HTTPS is not required. t.ly works fine without "https://"

Really? The browsers I usually use to test if a site works without HTTPS (IE6 and IE8 on XP SP2) can't load it. Weird!

the http url is a 301 redirect to https so thats why it doesn't load ultimately

Disappointing; that doesn't really count!

Curious to how you are still running IE6 :)

It's the default for XP SP2.

Ok so curious why you are running Windows XP :)

Because I have a need for Internet Explorer 6-8!

Why do you use Internet Explorer 6-8 on the internet?

Because I have some software that has it as a hard-dependency.

I feel for you :(

I actually like using it. There's something comfortable about using an operating system that's old enough to have kids. Another benefit is that screens are high enough resolution nowadays that it doesn't look like a child's toy.

so ftp:// ? or is there something shorter?

HTTP!

I think http is longer than ftp :P

Yeah, but it's a web URL shortener.

Yes ftp would not work lol