Recently, I began serving my static files(images, css, javascript files) via Amazon’s Cloudfront and S3 services to reduce the bandwidth on my web host and also speed up the delivery of web pages to visitors. I wrote a tutorial on how to set this up using the plugin W3 Total Cache on my other blog.

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Testing new WordPress themes, plugins, or upgrades before implementing it live on the Internet is a great way to streamline your workload as a web designer and developer. For example, if you want to create a new WordPress theme from scratch, it’s best that you develop the theme on your local server before you release it. Because once it goes online, who knows what can happen.
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Like many problems with this site, I prefer to fix things when I cannot afford to ignore them any longer or the solution presents itself to me with little effort on my part. One of these growing problems that I chose to neglect showed up again recently when Eric from FWebDe sent me a reply via Twitter.

@loneplacebo Hey man, I’m stuck with the mobile theme on your site!

Of course, failing to properly identify the issue at hand like the great minds at BP, I sent him a reply soon after explaining:
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Recently, the fine people at AEXT.net wrote an article on how to integrate Tweetmeme and the Su.pr URL shortener. If you aren’t familiar, Su.pr is Stumbleupon’s URL shortening service. It appends a sharing toolbar which allows users to vote or review the page. As many bloggers know, the more “thumbs-up” an article receives, the more popular it will be on Stumbleupon.
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Get your pen out...TWSS!

Is your blog looking like it needs a makeover these days? Strapped on cash and can’t afford a premium WordPress theme? Then you should consider editing your theme’s folder and bringing some desperately needed energy into the appearance of your website or blog. In this post, I provide you with 9 CSS recipes that you can use on your site. I hope you find them useful.
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Listen carefully everybody...

Recently, Smashing Magazine published an article titled, Group Interview: Expert Advice For Students and Young Web Developers. Various well-known web designers, including Chris Spooner, Chris Coyier, and Brian Hoff, shared some of their insights about what aspiring web designers can do to prepare for a successful career in web design.

Since starting this site, web design has rapidly grown as one of my biggest passions. It is one of those feelings you get when you pick up a book for the first time, and can’t seem to put back down. So when the Smashing Magazine article was published, I knew right away that I should seriously begin contemplating the possibility of following a career in design

So, what did I do next? I contacted several of my favorite web designers with questions concerning their professions and was able to get a response from four awesome dudes:

• Jad Limcaco (Design Informer)
• Jacob Gube (Six Revisions)
• Chris Spooner (Line25)
• Jon Phillips (SpyreStudios)

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