Choice (Chippendale, Australia) articles from October 2003

Choice (Chippendale, Australia) archives from October 2003

A new look for www.choice.com.au.
October 1, 2003... Now in its fourth year, CHOICE's public website, CHOICE Online, has attracted over 30,000 members who enjoy the convenience and immediacy of being able to access CHOICE reports online, as well as the interactive features that make the web such...

Plastic bags: how to take three billion out of circulation.(choice cuts)
October 1, 2003... With plastic bags an increasing scourge on the environment, using calico bags to replace them for shopping seems like one easy way of tackling the problem. So we ran a trial to find out how many plastic bags it's possible to eliminate just by...

Ethanol in petrol.(choice cuts)
October 1, 2003... On July 1, 2003, the government put a 10% cap on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into regular unleaded petrol. We did a spot check to see whether petrol stations are complying. We picked 20 independent service stations in southern...

Sunglasses: CHOICE, August 2003.(CORRECTION)(Correction Notice)
October 1, 2003... In the table on page 17 a footnote said lab checks found the PORTMANS sunglasses to be unpolarised despite a manufacturer claim that they were polarised. In fact the manufacturer doesn't make this claim. The same footnote was applied to...

Battery bunnies and comparative advertising.(choice cuts)(Trade Practices Act contraventions)
October 1, 2003... Have you seen the battery ad where the racing toy bunny powered by DURACELL batteries lasts up to three times longer than the bunny with EVEREADY Super Heavy Duty (SHD)? Did it convince you that the DURACELL was a superior battery and...

Bubble trouble.(choice cuts)
October 1, 2003... If you suspect sparkling wine or champagne gets you tipsy faster than still wine, you may well be right. A small study reported in September's CHOICE Health Reader measured blood alcohol levels, memory and reaction times after drinking regular...

Help stop cruel slaughter.(choice cuts)(Humane Society International investigates cat and dog fur industry)
October 1, 2003... An 18-month investigation by the Humane Society International (HSI) has revealed massive, systematic cruelty in the cat and dog fur industry that supplies markets worldwide, including Australia. HSI members investigated practices in China,...

Bearing witness.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... After reading the article on ethical jeans manufacture in your June issue, I'd like to share with you and other readers some of my personal experiences, as this article touched me deeply and reminded me of the days I spent in a forced labour...

Response light on detail.(your letters)(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... I enjoyed your June report on jeans. It prompted me to write to two jeans chains in WA and tell them I wouldn't shop at their stores any more until I had more information about where their jeans come from. This week I received a response...

That's amore! It's Friday night and pizza's on the menu. Who's going to give you more pepperoni for your dollar?(TEST: Pizza)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * If you think the amount and quality of topping on your pizza is important, you're generally better off going to an independent pizzeria rather than one of the chains--but expect to pay a bit more. * Heard the latest?...

The big pixel: digital cameras for (almost) everyone.(TEST: Digital cameras)(Buyers Guide)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * They won't suit everyone, but could save you money in the long run--see below. * What sort of photographer you are will determine what camera suits you best--see page 12. * Shutter delay may mean lost...

What's inulin?(food bites)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... You may be seeing inulin in the ingredients list of more foods and be wondering what it is. It's a type of carbohydrate found in plants and is made of fructose, a type of sugar. Its main source is chicory root, but it's also found in...

Food safety: preserving vegies.(food bites)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... While advances in food technology mean that preserving vegetables at home may not be as common as it once was, it's still fairly popular, especially if you've got your own vegie garden or love antipasto. But a hidden danger could be lurking in...

Eating breakfast fights the fat.(food bites)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... In a recent study, researchers in the US found that people who'd regularly skipped breakfast had four and half times the chance of being obese as those who regularly ate breakfast. They also found that people who ate out frequently for either...

Garden hoses: liability or garden lifeline? Our tests find out.(TEST: Garden hoses)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * One hose burst, five kinked badly, and most are too stiff to use easily on a cold morning. It all adds up to the difference between watering being a pleasure or a chore. * There's a relationship between price and...

How to survive the health system: self-help might give you a chance to prevent any accidents that are waiting to happen.(HEALTH: Taking Control)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Every year, hospital and medical care causes thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of lesser 'adverse events'. * By taking a more active role in your healthcare, you can dramatically reduce the chances of things...

Super for the soul? Can your super fund's ethical investment option deliver good social outcomes and decent profits?(FINANCE: Ethical super)(Buyers Guide)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Socially responsible and ethical super options are becoming commonplace, but they're still not very popular with consumers--why not? * Definitions of 'ethical' vary greatly--check your fund's measures up to your...

Bless you! Runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes? Here's what helps for hay fever.(REPORT: Hay fever treatments)(Buyers Guide)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Prevention is better than cure, and there are many steps you can take to reduce your exposure to the allergens that give you grief, but first find out what's causing your symptoms. * Some over-the-counter medicines can...

Getting into hot water: instantaneous gas systems give plenty of hot water at a temperature you choose--could one be right for you?(TEST: Gas water heaters)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * Choosing an instantaneous gas water heater could reduce your energy costs and greenhouse emissions if you're currently using electricity--and you'll practically never run out of hot water. * Our Australian...

Shop around for power?(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The traditional electricity and gas supply monopolies have ended in some states with the introduction of full retail contestability (FRC). Consumers in the ACT, NSW, SA and Victoria can now choose which company will be their electricity and/or...

Solar or heat-pump system?
October 1, 2003... Solar and heat-pump water heaters can certainly reduce the amount of greenhouse gases (particularly C[O.sub.2]) your household is responsible for--by several tonnes a year compared to conventional electric heaters (except in Tasmania--see...

Crackdown on 'get-rich-quick' seminar guru.(hippocket)(Henry Kaye, National Investment Institute (NII) and Novasource)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has clamped down on promoters of get-rich-quick property seminars. Under a court-sanctioned settlement, property investment seminar promoters Henry Kaye, National Investment Institute...

$248 million lost and up for grabs.(hippocket)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Tens of millions of dollars from forgotten bank, credit union and building society accounts are waiting to be returned to their rightful owners (without a fee). The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) holds around $248...

Credit card suspended during overseas trip.(hippocket)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Earlier this year while overseas on business, Rhonda from Perth found that WESTPAC had suspended her credit card because of suspected fraud. She says: "My husband's linked card was also stopped, even though he remained in Australia while I...

Ask us about money issues.(hippocket)
October 1, 2003... We'd love to hear your questions about insurance, investment or banking. Send us an email at moneyquestions@choice. com.au or write to Money questions, CHOICE, 57 Carrington Road, Marrickville 2204, and include a daytime phone number so...

Sitting pretty: good news for parents: only one high chair failed the main safety test, and we can fully recommend four of them.(TEST: High chairs)(Buyers Guide)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: 11 widely available highchairs. * Only one failed the stability test, which is our primary safety concern, though a further six had minor safety problems. It's great to be able to report good news for...

Beating the heat: beat the heat this summer with a split-system reverse-cycle air conditioner--and they're great for heating in winter too.(TEST: Split-system air conditioners)(Product/Service Evaluation)
October 1, 2003... IN A NUTSHELL * On test: Six split-system reverse-cycle air conditioners with a claimed cooling capacity of 6.5 to 7.2 kW--enough to cool a large open-plan living area. * Most meet the specifications claimed by manufacturers, but a...

Recalls & bans.
October 1, 2003... 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 Federal Treasury website: www.recalls.gov.au. If you don't have web access, call the Consumer Safety...