+ $max_char = $dent->get_maxlength(); // max. length for a dent
+ // we will only work with up to two times the length of the dent
+ // we can later send to StatusNet. This way we can "gain" some
+ // information during shortening of potential links but do not
+ // shorten all the links in a 200000 character long essay.
+ if (! $b['title']=='') {
+ $tmp = $b['title'] . ' : '. $b['body'];
+ $tmp = substr($tmp, 0, 4*$max_char);
+ } else {
+ $tmp = substr($b['body'], 0, 3*$max_char);
+ }