John Scofield, one of the best American jazz guitarists of his time, will be coming over Australia to do a guitar clinic for everyone. The said guitar clinic will be on March 5, 2012 at 7:30PM in the Conservatorium Theatre of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, located at 140 Grey Street, Southbank, QLD.

John Scofield

This event has been greatly anticipated by lots of fans and even music enthusiasts. This is because Scofield’s guitar work has been very influential in jazz since he started his career in the 1970s.He has collaborated with big names such as Miles Davis, Dave Liebman, Joey Defrancesco, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, Charles Mingus, Phil Lesh, George Duke, Pat Martino, Jaco Pastorius and even John Mayer.  He has clearly inspired a lot of people to pursue a career in music, to follow their hearts and passion as well as to aspire to be the best in their chosen field.

The clinic will last for more than two hours. John Scofield will be welcoming questions from fans and aspiring musicians. He will also be playing songs that he had made popular over the years, as well as those tracks from his solo album Uberjam (released in 2001) and Up All Night (released in 2004).  He will teach everyone simple guitar techniques as well as some of his guitar tricks.

Attendees of this Brisbane guitar clinic will definitely be empowered as musicians and guitarists. Scofield has been an inspiration for years and he is considered a pro in the music industry, that is why the things he will talk about and the stuff he will be teaching will be very beneficial whether you are an aspiring musician or have already started a career in music. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and greet the guitar legend himself. An autograph session will also be done after the clinic.

Doors will open at 7:00PM, 30 minutes before the clinic starts. Attendees are advised to arrive as early as possible to ensure good seats. For more information, you can contact: (08) 9309 6066. This event is promoted by Allans Music + Billy Hyde , my favourite guitar store

The silly season is fast approaching and the sunny weather is here to stay. There is no better time to check out the sparkling beaches and enjoy your moment in the sun. Currently Australia is brimming with waterfront apartments and one of the most exciting new bayside destinations is Wyndham Harbour just moments away from Point Cook and offers one of the most breathtaking waterfront properties in the country.

Point Cook is situated in Victoria, Australia. The population has shot from 14,162 to 32,167. Also, it is a suburb just 25km from the Melbourne Central Business District—an estimated travel time of 30 minutes.

Wyndham Harbour, located in the lush suburb of Point Cook, is a remarkable piece of real estate. It boasts of luxurious waterfront apartments, terrace homes, sandy beaches, and marine berths. Moreover, you are assured that your waterfront homes are located among similarly designed houses.

Incidentally, these Point Cook real estate waterfront apartments are selling fast. This comes as no surprise, seeing how painstakingly the community was planned, designed, and executed. Not only that, it is located a few minutes away from  Point Cook Coastal Park, where you can take the whole family to see sandbanks, marine reserves, and various birdlife. You may also drop by the Point Cook Homestead. Here, you can dine with family friends at Scrumpy Brown’s Restaurant Bar, where they always serve great food and coffee. If you’re a horse race enthusiast, Point Cook Homestead is the place for you as this is where Newminster, the first horse to win the Caulfield Cup, was born and bred.

Why should you live in Point Cook? There are several reasons. First, you’ll be surrounded with a spectacular view of nature all around you. Second, education for your kids will be no problem as Point Cook real estate properties–such as the Wyndham Harbour waterfront aparments–are close to several educational institutions like: Point Cook Primary School, Seabrook Primary School,  Emmanuel College: Notre Dame Campus, and the Carranballac College, among others. Third, shopping for groceries and other items will also be a breeze as the Point Cook properties are closely situated to the Point Cook Town Centre and the Town Square. Lastly, going to and from one place to another won’t be a problem. As mentioned earlier, this prime spot is just a couple of minutes away from Melbourne’s Central Business District. Also, there are railway stations at Aircraft and Laverton, giving easy access to your city.

Don’t waste your time. Visit the Wyndham Harbour website if you’re looking for a Point Cook real estate. Remember; act fast as slots are limited.

