Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from July 2007

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from July 2007

Do you want the good news or the bad news?(Editorial)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Dental costs are too high for many people to afford. Banks are charging their customers penalty fees for overdrawn accounts and late credit card payments that appear to be far higher than the problem costs them. Nanotechnology is in our homes...

Buying music online.(CHOICE cuts)(website evaluation)
July 1, 2007... If you're new to buying music online you'll find it's mostly a fairly straightforward process, but there are technical restrictions and compatibility issues that limit where you can play the music. CHOICE Computer magazine tried nine different...

National Tree Day: dig it.(CHOICE cuts)(Planet Ark's tree planting)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... In An Inconvenient Truth AI Gore lists "planting a tree" as one of the 10 most important things people can do to help stop global warming. It's been estimated that a single tree can absorb one tonne of carbon dioxide over its lifetime--not a...

Corrections.(CHOICE cuts)(Correction notice)
July 1, 2007... ESPRESSO MACHINES CHOICE, March 2007 The table on page 34 listed whether machines were semi-automatic or manual. They weren't listed correctly: the semi-automatic machines are: * MAGIMIX L'Espresso Program Automatic 11233. *...

"It's me!" No, it's not.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(impersonation fraud)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Our counterparts in Japan report a disturbing Japanese scam, where unscrupulous conmen take advantage of the gullibility of old, sometimes senile people, who see their relatives irregularly. It's the Ore ore sagi scam, where a fraudster phones...

Good news for chocolate lovers.(WORLD CONSUMER SNAPSHOT)(health benefits of cocoa)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... German researchers have found that chocolate with a high cocoa content isn't just beneficial for heart health. Test magazine reports that an amino acid complex found in cocoa that's responsible for the taste of chocolate also has an...

Could scan better.(CHOICE cuts)(electronic price scanner's accuracy)(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... Next time you're out shopping, watch the scanner's screen carefully at the checkout, if you can, and check the docket to make sure you're charged the correct price. While electronic price scanners have certainly reduced waiting times at the...

Dyson handheld vacuum cleaner.(DYSON Radix 6 DC16YT )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... You've probably seen it advertised, but from its looks you'd think the DYSON Radix 6 DC16YT handheld vacuum cleaner would be more at home zapping aliens on a faraway planet than cleaning up the mess on your couch. So how does the most expensive...

Choice food for kids is ... CHOICE!(YOUR letters)(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... I wish to send you a note to say "absolute congratulations" on your new www.choicefoodforkids. com.au website. This is the most sensational site we've viewed--well done, not enough accolades can be given. We found out about the site...

Stories in the media.(YOUR letters)(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... My magazine arrived in the post yesterday, but I already heard, early last week, about one article in the magazine, via the radio. If we subscribers are the main source of funds CHOICE relies on (as per the article on page 2 of the March...

A big kid.(YOUR letters)(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Just a comment about the breakfast cereals issue: I have a child at home who eats the stuff--except he's 53. Tony Abbott is right--the habits we adopt in childhood do stay with us! I have succeeded in weaning my 53-year-old husband off...

Mike from Melbourne offers his thumbs-up to HILLS INDUSTRIES.(THUMPS UP!)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Mike from Melbourne offers his thumbs-up to HILLS INDUSTRIES. When his two-year old Baileys extendable ladder broke, he contacted the company, which sent out a representative to inspect the ladder. Even though it was out of warranty, HILLS...

Chris from Salisbury, SA, gives her thumbs-up to ONEIDA AUSTRALIA.(THUMPS UP!)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Chris from Salisbury, SA, gives her thumbs-up to ONEIDA AUSTRALIA. Soon after purchasing an ONEIDA cutlery set she noticed that two of the knives had slightly curved blades. She emailed the company, asking where she could buy replacements, and...

Letter of the month.(YOUR letters)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... We want to hear from you--your experiences help our research and often let other readers know about scams and rip-offs. Positive outcomes you've had to a complaint you took to a manufacturer, retailer, importer or tradesperson interest us too....

Best-value shopping: for a cheaper weekly shop you can't beat Aldi.(shopping
July 1, 2007... If you shop at the same supermarket all the time you might not have noticed the big changes going on in the overall supermarket landscape. The big names, COLES and WOOLWORTHS, have rolled out their 'private label' products (WOOLWORTHS Select,...

Hard-core cheese: experts' pick of the parmesans.(food / PARMESAN CHEESE)
July 1, 2007... Australia has come a long way from the days when 'parmesan,' for many of us, meant the shelf-stable, sickly-smelling powdered variety in a canister that you sprinkled on your spaghetti bolognese. Now, with many more specialist dells,...

Taking off: can you pay extra to make your flights 'carbon-neutral'?(report
July 1, 2007... These days climate change, and what we can do as individuals to address it, is on everyone's mind. But even if you have an energy-efficient home, regularly walk or cycle to work, recycle waste and buy GreenPower electricity, one return flight...

Reclaim unfair bank fees: join our campaign to make your objections heard and reclaim excessive penalty fees.(money / BANK PENALTY FEES)
July 1, 2007... Are you being stung by high penalties for overdrawing your account, paying your credit card bill a day late, or writing a cheque that bounces? You're not alone. Banks raked in over $4 billion in fees from consumers in 2006, an increase of 10%...

