World's Best Magazine Can't Get Site Name Back From Lazy Maryland Guy

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Hamilton Nolan

02/25/08 10:28AM

Filed to: Magazines

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This is just the type of stupid internet thing that helps us keep the faith that the web is not yet a medium totally co-opted by corporate media powers such as Gawker: Highfalutin magazine of the gods The Economist lost a fight to gain control of the domain name TheEconomist.com, which for the past decade has been owned by some random IT guy in Maryland. And the best part is the guy does absolutely nothing worthwhile with the site. The magazine is stuck with Economist.com, even though they are a huge international media conglomerate with some of the most intellectual content in all of magazine publishing, and their opponent is a guy who says he wasn't even aware of the magazine's existence in 1996 when he registered the site (The Economist is 165 years old). That's what they get for only offering him $500 for the domain—the diverted web traffic is costing them lots more than that. So what does the proud owner of TheEconomist.com do with his valuable property? Below, an actual screengrab of the totally pointless thorn in the magazine's side.

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The following replies are approved. To see additional replies that are pending approval, click Show Pending. Warning: These may contain graphic material.

Furious George Hamilton Nolan 02/25/08 11:24AM

Not to make light of The Economist's troubles, but wouldn't it be funny if there was a country whose domain name ended in .ck? That way, you could have theeconomist.co.ck. The Economist Cock! Wocka wocka wocka!!!!

So, uh, can I get that Economist writing gig now? I've got gems like these comin' out the hey-now!

(My bow tie is spinning comically right now)

trojanhorse Hamilton Nolan 02/25/08 10:51AM

I've read The Economist for 25 years. It's always full of mistakes but has a point of view distinguishable from TimeandNewsweek, US News and Zuckerman Report, and similar organs, and has better writing. I blame it for the Britishisms that have been creeping into US English, e.g. "spot on" (not to mention "spotted dick"), and "over the top".

Ya'll have a good day. Pip! Pip!

trojanhorse Hamilton Nolan 02/25/08 11:58AM

@moff: To which I can only suggest that you confront the offending vectrix with these immortal words, coined by The Sun (Murdoch's London tabloid) on a full front page during the Falklands War: "Stick It Up Your Junta!"

Furious George Hamilton Nolan 02/25/08 02:35PM

@Gayyker: Given the URL landgrab by the porn industry, it's kind of amazing that [AlanGreenspansCock.com] is still available.