As we all know, things that seem like a good idea after a bottle of Bulgarian Pinot Noir are not, more often than not, in your best interest in the sober light of day.

On the other side of midnight, and on the other side of a glass or three of cider brandy, it's all to easy to fire up the computer and go on an internet shopping spree, ordering books, CDs and - crucially - domain names that you end up having no idea what to do with.

On one recent late night binge of booze and bytes, a fictional friend of mine called me up for some advice. I was in the middle of a night shift, and so still relatively awake and sane at 3am.

"Look, Giles mate, I've just had some fantastic ideas for some domain names - let me run them by you..."

Sure, I replied.

"Well, for starters there's www.nicenorks.com"

"What???"

"Nah, listen, it'll be really good. Really tasteful. Devoted to women who've got just really really really nice..."

"Norks."

"Yeah, Whaddya reckon?"

"Don't do it. You'll regret it in the morning."

"Spoil sport. Well what about www.alloneword.com - it would be hilarious giving the address to people - alloneword, all one..."

"...word, yes. And someone's already beaten both of us to it."

"Bugger"

"You know I should set up a web site to offer advice to drunk late night web surfers."

"Such as?"

"Like don't buy the entire John Lennon back catalogue, don't set your wallpaper to that image, and whatever you do don't buy any more useless domain names!"

"Youremybestmateyouare.com"