The end of blogging in Pakistan

[a sane voice]

pkblogs offered us a chance to read blogs on blogspot. You couldn't
read comments, but if you went to the individual post's link, you
could.

Then new blogger came out of beta, and people who made the choice to
move, statred posting complaints about variating degrees of
disfunctionality, including total loss.

Others chose, and DBTB campaign advised, to stay away from new
blogger.

Alas, New Blogger is now forced on us. You try to log in to old
blogger, and it takes you to a screen telling you to move. There is no
way to escape that screen.

If you try to migrate to new blogger, eventually the computer informs
you that "Server cannot be found".

You create a new blog on wordpress or some other domain, and try to
import your posts, and the same server not found message appears.

goodbye blogging, Pakistan!

[Dr. Awab Alvi]

very well said,

I fully understand your feelings and I think this new pressure should be
used to reactivate the team and get serious in launching a full blown
protest to make sure the government hears us.

As Nancy mentioned in her email Blogger Beta is no longer Beta so its
definitely coming back to bite us hard.

I'm open to ideas and suggestions - lets crack this case open all over
again, As I am writing this email I have also dispatched an email to a
Google representative in Pakistan with whom I have already been in touch
with over the few months lets see what he says about this issue

But lets start cracking

Awab

a sane voice wrote:
> pkblogs offered us a chance to read blogs on blogspot. You couldn't
> read comments, but if you went to the individual post's link, you
> could.
>
> Then new blogger came out of beta, and people who made the choice to
> move, statred posting complaints about variating degrees of

> disfunctionality, including total loss.I fully

[KO]

Considering Google was only to happy to censor it's search results for the Chinese govt. perhaps they are not the appropriate people to ask on how to circumvent censorship. If they do a good enough job, than the Pakistan govt. might just get off it's behind and ask them directly to censor blogs for Pakistan.

Also, since the Pak govt. is about to ask Google to censor their Pakistan imagery for "sensitive installations", asking them to censor blogs can't be that far behind.

ko

[Tee Emm]

Just for the information of people on this list, TW (Transworld), a new carrier in Pakistan (operating its own submarine cable) is blocking *.wordpress.com. As one of their bulk bandwidth customers, we have been told that they have done so at the request of PTA.

Interestingly, the same is not blocked on the PIE/ITI/FLAG network that is operated by PTCL, the incumbent.

I've almost given up blogging on my telecom related blog not because I don't know about the workarounds but in protest. I know this is self-defeating and not going to help anyone but until I find time to set up an independent site for the blog, I am not going to post.

-T

[KO]

Thanks for the heads up.

I was wondering why your blog was so infrequently updated. Hope you set up your new site sooner rather than later.

regards,
ko

[Dr. Awab Alvi]

What would they want to achieve by blocking *.wordpress.com specially an
independent entity like TW? - if PTA does it then we might see a goal
but for TW-- why?

Sad to see that you have abandoned the blog but can I suggest you to
plaster the site with a protest post that may better serve as a better
justification for your protest and abandoning the blog - just a suggestion.

Awab
--

KO wrote:
> Thanks for the heads up.
>
> I was wondering why your blog was so infrequently updated. Hope you
> set up your new site sooner rather than later.
>
> regards,
> ko
>

> On 2/6/07, * Tee Emm* <tariq....@gmail.com

> <mailto:tariq....@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Just for the information of people on this list, TW (Transworld),
> a new carrier in Pakistan (operating its own submarine cable) is
> blocking *.wordpress.com. As one of their bulk bandwidth
> customers, we have been told that they have done so at the request
> of PTA.
>
> Interestingly, the same is not blocked on the PIE/ITI/FLAG network
> that is operated by PTCL, the incumbent.
>
> I've almost given up blogging on my telecom related blog not
> because I don't know about the workarounds but in protest. I know
> this is self-defeating and not going to help anyone but until I
> find time to set up an independent site for the blog, I am not
> going to post.
>
> -T
>
>

> On 2/5/07, *a sane voice* < timbu...@gmail.com

[KO]

TW - a new operator. They are just complying with all legal requests to stay on the right side of the law.

