The real point of this post is that the Palais Theatre in all it's glory is seating only. General Adminision music is fantastic if you want to dance and or mosh but some music requires comfort and a good view. Both Gomez and Alex Lloyd are mainly laid back bands and the Palais is the perfect setting. I will also assume that the venue will be better for acoustics (sound) than a big empty hall. The Tea Party and Ben Folds Five are other bands I've heard of playing there... although Ben Folds fans were annoyed they couldn't dance. I suppose it's up to the individual. Everyone'll probably stand the whole show anyway.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Web Audio/Video banned in Australia?
Our government just doesn't get it
This article at The Age On-line is a highly opinionated document damning the proposed Australian goverment legislation that would ban media streaming on Australian shores. That would mean no live web events, no music/video on demand, No more music previews on band's websites, no more live shows via the web. Nothing. Why would they do this you ask? To avoid producing competition for our existing TV networks. Oh no! Competition! New technology.. kill it quick! Read the article. Get pissed off.
This on top of the stupid internet censorship laws we have in Aus, it's any wonder anyone still bothers producing content for local servers.
Banks
May they rot
I am going overseas to San Fransico, CA, USA in September so I wanted to get a pin number on my credit card so I could use it in overseas ATMs. I already had a pin number on my card, but I assumes some different setup was required for overseas. I went to the bank to do this. They, without asking me about the existing pin or checking, put a stop on my old card and put in a pin request, which involves receiving a new card. They didn't tell me they'd stopped (different to cancelled) the old card so I tried to use it on Friday night. The ATM ate my card.
I went to the bank Monday, having spent the whole weekend without cash and complained. They arranged to retrieve my old card from the ATM, while checking everything was OK with the new card. They asked why I wanted a pin number if my old card already had one. If they'd just asked that on Friday I wouldn't be in this mess.
I received my old card and new card today. I went to use the card in the ATM and the pin number I was given is wrong. So I need a new pin... and because of this... and new card. Another 5 day wait.
Yes, I could get money out via a teller, but this would cost me a massive fee as I am on a special deal where I get cheaper rates via ATM as long as I never use the teller (which will cost a huge fee).
Luckily friends owe me cash and I am safe. Point is, I've been without money for the last week and I'm pretty pissed. Which bank? National Australia Bank. Otherwise they've been great. I like their Internet Banking. I like my cheque account. I like my A1 Cash Fund. But I hate their teller service.
So remember kiddies. Sometimes the customer is wrong. Ask a few questions and you might save a lot of time and money.