Say what you will about Elon Musk, the eccentric South African inventor is certainly a man of his word.

After joking about boring a tunnel to escape Los Angeles traffic, he founded the Boring Company. Then a seemingly tongue-in-cheek tweet about sending a Tesla Roadster to Mars (while playing David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ on loop, naturally) turned out to be a real attempt to launch the car into orbit with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy booster.

Now Musk appears ready to deliver on another outlandish promise.

Last December, Musk vowed to make a Boring Company flamethrower if he successfully sold 50,000 Boring Company hats. The sales goal was met, and last Christmas Eve, Musk tweeted that flamethrowers were coming “soon.”

I know it’s a little off-brand, but kids love it

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 11, 2017

It’s now one month later and it appears Musk has again made good on a promise. A Reddit user discovered that the URL “boringcompany.com/flamethrower” now redirects to a page with a password box. Another user successfully guessed the original password: ‘flame’.

Though the password has since been changed, at least one future pyro got through and shared details from the page. The listing features a prototype image of the flamethrower, noting that the “final production flamethrower will be better.” It also reportedly announces a retail price of US$600 and an expected shipping date in April.

It was leaked a few days ago but they changed the password pic.twitter.com/wcMXZ0ARFk

— Griddy McGridfinFace (@FalconGridFin) January 25, 2018

Further evidence of the flamethrower’s existence came in the form of an Instagram post. Writer-musician D.A. Wallach posted a brief clip of himself handling the fiery device during a tour of the Boring Company’s test tunnel at SpaceX. The video has since been deleted.

Skeptics have remarked that the prospective launch date could mean this is all an elaborate April Fools’ joke, but considering Musk’s track record, there’s every chance this thing is actually on its way. One thing’s for sure: if there really is a Boring Company flamethrower coming, it’s going to be a musk have.

RELATED: Elon Musk Has Revealed How He Plans To Send Humans To Mars

The post Elon Musk's Boring Company Is Making A $600 Flamethrower appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Call it the ultimate come up. Three years after filing for bankruptcy, rapper 50 Cent has just made a rather astonishing discovery: he accidentally amassed a Bitcoin fortune worth US$8 million.

Hit rewind. It’s 2014. No one but your nerdiest friends are talking about cryptocurrency. A single Bitcoin is worth US$657. Curtis Jackson III releases his fifth studio album, Animal Ambition, and makes the then-unconventional decision to accept Bitcoin for it. The sales stunt reportedly earns him around 700 Bitcoins, or a respectable US$460,000 at the 2014 value. Then he forgets about it.

Cut to January 2018. Everyone is talking about crypto, and Fiddy’s paltry half-mil has ballooned into nearly US$8 million.

The rapper took to Instagram to confirm his windfall. “Not Bad for a kid from South Side, I’m so proud of me,” he wrote in a now-deleted post.

His not-so-humblebrag was followed by one of the single most amazing/infuriating comments we’ve ever seen: “I’m a keep it real I forgot I did that shit. Lol.”

It’s not yet known what become of 50 Cent’s unexpected digital riches. Whether the rapper cashed out or is HODLing in hopes of even greater fortune remains to be seen, but crypto nerds have found a new hero who got rich and didn’t die trying.

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

The post Rapper 50 Cent Accidentally Became A Bitcoin Millionaire appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I’m CEO, bitch. That’s essentially what the head of Lotus recently told a judge when he was caught doing 102mph (164km/h) in a 70mph (112km/h) zone.

According to The Telegraph, Lotus CEO Jean-Marc Gales was pulled over by authorities in a company sportscar on the A11 highway last January near their Norwich HQ. The paper stipulates that the speeding offence of driving 32mph (50km/h) over the speed limit would often warrant a penalty of “six points or [for the offender to be] disqualified for between seven and 56 days”.

Gales however managed to dodge the full force of the law because his lawyer argued that it was an essential part of the business that the CEO test drove cars himself.