The older operators probably just ignore the many PTA requests to block websites.

[Dr. Awab Alvi]

I might understand the 'right side of the law' argument but is
wordpress.com on PTA's blocked list, that they feel the need to suck up
to PTA?

As far as TW is concerned - do we have any idea which ISP's are being
linked to this pipe? maybe Tee Emm might have an answer to this?

Awab

KO wrote:
> TW - a new operator. They are just complying with all legal requests
> to stay on the right side of the law.
>
> The older operators probably just ignore the many PTA requests to
> block websites.
>
>
>

> On 2/6/07, *Dr. Awab Alvi* <dra...@gmail.com

> <mailto:dra...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>
> What would they want to achieve by blocking *.wordpress.com
> specially an
> independent entity like TW? - if PTA does it then we might see a goal
> but for TW-- why?
>
> Sad to see that you have abandoned the blog but can I suggest you to
> plaster the site with a protest post that may better serve as a better
> justification for your protest and abandoning the blog - just a
> suggestion.
>
> Awab
> --
>
> KO wrote:
> > Thanks for the heads up.
> >
> > I was wondering why your blog was so infrequently updated. Hope you
> > set up your new site sooner rather than later.
> >
> > regards,
> > ko
> >
> > On 2/6/07, * Tee Emm* < tariq....@gmail.com
> <mailto:tariq....@gmail.com>

> > <mailto:tariq....@gmail.com

> <mailto:tariq....@gmail.com>>> wrote:
> >
> > Just for the information of people on this list, TW
> (Transworld),
> > a new carrier in Pakistan (operating its own submarine
> cable) is
> > blocking *.wordpress.com. As one of their bulk bandwidth
> > customers, we have been told that they have done so at the
> request
> > of PTA.
> >
> > Interestingly, the same is not blocked on the PIE/ITI/FLAG
> network
> > that is operated by PTCL, the incumbent.
> >
> > I've almost given up blogging on my telecom related blog not
> > because I don't know about the workarounds but in protest. I
> know
> > this is self-defeating and not going to help anyone but until I
> > find time to set up an independent site for the blog, I am not
> > going to post.
> >
> > -T
> >
> >
> > On 2/5/07, *a sane voice* < timbu...@gmail.com
> <mailto:timbu...@gmail.com>

> > <mailto:timbu...@gmail.com <mailto:timbu...@gmail.com>>>

[xuner...@gmail.com]

well, the only way to access ur blogs is to use proxy....but now
blogger beta is inaccessible thru proxies also...*sniffs*

> > > On 2/6/07, * Tee Emm* < tariq.must...@gmail.com
> > <mailto:tariq.must...@gmail.com>
> > > <mailto:tariq.must...@gmail.com

> > <mailto:tariq.must...@gmail.com>>> wrote:
>
> > > Just for the information of people on this list, TW
> > (Transworld),
> > > a new carrier in Pakistan (operating its own submarine
> > cable) is
> > > blocking *.wordpress.com. As one of their bulk bandwidth
> > > customers, we have been told that they have done so at the
> > request
> > > of PTA.
>
> > > Interestingly, the same is not blocked on the PIE/ITI/FLAG
> > network
> > > that is operated by PTCL, the incumbent.
>
> > > I've almost given up blogging on my telecom related blog not
> > > because I don't know about the workarounds but in protest. I
> > know
> > > this is self-defeating and not going to help anyone but until I
> > > find time to set up an independent site for the blog, I am not
> > > going to post.
>
> > > -T
>

> > > On 2/5/07, *a sane voice* < timbukt...@gmail.com
> > <mailto:timbukt...@gmail.com>
> > > <mailto:timbukt...@gmail.com <mailto:timbukt...@gmail.com>>>

> > > goodbye blogging, Pakistan!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[NancyB]

Here's a brief report on my experience with "new blogger" without
using technical workarounds to access the various pages. When the
switch to new blogger from old blogger was forced on me, I plunged
ahead and switched to new blogger. Here are a couple of tips on what I
found, which maybe will be of help

