I just bumped into The Interdictor, a blog written by a guy working for an ISP in downtown New Orleans.
This journal has become the Survival of New Orleans blog. In less perilous times it was simply a blog for me to talk smack and chat with friends. Now this journal exists to share firsthand experience of the disaster and its aftermath with anyone interested.
It looks like he and others have been camped out there since the beginning of Katrina’s rage, dependent on a 750KW generator to keep things running. It’s fascinating reading, a perspective that you will not find on CNN or any others. There are links to photo journals and web cams, tidbits from conversations with others that had been in the SuperDome, and lots more. It’s not unusual to see 500 plus comments on any given post that is put up.
Words fail me.
But if you want to know how to maintain a huge Cummings diesel generator, the comments on Interdictor are priceless - experts from all over the country.
It's all getting a little tired, now, though. The original allure of the interdictor blog was its seemingly unbiased account of goings-on in NO. But...now it's obvious they're playing the parts of "heroes" and the whole thing smacks of good old fashioned american opportunism. How long before the book? Or the tv movie starring wings hauser?
Not to mention the guy who runs the place talks about his fiance (cyrstal) like she's a 1950's housewife/slave. Sheesh.
I came across this post, http://mpnetwork.blogspot.com/2005/09/mpelembeorg-domain-name-dispute.html
I'm just wondering wether there is any substance to it.
Tired: They have limited resources and have divided labor. If Crystal doesn't know how to maintain the generator, or ensure physical security, or maintain servers, then taking care of those "personal care" items is what's left.
From what I understand, when domain names expire, and the original person who purchased them allows them to - well, the company who hosted it sometimes will buy that domain name. It is neither illegal, nor particularly unethical. That is what I understand is behind a lot of this talk about DirectNic and it's owners.
I guess. Mass domain naming buying planning on resale is kind of a scam, since they charge a premium on what a registrar would charge. Many of these companies purposely hold domains after expiration (say one day, and they have crappy payment mechanisms that hold things up to their benefit) then send official looking letters allowing you to buy back the domain name for "only" 100$.
I guess if it was Cameron Diaz, and the site was www.camerondiaz.com, people would care and ARIN would smack them down, but since it's some Zambian school alumni assocation, they could care less.
And yes, the Interdictor did come across as acting out some survivialist's wet dream. I did however find them useful for breaking news before I started listening to the police / National Guard scanners.
My 0.02$
