Hopefully this helps someone as it was driving me insane for the last few weeks. Every time I clicked the Empty Spam button via WordPress comments it would just redirect me to my website root. Server Error logs, wp_debug produced nothing - no errors or issues of any kind. The WP Super cache emptying Cache shortcut would also produce the same result.
Damn you Empty Spam button!
After comparing My WHM powered server with another one the difference appeared to be with Mod_security and the ruleset used. The Hit List log didn't tell me a great deal and deciphering a potential problematic ruleset started becoming tedious - lets just get rid of it.
The Server exhibiting this behavior had the Cpanel default OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set enabled in Modsecurity.
The Server without this issue had the more extensive Comodo ModSecurity Ruleset applied.
After disabling OWASP and replacing it with Comodo the problem magically went away. You can find the details how to add this ruleset right here which should take the best part of 10 seconds: Comodo ModSecurity Ruleset WHM/CPANEL.
Thunderbird not importing Outlook Fix
Not sure why this hasn't been fixed by mozilla yet but the latest versions of Thunderbird will not import from Microsoft Outlook at all.
To do this you need to install version 31.8.0 which can be found right here: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/thunderbird/releases/31.8.0/win32/en-US/
After you have imported you can update to the latest version without issue.
Random Sunshine Coast Images
Australian Bookkeeping Project: Books OnSite
Booksonsite is a relatively new project I was working on a few months ago which required taking a proprietary closed source html based website and converting it to something a bit more user friendly.
Converting websites to be mobile friendly is still one of my biggest requests with around 80% of web development time dedicated towards it.
Web Features:
Mobile Friendly: Books OnSite is now completely responsive and mobile ready. This means that regardless what device you are browsing with, Books Onsite will look great at all resolutions.
Simplified: The whole design has been re-worked in order to provide visitors with a slicker, unified and easy to navigate interface.
Development Features:
Built on WordPress using the Genesis Framework
Customised Homepage News Scroller built just for this website.
Customised Hierarchy, Taxonomy and Permalink system.
Custom Post Types for Locations using Yoast Local SEO.
Automated Redirection based on old permalinks - this was a bit difficult due to the old website having multiple versions of the same url - and both upper and lower case.
When a business provides services to multiple localities, having an option like Local SEO is a real timesaver rather than having yourself or a client do things manually. In regards to Books Onsite, all serviceable locations are given their own url via a Locations Custom Postype i.e Sydney Bookkeeping, Melbourne Bookkeeping or even Regional Bookkeeping. Each location can then be given separate business hours, phone numbers, staff members and map data all output in google friendly Schema.org format.
WordPress: Redirect to Taxonomy
In rare situations, removing the WordPress single page format (single.php) and redirection to a parent such as a taxonomy can have massive advantages, especially if you have continuously expiring content. This is a solution I came up specifically for use with The Couponic.
Coupons are their own post type (coupons_type) and this code redirects them to a Store based Taxonomy
This quick solution which can be added to your themes functions.php file:
[box] // COUPONIC COUPON CUSTOM POSTS
add_action( 'template_redirect', 'redirect_single_coupon' );
function redirect_single_coupon()
{
is_singular( 'coupons_type' )
and wp_redirect( '../',301 )
and exit;
}[/box]
Wireless 360 Controller not working? Try this
Firstly if you have a 3rd party wireless receiver - forget it, I have 2 and have had nothing but issues with these devices. Getting them to install by force loading the driver is not the only bug and the problems just multiply from there ranging from dropouts and constant connectivity issues.
Since I bought an official Wireless 360 controller for Windows I have had not one single issue though certain games like Dark Souls appeared not to work at all.
I purchased Deadly Premonition on Steam which had a patch added recently for controller support - this is the way the game should be played but after launching, just like Dark Souls I could not get my 360 controller working at all, other games like Tomb Raider were fine mind you.
The Solution
After an extensive troubleshooting crusade which involved disabling things like my G13 and various other USB input devices I stumbled on a legacy controller setting within the Advanced controller properties for my device - which I must highlight, will only be seen if you have the controller turned on.
For Windows 7:
Turn your 360 controller on (important)
Navigate to Control PanelHardware and SoundDevices and Printers
Right click on Xbox 360 Wireless Controller and select Game controller properties.
Select Controller (xbox 360 Wireless Reciever for Win) and then click Advanced.
Now select your 360 controller as your Preferred device for use with older programs.
Games like Deadly Premonition and Dark Souls should now work without issue. This issue appears to arise when you have more than one input game controller. In my case my Logitech G13 was the default legacy device. Changing this fixed my problems and I hope this method works for you too.
Media Room Update: Denon 2313 and Steam Big Picture
Since my old Denon 790 decided to self combust (my fault), I decided it was time to finally finish our media room. The TV is the excellent Panasonic ST50 which I wall mounted a while ago. The extendable arms are a godsend when you are messing with wires and plugs highly worth it over the standard mounts.
