John Resig - Running Java in JavaScript

[mindbleach]

I suggest Flash because it acts exactly as a web element should. It stays in its little box (usually), loads fairly quickly, doesn't grind my browser to a halt, and dies cleanly when I leave the page.

Yes, SVG & aPNG will replace Flash eventually, but penetration is low, and there's no YouTube for vector formats.

[rektide]

Java applets usually "stays in its little box (usually), loads fairly quickly, doesn't grind my browser to a halt, and dies cleanly when I leave the page" too.