Originally Posted by arg

Greg, you might want to use a standalone whois program, rather than a web-based "free whois" service (I know some of them watch for good ideas) or a registrar's availability-checker. Most unix boxes would have it included, just do a "whois -Q domainname.com", or on a windows box, I dunno, I use an old dos whois program, but there are a zillion options. A name may not show up in a whois query, even though it's already taken, if it was registered in the last half day or so. Similarly, a name may show up as taken (though pending delete), even though it's been made available in the last half day or so.