Rough cut music video for Credit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6RjeXga3wI

Guitar, Bass, Drums joined in sonic fusion to create what we know today as Fridge Poetry.
It grew. It’s shape and form evolving, assimilating a trumpet as part of it’s improved state. Now… It’s ready to funk.

Special thanks to Ivan Geurtse, Jaco Koen & Pagan Anscombe.

If you’ve visited my blog before and like it, even if only a little bit, swing me a nomination.

Click the big banner to the left, then enter your email address on the right of the page.

I’m aiming for the Design Category if you’re unsure which one to pick.

The SA blog awards is a showcase of the very best of South African blogs.

We will endeavour to bring South African bloggers to the forefront of peoples attention, both locally and internationally, increasing exposure for South Africa’s great bloggers; and in the end reach out and touch people who are outside the realm of blogging and have them discover what they are missing.

The 2010 SA Blog Awards is scheduled for its annual process of nominations and voting this year are as follows:
Nominations Phase:2nd August 2010 to 27th August 2010
Voting Phase: 1st September to 17th September 2010
Winners announced on 25 September 2010 at the annual awards ceremony.

So, we have until August 27th to et as many nominations as possible. This won’t be a repeat of my Nerdies campaign… so I’m not going to be flooding your inboxes and walls with VOTE NICK stickers.

If you’ve visited my blog before and like it, even if only a little bit, swing me a nomination

I’m a Web Designer, in case you weren’t paying attention.
My main vocation of late has been designing and developing websites.

I’m sad to admit, that more than half of the work I do… is cleaning up after another designer/agency’s mess.

So, in the hope that a few people will read this and be saved the time and money a bad agency will suck out of them… I present.

How to spot a BAD Web Design Agency.

Please note that this guide is intended for Small Business Owners and people with smaller budgets.

Bad Web Designers come in many shapes and sizes… they’ll often try to trick you into handing over your money with sneaky tactics:

Jargon Bamboozelment

Some of these tricks aren’t industry specific. A big one, also used by our friends at Incredible Corruption Connection. is the old Jargon Confusion technique.

The formula usually goes something like this:

Salesman
“Hello there sir, I see you’re looking at getting a printer?”
Customer
“Why yes thank you, I need a colour printer for my computer at home.”
Salesman
“Well sire, are you using a Desktop computer? what OS are you running?”
Customer
“Erm… I use windows?”
Salesman
“Do you use the latest SP? Is it XP, Vista or 7? This Printer runs best when using USB 2.0 Does your current Motherboard support USB 2.0? Well then, let’s show you some great Motherboards that will work with the best Printers.”
Customer
“Erm… okay?”

The Customer ends up walking out with a whole new computer. He was bamboozled by Jargon!
Don’t be fooled.

Never be embarrassed to ask. If you suspect you’re the victim of Jargon Bamboozlment, ASK! Don’t be shy because you don’t know his fancy lingo. Ask questions, get a deeper explanation.. It’s the job of a good Web developer to help you understand his process.

Many would rather keep you in the dark.

The only Jargon you as a prospective client to a web designer should really know are:
CMS: Content Management System – this allows you the customer to update your websites content without the help of a developer.
SEO: Search Engine Optimisation – This makes it easier for Search Engines like Google and Bing to find your website. Better SEO means you’ll be closer to the top of a search results page.

Always get a second opinion if in doubt.

Feel free to call me 079 882 3474 or mail me nickhuntdavis@gmail.com. I’m always happy to save a poor non-technosexual person from trickery.

The Maintenance Myth

Too many people pay monthly maintenance fees to their web design company.

The fact of the matter is; if a website is built properly. No maintenance should be needed.
Most times, you’ll find that there is no maintenance going on at all, you’re just lining their pockets with ‘haha-we-got-the-stupid-client’ money.

If a Web Designer wants you to pay maintenance, ask him what the maintenance entails?
If his/her reasoning sounds like bullshit, it probably is.

Bare in mind that Hosting and Maintenance are different. Hosting is a legitimate monthly expense, which in South Africa should sit at roughly R90 per month.

When in doubt, please call me 079 882 3474 or mail me nickhuntdavis@gmail.com. I’m always happy to save a poor non-technosexual person from trickery.

Danger Words!

If these terms come up… stay away!

Flash!

A website built entirely in flash is seldom a good thing.
Generally, flash is not at all SEO friendly, it cannot be viewed on most cellphones which is South Afica’s biggest web browsing platform.

Flash is difficult to update, meaning when the time comes to update your site, it will usually need to be built from scratch. More time and Money, vs a well coded site that is far more flexible.

Dreamweaver!

If the Web Designer says something like “I use Dreamweaver to make my websites” leave immediately. Never look back.

