Pointless and Awesome is the place where procrastination and insightful news comes together for an educational stint. More importantly it’s made for reading for those who hate reading.

What Happens When You Give The Nazi Salute In Modern Day Germany

One American tourist found out the hard way this week when he got drunk and engaged in the Nazi salute (Hitlergruss) in a public space on Saturday. As well as nursing minor injuries the tourist is also being investigated by authorities for violating German statute.

The incident happened in downtown Dresden where the 41-year-old American was repeatedly beaten by a German citizen after he was spotted performing Hitler’s infamous salute. The Associated Press also reports that the American had an “extremely high blood alcohol level”.

Twitter users were quick to highlight the irony of this particular incident.

An American beaten up in Germany because he gave a Nazi salute. Meanwhile, in America, neo Nazis are marching the streets. US worries me.

— Natasha (@XaristocatX) August 13, 2017

This isn’t the first time tourists have been caught behaving badly in Germany though. In the very same week, the L.A Times reported two Chinese tourists were detained by authorities for taking photos of themselves performing the “Heil Hitler” greeting in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin.

Those caught performing Nazi endorsements through signage or other means can face jail time and a big fine in modern Germany. Patricia Braemer who is a spokeswoman for the Berlin police said that, “we definitely treat this and all similar such cases as a serious violation of the law.”

“The law banning the use of symbols that violate the constitution applies not only to Germans but to everyone in Germany. Anyone coming here ought to know and respect the country’s customs.”

If you don’t know a country’s customs then be sure to read our guide on how not to get shot or arrested when abroad.

[via Complex]

The Difference Between Whisky & Whiskey

Turns out there’s more to a name than just the preference you spell it in. ‘Whisky’ and ‘Whiskey’ are actually two different things with the spelling indicating the country in which each blend was distilled.

This means that every country establishes its own rules and regulations on the liquor’s distillation process. Whiskey hails from the U.S and Ireland whilst whisky comes from Canada, Scotland and Japan. This difference in spelling dates back to the difference in translation between Scottish and Gaelic.

Whiskey is liquor distilled from fermented grain mash and often distilled three times – especially Irish whiskey. Whisky on the other hand like the Scottish variant is distilled twice. The former takes three years to age whilst the latter can get it done in as little as two years. This is why seasoned tasters often say that whiskey is smoother whilst whisky is stronger.

Oddly enough, the Americans don’t have the same distillation as its Irish counterparts. They only inherit the same ‘whiskey’ name because of the flood of Irish immigrants in the 1700s.

If you don’t know, now you know.

[via Travel & Leisure]

Dietician Reveals Why You’re Failing Your Diet Plan

Well it’s only five months before 2017 is done and dusted. And how’s that diet resolution going? Shit? We figured. The common saying of going on a diet usually works for the short term but can barely last the run of a year for many.

Dietitian Whitney Stuart of Whitness Nutrition said that the whole concept of dieting is backwards because of society’s general perception on what ‘diet’ is. The term often draws on the connotations of having less, that is, less food, less ingredients and curbing one’s eating times.

Add to that the strict and specific rules of fad  diet plans and the whole thing becomes unsustainable over long periods of time for many.

“The idea of deprivation, ingrained in many diets, ‘gives us control over a situation’ in the short term,” Stuart said.

“Perhaps leading people to think, ‘I haven’t eaten any cookies, I’m so good.'”

“This short-term diet doesn’t become a habit. And 10 days – maybe two weeks – later, we see that deprivation rebound when self-control finally dwindles. Because that is limited.”

This also brings upon binging where people often tell themselves, “I haven’t eaten any cookies in two weeks, I deserve one! I earned this cookie!”

As Stuart puts it, it’s all in the mind.

“You and your goodness (or lack thereof) are not affected by what you eat,” she said. “This mindset is so dangerous.”

“We shouldn’t promote the deprivation-based diets as the only successful tool that will provide weight loss, because it’s not,” Stuart added.

