…and this is a 
I know that Seed and SixApart have been busily tinkering with the comments section to "improve" things, but I don't know exactly what they're doing. It's gotten weird, though, and many of you are sending me complaints that you can't comment any more — I haven't banned anyone recently, I swear.
It seems to be in a transitional state. Some of the problems may be a result of parts of the html or css being cached on your computer, and the server is getting confused. Try reloading/refreshing the page to force a full update; it might work. It might not. I was initially locked out myself, and it took a couple of forced reloads before it started functioning again.
Anyway, any anomalies are not at all personal, but are a result of the mechanics taking a sledgehammer to the undercarriage. All will be resolved eventually. I hope.
Comments
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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November 16, 2009 4:29 PM
Oooh. We were just talking about this on the never-dying thread. It's not good to hear that people are getting blocked from commenting.
Posted by: Sili
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November 16, 2009 4:29 PM
Speaking of sledgehammers and undercarriages ...
When do we get to meet the lovely techies?
Please?
:smiiiiiiiilessssssss:
Posted by: NewEnglandBob
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November 16, 2009 4:31 PM
Off topic, but BACON!
http://mmmvelopes.com
Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline.
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November 16, 2009 4:33 PM
Oooooh. Better now.
Was logged in with TypePad, but couldn't switch to MT because the link is to sign-up not login, but it turns out that can be amended by hand.
So now I have access to my profile - for whatever that is worth.
:potters off to upload a duck:
Posted by: Celtic_Evolution
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November 16, 2009 4:33 PM
Well... actually, it was weird for a while... first I was signed in... then I wasn't and the comment box and sign in area looked different... but when I clicked to "sign in", it went to a non-existent page...
However I quickly found I could comment just putting my name and email in... and also there was a weird "Old post" thread that showed up with a date of November 2001 with a few commenters making what appeared to be test posts...
Anyhoo.. at this point signing in to moveable type is working again... so it seems at the moment...
Posted by: cag
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November 16, 2009 4:33 PM
How many times do I have to tell you - sacrifice a goat, not a sheep.
Posted by: Glen Davidson
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November 16, 2009 4:34 PM
For the record, it's been working somewhat better for myself than previously.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
Posted by: BMS | November 16, 2009 4:35 PM
Check 1-2
Posted by: Frank b
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November 16, 2009 4:38 PM
I'll try this OT to see if I can comment. I was reading about old white supremacists of the Jim Crow era, who properly understood what the TOE meant for racism and thus opposed it. Now, Creationists are turning that onto its head to attack Evolution.
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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November 16, 2009 4:45 PM
As PZ leaves to crush a whimpering IDiot, his blog commenting system goes to hell in a handbasket. Too perfect in timing to be a coincidence, don't you think? This must have been planned to distract PZ at the last minute...
Posted by: Plectrum | November 16, 2009 4:50 PM
Type pad never let me in. Live Journal was working for awhile, but now it seems not to remember me. O well, it's no fun to comment if I have to use the same nym every time.
Posted by: waldo | November 16, 2009 4:55 PM
Hullo, hulloooo? Is this thing on?
Posted by: Natalie | November 16, 2009 4:57 PM
Frank b, that sounds interesting. Do you have a link or something?
Posted by: Greg Laden
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November 16, 2009 4:58 PM
I was initially locked out myself, and it took a couple of forced reloads before it started functioning again.
Confirmation bias?
Posted by: Greg Laden
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November 16, 2009 5:00 PM
I officially eat my words. The above comment would not go through. Then I forced a couple of relaods ...
Posted by: Bill Dauphin, OM | November 16, 2009 5:01 PM
Testing, testing, testing...
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 16, 2009 5:03 PM
I couldn't comment - despite trying both Movable Type and TypePad. This is a different machine - i'll see if it works.
Posted by: Just Plain Cliff | November 16, 2009 5:08 PM
This is a test.
Posted by: Steve Calderon
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November 16, 2009 5:12 PM
i'm logged in with my typepad account.
Posted by: Marcus Ranum | November 16, 2009 5:14 PM
It seems to be in a transitional state.
Dang it!! That makes 2 new gaps in the evolutionary history of scienceblogs' code-base!!!!
Posted by: Wowbagger, OM
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November 16, 2009 5:17 PM
Typepad is working okay for me - though it took me a few minutes to remember what my dang password was.
Posted by: Paul Lundgren
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November 16, 2009 5:17 PM
OK, now let's see.
