[CS-FSLUG] Decentralized DNS

[Josiah Ritchie]

On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 10:59 PM, David McGlone <david at dmcentral.net> wrote:

> On Wednesday, December 01, 2010 02:28:37 pm Josiah Ritchie wrote:
> > On Wed, Dec 1, 2010 at 1:13 PM, David McGlone <david at dmcentral.net>
> wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, December 01, 2010 09:49:59 am Ed Hurst wrote:
> > > > On Wed, 1 Dec 2010, Peter J. Vasquez Sr. wrote:
> > > > > Using a decentralized system has it's dangers, and I think the goal
> > > > > the developers of this distributed DNS system is more of an
> > > > > awakening. It will be interested to see what comes from this, and
> > > > > what changes may take place as a result. I hope I've addressed your
> > > > > question, I've done my best to keep the answer short so as not to
> be
> > > > > too confusing. If there's something else you wanted to discuss,
> > > > > particularly on the distributed DNS project, I'd be happy to answer
> > > > > any questions. (I'm not involved in the project, but have started
> > > > > looking at the code).
> > > >
> > > > Outstanding answer. You summarized things I already understood and
> > > > extended it to areas which had puzzled me.
> > > >
> > > > Over the years I've kept track of a recurring theme of geeks seeking
> to
> > > > protect the Net from what they consider abusive controls. It does not
> > > > arise from something so simplistic as "corporate-government = evil
> > > > versus hackers = good".  Some corporate players seem consistently
> > > > benign, and a few truly evil, and most are simply opportunists. Some
> > > > governments cozy up with lobbyists, and some simply do what
> governments
> > > > have always done in seeking control. All that to say the issue at
> hand
> > > > is not so much the politics, but the results for you and me. It won't
> > > > matter who is doing what if there exists something in the nature of
> the
> > > > Internet which resists certain kinds of controls.
> > > >
> > > > It's more the fundamental question of the centralizers over the
> > > > de-centralizers. What you describe is a centralized system of passing
> > > > traffic, but that it doesn't have to be that way. Authoritative root
> > > > server systems for DNS are centralized and trusted, but provide the
> > > > choke point centralizers seek. As one who has suffered somewhat at
> the
> > > > hands of centralizers in various ways, I'm always interested in
> keeping
> > > > my eye on the counter efforts. I don't think I suffer too much from
> > > > cinema-based fantasies, since I hate TV and movies in general, but I
> do
> > > > admit to some ignorance of how the Net works. My calling and emphasis
> > > > has been on the nature and content of information for which I use the
> > > > Net, and I simply don't have the resources left to pursue the fine
> art
> > > > of systems administration and networking (see Ephesians 4).
> > > >
> > > > I recognize there is good and bad in having an Internet mono-culture.
> > > > If everyone used the same OS and applications, it would be like the
> > > > Roman roads, built to hasten military movements, but also easily
> > > > adapted to gospel spreading. I doubt anyone here doesn't realize
> > > > Paul's Roman citizenship was useful, even while Roman government was
> > > > hardly benign. It was Rome who eventually executed Paul, essentially
> > > > for his preaching. Other apostles went in other directions, using
> less
> > > > centralized systems, but we don't have Scripture accounts of them by
> > > > which to compare, but surely it had its advantages in leaving the
> > > > Roman Empire to evangelize. The question was not which was better,
> but
> > > > to what one is called. So I use Open Source right now, not because
> > > > it's morally superior in my eyes, but fits my calling best. My
> support
> > > > is conditional, but I do support it.
> > > >
> > > > I'm trying to extrapolate from the whining entertainment pirates to
> > > > those who have a godly reason to bypass the centralized system, even
> > > > while taking advantage of its presence. If all we get from this is a
> > > > better, continued distribution of Hollywood filth, they can keep it.
> If
> > > > it holds promise for those of us who may need to copy the technology
> to
> > > > avoid the consequences, intended or not, of increased centralized
> > > > control, then I want to know how I might make use of it, and what I
> > > > need to know to prepare for that.
> > >
> > > I don't understand.  I can't think of one godly reason to bypass it.
> > > enlightment me.
> >
> > In certain countries the Bible is less than a welcome book. If we wanted
> to
> > access the BibleGateway.com in those countries who may use DNS as a means
> > of blocking such access, then a decentralized DNS would allow us to still
> > access the materials. We could then also change the IP associated with
> > that service regularly so that it would be difficult to block access to
> > BibleGateway.com without blocking large sections of the Internet. With
> > IPv6 a certain amount of anonymity related to each IP would also be
> > available making it more difficult to track down the offending IPs
> owners.
> > It would certainly only be a part of the solution, but the distribution
> of
> > media whether smut or the Bible is still the distribution of 0 and 1s so
> > the potential exists for the tech to be used for good.
>
> I see. I keep forgetting about other countries. I need to start "thinking
> outside the country" :-)
>

Seeing as I'm a missionary, I highly recommend supporting some missionaries
in finances and regular specific prayer and getting to know them and their
ministry personally. It'll help broaden your horizons a lot. Also, a new
version of the book Operation World just came out which is an excellent
opportunity to pray through the people of the world by country. These
disciplines help the Christian have a more accurate view of the world.
http://www.operationworld.org/

Only on CS-FSLUG can a DNS question turn into a discussion on world
missions. I like that! :-)

JSR/

-- 
Our Mission
Technology and Hospitality for God's Workmen
http://missions.ritchietribe.net
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