# Copyright (c) 2004, James Seng. (http://james.seng.cc/)
# This code is released under the Artistic License.
#
# mt-redirect-1.0.1

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
INTRODUCTION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One of the reasons we have blog spammers is because they want to get more
links to their site and getting higher google rank. Therefore, if we remove
this capability for them to gain google rank, we would also remove the 
incentive for them to do so.

This plugin replace the comments and pings URLs with a redirector script.
If you click on the link, you will be bought to the right place but this
would not help the spammers gain any blogrank.

Of course, this would not stop them spamming anyway for there are those
who spams to get readers "eyeball". But this activities would (hopefully)
be concentrated around a few more popular blog site which have the capability
to deal with it.

The downside is that it will also means cross linking among bloggers would
not help bloggers to gain pagerank either. 

To see how this works, check out my blog at http://james.seng.cc/

You can contact me at jseng_at_pobox.org.sg if you have any questions.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHANGES
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1.0     (1st Public Release on 10th Jan 2004)
1.0.1   allow configurable location for mt-redirect.cgi

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
INSTALLATION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1. Install (copy or move) these files in their respective location.
   {MTDIR} refers to your base mt directory, e.g. /home/blog/public_html/mt

   {MTDIR}
      o mt-redirect.cgi             (make sure this is executable)

   {MTDIR}/plugins
      o mt-redirect.pl

   In {MTDIR}/lib/MT/App
      o Redirect.pm

2. (Optional) Edit mt-redirect.pl and modify the variable $redirect to 
   the URL of the mt-redirect.cgi if you change the filename or put it 
   in another location.

3. (Optional) The script redirect.pl is not needed for the plugin to work
but is included for completeness. You can put it anywhere in your home
directory but only install it if you need it. (See below)

4. That's it! Simple isn't it?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Modification to Templates
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

No modification to the templates is needed but you may need to rebuild
your blog for the plugin to take effect.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Uses for redirect.pl
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

redirect.pl is a simple script which you can place anywhere in your blog.
You can "hide" any URL (hide at least to google) by replacing any direct
    <a href="http://foo.bar.com/"> 
with 
    <a href="redirect.pl?url=http://foo.bar.com">

The pre-release of mt-redirect uses this scripts but rojisan suggested
to hide the URL totally.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FUTURE PLANS 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- May scan the comments space and replace URL automatically

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FAQ
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Failed to get it work? Check http://james.seng.cc/wiki/wiki.cgi?MT_Redirect
and check if there is a version change at the top. If so, the problem
you encountered may already be solved there.

Otherwise, feel free to drop me an email at jseng_at_pobox.org.sg. I
will try my best to answer you.

Q1. Does this works for URL inside the comments or trackbacks?

No, it does not. It only works for comment posters' URL and pings' URL.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CREDIT
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

While I have this idea for a while, Rojisan is the one who spike me to 
attempt to do this 30mins hack. I am glad to say I didn't disappoint him
too much.