What is Drupal and why you should use it??

Maybe you've heard about Drupal somewhere, maybe a friend told you about it, or maybe you just saw some cool website and found out it has been made with Drupal.

Drupal is CMS - Content Management System. It means you somehow "manage content" with it. So, what kind of content can you manage with Drupal? Any kind!

You see, every piece of content in Drupal is called a node. Node is the smallest chunk of information in Drupal, if you want to call it like that. Node is actually this article that you are reading right now.

Nodes can be of different types. That's where "content types" come in the game. Drupal comes with some pre-defined content types like "story" and "page" content types. The good thing about content types is that you can define your own content types and also you can extend them (more about that later).

The important thing to understand is that most of the content in Drupal is made up of nodes. Nodes can have comments, and comments can be submitted by users.

What can You create with Drupal?

With Drupal you can create:

* Simple n-number-of-pages static website
* Simple personal homepage
* Company website
* Weblog
* Dating website
* Myspace-like website
* (insert your favorite type of website here)

Basically, there are no limits with Drupal, and you really can make any type of website you want.

Of course, it all comes to you and your skills. It helps a lot if you know some html, php, css and that kind of stuff. It is not necessary but it will help.

Why you should use Drupal?

* Easy to use (even if you don't know html, php...)
* Lots of modules
* Lots of themes
* Great established user community
* You can make a website in terms of hours, even minutes

Hosting your Drupal site

If you are serious about your Drupal projects, then I suggest you go with a standalone IP address. Therefore, choose either VPS (virtual private server) or a dedicated server (if you can afford it).

DO NOT even think about having big Drupal website on shared hosting. Drupal is hard on system resources, both CPU and RAM, so my friendly advice to you is to avoid shared hosting. I am telling you this from my personal experience. One community website that I have made (which I will tell you about in later postings) was initially on shared hosting. It was my first Drupal project, and I didn't know much about Drupal, I just learned how to this and that in Drupal, not paying attention to Drupal usage of system resources.

Then one day I got an email of warning from my hosting provider that my website is causing problems with CPU and RAM usage, therefore other websites on shared hosting were not working. That was the moment when I realized I have to move to a VPS.

The only case where I could imagine running Drupal on a shared hosting if you are going to run a small website with mostly static content, then it is fine.

With that in mind, I hope you now have a basic understanding of what Drupal is and what Drupal can do for you.

5 G’s To Grow A Great Life

Greatness arises out of a deliberate attempt to do the small on a consistent basis with a touch of excellence.

It is true that those who are faithful, with the ‘little’ that they possess in life, are better equipped to handle the ‘large’ when it is finally unveiled to them.

In addition, another truth is often revealed, that when you need something done then ask a busy person. They are the possessors of the skill-set and the discipline-set that will allow them to prioritize and delegate all the way to success.

But please allow me to share with you the five G’s that will position you so that you can begin to grow a great and deliberate life.

1. Grab A Goal

Without a goal your life will be aimless. But in your grabbing do the following…

1. Write your goal down and write it down as it has already been achieved.
2. Set a date for the achievement of that goal.
3. Divide the larger goal into smaller and manageable chunks that will allow you to achieve sub-goals along the way.
4. Get into action immediately

2. Grasp An Opportunity

Opportunity, as I think either Thomas Edison or Henry Ford said, usually appears with its sleeves rolled up. That means work.

Don’t just sit around waiting for your next opportunity. Make your opportunity. Be the maker and not just the taker – it is only your imagination away. If you can think it you can find a way to do it.

3. Grip & Never Let Go Of Life

Any dream fulfilled may require some gutsy effort. Persistence. Perseverance. Push. Press on. Once you’ve grasped and grabbed it’s time to grip.

Face each new challenge with the ‘can do’ attitude and the ‘I will find a way’ determination. You are worthy of great success, and success is for the gripper.

4. Grin & Make It Your Practice To Laugh

Smile your way all the way to success. Enjoy the journey. Always see the funny side of things. Have fun. Celebrate each small achievement. Party amidst the potential.

