Everything you need to know about the Grammys

Will Taylor Swift take home a gong? Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

TAKE a look at this trivia to see how well-versed you are on this year's nominees before they hit the red carpet on Monday.

Daft Punk

From the start of writing to the end of recording, Daft Punk's smash hit "Get Lucky" took roughly 18 months to complete. Time that was definitely well spent.

All of Daft Punk's recent outfits have been designed by fellow Frenchman Hedi Slimane.

One of Daft Punk's earliest videos "Da Funk" was directed by Oscar-nominated director Spike Jonze. It was filmed in the East Village in 1995.

Lorde

Lorde (real name Ella Yelich-O'Connor) wrote the lyrics to her No. 1 hit "Royals" in just half an hour.

After sending out videos of herself singing at a talent show, Lorde was signed to a development deal at the age of 13.

The New Zealander recently came face to face with David Bowie at a party where he gave the 17-year-old a ringing endorsement, and said her music felt like "listening to tomorrow." No pressure or anything, Ella.

Robin Thicke

Thicke and his wife Paula Patton have been together since they were 16 years old.

According to his dad Alan, Robin's babysitter used to be ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky was taking care of an 11-year-old Robin in 1988 when he learned he was being sold by the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.

Around 20 universities and colleges in the United Kingdom have banned the playing of "Blurred Lines" over fears that the song's racy lyrics promote and glorify sexual assault.

Sara Bareilles

Bareilles' breakthrough hit "Brave" was co-written by fun's Jack Antonoff. Antonoff wrote the song about a friend's struggle to come out and since then, it has become a gay anthem.

As a kid, Bareilles auditioned for the Mickey Mouse Club but didn't make the cut. Just think, she could have been Britney or Christina, but she's probably glad she isn't.

Before earning his Oscar nomination for playing a Quaalude dropping maniac in "The Wolf of Wall Street," Jonah Hill directed the video for Bareilles' 2011 single "Gonna Get Over You."

Bruno Mars

Despite having numerous hits and a sold out tour during 2013, Mars also had to contend with the sudden death of his mother Bernadette, who had a brain aneurism.

Bruno's song writing credits extend beyond his own work. He has also written hits for Cee Lo Green ("F**k You"), Travie McCoy ("Billionaire") and even Justin Bieber ("Love Me").

Bruno's real name is Peter Gene Hernandez, but his family nicknamed him Bruno after the wrestler Bruno Sammartino.

Kendrick Lamar

The cover of Lamar's breakthrough album "good kid, m.A.A.d city" depicts him as a baby, surrounded by two of his uncles and his grandfather.

Lamar went to Centennial High School in Compton, Calif., the same school as his mentor Dr. Dre.

Lamar also performs with the Californian rap collective Black Hippy, which includes Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Because of the hit "Same Love" (that offers support for same-sex relationships), Macklemore has been dogged by rumours about his own sexuality. The first thing that now comes up when searching Macklemore in Google is "Macklemore Gay." He actually got engaged to his long-term girlfriend last year.

Macklemore did a stint in rehab for drug and alcohol addiction in 2008.

Macklemore met his partner in crime Ryan Lewis via MySpace. Remember that?!

Justin Timberlake

Part one of "The 20/20 Experience" was the best-selling album in the United States last year, moving over 2 million copies.

As if releasing two albums in one year wasn't enough, Timberlake is also credited as a co-writer on three of the songs on Beyoncé's recently released self-titled album.

When Justin was just 11, he appeared on "Star Search" (using the name Justin Randall) wearing a cowboy hat as he covered an Alan Jackson song. And, yes, there is video of that.

Pharrell Williams

When writing "Blurred Lines," Pharrell and Robin Thicke used the groove to Marvin Gaye's 1977 No. 1 hit "Got To Give It Up" as an inspiration. They obviously stayed too close to the original as Gaye's family accused them of plagiarising. Some of the lawsuits are ongoing.

Pharrell has a son named Rocket Man. He deserves a Grammy for that alone.

One of Pharrell's first ever appearances on record was on the 1992 hit "Right Here" by SWV. You can hear him chanting the group's name throughout the song.

Taylor Swift

Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm owned by her family. Her job was to get rid of the praying mantis pods before the trees were sold to customers.

When Swift was in the fourth grade, she won a national poetry contest for a piece she called "Monster in My Closet."

The "Red" tour was the highest grossing tour in North America last year, beating out Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, the Rolling Stones and even Beyoncé.

