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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories UPDATE: School bus driver dies in head-on crash with semi south of Rogue River Explosive vehicle fire lands Medford man in jail 10 things to know for Tuesday, May 19 Emergency services, May 19 Since You Asked: Bear Creek dog park not going away Crime, Courts and Emergency Services UPDATE: School bus driver dies in head-on crash with semi south of Rogue River Explosive vehicle fire lands Medford man in jail Emergency services, May 19 Medford police identify woman found dead in field Emergency services, May 18 Politics and Elections Jackson County district election turnout under 17 percent Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Education Ashland High's Michelle Zundel heading to Medford district Medford School District budget funds new student success programs RCC President Angstadt retires Four South Medford seniors build soccer lockers SOU student's project tells story of devastating Weed fire Environment Rogue jet boat tour company eyes TouVelle for permanent home Why is Bear Creek so muddy? Blame Emigrant silt and winter storm Mt. Ashland Ski Area proposes summer adventure center Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection State News Senate panel passes medical pot rules Oregon wildlife officials eye phased-in hunting, fishing fee increases Wyden's gambit on trade deal pays off Panel sends Jackson, Josephine drought declarations to governor Court overturns $85 million award for Oregon soldiers Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Clarence Allen (Al) Swearingen George Frederick Christensen Henry Daw Patricia Anne Staniforth Karen Ann Sharp Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Crater’s Oshiro disqualified after reporting error Marlins fall in Jennings' debut Lottery still creates hope, headlines after 30 years Golson undecided, could visit other schools Can Cabrera reach 3,000 hits, 600 homers? Varsity 541 College Sports Golson undecided, could visit other schools Oregon track sweeps at Pac-12s Hovinga stars on mound as Ducks advance Duck men, women lead in Pac-12 track meet Wu falls just short of advancing to NCAAs Pro Sports Marlins fall in Jennings' debut Lottery still creates hope, headlines after 30 years San Diego committee unveils plans for $1.1 billion stadium Spoilers lurk as American Pharoah seeks history NFL owners have key meetings this week Community Sports Business Latest Stories Two Crown Markets planned for Talent Cars We Remember: 1955 and 1956 Plymouth memories Blog: L is For... Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: David Letterman farewell Dianne Williamson: Rare talent needn’t tread lightly on taboo topics Granlund cartoon: Sen. Warren vs. Obama Michael Gerson: War lessons for the GOP Letters to the Editor, May 19 Editorials Our View: Take it easy on hunting and fishing fees Our View: Kicking state government down the road Other Views: Keeping marijuana away from minors Our view: Legislature should fix both marijuana laws Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 19 Letters to the Editor, May 18 Letters to the Editor, May 17 Letters to the Editor, May 15 Letters to the Editor, May 14 Columns Michael Gerson: War lessons for the GOP George Barnes: We need to help free Tom Brady Kathleen Parker: Jeb Bush's unfortunate honesty George Will: Santorum — The return of the GOP's runner-up Dana Milbank: The domain of 'dot-sucks' Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories Potluck: A Gooey Butter Cake to cherish Community blog: Pucker up for quick rhubarb-celery-berry pickle It Is What It Is: The power of the spoken word Shayne Looper: Escape from the 'Big Me' culture Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Food Potluck: A Gooey Butter Cake to cherish Community blog: Pucker up for quick rhubarb-celery-berry pickle Food for Thought: Grapes deliver sweet healthy goodness Kitchen Call: Cakes — not just for birthdays Community blog: Rhubarb's sour stalks have surprising savory side Home and Garden Home Help: Keep a man cave top of mind when choosing a new home Learning to be a water watcher in these dry times Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Pergola, arbor, gazebo: Learn the differences Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Health Donna Knight: How to lessen your risk Community blog: Little Free Libraries Community blog: Fasting out of Cancer Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 15 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Milestones and Achievements Prefontaine-style running trail proposed in south Medford Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Live Music in Local Clubs 5 picks for live entertainment Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Theater OSF commissioned plays tour throughout country 'Cuckoo's Nest' is a big play, well presented 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Blues great B.B. King dead at 89 Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Victor D. Infante: If loving bad pop songs is wrong ... The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters Community Events Third Friday: 'Into the Woods' is a must-see 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Dining 6 stars of the Rogue Valley food universe Cool down with a cold one (or two, or three) Nguyen Street Food From rustic to elegant: Wine tasting in Southern Oregon