Posted by: puseaus | November 16, 2009 5:20 PM
Improvements, I see.
Posted by: MarkMyWords
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November 16, 2009 5:22 PM
Signing in with no problem at all. Must be the better quality bacon!
Posted by: SteveM | November 16, 2009 5:23 PM
However I quickly found I could comment just putting my name and email in...
That's how I've always commented (except when PZ disabled it to force registration). I don't even have to type in my name and email as both IE and Firfox will remember it and autofill if I click in the fields a second time.
Posted by: DembskiDisliker | November 16, 2009 5:26 PM
Can you check this out, PZ? Maybe publicize it. I think you'll like it. =)
http://snurl.com/t9nhi
(Link to Good Math Bad Math on Dembski trying to break out lawyers to silence his critics.)
Posted by: llewelly | November 16, 2009 5:26 PM
For more on that topic, I suggest you read Darwin's Sacred Cause, by Adrian Desmond and James Moore, if you haven't already.Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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November 16, 2009 5:31 PM
I was able to sign in with TypePad on the first try. I've made a post on one thread without problems.
Maybe, just maybe, SB has got a techie who knows his hole from an ass in the ground. One can always hope.
Posted by: strangest brew | November 16, 2009 5:35 PM
Hmm...this might get ugly methinks!
Just got type pad tamed...sigh!
Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip
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November 16, 2009 5:40 PM
It works fine for me* so obviously it should work fine for everybody!!?! Whiners!!!
* (Ignoring the three previous attempts.)
Posted by: Kel, OM | November 16, 2009 5:42 PM
This morning at home it wouldn't work for me on Firefox but it went fine on Internet Explorer.
Trying on IE6 at work.
Posted by: Desert Son, OM
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November 16, 2009 5:42 PM
Testing
Posted by: F
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November 16, 2009 5:43 PM
Instead of forcing a reload several times, you might also empty the browser cache before a reload. May work faster, if the problem is cached pages.
Posted by: Frank b
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November 16, 2009 5:45 PM
I haven't learned how to put in links, but you cut and paste the web address. There is some interesting reading about antievolution and race at:
Posted by: Desert Son, OM
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November 16, 2009 5:47 PM
Weird. Ok. That was interesting. Took more than 10 tries. Had to log into Movable Type, then log back out, then log into TypePad. Now TypePad appears to be working, but I'm unable to log into Movable Type. It's like a scene in some strange Beckettian play.
[New complementary close under construction],
Robert
Posted by: Frank b
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November 16, 2009 5:47 PM
aaahhhh, I just learned how not to make a link. I'll have to work on this.
Posted by: strangest brew | November 16, 2009 5:49 PM
yea for the geeks of this world, for they shall inherit the scienceblogs.
tis working methinks..... now what's about improving the actual platform and putting an edit function in hmmm! pretty please?
Screw all this last post...cross threaded googymaflip RSS feeding frenzy gadgets with bells and whistles on nonsense...lets really party!
Posted by: Standard Curve
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November 16, 2009 5:53 PM
I like bacon as much as the next guy... but envelopes???
Posted by: Standard Curve
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November 16, 2009 5:55 PM
I had to F5 refresh after logging in but before typing my comments to get it to work.
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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November 16, 2009 6:01 PM
Frank b,
You can try copying the url from your browser bar and pasting it onto your comment with whitespace surrounding it (at least one space before and after). Or you can use the anchor tag like so (whitespace not necessary):Hey! Preview doesn't erase HTML codes now. Sweet.
Posted by: strangest brew | November 16, 2009 6:04 PM
Prob is no idea if I am registered with Type Pad or Movable Type?
Well I am registered with both but that is just details...and in no way signifies to whether one...t'other...either...actually work at any one time or given moment!
Reminiscent of the Heisenberg uncertainty and Pauli exclusion principle rolled into one!
Thus possibly solving the conundrum of the T o E quite elegantly... but not the biological one!
Only leaving me completely stumped!
Posted by: Fred The Hun | November 16, 2009 6:05 PM
Maybe someone will inadvertently release the personal contact information of the techies and the people in charge of getting this commenting thing to work. I mean seriously, how frackin hard can it be to get it to work right, like 95% of the time?!
Posted by: Frank b
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November 16, 2009 6:08 PM
Try this link here.
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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November 16, 2009 6:16 PM
Apparently the preview is now separate from the text in the commenting textbox, so we can type things like
and see without the code disappearing on preview.Posted by: hyoid
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November 16, 2009 6:27 PM
Ooooooo!!! Just like I knew what I was doing!!