This story originally appeared on The New York Post.

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Australia, it's time to stop complaining

Save your protests for the issues that matter. Source: ThinkStock

OK Australia. Take your fingers off your keyboards for a moment and stop before you tweet that picture.

Enough is enough. We're sick of hearing why everything is offensive to you. We're tired of you taking to social media to bully companies into recalling thousands upon thousands of stock.

If you don't know what we're talking about, it's time to get caught up.

In short, Australia seems to have an obsession. It's not all of us, but it's always the loudest ones that get heard. And they're certainly kicking up a fuss. Recently it's been about offensive Australia Day t-shirts, burger restaurants that don't have enough vegetarian options, and cafes who post 'offensive' signs.

Half a century ago people used to take to the streets with placards and protest issues such as the war in Vietnam or women's rights. Protests like this still happen today, and that's a good thing. It shows we have a democratic society that supports free speech and tolerance of opinion.

And organised protests usually mean that people care and have thought long enough about an issue to actually get up off the couch, make a handpainted sign and join thousands of others walking through the streets so their point can be heard.

But sitting on your couch at home, tweeting how offended you are at the latest 'un-Australian' t-shirt or inappropriate remark by a news presenter, smacks of a nanny-state mentality.

Channel Seven's Samantha Armytage was in hot water after joking about her 'stripper shoes'. Source: Supplied

The problem is, we've all been told that the 'customer is always right', and that idea has grown disproportionately in our minds to justify whingeing about anything we don't like.

But while we used to just complain in writing or in person to management, now with only a few taps on our smartphone keyboard, we can tweet or Facebook our opinion to the world.

And other people who typically enjoy hopping on a bandwagon - any bandwagon really, even if they don't fully understand the issue - push the message out to their friends via other forms of social media. Soon there's a hashtag that's trending; a modern day placard if you will.

Sometimes the organisation being boycotted caves to 'popular opinion', as in the case of Aldi and Big W and their 'racially offensive' Australia Day t-shirts and Ice Designs pulling its 'sexist' t-shirts.

Things certainly got ridiculous when people started complaining about a fashion segment on Channel Seven's Sunrise, where Samantha Armytage joked about having 'stripper shoes'.

So is Australia on track to becoming a full-blown nanny-nation?

One news.com.au reader voiced their disgust by writing "Social media is where everyone complains. First world problem. Whingers!"

Another reader, commenting on the Aldi t-shirts said: "God these people need to get a life and move on. Everyone needs to stop being so 'politically correct' and oversensitive. In no way shape or form is the t-shirt racist. Racism is so overused now that I don't believe the word has any meaning anymore."

But what these companies don't realise is that social media can become a deceptive megaphone. Something may seem like a unanimous, trending issue, but is actually just a bunch of people who have nothing better to do with their time than complain about something.

To be clear, we're not suggesting that you stop being critical of what you see and hear. But if people keep whining every time something offends them, we'll be known as the nation who 'cried wolf'. And when issues that really matter surface, no one will stop to hear us.

Do you think the 'nanny internet' is out of control? Have your say. Comment below or join the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ | @gracekoelma

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BP caught in reply all email chaos

A reply all email chain took hold of BP in the most hilarious way. Source: AP

IT STARTED with an ordinary, routine email. But by accidentally grouping thousands of employees as recipients, one email ended up sending oil giant BP into worldwide chaos and a reply all chain that nearly broke records.

We know how annoying a reply all chain can be in the office. But Gawker has reported that at BP this event snowballed into a day of madness.

It began with:

"Hi Shahid,

We have removed Anant Prakash from the OMS Navigator Users distribution list. Let us know if you have any concerns."

But the original sender accidentally sent it to the entire distribution list, which contained practically the whole company. But before a "please kindly ignore" email was even composed, the reply all storm began to swirl.

"I have no idea who this is and can you remove me from this email," one response said.

"Similarly I think I was added to the distribution in error"

There are always the cool-headed people in a crisis situation who call for order:

OK we have all been added in error and the guy who sent the original email has already recognised his mistake!

But asking the masses to ignore the chain was futile and only made things worse as BP workers in different timezones woke up to the enormous email chain.

OK it is ignored

Keep me in the loop please, I love this madness! :)

After more and more reply all emails flooded in with people not knowing what was going on and being asked to be removed to the list and people replying all to those request things began to get heated. And the caps lock came out:

"CAN YOU ALL STOP SELECTING 'REPLY ALL' ...... just reply to Patsy."