1. DON'T FORGET: the only way to access your new blogger is your email
account. For the first access, this is the email account that you
originally used to sign up with. It may or may not be a gmail account.
So you may have to go through a number of tries in the event you have
more than one email account where you MIGHT have signed up. Then, if
you don't have a gmail account, I think you maybe have to take out a
gmail or google account to continue. If you can't see the page where
you log in, email me directly and I will tell you what the page says
where you are trying to log in. If you used some email account OTHER
THAN gmail, you will have to use the original password you gave them,
too. I remember some problems with this, but I was able to solve it.
If you forget what you originally signed up with, I think there likely
was a prompt where they will email you the info.

2. ONCE THE SWITCH IS MADE, the only way you can sign is using your
Gmail (Google) account. That means you have to use the password for
your gmail (Google) account as well as the "username" for this
account. Of course, if you have more than one Google account, only the
Google (gmail) account that is linked to your blog will work.

3. For a period of days, once you have switched, nothing of course
seems to work. Whether that was blogger or failing to sign in
properly, I am not sure. I do believe it is some combination. I also
was able to find although I could not post, I could read the old
posts.

4. Like a bad storm, the issues suddenly resolved themselves, as if by
magic, certainly without further effort on my part.This took many
days.

5. Last December my whole blog disappeared--at least the main page
did, although I was able to Google and find individual posts. I found
that by writing a new post, the blog reappeared.

6. On one blog I read there was a message something like "This blog is
in the process of switching to New Blogger. Please check back
shortly." That message appeared for a week or ten days. Then, suddenly
the blog reappeared.

In short, don't give up. It appears that a little time may solve the
New Blogger-old Blogger issues on individual blogs without further
effort. Try again in a few days, then in a few days more. This is my
experience. Again, if you can't see individual screens that may have
info about switching your blog (I am not sure whether this is
happening), send me the info and I will write you back with what I
saw.

[Ice]

Hmm, my move during the few days this month that the ban disappeared
was relatively easy. I just signed in with my gmail account and all my
blogs seemed to be working fine (I only posted on the one I use the
most but the rest did show up alrite). I played around quite a bit
with my blog anticipating the ban's return. I even imported all my
posts to wordpress quite easily. Oh and the one blog I had signed up
for using my gmail adress during the beta's start to try it out
(couldn't coz of the ban) was also part of my blog list. All in all, I
had a good experience for the 4-5 days. Maybe they've fixed the
conversion problems now.

One more thing, for people who want to import their blogs to wordpress
but haven't switched to beta yet - if you have someone abroad whom you
can trust with your password (like a friend studying abroad or family
or close net pal), get him/her to switch your blogs for you and then
you can import them to wordpress whenever you want since its wordpress
that does the signing in then.

I have a question btw..the old blogger used to have this post through
e-mail feature. Something like you specify a secret word, and then all
you have to do is mail your post to secretword...@blogger.com
(don't remember exactly). Does the new blogger have the same feature?

[NancyB]

If you can get to Blogger you can set the post by email option. Choose
the tab "Settings" which is between the "Posting" and "Template" tab.
Choose "Email," which is a choice just under the tabs. There is a fill
in next to "Mail-to-Blogger Address." The address will be at
blogger.com. It says you can post to your blog by email using this
method. I have never tried this,however.

On Feb 27, 1:15 pm, "Ice" <icyr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hmm, my move during the few days this month that the ban disappeared
> was relatively easy. I just signed in with my gmail account and all my
> blogs seemed to be working fine (I only posted on the one I use the
> most but the rest did show up alrite). I played around quite a bit
> with my blog anticipating the ban's return. I even imported all my
> posts to wordpress quite easily. Oh and the one blog I had signed up
> for using my gmail adress during the beta's start to try it out
> (couldn't coz of the ban) was also part of my blog list. All in all, I
> had a good experience for the 4-5 days. Maybe they've fixed the
> conversion problems now.
>
> One more thing, for people who want to import their blogs to wordpress
> but haven't switched to beta yet - if you have someone abroad whom you
> can trust with your password (like a friend studying abroad or family
> or close net pal), get him/her to switch your blogs for you and then
> you can import them to wordpress whenever you want since its wordpress
> that does the signing in then.
>
> I have a question btw..the old blogger used to have this post through
> e-mail feature. Something like you specify a secret word, and then all

> you have to do is mail your post to secretword.blogadr...@blogger.com

[Ice]

Oh good. I have tried it on the old blogger so it should work fine.
Thank you!

