Night School - Continuing Education - June 9, 2008

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Google is taking a serious look at blogs in order to maintain the integrity of its pagerank system. This includes serious penalties to unsuspecting bloggers who have may not know that their site has been hacked and filled with hidden links to porn sites, viagra vendors, etc. If this happens to you, then there are important steps to take to make sure your blog is not removed from the Google index.

A few months ago, I wrote a post about how PayPerPost rejected my application because they thought this site was a splog…that is, the main purpose of this blog was either to sell links, advertise inappropriate content, or steal content from other blogs. Of course, I was indignant!

Well, I recently received a message from Google informing me that my sites were being removed from their index because of guideline violations. As a result, I discovered that my site had been hacked and filled with hundreds of the above-mentioned links.

Of course, as my blogging expertise comes from trial and error, I had to do some serious research to discover what the problem could be and how to rectify it.

It appears as though the damage was the probably the result of my upgrading to WordPress 2.5 or earlier. It is well known that their were significant vulnerabilities to the build, but I was so happy to have my permalinks intact (see earlier posts) that I did not rush to upgrade to version 2.5.1.

Again, in all fairness to WordPress, it is my assumption that this could be the cause of the security hole, but I can neither confirm nor deny…

However, here is what I did to rectify the situation and regain Google’s trust and love.

DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE VIOLATION

As mentioned above, numerous hidden links were inserted into several templates of my blogs. I was able to determine this simply by looking at the page source available from my firefox browser.

When in the WordPress admin design panel, I found the offending links in single post template, main page template, and footer template. These were easily removed.

However, I also had to actually look through the directories accessible through my web hosting service, and found several more sources. One was in the index.php of my top directory (outside of my WordPress Install) that added links to my header.

I also found a file that contained an application called phpspy. I deleted that file immediately, so I’m not sure.

After a recheck, all the hidden links were gone.

INCREASE YOUR BLOGS SECURITY

In order to prevent this from happening again, I followed the advice found in the article, Hardening Wordpress. This will direct you to making sure that your file directories are only writable by you in most instances (with the exception of some plugins and a few other resources.

Also, CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS!!!! Obviously, the hacker was able to gain entry through some means. If it wasn’t the WordPress vulnerability mentioned above, then make sure your password hasn’t been compromised.

Most importantly, Make sure your blogs are running the most up to date version of WordPress. I have a feeling that had I done this, I would have saved myself time and effort.

For additional security, I also added the Last Logins plugin. This plugin will provide notification if someone is trying to gain access to the admin panel of your blog through a password hack like BruteForce.

WP-Spamfree plugin was also added. This will prevent the tons of comment spam which I believe was related to the hidden links in this site.

RESUBMIT YOUR BLOG TO GOOGLE FOR RECONSIDERATION

After you have removed all the offending links from your site, you can resubmit your blog to Google for reconsideration and re-entry into the index. Surprisingly, this site was cleared by Google within 24 hours.

As noted in a forum on webmasterworld.com, “in order for your Reconsideration request to get a positive result, it is very useful to let Google know more than a simple ‘I removed the parasite hidden links.’ If you fix the hole that was exploited on your server and include that fact in the request, you’ve done full due diligence on the issue. That step is often the deal-maker.”

Tags: blogging tips, blogs, google, google guideline violations, hack, index, removal from google index, security, tips for bloggers, upgrade, WordPress, wordpress vulnerabilities

Writing creative works of fiction requires an empathy for the human experience and the ability to reflect this on paper…

Ummm……..I think I get that…but how does that bit of wisdom actually help me draft scenes about my protagonist when he faces those schoolyard bullies?

If you are like me, you often find creative writing resources that touch the inner artist and spark those temple candles used for summoning your muse. In fact, I just read a great post at Write to Done called Zen Power Writing: 15 Tips on How to Generate Ideas and Write with Ease. Mary Jaksch did a wonderful job of not only providing the means of inspiring yourself through Zen based techniques but also ends the list with some practical insight on writing.

This got me thinking about how useful it would be for most motivational posts to incorporate practical advice into articles that help us get our creative fires burning. So I thought I’d point the visitors of this site to Mary’s post for inspirational techniques, and build on it with a mini-lesson on a formula for writing scenes and plots.

BACKWARDS PLANNING

When thinking about a plot or a scene, many writers start with the beginning and hope to take a journey with their characters to see what happens next. While this happens a lot when thinking about plot, it is most common when dealing with scenes.

However, without a plan, this is where a lot of writers get stuck.

Here are some steps to follow or questions to ask that can help when drafting scenes or thinking about plot.

1. What is supposed to happen?

Think about the end of the scene first. In other words, how is the dilemma resolved?

Billy finally confronts those schoolyard bullies.