The Sun reported in detail that:

His solicitor Simon Nicholls argued that a short ban was preferable as it was “vital” that Gales was able to test drive new Lotus cars himself on the road, and that although Lotus had engineers to take new cars on the road, as head of Lotus he liked to test the cars personally and see how they handled.

The judge, Mary Wyndham, granted Gales a free pass but not without imposing a short 30-day driving ban and a £666 fine alongside an additional £166 for other charges – all without the loss of a single point.

Wyndham also told Nicholls to caution his client on using the A11 as a test track in future and to keep it on the track instead.

“He should use somewhere else,” she said.

This wouldn’t be the first time that Gales has had a brush with the thin blue line. The British sports car CEO had previously racked up eight points on his license with five of those for allegedly to doing 96mph (155km/h) over the speed limit on the same road back in 2014.

If the judge had given Gales an additional three points for this offence, it would have seen the Lotus CEO hitting 12 points, meaning an immediate 12 month driving ban.

Now who said the ‘Get out of jail free card’ was fake? Just be the CEO of a sports car company.

The post Lotus CEO Caught Doing 164km/h, Says He Needs To Personally Test Cars appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In 2015 two avid watch collectors (Serge & Kevin) discovered their collection would often gather dirt, grime and general grossness from day to day wear.

Having tried alcohol, soapy detergents, commercial cleaners and solvents the pair decided to create their own solution to this problem. A very simple and all-natural one.

Introducing Heist Watch & Jewellery Cleaner Kit…

Heist is an all-natural watch and jewellery cleaner that’s gentle on your precious goods. The travel friendly kit contains an 80ml bottle of cleaning solution, a soft microfibre cleaning and polishing cloth and a soft bristle wand for getting into those hard to reach places.

The resealable packaging ensures you can keep everything safe in your suitcase or carry-on luggage.

“It takes about 2-3 minutes but you noticed a big difference whether it’s a Rolex or Apple Watch.”

Heist will give more shine and sparkle to your watches and jewellery. Heist has been tested on a variety of animals… joke. It’s been tested on all watch types, even the trusty Apple Watch which is often the worst offender when it comes to everyday dirt.

The Heist Watch Cleaning Kit is AU$34.95 (including free shipping for Australian customers) and ships worldwide. Jump over to Heist to get yourself this nifty watch cleaner. 

The post Make Your Watches & Jewellery Look Like New Again appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you want to play badminton in Speedos on Australia Day, then you’re more than welcome to. “Just don’t expect it to become the national sport,” explains a staunch Sam Kekovich.

If you haven’t heard of the name then you’ve probably seen the face. Kekovich is Australia’s foremost authority on all things lamb, BBQs and this great big slab of land we like to call home. The ex-AFL player is recognised as an Australian ‘Lambassador’, a media personality who has spent the better part of the decade yelling at citizens to consume lamb on Australia Day.

Some like him, some don’t. But the beauty of his satirical approach to spruiking the lamb industry lies in his polarising and often controversial monologues. Don’t like meat? You mustn’t be Australian.

We love a bit of savagery at D’Marge, so ahead of this year’s Australia Day we asked Sam Kekovich to tell us how to throw a bloody awesome Australia Day BBQ.

Pay attention, numnuts.

Who Should Be On Your Australia Day Invite List

“Everyone and anyone who wishes to attend,” according to Kekovich.

“Mates of mates and friends of friends. There’s no restrictions. We don’t discriminate at my BBQ. It’s all about inclusion and there’s always enough food for everyone.”

Kekovich also listed these people as potential invites for a bloody awesome Australia Day BBQ:

• Past team mates
• Old friends
• New friends

He also noted some people who you should probably keep off the invite list due to a high rate of rejection:

• Vegans

“There’s a distinct possibility that they might not back my invitation, but who cares?”

The BBQ Host Always Supplies The Goods

Kekovich believes that there’s no need to bring anything as a guest as it’s the golden rule that the host always provides. With the exception of discerning ballers.

