A price on Erik Larson’s head: Domain marketing company which ‘parked’ ErikLarson.com sets buy-back price at $10,000. Strange and laughable, but apparently for real

As many of you know, I, Erik Larson, was unable to acquire my own name for my website, because some unnamed soul bought the domain and ‘parked’ it, obviously hoping that one day I would want to buy it back. Since then my domain has changed hands a number of times in the great domain-marketing bazaar, where even at this instant countless domain names are being traded at a continuous on-line auction, as if they were junk bonds. I know this, because I’ve been tracking the travels of my domain name through an automated service that allows me to do so. It’s quite hilarious, really, and in a perverse way, rather gratifying. The current lessor, an outfit called DomainMarket.com, just sent me this little missive: “Dear Erik”–you see, we’re on a first-name basis!–“Thank you for your interest in the domain name ErikLarson.com. This name is currently priced at $10,000 (US) and is available to purchase on our secure website here:…If you need assistance with the purchase of ErikLarson.com or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.”

I don’t know why the whole thing leaves me tickled, but it does.