Attention AOL users! Those of us who have Gmail accounts cannot email you. When we try, we get this error:

Technical details of permanent failure:
TEMP_FAILURE: SMTP Error (state 12): 421-: (RLY:CS4) http://postmaster.info.aol.com/errors/421rlycs4.html
421 SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE

Gmail is being blocked for one of two reasons. Either:

1) They have a serious spam problem.

2) AOL's spam filter being stupid in some way.

The first would be rather shocking to me, since I haven't read about it on Slashdot, or The Register, or any other news source. The second is far more likely, given that is has happened before. And hey, there was even that time just a few weeks ago when AOL blocked email that criticised it.

Those of you who use AOL for email may want to consider an alternative provider that doesn't censor things they don't like. I've been using Gmail for over a year; it's fast and free. Information on Gmail can be found here and you can signup over here.

</rant>

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