I thought Turkeys could fly...
In the wayback machine we have the famous WKRP in Cinncinatti Thankgiving Turkey Drop, courtesy About.com.
I would like to turn commenting off without erasing old comments. I have been bombarded by spam. Is this possible?
I opened up my site today to find one of the atrocious you-know-whats that was advertisin' what is possibly the end result of some sex-slavin' full of 'bout a million URLs. I, o' course, went through the blacklistin' scenario, but eye-balled the whole string of URLs that were fixin' to be added to our massively long and nearly too full list, and knowin' space on the list is now essential, found that string of characters that was common to all of the offendin' URLs, pared it down to that string and added it to the blacklist. I found, however, that such string was already a part of the list or smaller part of a URL that was included in the list. This led me to wonder if whoever had beat me to eradicatin' this supremely filthy set of sites took the time to pare the addition to the raw data needed to keep such offender from droppin' future such tidbits of unwanted information, and learned that they had not done so. I, therefore, usin' the find on this page function of the IE6 browser, located all the complete URL strings connected with the shortened string I had added to the list and deleted them from the list, thereby freein' up an additional 7 or 8 slots for future additions.
All I want to say is that with the list crammed full, we need to use a little bit of thought with makin' future additions to the blacklist.
By the way, has anyone thought to contact Jay Allen and inquire if there is some configuration switch that can be toggled in some way to increase the size of the blacklist?
I can no longer comment on any mu.nu blog including my own unless i spoof the email address. it seems part of my email address for my blog {blogmail- at-optonline.net} is considered questionable content. (actually, its the online.net part that is banned).
If I can't comment I will soon suffer from a dangerous backup of whit and sarcasm and my head will explode. It's happened before. It's not pretty, and the collateral damage is horrific.
There's a new version of Expression Engine out, complete with shiny new toys. I'll be installing it tonight... probably (loooong day at work) and then open it up for testing.
I spent a few hours last night and this morning consolidating the Blacklist. I had it down to under 2900 entries (eliminated just under 1000) so we should be good for quite a while.
To get that many entries out I put in quite a bunch of basic entries like "sales.com" and "insurance.com" and "gallery.com". This will offer much better coverage but there could be some issues with valid sites being blacklisted. I don't think it'll be a big one. I de-spammed my last 5000 comments and came up with only 3 that hit the list that were actually innocent. If you do run into problems I ask that you email me before you just delete the blacklist entry. I can refine them a bit if they are problematical.
I had to delete one of two very similar lookin' URLs in the blacklist jes' to get one more in, as it is full ag'in and I had one comment spammer who continued bombardin' me with the same URL. I would delete three comments, then I would look again, and there would be two or three new ones. I delete those and find another one of two already sittin' there for 'nother go 'round. I am wantin' to go watch Bubba Ho-Tep, which I bought today and was not wantin' to sit here on guard to keep deletin' those damned comments. Am I forgiven?
Hello Munuvians!
I have a better way to do the smilies on our sites. Here goes:
1. Open up your Edit Templates and go all the way down to:
Create new template module
Click that, of course, and then copy and paste this into the Module Body. Just right-click in the box and select all:
(I decided ascii was too much to learn real quick like :-) )
2. Still with me? Good! In the box at the main top called Template Name type in:
macros
or whatever you want to call it. Make sure if you name it something different to change it in the tag near the end of this!
save and DO NOT REBUILD!
Yet.
3. Now we need to go into each template you want the smilies to appear and add some code to each one.
I'd add the coding to these:
Main Index
Individual Entries
Comment Listing
Comment Preview
and you'll add this to each template:
A. At the top right before the tag </head> add this to it:
<MTInclude module="macros">
Hint: If you named the template way above something else, change macros in this tag to that something else you wrote ;-)
OK! Moving on. Wrap the part of code you want your smilies to appear in like this:
<MTMacroApply> </MTMacroApply>
I wrapped the entire part of the body in it, but I may find this to be wrong later. No problems thus far, however. Do this for each template you want smilies to appear, and then REBUILD! Smile, you have smilies!
Advantages for doing this instead of just doing what Pixy mentioned earlier comes down to ease of adding new smilies, or editing and changing the ones already listed. The cool thing about macros is that whatever you want to add is easy to do.
Let's say you want to make a Darth Vader smiley? Here's all I changed:
Is playing at my school, Gar-Field H.S. tonight, tomorrow, and saturday. Tonight and Tomorrow is at 7:30 and the saturday show is at 5:00. And anyone in the washington metro area is welcome to come! Its only four bucks, and its about a town putting on a pagent that gets taken over by the 6 worst kids in the town! Incidently enough, 6 is the same number as the leads.
And as added incentive to come, I'm gonna be dressed like an elf.
Back on the old servers, a javascript I was running was kept here:
src="http://blog.mu.nu/referrers.js"
The script is no longer working, and I was wondering if the location changed during the move.