"PLEASE TAKE ME OFF ALL THESE REDICULOUS REPLIES!"

"CAN YOU STOP ASKING TO BE REMOVED FOR CHRIST SAKE"

"Who on earth are all you people and why are you bombarding my inbox?"

Just out of curiosity; do you have a distribution list that reads "Everyone in the world"? If so, please remove me from that list.

Thank you"

It seemed the employees then began to suffer from some sort of deliriousness after the head-spinning amount of replies:

"I missed the original email. Can you please resend it again………. THANKS………..!!!!!!!!!"

"Keep calm and

Keep replying All!!!"

"Don't stop, please, keep moving"

The chain became so long that some employees began to think it could be record-breaking:

A"s the Carpenters once sang ' Its only just begun '…….

Have just put the phone down from the Guinness people, they say another 64 replies and we have the new world record !!!

We can do this !"

Here's Anant! The man who was subject of the original email. He's now known across BP's global network. Source: LinkedIn Source: Supplied

Then finally the masses of email recipients finally heard from Anant Prakash, the mystery man who was the main subject of the original email:

To the whole BP family who have taken the time to email me today Have a wonderful weekend - I'm off to the pub.

Order has been restored.

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Hawking: There are no black holes

It's a black hole, but not as we know it. Stephen Hawking's latest revelation claims what we know could be all wrong. Source: ThinkStock

PROFESSOR Stephen Hawking has shocked the scientific community by radically claiming there are no black holes.

In an article by Nature it is reported that Hawking, who is responsible for creating the theories on what we know about black holes today, has done away with notions science has held true for almost 40 years.

He claims the event horizon - an invisible boundary covering every black hole beyond which nothing, not even light can escape - do not exist.

Instead what Hawking suggests is an "apparent horizon", which temporarily traps matter and energy before releasing it into space.

Stephen Hawking has delivered theories on the universe's most mind-bending subjects and his latest work has stirred up more thought-provoking head-scratching. Source: News Limited

"There is no escape from a black hole in classical theory," Hawking told Nature. Quantum theory, however, "enables energy and information to escape from a black hole".

Now buckle up - here's where it all gets a bit confusing.

It was previously believed that should an astronaut be unlucky enough to fall into a black hole they would happily pass through the event horizon, being gradually pulled inward - stretched out along the way like spaghetti - and eventually crushed at the black hole's infinitely dense core.

However, theoretical physicist Joseph Polchinski came to the conclusion that the laws of quantum mechanics would change the situation completely, turning it into a highly energetic area that would instead burn the astronaut to a crisp. But if this was the case it could dismiss Einstein's theory of relativity. This is what's known as the blackhole firewall paradox and it's been puzzling scientists for years.

But now Hawking's third theory as to what a black hole could look like has got physicists' heads spinning. Hawking's new suggestion is that the apparent horizon is the real boundary. "The absence of event horizons means that there are no black holes - in the sense of regimes from which light can't escape to infinity," Hawking writes.

Polchinski, however, is sceptical that black holes without an event horizon could exist in nature, "the kind of violent fluctuations needed to erase it are too rare in the Universe," he says.

If you've managed to understand any of this, we applaud you. While we won't even pretend to get our own heads around it some scientists have and explain how this revelation "highlights how abhorrent physicists find the potential existence of firewalls."

Raphael Bousso, a theoretical physicist and former student of Hawking's states: "the idea that there are no points from which you cannot escape a black hole is in some ways an even more radical and problematic suggestion than the existence of firewalls," he says. "But the fact that we're still discussing such questions 40 years after Hawking's first papers on black holes and information is testament to their enormous significance."

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What if Roger and Rafa had never been born?

It's a beautiful romance ... errr, wait. Rivalry. We mean rivalry. Source: AP

ROGER Federer and Rafael Nadal have won 30 grand slam titles between them, and played one another eight times in the final of a major tournament.

Federer has won more slams than any other man in history. Nadal is third on the list, just one win behind Pete Sampras.

From 2005 to 2010, Roger and Rafa monopolised the majors, taking 21 of the 24 titles on offer.

That's all very stats-heavy. We're really just trying to say that these two have been absurdly dominant, and the tennis world would look completely different without them.