“For those who are more affluent or beacons of excess, they can have a palate that’s more responsive to a extremely expensive wine or champagne – they can certainly bring their own.”

Topics You Should Avoid Talking About

Sam Kekovich is very clear on what you should never bring to the forefront of banter at an Australian Day BBQ. Here’s what he reckons.

• My wives (i.e. any exes or past lovers that may cause you to break down like a slobbering mess in front of family and friends)
• Whether Collingwood can ever win a premiership again
• Religion should never be on the topic of discussion. And politics – they’re boring. Talk about climate change and Bitcoins instead

Who Gets To Helm The BBQ Grill

The BBQ party host always controls the tongs, according to Sam Kekovich.

“No one but me. If you allow too many people to hover around the BBQ, they tend to be dilettantes,” he says. “There’s an art form to being at a good BBQ. So many people want to flip-flop, flip-flop because they can’t control the (BBQ) hand movements. I’m averse to letting too many hands spoil the broth, so to speak.”

Kekovich’s tips for the perfect tasting BBQ:

• Leave the meat on the BBQ simmering until you see a little blood appearing on the surface, then it flip them over.

Tell Someone If They’re Crap At BBQ-ing

There’s a delicate art form to telling someone that their handy work on the grill is shit. And the answer certainly isn’t to ignore it unless you like carcinogenic protein laoding.

“Most certainly bring it to their attention,” says Sam Kekovich. “We’re Australian so we’re not patronising or condescending, but if there’s an error in their way then you should certainly bring it to their attention in a civil manner.”

The Kekovich solution:

• “A slap across the mush and tell them to get better. Simple rules. There’s no HR department at our BBQs.”

Great Aussies To Invite To Get The Party Started

Kekovich says that your Australia Day shindig should already have great Aussies, but if you wanted to be picky, these would be the right picks.

• Ron Barassi
• Mark Latham – apparently he’s a voice of moderation and restraint with a balanced view on most things
• Julia Gillard – Kekovich believes she can extend the olive branch to Latham over lamb

Sports Should Be Involved On The Day

Kekovich staunchly believes that sport defines who we are and is very much a part of our DNA.

“We’re very lucky in this country unlike a lot of other regions of the world where the yellow orb shines brightly on us. We’re outgoing people and sport is such a defining tool that binds us together like a lamb BBQ. A unifying catalyst. It wreaks of great values and teaches us morals.

But what sports should never be played on Australia Day?

• Darts – “I wouldn’t encourage darts as a sport. But anyone who’s out there and doing a bit of activity rock and rolling again is a good thing.”
• Speedos and badminton – “There’s nothing wrong with that. It wouldn’t be our national game, but still it’s exercise.”

Cook The Lamb To Near-Damn Perfection

“I like mine well done and not so pink,” says Kekovich. It might not be to everyone’s taste but the following is mandatory to making the perfect BBQ lamb.

• Marinate it overnight in wine
• Add chilli powder
• Add lots of garlic
• Set your BBQ grill carefully and keep the heat uniform
• Pay attention and don’t burn anything

Behave Accordingly

“Remember Australia Day,” stresses Kekovich. There’s nothing worse than celebrating Australia Day on April 1st.

“Invite everyone and rejoice in living in the best country on the planet. And stock up your fridge with lamb.”

The post Sam Kekovich's Guide To Hosting A Bloody Awesome Australia Day appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

What does a quality garment mean to you? If it’s the idea of getting what you pay for, then you’re in for a rude shock.

