New line of VAX 6000s!

From: Julius Sridhar <vance_at_ikickass.org>
Date: Wed Jan 30 12:52:13 2002

Someone has way too much time on their hands. Wait, that's not time. 8-)

Peace... Sridhar

On Wed, 30 Jan 2002, Pete Turnbull wrote:

> Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 18:27:37 GMT
> From: Pete Turnbull <pete_at_dunnington.u-net.com>
> Reply-To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> To: classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org
> Subject: Re: New line of VAX 6000s!
>
> No, it's for the holes...
>
> On Jan 30, 9:42, Ben Franchuk wrote:
>
> > Nope you have it all WRONG, it is the Bit Bucket option
> > for all the loose 0's and 1's found when a program crashes.
> > They can be rather hard on the carpet, generate static electricty
> > and slow programs down to a crawl.
>
> Paraphrasing slightly from Matthew Skala on alt.folklore.computers:
>
> All perfectly correct, except you forgot to mention:
>
> In modern implementations, data sent to the bit bucket are destroyed by
> combining the binary 1s and 0s in the Neuman reaction [1],
>
> (eqn. 1) 1#0 -> 2p
>
> where # is the logical annihilation operator, and p is Plonk's Constant,
> 0.172 J [2]. The resulting heat is fed back to the power supply and
> used to replace the voltages of the destroyed bits.
>
> Unfortunately, this reaction requires equal amounts of 1 and 0 bits.
> Modern PCs, especially those used in desktop publishing by unskilled
> personnel, often generate an excess of 0 bits corresponding, for
> example, to whitespace in printed documents. These unwanted zeros can
> accumulate into plaques on the system bus, causing a reduction in bus
> rate and eventual total catastrophic system seizure [3].
>
> Current techniques involve breaking the zero and unrolling it into a
> one. See Figure 1, below.
>
>
> |
> _ __ \ |
> / \ \ \ |
> | | ---> | ---> | ---> |
> \_/ __/ / |
> / |
> |
> Figure 1.
> Unrolling a zero.
> (15000x electron micrographs courtesy Pugwash
> Memorial Hospital Research Department)
>
> This 1 can be annihilated with another extra 0 by equation 1, leaving to
> be disposed only the hole from the middle of the unrolled 0. Holes are
> accumulated in a special Hole Accumulation Hemisphere (HAH) at the
> bottom of the power supply filter capacitors, until they can be removed
> by a qualified service technician. Used holes are currently being
> re-refined, cast in larger units, and sold to the doughnut industry [4].
>
> It is important that beginning users not attempt to empty their own
> HAHs. The accumulated holes, in addition to being invisible, are an
> environmental hazard and should not be placed in the normal office waste
> stream. There have been cases of holes getting into important documents
> [5], or merging to form chunks large enough for personnel to fall in [6].
> Uncontrolled holes are a very real danger and must be taken seriously,
> especially in critical government and medical applications [7].
>
> References
>
> [1] Neuman, A.E. Safe, secure destruction of data. Journal of Data
> Erasure Technologies. 5:17, 23-69.
> [2] Plonk, Anvilsko. Heat value of data: a retrospective. Home Heating
> News. 65, 19.
> [3] Kevorkian, J. Case studies in busclerotic CPU arrest. Journal of
> Systems Rescusitation. 2:12, 143-145.
> [4] Dibbler, C.M.O.T. An alternative to traditional hole suppliers.
> Baking Quarterly. 1996:3, 7-17.
> [5] Kaputnik, H. I ha no l ers nd must sc . Writer's Weekly.
> 28:42, 94-98.
> [6] Eating Corporation of America. Unpublished memo, subject: "Where
> the f--- is Waldo?"
> [7] Rubble, B. The 18 1/2 minute gap: Another view.
>
>
> --
> Pete Peter Turnbull
> Network Manager
> University of York
>
Received on Wed Jan 30 2002 - 12:52:13 GMT