Maybe they should play doubles together? Source: AAP

About that. We've decided to have a bit of fun by rewriting history, pretending Roger and Rafa never existed. Every major title these two have claimed over the years has been re-awarded to the bloke who probably would have grabbed it if they weren't in the way.

Before you read the lovely tables we've compiled, have a squiz at our infallible methodology, which has delivered impossibly hypothetical results with flawless accuracy:

1. Pick a grand slam;

2. Did Roger or Rafa win it? If "no", you're done. If "yes", move on to step three;

3. Was Roger or Rafa the losing finalist? If "no", the runner up is your new champion. If "yes", move on to step four;

4. Look at the two losing semi-finalists. The higher-seeded player is your new champion. If neither player is seeded, the bloke with the higher world ranking at that time is your new champion;

5. Attempt to compile your data into some nice, crisp tables;

6. Smash your keyboard against the desk four times;

7. Ask someone more technologically literate for help;

8. Compile your data into some nice, crisp tables;

Speaking of the tables, here they are. We've picked out the main points of interest underneath.

THE ACTUAL RESULTS

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
aus open	agassi	federer	safin	federer	federer	djokovic
french	ferrero	gaudio	nadal	nadal	nadal	nadal
wimbledon	federer	federer	federer	federer	federer	nadal
us open	roddick	federer	federer	federer	federer	federer

	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
aus open	nadal	federer	djokovic	djokovic	djokovic
french	federer	nadal	nadal	nadal	nadal
wimbledon	federer	nadal	djokovic	federer	murray
us open	del potro	nadal	djokovic	murray	nadal

IF ROGER AND RAFA DIDN'T EXIST

	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
aus open	agassi	safin	safin	baghdatis	gonzalez	djokovic
french	ferrero	gaudio	puerta	nalbandian	davydenko	djokovic
wimbledon	philippoussis	roddick	roddick	baghdatis	djokovic	safin
us open	roddick	hewitt	agassi	roddick	djokovic	murray

	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
aus open	roddick	murray	djokovic	djokovic	djokovic
french	soderling	soderling	djokovic	djokovic	ferrer
wimbledon	roddick	berdych	djokovic	murray	murray
us open	del potro	djokovic	djokovic	murray	djokovic

So, what happens in this alternative universe?

• Australia picks up two more grand slam titles, with Mark Philippoussis grabbing his only major and Lleyton Hewitt taking his tally to three;

• Novak Djokovic wins 13 majors instead of six, taking him to second on the all-time list. He wins all four grand slams in 2011, in the middle of a seven-slam winning streak. That gives him the extremely rare calendar grand slam - something never achieved by Federer or Nadal. The last man to do it was Australian legend Rod Laver, in 1969;

• Andy Murray wins five majors instead of two;

• Swede Robin Soderling wins back-to-back titles at Roland Garros;

• Big-serving American Andy Roddick wins five majors instead of one;

• Not-quite-so-big-serving American Andre Agassi picks up a ninth grand slam title;

• Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis wins both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006. Really, that guy? Yeah. That guy;

• Russian Marat Safin doubles his grand slam tally, taking it to four.

Marat likes this alternative reality. Source: News Limited

So, who would win tonight's semi-final if Roger and Rafa didn't exist? There's a headscratcher for you.

Tell us about your own absurdly awesome hypothetical scenarios on Twitter: @SamClench | @newscomauHQ

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When will the sex crime horror end?

The mother of a rape victim cries at a tribute to her dead daughter. Picture: EPA Source: AFP

'It's Your Fault' parody video taking on controversial comments by public figures towards rape in India. Courtesy All India Backchod

A WOMAN, aged just 20 years, was accused of having a relationship with a Muslim from another Indian community.

Her punishment? She was gang-raped by 13 men on the orders of a village council in West Bengal state.

Police arrested 13 people over the attack which was meted out after the woman's parents said they could not pay the fine of 25,000 rupees (400 dollars) imposed by the council for having the affair.

The horrific case of "village justice" again highlights India's record on sexual violence.

Has anything changed? Is India taking the crisis seriously?

Affects everyone... The mother of the man accused of driving the Delhi rape bus. Picture: AP Source: AFP

Back in December 2012, the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student while riding a bus in the nation's capital, New Delhi, horrified people in India and around the world.

The woman, later given the name 'Nirbhya' (Hindi for "fearless") in the Indian media, was on her way home with a male friend after watching the film Life of Pi at a shopping mall.