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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November 16, 2009 6:31 PM
F #33
Prithee tell, kind sir or madam as the case may be, how does a non-technogeek perform this task? I have some sort of vague idea that a browser cache stores stuff from I've retrieved from the intertubes, but I don't have a clue about how to clear it.
BTW, I use Firefox 3.5.
Posted by: Margaret's Cat
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November 16, 2009 6:33 PM
Like a crocoduck? It's definitely not intelligently designed. This is try #2 at commenting.
Posted by: lose_the_woo
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November 16, 2009 6:34 PM
Tis:
From the menu bar:
Tools -> Clear Recent History...
Make sure the cache option is checked. All others can be unchecked.
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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November 16, 2009 6:37 PM
'Tis, Look here.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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November 16, 2009 6:42 PM
Thank you. Now I know.
Posted by: circleh.wordpress.com
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November 16, 2009 6:48 PM
I have no problem commenting here, but I'd like to use my real name (Dale Husband).
Posted by: Susannah | November 16, 2009 7:00 PM
Testing.
Obligatory one-line "Oh! Ah!" comment.
Posted by: Newfie
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November 16, 2009 7:07 PM
is it supposed to look this orange? I like it.
ooooohh..... preview works fast now, I blame all future typos on da beers.
@Frank b
http://tinyurl.com/ye8kt5v
little neater and easier for a crazy url like that.
Posted by: raven | November 16, 2009 7:16 PM
test.
Keep getting "invalid request" messages.
Posted by: PalMD
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November 16, 2009 7:19 PM
Testing...
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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November 16, 2009 7:20 PM
I got one of those. It went away when I clicked on the sign in link above the box, which activated my TypePad sign in from earlier in the day.Posted by: raven | November 16, 2009 7:23 PM
Scienceblogs keep making it harder and harder to comment.
It is getting to be almost impossible.
I found a workaround that is extremely clumsy that may be difficult to repeat. The new software obstacle crashed one browser and refuses to accept from another.
If this keeps up, I'll keep reading pharyngula, but probably won't post too much if at all.
Posted by: Rorschach | November 16, 2009 8:42 PM
No problems whatsoever on FF or Opera.
Posted by: Rorschach
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November 16, 2009 8:45 PM
And all logins worked first go as well.
Posted by: Rorschach
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November 16, 2009 8:57 PM
The textbox for comments is way too small now,line breaks every 10 words is insane !
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, Quel Dommage
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November 16, 2009 9:05 PM
I've had no problem signing in with TypePad.
Posted by: mattand | November 16, 2009 9:12 PM
Spoon!
Posted by: Caine, ghetto féministe
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November 16, 2009 9:27 PM
No problems here, just clicked 'sign in' and was automatically signed in without leaving the comment page.
Posted by: eddie
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November 16, 2009 9:33 PM
I tried to sign in with name/email only and got 'invalid request'. Now I'm trying after signing into typePad. It claims I'm signed in and didn't give any weirt error pages.
Posted by: eddie
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November 16, 2009 9:35 PM
I had something pithy to say there and got 'too many comments'. Lost forever :(
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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November 16, 2009 9:37 PM
Eddie, it appears each time you open the browser again, you may need to click on the sign in link above the comment box. If you are already signed in, then it will recognize it.
Posted by: Eric | November 16, 2009 9:56 PM
I'm not a huge Howard Stern fan, but he did a pretty good job ripping on Kirk Cameron and his Origin of Species video.
Part #1 - #3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kENWGkRRjrY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j54RWoTS1nc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9U_fQ6f2hg
Posted by: Sphere Coupler | November 16, 2009 9:56 PM
Fork!Suggestion...make the "Previewing your Comment" box larger so that it puts out more light to see my keyboard so I don't have to turn the light on...What?
Posted by: Kevin DeGraaf | November 16, 2009 10:12 PM
Why in Thor's name are they "tinkering" with a live production site in the first place? Developmestuction = FAIL.
http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/The_Developmestuction_Environment.aspx
Posted by: raven | November 16, 2009 10:16 PM
Still not working right.
With an elaborate workaround using two different browsers, it works every once in a while for unknown reasons.
They fixed something that wasn't broken and now it is.
Not going to be commenting very much with this system.
Posted by: Geoff | November 16, 2009 10:42 PM
Ah! So that's what being banned feels like.
