http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/gifts/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Christmas-takings-are-more-important-than-giving/ Well, ho, ho, ho. Talk about Christmas spirit. The big department stores are accused of exploiting Christmas by charging more than $20 for a photo with Santa. I, for one, think it’s an excellent idea. Well, they’ve got to do something to make a buck with all those Judases buying cheap stuff online. In fact, I think they should take this marvellous measure even further… penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Christmas-takings-are-more-important-than-giving/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Christmas-takings-are-more-important-than-giving/#item7316 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 I recently started a new job and at my very first team meeting, I was informed that I would be included in my new team’s Kris Kringle for the impending enforced Christmas “celebrations”. As you would expect, yay. Is it possible to yay in an even lower case? yay. There you go. Now, I know that this groan-inducing ritual must happen in offices all around the world (well, except for maybe the Middle East, India and most of Asia but lets not get pedantic) at this time of year – the exchanging of unwanted, thoughtless gifts between team-members who haven’t gotten to know each other well enough over the course of the year to know what to get each other. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/for-kryin-out-loud-kris-kringle-is-a-kolossal-kringe/ I recently started a new job and at my very first team meeting, I was informed that I would be included in my new team’s Kris Kringle for the impending enforced Christmas “celebrations”. As you would expect, yay. Is it possible to yay in an even lower case? yay. There you go. Now, I know that this groan-inducing ritual must happen in offices all around the world (well, except for maybe the Middle East, India and most of Asia but lets not get pedantic) at this time of year – the exchanging of unwanted, thoughtless gifts between team-members who haven’t gotten to know each other well enough over the course of the year to know what to get each other. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/for-kryin-out-loud-kris-kringle-is-a-kolossal-kringe/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/for-kryin-out-loud-kris-kringle-is-a-kolossal-kringe/#item7308 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 I recently started a new job and at my very first team meeting, I was informed that I would be included in my new team’s Kris Kringle for the impending enforced Christmas “celebrations”. As you would expect, yay. Is it possible to yay in an even lower case? yay. There you go. Now, I know that this groan-inducing ritual must happen in offices all around the world (well, except for maybe the Middle East, India and most of Asia but lets not get pedantic) at this time of year – the exchanging of unwanted, thoughtless gifts between team-members who haven’t gotten to know each other well enough over the course of the year to know what to get each other. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-ethics-of-buying-a-goat/ For sale: One cute animal that will help you save the world… or will it just make you feel better? Charity gift packages that offer you the chance to buy a friend a goat, some chickens or even a pile of poo for a poverty-stricken family in the developing world might make us feel warm and fuzzy, but they can also be misleading. On the plus side, they offer a tangible way of giving someone the gift of charity donation for a present. Buying a “goat” might come with an e-card, a receipt and a funny picture of the creature packed with his suitcase and ready to go. In short, a relatable image of what you may have contributed to. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-ethics-of-buying-a-goat/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-ethics-of-buying-a-goat/#item2116 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 I recently started a new job and at my very first team meeting, I was informed that I would be included in my new team’s Kris Kringle for the impending enforced Christmas “celebrations”. As you would expect, yay. Is it possible to yay in an even lower case? yay. There you go. Now, I know that this groan-inducing ritual must happen in offices all around the world (well, except for maybe the Middle East, India and most of Asia but lets not get pedantic) at this time of year – the exchanging of unwanted, thoughtless gifts between team-members who haven’t gotten to know each other well enough over the course of the year to know what to get each other. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/are-we-being-served-the-rort-of-extended-warranties/ In the run up to Father’s Day the electrical stores are spruiking like it’s Christmas. You can be sure that along with any of the hot deals from digital cameras to TVs will come one innocent –sounding question. At the very point of sale when you’re about to hand over the cash for dad’s gift you’ll be asked “Would you like an extended warranty with that?” It sounds simple enough. An few extra years’ “protection” for a hundred bucks or so, depending on the price of the item. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/are-we-being-served-the-rort-of-extended-warranties/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/are-we-being-served-the-rort-of-extended-warranties/#item1100 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 I recently started a new job and at my very first team meeting, I was informed that I would be included in my new team’s Kris Kringle for the impending enforced Christmas “celebrations”. As you would expect, yay. Is it possible to yay in an even lower case? yay. There you go. Now, I know that this groan-inducing ritual must happen in offices all around the world (well, except for maybe the Middle East, India and most of Asia but lets not get pedantic) at this time of year – the exchanging of unwanted, thoughtless gifts between team-members who haven’t gotten to know each other well enough over the course of the year to know what to get each other. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/you-got-me-what-men-and-the-terrible-gifts-they-buy/ I can’t decide which takes the cake - the grey vinyl lap top bag for a women who doesn’t own a lap top, or the magazine filled with pictures of kelpies for a wife to browse during labour. Neither were as cruel as the all-expenses-paid trip to Morocco where the she was promptly dumped. Or as indiscreet as the yoga mat recommended by his “friend” the yoga instructor - who he’s now dating. It’s incredible what some men think is an acceptable gift for their partner. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/you-got-me-what-men-and-the-terrible-gifts-they-buy/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/you-got-me-what-men-and-the-terrible-gifts-they-buy/#item306 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:49 +0000 I recently started a new job and at my very first team meeting, I was informed that I would be included in my new team’s Kris Kringle for the impending enforced Christmas “celebrations”. As you would expect, yay. Is it possible to yay in an even lower case? yay. There you go. Now, I know that this groan-inducing ritual must happen in offices all around the world (well, except for maybe the Middle East, India and most of Asia but lets not get pedantic) at this time of year – the exchanging of unwanted, thoughtless gifts between team-members who haven’t gotten to know each other well enough over the course of the year to know what to get each other.