Do you feel the pressured to invest? Or do you believe Generation Y is a group of overreaching youngsters? Mortgage Choice has found over a third of Generation Y's are planning to buy an investment property by June 2011 whilst also aiming to purchase their own home. Almost one quarter of those aimed to create an investment property portfolio, which would include as many properties as possible. 93% stated that their aim was to financially set themselves up for the future with 73% believing that investment properties were more beneficial than the share market.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 09:14 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

As Aussies we love to get around in shorts or dresses paired with thongs, especially throughout the summer months, it’s our thing! But, are thongs bad for our feet? In a world first, The University of Sydney aims to prove whether the commonly held assumption that thongs are bad for our feet is true or false.
Thongs also known as flip-flops, pluggers, go-aheads, jandals and Havaianas are the chosen footwear for many Aussies in the hotter months because they are comfortable and convenient, yet fashionable.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 13:21 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

The energy drink discussion is forever being left unresolved. Are they bad for us? Why are they bad for us? Why do we still continue to drink energy drinks? Energyfiend.com states that in 2006, over three billion cans of Red Bull were sold for consumption; so are we all drinking energy drinks? I guess it would be safe to assume that nearly all of us have tried one of the energy drinks on today’s market; whether it is Red Bull, V or a similar energy drink. But do we know what is really in these drinks?

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 14:01 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

A study by Bankwest has shown that stay at home Generation Y are the most expensive of all generations in history, they cost their parents $6,000 a year on top of the average $200,000 which has already been spent to raise each of them from birth! Generation Y is classified as the best-educated and tech-savvy generation of all, but this study has revealed that two out of three Generation Ys that still live at home with their parents do not contribute a cent to household bills. The average rent paid to the parents of a Gen Y is $70 a week.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 14:57 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

It is nearly every day you hear about the latest hooning incident around the country. It's crazy to think that even after countless deaths from dangerous and illegal driving people still hoon! Is risking your life and those around you fun? Certaintly not...

The results are clear- irresponsible driving, whether it be burnouts, doughnuts or excessive speed, KILLS. Dangerous play nearly always results in damage- so why do 'hoons' still 'hoon'?

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 12:51 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

We all set goals, some that are so out-there they are unachievable. As summer begins to disappear and we are thrown back into the working schedule many of these goals are forgotten. In an average year 90% of the revolution set after New Years will be abandoned within two months. Research has shown that those who complete their goals do so because of peer influence. If you set a goal to 'stop smoking' doing this in a social group of others with the same goal motivates you and has a higher success rate.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 13:28 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

A 22 year old chef at Melbourne's Honey Bar stripped for a 45-strong group of woman at Honey Bar for a hens night. The hired stripper refused to perform for the Hen's night which caused the group to be very disappointed. The stripper decided he would not fulfill his duties in the public space of Honey Bar on Clarendon Street. The Maid of Honour explained that the chef saved the night by "getting all the way down to his socks and jocks." Which poses me to ask the question, would you strip in front of people, who you don't know, at a local bar?

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 13:55 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Victoria is in the grips of a bushfire disaster, the magnitude of which has never been experienced before and New South Wales is also feeling the impact of ongoing bushfires whilst Northern Queensland is experiencing disastrous floods. Australia and The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) are deeply saddened by the disasters. The RACGP are supporting victims and offering a number of services for the families involved. Dr Chris Mitchell, RACGP President and GP in northern NSW said "The scale of the disaster in loss of human life and injury has been shocking. The college sends its heartfelt condolences to those who have lost loved ones or who may know people who reamin unaccounted for. We are also saddended by the reported death of Dr Chris Towie, a GP in Reedy Creek, north of Kinglake West. Additonally we are saddened at the death of Professor Bob Pierce, a sleep disorder expert, who died in Kinglake.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 14:40 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Australian V8 Supercar young gun, Jamie Whincup and multiple Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes are calling on all young Australians not to drive and text message so they can give their driving the 100% attention needed. "Whether we're driving at 260km/h down Conrod Straight or 60 km/h on the main street we all have to give it 100%- anything less is asking for trouble" said Jamie Whincup. Mobile phones are a great way to stay in touch with loved one but it is important that whilst driving you give full attention to the road and leave text messaging for other times.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 10:41 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Anorexia is the most fatal of all psychiatric illnesses, male and females can suffer from an eating disorder from as young as eight years old. Most of us don't know what it's like to have this illness or anything about it so Lucy Howard-Taylor has tried to change that with the book, Biting Anorexia. Biting Anorexia tells a first hand account of the internal war Lucy Howard-Taylor had whilst suffering from depression and anorexia.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 13:44 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

