once again I think I fixed the regular vs spam comment issues.
Many regular, real, non-spam comments were getting junked because I put the raised the Junk Score Threshold too high. Amusingly, all my real comments were junked and still quite a lot of spam was getting published.
Today I installed the Comment Challenge plugin. It is similar to most CAPTCHA programs but instead of the swirly letters on loopy backgrounds, I set up a challenge/response scenario.
Currently, I am just asking you to type a specific word before you post your comment. if you type it correctly, your comment gets posted. If you type it incorrectly or do not type it at all (as in the case of the automatic spam) you get an error. The comment does not even get to the system unless the word is typed correctly.
I went with this instead of the crazy swirly word options because I’m one of those people who has a hell of a time deciphering those. Half the time I type stuff in incorrectly because I can’t tell if that’s a “7” or an “R” or if it is case-sensitive or what. since I figure I’m not all that terribly unique, others probably have that problem as well.
I had previously tried to use TypeKey authentication but none of you got a TypeKey account and that meant that I had to approve every damned comment anyway making more work. This way you are self-authenticating.
So, please test it out, see if it works.
Also, in updating the site with this I accidentally reverted to the default templates. Damn. I went to go see if the plugin was working and damned if you know it, my site was all grey and blue. Not awesome.
Well, my dinghos, it’s the weekend. There’ll be some dog park fun, perhaps some kite flying and maybe magic.
Daily Archives: May 18, 2007
Celebrate
Last night David taught his last class for the semester (he teaches English to Latino immigrants) and when he got home he wanted to celebrate. We trundled ourselves into the car car and headed out. He wanted to go to the Town Talk since we had not had a chance to go there since it opened. I had him scope it out, all was well and I headed in.
My feelings are mixed.
The layout is lovely with the bar sectioned off from the dining room allowing the dining room to be calmer and the bar to be rowdier. The menu had a wide range of offerings from mid-priced to unconscionably priced. Seriously, there is not a risotto on the planet worth $18 unless it has gold plated moon scallops on it and naked ladies spoon feed it to you. I know overhead has to be high in a place like that, but that was absurd. on the other hand the wine list was all reasonably priced, nothing toity, a few selections that I buy regularly at home.
They misspelled “protocolo” in two places on the wine list, but I ordered it anyway.
We started with the Frickles, fried pickles. Wonderful, light, crispy fried pickles. So vinegary! They appealed to everything I love in food! Vinegar! Fried! Something to dip in! I could have eaten two baskets on my own and wept for more.
David ordered the grains and greens salad and I got the chopped salad. The menu on the site is not current and my salad was different than the one described. I give the kitchen high marks for well thought out and balanced food. Every ingredient in my salad worked together in flavor and texture, some things working in concert, others as counterpoints. I would very much like to try some of the other bits on the menu.
The service was outstanding, everyone was pleasant and attentive. The bill was brought with a couple of chocolates, a nice way to end.
On the whole if I were to create my perfect restaurant it would be this place, only quieter, and just slightly less pricey. I really did love the food, but I think we will not go regularly.