The bus where the Delhi crimes occurred. Picture: Supplied Source: AFP

The bus deviated from its normal route and the doors were sealed. Her friend was beaten and knocked unconscious.

According to her last testimony before she died of complications, the perpetrators (which included a juvenile) dragged her to the back of the bus, repeatedly raped her, struck and penetrated her with an iron rod and one even used his hands to tear at her internal organs.

That attack triggered unprecedented protests across the nation where citizens declared enough was enough.

The attacks continue

There have been several gruesome attacks on women over the past year and the number of reported sex crimes in the nation continues to rise.

The mother of a teenage girl who was gang-raped by six men speaks to the media last December. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

In Kolkata, a 16-year-old was gang-raped last year in two separate attacks. The second rape occurred after she was returning home from reporting the first attack. She died on New Year's Eve after she was set alight on December 23.

Earlier this month, a Danish woman was allegedly gang-raped and robbed in the capital New Delhi after she became lost on her way back to her hotel. Six men were arrested over that attack.

Five men, arrested in connection with the gang rape of a female Swiss tourist, in March 2013. Picture: EPA Source: Supplied

India remains a deeply patriarchal society. "Men have traditionally exerted power over women," said Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt, a senior fellow at the Australian National University, who wrote a blog post about her own experiences in India after the 2012 gang-rape.

"Riding a bus in New Delhi was always intimidating," she wrote. "I still remember how, in the early 1990s, a largish, unknown man just flopped on my lap in the aisle seat."

When she objected to what was happening, she said, "his demeanour switched between menacing and casual, forcing me to shut up and leave him the seat."

That was far from an isolated incident, she said.

Acting out ... An Indian woman marches for action. Picture: Getty Images Source: AFP

"It occurred in a country where there are 150 million missing women (due to sons being preferred over women at birth) and where a girl was killed by her parents for falling in love with a lower-class man, to single out two incidents of many.

"Add these examples to the innumerable unrecorded incidents of violence that occur every day, and it is clear that modern, independent India is failing."

Widespread anger

Political change has been in the air over the past year. As CNN's Delhi correspondent Sumnima Udas put it: "No one expected it to become so big ... The government was shaken to its core".

Indian men demand a harsher punishment for the accused in the Delhi rape case. Picture: EPA Source: Supplied

"The most heartening thing about this sordid episode (the rape of Nirbhya in Delhi) was the presence of men in protests against rape," Kuntala Lahiri-Dutt wrote. "The word 'feminist' was no longer a derogatory term, and men were able to 'come out' in support of women."

In March 2013, the Indian Parliament passed a slate of legislation to combat the sexual assault crisis. Major changes were made to the country's criminal code.

Stalking, lower level sexual harassment, acid attacks and voyeurism became criminal offences.

Prison terms for rape were doubled and the death penalty was authorised as punishment for repeat offenders, or for criminals who left their victims dead or in a persistent vegetative state.

Even this Indian schoolgirl was in favour of the death penalty for rapists. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

"This is now at the centre of the political debate," said Danielle Rajandram, research associate at the Lowy Institute, adding there is a significant way to go for laws to protect women against sexual violence and rape.

But while the focus has been on protecting women, Lahiri-Dutt said the real change that needs to happen is of attitudes at the family level.

Delhi police disperse people protesting against the government over the rape incidents in 2012. Picture: Getty Images Source: AFP

"We have been talking a long time about Indian women," she said. "We really need to stop that. We really need to go into the families and see where this violence are being generated."

"That's where families come in. That's where (men) are socialised into gender (roles)."

Yet, another family is still suffering after the tribal council gang rape. The victim's mother said the attackers originally warned the family against going to police, and initially stopped them from taking her to hospital.

"The crime was committed by our own people," she told reporters, as her daughter recovers in hospital. "They tortured my daughter and dumped her home."

Continue the conversation on Twitter @drpiotrowski | @newscomauHQ

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$714.30 per minute? Quit complaining, Tomic

Bernard Tomic speaks to Seven News about the injury that forced him to retire from the Australian Open. Courtesy Seven News

Bernard Tomic speaks during a press conference after pulling out of the Australian Open with an injuryt. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

BERNARD Tomic played for just 42 minutes in his first round Australian Open match against world number one Rafael Nadal, before bowing out after one set (6-4) with an injury.

He copped a bucketload of criticism from both punters and Australian tennis greats for being a slacker and not having the fight to push through the pain.

