Poor treatment

Poor treatment published on 15 Comments on Poor treatment

Can you imagine treating your doctor this way?

Unfortunately, this is how many web developers and software developers are treated regularly by clients.
Due to website development being a pretty new occupation, there are still a lot of people out there that do not understand what goes in to making that cool website, or that awesome online application.

I have personally been on the receiving end of some pretty ridiculous and outright stupid requests by clients.
It is so common, that sites like Clients From Hell are able to exist and be filled with stories which at first seem totally fictional. But they are not.
But go and speak to someone who works in web development and ask them about horror clients. Every one of them will have a story to tell you.

My theory is that because the average person only sees the front end of websites, they have no idea of the coding work and time it takes to create a good web product. They do not get to “look under the hood” and see all the scripts, calls, CSS styles, etc.
If they did, there would be more understanding that this is REAL work, not just a hobby people do on computers in their spare time.
(Also, many “discount” operators such as outsourced development teams & unqualified designers help to perpetuate a myth that this work is cheap & easy to do)

Think about industries where customers have a better understanding of who the end result is produced:
– Customers would not tell a mechanic to throw in free extras just because they are in the engine anyway.
– Clients would not ask an architect to totally redesign a building plan once it is done, by 9am the next day, because their 6yr old son did not like it.
– House painters are not asked to re-paint a house for free, because the colour now looks different when viewed in the morning sun.
– Lawyers are not asked to work on a case for free, just because it may look good in their resume later.

Sadly, elements of all these things exist within the current client-web developer dynamic.
I, for one, hope this changes soon.


Fun Western Comics

Fun Western Comics published on 1 Comment on Fun Western Comics

Even though I grew up on Superhero comics, I have always had a soft spot for comics set in the Old West, for some reason.
This may be due to my father making me watch too many Clint Eastwood westerns when I was younger.
The two comics I am recommending this week, are humorous tales that are set in the Old West.

Now get clicking, so you can check out:

Reed Gunther

Reed Gunther
Reed Gunther is an all ages comic book set in the old west. There is a very small similarity to the old TV series “Gentle Ben”, as the main character Reed Gunther, travels with his best friend Sterling, who is a bear.
That is where the similarity ends though, as Reed & Sterling battle supernatural monsters, track down slimy villains and catch a runaway trains.

Created and produced by brothers Shane and Chris Houghton, this series is full of fun and excitement. The art is professional and captivating, while the storyline never fails to inject humor or kookiness without losing track of the excitement.

Breckinridge Elkins

Breckinridge Elkins

Breckinridge Elkins is a story originally created by Robert E. Howard, who is best known for the creation of Conan theBarbarian, and all of the heroic fantasy that followed it.
For many, Breckinridge Elkins is a fantastic introduction to all those who are unaware that Howard was anything other than “that Conan guy,” and it shows he was more than capable of creating a story with a humorous lighter touch.

“Mountain Man” is the first in the series, adapted and illustrated by Gary Chaloner himself and colored by Cayetano Garza.
As a big fan of Chaloner’s art style, I am thoroughly enjoying this webcomic adaptation of the story. Chaloner also posts his rough layouts of the strips too, which is a great resource for readers and comic artists to get a glimpse behind the curtain and see how these become the final finished pieces.

Got a strip you think I should know about? Then leave me a comment below.

Psycho Joe

Psycho Joe published on 2 Comments on Psycho Joe
Psycho Joe
Click to view larger image

This is Psycho Joe.
Psycho Joe hates pretty much everything and everyone. He makes no apologies for anything he does and he attacks everything with maniacal gusto.
He has one friend – his knife, “Chucky”.

He is a character that a friend and I created when we were in high school, and I thought that he really needed to be drawn again.During our school years, we drew Joe and even created a Psycho Joe comic. It was full of hate, blood and cucumber sandwiches.

I created a few min-comics when I was younger, and now that I feel I have the artistic ability to do it justice, I am contemplating redoing the Psycho Joe mini-comic and I may release it sometime in the future.

Unfollowing family

Unfollowing family published on 1 Comment on Unfollowing family

There is nothing more lame than following your parents on social media.

At least, that is what many people think. (mainly teenagers and full on hipsters).
Sure, when you are at an impressionable age, most things to do with parents are perceived as lame and uncool.

But there are also many people who have embraced social media or online communications, as a way to reconnect with their parents and other family members. Now you can reach out and share all things good and bad,  faster and with more details than you could via the phone or letters.
Twitter, Skype, Facebook and emails have replaced the regular call home to mum, or a letter packed with photos of the kids.
Holiday photos are shared almost immediately via Flickr or Picasa.
Family gatherings are organised through Facebook events, Google calendars or email.
Overseas calls can be accompanied with vision, via webcams and Skype.

Technology is giving us ways to share and bring our families together, even as it simultaneously provides avenues to tear things apart.

Now, if I could just create an app to allow Mum to remotely do my washing.
(What? That is not callous.She misses doing it. I just know she does….)