Just An Observation

And maybe a techie can answer a question in the comments area. If you go to your browser and type in www.natalee.com - does that mean that EquuSearch bought that domain and has it forwarded to their home page?

Thanks.

Comments

[wreck]

Dan, where did it go before?

[kerrilynn212]

Either that, or her parents bought it and are having it directed to that page. i just tried to check who owns it but the page keeps timing out...

[Parl]

This is who bought the domain:

Registration Service Provided By: comscout.com
Contact: namescout@westnet.com.au
Visit: www.comscout.com

Domain name: NATALEE.com

Administrative Contact:
comscout.com
william Sherman (namescout@westnet.com.au)
+61.61429634034
Fax:
Po Box37
dumbleyung, 6350
AU

Billing Contact:
comscout.com
william Sherman (namescout@westnet.com.au)
+61.61429634034
Fax:
Po Box37
dumbleyung, 6350
AU

Technical Contact:
comscout.com
william Sherman (namescout@westnet.com.au)
+61.61429634034
Fax:
Po Box37
dumbleyung, 6350
AU

Registrant Contact:
comscout.com
william Sherman (namescout@westnet.com.au)
+61.61429634034
Fax:
Po Box37
dumbleyung, 6350
AU

Status: Locked

Name Servers:
dns1.name-services.com
dns2.name-services.com
dns3.name-services.com
dns4.name-services.com
dns5.name-services.com

Creation date: 23 Jun 2002 01:11:44
Expiration date: 23 Jun 2006 01:16:55

The data in this whois database is provided to you for information
purposes only, that is, to assist you in obtaining information about or
related to a domain name registration record. We make this information
available "as is," and do not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a
whois query, you agree that you will use this data only for lawful
purposes and that, under no circumstances will you use this data to: (1)
enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that stress or load
this whois database system providing you this information; or (2) allow,
enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited,
commercial advertising or solicitations via direct mail, electronic
mail, or by telephone. The compilation, repackaging, dissemination or
other use of this data is expressly prohibited without prior written
consent from us. The registrar of record is eNom. We reserve the right
to modify these terms at any time. By submitting this query, you agree
to abide by these terms.
Version 6.3 4/3/2002

Registry Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK

[linda]

nataleeholloway.com still goes the same place as it used to - I think this is the site that Beth set up.

[KarlosFandango]

Looks like the owner of the domain is an Aussie with a big heart. Good on him.

[clintcarter]

natalee.com clearly a pointer domain, so either Equusearch registered the name and pointed it or the Aussie (orig. date 6/23/02) pointed it as a favor.

[P in S.E. Asia]

wOw,

TES sure looks like it's makin a "kill" on this one. - Then again im sure the list of donors is not exhaustive - At the end of this, These guys are gonna be smilin all the way to the bank (with the excess).

Nice.

[MrsJimiHendrix]

Looks like the owner of the domain is an Aussie with a big heart. Good on him.

Posted by: KarlosFandango | July 30, 2005 01:40 PM

you said it Karlos!!!

[Diablo]

Looks like it's actually been registered "privately"...

for non-techie people... when you register any domain name (domain name = www.yahoo.com, www.natalee.com, etc)...

you can either just register it in your (or whomevers) name, or you can register it "privately", through whats known as a "proxy" registrar.

basically, for a small additional fee, an authorized (I think? hope?) place, such as for this one, www.comscout.com, actually shows up as the one who registered it...

otherwise, *your* info, phone #, etc is what shows up when someone does a search to find who registered something, as in the above post.

in other words, if you go the "private" route, it adds a layer of anonymity between whoever actually registered the site, and the site itself

(pretty good idea really - would you want your name/phone # etc tied to whatever site you're registering ? lol)

btw... I see Dan was a smart boy and registered his through the same place some of mine are hehe... you go Dan ;)

Hope that made at least a little sense... I'm not always the best teacher lol

[Diablo]

Oy, I always forget the summary paragraph...

Basically, there's no quick and easy way to find out *who* actually registered that name, and who told it to point to TES' site.

That was basically the point of the big techie zzz-inducing ramble above...

BTW thanks Dan for the great blog !

Diablo

[wreck]

I'm not trying to stir things up, but Dan is no fan of EquuSearch. He respects that they are volunteers and that Tim Miller has a personal tragedy, but he has not and will not provide a link to them from his website. Just food for thought.

[ahleigh]

This tragedy has seemed to be a boon for peripheral agencies like TES, TJ Ward, psychics, who have attatched themselves, diverting more than websites to their notoreity. Before this sad case, I had never heard of Texas Equusearch. While I am reluctant to accuse these volunteers of anything but benevelent motives, they would have more credibility if they didn't appear on television a half dozen times a day.
I hope they do yield some clues, but, for some reason, I don't think they know what they're doing.

[Ian]

This is no person with a "big heart". They bought a $5 domain and fowarded it to EquuSearch .. and they are selling the domain. If you go to http://whois.sc/natalee.com and look at the top of the WHOIS you will see he is selling it. For the time being he is just fowarding it to EquuSearch.

http://www.sedo.com/search/details.php4?language=us&domain=natalee.com&partnerid=17505

[scubajap]

To ahleigh -

Amen brother or sister.
I will bet you that that Aussie does not have a "big heart" but does have a hand out to collect money. I am sorry for being such a cynic, but as soon as this story broke, or soon after the media frenzy started, I am sure some enterprising web person claimed the name knowing they could get a good price for it later. They wouldn't be the first.

