The Dead Letter Art website is temporarily back online. This is the once infamous, vomit-green version of the website we’re talking about here. One of the first serious attempts at website design, the green DLa site offers slice-based rollover action, table-based markup, and seriously grotesque aesthetics. However hideous the site, its content showcases some of the finest highlights from the Dead Letter Art experience.

Nonetheless, the site is back online for a hopefully brief three-week tour. This may indeed be your last chance to relive some of that ol’ vomit-green magic. So come on, feel the love…

Read more

Welcome to WordPress Plugin Central! Here we will organize, review, and log any changes made to the plugins used here at Perishable Press. Our first task involves listing all of the plugins used as of May 29, 2006 (Note: This list is updated with every plugin modification and is current as of the “Edited on” date in the “Post Metadata” section to the left of this post):

Read more

Looking for the perfect dedicated server? Well, “Don’t Just a Dedicated Server!” — “Have Peace of Mind!” with Daily Razor Hosting.

Have a Peace of Mind

Read more

UPDATE: New version of Category LiveBookmarks now available! →

Already familiar with Firefox’s Live Bookmarks and WordPress RSS feeds? Well then skip the intro and jump to the good stuff »

Enthusiastic Firefox users enjoy the luxury of Live Bookmarks, a feature of Firefox that automatically discovers and updates RSS feeds. Web pages with available feeds are indicated by the orange feed icon located in the browser’s address bar. Clicking the feed icon presents a list of all available feeds for that particular webpage. Users then select which feeds they would like Firefox to bookmark, track, and automatically update. Very handy indeed.

Providing these Live Bookmark feeds to your readers is as easy as adding “link” tags for each feed to the head section of each webpage. Then, simply set the “type” attribute to application/atom+xml or application/rss+xml, and away you go. Not so bad, but a bit tedious, perhaps.

WordPress users typically transmit RSS feeds for both comments and posts, and frequently provide individual category feeds. Further, each feeds may be provided via a variety of formats, including RSS 0.92, RSS 2.0, and Atom. Manually adding the feed links to the header.php file works if you don’t care about context sensitivity, because the same links would appear for all pages, whether the feeds were actually available from there or not. Fortunately, there is a more sophisticated method for managing your Live Bookmark feeds…

Introducing Category LiveBookmarks, a WordPress plugin designed to simplify the process of adding complete Live Bookmark functionality to your website. Category LiveBookmarks (CLB) seamlessly generates “Live-Bookmark” feed links for each of your WordPress blog categories. It will generate feed links for all categories on your main blog page, and only relevant feeds on single-post-view pages. Also, CLB automatically omits feeds with zero posts, and excludes subcategory feeds. CLB is designed for Firefox’s Live Bookmarks and Opera’s Livemarks. Generates strictly valid XHTML markup. Tested and verified with WordPress 2.0+. Should work with WP 1.5+ as well (no guarantees).

This plugin has been adapted from ArunRocks plugin, Livemarks. Many important modifications have been made to the original, such as are summarized here.

Installation and Usage:

Unzip file, add to wp-content/plugins directory, upload, activate, and enjoy! There are also two options within the PHP file itself that you will probably want to customize: Comment feed links and blog title.

Download Category LiveBookmarks [ version 1.0.1 | ~4KB | .zip | 1512 downloads ]

UPDATE: New version of Category LiveBookmarks now available! →

Read more

Ever imagine your website represented as a cluster graph? Well prepare your DOM and check out Sala’s Websites as Graphs project. Each map represents a single website page, each dot represents a different tag, and each color represents a different set of tags. Here is the graphical representation for Perishable Press:

Perishable Press DOM Graph

Read more

Editor’s Note: This article applies exclusively to our Lithium theme, which is no longer the default site theme. Different themes may or may not include print style sheets of their own. Click here to check out the Lithium theme, to which this article applies. Click here to see a list of all available themes.

Perishable Press now with fully printable articles! Check out the new print CSS stylesheet by checking out an article’s “Print Preview” from the browser’s “File” menu. Before the addition of special CSS styles for print versions, Press articles printed non-sequentially and included everything — buttons, banners, text fields, icons, and every odd list, break, and scrollbar — and looked utterly disastrous. Well thank heavens the nightmare is over. Articles now print like articles and pages now print like pages. Here are some articles that include some common post elements — text, code, lists, images, etc. — as demonstration ¹ of our fresh new CSS print styles.

• Example 1 [ code example ]
• Example 2 [ image example ]
• Example 3 [ blockquote example ]
• Example 4 [ page view example ]
• Example 5 [ lists, code, text ]

¹ Note: Tested with Firefox 1.5.0.3, Internet Explorer 6.0.2900, and Netscape Navigator 8.0.1. For some mysterious reason yet to be determined, Opera 8.54 refused to cooperate, and thus may not prove worthwhile for printing Perishable Press articles. Don’t cry too much. Also, it should be noted that, for browsers other than Opera, regardless of how jumbled the links or other text may appear in Print Preview mode, the articles will indeed print according to CSS. This is due to CSS2 rules that append and print the full URL after each link.

