Shanti’s Dispatches

Work on my new WordPress plugin is on hold until I can figure out the SPAM problem.

I knew web contact forms (link submission forms in this case) would get spammed, but didn’t realize how much. I’ve been hit by at least 10 SPAMs in the past few days. The script already includes some rudimentary spam combating techniques, that were used in the WP Contact Form plugin.

Looks like I’ll probably have to break out the Akismet API for this.

I’m experimenting with a new WordPress Plugin that I’ve just developed, code-named Cobra-LinkTradr.

It’s still in alpha — but it’s far enough along that I can use it for this experiment.

I know $10 isn’t earth-shattering or anything, but maybe it can buy you a domain name and your favorite charity can obtain a few small supplies out of the deal.

Contest Rules

1) One submitter will be picked randomly on Tuesday, May 22nd. They will receive $10 via PayPal, and can specify a charity of their choice to which a $10 donation will be made in their name.

2) One submission per individual, please. I don’t want to see foo.com/about/, foo.com/contact/, etc. Any multiple submissions from the same IP will be banned from the contest. I want to keep the playing field level, even for those who only have one blog or website.

3) Submit the URL below from a page on your website, where you have linked to this page and explained a little about the prize.

Preferably, add a sitewide link to “sablog.com” in your blog/website template. Then create a new post that links to this page, talking about the $10 prize and how it might help your favorite charity, or that you need $10 yourself to buy that used Bon Jovi CD that you’ve always been dreaming of - whatever.

More About the Plugin

If you’d like to beta test the WordPress plugin that’s powering this page (it does a whole lot more, too!), you can email me at:

shantibraford (at) gmail

It will be open source — there will be a 100% free Lite version, but the Pro version will cost $27 per license (domain-based), with bulk discounts available.

Good Luck on the Contest!

Special thanks to those sites listed below who are participating. Please show some clicky love and perhaps you’ll find a new favorite blogger or web resource!

Update: Contest on hold until I fix the vulnerability within the script to SPAM. Can’t do anything these days without including spam protection!

Just add this to your stylesheet:

#page pre {
	color: #63FF00;
	background: #000;
	overflow: auto;
	font: normal 12px "bitstream vera sans mono", monaco "lucida console", "courier new", courier, serif;
	margin: 0.9em 0; padding: 6px;
}

Then wrap your code in <pre></pre> tags.

CSS blatantly ripped from I.NFECTIO.US, though I’ve seen it around on plenty of blogs before so I think we’re OK.