[via Business Insider]

The post What Happens When You Give The Nazi Salute In Modern Day Germany appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

He’s maybe one of this generation’s most likeable actors but even pros are prone to breaking the occasional code in men’s fashion.At the recent premiere of Comrade Detective, Joseph Gordon-Levitt – who usually scrubs up pretty well in a suit mind you, went down the suit sans tie route. It’s a formulaic style move which has been tried and tested countless times to great effect but there was just one issue. He only had one open button as opposed to the ideal number of two to pull off the look.Petty? Some might argue that, but the finishing style you end up with is rather distinguishable between the two. A lot of it depends on the shape of a your torso as well as the shirt’s button spacing, but having said that the general rule for paring down any dress shirt is with two buttons out.With one button out the look is simply left muted, floating between the regions of ‘I’m a bit apprehensive’ and ‘But it looked okay when I rocked this in school’. Neither is a good excuse.On a more pragmatic front, having one button done up usually leaves little breathing room for what is essentially a relaxed look without being daggy. A closer look at JGL in the second image will reveal how a single buttoned shirt often causes unsightly creases around the collar region.So we’re calling it now. Either have two buttons open, button it all they way up or wear a tie. No fence sitters. Take a page out of Mr. Gosling in the gallery who does the smart casual look justice with two buttons out.

Need More Help…

Smart Casual Dresscode Defined & How To Wear It With Style

The post Joseph Gordon-Levitt Made The Biggest Mistake In Dressing Smart Casual appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

New York City. The city of perennial subway delays, endless hordes of humans, and the loudest place you’ll ever rest your head at night.

While there’s everything wrong about it, there’s everything right about it at the same time. People from all walks of life, a vast landscape of endless discoveries, remarkable food…all making it one of the greatest cities to live in the world.

But with the title comes the challenge of navigating the concrete jungle known as Gotham. From how to find a clean loo to the apps you need to survive the city, here’s the ultimate lifehacker’s guide to mastering the impossibles of New York City.

Breeze Through The Underground With City Mapper

Whether native New Yorker or the curious tourist, subway disruptions are quite frustrating when you need to get somewhere. CityMapper not only updates and reroutes you around delays, power outages, and trash fires, it tells you which section to board the train on so you don’t walk an entire avenue to find a flight of stairs.

Even better, it syncs to Apple Watch so you don’t have to pull your phone out every three minutes to check your route.

On The Go? There’s An App For That

We’ve all raised the question of sneaking into a Starbucks bathroom without a key code or waiting on line for a mediocre coffee. With Sit or Squat, you no longer have to guess when the next free loo is coming up.

The app maps public washrooms in your area, their cleanliness, and yes…pictures included. 5 stars for the Hillcrest Pharmacy near Tompkins Square.

Utilise Any Hotel Toilet

A classic, yet highly sanitary tip granted you don’t look like a dag. Simply walk into an unsuspecting hotel with no door security. Head to the ballroom, normally located basement level or second floor and unlocked. Do your thing, make a quiet phone call, and enjoy the air conditioning on a humid summer day.

Don’t Fall For The Dream Of An Empty Subway Car

While it may look dreamy compared to the packed neighbouring cart, odds are it’s a public restroom. And not by it’s own choice.

Save Money On Rides With Juno

Fortunately there’s no shortage of rides in the city, even for new ride hailing apps. Juno basically poached Uber’s top rated drivers and came into the market at a lower price. Get rides from Park Slope to the Bronx and out to Jamaica, normally with a discounted price tag.

Don’t Hail Cabs On Certain Streets

Need a ride off 14th, 34th, or 42nd street? Drivers can’t make turns on these streets, forcing archaic cabbies to loop back to pick you up, while charging you the extra time to do so. Head to the nearest avenue for your yellow cab, or swipe right and stick to what we know works best.

Leave The City Without Actually Leaving The City

And it’s only a subway ride away. The Ramble in Central Park serves as peaceful getaway from the crowds in the heart of the city. For those feeling adventurous, jump on the A train to Inwood Hill Park where big buildings, tour buses, and endless honking cease to exist. A true gem in the far north hemisphere of Manhattan.

