scriptygoddess

Last weekend, I had to deal with almost 4,000 bounce messages that were sent "from" my domain. I blamed it on someone using my domain for the reply to address, but now I wonder if it wasn't a new version of spamming through MT. "Mail This Entry" used for spam – "If you are using Movable Type's "Mail This Entry" feature on your blog, you are advised to rename your mt-send-entry.cgi file, or remove the feature entirely. If you are not using the feature on your blog, you still need to either rename the script, disable it by changing the permissions, or remove it from your server altogether." Read all about it at Girlie Matters.

I needed to grab a (CSV) file via FTP and import it into a database. The part that I thought would be the hardest (the FTP part) was actually very simple. Once again, PHP saves the day with incredibly powerful built in functionality. Here is the simple code that will connect to an FTP server and download a file:
Read the rest of this entry »

Chad has been busily coding away and developed a cgi version of the subscribe to comments feature (originally developed in PHP). His is called "notifier". I plan on installing it here soon – but I have tested it on a "test" blog and it works great!! Installation is pretty easy (similar installation as MT-Blacklist).

I believe he has plans to include a feature that will import existing subscriptions, that'll probably be developed soon. If you have the (old) subscribe to comment script running and you want to change it to use this one – after following the installation instructions you only need to change the "action" attribute in your comments form tag. Change it back to the "default" – which if you're using MT 2.64 – you can just put this in:

action="<$MTCGIPath$><$MTCommentScript$>"

I should also add that Oscar Hills has also developed a similar plugin – but I haven't gotten my hands on it to try it out.

Thanks so much guys for answering my cry for help! 😀

(update: Just installed Chad's version here – let me know if you notice anything wacky)

About a week ago, there was a guest authored post that involved using a script from Matt's Script Archive. I've since been told (quite vehemently by some) that those scripts on Matt's Script Archive are old, buggy, have major security flaws and should be avoided at all costs. (I never used them, so I didn't know)

In any case, there ARE replacements to those scripts, and they can be found here: NMS (Which I think someone said stood for Not Matts Scripts ??).

The post that involved using them has since been taken down. (In case you're wondering the post was about how to make "private" comments in MT – for which there's an even simpler solution than the one in described in the post – which is to show the comments form on your page, but just don't include the code to display the comments.)

Here's another color picker thingy™. I really don't think you can have too many bookmarks to these. I love playing with color.

ColorMatch Remix

[As seen on Jennifer's Confetti Falling (sideblog), Jennifer's ETC, and Webgraphics. Yeah, so I'm a little late to the party.]

There have been a number of problems cropping up with the subscribe to comments script. My first thought had been that I would completely revamp it – make it use mySQL, etc. – however some problems can not be overcome unless it becomes an integral part of MT. Especially now with mt-blacklist and other comment spam blocking plugins.

I have two questions for you – feel free to email me or leave a comment with your thoughts:

1) Is there a doctor in the house? 😉 (or rather a PERL programmer?)
Basically is there someone out there that can either write this as a plugin or some other method directly into the MT code? The way it works now is that the comment subscribe script happens BEFORE MT gets the comment and can either deny it based on it's content or the commenter's IP address. (So you can probably guess what's happening) As well, with all the SPAM legislation out there, there are some serious flaws to the script which would need to be addressed in an update. If there is someone out there, I would love to help out however I can (maybe I'd actually learn a little PERL in the process?!) – but in the very least – I can tell you what the script needs to do/how it needs to work.

2) Let it die?
Without the proper update to the code, I'm considering taking the feature down off this site altogether. Basically people who subscribe to comments run the risk of being spammed. I've done my best to prevent that – but I'm beginning to throw my hands up in the air… and with the traffic (and comment spam) this site gets, it's getting out of hand.

So, any thoughts?

Catching up on a few things people sent in…

Javascript Color Picker
Version 2.0 can be found here – cleaner code, improved API, and better examples.
Sent in by Lloyd Dalton – daltonlp.com

Another Commend Spam Blocker
Spam Tramps
Sent in by Rich Blinne – blinne.org

Simple Post Counter Script
This will count how many times a post has been read.
There's a mysql version – and a php/DBX version
Sent in by Jayant Kumar Gandhi – nibbleguru.com

FYI – the new (legal) Napster is out. I did the early sign up so I could get the 5 free tracks (an offer they had out a few weeks ago). As I said before, I've also signed up with iTunes and had been really happy with them – however I personally think Napster might have iTunes beat.

Buying music was certainly error free with iTunes, but the interface is a bit clunky (something I would expect better of Apple). I just had an easier time searching, buying etc. for songs on Napster. I could go into more depth, and I'd probably have to play with it a lot longer to pinpoint what it is I like more about Napster than I do iTunes, but those were my initial impressions. I just felt more comfortable in the Napster interface. One thing I WILL give you is that it MAY be because many of the GOOD things I liked about iTunes, I saw in Napster interface.

One thing I still have yet to do is BURN A CD with Napster. (This was accomplished, again error-free on Apple's iTunes, and was only impeded by what I think was bad interface design). But based on the ease of purchase/download etc. I'm not expecting any issues with Napster's burning ability. (Not like I did when I purchased/downloaded music from buymusic. With this much REALLY GOOD competition between iTunes and Napster, I don't picture buymusic lasting too long)

Just released today – MT-Blacklist Version 1.5! Defend your blog!

If you are using Adam Kalsey's comment notification hack, you might need to make some changes. See more details here. Other hacks and plugins may require additional tweaking, so remember – do a backup first!

I did not write this code but I have been using it for a while. I have gotten quite a few emails about it and thought I would post it here to share with the masses. It's been working perfectly on my site for some time. This method can be used to skin your comment and trackback popups as well as any other pages that you link to your site. I also use it to skin my blogroll page.
Read the rest of this entry »