Water Cooler

Ambushed by card charges
It pays to understand the rules governing how banks apply interest to your purchases and cash advances.

Opinion: The deficit dilemma
Global economic recovery is at least a year or two away. Reducing government spending is a risk not worth taking yet, writes Joseph Stiglitz.

Benefits of a Tweet surrender
Twitter hold-outs are missing out on a wealth of news and discussion

Twiggy rises to the top as Packer loses his crown
Iron ore producer Andrew Forrest, 48, has reclaimed his place as Australia's richest man.

Diluted dividend payouts irk investors
The main thing investors gleaned from the latest profit season was that earnings were surprisingly better.

Buffett blasts a system where prejudice pays
As long as bankers are paid only once a deal is completed, impartial advice will be very hard to find.

It's inevitable: global debt will take a heavy toll
Australia is unlikely to avoid an imminent economic downturn resulting from excessive government debt, a senior European markets regulator says.

Free software can have a catch
Open-source applications can be a cheap option, but at what cost?

McCarthy has a byte with Apple
The Fairfax chief is keen to take his mastheads online and wants to charge for them.

Safeguarding your mobile data
Back-ups aren't the only way to protect your laptops and mobiles, writes Julia Talevski.

Fakes one to know one: the best degree money can buy
Australians with fake university qualifications are working for big companies.

How to choose the right smartphone
Smartphones have changed the way businesses operate. The biggest challenge now is choosing the right platform, writes Julia Talevski.

iPad unloved without us: Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch has suggested the iPad and the Kindle would be "unloved and unsold" without creativity from companies like his News Corporation.

Apple unveils the iPad
Meet the iPad, Apple’s new tablet computer, which the company says will revolutionise all manner of digital publishing and consumption.

Australia 'must plan for new city' to cope with population
Australia should plan for a new city, like a Gold Coast of the west, to cope with the population boom predicted by 2050, demographer Bernard Salt says.

Sunny with a chance of wine
Mark Chipperfield's just mad about a town where the locals share their good fortune.

Running your business from your back-pocket
New apps for smart phones appear almost daily, making the old business models obsolete, writes Paul Higgins.

Time-saving business tools
Master your trade with these five simple technology ideas.

Cafe owners say Westpac analogy is pure fruitcake
Despite economic crises, the price of a banana smoothie has remained constant for a decade.

Drink giant Diageo banks on the cocktail hour
The global alcohol company Diageo will use a new portfolio of premium spirit brands and the rising popularity of cocktails to boost its earnings in Australia after the introduction of the alcopops tax and shifting consumer tastes slashed local profits by 25 per cent.

Battle for Office reaches new heights
Is Google an adequate substitute for Microsoft in the business suite arena? Julia Talevski reports.

Price bubble pops
Producers of one of the world's great luxuries have steeled themselves against the fallout from the GFC.

Coles dresses up a blonde bombshell for the carb-conscious
Coles headed for showdown with brewers, pitting its own label low-carb beer against leading brands.

The chef's guide to doing Paris
Shannon Bennett's tips to negotiating France's top restaurants.

Times are a'-charging for web browsers
The Times of London to offer an ''all-you-can-eat'' package to online readers.

Money may not buy happiness, but change leaves most men short-changed
What's a marriage worth? To an Australian male, about $32,000.

Text means less queueing before take-off
Low-fare airline Jetstar is about to trial a world-first mobile phone technology that issues boarding passes via SMS.

Where's your cossie, Oscar? How modesty won the day
The lifelike "lost boy" exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea has a relative who isn't wearing swimmers.

You’re stuffed: Britain’s critics tell Hirst he has jumped the shark
Damien Hirst must be wishing he’d stuck with the pickled sharks.

In the battle against boozing, it may pay to have a sense of humour
Louvre to get a McDonalds and an Aberdeenshire brewery release beer so low in alcohol it won't be subject to duty.

Slacktivism: Can social media actually cause social change?
When Hopetoun Hotel unexpectedly shut down, Facebook group Save The Hopetoun Hotel grew to more than 8000 within days.

How Melbourne became Australia's hottest destination
It's a miracle - culture has grown in popularity in Australia.

Enter the clown: artistic duo reprise a classic act
Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush to return to the Sydney stage to rekindle the magic of his signature clowning act, Diary of a Madman.