Stock The Pantry While Binging Netflix

The greatest thing since sliced bread? Grocery delivery in under 1 hour. Look no further in NYC than Max Delivery to re-up your Airbnb or flats provisions during a hungover Sunday binge session.

Bring The Liquor Store Right To Your Door

Amazon Prime takes two days for delivery. Your local bodega doesn’t sell WhistlePig 15 Year Straight Rye Whiskey. Do yourself a stiff favour by downloading Minibar for booze deliveries to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens in under an hour.

Discover Free Co-working Spaces

Freelancers and remote workers needs a change of pace every so often. Free collaboration spaces like the Ace Hotel and Wix Lounge in Chelsea welcome all types of workers in a cool, productive environment to work and network in.

On sunny days, set up shop on the serene, surprisingly quiet patios at Caffebene (near Union Square) or Intelligentsia at the High Line Hotel with other likeminded professionals.

Beat The Crowds On Amtrak Put Of Penn Station

The secret to “pre boarding” your track is the red caps. Publicly visible, yet rarely used. These Amtrak employees reside in the waiting lounge and carry bags to your platform before the track is announced. Meaning you skip the human stampede rushing to the track and can go about your travels in peace.

Decode The Central Park Lamp Posts

There’s times where this comes in handy. Think a romantic stroll with your Tinder date through Central Park. You’re lost, and you’d look pretty lame if had to check Google Maps five times over to figure out where you were.

Fortunately, the park has low-key location codes displayed on their lampposts. Each post displays four numbers (for example: 8202). The first two designate which street you’re closest to, ex: “8 2 = 82nd street”, and the second indicates whether you’re on the east side (even numbers) or west side (odd numbers)

Opt For Path Train Over Subway

Get from West Village to Midtown without squeezing into the crowded subway. Stops run from Christopher Street to Penn Station. You’re welcome.

Avoid The General Public

Because even enthusiastic urbanites need a people break from time to time. The web app Avoid Humans takes check-in’s from Instagram and Foursquare, assesses the amount of people in a given location, and delivers a rating – scale red to green – on how busy a restaurant, bar, or cafe is when you want to be antisocial.

For Snapchatters, your Snap Map offers a detailed, thermal imaging type map which indicates the volume of snaps in a given place. A secondary indicator for getting caught in the crowd.

Remember Your Avenues With These Handy Formulas

East Side. “1, 2, 3 Let’s Party MotherF$%#er!” for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Lexington, Park, Madison, Fifth. West side (not as exciting): CAB for Columbus, Amsterdam Broadway.

Navigate Manhattan Like A Native

Because Google Maps can’t save you here. Reorient yourself in any Manhattan neighbourhood by keeping this simple point in mind: traffic heads west on odd-numbered streets and east on even-numbered. You may think you don’t need it now, but you’ll be happy to have this next time you’re meandering through Chelsea and get lost.

When In Queens…

Your address serves as a traditional geolocation. Meaning Butcher Bar (brilliant BBQ, for the record), at 37-10 30th Ave is on 37th Street and 30th Ave. Now you’re a seasoned New Yorker.

Get The Best Seat On The Subway, Hopefully

While we can’t truly promise you a seat, there’s three ways to tell where the subway doors possibly open so you can get on first. Look for a relatively cleaner area on the platform (because they just cleaned the wads of gum off), a distinct crack, or a marking and hold position near it until train arrives.

And If You Must Go To The Empire State Building, Don’t

Head for the Top of the Rock instead. It’s less busy and the views are better.

Never Pay Full Price For Broadway Show

Score some seriously discounted tickets by dropping into the Times Square TKTS Booth around 5pm every day. Or test your luck and play the BroadwayDirect lottery for cheap tickets to shows like Hamilton, Cats, Wicked, and more.

Stay Up-To-Date On Sample Sales

Because I guarantee you won’t find that same Tim Coppens bag for $140 anywhere else. New York is notorious for high-end designer sample sales. There’s no shame in walking out with a new wardrobe and boost of confidence at a steep bargain.

Natives Don’t Actually Wait On Lines

Whether a Broadway show or massive club event, print or download event tickets ahead of time to bypass lines that span half the block. You’d be surprised how many people don’t do this.

Not Even To Buy Subway Rides, For That Matter

Sign up for the EasyPay MetroCard to bypass the vending line, which builds up depending on where you’re getting on. They offer pay-per-ride and monthly unlimited options, swipe tracking, and auto-fill for a frictionless riding experience.

Hit The ATM Before You Go Out

You never know when you’ll fall upon a cash-only restaurant, bar or warehouse party in Bushwick. Only to send you on a multi-block, midnight expedition to find an ATM that actually works.

Pay For Your Cab On The Go

It’s apart of our genetic code to rush even when we aren’t being rushed. To accommodate us, taxi’s let riders swipe at any point during the ride so you can get the hell out as soon as possible when you get to Naruto Ramen (heads up, cash only).

Need More Help…

Check out our extensive D’Marge guide to New York City from the most spectacular rooftop bars to fashion to where to eat.

The post Secret New York City Hacks You Need To Know, According To A Local appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The week’s selection of best dressed men are in and it’s all about dressing for the chilled out casual vibes.

The action was played out in airports, hotels and anywhere the men of style were in transit. Justin Timberlake channeled the premium-covert athleisure look with a flat cap, sunnies, electric blue chinos, Stan Smiths and an all-weather jacket for one hell of an eclectic look.

Meanwhile Drake and LeBron James were spotted at a pool party together also in their finest summer attire. Pay attention to the winning colours and textures used by this duo. Following this trend, Orlando Bloom, Oliver Cheshire, Robert Pattinson and British singer Dougie Poynter all showed off how to rock layers with an array of colours and eye-grabbing patterns.

Justin Bieber also went down the streetwear path this week with distressed jeans, salmon sneakers and a printed white tee. Simple, yet effective.

Our only man in a suit this week? Young Tom Holland on Spiderman promo duties in Japan. He rocked a double breasted number with leather boots for a very unique look.

The post Best Dressed Men Of The Week Feat. Drake, Justin Timberlake & Justin Bieber appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

All round nice bloke and Australian cricket Captain, Steve Smith may be a force on the pitch but it’s recently come to our attention that he’s possibly been attending the Derek Zoolander School For International Male Models. 

You can rest easy as his career and future is safe with the Australian Cricket Team as this stunning four photo series is for India’s Rising Pune Supergiant IPL team.

Steve shows his range should you require his homegrown down-to-earth modelling services. Our favourite look is Steve casually laying on a curtin wearing the much anticipated Mugatu SS17 collection.

With the Australian summer fast approaching we’re hoping to see more of Steve’s classic style both on and off the pitch.

The post Australian Cricket Captain Steve Smith Weighs Up Possible Career Change appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Despite the dismal news that selfies aren’t as attractive as you think they are and killed more people than sharks in 2015, the self-snap shows no sign of slowing down as the digital era’s favourite form of photography. Attention-seekers go to increasingly extreme lengths to get self-portraits with viral potential… but a new study from the University of Waterloo proves the perfect selfie comes down to just three fundamentals:

• Face size
• Lighting direction
• Face position

Researchers from the Canadian university generated synthetic selfies using 3D computer graphics. After creating 4000 selfie variations with six different models, they asked participants to select the images they preferred. The results revealed three essentials that, taken together, form an algorithm for capturing the perfect selfie.

Don’t Shoot Too Close To The Face

The size of your face in the shot – meaning how far away the camera was when it was taken – is a key factor in the success of a selfie. Daniel Vogel, one of the study’s authors, told Refinery 29 that, “In order to get good distance, you need to overextend your arm a bit and hold [the camera] a bit farther away than you might normally when taking a selfie.” A selfie stick might seem like the obvious solution, but Vogel cautions that using one could mean the photo is taken too far from your face, making your face seem unappealingly small.

