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For programmers especially, this should already be a well practiced method. For myself, I do this with web-based applications by making regular trips to CoolHomePages.com I am sure there are similar sites out there, anyone have any good sites that they use for inspiration?

Advertising on the Web is not targeted at people who read Slashdot. Us folks know how to block the ads--advertisers realize this. They also realize that probably 80% of the rest of the Web-going audience don't know how, so they will continue to look at their ad-full Web as though it were broadcast television. It gets to a point where you just get used to it and tune the ads out, even the more annoying ones.

The ads that I like are the intriguing ones, like the ones for SitePal. Here's an example. It's really cool the way the "pal's" head moves. (Mouse over it; you don't have to click it.) I've seen other ads that are visually interesting or funny .. some of them I've even tried (unsuccessfully) to save for my own entertainment.

Blinky seizure-inducing ads are not the answer. If more advertisers focused on good writing and compelling visuals, their ads would not only get looked at but they'd be enjoyed instead of hated and blocked.

...More than once with the same site.

The original site www.tasadventures.com some how got listed on www.coolhomepages.com, since then the design has been copied many times by sites such as: www.visitmongolia.com, www.bracecompany.com (what those guys do is scary and icky!) and www.mobilebikerentals.com.

We found these guys because they were too dumb to change the address of the style sheet from the original server, and some of them even left links back to the original site. If these are the ones we managed to find it scares me how many there could be that we don't know about.

We've often wondered what kind of legal recourse we could we could take against these people, I imagine it would be quite difficult to take action since all the copy cats are all in different countries.

Is it me, or is that site's design a rip-off of Coolhompages.com

Your question is rather broad and lacks any specifics, but I get this feeling you're looking for information regarding web site programming, hence the "My intention is to ask about web sites this weekend". In that case:

Sitepoint
A fantastic web site dealing with everything from learning new programming languages to design ethics to search engine tips.

Cool Home Pages
Stuck? Out of ideas? Check out some other fantastic designs. "The only known cure for designers block"

PHP.net
Even though it's the languages official site, there is a wealth of information here. Every function is very well documented and you'll recieve a ton of information.

PHP Builder
Possibly the single best resource to ask your questions - but before you do that, search the forums. Chances are your question has already been asked and has a fantastic answer.

w3schools
Great resource for all things HTML, CSS and so much more. Remember CSS is your friend on the internet - print the quick reference!

And if you're looking to getting into some open source databasing:

MySQL
Once again, the developer of an open source project has a fabulous web site just rigged with useful information.

Cool Home Pages also has some neat designs you can use for ideas too, but original designs are better.

This was said before, but it IS important to know your audience. I try to stay away from DHTML because it is different in every browser OR requires a lot of maintenance to keep it friendly with all the browsers. However, if your audience is a bunch of Mac zealots you can probably use more modern scripting techniques because Mac users are usually forced to upgrade their hardware often (due to new OS and application requirements).

Try your page on many platforms. A lot of Windows developers (other platforms, where?) forget about Macintosh and Linux users. My number one personal priority when I develop my pages is that it is compatible with as many browsers as possible. However, I'm starting to not care about Netscape since it is a pain in the ass to make it work and fewer and fewer people are using it anyway (upgrade already!). I mainly focus on compatibility with Mozilla and Internet Explorer now, and I think that hits the majority of people.

You have to balance elegant design with compatibility. I figure if I can get 99% of the browsers, I can sacrifice the rest for elegance.

There is a site that does something just like this called Coolhomepages.com. It's not a search engine, but it has sites broken down into different categories (DHTML, Flash, Typographic, Retro, etc.) and visitors can rate the sites from 1 to 10 stars, or submit sites they feel deserving. A lot of the web designers I work with go to the site and look around for "inspiration."

Check out http://www.coolhomepages.com/, they've got a ton of neat web sites on there, all with thumbnails and in lots of catagories. Yeah, it's only web stuff, and almost all flash, but people have done a lot of nifty things.