Posted by: F
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November 16, 2009 11:10 PM
@ "Tis Himself, OM
My apologies for not being explicit. I should know better, as I answer these types of questions all the time for those who just want to use their systems rather than learn the endless arcana of troubleshooting. My head seemed to be stuck in the cupboard.
And, "sir", if it matters. But don't call me "sir", I work for a living. ;)
Posted by: Rorschach
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November 17, 2009 12:11 AM
Hm, got the typekey "page full of garbage" error twice, but Movable is working.
Unregistered commenting still fine.
Posted by: Ctenotrish | November 17, 2009 12:29 AM
Try two. . . .
Posted by: Ctenotrish | November 17, 2009 12:31 AM
*snort* Try two made it, but try one, wherein I waxed nostalgic about the recent ease of commenting? Not so much.
Posted by: masksoferis.wordpress.com
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November 17, 2009 1:52 AM
cag at #6:
No no no. The problem with vanilla goat exenteration is that OpenID doesn't work after that. TypePad, yes, but not OpenID; and you can get TypePad working with a sheep and a bit of parsley (v. 2.0 or higher) anyway if you use a silver knife with the grinning malign likeness of the Mailer-Daemon carved on it, and click twice. However, if you install Linux in the goat beforehand and use a backhand grip, all should be peachy. I think.
Oh, unless someone tries to sign in backwards during a full moon using the newest Ubuntu release (Terrorizing Tentaclopod) in the year 2012, because then you get a global Divide by Yog-Sothoth Error, and that's not good.
Er, just testing, I mean.
Posted by: Texan Expat in Finland | November 17, 2009 2:11 AM
Kevin DeGraaf #69:
I have had to work on systems like that before. My last job was explicitly to correct all of that. The last 6 guys in a row that worked on it were all basically rogue developers and management had no real oversight of the process.
It was horrible. The scariest part was that this was a Fortune 500 company who should have known better.
Posted by: David B
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November 17, 2009 2:52 AM
Test number n on a new day
David B
Posted by: SpriteSuzi
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November 17, 2009 3:04 AM
No problems with Movable Type sign in, and the name/email address lines vanished when signed in! Yaay!
Posted by: Cath the Canberra Cook
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November 17, 2009 3:58 AM
MT login worked just now but not 10 hours ago.
Tip: switch "login" for "signup" in the "Sign up with Movable Type" link below.
Posted by: Lilith | November 17, 2009 5:01 AM
Why are roadies even dumber than drummers?
At least drummers can count to 4, but roadies only count Test...1...2...2...2...
Posted by: The Tim Channel
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November 17, 2009 5:01 AM
Finally hacked my way in here. Used the clear recent history trick and entered thru TP.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Andyo | November 17, 2009 6:37 AM
aarrghh!!! I HATE Type Pad. Anyone else getting the error:
?
Posted by: Rorschach
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November 17, 2009 6:41 AM
Andyo,
yes I got that one earlier today as well, it's well known and one of our favourites...:-)
Posted by: Tatarize | November 17, 2009 7:37 AM
hm?
Posted by: SEF | November 17, 2009 7:52 AM
Hint: that error, for which you're blaming typepad, isn't really a typepad error. It's a ScienceBlogs forgotten-all-about-supporting-TypeKey/typepad error.
Posted by: Naked Bunny with a Whip
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November 17, 2009 7:58 AM
@Andyo: I hate TypePad, too, but it's not their fault that ScienceBlogs is misconfigured. Let's keep the cattle prods pointed at the right asses.
Posted by: bullofthewoods | November 17, 2009 9:01 AM
Is this thing on?
Posted by: strangest brew | November 17, 2009 9:04 AM
I am afraid the system has gone into meltdowm again...
Trying to post on other threads I get
"Thank you for commenting.
Your comment has been received and held for approval by the blog owner.
Return to the original entry."
never had that before...totally random it remains!
Posted by: BioBeing
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November 17, 2009 9:12 AM
Testing...
Posted by: Aquaria
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November 17, 2009 9:18 AM
I could comment last night without resorting to Typepad or MT, but couldn't comment this morning without using one of those.
Ugh. And I don't like how tiny the comment box is.
Posted by: Anubis Bloodsin the third
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November 17, 2009 9:21 AM
How come it works here but nowhere else?
Slowly losing the will to keep breathing now.
Not a great loss some would say, but damn it all to Beelzebub's knicker gusset, to lose the plot because a forum software went to the darkside... and this time decided to stay there...is beyond lamentable methinks?