Dreamweaver was fine back in the day. Any website built in Dreamweaver today however, is not.
I use dreamweaver as a code editor, not to build websites. The difference being, that I could create the same code in any number of programs, including simple notepad. Whereas a designer that builds the site in Dreamweaver completely, is using the software to make the site, not to support his/her code.

Related Danger word are Tables! (Old school web programming technique)

A product of Dreamweaver and bad/behind-the-times developers. Tables are slow, clunky and static.

Best Viewed in…

If your site needs to be viewed in a particular resolution, your sites not much good.

It’s important that your site looks good at all resolutions. The most common in South Africa is 1024 x 768, that should be your priority.

When in doubt, please call me 079 882 3474 or mail me nickhuntdavis@gmail.com. I’m always happy to save a poor non-technosexual person from trickery.

Open Source

Before you agree to a costly custom development, check for an open source alternative.
Open Source software is free to use and modify.

I only use Open-Source CMS’ (Content Management Systems) There are many excellent ones around that are used by massive websites.
I recommend WordPress (This site was built on WordPress) Drupal, Joomla, ExpressionEngine to name a few.

Open Source is built and maintained by thousands of people driven only by passion. Whereas custom development is usually done by a small team of underpaid, under-appreciated drones, driven only by their paycheck.

When in doubt, please call me 079 882 3474 or mail me nickhuntdavis@gmail.com. I’m always happy to save a poor non-technosexual person from trickery.

I know my Industry buddies will have more good stuff to add here. So please, add any other tips in the comments.

Was about time ye old site got some attention. Now I’ll be more motivated to post more regularly again/

More upgrades coming up soon… need to get my porti section top notch now that the blog is down.

What you think?

I call that eargasm they make funk afro-ska bop. They call it Fridge Poetry.

They had an insane Gig last Sat at Cool Runnings, Victory Park with The Death Valley Blues Band… who, I’m sad to say are going to be going on hiatus for a while after their last show, which is in Pretoria on the 20th of August.

Some really tight musicians, technically beautiful and just the right amount of show-boaty (Mad solos everywhere!)

They’ve put up a few of their songs on their site for free.

I’ve linked the downloads below.



I’m not sure when their next gig is… follow their facebook page to keep tabs on them.

Totally worth looking out for!
Since I manage them, this seems like a selfless plug. Let’s pretend that I don’t though. ‘Cause I’m also a genuine fan.

CLICK TO PLAY

Credit
Choices
Silver Bell

I’ll be handing out game manuals on the corner of 7th and Church this Sunday morning if anyone’s interested…

If you enjoyed the Warcraft 3 Mod Dota (Defense of the Ancients) then you’ll go apeshit over League of Legends, probably.

Here’s the Cinematic trailer to whet your…

It follows the same principles as Dota, a Team based 3rd person RPG. You pick one of many varying awesome characters, each with a rich history and interwoven story (if that’s what you’re into). The game sees 3 or 5 a side games, where heroes face-off to attack and destroy the enemies base, while also defending your own.

The shop system is far superior to the confusing-as-women system of Dota. The graphics are stunning, and the multiplayer service is excellent. Even on my shoddy 384kbs Telkom line.

Best part is, it absolutely free! You can go download and play it right now from LeagueofLegends.com.
They’ll try sell you extra bits and bobs that require a credit card, nothing you can’t earn with experience points earned from playing though.

“You will be judged on the packaging concept and not the product concept.”

I’ll admit it… I cheated.

The product I propose is really a scam, a cork and a pair of earplugs. Hardly news worthy, and certainly not memorable. You (The esteemed and infinitely wise judge)* have no doubt already read through countless creative rationales, most of which I am sure were awfully interesting. As such, you are probably at this point, skimming through them – as your magnificent
brain is more than capable of getting all you need out of them at lightning speed.*

I do however, at this point, urge you to slow down. Take a deep breath, get up, stretch your legs, and wobble your cheeks with your hands the way 8 year olds are
taught. You done? Great!

I’m done with my waffling now and will get down to the knitty gritty.

When examining the brief, the first idea to pop into my mind was (as it was with everyone, regardless of their admission of guilt) a Vuvuzela. It’s fun, it’s South African, it’s soccer. What’s not to love?!

BLEEEEH!! WRONG!!

I went to a soccer game once, there were at least fourteen million vuvuzelas present… at least. It was terrible!
Sure, it added to the atmosphere and what-not. The noise however was deafening, and irritating. I just wanted them all to stop! BING!! <- Sound effect that accompanies good ideas.

The Anti-Vuvuzela!

It won’t take long at all for the 2010 tourists to get as irritated with vuvuzelas as I was. At this point, sticking out among the crowd is the Anti-Vuvuzela! “What’s that?! Could it be true?”

