Birthdays

The day we are obliged to celebrate. The day that stresses out ones families and friends. The day that little kids look forward to. The day that 17 year olds simply cannot wait for. The day that elderly people dread and lie about. The day that celebrates the culmination of 52 weeks or 365 days. What day am I talking about you ask? The day is: Birthdays.

What is all the fuss about? This day is one which whether we love birthdays or not, we have all hated at some point in our lives. Society tells us that once a year we should celebrate the date of our birth with family and friends alike. As a young child you live for these days, as its ‘cool’ to be old. With age comes: strength, growth and respect, things we crave as a young child. Not only will you be bigger and stronger but the prezzies you get are the main reason for your unnecessary bursts of excitement. Children aren’t really interested in growing up. All they want is; that remote control car or the latest PlayStation game. The happiness of the birthday is measured by the quality of their gifts and not by the moments that surround it. As we get older our happiness can be measured by somewhat different means.

As a teenager growing up all you want to do is turn 18. Being 18 gives one a false sense of adulthood as we can finally do things we always dreamed of doing as a young kid. We can go to the cool night-clubs. We can drive a car. We can sing “18 till I die”. We can even consume the social lubrication that is alcohol. When you are 17, you count the days down to your 18^th, it becomes the highlight of your adolescent years. The next big birthday after that is 21, but before you get there you have the small matter of turning 19 and 20 to get out the way. These birthdays usually involve a lot of drinking and dancing. We celebrate for the sake of celebrating. Society tells us that birthdays are meant to be celebrated so we immediately tell ourselves: “it’s my birthday, I must get drunk”. As young people we will gather together, booze in hand and party, using our birthday as an excuse for our intoxication.

21 is another big birthday, in the birthday world. When you turn 21 you are now an ‘adult’ according to society. Instead of just gathering the mates up for a standard party, we make this one a little more formal. Although the concept is the same as every other party you attended after your 18^th (get drunk and go crazy), it is somewhat different. Instead of getting drunk and partying with our friends we get drunk and party with our friends and our family.  There will also be speeches involved where people close to you will share stories about you to the rest of the party as we laugh at your expense. After this birthday, the ‘fun factor’ of growing up subsides dramatically. As we move through our twenty’s we are forced to become responsible and face some daunting life choices that we’d prefer not to. This is the time period where we are forced to grow up and embrace adulthood, whether we like it or not.

The thing that makes my brain do summersaults when it comes to birthdays is the concept of presents. I feel that this is the most impersonal concept we indulge in as a society. Why should one receive gift on their birthday? Sure it a celebration but so are a lot of things. I don’t buy my friend a present every time he passes a test that he works hard for. I don’t buy my dad a present when the Springboks win a rugby game. I don’t buy sister a present when she passers her driver’s license. These are all celebratory moments why shouldn’t we set aside a day and celebrate them like we do birthdays? There is nothing more infuriating then trying to find someone a unique and special birthday present.

The whole ‘present thing’ really makes me question birthdays and their true meanings. When we are young children they are days which we look forward to. Presents are a vital necessity. As we get older our interest in thoughtful gifts fades away as we’d rather spend this day throwing up in the toilet of a nightclub. Presents are a bonus but not a necessity. Furthermore as the years surpass birthdays become mundane inconveniences. Presents are appreciated but not really wanted. My point is that birthdays and they hype that surrounds them should be calmed down. We should use these days to celebrate our lives with the people we love. I do realize how cheesy that sounds but it is the truth. I feel that as a society we have become obsessed with the materialistic tangible products that come hand in hand with days like the one I’ve been speaking about. Our happiness is influenced more by the gifts we receive than by the people who buy us those gifts. Sure, birthdays are a day to celebrate, but don’t cry when you don’t get that designer handbag you always wanted, smile and love the person who went to the trouble to get you that ‘not quite as cool’ jersey from Woolworths. On days like these, it truly is the thought that counts.  

Forries

Established in 1852 Forrester’s Arms remains one of the most happening and ‘must be at’ places in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Forrester’s Arms or Forries as its more commonly known is located in Newlands, which just so happens to be a stone’s throw away from the respective Rugby and Cricket stadiums in the area. Due to this convenient venue placement Forries often finds itself flooded with post match celebratory fans that are thirsty for some of the golden water or ‘beer’ as it’s more commonly known.


There is always something happening at Forries, no matter what day it is. This fine establishment is often packed with a diverse range of people. There are those who meet at Forries for a casual, business meeting. These meetings usually involve at least one of the respective parties having to make that dreaded but responsible phone call: “Babe I’m drunk come pick me up.” Incidents like these are the norm as people get carried away with the festive atmosphere. Then there are the students. These are some of the Forries regulars that return week after week to indulge in the festivities that Forries has to offer. These students are traditionally, some of the more poorly behaved of the Forries guests, however, their presence is entertaining and largely responsible for the incredible atmosphere that exists within the Pub. Finally there are the families. These groups of people form the backbone of the crowd that situates themselves at this establishment week in-week out. Particularly on Sunday, families flock to Forries to enjoy a casual beer and a welcome Sunday lunch. The parents keep themselves entertained with their banter and conversation. While the kids entertain one another in the small play area towards the back of the pub.


What separates Forries from any other ordinary pub in Cape Town are 2 things. Firstly, the food. Secondly, the vibrant outside atmosphere. When one things of traditional pub food you might not help but think of things like: pies, fish and chips, and perhaps a roast. What makes Forries stand a little bit taller than the average pub is its diverse, yet incredibly intriguing and delish menu. This diverse menu boasts a number of classic meals. From your traditional pies and roasts; to the more popular burger and pizza options. The Forries menu truly does have it all. One often finds with restaurants who have a variety of food options, their food isn’t always up to scratch. This is because the cooking staff are always busy with so many different dishes that they can’t really devote the care and attention they need to on every meal. This is not the case at Forries, as the food is of a high-standard. Whether it’s a pizza, a burger or even Fish and Chips: the food prepared is superbly done and is enjoyed by the Forries locals. The vibrant outside atmosphere is another reason why Forries, for me is unique to any other Pub in Cape Town. Most Pubs are obsessed with being the go to ‘watering hole’ for local sports fans in the area that they forget entirely about the atmosphere. Many traditional Pubs tend to be dark, dingy places. Forries however, attributes itself with a beautiful outside area that is perfect for any of the diverse customers. During summer time in particular there are few venues where I’d rather spend a casual afternoon.

On the whole, Forries is a great Pub/ Restaurant. Whether you looking for an ice cold draught with your mates; or a relaxed Sunday lunch with the family. Forries is the place to be. In my mind it is the best pub in Cape Town, and is unrivalled in terms of the drinking and dining experience it offers. It is a great pub, with an even better vibe. It rightfully earns itself the tag as; the most ‘must be at’ establishment in Cape Town.

The Aquarium

When one visits Cape Town there are number of ‘must see’ and ‘must do’ activities that should form part of your agenda. There is the obvious: Table Mountain, whose incredibly flat surface earned itself a spot as one of the 7 wonders of the world. There are the stunning beaches, the beautiful fynbos and the diverse wildlife. Let us not forget one of our major attractions: the V&A Waterfront. This incredible venue is a celebration of South Africa and more appropriately, Cape Town. The Waterfront is home to an array of various shops and restaurants. They boast a wide variety of activities that could entertain both local and international visitors alike. The Waterfront experience is a unique one which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Whatever you seek: whether it be a gourmet meal from an up-scale restaurant; a ‘shop-till-you –drop’ outing with your friends; or a fun day out with the family, the Waterfront is the place you should look to visit. Amongst many other things, this fine establishment is plays host venue to one of the largest Aquariums in the world.

If you are a Capetownian and you are yet to visit the Aquarium I have two things to say to you. Firstly, shame on you. Secondly, do yourself a favour and get off your lazy bum and make the trip down to the V&A Waterfront, and show your face at one of Cape Town’s hidden gems. What an experience. The Aquarium is something most of us have experienced at some point ,usually when we were younger when our parents used to drag us along to anything and everything they thought was mildly educational ,however fun. Just walking around the place you can’t help but notice an abundance of young children running around, their noses pressed up against the glass as they eagerly watch the variety sea-life that calls the Aquarium its home. They are usually accompanied by an over-excited adult who, rather annoyingly say things like: “Ah look at the wittle feesh’s”. However annoying this may be, this is the nature of the crowd at the Aquarium, fair enough.

When someone speaks of the Aquarium you immediately associate it as a place for little children. Sure, you will find people that are genuinely interested in the happenings of the underworld. These marine enthusiasts will be there every so often but the majority of people that experience the Aquarium are young children and families. Personally the last time I was there was when I was a baby-faced 10 year old boy. What surprised me most during my brief outing today was that there was a 10 year gap between my visits. Why have I not been back in so long? Sure the associations with the Aquarium may be rather childish, however the content of information and the animals ‘on display’ are anything but childish. They are real-life. They are interesting. And in a world where things like Global Warming and pollution are so prominent, it is a relative, educational outing that I believe should be enjoyed by everybody, particularly our youth. Do not be confused I’m not talking about the snotty nosed 7 year olds here. I am talking about people like me, we are the future and we should be made aware of some of consequences of Global Warming. The Aquarium had a lot of information not only about the sea animals it was home to but also about the effects of sea pollution on Marine life. Gone are the days of looking at the pretty little fishes .The aquarium is an educational sanctuary.

Although short-lived, my experience of the Aquarium was a fantastic one. I found myself taken aback by some amazing creatures that I had no idea existed. It is scary to think that we know more about the face of the moon then we do about the bottom of the ocean. There are so many beautiful and bizarre creatures out there that we have no idea exist. The ones that we do know about and some that we maybe don’t are all living and waiting for you at the V&A Waterfront. Get your kid off the couch and away from the PlayStation. Get your friends to come down and discover some of the crazy happenings of the underworld. More importantly, get yourself down to the V&A Waterfront, shelve the shopping and fine dining for one afternoon, and educate yourself at the Aquarium. It is a phenomenal experience that you will have to try very hard to forget.

How I met your Mother.

Over 170 episodes, more than 1000 minutes of TV stretched over7 seasons. And we still haven’t a clue as to how he met their freaking mother. The series up for review today is the popular comedy sitcom How I met your Mother.

This popular comedy series has become a household name in many families around the world. The show is a light-hearted, funny portrayal of a man (Ted Moseby) telling his kids the never ending story of how he met their mother. The show consists of 5 main characters. Namely: Marshall Erikson, an aspiring environmental lawyer whose goofy personality provides the show with an abundance of humour. Lily Erikson, Marshalls wife a kindergarten teacher who is a college friend of Ted Moseby. Ted Moseby, the main character around which the story is set. He is both a character and the narrator in the series who remains unseen in his re-telling of the story about how he and the mother of his children met. Robyn Sherbotski, An attractive Canadian news reporter who is constant falling in and out of love makes the show endearing and comedic in a rather romantic kind of way. Finally, Barney Stinson. The ultimate ladies’ man and the character that everybody loves to hate, his vulgar humour and outlook on life in general makes for great viewing.

Over the years we have seen some brilliant sitcoms that will be etched in our memories forever. Who can forget shows like Cheers? Or Friends? Watching these classic comedies became a routinely ‘after-dinner’ activity for many households and families around the world. These shows were special because of their ability to connect with their audience. Characters were relatable in a sense that people could see themselves in the characters portrayed on their TV screens. Watching someone go through what you going through and seeing how they deal with the various situations they find themselves  gives us a sense of comfort ,and reminds us that we are normal and the obstacles we deal with are in fact the norm and we needn’t worry. The light heartedness of the shows provides us with the comic relief that we all need after a long day.

 I can’t help but feel that too many shows have tried to piggy back on the Friends bandwagon as we often see sitcoms created with a very similar plot. A bunch of friends, in their late twenties. They  all happen to hang out at the same restaurant/bar/coffee house every day.  They will always be mixed sex friends. The one boy will always have a crush on the one girl or vice versa. The other one will always be looking for love. And then there is the single, inappropriate one who everybody loves to hate. Sound familiar? While I do believe that How I Met your Mother is an incredibly entertaining show I can’t help but feel that the plot isn’t all that original and it’s become the unwanted baby sister to a classic comedy such as Friends. While the story-telling nature of the show is an original approach I think it has almost lost some of its entertainment and overall appeal by dragging the story over 8 years. The writers have exhausted all possible storylines with the other characters and the show hit a metaphorical wall after its second season. Don’t get me wrong, the humour in the show is current and refreshing. There is no doubt about it, it is a funny show. However for it to be in the same league as some of the other great series before it, I can’t help but feel it needs something more than just good humour.

The nature of the show has limited the storyline of the characters somewhat and I find myself, as an audience frustrated and irritated. I am frustrated simply because I have devoted hours of my life to watching a show repeat itself within every season. I’ve watched over 100 episodes which totals up to over 1000 hours of my time. That’s nearly a week of my life I’ve spent watching TV. You want to know the worst part about it? I still don’t know how he met their freaking Mother.

FNB Radio Advertising.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0IsNdd9UWQ


Mondays. We hate them. We forever complain about them. We dread them. The thought of getting up early after a peaceful weekend frightens us. The daunting challenges that Mondays naturally present, scares us. What could make these days worse? One word: traffic. The mere thought of sitting in my car in the morning is enough to make me envision myself on an island far far away. I will further my questioning as I ask you what could make the mundane task of sitting in traffic on a Monday morning even worse than the dreadful experience it has become? The answer: bad radio advertising.


As I’m sure we all do at some point during the week, I often find myself stuck in traffic. Being stuck in traffic has got to be one of man’s most frustrating past times. It is the reason we are late for meetings, and reason we arrive at work in a bad mood. Traffic, is however made bearable thanks to Radio. Radio provides us with a perfect distraction from the evil that is traffic. We all have our favourite radio stations and some of us even look forward to tuning into them, particularly during early morning traffic. We listen to our favourite DJs, we find out what’s going in the news, and we keep up to date with the latest music. These are the fundamental reasons we listen to our favourite Radio stations. What we are forced to listen to, like it or not is: Radio Advertising. Some good, and some bad. The good ones inspire us, they motivate us to purchase a specific product or invest in a particular brand. The bad ones make us want to drive slowly into oncoming traffic.


The ad campaign I am reviewing is FNBs ‘Steve’ ads. If you know what I’m talking about I trust that this campaign infuriates you as much as it does me. If you haven’t heard it, allow me to break it down for you: In the ad there is a phone call. Steve is calling from an anonymous bank which is bleeped out in his voice over. He starts to question the person on the receiving end of the phone call about their banking habits. He is ultimately trying to persuade the potential customer to join his bank. The customer responds by saying that they are more than happy with their current bank which is ironically, FNB. The customer then begins to list the benefits of FNBs eBucks initiative. Steve is left lost for words, and sheepishly ends the phone call.


Now that doesn’t sound all that bad does it? Try hearing the same ad four times in the space of an hour. It is exhausting. If anything this ad makes me want to do anything but invest with FNB. It has become so annoying that I immediately switch off when I am forced to listen to ‘Steve’ and his phone call. This ad is not terribly clever and is relatively straight forward. The insight into their potential customers is relatively simple: People get annoyed with Banks phoning them. To their credit though (and it pains me to admit this) I believe they have done an outstanding job in creating awareness about the benefits FNB has to offer. As annoying as the ad itself may be, everybody is talking about. Whether they are blogging as to how shocking the ad is or complaining about it to their colleagues at work, they are talking about it. Any publicity is good publicity right?


Whilst the ‘Steve’ campaign may prove to be successful in terms of raising awareness I feel that the ad in question is not. As I alluded to earlier I think the message was portrayed poorly and the insight into their consumers and their behaviour was virtually non-existent. The people responsible for creating this ad could have done a lot more with this brief. Personally I can’t stand these ads as I find them incredibly irritating. However they have created awareness through repetition. Is it a successful ad? Probably, yes. Is it a good ad? Absolutely not.

Mama Africa.

It’s a Friday evening; the girlfriend is in town and it’s time to find somewhere to eat. In an attempt to try something different, we venture out to Long Street. Just driving up Long Street is an adventure in itself. I found myself taken aback by the stunning sights, smells, and sounds this Street has to offer. From the diverse range of people that were roaming the area to the aromas of wonderful foods and spices of the restaurants. Being there was one experience, walking the Street was another, but deciding where to eat was a whole new experience in itself. I found myself spoilt for choice. We were bombarded with a variety of options. Each restaurant boasted something different, however, exciting. After much deliberation, my better half and I decided that Mama Africa would be our host for the evening.

Mama Africa is a beautiful restaurant, rich in culture, history and African traditions. As we entered the establishment we were greeted by a group of African traditionalists who were singing and dancing in good spirits. The music was vibrant; however one may argue that it was a bit loud. Conversations were hard to come by as hearing wasn’t an easy task considering the music in the background. Although the music was at times a bit much, the performance itself was short-lived which made it bearable. The musicians were extremely interactive with the customers at their tables and certainly added an element of entertainment to the evening.

A table was hard to come by as Mama Africa is clearly the place to be for many families and friends on a Friday night. We had to wait about half an hour for a table, which put a bit of a dampener on the evening. Had it not have been for the good company and general atmosphere of the restaurant we would have been very tempted to satisfy our hunger needs elsewhere. To their credit (for creating such a vibrant atmosphere) we stuck out the half an hour wait until we were finally greeted by a friendly waiter who was eagerly waiting to escort us to our table. We were both particularly hungry that evening and I was keen to feast my eyes on the menu to see what Mama Africa had to offer.

Being a student, my eyes often wonder to the right hand side of the page where the price is revealed, as my budget is somewhat limited. Thankfully the menu was reasonably priced and my wallet didn’t take too much of a beating.  I was able to afford a 300gram rump which I couldn’t wait to tuck into. I placed my order and began to patiently wait for this delicious protein. Roughly 20 minutes had gone by and dinner was served. Accompanying my steak, much to my surprise, was a large portion of the traditional “pap”. I’m not a huge fan of this traditionally South African delight and was bemused when I found it alongside my beautifully cooked steak. However, “the show must go on” as they say and I proceeded to gently prod it away into the corner of my plate as I tried to ignore it was even there. To the credit of the kitchen, the steak I had was as close to perfect as it could have been. I found myself enjoying an explosion of flavours and taste sensations with every bite. The food on the whole was, delicious and served in good time with no mistakes. While the food was delicious it certainly wasn’t fantastic, perhaps by judgment were obscured by my overwhelming hunger.

As a whole the Mama Africa experience was a good one. The vibe was incredible. It made me proud to be African as the restaurant itself is a celebration of African heritage and triumphs of our wonderful continent. The service could perhaps do with some refining. More impatient customers would have exercised their right to leave after not being showed a table for over half an hour. The food was good, not great, but good. If you want a truly African dining experience and are searching for something different as you look to escape the more traditional Southern Suburb type restaurants then this is the place for you. If you are more interested in ‘Masterchef’ like food I’d suggest you try something elsewhere. I am a firm believer that eating is so much more than an action we are obligated to perform in order to survive. Eating should be about the experience, the vibe and the surroundings in which you do so. It is a celebration, not an obligation. When reviewing a restaurant one can’t simply make a judgement based solely on the food, but you have to look at the experience as a whole.

 Great company. Great vibe. Great experience. Good food. Great night out.

Climate Change

It has been debated around many dinner tables across the globe. It has been the hot topic of discussion amongst friends and foe alike. It has been talked about in class rooms and lectured in theatres. The attention this phenomenon has received has been remarkable and necessary. Let it be, Global Warming. We’ve read about it. We’ve heard about it. We see it. We feel it. It’s there. What have we done about it? What have you done about it?  

It’s one thing to acknowledge it; we all know it’s there. Its one thing to complain about it, talk is cheap. To sit back and hypocritically denounce the action of others who are willing to make a difference is an action which I cannot condone and one which I refuse to accept. Such an action has become the norm in the lives of many individuals in our society today. As a population we waste no time in our quest to gain knowledge. We are quick to form opinions. The speed at which we form judgements is perhaps our fastest skill. However, the speed of our reactions or at least our willingness to act is painfully slow.

Global warming can be defined as the gradual increase of the earth’s temperature. Anybody who hasn’t heard these words by now is either agonizingly ignorant or highly un-educated. Whether you choose to or not, these two words are virtually impossible to ignore. I think it is safe to say that we, as a society (when I say society I mean the global population) have become aware of the phenomenon that is Global Warming. To be aware is one thing. To act in a manner which may subsequently offer your children an additional year or two on this planet we call Earth is another one entirely. Personally, I feel that as the general public we tend to have adopted an attitude of nostalgia when confronted with life threatening inconveniences such as Global Warming

In my mind, this world is divided into two different types of people. Those who act and those who talk. Those who act are the people who go out there and make a difference. They believe in something and they have the courage to go out and do something about it. These people prove their value not around the dinner table debate, but through the example of their actions in society. Sure these people are not always right, and many of them aren’t. Wrong, they may be but brave and courageous form but a few of the qualities that make these people heroic.  Those who talk are a whole different group of people together. These are the people who complain, they have opinions and they are stubborn in their views. Sure, these people are believers. However, they prefer to express their views from the backseat of their comfortable lives as oppose to the ‘actors’ who express theirs through various commendable actions that will ultimately have an influence on our society.

The world is filled with too many ‘talkers’ and not enough ‘actors’. The ad in question is aimed at the ‘talkers’. The intention of this advert is to create awareness around Global Warming. The ad portrays the image of a man with distinct fish like qualities. The colour of his skin, the shape of the man’s mouth, eyes and head is testimony to this. The copy reads: “Stop Climate change before it changes you.” The ad is not literal in a sense that human being will not actually grow amphibious like features. Although the ad is extremely powerful through its use of the visual hyperbole of the “fish-man”. There is also an element of humour in the above advert as the final image of the man with fish qualities provides us, an audience with a sense of comic relief. This somewhat powerful advertisement makes use of the “shock factor “as it attempts to create awareness as to the harsh realities of climate change. I think it is safe to say that the advertisement being discussed is an effective one.

While there may be element of humour in the WWF (World Wildlife Federation) ad, the issue it is marketing is no laughing matter. Be as sceptical as you like, Climate change is a real thing. The statistics prove it. The seas are rising. The ice caps are melting. The air, the ocean and the environment as a whole is polluted beyond previous records.  Natural disasters are not freak accidents anymore, they are daily occurrences. I laughed sarcastically as I typed the word ‘natural’ in my previous sentence. The reason for my random outburst is due to the irony of the word in its context. It is ironic because there is nothing natural about the ‘’natural disasters’’ that occur on our beloved planet. The only thing we can blame for these disasters is ourselves. Every single individual needs to play their part in creating a planet which is sustainable enough to allow future generations the privilege that is the breath of life. An activity as simple as recycling could play a huge role in preventing the damage of climate change. All great journeys begin with one small, simple step.

As a population we need to get off our back sides and pull together to prevent the extent of Climate change. We need to bring our children up into a world where looking after the environment is not a chore but a necessity. Global warming exists. Climate change is real. We can do something about it. What are you going to do about it? That is the question that separates the ‘talkers’ from the ‘actors.’

Heineken walk in fridge advert.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d4b_q-6egU

The ad I am reviewing this week is the famous Heineken walk in commercial ad. This ad is one of my personal favourites and I find myself in hysterics almost every time I watch it. In the ad a German couple is showing friends around their newly furnished home. The man takes all his male friends on one tour, while the woman does the same with her cronies.  The commercial kills two birds with one stereotypical stone as it pokes fun at both male and female stereotypes.

The commercial dramatizes men and their love for beer. We all know that beer is perceived to be the typical “mans drink” and that only real men drink beer. The creators of the ad have made use wonderful insight into the male species. The men seem typically disinterested with the tour until the walk in fridge moment. As they walk in to the fridge they are greeted by an overwhelming amount of beer. The drink that society makes us believe makes men, men. Not only is it clear that the beer is the cause of this childish excitement, but we are made very aware of the fact that the beer is, Heineken.

The ad in question also shows a good appreciation into the stereotypes associated with women and fashion accessories. This is made evident when the women start screaming in excitement at the closet space for the women’s shoes. This excitement and love for shoes is a classic, overused stereotype. The reason I believe this advert is so effective is because, the advertiser has taken two very basic and obvious insights and made them humorous through over-exaggeration.

This ad remains one of my personal favourites as it has taken two simple concepts (men love beer and women love fashion) and made them memorable through humour. The ad is also particularly effective as the brand being promoted is an important and obvious feature of the ad itself.

Avicii Concert

“Avicci”. This name dominated itself upon the lips of thousands of young people over the last couple of weeks. Avicii, for those of you who refuse to keep up to date with modern music, is an up and coming DJ from Sweden. He has produced a number of hits over the last little while, including the popular song; Levels. This track, amongst his other mixes are played daily on radio stations, music TV channels, and they are slowly becoming the ‘national anthems’ to many night clubs around the world.

Truthfully, when I first heard Avicii was coming to Cape Town I had absolutely no idea who he was. I guess you could place me in the “refuse to keep up to date with modern music" bracket that I eluded to earlier. Through my social network ‘friendships’ I  had seen a number Facebook, Twitter tweets and BBM statuses devoted to the young up and coming Swedish DJ. I quickly became aware of who he was.  I like to think of myself as someone who does move with tides so to speak, and when it comes to modern music (the music that ‘us kids’) listen to I like to feel like I’m fairly up to date. In all honesty when I heard Avicii was a DJ my excitement levels to see his concert somewhat dropped. I decided I’d sit this one out and give Avicii a miss.

In the weeks building up to the much talked about concert, I found myself becoming very excited for an event I initially decided not to buy tickets for. I started hearing his songs everywhere and I slowly discovered myself becoming his biggest fan. His music started dictating the mood in my car as I blared a number of his tracks through my speakers. I decided I had to get a ticket. I had to see Avicii.

Through a dramatic turn of events (which is another story for another day) I managed to get my hands on an Avicii ticket. This rectangular shaped piece of paper buoyed me with emotions of excitement and anticipation. I had got my ticket at last. Life was good. The concert itself was hosted at Thunder City, a rather interesting venue just past Cape Town International Airport. It was my first time attending a concert at Thunder City and I was somewhat impressed by the efficiency and organisational levels in which it was run. There was more than enough allocated parking and because the concert only started so late (12pm) traffic was hardly an issue , largely due to the fact that people were arriving  at varied times from about 8 o clock onwards to support the numerous opening acts that would grace the stage before Avicii.

Although the allocated parking was quite some distance from the concert, getting there was no issue at all. Credit has got to go for the organisers who provided somewhat of a shuttle system that would transport people from the parking lot to the concert via buses. The ‘journey’ hardly took up anytime and before you knew it you were handing in your ticket to the ticket officer and queuing to appreciate the artist you paid to see. I found myself drawn to the dance floor on arrival. The music played by the opening acts was superb. They did a phenomenal job in getting the crowd pumped up and excited for the headline act, Avicii. Special mention has got to be made of DJ Fresh who did a great job in setting the scene for a tremendous night out.

By the time 12 o’clock came the crowd (roughly 5000 people) were frothing for Avicii and his songs which made him so famous. He opened his set with his biggest hit; Levels. This was the perfect way to ignite the party flame within the Cape Townians who came out to support him that night. Amongst me, were thousands of youngsters dancing, jumping around and singing along to our favourite songs. His set lasted about 4 hours. These 4 hours were jam packed with happiness, fun and sheer joy. Avicii did an amazing job and will definitely be the most thrown around name in schools, varsities and perhaps even an office or two off the course of the next couple of weeks. Whilst Avicii did a fantastic job on stage I think the real hero of the evening is the organisers and the opening acts. These people often don’t get the credit they deserve and we tend to forget about them. At the end of it all, if it weren’t for these special people there would be no event to speak of in the first place. The fact that it ran smoothly and problem free is commendable. They deserve a feather in their cap for this. Another aspect I feel deserves some form of recognition is the opening acts. In South Africa we often don’t give our local artists the support and recognition that they deserve. There are a number of our local musicians that tend to get overshadowed by international ones purely because of this reason. Saturday was a huge indication of the talent that exists within our borders and although an artist like Aviicii is world class in their own right, our local talent is very much there and there about. South African musicians are up there with some of the best in the world and whilst we are quick to buy tickets and support international artists we should perhaps take a step back and give our local artists the support, respect and recognition that they deserve.

Although it may seem like I ended on a bit of a sombre note, there isn’t a negative thing I could say about the Avicii concert. It was well organised, well attended, and most importantly it was a lot of fun. It was a night which I thoroughly enjoyed and it was certainly a night that I will never forget.  

Remember The Titans

Inspired, motivated, and appreciative. These are three of the many feelings I found myself flooded with after watching the wonderful film, Remember the Titans. The movie is set in Virginia, America (as many movies are). Allow me to set the scene for you. In the 1970s America was a different place to the one we know today. The superpower was polluted with racism, discrimination and segregation. Things were no different at the schools in the States at the time and things were particularly bad at TC Williams High School in Virginia. Students attending TC Williams High School were forced to integrate under federal mandate. This forced integration naturally caused conflict as it was not socially acceptable for black and white people to mix with one another. Conflict, bullying and offensive behaviour was naturally apart of the average students life.  The town of Virginia was divided by segregation through discrimination and racism. This small found itself in a dark place.

At the time of the integration of the schools, that saw white and black students mix with one another. Times were tough in Virgina. Racism was rife and there were often cases of violence both inside TC Williams high school amongst students and even more so outside the school amongst society. Virginia was a very proud state. They were proud of themselves. They were proud to be American. They were even more proud about their Football.

TC Williams High School, or ‘The Titans’ as they were known were a very successful High School Football team prior to the forced integration in 1971. Their Coach , Coach Joste was a white man. As TC Williams integrated, so to, did the coaching staff of their football team, The Titans. Coach Joste found himself replaced by a black man, Herman Boone or ‘Coach Boon’ as he is more commonly known in the movie. The football community made up of players and parents expressed their disapproval of the appointment of Coach Boon by protesting and threatening to boycott the season. Many of the white players who had performed admirably under Coach Joste in seasons past , assumed that Coach Boon would only select Black players and they were worried about their futures. The rest of the community wanted nothing to do with a black man and the certainly did not want him to go anywhere near their beloved Football. Little did they know , Coach Boon would be the best thing to happen to The Titans. He would also prove to be the best thing to happen to the people that made up the Virginia State.

When Coach Boon took over from Coach Joste, he made his intentions clear from the very beginning. He would not pick players based on the colour of their skin, but rather on their ability. He would not fire the previous white coaching staff but rather use them as his assistants. Most importantly he wanted to win. Coach Boon had the monumental task of taking black and white people and making them work with one another to achieve a common goal. Society taught them to hate each other. He taught them to tolerate each other. This tolerance turned to respect. This respect grew to love. By the end of the season TC Williams had won the State Championship. They were undefeated. They were also the one and only mixed race school in the State. The love that these players had for one another was reflected by their successful results on the field. These successful results made the people of Virginia sit up and take notice of The Titans. The Titans provided Virginia with the perfect example of what is capable when people put their differences aside, accept each other and work together towards a common goal. They achieved the impossible, the Titans of 1971will never be forgotten.

This Movie is about a whole lot more than a Football team. This Movie tells a beautiful story of how black and white people managed to overcome many obstacles to achieve success. This powerful film emphasises the potential we have as human beings when we put or differences aside, and embrace the uniqueness of individuals regardless of their race or social status. Denzel Washington does an outstanding job in his portrayal of Herman Boon as he leads from the front as the lead actor. Will Paton does a sterling job as Coach Joste and supports Denzel extremely well. On the whole, Remember The Titans is one of my personal favourite movies of all time. This film is incredibly prevailing as it tells a wonderful story that the world needs to be told. We need to be reminded of our potential. We need to become aware of our capabilities to work together as a society. Movies like this to inspire our youth; they alter the perceptions of stubborn racists and reinforce the importance of equality. This Movie is special in so many ways, an absolute must see.

Hudsons.

Often I sit at my desk, blankly staring at my work whilst my stomach longs for substance, my liver craves an ice cold beer l and my soul desires some form of social interaction. When this time of the day occurs I often think of restaurant’s I could go to that would satisfy my selfish but often necessary wants. Usually it would be the famous Forresters Arms or Forries as we (the youth) like to call it. Since my legality Forries has been the weapon of choice in terms of venues to wine and (supposedly) dine at. If you’re after a decent meal, a cold beer and a great vibe Forries is the place to go. However today I was after something different. Today my stomach didn’t want the same old lunch it had was starting to get used to. My liver wasn’t craving beer. My soul, however,  was burning for any form of social interaction. So I pulled out my beloved blackberry from my bag scrolled through my BBM contacts,’ scrapped the barrel’ a tiny bit and marshalled together a mini group of friends to join me at the new Hudsons restaurant in Claremont.

Unlike Forries, Hudsons is modern, innovative and trendy. Perhaps it is unfair to compare the two, so I won’t. Without even sitting down and ordering a meal my conscience had already made its mind up as to what type of restaurant Hudsons was. It is one of those places where you are almost guaranteed to see someone you know, whether it be a friend from school, a girl you met at Tiger Tiger or a work colleague. You are bound to bump into someone you know. Some people enjoy this. Personally I prefer to avoid these awkward exchanges that consist of a series of forced, unimportant, uninteresting but polite questions. “Hello, how are you?” “What are you doing here?” These are the stock standard questions that get asked when one visits a place as commercial and popular as Hudsons. Amongst these awkward exchanges and polite conversations exists a vibe and an atmosphere that is almost tangible. The friendly staff deserves some form of credit for contributing to such a wonderful vibe. There’s an old saying that goes, ‘a smile goes a long way’. At Hudsons this over used cliché is brought to life as servers are more than willing to assist you. They are helpful, knowledgeable and most importantly efficient. The service I received at Hudsons was commendable and refreshing. 10 out of 10 in the service department.

I would be a fool to judge the restaurant only on its service and quality of the staff. Like any other restaurant the food is the most integral component of the dining experience. The modern exterior, style and vibe are contradicted by a menu that almost allows you to go back in time. It allows you to go back to a time of simplicity, where a burger is a burger and a pizza was a pizza. Too many restaurants today are obsessed with making award winning dishes that will make the cover of food magazines that they forget that there is in fact beauty in simplicity. If I order a burger I want just that. Don’t try ‘woo’ me by cutting cucumber in the shape of a dolphin, or by strategically placing all kinds of lettuce on top of my delicious protein filled patty. Keep it simple. That is what Hudsons did. I ordered the Hudsons cheese burger and that’s exactly what I got. A perfectly cooked piece of beef covered in melted cheese with a side order of beautifully golden French fries. Delicious.  

For me personally the main attraction of the newly established Hudsons restaurant came in the form of dessert. A bar-one milkshake. My goodness I get goose bumps as I jog my memory back to that moment when I tasted the delicious invention. Hudsons is known primarily for their delicious tasting burgers, however their milkshakes are un-rivalled with anything I have ever tasted before. I don’t know what is better, the delightful taste of the milkshake or the fact that these tasty delights are served in a giant glass that resembles a bowl more so than a drinking glass. Many people say that it’s about quality and not quantity. The bar-one milkshake I enjoyed that afternoon was pure quality enjoyed in the quantity it was served in. 10 out of 10 in the food and drink department.

It is difficult for me to write something negative about this establishment. The service was superb, the food was sublime and the atmosphere was more than pleasant. Sure it’s a little pricey, but in today’s economic situation what isn’t? Hudson is a great place to go. It’s more than restaurant. It’s a festive atmosphere that allows you to enjoy the company of your friends, the food of the menu and the quality of some fantastic service. Whatever you seek, whether it be a dinner with the family or a casual burger with a couple of mates. Hudson is the place to go. Try it. You’ll love it.  I did.

Something different

Driving into the small town of Ashton late on Friday evening I was flooded with emotions. Emotions of sadness , disappointment and anger. Looking around it was clear that we were no longer in the southern suburbs. Tarnished roads, run down shops, and a community diseased with poverty and depression were but some of the features that made up this fairly unknown town.  What on earth was I doing in this town you may ask? I was there for a rugby camp. The purpose of this camp was to unite us together as a team, discuss our strategy for the season ahead and to experience and appreciate the harsh realities of the living conditions that millions of people in this country are forced to endure. The things I experienced and the lessons I learnt in these two days stretched way beyond anything I could ever learn between the four white lines of a rugby field. The weekend was rich in value ,a real eye opener and a shocking insight into the poor living conditions of millions of people in our beloved country.

During our briefing on the Friday night of our camp we were informed that, on the Saturday Morning we would be making our way down to the local junior school where we would be hosting a coaching clinic for the young kids of Ashton. Many of my fellow team-mates rolled their eyes and sighed in disapproval. Why should they give up their sleep to help people less privileged than them? After all we were on a rugby camp. All of us came from extremely privileged backgrounds. We went to top schools, we have loving families, and we have a roof over our heads and food on the table every night. Name a privilege and we probably have it. While a lot of the guys really weren’t keen to give back and get involved in the Ashton community, majority of us were eager to make a small difference and perhaps play a small part in uplifting the lives of young children in Ashton. I often feel that people like us tend to live in our own world as we turn a blind eye to towns like Ashton. We know that there our people in our country who are hungry. We know there are people in our country who are homeless. We know people in our country are victims of crime, drug abuse and violence. We know this, but are we, in our perfect little worlds doing about this?

Saturday morning had finally arrived and it was time for us to make our way to the rugby field of the junior school where we would host the coaching clinic. The field alone was in terrible condition, grass was scarce, the playing field resembled a gravel road. If I had to practice in such conditions my mood would be somewhat sombre and I’d have little motivation to perform well , let alone enjoy my sport. This was not the case with the 50 odd youngsters that came out for the clinic. They were smiling. They were enthusiastic. They were keen to learn. They were happy. I was astonished. If I lived my life the way many of these kids unfortunately live theirs the last thing I’d be doing on my Saturday morning would be, smiling. Coaching them was an absolute pleasure, the look on their faces when they achieved, the laughs we shared and ultimately the memories we made with them are all things I will never forget.

The aim of the clinic was to pass on the limited knowledge we had about rugby on to a group of young kids eager to learn. Without even knowing it, I was in fact the one doing the learning. These kids were the greatest teachers I’d ever had.  I learned to acknowledge just how privileged I am. I learnt to appreciate the small things in life that are so often taken for granted. I learnt to be gracious. I learnt to be humble. I learnt that no matter how tough life gets or how many obstacles you are forced to deal with, there is always a reason to smile. Did I play a part in the smile forming on that kids face? It’s possible.  Yes, life can be rough, and at times it may feel like your purpose on this earth is undefined and pointless. When you feel like this: give back. Give back to the community. Go and see how majority of this country lives and most importantly, do something about it for God’s sake. As the privileged minority in this country we will often comment on the poor conditions that we know exist in our country but we are too lazy and simply do not care enough to do anything about it. We will all watch Derek Watts on a Sunday evening as Carte Blanche reveals the shocking conditions of a poor community. For a moment we all sympathize with these poor people, some of us even cry. We will be touched by what we have just seen, we will feel bad and complain for an hour about how terrible this is and how something needs to be done to rectify the problem. An hour and a half later the channel will change and you will be more interested in a Keeping up with the Kardashians episode. What have you done to make a difference? Nothing.

It frustrates me that as South Africans we do not do enough for our community. Truth be told, we live in a 3^rd world country.  Majority of people in this country do not have access to the resources we have access to. Essentially we are living in two different worlds. We live in one where a warm shower, a basic education and an occupation is the norm. They (and a say ‘they’ with all due respect) live in one which is infested with poverty, hopelessness and despair. A warm shower, a basic education and an occupation is a privilege enjoyed by few in the Ashton community. This weekend gave me an opportunity to witness and appreciate the way so many people in South Africa live. It gave me an opportunity to appreciate my own life. Most importantly it gave me an opportunity to give back; to help; to uplift and make a difference in a society that is desperately seeking help and direction. This is our country, this is your country. Feed our children. Clothe our fellow brothers and sisters. Make a difference. Give back, it is the most rewarding thing you will ever do.

Moving on.

“Kenwood kitchen appliances are synonymous with quality and reliability. Whatever your need, we are sure you will find just the right solution for your everyday cooking and food preparation from our range of kitchen machines, food mixers, food processors, blenders, smoothie makers, ice cream makers, juicers, bread makers, kettles, coffee machines, toasters, deep fryers, food steamers and kitchen scales.”

The world we live in whether we like it or not is filled with narrow minded shallow individuals. The world we live in is full of stupid and ignorant people. The world we live in is full of bullies and persecutors.  The world we live in is filled with racists and sexists. These people should be put on a boat and sent out to the furthest corner of the ocean, once they get there they should continue another two-hundred kilometres and never return.