Share the joy with your fellow travelers including your family and friends. Laugh in the face of faith and even in the face of fear – for it will sustain and energize you.

5. Greet Each Day With A Thankful Heart

I recently watched an interview of a young man who became a quadriplegic as a direct result of a helicopter accident. His positive attitude shone throughout the interview. So what do I as an able-bodied male, have to worry about. I have so much to be thankful for, and so do you.

Greet each day with a sense of gratitude. While ever you and I have breath in our body we have so much to be thankful for. Take a regular thankful stock-take of your life and all complaints will dissipate.

Go on! Grab, grasp, grip, grin and greet. Five G’s with the greatest of ease to destroy the disease of desperation and construct the deliberate life.

Jquery Post

Contains common Jquery code

* Display jQuery version

alert(jQuery.fn.jquery);

* Find how many check boxes have been checked

var count = $('input[type=checkbox]:checked').length;

* Get ID, class of an element

var element_id = $(this).attr('id'); or element_id = this.id;
var class = $(this).attr('class'); or class = this.class;

* Set the attribute of an element

$(this).attr('class', 'new-class');
$(this).attr('title', 'new-title');

* Set multiple attributes for an element

$('this').attr({
class: 'new-class',
title: 'new-title'
});

* Checking and Un-checking a check-box

this.checked = false; //un-check
this.checked = true; //check

* Loop through all check-boxes and find if they are checked

$('input[type=checkbox]').each(function () {
var is_checked = (this.checked ? "1" : "0");
});

* Loop through all radio buttons in a form

$("#form-id").find(':radio').each(function() {
radio_id = $(this).attr('id');
radio_name = $(this).attr('name');
});

* PHP like explode and implode functions in Javascript

//explode
var my_string = "abc-def-ghi-jkl";
var my_array = [];
my_array = my_string.split("-");

//implode
var my_array = new Array('abc', 'def', 'ghi', 'jkl');
var my_string = "";
my_string = my_array.join("-");

# Disable all radios of a group

$('input:radio[name=radio-group-name]').attr('disabled', true);

# Get the value of the selected radio button in a group

$('input:radio[name=radio-group-name]').val();

# Disable all input elements in a form (input, textarea, select and button)

$("#form-id :input").attr("disabled", true);

# Disable only input elements of a form

$("#form-id input").attr("disabled", true);

# Get the current page url

var current_page_url = window.location.pathname;

Go on, be positive!

The state of your mental health says a lot about your life. Experts say that people who focus more on positive thinking and have positive attitudesnot only enjoy life more but also lead healthier lives. Optimists are said to deal with pain and hardship better than their pessimistic counterparts. Remember your body reacts to your thoughts, feelings and actions. So if you're in a bad mood, your body will respond in a similar manner. While keeping yourself fit by eating right and managing stress is alright, positive thinking goes a long way in ensuring good health. 

If you're feeling unwell and tell yourself that you're coming down with a bug, chances are that it will come true. Your mind is more powerful than you think. Stop thinking that you are going to fall sick or will take time to recover from a sickness. Experts call this the placebo effect - a placebo is treatment that provides whatsoever no medical gain except making the patient believe that it is helping them get better. Several patients report relief from their problems although they haven't actually received any medicine. 

Thinking positive may not come naturally to everyone. To make that change you need to make a conscious effort. Whenever you find yourself getting negative thoughts, stop them. Start thinking of a happy event or memory that will cheer you. 

Make positive statements. Instead of thinking or saying, "I can't do this or this is impossible", state positive affirmations - I will give this my best shot or I have so many things to be grateful about," sends out positive vibes. 

Down in the dumps or feeling out of sorts with an illness? Visualisation is a great technique that will actually help you feel better. Imagine yourself healthy and happy. When you visualise your thoughts, they send out positive signals to your brain making you feel better. 