From my Study I ran a 15 meter HDMI cable and a 15 meter USB cable which is connected to the TV. As you can see, poking through the wall here is a powered HDMI splitter/extender which was required to eliminate Sparkle caused by loss of HDMI signal strength:
Unboxing the Denon 2313.
Shiny new Denon 2313.
The new AUDYSSEY XT Calibration is even better than on the 790 model, I didn't have to tweak anything.
The Study acts as the information hub with network cables running all through the house, during the build stage I also ran a 15 meter HDMI cable and a 15 meter USB cable (with booster) specifically for PC connectivity. These keystone wall plates accept standard cables and can be interchanged simply by replacing the type of connection insert.
And the end result is a seamless Steam Big Picture console type experience for under $50 for the wall plates and cables:
Couponic Australia: Updated
Out with the old, in with the new. Couponice.com.au is no more - instead we have re-branded to The Couponic by simply removing the e.
This update has been a long time coming so and here it is:
The Couponic still offers the same coupon only goodness you have come to expect albeit now with more responsiveness.
Web Features:
Mobile Friendly: The Couponic is now completely responsive and mobile ready. This means that regardless what device you are browsing with, the Couponic will look great at all resolutions.
Simplified: The whole design has been re-worked in order to provide visitors with a slicker, unified and easy to navigate interface.
Community Centric: Couponic is completely human powered and is supported by its members. The rating system is currently in development mode but should it definitely should help rank our codes more gracefully.
Store Representatives: In order to make the distinction between Community and Store Representatives, Merchants and Shops can now also submit their own coupons for a small fee, hopefully this helps the massive amount of irrelevant submissions we were getting without excluding actual Aussie shops.
Flash Coupon Click to Copy: Flash is no longer supported on Android Tablets and mobile devices and has never been supported on any Apple IOS device. Time to say goodbye to Adobe/Macromedia Flash. In its place, A coupon window will pop up with the code displayed for easy reference.
Development Features:
CSS only Menu, Twitter Bootstrap is awesome.
Tabs utilised with specific custom queries.
Customised Hierarchy, Taxonomy and Permalink system.
Community Focused and Coupon Only, not a fan of generic type deals.
Taxonomy Pages rewritten to allow for various sorting abilities Example: The Iconic Coupons: Tabbed Active and Unreliable Section, comment system and quick help guide.
The Couponic is built on the Responsive Coupon Framework by Mark Fail of Premiumpress fame albeit with some major edits. I completely customised the gallerypage in order to create a solution for expired and deleted posts. WordPress Taxonomy has been customised to prevent thin content and extend the user interface.
When WordPress finally decides to extend Taxonomy Meta to match the likes of Drupal, this will make life much easier creating websites like this.
Pre-Order Australia: A new project
I have recently been toying around with a little project of mine called Pre-Order Australia which is now live: Pre Order AU
Why?
I have always loved new stuff and considering I live and breath gadgets and tech, creating a website based on this rather expensive hobby seemed like a great idea if not something to make it even more expensive.
As far as I can see, Pre-Order.com.au is the only focused website of its kind in Australia. It has been created to be Community centric with the ability for anyone to submit a pre-order deal or offer just for Aussie users.
Features:
Built on WordPress
Sports a Community Forum which is a little baron at the moment
Custom Taxonomies: data can be sorted via product or store.
First website I have completed that incorporates red as a primary colour; Well relatively red 🙂
Madison 4 Lock Up Stage: Getting Close
Not long to go now, just over a month until we can move in - Hopefully!
The only negative issue at this stage is with the Builders Planbuild constructing next door who decided to put up a fence without checking with us first. It altered our plans a little bit though its workable. Fencing seems to be a common issue with house and land packages after reading various threads on the homeone forums. We just got a quote for a fence ourselves which needs to adhere to Pool regulations which this fence probably does not - we will find out when they do their last inspection.
Hopefully we can just alter the fence they have put in without to many issues.
Madison 4: Under the Stairs.
This is the space under the Stairs which I think by default is blocked in and turned into a cupboard. We left this space open and put a door right in this location in order to utilise the space. It doesn't look like much in this photo but there is a heap of useful storage space here. When I get the time I'll put some shelving in.
Madison 4: Living Area
The window directly facing you in this pic is not included in the Madison 4 by default. Putting it in definitely opens up the living room plus it will also be overlooking our pool.
Madison 4 theatre room Window.
Instead of the standard full size theatre room window, we put in a slimline one instead in order to make more use of a small area. Prior to plastering, I got permission from our supervisor to run some wires for speakers in the walls all the way out to the alfresco. I also ran a cat5 cable, HDMI cable plus a USB booster cable from the study for a bit of PC based home automation. Because its now plastered in, it's a good idea to take a heap of pics of the framework so you know where everything is.
Overall Plantation have been excellent in the quality of their workmanship, it may not be as quick as a Planbuild throw it up within a month concept, which to be honest, is probably not a great idea on an estate built on a heap of landfill.
