Vietnamese fruit seller in net name cock-up
Is that a grapefruit in your pocket...?
Posted in Bootnotes, 13th February 2006 10:03 GMT
Understand how application security is evolving
A Vietnamese grapefruit seller has been refused the domain name www.buoi.com.vn because "the word for grapefruit, buoi, without a proper tone marking can be misunderstood", as Thai Huu Ly, of the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre, put it to AFP.
Depending on how it's pronounced, buoi can indeed mean grapefruit - but also penis - hence the authorities' reticence in the matter.
Vietnamese state TV reported on Friday that as well as a dislike for buoi, the powers that be also have little appetite for lon which, according to how you put it, means either "pigs" or "vagina".
Reuters adds that a "gender activist" who punted for sex.com.vn also met with failure, because pornography is banned in Vietnam. Whether said activist sports a buoi or a lon is not noted. ®


The future of SaaS and IT infrastructure management
The Total Economic Impact of Dell's PC products and services
The best practices guide for application security
Reducing messaging and web security costs with managed services

Win a Samsung C6625!
Is your cameraphone an oxymoron?
Reg Mobile and Wireless newsletter is go! go! go!
Sign up, sign up for The Register IT security newsletter