2. How did it happen?

It is important to think about realistic resolutions.

A friend helps Billy even the odds, so he can take on the leader, one on one.

3. Well, that was easy. Why was this a problem in the first place.

This step is extremely important, as it makes you think through the resolution without employing the story killing Deux Ex Machina device discussed in an earlier post.

Backed into the corner, Billy braced for the familiar pain. Top Dog drew his fist back to strike, but stopped when he heard L’il Weasel hollerin. Billy felt a little lighter than he had in weeks when he saw Biggun’s toothy grin.

“You wuz right, Billy…blood don’t make family…”

As you can see, you can begin the structure for a scene in just a few minutes, and if you are using this Backwards Planning technique for plotting an idea, it will give you many other ideas. Who is Biggun? What did Billy do to impact Biggun in this way?

I actually used the technique as writing this post and know that the answers to those questions are limited only by the muse summoned earlier.

I don’t know if this technique can be useful in all situations, but think of it as another tool in your writer’s toolbox!

Happy writing!

Tags: "creative writing", "writing fiction", "writing tips", backwards planning, characters, lessons for writers, Plot, writing scenes

IF YOU ARE BLOGGING FOR FAME OR FORTUNE, YOU CAN ACHIEVE NEITHER WITHOUT HITS TO YOUR SITE. SO THE QUESTION IS THIS: CAN YOU BUILD SUSTAINABLE TRAFFIC FROM STUMBLE UPON?

Within minutes of setting up your blog, you are inundated with terms like SEO, Organic Traffic, Niche Blogging, etc. And as you quickly learn, these terms all refer in some way to the how and why visitors come to your site and how you build traffic.

After reading the post, Why You Shouldn’t Stumble Yourself, on Pandemic Labs, I’ve finally come to a conclusion about whether or not you can really build traffic from StumbleUpon.

Nope!

Sure, this blog has enjoyed the ego-lifting bumps in traffic and, by all means, feel free to give me a thumbs up after you’re done reading. But I suspect if you read this far, you would like genuine information to help you create a real strategy for building your blogs traffic.

Firstly, if you use stumbleupon, you know that there are many times that you do not hit the thumbs up or thumbs down button, regardless of whether you like the page or not.

In fact, I know that I am far more likely to make an actual comment on the blog page than instinctively hit the thumbs up. There are times that I am conscious of how my stumbleupon presence is increased by stumbling and will make sure that I thumb and review the pages I like.

Otherwise, the content doesn’t move me to do much of anything.

Looking over the last sentence, I wondered if that sounded dismissive of my fellow blogger’s hard work. If it does, it shouldn’t be…I have had friends and others give me their opinion of posts that I have written, but not take the time and effort to register their opinions on my blog or through stumbleupon.

And that, in my opinion, is a realistic reflection on non-bloggers’ browsing behavior.

So, if you are thinking about building traffic, then StumbleUpon may not be the answer in the long term, and what’s more, that shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing as building your blog’s traffic is not SU’s business.

Well, than….what is the answer for building a blog with steady traffic?

I have some real life data that has led me to a conclusion…but that’s for my next post.

However, if you have been blogging for any length of time, you already know the answer.

But here is a hint…It starts with an “N”

Tags: blog traffic, bloggers, Blogging Resources, blogging tips, blogs, building traffic, lessons for bloggers, niche blogging, niche blogs, seo, stumbleupon

Fingers were crossed as I begin my automatic upgrade from WordPress 2.3.2 to the latest release version, 2.5. I have chronicled my trials and tribulations with previous upgrades, so there was a thick sense of trepidation in the air. Results? Take a guess…

Was that dramatic enough? Thanks to the guys at WordPress, that was the extent of the drama as far as this latest installation is concerned. My permalinks are solid, plugins are plugging along, and the Doctor has informed me that both mother and child are fine.

Seriously, this installation was as easy as I could have hoped. So, for my WordPress blogging brethren who use Yahoo! Small Business as their web host. The coast seems to be clear.

Now, I don’t now if the trouble-free upgrade was the result of the tweaking and twisting of the previous versions, so I can’t guarantee the same end product for everyone. In any event, before upgrading you may want to check out these following resources.

WordPress 2.5 Upgrade Guide(s) may be as good a place as any to start the upgrade process. Checking out the comments before upgrading may give you a heads up on possible issues, particularly regarding plugins. If you think this may be an issue, check out http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugins/Plugin_Compatibility/2.5 and Themes compatible with WordPress 2.5, before you start.

Also, I used the WordPress Automatic Upgrade plugin, and it streamlined the process. Definitely worth the download.

So good luck, and if you find any issues as the result of hosting your blog on Yahoo! Small Business Web Hosting, check out the related posts.

