If you trust Wikipedia, Australia has more slang expressions for money than any nation on earth, ranging from a ‘lobster’ for the red-coloured $20 note to a ‘zac’ for the sadly-gone sixpence. Sadly we are also up there in terms of inflation and the galloping cost of living. We are number seven in the top ten most expensive countries to live in, according to the World Population Review So ... read more>

I'm not sure if I'm warier of politicians' promises or their predictions, given both are usually neatly wrapped in pink ribbons of policy presumptions. But given much of the nation has just enjoyed the Queen's Birthday long weekend, we might consider the looming republican debate amongst other shopping lists of so-called priorities. There's perhaps a historical inevitability we shall ... read more>

I tend to avoid listicles, i.e. lists posing as stories, but given the icicles metaphorically are at least freezing much of the land, here are some of my energy and cost-saving hacks. Now for those uncertain about what a hack might be, the dictionary definition puts it perfectly: "Life hacks," as they are known, are all about eliminating life's manifold frustrations in simple and deliciously... read more>

What should age look like? Or rather, is it pointless to try and stereotype any age cohort, especially the older ones, as there’s so much natural variation. The question came to mind when I saw the spritely faces on this ad for 65+ volunteers for a medical study (RSV stands for Respiratory syncytial virus). Maybe the models are aged over 65, and if so, good luck to them, but the years i... read more>

It's the most memorable and outrageous job I ever had in journalism, and some days I and maybe readers miss it too. Those of a particular vintage and geography will recall Melbourne's Truth newspaper, a salacious tabloid that closed in 1993. It titillated both the highest and lowest of that righteous city's citizenry for ninety years with a saucy mix of scandal, horse-racing tips, and bed... read more>