Balenciaga’s infamous ‘dad sneaker’, officially known as the Triple S, has been a hit amongst the fashion elite over the past year. It’s made appearances at fashion show runways and graced celebrity feet alike, often selling out as soon as it restocks. But now the luxury fashion house is facing fresh criticism for a controversial move which has seen the shoe’s production relocating from Italy to China.The country of origin was confirmed by a Reddit user who purchased a pair of the AU$1,042 sneaker, only to find that it wore a tongue tag with the familiar ‘Made in China’ label instead of the ‘Made in Italy’ one.The user proceeded to clarify this via Balenciaga’s customer service who stated that, “The Triple S were initially made in Italy but the manufacturer of the shoe was moved to China where they have a savoir-faire and capacities to produce a lighter shoe.”Regardless of this move to a cheaper production facility, the Triple S still retails for AU$1,042.Balenciaga’s not the only brand to do this, but it is still a questionable tactic since the change was not explicitly disclosed or announced to customers by the high fashion label.This also touches on the fact that the “Made in Italy” tag often comes with its own connotations of fine craftsmanship which customers will pay for regardless of the product’s final quality.Naturally, netizens are outraged and calling for the shoe to now be priced accordingly – a.k.a, cheaper. Here’s what some are saying on popular streetwear sites and Reddit.

Balenciaga Triple S Manufacturer Switched to China from r/streetwear

Another user on Hypebeast commented: “if they wanted to ‘produce a lighter shoe’ maybe they shouldn’t have stuck three fucking soles on it.”This begs the question of everything that’s wrong with the current crop of premium fashion labels. Popular Canadian outerwear brand Arc’teryx currently retail their basic shelled jackets for well over $1,000 and these are all made in China items.Given that basic made to measure suits can roughly cost the same price today and come from the same country, one needs to wonder how much work actually goes into making these high-end garments that people are willing to pay a big price for.

The post Does Balenciaga Make Sneakers In China? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In the world of rare and exotic whiskies no one does it better than a handful of distilleries from the U.K and Japan. The Macallan’s latest expression lives up to this hype thanks to its four decades spent in Sherry Oak casks made from a select number of trees hailing from Jerez in Spain.

Only 151 examples of The Macallan 1977 Fine & Rare Vintage will be released worldwide with a price tag of US$15,000 for each 750ml bottle. That’s no standard Friday night bevvy but it’s certainly set to become a collector’s item amongst sherried single malt lovers and the dreamers alike.

What you’re paying for here isn’t so much a fancy bottle and wooden box, but rather an exacting process in fine whisky making. This particular expression was laid down on September 26 in 1977 with only three casks that carried a combination of two sherry butts and one hogshead. Time would eventually do the rest in producing a rich and dark amber tone of whisky that connoisseurs and fans lust after.

Those lucky enough to get their hands on a bottle can expect strong notes of cinnamon, dates, and figs alongside a subtle scent of spice and citrus.

And if you can’t afford it now, you could probably invest in it thanks to the world’s first whisky investment fund.

The post The Macallan's Latest Prized Whisky Took Four Decades To Create appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

It was only a matter of time before Apple unveiled an answer to Amazon’s Echo and Google Home.

The HomePod smart speaker has been highly anticipated since it was announced at the 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California. It was slated to launch last December – just in time for the crucial holiday shopping season – but Apple delayed the release in November, saying simply, “We need a little more time before it’s ready for our customers.”

That time has at last arrived. The HomePod will hit shelves the US, UK, and Australia on 9 February. Preorders will begin this Saturday, 27 January. Here’s what to expect from the Fruit’s latest launch.

Classic Apple Looks

Plump yet sleek, HomePod boasts an instantly recognisable Apple aesthetic. The speaker sits at just under 18 centimetres (seven inches) tall with a rounded body wrapped in 3D mesh fabric available in White or Space Gray. Touch controls on top of the device allow for simple navigation, while a small display shows a Siri waveform when activated.

Under the hood, a surprising amount of tech has been squeezed into HomePod’s compact body. The speaker features a seven-tweeter array and a 4-inch upward-facing woofer for sound that’s crisp, clear, and free of distortion even at loud volumes. Apple’s A8 chip controls the internal components.

An Audio-First Approach

Apple has been clear about how it intends to differentiate HomePod from its competitors. Though it does have some home assistant capabilities thanks to Siri integration, the focus is on music and sound quality. This is a speaker first and a smart speaker second.

