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July 22, 2005
TerraBlogs: Now With RSS 2.0!
What is RSS?
RSS is an acronym for Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication. It's an XML format for distributing news headlines, excerpts and other info on the internet. It's also sometimes referred to as "syndication."
What does this mean for the TerraBlogs sites?
All of the blog sites now feature an RSS 2.0 feed! What's that mean? That means that you can do cool stuff like add a live bookmark to any TerraBlogs domain in FireFox or check for updates via your RSS reader/aggregator!
Where's the link to the RSS feed?
The link to each domain's RSS feed is available on the main page of each domain in the form of a button that should look something like this:
Here's a list of the RSS links for each domain:
AtlantaBlogs RSS 2.0
BaltiBlogs RSS 2.0
BerkelyBlogs RSS 2.0
BostonBlogs RSS 2.0
ChattaBlogs RSS 2.0
CovBlogs RSS 2.0
MemphisBlogs RSS 2.0
MonroeBlogs RSS 2.0
NOLABlogs RSS 2.0
NSABlogs RSS 2.0
SanDiegoBlogs RSS 2.0
SeattleBlogs RSS 2.0
VermontBlogs RSS 2.0
VicksburgBlogs RSS 2.0
What are my RSS reader options?
Personally, I've been using SlashDock for Mac OS X, but there are a huge number of options available for those of you who are new to the wonderful realm of RSS. Dig around on Google to find an option that suits your style.
Enjoy!
Posted by Hugo Fitch at 03:25 PM | TrackBack
July 19, 2005
Hide Your Email Address Using Javascript
Using javascript can allow you to hide your email address from spambots while displaying it for your readers. You can use this code (replacing the email address pieces, of course):
<script LANGUAGE="Javascript">
<!--
var user = "youremail";
var host = "address.com";
document.write(" <A HREF=""+ "mail" + "to:" + user + "@" + host + "">Email me</A>n");
//--> </script>
Posted by Hugo Fitch at 02:14 PM | TrackBack
July 15, 2005
Want Random Entry Excerpts on the Side?
Want to add random entry excerpts on the side of your blog to entice readers to dig deeper into your archives? Ben Huffine has crafted some code that'll do just that -- check out the box on the right side of this blog's main page.
You'll need to stick some CSS in your stylesheet -- all of they way at the bottom would be fine. Here's some that should suffice (it may be a bit clunky, but it works -- edit it however you like):
.archivedig {
font-size: 11px;
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
line-height: 110%;
color: #9F998B;
text-align: left;
margin-bottom: 15px;
background-color: #FFFFFF;
padding:8px;
letter-spacing: none;
border: 1px solid #0052C2;
overflow: hidden;
}
.archivedig a, .archivedig a:link, .archivedig a:visited {
text-decoration: underline;
color: #0052C2;
overflow: hidden;
}
.archivedig a:active, .archivedig a:hover {
color: #999999;
overflow: hidden;
}
.archivedig h1, .archivedig h2, .archivedig h3 {
font-size: 10px;
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
color: #8F8774;
border: none;
background-color: transparent;
margin-bottom: 4px;
text-align: left;
overflow: hidden;
}
.archivedig h1 a, .archivedig h1 a:link, .archivedig h1 a:visited, .archivedig h2 a, .archivedig h2 a:link, .archivedig h2 a:visited, .archivedig h3 a, .archivedig h3 a:link, .archivedig h3 a:visited {
text-decoration: none;
color: #0052C2;
overflow: hidden;
}
.archivedig h1 a, .archivedig h1 a:link, .archivedig h1 a:visited, .archivedig h2 a, .archivedig h2 a:link, .archivedig h2 a:visited, .archivedig h3 a, .archivedig h3 a:link, .archivedig h3 a:visited {
color: #999999;
overflow: hidden;
}
.archivedig b {
text-decoration: none;
overflow: hidden;
}
You'll also need to create a module. Go to to your template editing menu and scroll down to the bottom. Click "Create new template module." Name the new module ARCHIVEDIG. Now, put the code below in the Module Body:
<script language="javascript">
<!--
var i = 0;
var entries = new Array();
<MTEntries category="">
var year = '<$MTEntryDate format="%Y"$>';
var day = '<$MTEntryDate format="%j"$>';
var link = '<$MTEntryPermalink valid_html="yes"$>';
var title = '<$MTEntryTitle excerpt_words="5" encode_js="1" $>';
var body = '<$MTEntryExcerpt remove_html="1" encode_js="1" $>';
entries[i++] = new Array(year,day,link,title,body);
</MTEntries>
var index = Math.round(Math.random() * (<MTBlogEntryCount>-1));
var entry = entries[index];
year = entry[0];
day = entry[1];
link = entry[2];
title = entry[3];
body = entry[4];
document.write('<div class="archivedig">');
document.write('<h2>' + year + ' DAY ' + day + '</h2>');
document.write('<div style="padding-bottom:3px;"><a href="' + link + '"><b>' + title + '</b></a></div>');
document.write(body);
document.write('<br/>');
document.write('<div style="padding-top:3px;"><a href="' + link + '">Read More...</a></div>');
document.write('</div>');
//-->
</script>
Now, name this module STYLE-TOP and click save. Go to your Main Index and stick this somewhere in your template (wherever you want the module to be displayed): <$MTInclude module="STYLE-TOP"$>
Next, rebuild your entire blog and then check it out to make sure it's working. Enjoy!
Posted by Hugo Fitch at 05:52 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Having Blog Spam Problems? Let us know!
Let us know about comment spam by sending an email to the address in the image below!
Your email should contain the URL of where the spam comment appears.
After submitting your spam to us, we'll unleash the barbarian hordes who will descend upon it with fury and therupon smash thy spam into teeny bits.
Posted by Hugo Fitch at 04:20 PM | TrackBack