The Beatles: prism for the '60s, a portal for today
Even before the frenzy around the remastered albums and computer game, I suspect most children had a passing familiarity with some of their songs.

Show time for a surreal clown
Although he promoted himself as a loony genius, Salvador Dali should be remembered as a money-hungry extrovert.

Nokia unveils smartphones to rival iPhone
Nokia unveils three new smartphones as the Finnish firm tries to claw back market share from Apple's popular iPhone and RiM's Blackberry.

Women still trail in pay stakes
A woman starting work today will retire having earned $1 million less than a man doing the same job.

Something for nothing
Offering your services for free can be richly rewarding

Online awaits audience and revenue bonanza
2 million more Australians are using the internet than previously thought

Push to change car tax rebate
The Federal Government has been urged to overhaul rules that give a tax concession for driving a company car, but not employer-sponsored public transport tickets.

Secret of top chefs out of the bag - plastic bag that is
Scientific cooking techniques are challenging the naked flame.

Twitter for dummies
It's the latest social-networking craze and users worldwide are "tweeting" to stay in touch. Here is an excerpt from Twitter for Dummies by Laura Fitton.

Embracing the Twitter ecosystem
It's the latest social-networking craze and users worldwide are "tweeting" to stay in touch. Here is an excerpt from Twitter for Dummies.

Keep your workers in touch
PDAs are helping field staff stay up to date with their business, writes Julia Talevski.

The shame of the name game
Job titles on business cards mean little, writes Malcolm King.

Protect the data on your mobile
The risks are increasing but there are precautions you can take, writes Conrad Walters.

Flying palace: inside the A380 private superjumbo
It's the ultimate in luxury transport fit for a king.

Apple releases new iPhone
Apple is introducing a new, speedier version of its popular iPhone with a host of new features including video capabilities, a better camera and longer battery life.

Book review and extract - Firepower: The most spectacular fraud in Australian history
This book is a fast-moving and highly entertaining account of one of the most audacious scams in Australian corporate history.

Hottest new luxury hotels: shooting for five stars
From Shanghai to New York and back to NSW, luxury hotels are set to open en masse.

Review: Maserati Quattroporte S
Exclusivity is the key in Maserati's swish sports sedan, the Quattroporte.

Going cheap: rich and famous sell off islands
Luxury islands have plunged in price and are flooding the property market. Can the rich and famous hold on to their prized getaways?

Sydney vs Melbourne fashion
The Sartorialist rates Sydney and Melbourne fashion.

Sydney restaurants make world's best list
Which three Sydney restaurants are considered one of the finest in the world?

Review: BlackBerry Curve 8900
The newest and thinnest Blackberry reminds us of Doctor Who's Tardis.

Best and worst on-screen bosses
Among the most memorable movie and television characters are the workplace pyschopaths who will steal your ideas, abuse you to the point of suicide and even threaten your life.

Keep important documents under lock and key
It is important to store your will and legal documents in a safe place.

Review: Lexus IS-F
The luxury arm of Toyota takes on the might of the German giants.

Why the tie won't die
There are calls for its demise, but the tie is here to stay.

Archibald Prize 2009: The colours of democracy
In a country where every politician pays lip service to equality, the Archibald allows us to believe that one artist is as good as the next.

Work keeps us healthy

'Baby' Rolls-Royce revealed
Rolls-Royce 200EX concept previews British luxury marque's new BMW 7-Series-based RR4 limo that will sit beneath the $1m-plus Phantom.

The shape of phones to come
Not to be outdone, mobile makers are taking the best of the iPhone and adding bells and whistles.

Pets do wonders for the workforce
Could seeing Rover chase his tail around the office boost productivity during tough times?

The rise of Atlantis
Kilometres of water slides and a three-storey aquarium - only in Dubai.

Bubbles of expectation
With its heady scent and alluring chemical properties, that most famous of fizzies is the master of seduction.

Got a spare $60 million? This could be yours
Entrepreneur Andrew Banks and his wife, Andrea, have listed their Point Piper harbourfront property, Villa Veneto, for sale.

Style and substance
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are listed among America’s best dressed, so inspiring they could rejuvenate a flagging industry just by wearing the right brands. Glamour, in other words, helped get them where they are.

The gourmet trail
Explore Victoria's foodie pit stops on some unforgettable road trips.

Review: Audi A4 3.0 TDI Quattro Tiptronic
The Audi A4 gets a bigger diesel engine, with performance, style and space.