KFC sponsers Cricket Australia through advertising and promotions throughout the media. The chain has been the official fast food restaurant for the sport since 2003. We are on the rising rate of obesity in children and having such and unhealthy form of food should not be promoted by any sports. Leading Australian obesity experts have called on Cricket Australia to end its sponsorship arrangements with KFC saying its strong promotional support for a fast food giant is unhelpful and irresponsible during a childhood obesity epidemic. "Cricket Australia should consider its responsibilities to Australia's children and youth and review its sponsorship by KFC. Not only would this benefit the health of the community but it would also demonstrate leadership and social responsibility by Cricket Australia and Australia's elite cricketers", Professors Colagiuri and Caterson said.

Posted by joni Carnegie in Health & Lifestyle at 12:27 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Stephanie Rice, aged 20, began creating media attention before she even won gold at the Beijing Olympics. The media attention was not only because of her swimming abilities but due to her Davenport Underwear campaign
with recently ex-boyfriend, Eamon Sullivan, which was rumored to have been a six-figure-deal for the couple. Also hitting the news prior to the campaign was the public outrage at the raunchy images pasted on her Stephanies Facebook page. Just before flying off to Beijing, to win three gold medals after only three races, Stephanie posed for the front page of Australia’s FHM magazine. Stephanie Rice is a legend in the pool finishing the 2008 Olympics with three golds, three records after only three events.

Posted by brooke in Health & Lifestyle at 14:20 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Fraud is reportedly one of the fastest growing crimes in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, the estimated cost of fraud to Australia is in excess of $5 billion a year, which represents almost a third of the total cost of crime in Australia ($19 billion). Identity fraud, in particular, where identities are stolen or fictitious identities are created, is becoming an increasing problem due to emerging (and rapidly evolving) technologies which enable such crimes to be committed. Not only does identity fraud pose a significant financial cost to the community (with estimates ranging from $2 billion to $3.5 billion a year) but it impacts significantly on: victims (whose identities have been stolen); financial and other institutions; and law enforcement agencies because of the difficulty in tackling such crime, and because identity fraud facilitates the commission of other types of crime such as people smuggling.

Posted by joni Carnegie in Health & Lifestyle at 15:52 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Starting high school is something we all have to go through in our lives. It can be a scary, exciting, overwhelming and a brand new experience. When we are in primary school we are there fom a very young age, we make friends who we create strong bonds with and grow together with throughout the years. After many years of primary school we are settled into our enviroment and as we move through the grades we eventually arrive at grade 6. This is a very special year because we are the oldest of the school. We get out grade six jumpers and we have a fairwell at the end of the year. Everything in grade six seems to run smoothly for many off us but at the end of the day after our goodbyes there is one realisation that can not be avoided. I am going to be in high school next year.

Posted by joni Carnegie in Health & Lifestyle at 12:16 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will begin on August 8, 2008, and will run for 16 days. Throughout this period, athletes from 203 National Olympic Committees will compete in 28 sports to win 302 gold medals. All these competitions will be held at 37 venues. Six of them are located outside of Beijing in the city of Hong Kong for equestrianism, Qingdao for sailing, and Shanghai, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao and Shenyang for football preliminaries, whereas the remaining 31 are all in Beijing, including 12 new venues, 11 renovated venues and 8 temporary venues.

Posted by joni Carnegie in Health & Lifestyle at 13:23 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)