Okay, to add smilies, there are a couple of things you need to do.
First, define your smilies. We use MTMacro to do this. It can a lot of other stuff, but the way we use it for smilies is like this:
<MTMacroDefine name="happy" string=":)">You need to put that near the top of each template where you want smilies to work.
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="sad" string=":(">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="happy2" string=":-)">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="grin" string=":D">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="razz1" string=":p">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt=":p">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="razz2" string=":-p">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt=":-p">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="razz3" string=":P">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt=":P">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="razz4" string=":-P">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt=":-P">
</MTMacroDefine>
<MTMacroDefine name="wink" string=";)">
<img src="http://www.mu.nu/Forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)">
</MTMacroDefine>
Then, you wrap the part of the template that actually displays the text in <MTMacroApply> and </MTMacroApply. Our individual entry archive, for example, contains this:
<MTMacroApply>Our main template... Well almost the whole thing is contained inside those two.
<MTComments>
<div class="comments-body">
<$MTCommentBody$>
<span class="comments-post">Posted by: <$MTCommentAuthorLink spam_protect="1"$> at <$MTCommentDate$></span>
</div>
</MTComments>
</MTMacroApply>
Is there a "Complete Idiot's Guide" to ftp-ing things from my computer to the munu server? Like how to display the directories/sub-directories of my website and get the file to the right place?
I've tried to view my file structure and figure out the ftp manager in cPanel and I'm feeling like, well, a complete idiot at this point.
I would like to post an occasional original mp3 at my site. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
UPDATE: <Roseanne-Rosanna-Danna Voice>Never mind</Rosanne-Rosanna-Danna Voice> I figured it out, I think. Sorry for the noise.
I OK, I know this has been asked before, many times, but I am asking it again for better directions. I have tried the instructions in the past to utter failure. Can someone help me to get my site smiley-compliant?
It may have more to do with this very slow and pathetic Pentium box and the very slow and even more pathetic 28.8K dial-up connection, but I am experincin' difficulties with graphics and .css files not even loadin' on all the Munuvian blogs I have checked, so far.
On an entirely different note, I found this little ditty on AtomFilm's site:
They say sex and violence sells. If we'd known that we wouldn't give it away for free.
Jen mentioned this the other day...is it happening again? I've a post with a few trackback pings, of which all went through except the ones to Munuvians. Is this some kind of perverse anti-pinging discrimination thing?
Pixy, I think you need to get the stick out again.
Update: I just did each ping manually using this and they all seemed to work. Strange...
The Munu Confederation has a reasonable patch of land, just south of Randomberg. Friends, I say we prepare to march our way to Comrade Attila. It might get a little cold, though. Bring the winter woolies and unleash the gerbils of hell!
Okay, I'm logged into CPanel, and I figured out how to upload files with FTP. Now...how do I link to files so people can download them? There doesn't seem to be an option for that.
Okay, so everything is across onto the new server now, except for DNS. The old hosting company is planning to do some network upgrades this weekend, so this morning I transferred the DNS across to the new server as well, leaving the old one as a backup.
And just now, the old server, and indeed the old hosting company, disappeared from the net. Somewhere there is a very unhappy network engineer right now.
Expression Engine is up and running! See the thrilling results at the Sandbox!
Yay!
I'll be installing a few more plugins - there aren't as many plugins for EE as MT, but there are some. I've already put Textile, Markdown and SmartyPants in there, so you have the same formatting options as with MT 3.
Anyway, give me a yip and I'll set you up with a login so you can play around.
Update: I'm starting to like Expression Engine, though it certainly has its own idiosyncracies, and one big stupid hole when it comes to setting up multiple blogs. (Though I can write a little script to deal with that.)
Okay, let's say, hypothetically, that I just made a really cool documentary in my film production class, and I'd like to share it with my blog readers, but the smallest size I can compress it to in MPEG form is 9.6 MB. Is there any way I could upload it, or is that too much for the server to handle?
I have just created a survey on the War on Terror that I hope everyone will take. It is not limited to just US citizens, and I know now there are a few grammar issues, but I activated it before I noticed unfortuately. The survey can be found here:
UPDATE: OK, I added Canada and New Zealand, plus changed a few little things. I know, I'm crazy.
This is a first try for me on making a survey so don't be harsh. If you have any questions or comments, or even CONSTRUCTIVE criticism just let me know. Email me at patriot@patriot-paradox.com or just leave a comment. Also the survey is completly anonymous.
Also I am trying to get the survey out there so I can get a good mix of respondents so feel free to post a link to it from your blog, and pass it along to liberal blogs especially.
Okay, I think I've finished installing plugins for MT 3.
Here's what we have:
Plugins we already had on MT 2
Blacklist
Macros
Textile
NotifierOh, and MovableJive, just because. ;)
Koala Rainbow (this looks really cool; can't wait to play with it)
Multiblog
Xsearch/Plus
Conversation Killer (an auto comment-closer)
Bits and Pieces (create your own template tags!)