Aim For Even Lighting

Moody shadows are not your friend if you’re looking for the most Instagram likes. The face should ideally be lit evenly – roughly from the front of the face, neither too high nor too low. Natural light creates the most flattering illumination.

Stay Centred

If you know anything about photography, this one may come as a surprise. Photographers are typically taught to obey the rule of thirds, which divides a photo’s frame with a grid of lines – two vertical, two horizontal – to determine the ideal placement of the subject. Conventional theory says the subject’s face should fall at one of the intersection points of the dividing lines, but Vogel’s research found the selfies performed best when the subject was centred in the frame, closer to the upper edge.Vogel tested these results by inviting real people to use the algorithm in an app that directed them to position the camera in the optimal place. Selfies that used the algorithm were rated 26% higher than those taken without it.“This is just the beginning of what is possible,” said Vogel. “We can expand the variables to include aspects such as hairstyle, types of smile or even the outfit you wear. When it comes to teaching people to take better selfies, the sky’s the limit.”RELATED: A Modern Man’s Guide To Acceptable #Selfie Photography

The post Researchers Created An Algorithm For The Perfect Selfie appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Art hunters need not look any further. Wallpaper, one of the world’s leading design publications have complied fourteen of the best outdoor art installations from around the world to tick off your bucket list.

The art sprawls across more than ten continents with each location showcasing its own unique visuals against the cultural backdrop of the city. Given that a picture speaks a thousand words, we’re going to stop writing and encourage you guys to click through that little gallery above to see what each one’s about.

[via Wallpaper]

The post Wallpaper Presents The Best Outdoor Art Installations Of 2017 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

As any sophisticated gent knows, a stylish dining area is essential to a functional pad.

Whether used purely for eating, or as a multi-purpose area that does double time as a desk when a dedicated home office is lacking, we’ve got all the tips and hints you need to create a cool dining area.

So, say ‘seeya later’ to microwave dinners on the couch and ‘hello’ to suave mastication in a setting fit for a boss and his entourage, or a hot date.

Top Of The Tables

Like any good male model or Zoolander aspirant will attest, proportion is the key here, so kit out your dining space with a table and chairs that fit comfortably in the available floor space.

Don’t be one of those guys whose pants hang around his ankles, or at the other extreme, the guy who bulges out of his wifebeater, and furnish your dining area according to the size and dimensions of the space. Ideally, you and your guests should be able to move around the table and get in and out of the chairs without spilling their vino.

Take care when picking a finish for your tabletop. Whether clear glass, coloured glass, wood or metal, choose a finish sympathetic with the interior style of your home and the surrounding furnishings.

For dudes with puny dining areas, or none at all, select a glass tabletop for the illusion of space. The transparency created will make the table look smaller than it is.

If the reverse is true, and you have a large dining room, follow the ‘go big or go home’ mantra and fill the space.

A word of warning though: be mindful of the access to your home in the case of delivery. For example, you might think a 3-metre table would look awesome in your palatial dining room, but getting it through the front door might be an issue, so measure, and measure again, to avoid dining room disasters.

Sensationalise Your Seating

With so many options available, in every possible aesthetic, dining chairs allow you to have fun and inject some personality into the room.

Choose from chairs with a variety of seat shapes, back heights, arms, no arms and base options (4-leg, pedestal, cantilever, upholstered, steel, powder-coated, wood).

Like backyard cricket, the rules are a little loose when it comes to chair selection; just because you have a wooden dining table, doesn’t mean you have to stick with wooden chair options.

The most important thing is to avoid the ‘Fantastic Furniture-looking matched set’. This mean looking beyond the sterile store-staged setting and experiment with alternatives until you find a combination that is right for you.

Lighting The Dining Room

Dining rooms or eating nooks need a thoughtful lighting scheme, which should include dimmable lights. This is especially true when you entertain guests or woo dates. The ability to set the mood and create a relaxed ambience ensures successful dining every single meal, and makes for a much nicer experience than stark and harsh downlights.

