I was messing around with RSS again and I noticed another possible use for it. There seems to be a lot of abuse on the comments facilty and I was thinking about ways that this could be reduced. One way I though of was to build a database of IP address’s that are banned from using the comments facilty. This is not actually a very good way to do it due to DHCP and various other hacks that can be used to circumvent whatever we do. While playing around I built the following
RSS file of Banned IP address’s.
There are a lost of things that could be done to make this a much more comprehensive list and I am sure I could come up with a simple script to parse the file and insert it into the banned IP list in moveable type (I have not checked this). It would rely on good editing and weeding which is something I have not got the time to do. It would also rely on a trust network of some desrcription to add and remove IP address’s from the list.
What it could be used for is as a list of Possible spam addresses. What I mean is, if you find an IP in this list then check the content of the message or vice versa.
On the other hand you could just take a stroll over to Jay Allens website and sort your spam out that way. I have just installed it and needless to say it was a flawless install. I just hope it does its job as well 😉
FOSDEM
Unfortunately I was unable to make FOSDEM this year. I wanted to go but a new job and Jenny working shifts means that what chance I get to see here I take and she has Saturday and Sunday off. Last years FOSDEM was meant to be a bit of a laugth and I missed it as well.
Odd Phone Call
Got a phone call from a mate last night after 1am.
Harry “Hello!”
Bob, “Hi Harry, where was the 1920 olympics held?”
Harry “I think it was Antwerp”
CLICK.
5 Minutes later
Harry “Hello”
Bob “Hi Harry, Who where the 10 countries recently admitted to the EU”
Harry “You again!”
Harry “Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Hungary and Malta. What do you want to kn…..”
CLICK
It was only then I realised that he was in the middle of a quiz in a pub in Ballykelly NI.
Styles
I need to have a look at the various styles for MT. I like georgia_blue but it is not that easy on my eyes. I will not be writing my own because I have not got the time so It will be a default css for me. I am going to ask J which she prefers and probably run with that.
Installed MT
I decided to take a night off maths and do something else for a change. I have been meaning to install some type of content management tool for a while to save myself some time and tonight was the night. I decided to install Movable Type so hopefully I will be able to keep a more up to date blog.
First impressions are good, its very easy to use and I have managed to make several entries already. I also managed to transfer my old HTML blog over which was a bore but luckily there was not too much of it.
I also have to thank the person/s who runs www.movablesytle.com for making their style sheets freely available and all they ask for in return is the credit.
XSLT and FOP
I was given the job of creating a pdf using FOP and XSLT yesterday and since I had never used either before to any great degree I had resigned myself to several days of googling but I managed to all but finish it today. It was surprisingly easy to get the bulk of the formatting done but due to FOP’s lack of support for widows and orphans the rest will be a bit harder.
I also had a lot of trouble trying to get “analyze-string” to work. I eventualy fudged a regex of my own using “substring” and it seems to do the trick
M203
Maths has started again. I have started M203 and handed in my first peice of coursework today. It looks like an interesting course and I am looking forward to getting stuck into it. It seems to be soaking up an awful lot of my time at the moment.
Valentines Day
I suprised Jenny by taking her to London to a concert at the Barbican Concert Hall. We seen the “Valentines Day Love Classics” and we really enjoyed it.
The Programme
Tchaikovsky Waltz from sleeping beauty.
Bizet Carmen Suite
Grieg Paino Concerto in A minor
INTERVAL
Offenbach Orpheus in the Underworld Overture.
Strauss Blue Danube Waltz
Delius The walk to the Paradise Garden
Verdi Prelude to Act 1 from La traviata
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite
It was really good, my favourite piece was by Bizet.
There where a few smiles when the blue danube was played, this was because I had surprised Jenny on her Brithday two years ago by taking her to Vienna we spent some time on the Danube.
All in all it was a good night.
New Job
Started my new job today. So I think I might be getting very busy very soon. I am now employed as Assistant Webmaster at the Associaltion of Commonwealth Universities.
The sites that I am involved in are as follows:
ACU
Marshall Scholarship
Observatory
CSFP
All being well there might be a few other things to get my teeth into.
YAPC 2004
I have just been asked if I am going to go to YAPC 2004 (Belfast) in September. Considering its my home country I am probably going to go. I can also head home and catch up with the family. God knows who else is going to go and I am not really sure what to expect when I get there but the crack should be good.