Criteria for the Rose Awards

The Rose Awards -- Criteria & Rules

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:: Application :: Privacy Statement :: Copyright Statement :: COPPA Statement :: Code of Ethics :: The Evaluator ::

:: Memberships/Affiliations :: The Resource Guide :: Contact Me :: The Special Non-Rated Awards ::

:: Lady Dorothea's Celtic Castle :: <------------ Opens into a new window ------------> :: Celtic Castle Designs Website ::

Rose Awards Program Criteria

General Criteria

-- Entire site should be written in English, or have an English translation available -- this includes all written material.

-- You must be at least 18 years old to apply.

-- You must be the owner of the web site.

-- As of January 1, 2005, The Rose Awards will only accept personal web sites and stand-alone awards programs ... We no longer accept commercial, business or authorized fan sites (and certainly no unauthorized fan sites).

-- Although I am now using a high-speed wireless connection to view websites, I will check each applicant for page-loading times with Net Mechanic ... Opening page should load in 1 minute or less, with special consideration given to Flash entry pages, and subsequent pages should load in 2 minutes or less.

-- In reference to the above, please state if you have graphic-heavy pages where download times may be longer.

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Content

-- Remember, I am looking for websites that:

* Display a heightened sense of beauty, wonder and awe
* Afford an educational experience to the viewer
* Promote love, tolerance, and understanding for our fellow man
* Encourage an increased awareness of the world around us
* Give one a chance to learn something new & exciting
* Encourage us to take care of this wonderful planet
* Offer a renewed sense of hope and purpose
* Display an artistic, poetic, musical, and/or creative element
* Encourage a sense of accomplishment for a "job well done"
* Offer an opportunity to grow spiritually, or to learn something about another religion/path/philosophy

-- Web site should have at least ten (10) pages of good, solid content, preferably written/designed/created by you.

-- A general topic or theme should be evident throughout the site.

-- A Copyright statement and a Privacy Statement should be present on your web site, especially if you are using other people's work, and/or if you collect personal information from visitors via a guestbook, message board, etc.

-- Graphics/images/written content & and the like should be properly credited to the creator/author of the work; and where applicable, a "used with permission of" statement should be visibly displayed.

-- Pages "about me" only, chat rooms/forums/message boards, links, guestbooks, webring pages, etc. do not count as "content".

-- Excellent spelling, grammar, & punctuation are important -- with consideration given to differences in spelling of certain words in the English language -- And you should demonstate clarity in word and thought.

-- As always: No websites promoting or containing pornography, hatred, violence, cruelty to humans or animals, illegal activities, intolerance of other countries/religions, sexual stereotyping, or blatant copyright violations.

-- In addition, any website with hateful or defamatory remarks toward another individual/group of individuals, or toward another website or award program, will be disqualified without further notice.

-- Further, any website displaying content in the following listed areas: pornographic or "adult" content in writing, song lyrics, links & graphics, as well as foul language or offensive images/text/gestures, etc., will be disqualified without further notice .... (Special thanks to my friend, James Binegar & the AJCF Awards for allowing me to use this sentence in my criteria.)

-- Artistic nudity is acceptable -- think of Michelangelo's "David" or Botticelli's "Venus" as reference points for acceptable artistic expression -- In the end, the final decision rests with me as to whether I consider the work truly "artistic" in nature.

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Design

-- HTML coding will not be validated, as I am more interested in the "finished product" than the technical aspects of a web site. I will, however, check for HTML fragments & error messages -- More than five (5) fragments or error messages will end the review.

-- Flash entry pages should have a "skip intro" mechanism -- I do not disqualify sites without a "skip intro" mechanism, but I do deduct five (5) points, as having a skip intro feature shows courtesy to your Net viewers who choose not to view flash introductions.

-- Backgrounds, headings, fonts, and text colors should be color-coordinated, flow well, and not be overpowering; using the same background, etc. throughout your site helps increase download speeds. Good use of "white space" is also important, with "room to breathe" on each page.

-- The less graphics/images on a page, the better. Graphics should also be theme-appropriate to your web site content.

-- Height, width, and alt tags should be used with graphics & images; border tags should be used when images are used to link to other sites -- border="0" removes those unsightly boxes around images.

-- When graphics-heavy pages are necessary: (1) let people know that page download time may be longer, (2) make sure your images are optimized to ensure faster loading times, (3) use thumbnail pictures or javascript popup windows, which open to the full view on another page, or (4) use text links which also open to another page.

-- Only two (2) animated graphics allowed per page -- animation was "cute" five years ago, but it can be annoying if it's overdone.

-- No horizontal scroll at greater than 1024x768.

-- No bandwidth stealing or "hot linking" to another site.

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Navigation

-- Site should be easy to navigate, with a link to your Site Index on each page, and no required use of my back button.

-- If you use java-scripted menus for your site index, have a text-only alternative for those browsers which don't support java scripting.

-- Having a mechanism to turn off music is nice, but I can turn off my speakers if I don't like what's playing ;-)

-- In reference to music on your site, remember to always get permission to use midis, etc, as copyright violations can occur without the artist's permission.

-- Internal links should open within your site, unless otherwise specified.

-- External links should generally open outside of your site, but this is not a requirement.

-- No popups except those of web sites on free servers, and even those should be no more than one (1) per page.

-- Small popup (javascript) windows displaying graphics, images, or information are acceptable -- just make sure your coding is correct.

-- No greater than five (5) internal broken links per site.

-- No greater than seven (7) external broken links per site.

-- Secret phrase: When I ask you where you are from on the application form, you must enter the secret phrase, "Erin go Bragh" ... Answering this question correctly tells me you have thoroughly read the criteria. ("Erin go Bragh" translates to "Ireland Forever", which is also acceptable).

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