Pendant light that hangs from the ceiling are a popular choice, as are masculine adjustable wall lights. Whatever combination you end up with, a successful set up will make the difference between a bleak breakfast bar and a decadent dining room.

Remember: it’s these details that will take your man space to a whole new level.

Tantalising Final Touches

Think of the bare walls surrounding your dining table as a blank canvas for you to personalise.

The ‘sterile’ look is out, and personal style is in. That isn’t to say a minimalist look isn’t fine, just stay clear of the ‘sterile’ line, and never cross it unless you wan to feel like you live in a hospital. Consider painting (if you own your own home) or hanging some local art.

If space allows, introduce storage like bookshelves or a floating console that will provide the space with extra storage.

If grapes are your gods, add wine storage for ultimate dining happiness.

Expert Dining Room Decor Tips

Tip #1: Size up your dining space to decide whether a round, rectangular, oval or square table is right for you.

Whatever shape you ultimately go with, always buy the table before the chairs. It’s considerably easier to find chairs to go with a table than it is to shop for a table that suits the chairs. Plus, the shape of your table will determine how many chairs you’ll need to fit around it.

Don’t forget to take note of where the legs of the table are positioned, as this too will effect how many chairs you’ll need.

Tip #2: Invest the time to consider all your dining chair options before laying down any dosh.

Trawling eBay won’t cut it here. No amount of internet shopping can compare to testing the seats for yourself. Sit on them to make sure you’re comfortable; while many chairs look awesome, they can also be so uncomfortable you’ll be rushing through every meal.

Leather- or fabric-upholstered chairs are good choices, particularly when hard surfaces dominate the rest of your home.

Tip #3: Never underestimate the power of the pendant. As well as adding instant ambience, they also define your dining space within the home’s interior. This is doubly effective when your dining table is in an open plan setting.

Become the dimmer man and alter the light intensity to suit the intended mood.

Need More Help…

35 Examples Of Amazing Dining Room Ideas & Inspirations

The post Here's How To Win Over Guests With Your Dining Room appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The 2017 World Happiness Report named Norway the happiest country on the planet, and now we know why: it’s also the world’s orgasm capital.High-end sex toy company LELO conducted a saucy survey to honour World Orgasm Day on July 31. More than two thousand respondents from 21 countries shared their intimate secrets, revealing the world’s global orgasmic habits (and the surprising sexiness of fjords, reindeer, whale meat, trolls and midnight sun).Norwegians reported the most orgasms overall, with 35% claiming they climax at least once a day. To put that into perspective, only 11% of Brits climax once a day, 41% of Swedes orgasm 2-3 times per week (a number that aligns with the global average), and 2.54% of Germans say they’ve never had an orgasm at all.Though they may not climax most often, people in Chile, Italy and Spain make the most of the orgasms they have. Ten to 13% of people in this threesome of nations rated the power of their orgasms within the highest percentile. The country least likely to report an intense orgasm was Australia, where 2% of respondents rated their orgasmic intensity at just 1 out of 10.Australians are also amongst the quietest climaxers, with over a third (34.78%) saying they prefer a tight-lipped approach to making love. But don’t worry, Australia, it’s not all bad news: though they may be quiet and weak, Australia ranked 3rd in frequency of orgasms.The Portuguese are the most modest climaxers, with 42% claiming they are usually quiet. The Dutch are next. At the far – far – other end of the scale, Brazil is the noisiest nation in bed by leaps and bounds.Sixty-five percent of Brazilian respondents claimed to be screamers, with orgasm capital Norway in second place at 39.9%. Considering what a vibrant and beautiful nation Brazil is, we’d say they have every reason shout it from the hilltops (or wherever they prefer to get it on).RELATED: These Are The 20 Healthiest Countries In The World

The post This Nordic Nation Is The Orgasm Capital Of The World appeared first on DMARGE Australia.