Markdown & Smartypants
Enclosures (a tool for managing images, sound and video)
W3CValidator (validates your web pages automatically)
DropCap
Compare
DateTags (and MoreDateTags)
CheckLinks (warns you of broken links)
Collect (does... stuff)
Columnize (easy two-columning)
FilterCategories
FirstNWords
GetXML
Glue
LastModified
Loop
TextWrap
PhotoGallery
SimpleComments
AdminLinks
GlobalListings
One of the neat new features in MT3 is a listing of installed plugins, and most of them even have links to the documentation! Not that anyone will ever read it, but it's nice to know it's there.
Has now been abandoned for a little over a year. *Tear* I remember when I was on blog spot and I stole 90% of my template from his blog... How things have changed... indeed how they change. Anyway, I just thought that was a neat thing to mention... Does anyone know if he's still alive?
I got another 3some of comment spammers and tried to add the URLs to the blacklist but got the following return:
Could not save your blacklist data: Got a packet bigger than 'max_allowed_packet'Guess that means some switch somewhere needs to be reset?
Everyone knows by now that TypePad and MT 3 offer comment registration using a service called TypeKey. While it's effective in blocking spam, it does leave you dependent on the TypeKey server, and not everyone wants that.
One of the neat plugins I'm installing is something called TinyOrwell, which is a standalone TypeKey-compatible authentication server. So I'll be able to set up a MuNuKey service: Register once to be registered across all MuNu blogs (or at least all those that use MuNuKey).
We'll also have MT Blacklist, and not one but two ways of blocking comments to old posts.
Now I'm just waiting for Brad Choate's site to come back. Curiously enough, it's hosted at the same company as our new server.
Good news first: MT3 is up and running! Email me at andrew -at- pixymisa -dot- net and I'll give you a login and password so you can play around. The test blog is at playpen.mu.nu.
I've installed two plugins so far and have at least two more to install, but it's a lot more straightforward than with MT2 and nothing is likely to break.
Less good news: It looks like we've hit some sort of limit in MT Blacklist; I couldn't get rid of the latest spam until I went and pruned some redundant entries. There are quite a few redundant entries, fortunately, so we'll survive for a while yet.
Oh yeah. The dates on the test blog are in Czech, because the languages are listed in alphabetical order on the config page and that turns out to be the default. I thought it was cool so I left it that way.
Update: MT3 seems to be working well, except for the dynamic publishing, which isn't working at all. Unfortinately, Brad Choate's site is down, so I can't get updates for two of the plugins we currently use. Hopefully it will be back up soon and we can get this baby off the ground!
Here's a simple idea who's time has come. Visit five blogs you usually just lurk at, and leave a comment. Visit three blogs you've never been to before and leave a comment. Even if it's just "Hi, it's Leave A Comment Day", that's fine. We are but fragile flowers who bask in showers of attention Everyone likes a little feedback, otherwise we feel like we're just talking to ourselves. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
(cross posted to Rocket Jones too)
I was posting a comment to Jim's tail (get it?) when I included the word "socialise", spelt as most non-Americans would. The comment was blocked because it contains "cialis". So now you know the Blacklist is working AND where the word Cialis came from...
Don't thank me for pointing this useless bit of trivia out.
I jes' found the followin' link http://www.google.com/search?hl=xx-hacker&q=read+my+lips in my referral list. Anyone have a clue as to the purpose of addin' hacker into the search criteria? Other than makin' some of the links look a bit bizarre, I couldn't see much difference in the returns upon this page from those ya would find if ya did a regular Google search on the same terms.
While I am at it, can anyone 'splain to me why I keep comin' up with a 404 message ever' time I try to access the USURP site? I actually thought I had successfully posted a new item to it yesterday, but have been unable to access the site to see if it successfully published. Hmmmm.
It seems that the only livin' former Munuvian has left a comment on my blog askin' why so few of ya'll drop by and comment on my crap. I was unable to come up with a decent explanation.
After giving her fair warning, annika has not yet made her "Poetry Day" post. I now declare her comments hijacked to "Post a Racy Limerick" Day.
After you've cast that vote for President, Come on over to the Flying Space Monkey Chronicles, drop a comment and take part in the online exit poll.
I have no idea what it actually does let alone how it works, but I have installed the Textile plugin at Simon's request.
Someone else had a plugin request. I'm sure I still have it filed away among the 1100 emails occupying my inbox... Feel free to poke me if it was you.
Don't tell me it was really that easy...
I've reactivated Trickle and the New on MuNu updater script. There's a lot of little fiddly things scattered around MuNu that I kind of forget about once they're working.
The server seems to be quite happy, though it's just gone quarter-past-midnight server time so the day's stats don't show a heck of a lot. I'll try to remember to check in the morning. The old server was getting up around 60% busy at times, so it will be interesting to see how the new server fares.