Cool Halo WordPress image is from http://www.command-tab.com/2007/08/11/teaser/

Tags: "Wordpress 2.3.2", broken links, permalinks, upgrade, upgrading wordpress, wordpress 2.5, wordpress automatic upgrade plugin, yahoo! small business web hosting

I have always wanted to be a writer. However, this is far different than saying I have always wanted to write. Envisioning life as a writer meant a rum-soaked existence as an expatriate living on a Caribbean Island, complete with a fan following thirsty for well turned phrases that entertained and educated one to the secret of life’s mysterious purpose.

Fantasies aside, reality tells us that writing is a craft requiring a great deal of the dreaded “D” word: Discipline.

So, without stifling the muse on your shoulder, here are five mind sets you must develop for writing your masterpiece:

Chose A Place To Write. This means dedicating a space with the singular purpose of writing. It should be well provisioned with your writing tools, and more importantly, free of anything that may distract you. After a while, you will begin to associate this area with the act of writing, which will allow you to settle into the process faster and more efficiently.

Don’t Let The Details Discourage You. This is one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received. Sure, you have the story in your head, but as you write, inconsistencies in plot and style will reveal themselves. If you stop to reconcile these problems, you will find yourself stuck in the mire.

Set Your Office Hours. After you have found your writing spot, you should try to find a time of day that you can set aside for writing. For me, writing after dark is generally the time that works best for me. When I am able to keep to this loose schedule, it is like my entire being slips into creative mode. When I vary it, the writing becomes forced. So although sitting in the park with my computer on my lap fits my image of being a writer, the words won’t flow.

Outline! This is one of those things that seems to fly in the face of spontaneous creativity. However, an outline helps to keep you on track and actually can encourage spontaneity by allowing you to jump around to different parts of your story without going off on unusable tangents.

Don’t Quit. The art of writing is accompanied by all sorts of discouraging voices. Publishers, editors, people you share your work with. Learn from criticism and you will find your skills increasing. Remember…If you write one line then you have a writer’s soul. So let your voice be heard.

Tags: "creative writing", "writing tips", how to write a novel, tips for writers, writing

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Due to the success of the wildly popular movie, The Secret, many of the participants have been given the title of the Masters of The Secret. However, the wisdom of the Law of Attraction is ancient and beautifully taught by history’s most renowned teachers. Look to their motivational quotes to guide you!

Today’s ancient master: Marcus Aurelius.

MARCUS AURELIUS

Harmonizing with the universe.

This you must always bear in mind, what is the nature of the whole, and what is my nature, and how this is related to that, and what kind of a part it is of what kind of a whole; and that there is no-one who hinders you from always doing and saying the things which are according to the nature of which you are a part. [2.9]

Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, o Universe. Nothing for me is too early or too late, which is in due time for thee. Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons bring, o nature; from thee are all things, in thee are all things, to thee all things return. [4.23]

A contented life.

If you work at that which is before you, following right reason seriously, vigorously, calmly without allowing anything else to distract you, but keeping your divine part pure, as if you might be bound to give it back immediately; if you hold to this, expecting nothing, fearing nothing, but satisfied with your present activity according to nature . . . you will be happy. And there is no man who is able to prevent this. [3.12]

Take away the complaint “I have been harmed,” and the harm is taken away. [4.7]

Technorati Tags: the secret,the law of attraction,motivational quotes,marcus aurelius,quotes about the secret

Tags: "motivational quotes", "The Law Of Attraction", "the secret", marcus aurelius, quotes about the secret

Way back during my wide-eyed days as a political science major, one of my professors would always have the final answer to our questions about societal oppression. He would shrug his shoulders and say “The masses, the masses, those damn jackasses”.”

Well, Dr. Taqi’s answer, while probable, was just too simplistic for me. Growing up in the eighties in the midst of the cold war meant real conspiracies exposed before our eyes. Spies, Iran-Contra affair, and other exposed hi-jinks made me wonder how deeply governmental manipulations went.

Hence…I have always been a closet conspiracy theorist.

Recently, as a teacher for special ed students in an urban setting, my conspiratorial antennas have been working over time. Observing how the neediest students receive the least attention in terms of school resources has me wondering what our administrators are thinking. We all know that these students can be educated, but if they are not, then statistically they are likely to find themselves incarcerated or dead. Well, if I know this, then why isn’t this dealt with?

CONSPIRACY!

And now…with blatant consumerism leading to acquisition of an Ipod, I get the benefit of access to delicious podcasts documenting the Elite’s plans. My favorite? Cutting through the Matrix, of course, by Alan Watts. Listen and Learn. http://www.cuttingthroughthematrix.com/

Technorati Tags: cutting through the matrix,matrix,conspiracy,podcasts

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