After it was revealed that Tomic is suffering from a longstanding hip injury and will be sidelined for up to three months following surgery, the anger dissolved into sympathy and disappointment.

But spare Tomic too much pity, because he certainly didn't walk away from this year's Open empty-handed.

He received $30,000 in prize money for playing just that one set. That equates to $714.30 per minute of play. Yep, we too had to pick our jaws off the floor.

Tomic waves to the crowd after retirement in his men's singles match against Rafael Nadal on day two of the Australian Open. Picture: AFP Source: News Limited

When Aussie Casey Dellacqua lost her fourth round match to 19-year-old Canadian up-and-comer Eugenie Bouchard, we all felt for her. But her $135,000 consolation prize (the amount awarded to fourth-round losers) should help to ease the pain.

How about Nick Kyrgios (second round loser)? $50,000. Sam Stosur (third round loser)? $75,000.

And despite his controversial loss to Roger Federer last night, Andy Murray will still take home $270,000.

The money is a recognition of the players' huge achievements - qualifying for a grand slam is no mean feat. It's also to assist with the significant financial costs associated with being an elite athlete.

WHAT TENNIS STARS ARE REALLY RAKING IN THIS YEAR

The prize money awarded to the male and female single's players at the Australian Open has increased by up to 33 per cent in two years, according to the table of figures provided by tournament organisers.

The winnings for the first and second round losers have increased by a third since 2012. The percentage increase gets smaller the further a player progresses in the tournament.

The winners of the men's and women's singles final will each pocket a cool $2,650,000. The runners-up will collect $1,325,000. That's an increase of 13.2 per cent ($350,000) and 8.9 per cent ($175,000), respectively.

Last year's Australian Open winner, Novak Djokovic, with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

The Australian Open winnings are on par with those of the three other grand slam tournaments.

In 2013, Wimbledon winners received $US2,437,600, US Open victors won $US2,600,000 and the French Open champions took home Euro1,500,000 (US$2,032,200).

Second round losers at last year's Wimbeldon received $57,893. That's a whopping 64 per cent increase since 2012.

So when Tomic addressed the media after his loss to Nadal with a forlorn expression and a heavy heart, he may not have been mourning just for his pride and his sporting career. He also lost out on the chance to win millions of dollars in prize money.

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Compression gear: Waste of money?

The SKINS Cheat Legal commercial from 2010. Courtesy: SKINS

To compress or not to compress? Even the Haws are divided. Source: News Limited

COMPRESSION gear has taken over the world of exercise so comprehensively that you can't toss a barbell at the gym without hitting someone in a pair of Skins.

Professional athletes led the skin-tight charge, and now everyone from pram-pushing parents to muscled-up bodybuilders has fallen into step.

The garments are big on two things: Promises and prices.

A set of 2XU compression shorts, for example, will set you back $85. Their long-legged counterpart is all yours for $140.

And for that hefty coin, you get "high performance bottoms ... engineered to enhance your performance like never before".

But do these pants really deliver what you pay for? The answer is simple: Yeah, kinda.

Not only for the pros anymore, compression gear is a part of many wardrobes. Source: News Limited

Our mates over at AskMen swear by them. As part of their AM Fitness Lab series, today they've anointed compression gear as a crucial component of getting fit.

But the nation's consumer watchdog, Choice , has found that you can't really trust the science that's printed on the box.

Choice says that Skins and co. could increase your blood flow, reduce muscle vibration, increase proprioception (this is your awareness of your joints in space), and make you more aerodynamic. They could also prevent or reduce injury and accelerate recovery.

All of these things, in theory, might improve your performance.

In practice, however, Choice says most studies have found that the theories behind compression garments don't necessarily translate to better performance.

Does this mean you should go back to bare legs? Not necessarily. Read on. Source: News Limited

"The rationale for wearing compression garments is solid, but the evidence is weak," Choice says.

"For the average fun-runner and keen amateur sportsperson, there are probably more effective ways of improving performance, preventing injury and enhancing recovery than wearing compression garments."

But that doesn't mean they're a waste of money. Choice concludes that if they feel great, you should keep wearing them. It might be all in your head, but that's not such a bad thing.

"Anecdotally, many people who try them find they provide a performance boost and that they feel better afterwards. So if you think it works, it does work.

"Given that there's no evidence of any negative effects, if they feel good and put you in a sporting frame of mind, go for it!"