Quick, easy, versatile Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW UPDATE: School bus driver dies in head-on crash with semi south of Rogue River ... Explosive vehicle fire lands Medford man in jail ... Our View: Take it easy on hunting and fishing fees ... UPDATE: School bus driver dies in head-on crash with semi south of Rogue River ... Explosive vehicle fire lands Medford man in jail ... Our View: Take it easy on hunting and fishing fees ... ANOTHER VIEW Dana Milbank: The domain of 'dot-sucks' Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News The U.S. government wants to relinquish control of the Web. But the alternative really dot-sucks. Going back almost to the days when Al Gore invented the Internet, the federal government has been in charge of online addresses through its contract with the California-based nonprofit ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). Now, responding to growing international complaints because of the Edward Snowden affair, the feds are extricating themselves from this Series of Tubes. But, as is usually the case with deregulation, installing private-sector foxes as guards of public-good henhouses can get messy. Thus did a House Judiciary subcommittee find itself holding a hearing Wednesday on "The .Sucks Domain." Turns out a company called Vox Populi, awarded the new ".sucks" top-level domain by ICANN, is charging $249 to people who want to register a dot-sucks domain — but $2,499 to brand owners who want to buy a dot-sucks domain defensively. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the subcommittee's chairman, said he wanted to know "what should be learned before sites such as dot-sucks, dot-porn or dot-ihatecongress are put on the Internet. I know that the dot-Ihatecongress would be well sold, perhaps oversubscribed. The question is ... have we gotten into a business model that was never envisioned?" Apparently so — and for those who trust in the Wild West of unregulated markets, this really dot-blows. "I understand there are over 65,000 dot-coms that incorporate the word 'sucks,'" the panel's ranking Democrat, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York posited. "Shouldn't these be equally concerning?" A witness confirmed that "'sucks' shows up plenty of different places" — which got Issa thinking. "I looked, and jerrynadlersucks.com and -.org are both available," he said. "Both darrellissasucks.com and -org, for anyone that wants them, are available, and I'm sure someone will find them. But they are in fact at GoDaddy, $9.99 and $7.99 respectively." "We're not in great demand," Nadler observed. "We're not in great demand," Issa agreed. Phil Corwin, a witness from the Internet Commerce Association, explained to the lawmakers that "there's a big difference between, uh, darrellissasucks.com — excuse me for saying that. It's not my personal belief." "The hearing is young," Issa pointed out. The difference, Corwin continued, "is you could still acquire it for $9.99 a year, not $2,500 a year." This sounded like a bargain. I went to GoDaddy.com, as Issa recommended — but somebody had just bought darrellissasucks.com. Jerrynadlersucks.com remained available, but I opted to buy darrellissasucks.org instead — and I am willing to sell it to him at a reasonable markup. Issa, explaining the problem with the dot-sucks domain, said that "you're given an opportunity to bid, if you're the proper name owner, $2,500, with no guarantee that you won't be overbid by somebody who hates you more than you love your own name." That's why I think Issa, one of the wealthiest members of Congress, will bid generously for darrellissasucks.org: Nobody hates Issa more than he loves his own name. The whole concept seemed to trouble Rep. Blake Fahrenthold, R-Texas. "If I have to register blake.com, blake.net, blake.org, blake.biz, blake.us, blake sucks, you know, where does it stop?" he asked, arguing that it was essentially "extorting companies to register potentially thousands of variations of their domain names." Corwin fanned Fahrenthold's fears: "Why wouldn't we see, in the second round, applications for dot-liar, dot-criminal, dot-blows?" Issa, suffering from low visibility since he had to surrender chairmanship of the House Oversight Committee this year, was out of practice. Attempting to introduce witness Steve DelBianco of NetChoice, he said: "Mr. Steve, uh, DeBank — this is not going to be my day." Calling on DelBianco a second time, Issa said: "Mr. Dela — I'm doing great, and it's a famous name, too. Uh, De — DelBianco." The witnesses — whatever their names — told stories of ICANN blocking legitimate businesses (such as Amazon) from buying top-level domains while doing nothing to stop businesses that illegally sell drugs. The general consensus, as described by witness Jonathan Zuck, who represents app designers: ICANN is not "ready to be independent of the United States government." Issa worried aloud that businesses would have to buy thousands of sites to protect themselves, including "dot-saugt," German for "dot-sucks." "I have no idea what it would be in Italian, in Chinese," he added, aghast that destructive domain names might proliferate "simply to gain more money." That's what happens when the government gives the free-market free rein, Mr. Chairman. Now, how much are you going to pay me for darrellissasucks.org? Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 17, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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