Forever young: are cosmeceuticals the way to youthful skin?(cosmetics
July 1, 2007... The current buzzword in the world of anti-aging is cosmeceuticals. Coined to describe products that are a cross between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, the implication is they're better than cosmetics because they have a pharmaceutical (medical)...

Nothing to smile about: something's rotten in the state of Australia's health--our teeth.(health / DENTISTS)(dental health programs)
July 1, 2007... Times were when people avoided going to the dentist for fear of physical pain. Now it's fear of financial pain that's putting people off. A recent study of thousands of Australians representing all walks of life found that: * 30% of...

What's new, baby? There's more work to do but baby foods have improved.(food
July 1, 2007... CHOICE last reviewed Australian baby food in 2005 and we weren't happy with what we found: labelling that left far too many questions unanswered and lots of products that simply weren't the best choices for your baby. We're back to see what's...

Tiny technology: nanotechnology is already in our homes, yet most of us know nothing about it--do we need to know more?(news / NANOTECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2007... Pants that don't wrinkle. Shirts that don't stain. Socks that fight fungal disease. Sheets that keep you cool and comfy. Transparent sunscreens that don't make you look like a ghost. Firmer yet lighter tennis racquets. Fast-drying boardshorts...

The big picture.(HEALTH check)(child health programs)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... If the Australian Labor Party wins the next federal election, it plans to introduce a Healthy Kids Checks program, which could include measuring BMI (body mass index) and height for all children when they start school. This type of monitoring...

Exercise--the smart choice.(HEALTH check)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... We all know exercise is good for us, but most of us still need a fair bit of motivation to do it. Here are two things about exercise you might not know, from the June issue of CHOICE Health Reader. * Familiar with the expression 'use it or...

Blame it on food cravings?(HEALTH check)(women's diet)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Experts are suggesting women of childbearing age should be an important focus for public health nutrition campaigns after research undertaken at the University of Newcastle found that falling pregnant doesn't appear to provide enough incentive...

Ribena caught out.(FOOD bites)(GlaxoSmithKline PLC's Ribena syrup )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... You probably heard recently on TV that the maker of RIBENA, the drink of choice for children for generations, was exposed for making incorrect claims about the amount of Vitamin C it contains. GlaxoSmithKline has admitted to claiming that...

Do you have an allergy?(FOOD bites)(Food Standards Australia New Zealand releases allergen cards)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... If you've got a food allergy, scrutinising ingredients lists is second nature, but knowing what to look for isn't always as obvious as you'd think. Many food allergens lurk under ingredients with unexpected names. Milk protein, for example, can...

ConFUZEd?(FOOD bites)(FUZE Cola )(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... No added sugar, 99% juice, natural colours, natural flavours, vitamin C, low GI... With all that going for it FUZE Cola would really have to be "a soft drink that not only tastes good but is good for you". Would you be doing yourself a favour...

The daily grind.(test: COFFEE GRINDERS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2007... If you make real coffee at home, choosing a coffee grinder is as important as choosing the right coffee machine. Coffee perishes quickly and ground coffee can lose flavour fast. If you're serious about great-tasting coffee you'll want to...

Where's the tuner? Only three TVs in our test have a built-in digital tuner.(test: TVS 101-107 CM)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2007... They're impressively stylish and deliver a high-quality 'at the movies' viewing experience to your living room (but with cheaper popcorn), so it's little wonder large flat-screen televisions are steadily growing in popularity--and thankfully,...

Cordless freedom.(test: CORDLESS PHONES)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2007... Remember the days when the home telephone had its own table and seat? Now cordless phones complement an increasingly busy lifestyle, allowing you to move through the house and garden while talking to family and friends. Cordless phones...

Sitting safe and sound.(test: HIGH CHAIRS)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2007... Like all baby products, a high chair shouldn't just be functional and easy to use: it needs to be safe. It should be stable, sturdily built and have no gaps or crevices that might trap little arms or fingers (not to mention spilt food). Most of...

Home ownership a distant dream.(HIP pocket)
July 1, 2007... A Galaxy research survey commissioned by the Financial Planning Association found 35% of the participants had been unable to afford the home they want. The problem was worst for the 25-34 age group, with 51% experiencing problems with housing...

Super bonus for your nestegg.(HIP pocket)(savings)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... As a one-off measure announced with the budget, the Federal Government doubled its super co-contributions on amounts you paid into your super (above your employer's contribution) in the financial year 2005/06. While it's too late to change what...

Health claims standard one step closer.(CHOICE campaigns)(new proposal on regulation of food labeling and advertising)
July 1, 2007... Australia is now one step closer to having better regulation of claims about the nutrition or health benefits of foods that can be made on food labels and in advertising. It's taken more than a decade to develop, but the latest proposal from...

Pharmaceutical benefits scheme reforms and their impact on consumers.(CAMPAIGN NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Government research predicts that health will take the largest bite out of the Commonwealth budget, and the biggest cost in health is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). In 2006 the government announced changes to curb spending on the PBS...

Too many exemptions to 'Do Not Call' Register.(CAMPAIGN NEWS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The government's new Do Not Call Register is extremely popular--consumers have registered over a million phone numbers, and the minister had to issue a warning about door-knock scams asking for money to put you on the register. If you haven't...

Recalls & bans.(on products)
July 1, 2007... Nowadays there are so many product recalls we may not be able to print all of them in CHOICE. For comprehensive recall information go to the Product Recalls Australia website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Product...