I may just have to start watching again. They haven’t had any steel in their broadcasts since the Clinton administration. God knows how I missed this, because it’s a week old, but it’s a beautiful example of the mainstream media actually demanding an explanation and not settling for flackery. This is not a talking head, ladies and gentlemen, this is a reporter!
Speaking of zombies, Richard Tomlinson is back online here. The man will not lay down and die; this re-emergence was expected, but frankly I wondered if he was in custody, given that things had seemed to be heading towards a peaceful settlement and then BOOM!
Tomlinson Blog 101 here; Tomlinson Blog Disappeared 101 here.
I was wrong with my guess on the specific TOS violation: Typepad said the Metropolitan Police (who have no juristiction over a blog written in France and hosted in the US) sent a letter of complaint, referencing 4(3) of the TOS, and that they, Typepad, had no choice but to take it down. So all they require is a letter of complaint; no proof, no warrant, no lucid argument, not even an old school tie with the IT department; just a letter of complaint.
For god’s sake don’t tell the creationists about this!
And yeah, he could not be said to be taking this well:
So the Metropolitan Police asked Typepad to suspend my account, and Typepad suspend my account without any warning or explanation, and without offering me any form of appeal. Sounds like they work to the same sort of morale code as MI6!
I have asked Typepad for a refund of my subscription fee, and for a copy of my files, but they have not yet offered this. Luckily one kind reader of my old site had downloaded a mirror, and so you can access all the pages here: http://richardtomlinson.6x.to/
I suggest that any readers who use Typepad as their blog host consider moving their site elsewhere, as it is clear that Typepad is not a robust or secure service.
I thought it was only in China and Iran that the secret police shut down blogs, but it seems that even in America this happens too…
And the specific TOS referenced in the complaint is:
4 PAYMENT TERMS
(3) CANCELLATION AND TERMINATION
If you cancel the Service before the end of the term, your cancellation will take effect immediately. After cancellation, you will no longer have access to your website and all information contained therein may be deleted by Six Apart. Six Apart accepts no liability for such deleted information or content. If you are a Guest, the Account Holder who invites you may request Six Apart to, and Six Apart may, terminate your Service at any time and for any reason. If your credit card is invalid for any reason, the Service may be cancelled and all the information contained within deleted permanently. Six Apart accepts no liability for information that is deleted due to an invalid credit card.
You agree Six Apart, in its sole discretion, may terminate your password, and/or account, and remove and discard any Content within the Service (including, but not limited to your Blog Site if you are an Account Holder), for any reason, including and without limitation, the lack of use, or if Six Apart believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of the TOS. Any contracts, verbal or written or assumed, in conjunction with your deleted Blog Site (as applicable) and all its parts, at Six Apart’s discretion, will be terminated as well. Six Apart may also in its sole discretion and at any time, discontinue providing the Service, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to the Service under any provision of this TOS may be effected without prior notice, and acknowledge and agree that Six Apart may immediately deactivate or delete your Blog Site, as applicable, and all related information and files. Six Apart reserves the right to bar any further access to such files or the Service. You agree that Six Apart shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your access to the Service. Paid accounts that are terminated will not be refunded.
Hmmm, we’ll see if this works. I actually managed to get fired by someone I had serious blackmail material on…but of course, I shoulda had it on my computer, and not hers. D’oh! I shall be watching this with much interest. Of course, if it actually paid, I’d be applying myself, but I’m done with these “great exposure” jobs. If I want to expose myself, I doubt not that I could find an audience. Which brings us full circle; after all, I still think Tony Blair’s a sexy bitch.
There was Guido thinking that Recess Monkey was the official Labour party blogger, apparently not, since the Labour party is running a competition to find the official blogger for their conference. First prize is free access to the conference. That is a prize? What does the loser get?
“You’ll be given access to all the key speeches and events at Conference and you’ll be blogging from the floor about your experiences.” Guido might even get to meet Prezza!
To enter, all you need to do is email blogatconferenceatnewdotlabourdotorgdotuk detailing your:
* name* address* phone number* blog URL
* and 100 words on why you should be our Conference blogger.We will pick the best, the most innovative and the freshest entry before announcing the winner on Friday 8 September. So good luck and send us a blog!
To:
blogatconferenceatnewdotlabourdotorgdotuk
From : guidodotfawkesatorder-orderdotcomDear Labour Blog Competition,
I would like to be the official Labour party blogger for a laugh.
If you don‘t pick me I will publish a picture of a government minister breaking the law this weekend. Your call.
Regards,
Guido
From Tima, via Cold Desert. In Lebanese war blogger news, Ahmad reports that there have been attempts to hack into his blog account; it’s quite obvious that, since the enemies of truth can’t win with logic or facts, they’ve resorted to crime.
Got an answer about Richard Tomlinson’s blog, although it’s not much of an answer. No, he didn’t take it down because his conditions had been met; it was taken down by Typepad itself, for TOS violations. Here’s the email:
Hi,Thank you for contacing us. Mr. Tomlinson’s weblog was suspended due to Terms of Service violations. We’re not at liberty to discuss the matter beyond that.Thanks,
Colleen
TypePad Technical Services
Six Apart, Ltd.
and here is a link to their Terms of Service. Looks like he fell afoul of #7. The “not at liberty” seems to indicate there are lawyers involved, don’t it?
For those of you who don’t know, Tomlinson is the former MI6 member and blogger who has been jousting with law-enforcement types for several years now. Probably most notorious for his claim that MI6 assassinated Princess Diana and he can prove it, he’s probably more dangerous for publicly posting a database containing the names of those he claims to know are/were working for Special Services. I blogged about his blog here. It was abruptly shut down on the 4th, as he was negotiating the return of some of this things (including his PDA and the computer of a friend) with the law.
raincoaster 