move to 787’s. Considering what the airline charges for business class, it should be a LOT better in the air. If you fly via Melbourne, then you’ll be sweet as a nut on the 787 with the business suite. For now… we wait patiently for their 747’s to be sent to Saudi Arabia.

5. Delta

Seats: We’re looking forward to the launch of Delta’s Airbus A350 later this year, a game changer that will offer superior privacy in the form of individual business suites. Until then they will be continuing with (what some would call) phallic-shaped seats, in the trusty old 1-2-1 ‘herringbone’ configuration.

Food: Seasonal, fresh produce, cocktails, beer, wine—the works. There is also a ‘Dine and Rest’ option, enabling you to have your meal delivered as a single service rather than at intervals, which is perfect for red eye flights when you want to get some serious sleep.

Lounge: The Skyteam lounge is a haven from the busy international terminal of Sydney airport. Complimentary wifi and—as you would expect from any business class lounge—excellent food.

Aircraft: Delta Boeing 777-200LR, flight time roughly 13 hours.

Price: $8203 (July 1 – July 31 2018 – Non-flexible Fare)

Our Two Cents: Impressed with Delta internally within the US of A. Their new business class suites will be a winner and a clear leaders in the sky across the Pacific. Bring it on!

4. United Airlines

Seats: Eight rows of seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, a setup which forces window-seaters with small bladders to be constantly straddling their travel companions. Each reclines to a 180-degree flat-bed, 52 centimeters wide and 198 centimeters long. Storage is a shelf beneath the TV. Comes with, “Custom bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue with a plush duvet, a lightweight day blanket and a premium pillow,” as reported in Traveller.

Food: There are four mains to choose from (highlights include the pan-fried chicken breast with chestnut-raisin sauce, and hapuka fish fillet with sun-dried tomatoes and cashews), but beware: as Kerry van der Jagt from Traveller found out the chewy-way, “While the fish is sweet and delicious, the accompanying pea risotto is like glue”.

Lounge: United’s business class passengers out of Sydney have a choice between the lounges of Star Alliance partners Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines. According to Australian Business Traveller, “United steers you to the crowded Air New Zealand lounge where there’s barista-pulled coffee, an ‘egg station’ for poached or fried eggs cooked to order plus the usual scrambled eggs, baked beans and grilled tomatoes”.

Aircraft: From Sydney there’s the Boeing 777 (13.5 hours), while Melbourne has the newer 787-9; a smoother, more comfortable and less jet-lag inducing ride.

Price: $8,300 (July 1 – July 31 2018 – Non-flexible Fare)

Our Two Cents: The United experience is good but for some reason you feel like a hindrance to their flight attendants. They lack the charm of Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia. Their seats, (a 2-2-2 configuration) is kinda daggy looking but remarkably comfortable.

3. Air New Zealand

Seats: 55 centimeters wide, furnished with white leather, these seats are basically home-style lounge chairs that recline into 2 meter long beds. The thick memory foam mattresses, fluffy duvets and hotel-size pillows add to the comfort, as does the increasingly popular ‘herringbone’ 1-2-1 layout, which means everyone has direct aisle access.

Food: Restaurant dining, premium wines and classic Kiwi service.

Lounge: Split into several zones, there’s a cafe area where you can either dine buffet-style or—if you so desire—with a dish prepared by the resident chef.

Flight: The Air NZ Boeing 777-300 flies between Sydney and Los Angeles via Auckland in 17 hours and 45 minutes (including a 2 hour 35 minute stopover in Auckland).  The only downside is the luggage allowance (3 bags of 23kg each), which is lower than some other airlines.

Price: $8529 (July 1 – July 31 2018 – Non-flexible Fare)

Our Two Cents: Arguably the most innovative and progressive airline. The stop in New Zealand will be a no-go for some.

2. American Airlines

Seats: The bed features a removable armrest, and reclines to 198 centimeters in length, designed in ‘reverse herringbone’ style a la Virgin. Passengers are provided with mattress pads come bedtime.

Food: For dinner the choices include grilled beef filet, chicken tikka masala, lobster ravioli and asiago-stuffed gnocchi. The wine list contains Australian wines from the Barossa and Margaret River regions. Breakfast is a choice between traditional American and continental.

Lounge: Buffet food, complimentary alcohol and more substantial dishes available for purchase. However, according to Australian Business Traveller, it isn’t as good as the newer One-world Business Lounge.

Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, with a flight time of 14 hours.

Price: $9,905 (July 1 – July 31 2018 – Non-flexible Fare)

Our Two Cents: AA have come a long way in recent years. They are going hard after the business traveller and with the revamp of their entire fleet they’re definitely a contender. Plus they’re Oneworld which is great for Qantas regulars.

1. Virgin Australia

Seats: You wouldn’t expect a seat configuration to be named after an exotic species of fish—but it makes sense when you think about it. Virgin has fitted their 777-300ER fleet with ‘reverse herringbone’ seats (the 1-2-1 configuration ensuring easy aisle access for everyone), 53 centimeters wide (71 when you lower the armrest), lengthly (in fully flat mode it’s 203 centimeters) and spacious around the feet.

Food: A la carte, express dining, a bakery, and a ‘pantry’ are all on offer. Described by Business Insider as, “Hearty Australian fare rather than anything gastronomically exciting.” But we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Lounge: Stylish, classy, and with a great bar. Also includes complimentary WIFI, meeting rooms and access to a suite of the latest news publications and magazines.

Aircraft: Virgin Australia 777-300ER. Total flight time: 13 hours 35 minutes.

Price: $7153, and assuming you don’t cancel (it’s non flexible), the best value seat currently available.

Our Two Cents: With great lounges, staff, aircraft and price it’s hard to beat Virgin Australia when you’re traversing the Pacific ocean. Let’s see whether they can keep this up or whether Qantas over take them when their 787 fleet is in service.

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Avengers assemble. Well almost. English actor Paul Bettany rocked up to the Avengers Infinity War event this week in a striking ‘terracotta’ linen suit which became the real superhero.The man who plays Vision in the popular Marvel movies made the right moves on the London red carpet when he opted for a pared down three-piece suit in the unique finish and colour. It’s not overly sprezzatura or Savile Row but rather a nice balance of both – a rarity in today’s world of cut and copy suiting.Joining the 46-year-old actor on this sartorial journey is an oversized button cardigan in grey marle, an absence of a tie and a simple white button down shirt underneath.The cardigan amps up the look slightly and is the perfect move for those who want to add more depth and detail to their suiting with minimal effort.Is the cardigan on its way back to men’s fashion? We definitely think so.For more pointers on how to dress during the colder seasons, hit up our guide to dressing in winter to ensure you’re the best dressed man in town.Those looking to score Bettany’s linen suit will need to go down the tailor route (trust us it will work out better for you in the end). Need pointers on how to wear linen suiting? We’ve also got you covered.We’ve also thrown in Armie Hammer in a linen suit just to show you guys how it looks in a different colour.

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They’re the local name which took out the coveted title for the world’s best single malt whisky in 2018 and now Sullivans Cove have another surprise up their sleeves.Say hello to the Tasmanian distillery’s limited-edition brandy, Sullivans Cove XO. The latest creation from the label comes as a collaboration with the thriving Tasmanian wine industry to offer a drink that is balances richness and complexity with a distinct Tasmanian flavour.Head Distiller at Sullivans Cove Patrick Maguire jumped at the idea of being able to make brandy.“After years of distilling whisky, the opportunity to work with quality Tasmanian wine was really exciting for us,” he said in a statement.“We’ve waited a long time to see the results, and we couldn’t be happier with the quality and complexity of these brandies.”To bring this brandy to fruition, wines from the Huon Valley region were distilled with the same techniques the label used to make their award winning single malt whiskies and aged in either French or American Oak barrels.The first batch of Sullivans Cove XO (cask TDB0040) was matured in a 300-litre American Oak ex-tawny (Australian port-style fortified wine) barrel for nine years.Heather Tillott who is the Production Manager at Sullivans Cove believes that their new brandies will strike a chord with single malt drinkers due to their intense depth, rich complexity and balanced elegance.“It’s exactly what our supporters expect from us,” added Tillott.Those keen to try it out will be glad to know that the expression will be released in two styles. XO Single Cask will allow the most complex and intriguing brandy barrels to express their unique characteristics whilst being non-chill filtered and unblended. Each cask will only produce a few hundred bottles of exceptional quality.The XO Double Cask which is expected to land later this year will be crafted using traditional vatting techniques to create a rich and complex brandy.So how rare are these bad boys?Adam Sable who is the Managing Director at the distillery says that “Only a small number of barrels were produced about ten years ago and no brandy has been made since. Once these are sold out, they are gone forever”.If you want to get your hands on a bottle of XO Single Cask brandy before it hits public release, you’ll need to join the Sullivans Cove mailing list where members get first dibs. A small number of bottles will also be available from the distillery’s cellar door in Tasmania at a price of $280 per bottle.