The HomePod’s audiophile-friendly features include a high-excursion woofer and automatic spatial awareness, the latter of which allows the device to intelligently analyse a room and adjust accordingly for the best possible sound. The A8 chip powers capabilities like real-time acoustic modeling, buffering, upmixing of direct and ambient audio, and multi-channel echo cancellation.

Later down the line, two HomePods will be able to work together as a stereo pair for richer sound, and more will be able to be linked together for multi-room audio through AirPlay 2. These capabilities will be launched later this year via a software update.

Apple Music Integration

Naturally, an Apple speaker must have Apple Music integration. HomePod connects directly to Apple Music in the cloud over wi-fi, offering access to a user’s music library including playlists, customised music mixes, and preferences. It also learns tastes that are shared across devices, and supports shared Up Next music list so everyone in a home can contribute to the same music playlist.

Siri Support

With the inclusion of Siri, HomePod can send a message, set a timer, play music and podcasts, and check the news, sports, traffic, and weather. An array of six microphones means the device can hear “Hey Siri” from across the room, even when loud music is playing.

HomePod also supports HomeKit, allowing the speaker to control a range of smart home accessories or create a command – like “Hey Siri, I’m home” – that controls a number of accessories simultaneously. HomePod can turn on the lights, lock the front door or make other adjustments to form perfect home hub, enabling remote access and automations.

Through SiriKit, HomePod supports third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp. HomePod also integrates with note-taking and to-do list apps like Things and Evernote so Siri can set reminders, create new lists, mark items as complete, or create and modify notes.

Spotlight On Security

Noting the most frequently expressed concerns about smart assistants, Apple built HomePod with privacy in mind. Siri must be activated through a “Hey Siri” command, and unless those words are spoken, HomePod is not listening to conversations in a room. Only after a “Hey Siri” is recognised by the device is any information sent to Apple servers, always using an encrypted and anonymous Siri ID.

Pricing And Availability

HomePod arrives in stores beginning Friday, 9 February and is available to order online this Saturday, 27 January in the US, UK and Australia. HomePod will arrive in France and Germany this autumn. Initial pricing is set at A$499 or US$349.

The post Apple's Long-Awaited HomePod Speaker Is Finally About To Drop appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Jaeger-LeCoultre are paying homage to the men who walk their own path in 2018 with the release of a brand new Polaris Collection.

The five distinct watches which made their debut at this year’s SIHH all borrow the DNA of the original Memovox Polaris timepiece hailing from 1968.

With the old school pillars in place alongside the model’s 50th anniversary, Jaeger-LeCoultre focused their efforts on creating a broader model range which now includes a three-hand automatic, a chronograph, a chronograph world time and a more vintage-inspired duo in the Polaris Date and Polaris Memovox.

A Design Exercise In Sport Elegance

A glimpse at the face of every Polaris piece will reveal a marriage of fine watchmaking tradition with a fresher and more contemporary feel – think sporty and elegant with a vintage touch.

The defining feature across all five Polaris models is the dial which comprises of a mixture of finishings on three concentric circles to provide a face with added depth and detail.

The case of the Polaris collection is also a worthy mention as it’s a brand new affair featuring a combination of brushed and hand-polished surfaces, with sharp, plunging lugs and thin, rounded bezels to achieve the aforementioned sport aesthetic.

Large crowns meanwhile mimic the original 1968 model whilst providing better grip. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Automatic

Steeped in pure minimalism is the dual-crowned Polaris Automatic. The iconic appointment sees one crown designated to setting the time whilst the other adjusts the inner rotating bezel.

The inner rotating bezel itself is a nod to the Polaris’ diving roots which allows for tracking of elapsed time under water. This piece in particular has a water resistance rating of 100m.

The 41mm case is made from stainless steel and houses the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 898/1 automatic movement with 40 hour power reserve. This movement drives the hours, minutes, seconds and the rotating inner bezel.

