I've heard that the Shuttle's laptops are not more powerful than early Pentiums or 486's because of cosmic radiation which can damage high density computer equipment or cause them to malfunction. (like more modern PII/PIII/Alpha/etc.)
What I want to know is, how did they manage to reliably shield all the computer equipment from cosmic radiation? One must remember that all that computer equipment must be about the same weight as what the analog based stuff was... I can't imagine huge blocks of lead with computers sealed inside being carted up into space.
*sigh* it doesn't surprise me in the very least. I think this is their idea of a better way of *enforcing* the law.
Initial talk here in Oz was to make all internet users sign a declaration that we were not to access such-and-such sites, when they realised that things were a little too hard to enforce. Or even better, make the installation of web filtering software compulsory (and basically sign a form declaring that you have installed it).
I think, this is where this new leglislation comes from - they need something better than just a token declaration.
This is really just the duct-tape solution to a bill that is was written by people who were misinformed (or perhaps underinformed) about the workings of the internet and were trying to win the conservative vote from the people out there who don't have a clue.
The saddest part is, while there are many of us, most Australians 'net users are too lazy to do anything about this.
Hopefully, when we get a president (we're voting for this in 3 days) he'll throw this madness out.
P.s. Of interest, Telstra the telecommications company of Australia which is 51% owned by the government and runs Australia's largest ISP, still places ads with a guy standing in front of a adult erotica shop and the letters "WWW" cut out in his hair. It has the banner "Whatever is on your mind." below the picture.
The irony of this is killing me. I may scan it and put it on the web one day.:)
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I've heard that the Shuttle's laptops are not more powerful than early Pentiums or 486's because of cosmic radiation which can damage high density computer equipment or cause them to malfunction. (like more modern PII/PIII/Alpha/etc.)
What I want to know is, how did they manage to reliably shield all the computer equipment from cosmic radiation? One must remember that all that computer equipment must be about the same weight as what the analog based stuff was... I can't imagine huge blocks of lead with computers sealed inside being carted up into space.
*sigh* it doesn't surprise me in the very least. I think this is their idea of a better way of *enforcing* the law.
:)
Initial talk here in Oz was to make all internet users sign a declaration that we were not to access such-and-such sites, when they realised that things were a little too hard to enforce. Or even better, make the installation of web filtering software compulsory (and basically sign a form declaring that you have installed it).
I think, this is where this new leglislation comes from - they need something better than just a token declaration.
This is really just the duct-tape solution to a bill that is was written by people who were misinformed (or perhaps underinformed) about the workings of the internet and were trying to win the conservative vote from the people out there who don't have a clue.
The saddest part is, while there are many of us, most Australians 'net users are too lazy to do anything about this.
Hopefully, when we get a president (we're voting for this in 3 days) he'll throw this madness out.
P.s. Of interest, Telstra the telecommications company of Australia which is 51% owned by the government and runs Australia's largest ISP, still places ads with a guy standing in front of a adult erotica shop and the letters "WWW" cut out in his hair. It has the banner "Whatever is on your mind." below the picture.
The irony of this is killing me. I may scan it and put it on the web one day.