What's your experience with compression garments? Comment below or continue the conversation on Twitter @danielstrudwick | @newscomauHQ

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Arnie's cheeky stunt undercover

Arnie goes undercover at Gold's Gym as 'Howard Kleiner' to teach the locals a thing or two about pumping iron.

FAMOUS for his bodybuilding career, Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in the gym - but this time he went undercover for a good cause.

The Hollywood movie star and former governor of California dressed in a disguise, posing as a man known as Howard Kleiner at Gold's Gym in Venice, California.

The reason? To promote and raise funds for After-School All-Stars, a nationwide program that provides free mentorship, homework help, tutoring and fun activities to students from low-income families.

In a video promoting the stunt, Schwarzenegger is seen getting in his disguise, which includes a wig, moustache and baseball cap.

He then walks around the gym, talking to members about their training and he gives them tips on their training.

"We are doing crazy stuff ... for something serious," he said.

He is even seen wiping the brow of a man in the gym, before he talks to a woman who almost guesses his identity.

Cheeky stunt ... Arnie is back, promoting health and fitness. Picture: Still from YouTube Source: Supplied

"I feel like I know you or something," she said.

In classic, one-liner Schwarzenegger-style does not hold back, he gives members his honest opinions.

When he sees one woman doing sit-ups, he tell her: "You have elbows and knees, so touch them."

To another member he says: "Stop being a baby. This is Gold's gym it's not a baby gym."

Donors who give at least $10 to the organisation through omaze.com will be entered for a chance to win two tickets to Los Angeles, where they'll ride with Schwarzenegger in his personal Sherman Tank while smoking cigars.

The lucky winners will also get to "crush things together" and work out on the tank. To sweeten the deal, Schwarzenegger will match every dollar donated.

Schwarzenegger has been passionate about after-school programs for decades.

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Kiis FM accused of stealing listeners

Radio shakes up as Sydney's most popular FM DJs, Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O, debut their new show on KIIS after 13 years with market leader 2DAY.

Kyle and Jackie O have found a new home on Kiis FM. Source: Supplied

THE radio war between Kyle and Jackie O and their former station 2Day FM is getting ugly, and now some listeners are caught in the middle.

Kyle and Jackie O walked out on Sydney's 2Day FM late last year and returned to the airwaves this week on a new station, Kiis FM.

KYLE CALLS MEL B A LIAR

Some loyal 2Day FM fans have allegedly been receiving calls from Kiis FM this week asking them to take part in Kyle and Jackie O's new show.

But a Kiis FM spokesman said neither member of the duo has access to contact details for 2Day fans.

Those fans, who are confused about how the Kiis FM producers got their phone numbers, have been venting their frustration on a private Facebook page called 2Day FM Super VIPs, which has been viewed by news.com.au.

Mel B, Merrick Watts, Sophie Monk and Jules Lund are the 2Day FM breakfast crew. Source: Supplied

"I just got my seventh phone call in three days from Kiis FM," wrote one 2Day FM fan.

"I asked him (the producer) how he got my number. He said, 'oh from you ringing the Kyle and Jackie O show before'. I then told him, 'but I've never called Kiis FM', and he said, 'oh no from when Kyle and Jackie O were on 2Day FM'. Then he panicked and said, 'oh sorry mate I've got to go', and he hung up on me."

2DAY SURPRISINGLY PROMOTES KISS FM FACEBOOK PAGE

Several other fans claim to have had similar experiences.

"I have been getting calls (from Kiis FM) every morning at 6am and every second afternoon around 3-5pm," said a different woman.

"Although they offer me (to play) competitions I say no."

But in response to the allegations, an ARN spokesman has denied to news.com.au that Kyle and Jackie O have been targeting the loyal 2Day FM fans.

Kyle and Jackie O have launched their new show on Kiis FM. Source: Supplied

"Kiis 1065 don't have access to any 2Day VIP Facebook list," the spokesman said.

"Kyle & Jackie O's show takes up to 1000 calls each morning from passionate listeners and we keep some of those callers' details to reward the big fans who want to keep communicating with Kyle & Jackie on air. In just three days on air at Kiis 1065, the huge response from Kyle & Jackie O fans on both social media and callers to the show are a combination of existing and new fans."

Kyle and Jackie O were the number one rated FM show when they were on 2Day FM, but we don't yet know if the majority of their fans have chosen to stay loyal to their show or their old station.

We'll find out when the first radio ratings for the year are released on March 11.

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