I am trying out a method to reduce bot attempts on forms like on my contact page based on fluffy’s example.
On select pages, I now check for a specific cookie. If it is not found or is more than 24 hours old, then the browser redirects to the “Sentience Check” page. That page is a minimal form with a button to indicate “Yes, I am a hooman.” Submitting the form sets the expected cookie and redirects back to the original page. If Javascript is enabled, it will submit the form as soon as the page loads, so most hooman visitors will only see the intermediate page for a second and should be able to continue without issues.
Also at fluffy’s suggestion, the sentience check page returns a response code of 429: Too Many Requests with a header that indicates: retry after one hour. I have no high expectation of the bots respecting that, but maybe the lack of successful response codes will cause some to back off.
The last thing I did was add a noindex meta tag on the page, so search engines should ignore it.
If you’d like to view the page, I recommend turning Javascript off temporarily and then visiting: gregorlove.com/sentience-check/.
I am interested to see how much this will reduce bot attempts on the contact and public sign-in pages. I have had CSRF and honeypot form field protections on both for quite a while, but of course I still see a lot of attempts on them.
Depending how this goes, I might expand its usage to the “send a webmention” form and explore using it to block LLM bots.
I did consider using “I am a meat popsicle” on the button, but not everyone might get The Fifth Element reference.
If it's a required question without a "I do not wish to answer," that's unlawful.
It could potentially be they're trying to be more inclusive for equal opportunity reasons, but they should communicate clearly that the question is optional.
I added a banner to go along with my Long Covid Awareness Day post.
“International Long Covid Awareness Color Codes: Teal:
https://www.longcovidawareness.life/graphics#18929A, Grey:#939393, and Black:#000000”
Aside: I quite like this teal color. I might have to work that into my site in some places in the longer term.
I really enjoyed watching Winged Migration (2001). Some breathtaking footage of bird migrations all around the world. I was shocked how close some of the footage was and learned via Wikipedia that the filmmakers raised several species from birth so they would imprint on the staff and be accustomed to the ultralights and camera equipment.
Thanks to Fractal Kitty for the recommendation for IndieWeb Movie Club!
I ordered a dirty chai and I complimented the barista on his handwriting as he wrote out this “Chai.” As he drew the “X”, he explained he used to write “Chai XXX” since, ya know, dirty chai. Then he figured, “Why not Chai XCX?”. Much appreciated handwriting and wordplay.
A San Diego mutual aid organizer I’m connected with needs some urgent jaw surgery and treatment after the last surgery didn’t go so well. gofund.me/3fa8dcf45
Any amount helps and boosting is much appreciated. 💛
Sometimes the difference between critic and listener reviews for music is wild. I’m trying to listen to A Grand Don’t Come for Free from the 1001 Albums project. It apparently has a 91/100 on Metacritic, but a slew of 1-star listener ratings. I’m definitely leaning towards the 1-star crowd.
I was reminded of Paradigm Shift’s 1995 self-titled album and how good it was. It’s not on any streaming services since the label is defunct, but there are some high quality YouTube uploads for it (playlist).
I started digging to see if they’re still making music. It looks like they are, with the latest track released in 2024:
“Talk to Me” (2024)
“Force One” (2023)
Their domain paradigmshiftbeats.com redirects to their Facebook, facebook.com/PShiftBeats. They are also on Instagram, instagram.com/pshiftbeats
One of the co-founders, Chris Sawyer, passed away in 2013 according to this Facebook post.
Don Davis replied very quickly to my letter. Unfortunately, it’s about what I expected: “I didn’t mean it as support for the policies...” even though his vote funds the policies.
I stand by what I wrote in the letter to him: “Your vote for this clearly communicates that the violence and death detailed above is negotiable.”
His full reply:
“The Trump administration must take immediate and decisive action to put an end to the violence and disorder caused by masked ICE and federal agents who have torn through communities, taken lives, and shattered public trust. It is absolutely heartbreaking, infuriating, and utterly unacceptable to see another family left grieving after a tragic encounter with federal agents. My deepest condolences go to those affected by this devastating event in Minneapolis; yet, condolences alone will not suffice.
People across America are demanding accountability, transparency, and a humane approach to enforcement that respects the dignity and rights of all individuals. An independent, comprehensive investigation into this fatal shooting is essential to uncover the whole truth and ensure accountability. We must not stand by and allow a cover-up.
I want to be clear about my vote on H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026. My support for this measure was driven by FEMA and disaster relief funds for North Carolina communities and others across the nation in need, as well as by support for our U.S. Coast Guard. The vote was never an endorsement of ICE’s conduct. It was never in support of ICE's brutality or the excesses of the Department of Homeland Security.
It has been made painfully clear now more than ever that ICE and other federal immigration enforcement agents must adhere to the standards we expect of traditional law enforcement agencies. We must not allow poorly trained, improperly directed, and heavily armed federal agents to operate with impunity on our streets. Secretary Kristi Noem, who has so far refused to take meaningful action to rein them in, must be held responsible.
— email reply from Don Davis, 2026-01-26
I’m so weary of how people have internalized the propaganda that getting viral infections is no big deal.
Currently reading: The Stone Sky by (ISBN 9780316229258)
Want to read: Project Hail Mary by (ISBN 9780593135204)
★★★★★ Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by
This was a fantastic story of human connection spanning decades and the characters really drew me in. While a binding factor is their love for and creation of video games, I think it is still very accessible and hope that won’t put anyone off reading it. Read: it’s not just a story for gamers.
I keep coming back to this one line:
“Humans want so much. I am glad to be a bird.”
Finished reading: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by (ISBN 9780593321218)
Want to read: The Language of the Night by (ISBN 9781668034903)