The final touch to this piece is a dial in black or ocean blue which features three treatments – sunray, grained and opaline.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Steel Chronograph

Adding a chronograph function to the Polaris brings another dimension to the watch without diluting its original design.

The Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph is the sportiest of the new line thanks to its tachymeter bezel, a feature which allows the wearer to determine their speed over a fixed distance.

The technical specs of this model sees a 42mm stainless steel case housing the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 751 automatic mechanical movement which boasts a 65 hour power reserve. The movement drives the hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph and tachymeter scale.

Once again, the dial features a black or ocean blue hue with sunrayed, grained and opaline finishes. Water resistance is also rated at 100m for this piece.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Rose Gold Chronograph

A touch of elegance goes a long way in the modern world and that’s exactly what Jaeger-LeCoultre have focused on with their new Polaris Chronograph in striking rose gold case.

The internal movement is essentially the same as the standard chronograph with the only difference being the rose gold version’s anthracite dial with sunrayed, grained and opaline finishes and an oscillating weight in rose gold.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Chronograph WT

World time is the true companion to any serious traveller and Jaeger-LeCoultre have addressed this with their latest Polaris Chronograph WT.

The in-house chronograph movement boasts a useful world time complication for those who are always on the fly. Of course it all starts with a durable and lightweight 44mm case that’s made of titanium and measures in at just 13mm thick – a requisite for when you need to travel light.

This case houses the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 752 automatic movement with hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph and world time functions. This is further backed up by an extensive 65 hour power reserve.

It not only features the two chronograph pushers, but it has an additional crown at 10 o’clock to control the rotating city disc, which you can set to the city you are in, and immediately see the time in 23 other cities around the world.

The dial design on the Polaris Chronograph WT comes in the option of black or ocean blue with sunrayed, grained and opaline finishes.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Date

The Polaris Date is the first of two timepieces which takes direct inspiration from the original model which arrived in 1968.

It uses the same design elements including Vanilla Super-LumiNova hands, the triangle along with trapezoidal indices mixed with four Arabic numbers, a railway track for the minutes and a date window at three o’clock.

The case itself is a 42mm stainless steel unit and features a glass box where the crystal is raised from the case, evoking its vintage inspiration.

Flip the watch around and there’s a closed case back which wears an engraving of a SCUBA diver, similar to the engraving that was found on the inner case back of the 1968 model.

Inside the case is resides the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 899/1 automatic mechanical movement with hours, minutes, seconds, date and rotating inner bezel functions. There’s also a 38-hour power reserve backed up with a 200m water resistance.

The dial configuration on this piece is black with sunrayed, grained and opaline finishes.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Polaris Memovox

They call this one the rebirth of an icon and it’s certainly our personal favourite of the collection.

Issued in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, this model features the special alarm function made famous by the 1968 Memovox Polaris watch.

This 50th anniversary timepiece features the iconic three-crown design: one for setting the alarm (top), one for the inner rotating bezel (middle) and one for setting the time (bottom).

Everything is set within a 42mm stainless steel case including the Jaeger-LeCoultre Caliber 956 automatic mechanical movement, a striking mechanism with a gong, along with the central seconds and instant-jump date-change system.

It also affords functions like hours, minutes, seconds, alarm and date backed up with a 44 hour power reserve.

The dial is where the vintage cues really resonate thanks to vanilla Super-LumiNova markings and trapezoidal indices mixed with four Arabic numbers.

The triangle in the dial centre acts as the alarm indicator.

This movement is special in that it’s a direct descendant of the first automatic alarm watch movement created by Jaeger-LeCoultre in the 1950s.

As it represents the pinnacle of timing accuracy, robustness and reliability, it’s been evolved for more than 60 years to suit today’s demands. That includes a 200m water resistance rating and a black sunrayed, grained and opaline finished dial.

Simple yet cool is how we’d describe it.

The post Jaeger-LeCoultre Launches An Affordable Timepiece For Men Of Adventure appeared first on DMARGE Australia.