The post Sullivans Cove Won The World's Best Single Malt Whisky & Now They've Got A Brandy appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

When Lexus set out to build their no-holds-barred halo car back in 2010, little did they know that it would gain the fiscal reputation to rival Australia’s housing boom.Before we get into the juicy details of the cars though, let’s take a quick math lesson to rectify our point. When the original 10 of 500 Lexus LFAs arrived on Australian shores, customers had to fork out AU$750,000 to own one. With limited numbers in play and the title as the fastest car to ever roll out of the Japanese camp better known for its tarted-up Camrys, the LFA was destined to become a modern classic.Carsales currently have a 2012 model listed for sale for AU$1,200,000. Given that it actually sells for that price, that’s an appreciation of AU$450,000 over the duration of six years since its debut, or $75,000 per year. In percentage format that’s 10 per cent of the original RRP price year-on-year.

“It’s a collectable car now and will continue to appreciate in value.” – Lexus Australia

Now according to the Global Property Guide and data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, “House prices in the country’s eight major cities rose by 11.1% during the year to end-Q2 2017 (8.98% inflation-adjusted)”. Mind you this was back in November 2017 and today those figures have already shifted thanks to a downturn in real estate which has seen house prices fall “1 per cent across the five largest capital cities”.That’s the LFA’s 10 per cent to housing’s 10.1 per cent (and falling) to those playing at home.And based on those wonderful figures, we’ve come to the prudent conclusion that it’s now okay to buy a pre-owned LFA without consulting the significant other over that shoddy fibro house out in the sticks.Nick Raman who is the head of PR at Lexus Australia says that this was bound to happen due to the exotic nature of the car.“It’s the full demonstration of Lexus engineering and design. We definitely expected it. It’s a collectable car now and will continue to appreciate in value.”Whilst German sportscar maker Porsche have had their own issues with local customers buying their limited edition cars for RRP and then flipping them at wildly inflated premiums (with low kms on the clock), Lexus appears to be a bit more lax towards its supercar customers.“I think it is [up to owners to do what they want],” says Raman.“LFA owners do enjoy driving their car. The fact that there’s a few out there with a some kilometres notched up demonstrates that it’s a usable supercar, not just something you’d keep locked up in your garage.”But we digress. The second LFA that is going up for auction this month is actually the LFA Nürburgring Edition in left-hand-drive, one of only 50 examples in the world and one that supersedes the ‘standard’ AU$1,200,000 model in sheer performance.On the spec sheet there’s only a mild bump in power which sees the Lexus/Yamaha-built 4.8-litre V10 jumping from 412kW of power to 420kW with the same screaming 9,500 rpm red line.Where it excels is through a slew of racing enhancements in the form of more carbon fibre, a larger front spoiler and a fixed rear wing to aid downforce and handling at speed. There’s also sport-tuned suspension, stickier tyres and a fresh set of multi-spoke rims.Most notably, none of these extra components have compromised the car’s top speed or acceleration which is still pegged at 325km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds.The special edition LFA will be put under the hammer at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction between April 12 to 15 with just 2,500km on the clock complete with Takata airbag replacement.What can punters expect to pay for the LFA Nürburgring Edition? Well given it sold for US$70,000 more than the American sticker price of a standard LFA, an Australian buyer can expect to pay no less than AU$1,000,000.Yes, it would probably be easier to buy and sell a $1,200,000 house, but where’s the bragging rights in that?