“Yes ma’am or sir… it can!”
Well, not really… but investigation will prove worthwhile regardless.

Usually the packaging is just something necessary for the product; in this case, the product is necessary for the packaging to
work. The innumerable vuvuzelas polluting the stadiums will provide all the advertising the Anti-Vuvuzela will ever need.

The pack sells itself; the product is just part of the joke. There are no alternatives; it’s a completely original idea. Other 2010
souvenirs will fall into the cliché category I’d imagine. From a distance, an Anti-Vuvuzela  would be met with confusion (curiosities greatest ally). Closer inspection of the pack will reward the viewer with a chuckle and that wonderful ‘Aha!’ feeling.

The illustrations on the pack clearly imply the humorous use, and add to the joke of parodied authority.
As the pack is in fact the product, expect zero cans to be discarded. It will make for an authentic South African souvenir, without having to jump on the wooden giraffe train.
I see a future with European office desks lined with Anti-Vuvuzelas.
The earplugs can be used, and probably will.
This product is truly unique.
It captures the spirit of South Africa and holds practical as well as sentimental value.
*Not at all intended as ‘sucking-up’. You really are that wonderful!!**
**Sucking up

The illustrations instruct you on correct Anti-Vuvuzela usage. Throw the provided cork into an opponent's Vuvuzela. Easy!

Last year while working at Switch Design I worked on the hugely successful internal site mtnwecantwait.com. The site acts as an interactive portal for all of MTN’s thousands of staff internationally. They can keep up to date on the exciting roll-up to the 2010 Soccer World cup via news, blogs, games and downloads.


My favourite bit is the flash based foosball I designed.

Mainly, by my last.fm account information… My top listened artists would have 17 year old me clobbering the shit out of current me. 17 year old me would totally win the fight too.

Only 2 of said top 10 list I could call ‘rock.’ Seeing electro, rap and country on the list would deeply ashame 17 year old me (Let’s call him Yom, ’cause I’m already over typing 17 year old me). Yom would be sitting on my chest pounding into my face, screaming through snotty tears “WHY?!?! PRINCE?! REALLY?!?! WHHHYYY!!!”

Prince is awesome. That’s why.
So is Hot Chip, and the Presets blow my mind!

7 years ago, I was blinded by faith. Not in a religious sense, I was blinded by the Rock. Which sucks. Don’t get me wrong; Rock and Metal will always hold a special place in thedark recesses of my soul. I like to think that special place is guarded an iron Chimpanzee, with spiked wrists, long greasy black hair and a constant scream face! No scream. Just the face. And I am still a fan.

My point is, that I was so loyal to rock, that I wouldn’t even allow myself to try and enjoy anything else. If I ended up sitting in the back seat of an older friends car on the way to the Doors or Scumrise; and he dared put on house music?! or rave, or pop, or country, or dance, or anything that wasn’t filled with distortion guitar?! It quickly became my mission to groan loudly about how shit said music was, and how repetitive, and how can you listen to that crap?! I couldn’t allow such blasphemy in my ears. My ears belonged to something bigger. I belonged to something bigger. I was a Metal Head. I’d see other dressed in black, band t-shirt wearing, Metal Heads out and about; we’d pass each other exchanging that knowing glare. We were part of the club, that hardcore, don’t-take-no-shit, I-don’t-care-about-the-world, teenage-angst club.

Which is okay. Teenagers do that. At present they seem to be evenly distributed between, jocks, skater kids and scene.
Where it’s not okay, is when this blind loyalty keeps on going after your teenage years. Sure, you can still be a Metal Head, but do it because you really, genuinely love it. Not because it’s all you’ve known for a while, and accepting anything else might hurt your ‘rep’ in the club. You can spot these people working at Crystal stores and flea markets usually. that’s just being a douche. You’re big enough now to now have to depend on your club.

It’s okay to think. Make choices that aren’t condoned by your social sub-culture, or society in general. You don’t have to like or agree with everything, just allow a little to seep in. Be open-minded, chances are you’ll hate it anyway. But you might find something even better. Take a good long, hard, objective look at your obsessions perceived competitors.

Try not to hate quite so much, as fun as it might be.

I’m even starting to converse with the occasional jock sans my normal condescending tone. It’s a start. You don’t need close grouping on your interests.

The best things to really think about, are the things you thought you already had a strong opinion about. Give it a go.

The same goes for religion, ethics, your favourite soap (because all the other make your skin dry), even brands.

So, if somehow in another dimension you’re reading this Yom. Forgive me. One day you’ll understand.

And to prove my first point ( That Prince is Awesome ), is this video. You have to wait till 3:30 for the magic, it’s worth it. Seriously. Go do twenty push-ups while you wait, or high five the mirror a few times to get psyched up. See Prince shred some mean guitar, chiklis style.