Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from November 2004

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from November 2004

Saving water--seriously.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I once lived in a city where the water was turned off between six in the evening and six in the rooming. The reason, of course, was to save water, although drought wasn't the problem there. Rumour had it that the system was so old and poorly...

Aspirin--drug or essential nutrient?(choice cuts)
November 1, 2004... It might sound a very strange idea--aspirin an essential part of the human diet? But that's the view one aspirin expert outlined in an issue of New Scientist earlier this year. There's much evidence that aspirin can play a positive role in...

Have you got unclaimed super?(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Australians have more than $7 billion hidden away in over 4.8 million separate 'lost' superannuation accounts--chances are that some of this super stash could be yours. Australia's Unclaimed Super Fund (AUSfond) offers a free search...

Which brand at the factory outlet?(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Do you love bargain hunting in a factory outlet shop where discontinued lines or slightly imperfect stuff are often sold at a greatly reduced price? Belinda, a CHOICE staff member, always thought herself a savvy shopper, but a recent shopping...

Picking a health extras policy.(choice cuts)
November 1, 2004... There are big differences in the benefits offered by ancillary ('extras') health insurance policies, according to the October/ November issue of CHOICE Money & Rights magazine. It compared over 300 extras health insurance policies to come up...

Taking the bait.(choice cuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... It's one of the oldest tricks in the shop sale's book--advertise a product that you can't provide to get the customers in the door. It's called bait advertising, it's annoying and it's a contravention of the Trade Practices Act. Recently...

Fat coffee.(World Consumer Snapshot)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Black coffee has virtually no calories, no fat and no carbohydrates. Even a dollop of low-fat milk and a teaspoon of sugar boost the nutrition numbers only slightly, reports the US Consumer Reports. But those frappa-, cappa-, mocha-thingies?...

No payout for thawed dog.(World Consumer Snapshot)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... While researching for an article on pet insurance, our sister organisation in the UK came across an interesting case that illustrates how it's never a good idea to try to hoodwink an insurer. Which? magazine reports the case of a man who saw a...

Don't cover the instructions!(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Dispensing advice (CHOICE, September 2004) was a useful look at the quality of advice provided by pharmacists regarding over-the-counter medications. I have another slightly different issue with pharmacists. I've fallen ill several times...

Outback camper lives up to its name.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... After reading the letter 'Unhappy campers' by Robert and Vicki Sanderson in the September 2004 issue of CHOICE I feel compelled to respond and provide a counterview on the Outback camper. After a long process of analysis and elimination, I...

Thumbs up!(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... * Jean Porter, via email gives a thumbs-up to Barry, the senior pharmacist at Soul Pattinson, Westfield Hornsby (NSW), who, in contrast to some of the experiences we reported on in our September issue, always explains effects and side effects...

Saving water: it's time we stopped wasting precious drinking water on the garden and for toilet-flushing. Installing a rainwater tank is a step in the right direction.(Report: water)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Rainwater tanks are no longer just huge, round and ugly; they come in all shapes and sizes to suit the urban and suburban home. * Watering the garden and washing the car with rainwater make sense and cut your...

Food for thought: colourful descriptions on labels can influence what you buy--but do you really know what those words mean?(Food Labelling)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Descriptive words on food labels like 'pure', "natural', 'fresh' and 'real', which imply certain positive qualities, mean different things to different people. And because their meaning isn't defined in our food standards,...

Is this the end of ye olde investment seminars?(hip pocket)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In a recent action under the Australian Financial Services Licensing regime, an undertaking was given that the American John Burley's Winning the money game and Automatic wealth seminars (promoted by Pow Wow Events) won't provide financial...

'Soft-dollar steps not big enough.(hip pocket)(Financial Planning Association and Investment Financial Services Association react to fund managers' incentives for financial planners)
November 1, 2004... 'Soft-dollar' commissions are non-monetary payments given by fund managers and other financial product providers to financial planners, on top of their standard commission for selling a financial product to a client. They include things such as...

Watch out for tipping stoves: we take precautions to prevent burns to children from stovetop saucepans, but what if the stove itself is the danger?(Investigation: Kitchen hazard)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Some upright stoves are unstable and if not fixed properly can topple onto children. * If your upright stove has brackets to stabilise it, check that they're secure. Burns and scalds are a common injury to children...

Electric shavers: shavers can be pretty expensive: which ones give the best shave, and are they any better than a razor?(User trial: men's shavers)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: 10 models of electric shaver: six/oil and foul rotary shavers. Each was tried out by at least seven men, who used them on one- and two-day growth. They also trialled and rated trimmer attachments. * The two...

Frying tonight? You can pay a fortune for a designer frypan, but there is such a thing as a good non-stick pan at a reasonable price.(Test: non-stick frypans)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Some big-name brands didn't cook as well as less expensive pans--you can save yourself $50 to $100 and still be happy. Paying top dollar doesn't guarantee a more durable non-stick surface either. If your ultimate...

Folate: the facts: are you eating enough?(Nutrition: Folate)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * Folate is a vitamin that's essential for healthy growth end development. It's particularly important for the foetus in the first few weeks of pregnancy. * Green leafy vegetables, oranges, legumes and nuts, as welt as...

The computer CHOICE computer troubleshooter: the survival guide that answers your most frequently asked PC questions.(Consumer Bookshelf)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Want to enhance your computing skills and reduce PC rage? Or perhaps you're having PC problems and don't want to waste time and money waiting for an expensive help service. This step-by-step guide has practical advice, tips and shortcuts to...

What they don't teach you in driving school: learn to drive with skill, confidence and initiative.(Consumer Bookshelf)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... This book aims to help both new and experienced drivers reduce the risk to themselves and those they share the road with. Find out about: * Defensive driving, reactions and emergency control. * Driving in all weather conditions. *...

Look, Mum no wires! Wireless internet new buzzword--so what is it?(computing choice)
November 1, 2004... Wireless internet gives you access to the internet without using a telephone line or cable network--you connect using radio frequency bands. A wireless service lets you access the internet when you're away from home or out of the office. ...

Chill--and save energy: raised energy efficiency standards mean there'll soon be lots of new fridges on the market. The first few we've tested are very energy-efficient indeed.(Update: fridges)
November 1, 2004... IN A NUTSHELL * From 2005, locally manufactured and imported new fridges will have to conform to much tougher energy efficiency standards--end all nine new models in our latest test are very energy-efficient. * The three new fridges...

High-powered mowing: the best electric mowers can give you a golf-course-neat yard without the hassles of petrol.(Test: electric mowers)
November 1, 2004... If your yard isn't too big, an electric mower seems like a good idea--they're cheaper to buy and run than most petrol mowers, lightweight and comparatively eco-friendly. The quest/on is, can they also deliver a good-looking lawn? In this...

Cereal offenders?(food bites)
November 1, 2004... When we reported on breakfast cereals in May 2003, we weren't impressed with many of the kids' cereals on offer--most contained too much sugar and/or too little fibre. Since then, we've noticed an increase in the number of cereals aimed at kids...

Sweet tooth.(food bites)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Q: Are all sugars bad for you teeth? What about fruit sugars? A: All sugars, including naturally occurring ones like those in honey and fruit, have the potential to be harmful to teeth. They can all provide food for bacteria that make acid...

A first for food regulation.(food bites)(New South Wales Food Authority)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In April this year, the NSW Food Authority was established. It's the first agency in Australia to have responsibility for regulating a state's entire food industry, from primary production to point of sale. The NSW Food Authority recently...

Recall & bans.
November 1, 2004... 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 Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Consumer Safety Unit...