Glassbooth.org is an interesting political web site for several reasons. I found it extremely educational, rich with links to information. But more importantly, the way it first asks about what issues interest you most, then presents a short survey based on your weighted responses is a brilliant way to compare issues on what matters most to you.

This technique really simplifies what could easily be a longer form with less effective results and a poor user experience. Kudos to the folks that created this site. A fine example of how to use the Internet intelligently and effectively.

1. Not Understanding Client Needs

a. You have listened, but have you heard?
b. Have you asked the right questions?
c. Are you merely doing what the client asks, or are you truly addressing their needs?

2. Over Promising

a. Are the client’s requests reasonable?
b. Does your new business guy know your capabilities?
c. Is it worth it?

3. Bad Process

a. Poor planning
b. Poor project management
c. Wrong priorities
d. Poorly defined roles and responsibilities

4. Poor Execution

a. Poor talent
b. Bad direction
c. Insufficient quality control
d. Inexperience

5. Under Pricing

a. Ignorance
b. Competition
c. Fear

6. Not Controlling Change (Scope Creep)

a. Who says yes (no)?
b. What were the client’s expectations
c. Implications of saying yes
d. What is your protocol for a change or additional work order?

7. No Contingencies

a. What ifs
b. Unknowns
c. Good, better, best
d. Wiggle room
e. Plan B

8. Poor Communication

a. Paper, e-mail or phone call?
b. Does the right person know
c. Timing
d. Beg for forgiveness or ask for permission?
e. Not enough information given

9. Not Getting Approvals at Key Milestones

a. Defining key milestone
b. Someone has to sign off
c. Ramifications

10. Bad Client Relationship

a. Lack of trust
b. Dictator syndrome

Edward Tufte's site offers some great reading with great links to addtional resources about all kinds of interface design related topics.

http://www.edwardtufte.com/bboard/q-and-a?topic_id=1

Flash Website Awards people's choice.

Behold the beauty...

http://www.thefwa.com/pca2007/

How cool is this?

Here's something interesting I found, test numbers for different credit card companies you can use for payment gateway testing. I've only tested the VISA and it worked.

Visa 1111-1111-1111-1111
MasterCard 5555-5555-5555-4444
Amex 3782-8224-6310-005
Discover 6011-1111-1111-1117

If you use Excel for data manipulation, here's a handy-dandy free app that has saved me a lot of time: ASAP Utilities.

"ASAP Utilities is a powerful Excel add-in that fills the gaps in Excel and automates frequently used tasks. Since 1999 it has grown to become probably one of the world's most popular add-ins for MS Excel."

Transparency is the new buzz word describing new marketing practices. It’s one of the quintessential aspects of successful brand building today and is the mantra of modern culture.

Transparency, honesty, sincerity or whatever you call it should govern the decision making process when creating any campaign or marketing exercise. Companies like Southwest Airlines, Apple and Ben & Jerry’s have been very successful with their portrayal of transparency, but the bar has been raised. It’s no longer good enough to seem to be personable or honest. One must prove it and continue to practice it to gain consumer trust and acceptance.

At BIG WHEEL, we constantly try to infuse our strategies with this concept. How can we soften the message to make it more palatable? What specific activities can be included to exemplify a company’s desire to communicate on a candid, one-to-one level with consumers? What features or content on a web site will facilitate this dialog, whether implied, virtual or otherwise.

Companies have tried to concoct transparency with disastrous results. It’s pretty easy for thousands, or millions of people, to spot a charlatan. If you think you can pull one over – think again. Just ask Sony or Wal-Mart.

Run with the new approach. Spend marketing dollars on adding value to your community (people you touch), not trying to steal from it. Share your stories, both good and bad. Reality isn’t perfect and it’s good to show some vulnerability. People can relate. Explore new avenues. For example, why pay for branded coffee mugs or other premiums when adding value to society is better use of your money. Maybe a TV spot isn’t the best way to reach your audience. A grassroots effort may be more cost effective and say something different about a business’ philosophy. Appeal to people’s likes and values. Help make life better. Didn’t someone once say something about giving like; you’ll get back far more than you give. And being transparent often involves the giving of something that is not traditionally considered in old school advertising.

I realize this sounds all warm and fuzzy, but when coupled with a strategic initiative based on real business goals, it can result in the creative execution of ideas and pretty surprising results.

Josh Spear of Undercurrent gives a good 20 minute talk on digital youth culture. He notes several IMPORTANT aspects of communicating with people and creating value on the web.

Notice the nice presentation visuals. Not your Daddy's PPT.

I want to like IE 7 and I like Microsoft. I think as a web developer one needs to browse using the most popular browser on the planet so he/she knows how sites display on it. I like the new tabs feature and the "improved" CSS rendering. But why did Microsoft change the JavaScript engine?

All I see are JavaScript error prompts. All kinds of sites that were fine, are now "done with errors". This latest version has been out for quite awhile. Why hasn't there been a fix? Am I missing something? Have you been experiencing the same?

Not to mention the loss of compatiblity to thousands of apps that rely on Active X and require IE that won't work with IE 7- like a little known product like QuickBooks. Maybe I'm stupid but I can't event download updates for my other PC without having to install IE7 first. (Maybe I could, but it's not easy) This is rediculous.

I'm working on a ecommerce project and we're using the  AspDotNetStorefront shopping cart. It's a robust, customizable .NET app. So far I'm very impressed. Worth a look.

We're also using the T-Hub app to connect the store with QuickBooks. AspDotNetStorefront has code integrated into the default install for the T-Hub. In minuted I was able to install, configure and use the T-Hub. Also worth a look if you need to marry a web store with QuickBooks.