[Diablo]

3 posts... I'm goin for a record...

just did a quick bit of digging... couple things worth noting:

as said in the above post, the name www.natalee.com was registered way back in 2002;

"Creation date: 23 Jun 2002 01:11:44"

There are people/groups/businesses who, at least back in the day of the whole "dot-com" explosion, went about and registered every domain name they could think of, that wasnt already taken...

the idea being that, eventually someone would come along who would want it, and then they could sell it and make a profit... I believe "cyber-squatting" is the term that eventually came to define all of that...

Anyways... point here is that www.natalee.com has been around and registered to whomever, for 3 years now...

as to who/why pointed it over to TES' site, thats anyone's guess...

one possibility is that whomever owns the site name, is a really cool person and did it as a favor to either TES or the Hollaway family

and certainly, another possibility is that whomever has owned this site name for 3 years, sees a good potential to make a buck... or several

Ok, done for real this time... I think

Diablo

[Domain Guru]

the same person registered the domain in 2002:

Creation date: 23 Jun 2002 01:11:44

Expiration date: 23 Jun 2006 01:16:55

long before any of this, the owner looks like a domain peddler,

http://comscout.com/

ovbviously he registered this years ago, has never been able to sell it and as a good gesture is redirecting it. Then again you never know if TES and the owner have some click through payment arrangement.

[KarlosFandango]

The 2002 date was the reason I suggested the owner was making a well meaning gesture (of course, I could be wrong). Thanks for highlighting it guys.

[MarkleSparkle]

IMHO no way he is doing this as a gesture. IMHO he is receiving as fee for pointing it to TES.

[MrsJimiHendrix]

markle sparkle

i may not agree with you on everything (politics---yet atleast---LOL)

but i have to go with you on this

DOMAIN GURU great name!!

[txview]

Please, Please, Please... quit bashing Equusearch!!
They are not opportunist...they were ASKED by Natalee's Uncle, who lives in the Houston area and KNOWS EQUUSEARCH'S REPUTATION. Before you start bashing an organization why don't you do a little bit of reseach on the web (bloggers are web savy, aren't they). It makes me so angry to hear all of the doubts and accusations against Equusearch.
Tim Miller has a relationship with local law enforcement in Houston
Equusearch went to India to help recover bodies after the sunami

This man, Tim Miller, and this organization, Equusearch, are truely good people, who are actually doing something about this case. They are volunteering their own time, using vacation time away from their regular jobs. He's not just sitting behind a computer speculating about this case. Has this world become so terrible that people can't believe that someone would volunteer to help and expect nothing in return? Does he have to have some other motive other than having compassion for Natalee's family. You all speak so highly of Dave Holloway (and rightly so), he is searching with Tim Miller. He has stated that Tim Miller has become his friend. Two fathers, both have lost their young daughters to the hands of someone else. They share the same grief, the same experiences that none of us can imagine. It's one of those things... that you don't understand unless you hve been through it. You can't understand Tim Miller's selfless work in Aruba because you can't understand where it comes from... you haven't lost a daughter to the hands of another. Please think about this before you continue with your bashing. And please, if you have questions about Equusearch, don't 'take my word for it... do some research.

[txview]

Here's a few news worthy items about Equusearch...

December 21, 2004 - Tim Miller, Director and Founder of Texas EquuSearch was awarded the Daily Point of Light Award by President George Bush and President George W. Bush.

February 24, 2005 - TES traveled to Sri Lanka (during January, 2005) to aid the Sri Lankan military in the recovery and search efforts for the missing people devastated by the recent Tsunami in the Indian Ocean.

[txview]

Hey...did anyone on this blog sight go to Sri Lanka to help recover bodies? ... I didn't think so.

[Dan]

TxView - I dont see a lot of bashing of ES going on - most are talking about who owns the domain. As for me, I've always said that they are part of the attention which is driving this thing. That's a good thing. And I have always acknowledged how difficult hiso own experience must have been.

But when someone goes to the public for money, tie and time, again - whatever the effort. Don't you believe the public deserves an accounting of some type? Has there ever been one, seriously? It's a question, not a smear. To my understanding, I'm not convinced the American people understand everything that they might be pating for and might choose to donate to the Natalee FUnd as opposed to ES.

I've said the same to some who have written me as regardsw donations - though I likely haven't stressed the point enough. But if you look around here - you will see 50 or more links to opportunities to donate directly to the family and I havent even bothered to refresh my post as regards donations.

Certainly ES costs are tremendous - but perhaps so are their donations. It's a fair poit f information without being called bashing.

[kescah]

"IMHO no way he is doing this as a gesture. IMHO he is receiving as fee for pointing it to TES."

When I read something like this, I cannot help but think- why? Why do you assume such a thing? Is it because that is what you would do and you can't imagine that someone else would do it just to help out? Same thing with bashing Texas Equusearch. Yes, there are a lot of grabby people out there, but not everyone is!

[Nicky]

Looks like they did purchase the domain name and are using Domain forwarding to forward it to the equasearch website.