August 26, 2004
Building a Better "Currently Reading" Section
New Feature: Reading List by Phil Windley:
I'm experimenting with software for building reading lists using Amazon Web Services. So far, I havent't found anything that really works like I'd want. Mr Rat's Amazon Product Feed software isn't bad. I used it to create this reading list of books I've mentioned on my Weblog. One of the things I'd like to do is create multiple lists and manage them with a database of some kind.
I've been investigating the same thing. For Movable Type blog users like me, there are a couple nice MT plug-ins that can help: MTAmazon, Bookqueue, and AllConsuming (all available from http:/www/mtplugins.org ). I've tried MTAmazon and Bookqueue and it works fine to display basic info, cover art, and link to Amazon (see Currently Reading sidebar).
It would be perfect if it only was a little more capable. I'm still looking for a solution that would let me also add my own comments, include a rating, and assign (and sort by) categories (not just read/not read like Bookqueue supports). Unfortunately, Bookqueue looks like its not actively being enhanced any more.
Another approach I'm considering is using a PC-based book catalog application called Book Collector (from http://www.collectorz.com ). That gives me all the features I'd like and more and can export book info to HTML files that I could then move onto my site. The biggest drawback there is that I'd prefer a web-based solution so I could access and update from anywhere. (I posted the above note on Windley's message board. Hope more people post their ideas/solutions, since I can't imagine we're the only ones interested in a more functional "currently reading" list for our sites.)
August 13, 2004
MT-Blacklist to the Rescue
The amount of annoying comment spam that's appearing in blog posts has been getting out of hand lately. I was tired of clearing it out by and and was getting the point where I was going to disable comments on posts.
Instead I installed MT-Blacklist, Jay Allen's free Movable Type plug-in that helps eliminate comment and trackback spam. So far, it's working great.
Comment spam is all about getting getting the URL for a questionable site into as many sites as possible so that search engines that index sites will give that URL more prominence. Since spammers constantly forge new identities and IP addresses, MT-Blacklist lets you block any comments that include links to common spam URLs. You can download a regularly updated master list of spam URLs and also add your own at any time. I's not fool-proof protection and, like an anti-virus program, you have to regulary update your master list, but, for me, it's turned an intolerable spam situation into a very manageable one.