Read more

Firefox users, lend me your ears! As you know, Firefox is like the most excellent, versatile, reliable, and secure browser available today. Extensions are just one of the features that make Firefox so versatile and efficient. Extensions enable Fx users to customize their browsing experience by adding tools that help with security, searching, and multimedia. Here is a list of our favorite — nay, essential — Firefox extensions:

• Adblock Filterset.G Updater 0.3.0.4
• Adblock Plus 0.7.1.2
• All-In-One Sidebar 0.6.4
• Bookmark Backup 0.4
• Broadband Speed Test and Diagnostics 1.0.1
• ChatZilla 0.9.75
• Clear Cache Button 0.3
• Colorful Tabs 1.4
• ColorZilla 0.8.3.1
• Copy All Urls 0.6.2
• Copy as HTML Link 1.0
• CustomizeGoogle 0.50
• del.icio.us 1.1
• Document Map 0.5
• Download Statusbar 0.9.4.1
• Extended Statusbar 1.2.4
• Fasterfox 1.0.3
• Firefox Extension Backup Extension (FEBE) 3.0
• FireFTP 0.94.3
• FlashGot 0.5.96.060823
• Furl Tools 0.6
• Google Pagerank Status 0.9.6
• Html Validator 0.7.9.3
• IE Tab 1.0.9.5
• IE View 1.3.0
• Image Zoom 0.2.6
• InfoLister 0.9e
• LinkChecker 0.4.5
• ListZilla 0.8
• MeasureIt 0.3.5
• Menu Editor 1.2.2
• Noia 2.0 (eXtreme) 3.12
• Ook? Video Ook! 0.5.1
• Orbit Grey Custom 0.7.0
• Resize Search Box 0.0.7
• Restart Firefox 0.3
• Screen grab! 0.8
• SearchWith 0.2
• SEOpen 0.7
• ShowIP 0.8.02
• Small Screen Renderer 1.2
• SpiderZilla 1.5.3
• Tab Mix Plus 0.3.0.5
• Tab Sidebar 1.0.3
• Torrent-Search Toolbar 1.0.1.21
• UnPlug 1.4.1
• User Agent Switcher 0.6.8
• VideoDownloader 1.1
• Web Developer 1.0.2
• Wizz RSS News Reader 2.1.5
• X-Ray 0.8

Read more

Earlier this year, we decided to implement the much-hyped Google Analytics visitor-tracking and optimization tool. The free service offers enterprise-level statistics capabilities and provides “high-end web analytics” and works with or without Google AdWords. Sounds great, however the service is available through invitation only. Skeptical that we would ever hear anything, we decided to submit a request anyway.

Several months later, after having completely forgotten about signing up for GA (Google Analytics), we received our official GA invitation and immediately began the registration process. The invitation included a “secret code” and required us to create a free Google account, which enables access to a variety of Google services, such as “Analytics, AdWords, Google Groups and [a] personalized Google home page.” After verification of the account email, we were ready to register for GA.

GA registration involves entering your secret password some personal information. I hope they were not looking for any authentic personal data. After floating the password, you’re in the business. The final steps include dropping the following lines of JavaScript into any pages that need analyzing:

<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
   _uacct = "UA-xxx777-1";
   urchinTracker();
</script>

The JavaScript code should be placed near the end of the document source code, preferably just before the <body> tag. Once the script is in place and online, login to your GA account and activate the target page(s) via the “validate tracking” tool. Once this happens, Google Analytics begins tracking, analyzing, and reporting visitor activity at your website. Nice. There are now a plethora of high-end statistics tools and resources at your command.

After successfully setting up GA for Perishable Press, we immediately requested an invite for Monzilla Media. Apparently, it is only a matter of time.

Read more

If you are running WordPress 2.0.2 and have enabled permalinks, you may have had problems creating a new category or page to your site. I recently encountered this dilemma and devised the following strategy for adding, editing, or even deleting WordPress categories and pages. Note: this tutorial assumes you are running Apache.

First, open wp-includes/vars.php and find (around line #39):

$is_apache = ( strstr($_SERVER['SERVER_SOFTWARE'], 'Apache') || strstr($_SERVER['SERVER_SOFTWARE'], 'LiteSpeed') ) ? 1 : 0;

Comment out that line and add the following:

$is_apache = 1;

Save the file and upload it to your server.

Next, check the file attributes of your htaccess file(s). Ensure that the file is writable with a setting of either 666 or even 777 (or whatever works best on your server).

Finally, create or edit the necessary category or categories, publish a post or two under the new/edited category, and then double-check that everything is working as expected.

Now that you are a big winner with your new category, be sure to change the htaccess file permissions back to 644 or equivalent. Also, comment out the new line in the vars.php file and uncomment out (i.e., comment in) the original line of code.

