I have to say that Anthony from Squarespace is working very hard to ensure our problems are eased and so once more I ask you to feedback how you find the site today. The more detailed your response the better as it helps Squarespace work out what is going on from the most important perspective – YOURS!

I’m trying to get this slow blog loading issue resolved once and for all, so can you do me a favour, head over to the revived ATW site on typepad and take the poll 😉 

Hi folks – I wonder can you follow the link BACK to our old home for ATW over on the Typepad platform. Do me a favour and check out how fast it loads, what it is like to comment. I am frustrated beyond words at all the constant glitching and loading slowness you have all been reporting to me on this Squarespace platform and I would like your feedback on Typepad. Maybe I will redecorate it and we can relocate there? Let me know what you think please.

But then there are the delusional tendency, the small number of crazies that come on here to pose as others – sometimes me, sometimes Andrew, sometimes other commentators. And yes, you know that despite my libertarian attitude I end up banning them because if I didn’t they would merely inject unlimited confusion. But I am an understanding person, and so it is that I offer an open thread for all those freaks who lurk out there  to come on and impersonate whoever you want….and of course for our sane readers to let the freaks know we love them just as much as anyone else – it’s just we’d rather that they put on their tinfoil hats and headed off to those many blogs which welcome such loons! I’m off out for a meal with my family but I will be checking in later…..and the moon is rising….

I would like you to have a read of this email sent to me by the poster known as Sir Percy today. It’s this kind of venomous hatred that so disfigures some on the left, and suffice to say that such scum are unwelcome here on ATW. I’ve left the spelling errors in for your general entertainment and for the edification of those freaks who are unable to grasp substance but who do so love style. 

Wonder can you help me? I have been experiencing long delays when I log in to ATW. I have been finding that comments are taking ages to load. I’m trying to get feedback for the Squarespace folks so IF you have been experiencing problems recently, can you please detail below? Thanks. 

Yesterday was a strange day. We had the world’s media over here in Northern Ireland, feasting on the new political arrangement which provides power-sharing for terrorists. Not sure if the media picked up on the fact that IRA/Sinn Fein had invited Palestinians, Basque separatists and Colombian agitators to the affair. At least Al Queda weren’t present but since this is the first western administration that contains terrorists, maybe they’ll get an invite – the City airport is nearby. I have to say I found the entire event to be a distasteful pantomime and the fall of the DUP into the mire is complete. Martin and Ian are welcome to the mess of pottage at Stormont.

We have also discovered that cyber troll “Sean” has set up a site which steals copy from ATW and then allows a small band of IRA sympathisers to comment. Big deal. I have more things to concern myself than with the pathetic attempts of sick individuals. Those such as Chris Gaskin and Phantom should know better than to inhabit such a sewer, but seeing as how Chris links it to his own site, maybe he should now consider ATW off-limits. Those who used my fathers death on Sean’s sick site to attack me are literally the scum of the earth. Can I ask ALL ATW readers to refrain from any further debate with these mentally ill people?

On a much more positive front, I can confirm that we have a new addition to the ATW team! Yes, I a delighted that Ranting Stan will be posting here as and when the muse takes him. Stan runs a really well written site and I think he will add a lot to ATW. Welcome on board Stan – and I’m sure the rest of the team will join with me in wishing you every best wish over here!

Following commentators’ comments asking for a more female voice on ATW, perhaps in the hope that a more effeminate voice would moderate our rabidly pro-right, pro-Christian (mostly) view. So we thought about it, and decided that introducing another female blogger would be a good idea. With this in mind, Dee of Righteous Indignation is joining us here at ATW, hopefully to post her first post later today.

Though, being as she’s an Aussie blogger, her ‘later today’ and ours might be a little different. Still, I’m sure the contributions, when they come, will be sufficiently cage-rattling to keep the readership interested, so please do make her welcome as a new member of our ATW crusade/heresy gang.

Funny how time moves on – it only seems like yesterday since ATW switched platforms and moved here onto Squarespace. In fact it was on the 1st November 2006 and we’re about to clock up 6 months here on this new site. I’ve also just clocked up my 1000th post in that time period. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading them, (or at least some of them!) and of course all those other posts from my fellow writers here on the site.  ATW moves into it’s second six months on the new site with an ever-growing readership, more writers to entertain and challenge you, and above all a desire to put the world to RIGHT!

Alright, this one has been coming and was prompted by regular reader Garfield, who made a very helpful suggestion that I should define the basis of commenting here and explain what happens when people step outside of these parameters.

I have thought about requiring registration for all who wish to comment here, but after discussion with the ATW team of writers, and a little reflection, I have decided against this. The lively boards are what makes the site work as much as anything I write, so my starting point is predicated on preserving freedom and keeping things easy. OK?

I‘m first and foremost a writer here, ABOVE ALL I want to provide you with good stories and I don’t want to waste my time editing, censoring or banning anyone. So here’s what has to happen going forward…

Keep your comments as free from ad hominem abuse as is possible. I know none of us is perfect but we can try to be civil.  If I spot an ad hominem attack I will warn whoever is doing it. If it re-occurs, then the person concerned will be banned by me for a month. If the person is let back on, and re-offends, they will be banned permanently. Got it? I also will not accept pro-terrorism rantings. ATW opposes terrorism and if people don’t agree with it, fine. You know where the door is.

I will NOT edit any comments on those threads I post that conform to the above. I want to preserve as much freedom as is possible. I would ask you all to be civil to each other please, debate the issues, but do so in a engaging and decent manner.

What this means to those who have been banned in recent days – you know who you are – that I will expect an email from you asking to be let back on, with a promise to abide by the rules. If you can’t give that, don’t waste my time and yours.

I also know that certain trolls will keep coming here even after they are banned and yes, I do know that those mad enough to do this can do this. I will keep banning the IP addresses but more importantly, I would ask ALL regulars posters not to engage in any way with these people as all they do is spoil the scene.

Now, that’s enough from me on this – please follow the rules, and all will be well.