Domain Registrar Hijacking

Just today I received a letter in my mailbox from a company called Domain Listing Service claiming that one of my domains is set to expire and that I need to renew it before it is too late.  Tell me something I don’t already know.

But what bothered me most about this piece of literature was that it included and order form that basically stated that to ensure listing by March that I needed to remit payment before the end of February.  Interesting.  I’ve never heard of this company, so why would I want to send them a check for $65 to renew one of my domain names when I know I purchased the domain name from the same place I usually purchase domains names from for only 11 dollars for the year.

I have been buying and selling domain names for over ten years and seeing a letter like this was quite suspect.  I certainly know better than to drop everything, panic and pay some other company to host my domain listing.  However there are many other people who will receive a letter such as this and feel that they have no choice!  In fact, one of my client’s who actually purchased their domain name from Go Daddy received a letter like this one, but from another company…asking $120 to renew the domain name.  What a total rip-off.

So to ensure that you are not getting ‘jacked, remember the following things:

• Keep all of your paperwork when purchasing domains
• Remember the duration of your domain registrations
• Discard any domain renewal offers that come to your regular snail-mail unless you registered a domain from a company that only has mail-in registries (chances are this won’t happen)
• You are under NO obligation to renew your domain name through any other company other than the place you purchased it from.

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Useful Domain Registration Links:

• Free Domain With $6.95 Hosting Package
• Domain names from Yahoo! only $1.99/first year
• Interested in starting an online store? Yahoo! makes it easy – 35% off for a limited time!

USA Control of the Internet is No More?

I know this is a bit of old news, but some of my readers aren’t aware of how the Internet and domain names are maintained.  The Internet Gets a Global Upgrade is a great article that summaries and explains what went down last September when the contract between ICANN and the U.S. Government expired.

What the world can expect: Web addresses in any language! I can only imagine the issues global DNS services will encounter, but, like with all things I’m sure it will all be ironed out…eventually.

Nintendo Wii Bundle – Cheap

Nintendo Wii Customer Choice Bundle Nintendo’s exciting new Wii console, featuring a remarkable wireless controller experience, invites players into game worlds and activities like never before.

Whether young or old, expert gamers or beginners, Wii players can now express themselves like never before — with intuitive motion control using the Wii Remote — a flick of the wrist to swing a baseball bat or tennis racket, a backswing and follow-through to send a golf ball flying over a pristine fairway. Wii Sports, packaged with the Wii console, introduces players to those and many other experiences.

The sleek Wii console, no larger than a stack of several DVD cases, includes a Wii Sports Game Disc (5 games: Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Bowling and Boxing), a sensor bar, a standard composite cable, a Wii stand, a Wii Remote and a Nunchuk for even more exciting game-control possibilities.

Key Features:

• Provides an immersive, engaging experience like no other, where the player is more connected to the game than ever before.
• Wii Remote utilizes motion sensor control allowing players to be a part of the game through natural and intuitive movement.
• Wii offers entertainment for every member of the household. Anyone of any age or skill level can pick up and play games on Wii.
• Virtual Console offers access to a library of downloadable games. Select games from the original Nintendo Entertainment system, Super NES and Nintendo 64 as well as new content that will be designed specifically for Wii.
• Wii plays all Nintendo GameCube video games.
• Wii offers more than just games. With the Wii Menu, you can check the news, create a caricature of yourself and play yourself in a game, view and send personal photos, or even check the weather.

Halloween Costumes coupons

FINALLY!  I’ve Found the Dog the Bounty Hunter Costume:

 We were surprised that he could stay on TV, and now this is just downright shocking. That’s right, Dog the Bounty Hunter has a costume out in all his white trash glory, so get into the minivan and go kick some doors down. The costume includes a viny vest, wig, sunglasses, a bandge on a chain, fingerless gloves and a knife with a strap. Available in large and XL.

Can you imagine the faces on the people are the party when Dog the Bounty Hunter Shows up?  I think it is a a pretty cool costume.  Also, I have a coupon code for this item…use this: AFF2

Ok, so you got be roped into the coupon websites.   Why? Well, I’ve gotta look for a cool toddler Halloween costume for my son.  I was thinking about a Darth Vader costume, toddler size of course. Check out this one:

I thought it was pretty cool, but I know you are probably look for more than Darth Vader Toddler Halloween Costumes, so here is my list of places for you to pick up some cool halloween costumes:

• at Buy Costumes

There is my huge list of cool Halloween Costumes sites, but I know you are looking for the site with the coupon, well, here is the banner link:

Ok, there you have it, your complete coupon codes for the Halloween Costumes.

Pittsburgh G20 – I’ll have the best view in town!

The Pittsburgh G20 summit is only 8 weeks away and I am still excited to see how things turn out.  I hope the weather in Pittsburgh improves by then…but still, I will be in the Brady Communications office watching from above.  We had an incredible view for both Pittsburgh Steelers parades.  I know the summit will be held at the convention center, which is quite a walk from us, but I’m sure there will be plenty of things happening at The Point as well.

President Obama actually invited the Netherlands to the Pittsburgh G20 summit. 

Obama says “"We think that the Netherlands not only is one of the world’s largest economies and most active internationally, but (the) prime minister has very specific expertise and experience in working with a whole range of world leaders."

I think Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende will be impressed at what Pittsburgh has to offer…I’m sure he’ll agree that selecting Pittsburgh as G20 summit host was a great idea.