Health Inspector
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday October 4, 2003
Settle private health insurance gripes, brush up on trendy vocabulary or see a new side to pollies. Maria Nguyen has the answers.
Smart
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
www.phio.org.au
Most of us know the telecommunications ombudsman handles phone and internet complaints. What many people may not realise is there's also an independent body that looks after our private health insurance concerns. So if you're still not sure if and when you should buy private health insurance or which provider to go with, the PHIO is a helpful source of information. Whether you're after general information about private health insurance or need help to settle a dispute with an insurance provider, this site will explain how you can make inquiries or complaints. The ombudsman operates independently of private health funds, hospitals and all levels of government. It also has powers to investigate the practices of health funds.
Useful
Wordspy
www.wordspy.com
When did "metrosexual" become a word and do you have to be a nail polish-wearing bloke with "man breasts" to be one? What on earth is a "dead-cat bounce"? Find out at Wordspy, a site that lists and explains recently coined words and phrases, so the next time someone calls you a "duppie" in need of a "microvacation" you'll know what they mean.
Free
The Post Punk Kitchen
www.theppk.com
You know you're in for a fun, cheeky time with the folks at the Post Punk Kitchen when their slogan reads "Show us your mitts". Vegetarians and vegans to the core, the folks behind this site have taken a popular US TV show online to give us easy-to-make, animal-free recipes to download. Before you think "bland and boring", try the banana walnut pancakes, the mango ginger tofu, the tempeh "chicken" salad or the salsa verde. The site promises to add more free recipes to the database.
Fun
A Picture's Worth
www.1000words.net
A picture is said to be worth a thousand words and here's your chance to prove why. This site's creator, 23-year-old Melburnian David Chin, invites us to send in a photograph that has special significance and to write down the thoughts and memories the photo triggers. Your photo essay can even be a work of fantastic fiction - it can be creative, inspiring, humorous, poignant or as personal or informal as you want. The goal is to encapsulate and share the photo's meaning using 1000 words or less. Chin launched his pet project last month and has since attracted a range of submissions from around the world. View and read past photo essays and click on Submit to send in your own.
Weird
statesman or skatesman?
www.statesmanorskatesman.co.uk
We're used to the sight of our politicians looking rather serious and sombre but one wonders how often they let down their hair when they're not in parliament or in front of a camera. Is spotting John Howard skateboarding around Kirribilli House too much of a stretch? And is it even possible to imagine Bronwyn Bishop bouncing up and down on a pogo stick to unwind? The question of whether our respected MPs can have as much fun as the next person was the inspiration for this English student's website. Jason Whiley wrote to 150 British parliamentarians to survey their extracurricular activities. Had they ever been on a skateboard or rollerblades? To Whiley's surprise, many of them - including three former prime ministers - replied and volunteered photos as well.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald