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These twenty mistakes are the difference between a very poor website and a very good website. You may know some of these mistakes already, but if you have avoided or corrected all of them you are almost certain to keep visitors coming in and coming back.

This list is especially important for new designers, amateurs or the experienced but sloppy who need a list to work from for a website spot check.

1) Bad Layout and Design - Yes, there are some ugly, unbalanced or overloaded webpages out there. Make your page a pleasant viewing experience. If you are not sure about the looks of you design, then let some people see a screenshot of your webpage.

2) Non-Standard Links - Why confuse your visitors with links that are different colors or fonts that vary from page to page. Don’t frustrate your visitors, it shouldn’t be a guessing game.

3) Iffy Navigation - Take it easy on the moving objects, trailing images and other stuff you see on kids websites. It’s just not that entertaining and it can get in the way and distract your visitors. Keep it stable easy to find and read.

4) Slow Pages - Who wants to watch your dumb load meter rack up the percents of loaded kilobytes or megabytes? Keep your pages lean and fast, under 50k if possible. Do not bore your visitors.

5) Wild and Crazy Color Schemes - Some pages look idiotic with overly bright colors, maybe even revolting. Your texts must be easy to read, not a sensational nightmare.

6) Spelling and Grammar - Errors in spelling and grammar make your page look amateurish or childish - always spell check.

7) Page Text - Keep your pages easy to read. Break texts into paragraphs or blocks. People scan pages more than they read them, make it easy on them.

8) Font Style and Size - Choose easy to read fonts and use the right size - not micro reading or headlines on every line.

9) Dumb, Out of Control Music - select background music that fits the subject matter and make sure it can be turned off easily.

10) Under Construction - Avoid having a visitor coming to you closed or not yet opened website. What’s the point? Give them a single page of content with a notice as to when the whole site will be available.

11) Untested Web Site - Always look at your website in multiple browsers and make changes accordingly before uploading your site to the web.

12) Sloppy Texts - Make sure all the right words are in all the right places - “Content is King” for readers and search engines.

13) Old Content - Updating your website is important, visitors need to see something new once in a while.

14) Too Many Clicks - Why should a visitor have to jump through page after page to find anything on your website. Make sure everything is only 3 clicks or less from the homepage.

15) No Contact Information - Keep your contact information easy to find and easy to read.

16) Free Hosting Service - When you see a webpage that has a name so long that it has at least one period in the middle of it you know it’s a free hosting situation. Everyone knows the limitations of free hosts and the limitations that they place on a webpage. Don’t use a free web host if you want to be taken seriously.

17) Advertising - Do not overload you page with ads, especially the big grotesque banners. Well placed, well designed ads are okay if you don’t overload the page.

18) Bad Images - Don’t make a visitor suffer missing graphics file or badly shaped or cropped images. Optimize your images and use the best heights and widths, and keep your files in the best formats - jpeg for Photographs and gif for artwork.

19) Website Best Viewed - Don’t say this on your website, it looks like a beginner’s website.

20) No Prices - If you sell something don’t waste your time hoping you will get email inquiries on your prices - just include a price with the item description.

That should do it. Follow these directions to correct the 20 most common mistakes in website design to make sure your webpage is in good shape.

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There was a lot of buzz at JavaOne regarding the Google Web Toolkit (GWT). Basically, GWT allows a developer to write a AJAX powered web application in Java!! The Java code gets ‘compiled’ to a set of plain old text files containing your JavaScript code. For example, the GWT will translate your rollover actions written in Java to JavaScript functions. This confused me for a second so I’ll stress again that you compile your web application written in Java to plain old JavaScript and HTML that can run in any browser.

What this means is that if you are a Java developer you don’t have to learn JavaScript and all the idiosyncrasies of every browser to develop a stable and reliable AJAX web application.

To get started download the GWT from Google, configure it with Eclipse, and create a new web application.

Read Full Tutorial…

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Over IBM DeveloperWorks, Jack Herrington has published an article on Rich Ajax slide shows with DHTML and XML. In this article you will learn to create an Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) client-side slide show that’s animated using “Ken Burns Effects.” Here, you discover how to build XML data sources for Ajax, request XML data from the client, and then dynamically create and animate HTML elements with that XML.

The Ajax model of client-server interaction

How difficult is Ajax to implement? Each element of the Ajax model is relatively easy to learn. But the trick is blending all the elements into a seamless experience. Often that problem is compounded, because different individuals do the client-side and server-side coding. This article shows how just one person can write a small Ajax-based slide viewing application in a couple of hours.

In this article, He used object-oriented JavaScript code whenever possible. JavaScript is a fully object-oriented language, and although it might not use the class and interface keywords, it keeps your code clean and maintainable. He also recommend the use Ajax frameworks if you can. He didn’t use one here because he wanted to show a lightweight Ajax solution. But today’s frameworks — and there are many of them — make it easier to write more portable Ajax and DHTML code.

Snapshot from the slide show

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Malaysia, a hodge-podge of different races and cultures, has as diverse a choice of food as you can find in any country around the world. And within it are some choice delectable eating spots that will whet your appetite and have you going at helping after helping.

One such place is Taiping, formerly a mining town, now more of a retirement village. Cloistered, quiet and peaceful, with just two department stores, the main pastime of choice is relaxing by the Lake Gardens or visiting the Zoo, enjoying the view and fresh air. Here, we try to introduce some choice eats within Taiping, Malaysia.

Morning start early here. Kum Loong Restaurant is opened by 5.30 am daily and serves fragrant, delectable dim sum. Go early, for everything will be gone by 9.00 am. Try the siew mai which is served freshly steamed, tender and fragrant. The har gow, chicken feet and dai bao also come highly recommended for fulfilling breakfast.

Every sunday morning, the townfolk will descend on Restaurant Kanak, known for their horfun, which comes served in a clear chicken broth, shredded chicken and bean sprouts.

Need a mid afternoon snack ? Try the famous Indian chendol, which comes with an optional helping of pulut, roasted black rice. Complement it with some Indian rojak for a fattening but satisfying meal.

Getting there

Fly in to Kuala Lumpur, a major air travel hub. From the city, either take a train or a bus to Taiping. Some buses may stop at Kamunting, a 10 minute drive away from Taiping by cab.

There are many small hotels and motels around Taiping, and a number of guesthouses by the scenic Lake Gardens. Most hotels here fall into the three star category, cheap, clean with no frills.

Two of the larger hotels include Legend Inn and Hotel Panoroma, both located centrally and a short walk away from most eating places.

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Pick a romantic spot with good memories or one you’ve never been to before.
Don`t choose to go somewhere where you’ve been to before with another partner.

Decide together and choose a resort or hotel or spa that sounds like fun for you both.
Don`t force your preferences or agenda eg golf, shopping, on your mate.

Pack romantic stuff. Since hotel rooms don`t always smell like flowers, bring your own special perfumes and aromantic oils and scents. Bring scented oils to rub on each other, a favorite scented bubble bath to play in together, a favorite aromatherapy scent to drip on the lightbulbs, perfumed candles to act as night lights, create the romantic ambience for an unforgetable vacation.

Don`t rush, stay together and take things at a comfortable pace. Don`t trade romance for speed. For instance, don`t elect one person to run and get the rental car while the other one waits for the bags. That’s just not the romantic way to things. When you’re planning romance, plan to take your time. Being together should far outweigh saving time. Reduce stress by arriving extra early for your flight.

Make the flight romantic. Reserve your airline seats way ahead of time. Fly first class if you can. In Hawaiian airlines’ first class section, for example, you feel like you’re already in the islands, with tropical drinks and gourmet Hawaiian cooking from famous Hawaiian chefs. Even in coach, feed each other tidbits, and definitely ask for a blanket so you can snuggle underneath. Pull the seat handle up and tuck it between the seats so you have more room to cuddle.

Don`t risk your schedule with fly-by-night charter airlines. Avoid charters which can leave late or not at all. A delay on a Tower Air charter flight can delay and disrupt your travel plan in a major way. Fly major airlines — if one of their planes develops a problem, they can usually find a substitute.

Make sure you have a romantic arrival. Be sure to call ahead and let the hotel or resort know it’s a special occasion and then remind them again when you check in. Often you’ll get upgraded to a nicer room or even a suite just because it’s your anniversary, birthday or honeymoon. Be very sure they give you a king size bed. Have the hotel put a bouquet of champagne roses, a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne or a cheese plate and wine, or fancy hors d’heuvres or chocolate dipped strawberries in your room.

Plan on staying in one place for your vacation, and allow lots of time for love-making, slow romance and just hanging out together.

Don’t plan on moving from resort to resort every few days, and don’t try to see everything. Every time you move, you lose precious romantic time to traveling, time that you could otherwise spend in the arms of each other..

Make sure you have privacy. Think about a cottage or a condominium instead of a thin-walled hotel, so that you can have space to be close or even have separate activities. It’s nice to have a kitchen to make special drinks to share in private on your patio at sunset.

Don’t expect your mate to cook just because you have a kitchen. Have dinner out or order in. Consider the kitchen just for morning coffee and the fun of having your favorite snacks in your own kitchen.

Don`t miss a moment and concentrate on each other. Promise not to worry about the future or the past while you’re on your romantic vacation. After all, there’s nothing you can about the past, and enjoying each moment of your present is one of the best things you can for your future. So stay in the present. concentrate on the sound of the wind rustling in the palms, the glorious colors of a tropical sunset, the moment when your bodies first touch underwater…

Act like honeymooners. Touch a lot. Hold hands everywhere. Show affection in public and kiss. Pretend it’s your honeymoon, share a kiss at sunset, toast your love, and promise to always be romantic.

Don`t let anything ruin your mellow romantic mood. Avoid criticizing or blaming your loved one for anything if you want a perfectly romantic vacation. If something does go wrong on your trip, be sure to blame someone or something else. For instance, if one of you dings the rental car, say, “Oh, honey, they shouldn’t have left that delivery truck there; there’s hardly room to get by.”

Plan special romantic activities. Little things count. Plan little surprises like a breakfast-in-bed order that your mate’s not expecting. In the tropics, write “I love you” with your fingernail on a Sea Grape leaf and it will turn white against the waxy green of the leaf. Leave love notes in the sand. Make a ritual of rubbing sunscreen all over each other every day. That way you’ll start out with lots of touching to get in the right mood each day and you’ll avoid painful, romance-ruining sunburns.

Don`t just what you’d at home. It’s fine to enjoy a nice dinner in a fancy restaurant, but also go out of your way to some things you’d never at home. The best romantic activities are those that make indelible memories. Share some “firsts” together to create those memories. So take a chance. Ride in a helicoptor. Dive beneath the ocean. Eat sashimi (raw fish). Have a spiritual experience. Go to church with the locals. Visit a place the local people call sacred. Walk where an ancient civilization once thrived.

Don`t use the “argument words.” Some words are “loaded” — no matter how you say them, they sound judgemental. So avoid starting sentences with the “you” words, especially the “you always,” or “you never,” words. Forget “why don`t you,” and “if only,” too.

Don`t make unilateral decisions. If you’re married or in a committed relationship, don`t buy anything outrageously expensive without consulting your partner and making sure they love it as much as you do.

Bring home a special souvenir. Find something that’s unique — it doesn’t have to be expensive — perhaps a shell from the Caribbean or a koa wood carving from Hawaii or a piece of artwork or print from Europe. Plan to put it in a place of honor at home, so that you can both look at it and remember your romantic vacation. Listen to the special music of the culture where you travel and bring some home: new-age stuff from California, Hawaiian music from Maui, and Reggae from Jamaica. Even if you normally wouldn’t listen to it at home, remember to play it later whenever you look at the snapshots of your trip.

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“Ajax” is a buzzword that is gaining momentum and popularity. Applications such as Gmail and Google Suggest serve as massive advertisements for asynchronous JavaScript. As users gain familiarity and their expectations increase, the demand for such interfaces is rising.

In this article, I will show how to build Ajax-enabled applications using Dojo and JSON–two very different but complementary technologies that can significantly enhance the interface and usability of web applications. With the help of some simple examples, you will learn how to use Dojo and JSON to build Ajax applications. This article will also demonstrate how to create custom Dojo widgets by implementing the popular “autocomplete” feature for HTML text boxes.

What Is Dojo?

Dojo is a set of powerful JavaScript libraries that provide a simple API to a plethora of features. One of these features is the ability to make HTTP requests and receive their responses. This is the main functionality of Dojo that we will utilize. Aside from providing Ajax functionality, Dojo also provides packages for string manipulation, DOM manipulation, drag-and-drop support, and data structures such as lists, queues, and stacks.

What Is JSON?

JSON is a Java library that helps convert Java objects into a string representation. This string, when eval()ed in JavaScript, produces an array that contains all of the information that the Java object contained. JSON’s object notation grammar is suitable for encoding many nested object structures. Since this grammar is much smaller than its XML counterpart, and given the convenience of the eval() function, it is an ideal choice for fast and efficient data transport between browser and server.

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Prague is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Eastern Europe, with good reason. It is the perfect place for those seeking romance, culture, beautiful architecture, and really smooth beer.

The capital of the Czech Republic remains one of the most beautiful and well preserved medieval cities in all of Europe, and travellers wantering the cobbles, admiring the beautiful architecture could very well almost believe that they have been transported back in time. The buildings, unscarred by the world wars, present a history of architecture over the last six centuries, from Gothic cathedrals complete with towering spires to Baroque palaces rich in tapestries and art.

Start at Prague Castle, the largest castle in the world, set on a hilltop and offering a beautiful vantage point to view the city in its whole. Occupying a space of 7 hectares, you will need an entire day to view the sights this attraction has to offer.

In close proximity to the castle lie several majestic courtyards, the National Gallery, the Museum of Military history, the Old Royal Palace, the Cathedral of St Vitus, chapels and more, all a definite must see.

The Jewish Quarter, Josefov, is home to six synagogues and a Jewish cemetary. The Pinkas Synagogue, in particular, is a memorial to the 77297 Czech Jews who were killed during the horrifying Holocaust of World War II, and the names of the victims are carved onto a wall of the synagogue, in a chilling reminder of the horrors and destruction of war.

If you love beer, you`re in luck. Prague is the home to Budweiser beer, and a taste will tell you that the local Budvar is even better. Beer is a staple of the diet of locals here, and pubs and bars can be found all around the city, serving good beer at very affordable prices, often at around US$1 for a pint of their smoothest.

Have more beer to wash down the excellent and hearty cuisine. Try the dumplings or the pork, beef and venison in rich gravy.

Indeed, the capital of Czech Republic, under communist rule until 1989, charms and keep you coming back for more.

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This tutorial talks about easy field validation with Prototype.

I wanted a robust javascript validation library that was simple to implement and didn’t require me do any extra work other than creating the form. My favourite idea for a method of doing this is to utilise the field elements’ class attribute to indicate what sort of field it is and hence any validation requirements.

There are a few javascript libraries that implement that idea like wForms, but, since I’m currently hell-bent on re-writing all my javascript using Prototype, I thought I’d see how difficult or easy it would be to roll my own. Turns out that this is just the sort of thing that is easy with Prototype.

Demo of field validation using prototype

Download the code used in Demo

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