Big things for workplace health and safety are coming underway. Seven out of nine State and Territory Governments have agreed that new health and safety regulations and codes of practice should be undertaken. The other two states who haven’t agreed on this issue are Western Australia and Victoria.

Workplace health and safety codes and practices are important as they serve as guidelines in ensuring that the best safety and health standards are followed. Not only do these new regulations help maintain the safety of the workers, it will also add to the success and functionality of business and economy in the country.

Senator Chris Evans, Minister of Workplace Relations, has this to say: “The vast majority of State and Territory Governments have approved these laws which will deliver tangible economic benefits and ensure that workers enjoy the same decent safety standards no matter where they live and work.” He also urges Western Australia and Victoria to give their nods of approval. He adds that, “This is fundamental economic reform which has the potential to deliver up to $2 billion per annum in productivity improvements in addition to a national benefit of $250 million per annum by cutting red tape for businesses.”

Here is a list of the model codes being undertaken:

• Abrasive Blasting
• Demolition Work
• Excavation Work
• First Aid in the Workplace
• Managing Electrical Risks at the Workplace
• Preventing Falls in Housing Construction
• Managing Risks in Construction Work
• Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals
• Managing Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Access in Tree Trimming and Arboriculture
• Safe Design of Building and Structures
• Spray Painting and Powder Coating
• Preventing and Managing Fatigue in the Workplace
• Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying
• Welding and Allied Processes

Comments for the new workplace health and safety regulations are expected on the 18^th of November 2011. The final batches of comments for these regulations are scheduled for 16^th of December 2011.

According to Safe Work Australia Chairman Tom Phillips, “There are a range of draft Codes of Practice available for comment. These include broad topics including first aid and preventing and responding to workplace bullying. Specific industries like construction, excavation, and demolition work are also covered in these draft Codes of Practice.” The public discussions scheduled will be a great way for those who will be affected by the new regulations. This way, they can voice out their thoughts regarding the matter. Leading health providers that manage workplace health and safety such as CS Health and Comcare have welcomed the decision as now organisations will become more safer

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has released a statement that she will try her best and use her position as the chair of the 54-member Commonwealth to warn the European leaders about the debt crisis and the immediate solutions they must do. This plea was made after the reports that British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozyhad clashed over the debt crisis in Europe. Gillard does not want the Commonwealth member nations to be dragged down by this, and demands decisive actions as well.

“At this moment, our deepest uncertainty comes from Europe. While the epicentre of the crisis is Europe, all of us as Commonwealth member nations stand to suffer if the correct response is not forthcoming. In this interconnected world, economic problems do not begin and end at national borders,” she said during the Commonwealth Business Forum in Perth.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has also been making news as he repeatedly called on Europe to try and resolve the debt issues before it creates more and larger damages such as affecting global economic growth. It was also reported that Swan was “frustrated” at the pace of all the efforts being done to solve the debt crisis.

“We do need to see a comprehensive set of plans, and if we don’t see those, we will see a protracted recession in Europe and the obvious implications of that for the rest of the global economy,” he said. “And also we do need to see a very sizeable war chest to deal with the threat of contagion, that is the spread of these sovereign debt issues to countries like Italy.”

These comments of Swan were supported by Prime Minister Gillard. She said that Europe has been “living beyond its means” and also criticized the “half-hearted measures” it implemented to address said structural issues.

Debt consultants such as Debt Assist have also voiced out their observations that there can be some major debt issues that might affect Australia in the next few years.  They have released statements showing concern on what is happening on the European debt crisis, even though Australia was able to survive the global financial crisis without experiencing recession. “The country is still not immune to global economic problems,” they said.

The Federal Chamber of Automative Industries (FCAI) has recently released a report on motorcycle sales in Australia and it showed an impressive and significant growth in motorcycle sales in the third quarter of the current year.

Motorcycle Racing MotoGP

According to the report, there has been a 4.5% increase in a span of nine months compared to the same period in the previous year. There were 77, 129 motorcycles that were delivered to various customers in different parts of Australia, 3,319 units more than last year. 26, 750 of the total motorcycles were delivered between the months of July and September alone.