Town House Galleria: World's first 7-star hotel
Be dazzled by the detail in the world's first official seven-star hotel, where even the meals are designed specifically for you.

Have a Christmas feast with (caviar) class
The pricey delicacy is in demand as a festive-season treat.

Hot looks for high flyers
Read the rules for buying the perfect suit and sharpen your image for the new year.

High flyer toys
Keep pace with the rest of the world with the latest in travel gear.

Stocking the cellar: Taste 400 wines in 2 days
It's a rotten job, but someone has to do it. William Wilson - a member of the prestigious international Court of Master Sommeliers - participated in a two-day blind tasting of more than 400 wines.

Behind the scenes of eating out
A New York waiter's book grills an industry rife with contempt for its customers and gives some insights into getting the best service.

The millionaire's club
The newest member of Rolls-Royce's Phantom family is a performance coupe. Just don't call it sporty

Dapper in a hat on race day
The age of the man's hat, which faded half a century ago, is set to return.

How the A380 measures up
Qantas opts for classic styling and a premium economy class, writes inaugural guest Louise Hall.

Qantas A380 perks
Dining tables, flat beds, leg room and mood lighting - there's something for everyone on the A380.

Qantas A380's first flight
Qantas' first superjumbo flight takes off, filled to capacity.

Hot trends for sunglasses
When it comes to sunnies, classic is back.

Personal best
Can technology really help you get fitter? Simon Sharwood investigates.

Waiting for the best
If you think the pace of life has quickened in the past decade, tell someone on a waiting list for a top restaurant or award-winning hairdresser.

The world’s great grape trails
We nominate our favourite vineyard regions.

American museums for comic buffs
Delight your inner child and cultured adult

Is this Australia's first electric sports car?
Have your cake and make it green too

Review: Bluetooth speaker phones
We take four Bluetooth speaker phones through their paces.

Roadtest: Digital SLR cameras
It's a good time to consider trading in your compact camera.

If the Pod fits, wear it
Fashion now reflects our intimate link with technology.

World's fastest VW scorches
The fastest Volkswagen production car in the world has landed in Australia.

Review: Jaguar XF 2.7D
The new XF makes its rivals seem positively dowdy.

Review: Blackberry Bold
Don't let anyone tell you the new BlackBerry Bold is an "iPhone killer".

James Bond's island
Check out Thailand's James Bond island in luxury style.

A dry argument
It's time to upgrade your wet-weather gear and pull on a new skin to keep you toasty.

Peeling back the covers
Bugatti is set to launch a new open top version of its iconic Veyron supercar.

A four-door on steroids
Mercedes has built a sedan with Porsche-beating performance.

A hike for heroes
The Swiss mountains quickly sort out the men from the wimps.

He’s on the money
Marc Jacobs has bounced back to continue to redefine modern fashion.

Mighty mouse
Welcome to the hot new trend in personal computing - the netbook.

Lotus’s Project Eagle has landed
Lotus has the big league sports car makers in its sights with its first new car in 13 years.

Surf, ski, walk the wild side
We seek out the newest hotspots for intrepid travellers.

Review: personal video recorders
Australia's TV networks are cautiously embracing the TiVo video recorder.

Hello, smarty pants
Men are throwing off the shackles of the suit and tie to dress to impress.

Luxury cars that outrun the taxman
These four models may be top-end but they are cheap enough to avoid the luxury car tax hike.

On top of the world
Everest's mystique is undiminished by its global celebrity.

Review: headphones
Wireless, compact or quiet as can be – we try the latest headphones.

Flapper glamour
Galliano blends 1950s and 1920s flapper at the Paris haute couture collections.

The lord of the rings
The iPhone 3G has finally landed and it's a beauty.

Return of the impeccable sloth
The freshest catwalk shows shoot men's wear trends back to the classics.

The boys are back in town
Bachelor pads are hot property, with some offering boy toys and room for an Aston Martin.

Into the wild
Luxury travel in remote wilderness destinations is all about the total experience.

Mercedes-Benz's F700 concept
Mercedes-Benz's F700 concept pushes the boundaries of car design and technology.

Confessions of a massage addict
We road test three luxury spas in Thailand.

Skiing is believing
An insider's guide to help plan your next holiday on the Canadian slopes.

Diesel super-hatch let loose
Can sports cars and diesel power work in harmony?