Positive emotions like humour, friendship and love are known to supercharge your health. Experts have long since asserted that laughter is great for you. Life is full of humour if you stop and experience it. Watch funny movies or TV shows, read books and jokes that make you smile, meet people who make you laugh. Laughter increases creativity, reduces pain, and even accelerates healing. 

Catch up with friends. With the hectic lives we lead, we often forget how relaxing and calming meeting a friend can be. Good friendships are important so make sure you surround yourself with genuine ones. Having close buddies help you recuperate faster from sickness. 

Social service and volunteering boosts feelings of compassion, which in turn make you a better person. When you help someone, you also help yourself. There are several orphanages, old age homes, mentally and physically challenged centres and animal shelters that need you to spend time with people and animals living there. You don't need to go there every week. Go once in a while and notice the difference. 

When you spend a certain amount of time in prayer, and spiritual beliefs, you send positive vibrations your side. Have faith and it will go a long way in being a faithful companion. Prayer and meditation are good ways to connect to your spiritual side.

Life lessons from a glass of water!

Not worrying too much about the problem is the first step to solve it.

A chemistry professor decided to teach his students a different lesson one day. Holding a glass of water in his hand, he asked the students, “How much do you think this glass of water weighs?” “500 grams!” came a voice from the back. “600,” said another student. “I don’t really know!” said the professor, holding the glass up to make sure everyone could see it. “And unless we weigh it, we won’t know.” With the glass still in his outstretched hand, the professor continued, “What will happen if I hold it like this for a few minutes?”

“Nothing!” came the reply. “Right, and if I hold it for an hour like this, what might happen?” “Your hand will begin to hurt,” said a student. “Indeed. And what would happen if I held the glass in my hand like this for 24 hours?”

“You would be in tremendous pain,” said one student. “Your hand will probably go numb,” said another. “Your arm will be paralysed and we’ll need to rush you to the hospital!” said a student on the last bench.

“True,” said the professor. “But notice that through all this, the weight of the glass did not change. What then causes the pain?”

The class went quiet. The students seemed puzzled.“What should I do to avoid the pain?” asked the professor. “Put the glass down!” said a student.

“Well said!” exclaimed the professor. “And that’s a lesson I want you to remember. The problems and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. But think about it a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralysed – incapable of doing anything. It’s important to remember to let go of your problems. Remember to put the glass down!”

We may not have been in that classroom that day, but it’s a lesson we would all do well to remember. Put the glass down! Always. It’s not just problems and worries. Sometimes, we feel hurt and betrayed by a friend. And we carry that grudge through our lives. It grows and causes us anguish and pain. Learning to forgive – and forget – is not just good for the other people, it’s great for you. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in jail and when he was finally freed, you can understand how angry and vengeful he must have felt. But guess what? When he became President, he invited his jailers to be present at the inauguration – in the VIP seats! If he could forgive after 27 years of suffering, surely we can too.
It is the same with our fears too. A failure or an incident in early childhood becomes a deeply entrenched fear over time. Fear of public speaking, fear of Maths, fear of rejection. You name it, and chances are, we have it. Someone gave us that glass to hold when we were little kids – ‘you are clumsy, you are no good, you can’t do it’ - and we have faithfully held on to it all our lives. ‘I can’t’ - becomes a thought that stays in our mind and grows – leading us to complete paralysis. Time to put the glass down!

The story goes that there was a hardworking man who lived a contented life with his wife and children. Every evening when he returned from work, he’d follow a ritual. Outside the door to his house were three nails. On the first one, he’d put his hat. On the second he’d hang his coat. And on the third nail, he’d unwrap an imaginary turban from his head and ‘put’ it there. A friend happened to see this and enquired what he was putting on the third nail every day.

“Those are my problems, my worries and my anger,” said the man. “I have lots of that at work, but when I come home, I remember to take it off – and leave them outside. I don’t take them home with me.” Maybe you should learn to do that too. Starting today. Put the glass down. And see the difference!

Prakash Iyer is MD, Kimberly-Clark Lever and Executive Coach. For more inspiring life lessons, read Mr Iyer's new book The Habit of Winning.