“Growth in motorcycle sales – particularly in the ATV and scooter segments – continues to significantly outpace other automotive sectors in Australia”, said Rhys Griffiths, FCAI motorcycle manager said. “Strong up-take in the ATV segment is likely to be the result of the economic recovery in regional and rural Australia earlier in the year, where drought has been a mitigating factor for several years.” This is due to the 25.8% growth in all-terrain vehicles (ATV) all over Australia.

He also pointed out that the sales of scooters will continue to increase for several years, and this assumption is backed up by the fact that and 12.1% year-to-date growth compared to last year. “Strong growth of scooter sales and the resilience of overall road bike sales suggest commuters are finding motorcycles to be a practical solution to high fuel prices and inner city traffic congestion. Despite road-bike sales falling 1.5 per cent year-to-date, the segment is still the largest in the market, accounting for 36.9 per cent of all motorcycles sold,” he said in a statement. Most of the scooter riders have also been spending on essentials such as helmets and motorbike speedo, thus, increasing the sales of the said accessories.

The growth can also be due to the increasing popularity of motorcycling as a sport in Australia. Local traders such as s3 performance have noticed that  Motorcycle parts have also increased in sales, especially LED Work Lights as a lot of the riders like to enhance their bikes. There was a report that states that seven of the top 10 motorcycles in Australia are off-road bikes. Riders also spend on various accessories as motorbike pads, body gears and motorbike speedometer and it also helps the industry to grow more.

Vending machines have come a long way over the years. From selling sodas, these machines now feature items you wouldn’t normally purchase from a coin-operated machine.

In France, you can now get baguettes in the evening even if the bakeries have closed. Thanks to Jean-Louis Hecht for coming up with a baguette vending machine. He has two vending machines near his bake shops and according to Hecht, the machines have partially cooked loaves in them. Customers can then get steaming baked baguettes in their hands with the push of a button.

On the other hand, Italy boasts of pizzas coming out of machines. Don’t expect frozen pizzas from this machine as it actually makes use of water, flour, fresh vegetables, and tomato sauce before customers can dig into their slices of hot pizza. Some pizza vending machines offer ham, vegetables, and cheese flavours.

Next, Abu Dhabi has something up their vending machines, too. This time, they’re offering something heavier. No it’s not an entree. They’re actually selling gold bars from their machines. Wealthy resort guests are usually the target market of this kind of vending machine.

Not to be outdone, Australia has something quite useful in their vending machines, too. Customers just need to pay the machines $20 and out pops thongs, the preferred footwear of Australians.

According to Havaianas, they will be putting more thongs vending machines in the country within the year. As of posting time, the first machine disposing Havaianas can be found at Westfield Mall in Chatswood, North Sydney.

According to Emma Kowaleczko, “Innovative ways of advertising and marketing have become increasingly difficult to gain cut-through within the market.” On the other hand, Professor Charles Areni says that it is becoming a trend in Australia where vending machines selling daily consumer products are concerned.

An unfortunate incident has taken the lives of eleven people, most of whom are children. The incident happened in Wagensveldt Street, Kingston, South of Brisbane. It is believed that the fire, which has taken the lives of 2 Tongan and Samoan families sharing the ruined house, occurred while the victims were sleeping. There is also reason to suspect that those who passed away belong to three generations in the family.

One of the fathers, Misi Matauaina, jumped out the window and was able to leave the burning house with minor scratches, but he lost his whole family. The same thing can be said of the other father. One of the male survivors suffered facial injuries while the other male survivor got an injury on his shoulder. Witnesses say that a cushion was placed under the window and that one of the fathers was urging the children to jump out of the window. Unfortunately, the children couldn’t jump out and huddled together instead.

It seems that the fire was so great that the roof fell in. According to acting police chief superintendent Peter Ryan, “The house has been reduced to a charred hull”. He further notes that the interiors of the house were a complete wreck.

