Recently in Internet Category

As some of you may recall, Blogrolling has not been updating me (along with, apparently, quite a few others as well) in their database when I ping, either through Movable Type or manually through their ping page. Hube (who blogs at Colossus of Rhodey) actually got a response to his email on the issue, in which a "Beenish M." alludes to a sweeping upgrade that will likely fix everything (but he's looking into the problem anyway).

Recently, I got my own email as well:

Sent: Tue 11/13/2007 11:39 PM
From: Jonathan Clarke [brsupport@tucows.com]
To: lb@dontgointothelight.com
CC:
Subject: [#AFM-230578]: Blogrolling Support Request

Hello LB,

If you could provide the username and password for your account we could certainly escalate this situation for you so we can see what is going on with the server.

Jon C.

Domain Direct/Netidentity Customer Service http://www.domaindirect.com/supportform.html
http://www.netidentity.com/Support/SupportMain.aspx
Toll-Free: 1-866-337-8633 (North America Only)
Local: 416-531-2084
Fax: 416.352.0113

Ticket Details
===================
Ticket ID: AFM-230578
Department: Blogrolling Support

Password? Their manual ping form doesn't work and they think my password is going to help? And lets not forget that most reputable web companies, including Mr. Clarke's, tell folks not to give out passwords to anyone.

My reply (Sent: Thu 11/15/2007 5:07 PM):

Jon,

While I appreciate the offer for help, I'm confused about the request for a username and password. It's the inclusion of my blog in other folks' lists that's a problem, and one that existed long before I aquired an account.

LB

Nine days later, still waiting for a reply.

If you didn't know, Blogrolling wasn't invented by Tucows. No, that distinction goes to Jason DeFillippo, who sold Blogrolling to Tucows in 2004. From the Jason's announcement on the Blogrolling website:

The decision to sell the company was a very difficult one for me and after talking to several companies who were interested, I decided on Tucows because they are an extremely upstanding group of guys (they're Canadian, after all!) who will treat all of you with care and respect.

Sure wish Jason could have seen the future...

Even when you have legitimate concerns over copyrights, it's never a good idea to threaten your fans - particularly when you have so few left.