For #1, this is provided "out of the box" with Ventrian's NewArticles module. Despite it's name, the module can be used for Blogs.
The Ventrian module uses a CSS "trick" whereby an image is chosen (in CSS) based on the month and this is the background image that include the image and the month. Then, the text placed over the image is the formatted date.
To do this with any module, you will need for it to be templated so that you can adjust the template and accompanying CSS. I don't think that you can do that with the DotNetNuke Blog module, unless you modify it. So, I would recommend either the Ventrian module or one of the other blog modules -- look on snowcovered.com to see what is available.
As for your second question, I am not sure that the verification code can be edited easily. It may be buried in the framework. But, here are some things you could look at:
-
http://www.adefwebserver.com/DotNet...sc/SignUp/ - http://www.iowacomputergurus.com/free-products/dotnetnuke-modules/secure-password-recovery.aspx -- this might give you some ideas
- Dynamic Registration and Dynamic Login from Datasprings.com