[thelist] getting a lapsed domain

[aardvark]

let's say a domain name expired back in december... and let's say 
we've been watching it every day thanks to the whois at netsol... 
and let's say the domain is still unavailable...

do i have any recourse to get the damn thing, or do i have to wait 
until netsol decides it's good and ready to grab it?  which of course 
means some other guy will grab it first...