[wikid <zain>]

so how do i continue blogging
wordpress is not accessible to me
and using a internet card just for it, it too desperate an idea

[wikid <zain>]

On Mar 3, 6:34 pm, "wikid <zain>" <mzai...@gmail.com> wrote:
> so how do i continue blogging
> wordpress is not accessible to me
> and using a internet card just for it, it too desperate an idea

_________________________________________________________________________
on a diffrent note how about myspace

[NancyB]

This Blogger login info also worked for some people:

"Are you logging in here: https://www2.blogger.com/login.g with your
Google ID? Or at the old blogger login? There is also info on having
trouble with your Google login at: http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/answer.py?answer=40548"

> > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[wikid <zain>]

i am able to access blogspots sb domain,
but am harly phsyced, wonder if it last a day or 2

On Mar 5, 2:48 am, "NancyB" <nancy.boh...@gmail.com> wrote:
> This Blogger login info also worked for some people:
>

> "Are you logging in here:https://www2.blogger.com/login.gwith your

[Badar Khushnood]

Wow! http://****.blogspot.com is working from WorldCall Lahore!

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Regards,
Badar.

[iFaqeer (SIA)]

*&%$#, man! This is depressing. I still have an outstanding action
item to picket a meeting of OPEN (Organization of Pakistani
Enterpreneurs)'s Silicon Valley Chapter with something "OPEN Doesn't
Care About Pakistan or Pakistanis" or something--or at least bring it
up in a Q&A in open forum...

iF/SIA

--
[Sabahat Iqbal Ashraf]
-----------------------------------
Cell: (510) 304 5927
Web: http://iFaqeer.wikispaces.com/
Blog & Podcast: http://iFaqeer.blogspot.com or http://pkblogs.com/iFaqeer
Urdu Podcast: http://AzadKarachiRadio.blogspot.com or
http://pkblogs.com/AzadKarachiRadio
-----------------------------------
poochha joe mainay aap ka parda woe kyaa huwa
kehnay lageen ka aql pay mardhon kee par gaya
[Asked I, your veil, what became of it?
Said she it sits, now, on the minds of menfolk]
Akbar Allahabadi, Urdu/South Asian/Muslim Poet
-----------------------------------

--
[Sabahat Iqbal Ashraf]
-----------------------------------
Cell: (510) 304 5927
Web: http://iFaqeer.wikispaces.com/
Blog & Podcast: http://iFaqeer.blogspot.com or http://pkblogs.com/iFaqeer
Urdu Podcast: http://AzadKarachiRadio.blogspot.com or
http://pkblogs.com/AzadKarachiRadio
-----------------------------------
poochha joe mainay aap ka parda woe kyaa huwa
kehnay lageen ka aql pay mardhon kee par gaya
[Asked I, your veil, what became of it?
Said she it sits, now, on the minds of menfolk]
Akbar Allahabadi, Urdu/South Asian/Muslim Poet
-----------------------------------

[Awab Alvi]

Lets not start partying just yet but I seriously itch to find out why does this happen, are they testing, are they simply unblocking when a dignitary flies in to either ISB or the PTA office (though i don't know anyone who might be in Islamabad) or do they unblock just for the sake of fun (i doubt it).  Sadly the experience over the year we all know this celebration is more short lived then a celebration at all.

Does someone have any wild suggestions.

*Not yet celebrating* Awab Alvi

[Badar Khushnood]

I am sure you are also following news about few new blocks by PTCL which messed up the whole thing ( http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=45470 ). I think PTCL finally reverted back all new settings sometime yesterday to normalize the mess. Access to Blogspot is probably a part of that rollback which somebody would soon realize and configure back again as feared by all of us!