Dining at world's end
We go out of our way to enjoy an idiosyncratic Arctic meal.

New Porsche 911 unveiled
Porsche’s updated 911 is faster and greener.

Review: Panasonic Blu-ray recorder
Meet the future of digital TV recording in Australia.

Views fit for a viking
We exercise every man's right to pitch a tent under a very egalitarian law.

Too fat for Paris
Male models are losing weight to achieve the new boy body ideal.

Little wheels, big thrills
We find out why so many, young and old, get such a buzz out of go-kart racing.

Wax or be damned
Have we created a world that offers no noble model of maleness?

Review: BMW 320d Executive
While the competition has never been tougher, this BMW is still on the mark.

In the lap of Incan gods
We follow the Inca Trail to where the land touches the sky.

Review: Palm centro
Keen to trade up from your standard mobile to a smartphone?

California dreaming
Remember the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California that featured in Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

The world's best new hotels
From stylish beach resorts to city hideaways and eco-friendly retreats, this year’s list has it all.

Review: Canon EOS 450D
This 12-megapixel camera is Canon's cheapest DSLR and has superb underlying picture quality.

Speaking volumes
We sort through a plethora of glossy tomes to compile a novice's guide to design bibles.

Life and love on two wheels
Motorcycling is an affair that can last a lifetime.

Liberte, egalite, lingerie
In Paris, you can spend thousands on couture corsets, or grab a lacy bargain.

Peugeot 308 RC Z
Is it an Audi TT? Is it a VW Beetle? No, it's a Peugeot, and it's coming to Australia.

New men
Fashion trends for blokes are evolving fast.

Uneasy rider
We fall, literally, for riding quad bikes among the dunes.

3D TV heads our way
The first commercially available 3D-enabled television arrives next month.

Tempura - or is it tapas?
Tempura exemplifies the Japanese knack for borrowing - and improving on - foreign ideas.

Chanel's new face
French actress Audrey Tautou set to repace Nicole Kidman as the face of Chanel.

BlackBerry's Bold move unveiled
Research In Motion introduces its first major new BlackBerry in more than a year.

Best time of year to...
Handy online escape routes for a winter getaway.

Ksubi go West for frame and fortune
The Australian design house Ksubi will collaborate on an eyewear range for Kanye West's label Pastelle.

BMW hybrid technology
There's an even more exotic version of BMW's X6 heading our way.

The new frontier
From trash cookery to bistronomy, we find out what's cutting-edge in haute cuisine.

Review: Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a landmark game, offering the most convincing virtual environment ever crafted.

Gisele richest model: Forbes
Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen remains the highest-earning catwalk queen.

Buy your own island in the sun
Lapping waters, picturesque views, and resort-like isolation.

BMW supercar concept pays Homage to M1
German car maker BMW has built a 21st-century version of its legendary, late-’70s M1 supercar.

Buying Blu-ray
So you want to buy a Blu-ray player? Follow our top buying tips.

Heights within your sights
Pit yourself against some of Mother Nature's greatest obstacles.

High flyers
Private jets are the last word in luxury and the market is growing.

The art of geisha hunting
Camera ready, we go looking for a threatened species in Takayama.

Review: Digitalview DVR-810
This hard drive-based digital video recorder aims to replace your old video recorder.

We have lift-off
Forget practicality, just feel the excitement.

Tread lightly
The next big thing in the four-wheel drive market is small.

Cradle Mountain luxury
The original plan for Cradle Mountain was a world away from the luxury on offer today.

Looking for trouble
There's a whole industry out there ready to give you a rush.

Road test: internet radios
Give local radio stations the flick as you broaden your horizons.

Fashion cleans up NY punk scene
A menswear designer has opened a shop in the space that once housed famous music club CBGB.

Too fancy to take off road
Is this the most capable off-road vehicle ever produced?

Review: Panasonic DMC-FX36 camera
This camera's lens works like a dream.

A tale of two-wheeled cities
Even in cycle-friendly Europe, some towns go the extra distance.

Eco-chic no passing fad
For eco-fashionistas, the green choices are becoming more numerous - and stylish.

Review: Jaguar XJ 3.5 3.5/5
An agile kitten gives pause to purr.

Daniel Craig is GQ's best-dressed man
Prince William has been named one of the worst.

The bigger picture
A projector can turn your lounge room into a private cinema.

