I know this idea has lots of holes in it but,
(there is always a 'but')
Could a DEFENSIVE only Low Orbit Satoshi Cannon be developed to fight back against ddos on pools?
Miners have a lot of combined power, I'd guess more than the ddos bots.
Even if it only served to help locate the bot minions I hate to just stand by and watch.
If it could even JUST eliminate or confirm the suspicions that some unscrupulous pool could/maybe/possibly/if the stars aligned perfectly be involved.
(these speculations/suspicions are extremely rare I know, but still...)
I also would like to know if there is a central location for miners to find semi-current information regarding the whole network. A statement on some read only venue where trusted pool operators can inform on JUST the network status might be helpful. (yes there are downsides too)
Each pools IRC channels work but it is like playing 'telephone' sometimes.
Rhetorical questions;
Do pool operators have a venue for rapid communication among themselves?
An invite only, for pool operators only, uber moderated IRC channel or somesuch?
(I don't really want/expect the last 2 questions answered in the hopes this exists already)
'Things that make ya go Hmm'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF2ayWcJfxo
EDIT spelling
I opened a poolops irc chanel in 2011 but don't join much any more, I cant handle Luke-jr and his crap very well these days, it isn't used much.
most of the ops of bigger public pools get on well and talk on irc in PM as needed, we also established a poolops mailing list after a calamity earlier this year. #bitcoin-dev can get used if its a network issue (like the inadvertent fork earlier in the year)
deepceleron answered the ddos part of the question well - thanks

A statement on some read only venue where trusted pool operators can inform on JUST the network status might be helpful.
true, but then someone has to keep on top of what is happening and verify: BTCGuild has had a ddos, some other pools got a taste then another of the large pools had network issues at a host yesterday, cried "DDOS" only to retract that 1/2 hour later to announce the network issue.