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Setting up WordPress server there were a couple of minor wrinkles to sort out. I’ve run a blog before before and that fell by the wayside when I started using a personal wiki instead. But this seems like a good opportunity to see how one of the very popular blogging platforms works and what’s involved in keeping that running under the hood. I work primarily with Debian systems, so that was a natural place to start. The wordpress package makes it very easy to get the base dependencies going with a known supported version, so if you’re running a recent release of Debian that seems like a reasonable place to start as well. That said, this of course means that the package is reconfigured along Debian guidelines and I found that I needed to spend a little time working out how this was done before it made sense. ...

The Problem: A Default Setting By default user registration is enabled. It’s important to realise that even though links to the user registration page may not have been included in the design of a Joomla site the components are still present and they will be regularly targetted by automatic spiders searching for vulnerable sites. Check access logs for requests to paths like: /index.php/shop-login /index.php/shop-login?view=registration&layout=complete /index.php/component/users/?view=registration /index.php/component/user/?task=register /index.php?option=com_user&view=register With user registration enabled scripts can use a Joomla site as an open mail relay by registering users with target email addresses and inserting spam/attack payload into the user details. The Joomla site will send a confirmation email to the target email address, and any email tracing of the source of the email will lead directly to the weakened Joomla server. ...

Marvin once said: Life, don’t talk to me about life But really, what was the problem. Life’s not so bad and after all : there are puppies, and fish, and ponies, and food, and walks in the forest, and walks through the grass, and cycling, and talking, and meeting and travelling and all those other things without which Life would not be Life. So here’s a soothing image instead: Soothing Image No. 123132512233

Description This is a set-and-forget slow cooker stew that combines chicken thighs, sausages, and hearty vegetables with dried lemons for a unique citrus note. The long cooking time melds all the flavors together beautifully. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 20 minutes ✦ Cook time: 6-8 hours ✦ Total time: 6-8 hours 20 minutes 🍽️ Serves: 6-8 people Ingredients Eggplant Pumpkin Beetroot Onion 4 Chicken thighs 6 Sausages 3 Dried lemons Mixed herbs (to taste) Passata Water Instructions Chop eggplant, pumpkin, beetroot, and onion into large chunks and add to slow cooker. Add whole chicken thighs to the slow cooker. Slice sausages and add to the mixture. Distribute dried lemons throughout the mixture for flavor. Sprinkle mixed herbs over everything. Pour passata over the mixture. Add water until it reaches the top of the ingredients. Cook on high heat for 4 hours. Reduce to low setting and cook for an additional 2-4 hours until everything is tender and well-blended. Notes Based on this recipe from my old wiki. The finished stew pairs well when served over couscous. The dried lemons add a distinctive Middle Eastern flavor to this hearty stew. You can substitute the dried lemons with fresh lemon zest if needed, though the flavor will be different.

Description This is a hearty multi-meat ragù-style bolognese that combines beef, pork, and chicken for a complex, layered flavor. The sauce develops deep flavor through long simmering with aromatic vegetables and herbs. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 20 minutes ✦ Cook time: 2 hours ✦ Total time: 2 hours 20 minutes 🍽️ Serves: 6-8 people Ingredients Ground beef Ground pork Ground chicken Brown onions, diced Garlic cloves Carrot, diced Celery, diced Fresh sage Fresh rosemary Nutmeg Cumin Mustard seeds Canned diced tomatoes Tomato paste Olive oil Water Instructions Dice and sauté the onions in olive oil until browned. Finely chop or blend the garlic with sage and rosemary, then add to the pan. Add ground spices (nutmeg, cumin, and mustard seeds) along with diced carrot and celery. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften. Set the vegetable-spice mixture aside temporarily. Add more oil to the pan and brown all three types of ground meat. Return the vegetable-spice mixture to the pan with the meat and combine thoroughly. Add canned tomatoes and tomato paste, then top up with water until just covering the mixture. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for approximately two hours, stirring occasionally. Notes Based on this recipe from my old wiki. This sauce benefits from the long simmer time, which allows the flavors to meld and develop. Serve over pasta with grated parmesan cheese.