Rare coffee for strong tastes
We head for a shot of the world's most exclusive espresso.

A leap of faith and a cool rush
There is no more dramatic and memorable way to hit the slopes than jumping from a helicopter.

Voiis Wireless Music Gateway
This long-range wireless device lets you broadcast music around the house.

Expect the unexpected
Whatever the future holds, it won't be boring in design terms.

Snow ball
Release your inner speed demon in the California snowfields.

Carpool
Verdicts on the Mercedes-benz SL350 and Audi A3 1.8T three-door hatch.

Audi Q7 4.2 TDI
The latest Audi is a top-shelf proposition in the diesel 4WD galaxy.

Why we should just say 'no' to designer labels
There are plenty of reasons why being a slave to designer labels is a bad idea.

A matter of taste
Women prefer white wine, men drink red … but these stereotypes are changing.

Panic in the sandpit
Dune surfing in the vast Empty Quarter on the Arabian Peninsula.

Italy’s new Mini rival
Alfa Romeo is about to do an Italian job on BMW’s Mini.

Bright young things in granddad's duds
The humble cardigan is making a big comeback thanks to male style icons such as David Beckham.

Roadtest: widescreen monitors
The line between televisions and computer monitors is blurring.

Review: Nikon D300 Digital SLR
If money is no object then the Nikon D300 is hard to beat.

Model hunter
He finds them at the gym, the milk bar and suburban shopping centres, then sends them on their way to the big time.

The dark side of Wall Street
Life in the fast lane was great for stockbroker Jordan Belfort. Until he was jailed.

High-rollers spur growth in luxury jet business
The rich are increasingly opting for the luxury of a private jet.

In snappy style
Revel in the opulence of a Hong Kong favourite that is synonymous with elegance.

Chevrolet Corvette
The owner of this iconic roadster had to prove himself worthy of the honour.

Powerful loving
High-flying couples should try using their management skills to make their relationships work.

Places of notes
The world's best cities for music lovers, no matter what your style.

Life in the fast lane
Find out how well $1.1 million of exotic cars live up to the fantasy.

Adventure a la carte
Extreme fly-fishing in the Patagonian wilderness - with a helicopter, a chef and spa treatments.

Review: World Series of Poker 2008
Sharpen your skills and use a digital camera to practice your best poker face.

Review: Apple MacBook Air
This notebook has had to make many compromises in order to stay thin.

Goodbye barbie, hello pizza oven
Aussie blokes are turning to other cultures to develop their love for the backyard barbecue.

Smooth sailing
Find out what the beautiful people of the Med get up to on board a luxury liner.

A tailored suit, takeaway
Testing the tailors in two Vietnamese cities results in a mixed bag.

Germany's 'new' baby coupe
Mercedes-Benz has mixed old and new C-Classes to create a coupe aimed at younger customers.

Review: Chumby, the internet beanbag
If you cross an alarm clock, a picture frame and an internet radio player with a gerbil, you would get the Chumby.

The vinyl revival
Specialist vinyl shops are experiencing a mini-boom.

$450 beer a bit hard to swallow
Is Carlberg's Vintage No. 1 the most expensive beer in the world?

The rise of the convertible
In the past five years, convertible sales have risen by 80 per cent - with the total market growing by 19.6 per cent in the same period.

Image-makers catching a wave of opportunity
Vintage surfing photographs are proving popular with investors.

A class distinction
Find out what you get for your money on a premium economy flight.

Bowlers, braces, bow ties and bovver boys
Plug into the style forecast in Paris and Milan.

Bad boy factor permeates menswear
Designers throw the seamy side of life into anything from suits to underwear.

Get smartphones
Four devices that put a mobile inbox in your pocket.

Cold beer, good music, great cut
A new crop of young men are taking on an old-world institution - the local barber - and cutting out the chrome and pretence.

Crystal ball 2.0
From online gaming to green gadgets, find out what will be big in tech this year.

Top five food trends this year
We've got the manuka honey, we're over raw food, so what next?

Ten things that will change your future
Find out where our brave new networked world may be heading.

Adventure awaits
There's more to French Polynesia than cocktails and sunsets.

Puttin' on the ritz
The old-world grandness of Chicago's Ritz-Carlton will blow you away.

TVs: how big is too big?
New generation plasma television screens are so large they can't fit into the average Aussie home.

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