Read more

To customize WordPress-powered password-protected posts such as this one, follow these simple steps.

First open template-functions-post.php and find the function get_the_password_form, which is located near the top of the page.

There are several aspects of this function that you may wish to customize. For example, the Perishable Press website requires several CSS attributes for stylistic control. Thus we simply added the class postpassword to the form input field, as well as the class passwordsubmit to the form submit button. This enabled full stylistic control over password-protected posts. You may also wish to modify the size of the input text field, or even edit the submit-button text.

Finally, remember to check both the post comment view for proper “password message” display. If it is not, edit the local comments.php file (usually near the top) until the message displays correctly.

Read more

This is top-secret. And for “eyes only”..

Alright, so it was just a test. Password protection removed in December of 2009 because it is no longer needed. Nothing here anyway.

Read more

Step right up and leave a comment! Complete Gravatar functionality in full effect. Leave a comment to sport your gravatar. Of course, you must have a gravatar to use this feature. Check out this post to see some tuf gravatar action in effect.

Hint: gravatars are the small images that appear next to post comments. They are meant to represent the person leaving the comment.

Read more

Osseus Website Multimedia artist extraordinaire, Kenneth Paul Schrag — better known as Osseus to his fellow DLa comrades — is currently in the process of updating his personal design portfolio website (Flash required). Ken’s work is diverse, with online samples covering both graphic design and illustration.

We finally met up with Ken and Yasuko several months ago before their Japanese trip. We shared coffee in the Desert Oasis and shared recent experiences and creative happenings. Ken and Yasuko have been busy working as Graphic Designers in the Seattle area, and have big plans to start a potentially lucrative design-based service business. Beyond this, they have worked several interesting freelance jobs ranging from modeling & sculpture to illustration & design.

In related news, the possible release of DLa #20 — The Elusive Texture Issue — has resurfaced, with potential to catalyze the swift development and re-establishment of the Dead Letter Art empire. Website plans are in the works, and several DLa-related graphic-design projects have been discussed. Especially inspiring are ideas involving letter press and archaic printing methods. Stay tuned..

Read more

Gangsta lean. Gangsta tuff. Da Gizoogle Search Engine & Translator delivahz da roofless bidniss fo' da previous post:

Osseus Website Yo Multimedia artist extraordizzle Kenneth Paul Schrag — betta known as Osseus ta his fellow DLa posse — is currently in tha process of updat'n his personal design portfolio website (Flash required) aww nah. Ken's aww nah. work is diverse, wit online samples cover'n both graphic design n illustration.

We finally met up wit Ken n Yasuko several months ago before they Japanese tizzle. They call me tha black folks president. We shared coffee in tha Desert Oasis n shared recent experiences n creative happen'n where the sun be shinin' and I be rhymin'. Ken n Yasuko hizzy bizzy busy work'n as Graphic Designa in tha Seattle area, n have big plans ta start a potentially lucrative design-based service business so bow down to the bow wow. Beyond this, they have worked several interest'n freelance jobs rang'n from model'n & sculpture ta illustration & design.

In related news, tha possible releaze of DLa #20 — The Elusive Texture Issue — has resurfizzles wit potential ta catalyze tha swift develizzle n re-establizzle of tha Dead Wanna Be Gangsta Art empire fo' sheezy. Website plans is in tha works, n several DLa-related graphic-dizzles projects hizzy been discussed with the gangsta shit that keeps ya hangin'. Especially rhymin' is ideas involv'n rappa press n archaic doggy stylin' methods. Stay tuned..

Sweet. But as if that weren’t dope enuf, repeated Gizoogle translations seem to increasingly multiply da def shizzle. Check it out cold gangsta: retranslate this translation and compare the results. Strictly fo' my nizzle…

Use this link to translate any page via Gizoogle »

Or, sizzle dizzle:
(limited number of lookups per day)

Read more

Monzilla Media After working more than nine months developing Perishable Press into a valuable online resource, which houses a growing library of notes, examples, and ideas related to the creative universe of Perishable, we feel well-prepared to press ahead with the next phase of our secret plans. About a year ago, we purchased the domain, monzilla.biz, after deciding on a business name and refocusing our goals. Since that time, we have been sharpening skills and preparing for business. Now, as of May 1st, 2006, we are officially working on the Monzilla Media business website. Once established, Monzilla Media will serve as the business end of our creative endeavours, and shall be advertised locally as well as online. Monzilla will focus primarily on website design, however providing other services such as graphic design and photography may prove beneficial. In business, Monzilla Media will continue to strive toward perfection — pimping bold CSS & clean XHTML — creating beautiful, user-friendly websites that are accessible, standards-compliant, and functionally dynamic. It is our intention to focus on personal and small-business sites that deliver satisfaction while remaining affordable. We’ll tackle the big biz stuff down the road… For now, look forward to the impending release of monzilla.biz, the official website of Monzilla Media.

Bold Taste, Clean Finish »

Read more