Posted by: Blind Squirrel FCD
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November 17, 2009 9:45 AM
Ok, since I don't have a life, I'll try with TypePad.
Posted by: Blind Squirrel FCD
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November 17, 2009 9:48 AM
IT worked, non sequitur and all.
Posted by: Die Anyway
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November 17, 2009 10:01 AM
Everyone keeps blaming Seed and SixApart but it's not their fault. The problem is caused by conflicts between the three different versions of spy software installed by the CIA, NSA and Homeland Security. You do realize that THEY are watching us? If you've posted here more than five times, you have a folder.
Be afraid, be very afraid. I, for one, do not welcome our Homeland Security overlords.
/end paranoia/
Eat well, stay fit, Die Anyway
Posted by: marilove | November 17, 2009 10:16 AM
Testing 123....
Posted by: raven | November 17, 2009 10:37 AM
Scienceblogs is dying.
I can get in every once in a while due to luck and a kludgy workaround.
The people posting on this thread that it works are confirmation bias. If you can post, your noncomment about it not working isn't going to show up.
Judging from the fall off in traffic, that is a lot of people.
The old system was far better.
Posted by: Anubis Bloodsin the third
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November 17, 2009 11:25 AM
I have tried to post 8 times...got through actually three!
If this post takes then four outta eight!
so 50%...the log in has gone all Darth Vader so I am not sure if logged in or out...
Sorry guys 'n' gals I thought we were cooking with North sea gas yesterday when this 'upgrade' appeared...cos it seemed to work at first...but having slept on it the software has seemingly decided to go bolshoi without the ballet!
It appears to be a damn sight worse now...shazzbat!
I cannot post on the older threads....
Post goes to moderation apparently!
And I have noticed that the right mouse clik 'cut' works but the 'paste' is greyed out and the keyboard alternate Cont V is inoperative!
All such control features work on other fora...this is a singular scienceblog party special methinks!
Posted by: Nerd of Redhead, OM
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November 17, 2009 11:34 AM
Definitely still a few bugs in the system. From my observation, you need to click the sign in link above the comment box when the browser is first opened. But, I also had to exit/restart the browser when I wasn't getting the "Thanks for signing in" notice. Maybe there is a time-out operating at the SB end.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 17, 2009 11:58 AM
Attempt 1, not signed in.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 17, 2009 12:02 PM
Works, using a version of Safari that is no longer supported by evil Apple.
I wonder if it's a honeypot for spambots: PZ can just look there once a week and ban everyone who has commented. However, given the author (Borg Queen Steven Cochrane) and his several successive test comments, that's probably not the whole story. He was probably trying to find out if he killed commenting.
strangest brew, comment 41:
You are not signed in at all. Like me.
Posted by: heironymous
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November 17, 2009 8:54 PM
Type Pad sign in check
Definitely an issue with No Script if this works
Posted by: kate
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November 18, 2009 11:56 AM
Yes, it looks like TypePad sign in and commenting works.
Posted by: Erin Johnson
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November 18, 2009 4:27 PM
Everything should be fixed now, according to Six Apart. Anybody still getting errors?
Posted by: JB | November 18, 2009 4:37 PM
Testing (sorry for the intrusion)
Posted by: Aratina Cage
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November 18, 2009 4:48 PM
Erin Johnson #104, did they fix the error with TypePad as exemplified in comment #83? And can people resend the confirmation email for Movable Type if they don't receive it for whatever reason?
Posted by: Andyo
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November 19, 2009 11:14 AM
SEF and Naked Bunny, are you sure? Cause I have two Typepad accounts, and sometimes if one doesn't work (after trying several times), the other one will.
Posted by: Dania
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November 20, 2009 5:28 PM
I got the error reported in comment #83 today. Except that, everything has been working fine for me.
Posted by: cicely | November 21, 2009 12:44 AM
Scienceblogs still does not appear to play well with TypeThing. Wall o' Error both here and at another Scienceblog where I tried to sign in earlier this evening.
Posted by: David Marjanović, OM | November 21, 2009 4:45 AM
I don't see why anyone would want to sign in when it's not required.
In other news, the "remember personal info" box is great, but the comment window is now much too small in both dimensions.
Posted by: cicely | November 22, 2009 10:05 PM
Speaking only for myself, I like to (try to) sign in occasionally to see if I can. When successful, it lasts a couple of days, and who knows, Dr. Myers might go to registered voters only while I'm not looking. I'd hate to asplode from desperately wanting to comment, but not being able to comment.