Some lines which have been in my /etc/hosts file
for a while:
# OpenDNS 'emergency' access to setup instructions # (servers are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220). 208.69.38.205 opendns # Google DNS 8.8.8.8 google-public-dns-a # .google.com 8.8.4.4 google-public-dns-b # .google.com
Alternatively, you could bookmark http://208.69.38.205/.
Mostly the /etc/hosts entries were there for when the DNS for the internet connection I was using until earlier this year messed up (as it did once in a while) but it's also nice to know of alternatives (without having to Google them!) if there's wider disruption.
I also have a short name mapping to the IPv4 address of the machine
where my email and web site is hosted which also allows me to
ssh
into my shell account there for an alternative viewpoint of any
mayhem.