On one note, superintendent Powers says that, “”Never in my service, never have I seen anything like this.” He also says that given the extent of the fire, formal identification of the victims may rely on dental examinations. He also adds that it could take some time before identification of the victims’ bodies could be confirmed.

The survivors are expected to give detailed information about the incident once they have recovered from the shock of this ferocious fire incident. They are the only ones who can help piece together the cause of the incident.

You can find more information about this article here.

Brisbane recently got a taste of another side of Indonesian music. The Pesta Merdeka Festival, otherwise known as Independence Day Party, was celebrated last 17 August 2011 in Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm. The celebrations started at 4pm.

Krongcong, one of the oldest forms of Indonesian music and as Nyak Ina “Ubiet” Raseuki describes is a “contemporary popular music,” will be introduced in said gathering. Also, krongcong is the name of a musical instrument that resembles a ukelele that was introduced sometime around the 16^th century in Indonesia by the Portuguese. Ubiet is the lead for the group named Ubiet and Krongcong Tengarra.

The Pesta Merdeka Festival showcased several traditional dance and acoustic numbers, Indonesian food, and have given Australian locals a peek at Indonesian culture. The Independence Day Party started with the flag-raising ceremony and singing of the Indonesian national anthem called Indonesia Raya. Said festival then ended with a bang from Ubiet’s number.

A student of Indonesian Student Association of Queensland, Lystia Hardiana, mentioned that since the celebration is done at the month of Ramadan, there will be a call for a 5:30 PM prayer. Guests were invited to take part in the “breaking of the fast.” Food, traditionally served at fasting months, such as satay, rice cakes, and grilled chicken were offered in the bazaar.

Furthermore, Indonesian Consulate General were offering Indonesian citizens some services that are related to state documents like passport renewal and registration.

Pentax is one of the most known camera brands in the market, that is why when news came out that they will be releasing Pentax K-x 18-200mm Digital SLR Camera, everyone anticipated for it. The said model has been recommended by photography experts to those who are using SLR cameras for the first time, as well as to those experienced photographers who are looking for a good backup camera.

The Pentax K-x 18-200mm Digital SLR Camera is an impressive camera in its own right, since it combines solid photographic performance and wide range of features including high definition movie recording in 720p. This camera with 12.4 megapixel CMOS image sensor can be used in various photographic occasions, whether it is for taking portraits, travel and a lot more. It is compact and lightweight which makes it easier to bring anytime, anywhere.

The kit includes an 18-200mm Sigma Lens, which if you have attached for the first time to the K-x, you will immediately feel the impressiveness that this camera has to offer. The camera is very reasonably priced, but it does not feel like it; the user will never feel compromised. However, it does not include any form of weather-proofing, unlike the other Pentax models in the market.

As for its image quality, the 12.4 megapixels of this camera is able to capture true-to- life images, with its rich depth of colors and fine details. It also offers a wide sensitivity range (between ISO 200 and ISO 6400) as well as an option for the user to customize their preferred mode, to give more “creative freedom” to the user. The K-x also features the newly developed PRIME (PENTAX Real Image Engine) imaging engine that offers great and faster data processing speed and enhancing the capability of the camera to produce more accurate rendition in terms of color and quality.

Pentax K-x also has the improved SR (shake reduction) mechanism. Through this, photos that will be reproduced will be sharp and blur-free. This can be very handy especially to those users who do not shoot with a tripod or those who would like to capture things under demanding conditions. K-x can also shoot approximately 4.7 images per second, which is an ideal feature for those who want to capture sharp and crisp images of fast-moving subjects.

As for its video quality, the camera is able to record good movie clips at 16:9 proportion (1280 x 720 pixels) at 24 frames per second. Through this, the user can easily reduce the depth of field if he wants to make his subject stand out, or use various interchangeable lenses so he can create distinctive and different visual effects.

Pentax K-x 18-200mm Digital SLR camera is a very good camera to choose especially if you are just a beginner in digital photography. Compared to other cameras, it offers a lower video resolution. However, if you are not very keen on video recording and give more importance to imaging features, this model is the right one for you.