Right, back to the ad in question. First of all I’d like to justify my above paragraph by stating very strongly that I completely disapprove of this advert. I think it is simple, narrow minded, stupid, sexist and patronising to women. The company that is behind the product being marketed is called Kenwood. The fact that this company approved of such an ad is shocking and highly risky one would think. As a potential consumer , if I came across this ad in the magazine I would carefully tear the page out scrunch it into the tiniest little ball of paper and aggressively throw it towards the nearest rubbish bin and I would never in my lifetime even think of purchasing a Kenwood product.  Kenwood is damaging their brands image by patronising women.

If I had to try and defend this ad the only way I would be able to do so was if I went back in time to about the 1920s  where women became mothers and men became gods. During this period women weren’t taken seriously. Women were patronised and treated as inferior to men. Their place was behind the kitchen counter and not behind an office desk. Society allowed people to believe that this was the norm. If this ad had been printed then, I am sure men across the globe would have erupted in laughter, sipped on their beer and gone out to buy their wife the product so she could stay at home all day making him delicious smoothies after his long strenuous day at work. After which she would stroke his hair and tell him how amazing he was. As ridiculous as this sounds this was the harsh realities of life for women in and around the 1920s.

In 2012, however things are different. Women are educated. Women are respected. They are taken seriously. They are heads of companies. They are influential in society. They are world leaders. The days of women slaving away in the kitchen and obeying their husbands orders are long gone. So should be, ads like these. In modern society it is unacceptable to treat anybody with anything less than equality. Particularly women ,they carry our children they nurture our families and they are hugely influential in the business world. We should respect acknowledge and love them, not patronise and disregard them.

If possible I would like to meet the creator of this ad and give him one hell of a tongue lashing before slowly raising my fist and hitting him back to the 1920s where this ad may have been effective.

Is this ad effective? Absolutely not.

Nando's ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c0TllqjwX8&feature=fvst

Who will ever forget the night Ard Matthews slipped up in front of the entire nation as he butchered our national anthem? I know I won’t.

The Springboks are easily one of the most influential collection of people in South Africa. Like Rugby or not these over-sized, often unattractive men are the heartbeats of our nation and continue to unite us as a country with every victory they achieve. How can we forget the heroes of 1995 and the legends of 2007? These men have a powerful influence on our country. Before their departure for the Rugby World Cup in 2011 the beloved “Bokke” were honoured at a capping ceremony in Johannesburg. As part of the celebration, the lead singer of the once popular band Just Jinjer was scheduled to sing the national anthem, Nkosi Sikelelie iAfrika. A small part of me laughed as I wrote “honoured” early on because Ard Matthews did anything but. He somehow managed to forget the words and made a complete fool of himself in front of millions of viewers.

Anyway, back to the ad. Is it effective? Absolutely. This ad was released shortly after the Ard Matthews disaster so the timing was perfect. The headline is clearly having a go at the once respected musician. By having a go at Mr Matthews the ad creates humour out of a potentially ‘touchy’ subject. Screwing up the national anthem in front of not only the Springboks ,but the entire nation is by no means a “forgive and forget” moment. This ad is refreshing in a sense that they’ve taken this potentially sensitive topic, turned it on its head and created humour out of it. South Africans tend to take themselves too seriously sometimes as we let little things offend and upset us. The body copy at the bottom re-enforces the support that Nando’s has for the Springboks. While they poke fun at Ard Matthews they still maintain a feel of patriotism which I believe works in their favour as they win over the hearts of many South Africans, firstly with their humour and secondly with the somewhat serious body copy at the end. They push the idea quite far out there but then they bring it back quite nicely at the end. The ad has a good balance of seriousness and fun which I think we, as the potential target market can appreciate.

McCafe Print ad

An effective ad or an even bigger reason to stay away from Maccy D’s?

As I stumbled upon this ad I couldn’t help but ask myself two questions. Firstly what on earth is that horrible looking image? And secondly, what the hell has McDonald’s   got to do with it? Is it a burger? I should hope not, although I wouldn’t be surprised. After tilting my head in every direction my neck would allow and squinting my eyes  for a few minutes, the proverbial light bulb switched on and I clicked. The image portrayed in the ad is in fact a coffee bean. Had it not been for the “McCafe” text and the natural associations one makes with a café and coffee who knows how long my poor mind would have been baffled for.  Is this ad an effective one?  Let’s see shall we.

McCafé first opened in Australia in 1994. It has a matured market in Europe and has recently been introduced into the U.S. and in Asia, McCafé is available in Singapore and Hong Kong and soon, Malaysia!

I think it’s safe to say that Mcafe is gradually on the rise as it attempts to spin off from the well-known and established McDonalds brand.  The McDonalds brand is widely recognized all over the world, when one sees that big yellow M you cannot help but think of big Mac’s, quarter pounders, supersized fries and heart attacks. Majority of people who indulge in the occasional quarter pounder and fries are: let’s put this lightly, slightly horizontally challenged. Ah what the hell these people are fat. If I were a stereotypical McDonalds ‘fatty’ and I had to see this ad the last thing that would be on my mind would be a nice warm cup of coffee.  My eyes would go straight to that big yellow M and my tummy would begin to crave those delicious fries and quarter pounder I know and love.  If the intention of this ad was to encourage regular McDonalds eating fatties to make use of the McCafe’s offerings I believe it has failed. These fatties don’t want coffee and apple pies , they want the same big Mac they eaten for the last 20 years.

If the intention of this ad was to convert the stereotypical coffee drinker to make use of the McCafe’s services they may as well have fallen flat on their face because they have failed miserably. There are two types of people in this world. Those that love McDonalds. And those who can’t stand it. If you are one of the latter and you stumbled upon this ad I don’t care how much you love coffee, your eyes will immediately be drawn to that infamous big yellow M and you will slowly swallow your vomit and move on.  

So I beg the question is this an effective print ad? No, its crap.

Introduction

Some people can sing. Some can run fast. Some have an exceptional knack for numbers. Some are good public speakers. Some can draw wonderful things. Some can build beautiful buildings. Others can write. I like to consider myself one of these people. This blog will allow me the opportunity to express myself in ways that only writing can. My name is Guy Muller, this is me, and this is my blog.