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<?php

            function dot_most_recommended_posts($numberOf, $before, $after, $show_count, $post_type="showcase" ) {
                global $wpdb;

                $request = "SELECT * FROM $wpdb->posts, $wpdb->postmeta";
                $request .= " WHERE $wpdb->posts.ID = $wpdb->postmeta.post_id";
                $request .= " AND post_status='publish' AND post_type='$post_type' AND meta_key='_recommended'";
                $request .= " ORDER BY $wpdb->postmeta.meta_value+0 DESC LIMIT $numberOf";
                $posts = $wpdb->get_results($request);


                    foreach ($posts as $item) {
                        $post_title = stripslashes($item->post_title);
                        $permalink = get_permalink($item->ID);
                        $post_count = $item->meta_value;
                        echo $before.'<a href="' . $permalink . '" title="' . $post_title.'" rel="nofollow">' . $post_title . '</a>';
                        echo $show_count == '1' ? ' ('.$post_count.')' : '';
                        echo $after;
                    }

            }

            $options = get_option("dot_most_recommended_posts");
            if (!is_array( $options ))
            {
                $options = array(
                    'title' => 'Most recommended posts',
                    'number' => '10',
                    'show_count' => '1',
                );
            }

            $title = $options['title'];
            $numberOf = $options['number'];
            $show_count = $options['show_count'];

            echo '<ul class="mostrecommendedposts">';
                dot_most_recommended_posts($numberOf, '<li>', '</li>', $show_count);
            echo '</ul>';

?>