Regards,
Badar.

[Awab Alvi]

I read that, I think this news story should be used as another opportunity to promote the Blogspot blocking.  Do you guys think we should fire another press release.  I say this as yesterdays press release went to over 200 news outlets worldwide.  Should we bash 'em again or let that one ride?

[Badar Khushnood]

Just do it - the Nike way ;)

[wikid <zain>]

we have tried plan b before, i say go for it, the nike way,
beautifully said

On Mar 5, 1:25 pm, "Badar Khushnood" <badar.khushn...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Just do it - the Nike way ;)
>
> On 3/5/07, Awab Alvi <dra...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > I read that, I think this news story should be used as another opportunity
> > to promote the Blogspot blocking. Do you guys think we should fire another
> > press release. I say this as yesterdays press release went to over 200 news
> > outlets worldwide. Should we bash 'em again or let that one ride?
>

> > On 3/5/07, Badar Khushnood <badar.khushn...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > I am sure you are also following news about few new blocks by PTCL which
> > > messed up the whole thing (

> > >http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=45470). I think PTCL

> > > finally reverted back all new settings sometime yesterday to normalize the
> > > mess. Access to Blogspot is probably a part of that rollback which somebody
> > > would soon realize and configure back again as feared by all of us!
>
> > > Regards,
> > > Badar.
>
> > > On 3/5/07, Awab Alvi < dra...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > Lets not start partying just yet but I seriously itch to find out why
> > > > does this happen, are they testing, are they simply unblocking when a
> > > > dignitary flies in to either ISB or the PTA office (though i don't know
> > > > anyone who might be in Islamabad) or do they unblock just for the sake of
> > > > fun (i doubt it). Sadly the experience over the year we all know this
> > > > celebration is more short lived then a celebration at all.
>
> > > > Does someone have any wild suggestions.
>
> > > > *Not yet celebrating* Awab Alvi
>

> > > > On 3/5/07, iFaqeer (SIA) < techwhirl...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > > > *&%$#, man! This is depressing. I still have an outstanding action
> > > > > item to picket a meeting of OPEN (Organization of Pakistani
> > > > > Enterpreneurs)'s Silicon Valley Chapter with something "OPEN Doesn't
> > > > > Care About Pakistan or Pakistanis" or something--or at least bring
> > > > > it
> > > > > up in a Q&A in open forum...
>
> > > > > iF/SIA
>

> > > > > On 2/5/07, Tee Emm <tariq.must...@gmail.com > wrote:
> > > > > > Just for the information of people on this list, TW (Transworld),
> > > > > a new
> > > > > > carrier in Pakistan (operating its own submarine cable) is
> > > > > blocking
> > > > > > *.wordpress.com. As one of their bulk bandwidth customers, we have
> > > > > been told
> > > > > > that they have done so at the request of PTA.
>
> > > > > > Interestingly, the same is not blocked on the PIE/ITI/FLAG network
> > > > > that is
> > > > > > operated by PTCL, the incumbent.
>
> > > > > > I've almost given up blogging on my telecom related blog not
> > > > > because I don't
> > > > > > know about the workarounds but in protest. I know this is
> > > > > self-defeating and
> > > > > > not going to help anyone but until I find time to set up an
> > > > > independent site
> > > > > > for the blog, I am not going to post.
>
> > > > > > -T
>

[Awab Alvi]

and pray thy lord tell me what was plan B and what is the NIKE way ;) ROTFL.

I believe we keep on pounding until somebody takes notice, that's my belief, though its frustrating to have to sit down and write a press release every few days, then dispatching it all around when nothing is happening but perseverance pays.  I believe with this recent incident we get to smile and actually tell the big name domains 'we told you so' but to belittle them is not the way to achieve it but I hope this is enough to rattle the local rep offices to take notice and ensure some protection. 

Is there any IT conference anywhere in the picture? someone needs to initiate talks and push it through

[NancyB]

While Blogger is out of Beta, some blogs are allowed to keep the old
style, at least for the time being. I am not sure how they choose.