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There are no social boundaries when it comes to the progression of design and technology. If you need proof simply look at the practices of tech companies like Facebook or Grindr.Sometimes though, even the most morbid of acts can materialise as a modern tribute to a late great. That’s what designers Nicolas Damiens and Julien Sens wanted to achieve when they took the handwriting of late artists like Kurt Cobain, David Bowie, John Lennon, Leonard Cohen and Serge Gainsbourg and turned them into downloadable digital typefaces.It’s heavy stuff, especially in Cobain’s case where his nuances in handwriting are tragically and beautifully captured in his final lazy c’s and tiny i’s from his suicide letter. As noted by Designboom, Cobain’s handwriting is often thin and scratchy whilst being unashamedly uneven. This includes bolded words which have been scratched out and replaced for more honest symbols. The result is a typeface that is honest, tortured and poetic all at once.It’s a distinct contrast to Joh Lennon’s handwriting which appears to be more structured and coherent whilst David Bowie’s takes a cleaner graphic approach.On the font list is also singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen and French artist Serge Gainsbourg.You can download them all for free now via Nicolas Damiens and Julien Sens’ Songwritersfonts.

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We’ve all got that one mate who ‘did’ Europe, or a ‘never done before’ trip to South America (where they were so immersed in the culture they ‘forgot how to speak English’ after just two weeks…).

And if you don’t get it in real life, Instagram is full of it: mountains, temples, secluded beaches, Mediterranean cities—beautiful people having ‘authentic experiences’ and getting to know their ‘inner selves’ in the foreground.

A recent National Geographic study indicates that 80% of those people are probably posers. In an attempt to establish why some people have never-ending bucket lists (while others live vicariously online), researchers established the existence of DRD4-7R, a chromosome dubbed ‘The Wanderlust Gene’. It is found in 20% of humans, compelling those who posses it to constantly be on the move—and to take more risks than others.

Of course you can love travelling without possessing this gene, as Ayon Nandi, a researcher at John Hopkins university explained to Blake Snow at Entrepreneur, however it is one of three crucial ingredients.

“The interaction of genes, environment, and nurture come together in complex ways to produce the variety of human behaviour.”

So there you have it: a bona-fide excuse to book a spontaneous trip, or objective proof that your wannabe worldly mate’s still a flog.

RELATED: The Mysterious Reason Locals Are Jumping Off The Notorious Nazare Cliffs

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Whilst some may argue that vintage graphic prints of celebrities never actually took a hiatus, it certainly did for the mainstream men’s movement whilst the Kardashian cohort took over the trend in recent years – albeit with images of themselves superimposed over deceased artists like Tupac and Biggie Smalls.

Ansel Elgort wants to change that. Over the weekend the 24-year-old Baby Driver actor hit the town in a bold Marlon Brando graphic hoodie set in cool monochrome. It was a fitting affair given that Brando was born on the 3rd of April so it’s safe to assume that the actor wasn’t implying his talents are on par with the legend nor was he using the Brando’s name as a marketing tool.

But we digress. The iconic 90s staple look is back and Elgort kept the look super casual with a pair of chinos and white Nike high-tops. It’s nothing fancy but it’s enough to earn him the title of most originally-dressed frat boy for a night out with the lads.

And whilst graphic garments with your idol’s faces sprayed on them might be on the way up again, best be careful with using people like Trump or Putin. Unless you superimpose your own face across it that is. Or maybe not.

Elgort’s Marlon Brando hoodie is made by Docle & Gabbana and can be found at Farfetch.

RELATED: See More Of Ansel Elgort’s Winning Looks

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It’s often called the dangerzone, no – not Kenny Loggins’ Top Gun theme, but the brazen act of dressing outside of the dress code. Many men have tried it and failed, but many men have not been Michael B.Jordan.

In his latest sighting in Philadelphia, the 31-year-old Black Panther actor rocked an all-black athleisure wear ensemble to the Creed 2 cast dinner – and actually made it look good.

Given that athleisure wear is often off-limits beyond the confines of physical activity (or sipping lattes with the lads), Jordan was able to break that rule without scaring innocent diners away with gaudy lashings of fluro and residual sweat marks.

How did he do it?

Simple. With a little help from smart monotoning and bloody good fit. Yes, that’s a Nike Dri-fit jacket but it also features front panelling which makes it look more like a classic gilet vest. And let’s not forget about the Nike drawstring joggers which are also shod in black and hug the legs for a more clean and contemporary look. The outfit is polished off with black sneakers bearing a hint of red on the heel.

Of course the underlying factor here is Jordan’s athletic build which essentially allows him to cut a mean figure in any athleisure wear.

The rest is pretty much left to the black colour which takes attention away from the louder aspects of traditional sportswear design. Call it minimalism in this case thanks to the trade off of colours in favour of noir.

Beware trying this one at home, men. If you need more traditional advice, see our guide to wearing cocktail attire.

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