I am working on setting Up Blog for MechanicsOfMotherhood.com using Web Project Mechanics.  Trying some new integration with Facebook to promote more community interaction. 

 

While working on the template for this site (a never ending process), I came across the YUI Library. It is a collection of javascript and css to help you create better structured websites. I was able to add the links to my template and clean up my own CSS stylesheet. I have been pleased with the results, and plan to continue to modify my template to take advantage of all the library has to offer.

The Yahoo! User Interface (YUI) Library is a set of utilities and controls, written in JavaScript, for building richly interactive web applications using techniques such as DOM scripting, DHTML and AJAX. The YUI Library also includes several core CSS resources. All components in the YUI Library have been released as open source under a BSD license and are free for all uses.

More information can be found here -- http://developer.yahoo.com/yui/

I have started a soft launch of Web Project Mechanics (WPM) on Codeplex.  I am taking the web content management system that I have used for many clients and turning it into a project, then I will evolve it into a product.  Right now, the source is a collection of requirments from many clients and projects.  I have been able to unify most of my clients onto the current version of the tool.  At this time there are over 100 sites runing WPM.  While not a fully-fleged product, the code base is over 4 years old and has been reworked numerous times.  The big challange now is to create a product from many successful projects.  

I continue to find new features that can quickly be added to my site.  The latest is from Snap.com called SnapShots.  SnapShots create a preview of any external links on your site, allowing folks to preview where they are going before they click.  Cool feature, but will it be more of a distraction than aid to the visitor?

Looking to solve the problem of having no search engine on this site, I have found Google Custom Search Engine.  With 2 steps, a site search was created.  You can now try it out by using the search box in the right column.
I used the technique that requires you to have 2 pages, one for the box and one for the results.  Instead of just one page for the box, I have placed it on every page.  The results page uses IFrames to return the results, along with some ads (no such thing as a free lunch). 

Based on the success of my Lake Claiborn House site to sell our lake house, I have added my profile to Zillow . The opportunity for localized sites is increasing as search engines seek to find more relevant results for local searches.  This is a great opportunity to create a unique site that highlights not only your property, but the surrounding area as well. If you need to a site to market your house or property, I can help you bring buyers to your door.  

I have created the following real estate based sites

• LakeClaiborneHouse.com
• InksLakeLiving.com
• KellerTexasLiving.com

 

Never one to be on the bleeding edge, I have finally decided to create a Web 2.0 section of ProjectMechanics to highlight some great tools and trends in the industry.  I have been working on a couple of Web 2.0ish things, including testing out the new Amazon aStore funtionality.  On my LakeClaiborneHouse site I was trying out the functionality that Flickr can provide with real estate.

Lots of stuff to look at and try, what will actually stick is still to be determined.  . .

I now have my profile setup on Technorati.  You can search and reference my blog from Technorati.

Technorati Profile

ProjectMechanics has a new look to coincide with the new company that I am creating to manage the ever growing list of sites that I have been working on.

Keep look for more materials on the new Project Mechanics.

There will be some changes to the site coming soon so I wanted to revise the site blog to keep you updated on the changes.  

Keep coming back for updates on the progress of ProjectMechanics.com