Stopping web form spam in its tracks

Stopping web form spam is a key aspect of managing a website. Discover how to prevent comment and registration spam on your WordPress site.

I operate a number of websites, including this one.  One of the persistent problems that I’ve run across in website management is stopping web form spam.  Automated bots continually attack websites.  They try to log in, they try to comment on comment boxes, they try to submit fictitious orders.  Most people don’t realize how prevalent this form of spam is, but it is out of control.

You look at your site and you see you have a new comment!  Woohoo, someone reached out to you.  Then you read it and it says something to the effect of:

{In my opinion|Personally|In my view}, if all {webmasters|site owners|website owners|web owners} and bloggers made
good content as you did, the {internet|net|web} will be {much more|a
lot more} useful than ever before.|
I {couldn’t|could not} {resist|refrain from} commenting.

If you use WordPress (the blog software that I use), you are probably familiar with Askimet, which is loaded by default.  It works well, but it really only works on stopping spam on comment forms.  I have been looking for a solution that stops spam on forums, login pages, etc.  I think I have finally found the solution.   It is called Continue reading “Stopping web form spam in its tracks”

Why I am becoming a Vegan – My road to vegetables

Becoming a Vegan sounds pretty dramatic right?  I thought so too.  But I have been slowly working my way to veganism since about 2012.  The reality is as of the first of this year, I became a vegetarian.  Was it an overnight decision? Not really.  It was the result of four years of consciously eating better.  Eating whole foods, and plant-based foods.

Let me start my story back in 2012, when my beloved dalmatian, Buchi, and I went for a walk.  He found a chicken bone on the parkway and started to eat it.  I didn’t want it to splinter in his digestive track, so I pulled it out.  Unfortunately, the hand that was holding his mouth open was the one that extracted the chicken bone, so he immediately closed his mouth with bite force.  My pinky finger was still in his mouth and he bit through it at the first joint.  Shear pain!

I went to the Emergency Room, and they fixed me up.  I went through pinky therapy (seriously!).  But the major outcome of all of this was the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.  Of course, this was pretty shocking and I didn’t know what to do. Continue reading “Why I am becoming a Vegan – My road to vegetables”

Watching Internet based TV – Cutting the Cord

I’m now watching more and more internet based TV. It seems that television from internet providers is far superior to network broadcast TV.  I find myself watching a lot of Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.  What is interesting is the original content from these providers is so compelling and well-written that I laugh when I watch what is being broadcast on traditional television.

The interesting thing is that Continue reading “Watching Internet based TV – Cutting the Cord”

Chris Shaul’s Instagram Feed

I’ve always enjoyed photography but have never pursued it seriously.  I’ve always enjoyed the creative process of taking a scene, capturing it on film (or in a data card) and then presenting it.  I’ve learned a few rules along the way that help to make my photos better, but I am by no means a professional. Continue reading “Chris Shaul’s Instagram Feed”

Chromebook Internet Speed Faster than Windows

Tonight I discovered something pretty amazing.  I was messing around with my Chromebook (a Samsung Chromebook with the 11.6″ screen, I just bought recently) and my Windows 7 machine side-by-side.  (I originally had the first Chromebook, the CR-48, and finally upgraded to a newer model last month.)  As I was working Samsung chromebookon my Chromebook, I thought that I should check to see what the Internet speed I am currently getting.  I fool around with my router settings every so often, such as switching WiFi Channels to avoid neighbor’s signals, etc.  So I ran the speed test and discovered something unexpected. Continue reading “Chromebook Internet Speed Faster than Windows”

8 tips that can make business travel a little more bearable

Business Travel Tips

I travel a lot for work, probably not as much as some people, but a lot more than most people.
According to Tripit.com stats, I have been to 69 cities and have flown 176,000 miles in the past few years.  I’m not a million miler and I admit for some hard core travelers that is not much.  But for me that has been a weary adventure in the air and at the airport.   Along the way I have discovered a few things that help make life a little easier.  Here are some of my business travel tips. Continue reading “8 tips that can make business travel a little more bearable”

How I use my Android Tablet for Business

I’ve been a fan of Android for years now. I’ve been using the operating system on my phones Ellipsis 7 Android Tabletfor the last 4 phone purchases, including my current Samsung Galaxy Note 3. But I have only had one previous Android Tablet, the Nexus 7 tablet.

Last week, I went to Verizon to upgrade my son’s iPhone. While I was there, the sales rep suggested that I consider a free Verizon Ellipsis 7 tablet. (The tablet is free, but requires a $10 per month access fee for my account for 2 years).  I thought that would be perfect for my wife for her birthday. She has wanted one for a while and other than the monthly data access, it was a free tablet. I didn’t even consider Continue reading “How I use my Android Tablet for Business”

My Top Life Hacks that make my life a little easier

I’m a software consultant and project manager.  As such, I am busy and need to find time each day.  I try to be as optimized as I can be with tools such as my task manager and my methods for getting things done.  But there are things that I have discovered over the past 8 years or so that have made my life a bit simpler and faster.
Please let me know in the comments if you have any other cool life hacks that make things easier for you.  That being said, here is my collection of My Top Life Hacks that make my life a little easier.  (I am sure there will be follow-on posts as I learn new things and tools!)

Continue reading “My Top Life Hacks that make my life a little easier”

Personal Computing: Your Four Choices

My wife recently asked me for my personal computing recommendations for a laptop as she is considering a more mobile computing option.  I haven’t looked for a computer in a few years, so I needed to start my research.  What I am sharing is both what I found and some of my own opinions of things.

First off, you really have only four choices in Personal Computing:

  1. Get a Windows PC with Windows 8
  2. Get a Mac
  3. Get a Linux-based computer
  4. Live in the cloud with Google Chrome

Windows PCs with Windows 8

Let’s start with an analysis of a Windows PC.  The good thing about Windows PCs these days is the inexpensive price.  You can get a real deal for about $500 and if you put a few hundred more into it, you get a really nice hardware system. The interesting thing is Continue reading “Personal Computing: Your Four Choices”

Are Expectations a Function of Ego?

Today I was running through a drive-thru to get a quick breakfast.  Little did I know that this would be a moment that would allow me to explore my feelings to understand and ask “are expectations a function of ego?”

The car in front of me pulled forward after getting their food and then stopped just far enough that I could pull up to the window.  I paid, got my breakfast burrito and was ready to jet out of there.  Well, the guy in front was still sitting there.

I let out a friendly tap on the horn, this was the type of honk that says “excuse me”, not the type that says “move your ass.”  Just a quick note on the horn to let him know that I wanted him to stop digging in his bag of food and get going.

I expected he would wave and move along.   Well, he didn’t. Continue reading “Are Expectations a Function of Ego?”