Description This is an expanded herbal tea blend with eight ingredients, building on the simpler version with additional lemon-scented herbs and mint. The blend has specific proportions for a well-balanced cup with sweet licorice notes, warming spices, and refreshing citrus and mint flavors. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 10-15 minutes 🍽️ Makes: Variable, depending on batch size Ingredients Mix in the following proportions (in relative units): 1.5 units licorice root 1 unit cinnamon quills, roughly crushed 0.5 units lemon myrtle 0.5 units lemon grass 0.5 units lemon verbena 0.5 units spearmint 0.5 units elderflower Cloves (small quantity, to taste), roughly ground Instructions Using a mortar and pestle, roughly grind cinnamon and licorice together. Combine and lightly grind all remaining ingredients except elderflower. Mix in elderflower. To brew, steep 1-2 teaspoons of the blend in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Notes Based on this recipe from my old wiki. The elderflower is added last to preserve its delicate floral notes. Store in an airtight container away from light to maintain freshness and potency.

Description This is a simple five-ingredient herbal tea blend combining warming spices with floral and citrus notes. The licorice root provides natural sweetness, while the cinnamon and cloves add warmth. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 5-10 minutes 🍽️ Makes: Variable, depending on batch size Ingredients Mix in roughly equal proportions (or to taste): Cinnamon quills Cloves Elderflower Lemon myrtle Licorice root Instructions Blend all ingredients together in approximately equal amounts, adjusting proportions to your preference. For enhanced flavor, grind the mixture using a mortar and pestle. To brew, steep 1-2 teaspoons of the blend in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Notes Based on this recipe from my old wiki. Adjust the proportions based on your taste preferences. Grinding the ingredients helps release more flavor when steeping. Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.

Description A couple of tasty dipping sauces for rice paper rolls, or anything really. These simple sauces come together quickly and add great flavor to fresh spring rolls. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 5 minutes 🍽️ Makes: Approximately 1/2 cup per sauce Hoisin-Based Sauce Ingredients Hoisin sauce Sesame oil Honey Crushed peanuts Instructions Combine all ingredients together to taste. The hoisin provides the base, sesame oil adds depth, honey balances the flavors, and crushed peanuts add texture. ...

Description This gnocchi recipe uses roasted vegetables instead of plain potatoes, creating a flavorful base with natural sweetness from the caramelized vegetables. The gnocchi is tasty enough on its own that it requires only a simple sauce. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 20 minutes ✦ Cook time: 45 minutes (roasting) + 5-10 minutes (boiling) ✦ Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes 🍽️ Serves: 4-6 people Ingredients 1 quarter of a Kent Pumpkin 1 medium Sweet Potato 3-4 medium Potatoes (white variety) 1 White Onion Several Garlic cloves (to taste) Olive Oil Plain flour (as needed for dough) Instructions Peel the potatoes and the pumpkin. Chop the pumpkin and potatoes into chunks. Halve the onion and separate the garlic cloves. Roast all vegetables in olive oil at 190°C until caramelized. After roasting, puree all ingredients together. Gradually incorporate plain flour while kneading until the mixture is just beyond being sticky to the touch. Boil water in a medium pot. Shape gnocchi into pieces approximately 2cm in length. Cook gnocchi in batches, avoiding overcrowding the pot. The gnocchi is cooked when it rises to the surface. Notes Based on this recipe from my old wiki. The gnocchi is plenty tasty on its own, so not much of a sauce is required. A simple garlic and butter sauce accompanies this dish well. The roasting process adds significant flavor compared to traditional boiled potato gnocchi.

Description This is a one-dish meal that combines aromatic arborio rice with caramelized celeriac, chicken seasoned with paprika and herbs, and mushrooms cooked in butter. The plum sauce adds a sweet-savory dimension to the dish. Stats ⏱️ Prep time: 15 minutes ✦ Cook time: 30-40 minutes ✦ Misc time: 30 minutes resting ✦ Total time: 1 hour 25 minutes 🍽️ Serves: 4 people Ingredients Arborio rice Garlic (optional) Celeriac, cubed into 1cm pieces Olive oil Chicken breast, chunked Paprika Mixed herbs Plum sauce Large white (button) mushrooms, roughly chopped Butter Instructions Start the arborio rice by boiling in water, with optional garlic. Cube the celeriac into approximately 1cm pieces and shallow-fry in olive oil for 10-15 minutes until browned with darkened edges. Transfer the celeriac to the partially cooked rice using a slotted spoon and combine. Chunk the chicken and cook in the same oil, adding paprika and mixed herbs. When the chicken is nearly done, pour in some plum sauce and mix through. Cook until slightly reduced. Mix the chicken into the rice. Roughly chop the mushrooms and cook in the pan with added butter. Once cooked, combine the mushrooms with the rice mixture. Cover the rice and leave to sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. Notes Based on this recipe from my old wiki. This recipe yields a complete one-dish meal. The resting time allows the flavors to meld together and the rice to finish cooking through residual heat.