April Fool? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sharon Ann Kasa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 2:40 AM Subject: [LegacyUG] Bit problem
> > MUNICH: In a move predicted to have serious ramifications for the > internet,leading maker of binary digits, Bitfabrikenworken Gesellschaft > gmbh, announced that it is filing for bankruptcy. This move is believed to > be prompted by the realisation of abnormal losses resulting from > unauthorised derivatives trading linked to the collapse in value of the Thai > baht. > > Computer systems consultant Michael J Springhoff, of Anders Arthurson > Consulting, believes that the move will have a major impact upon the > functioning of the net. "Bitworken was the world's largest supplier of bits, > with some 50 to 60 percent of manufacturing share." Bits are the > binary digits, representing 'on' or 'off' on which computers and the > internet run. "All digital computers use bits to represent programs and data > in their memory and all communications protocols on the internet are based > on the use of bits". "If BFW [Bitfabrikenworken] ceases production of these > bits, which seems highly likely now, then there will be a major shortage of > bits. Computers will not have enough to form programs when they boot up and > many computers will display error message like "unexpected end of file > encountered". Data already stored on hard disk will not be affected unless > it is read in from the disk and the computer then runs out of bits before it > can be fully written back. > > "If your computer loads a file and runs out of bits halfway through, then > only some of your file can be written back to disk and the rest will be > lost." As a result, Springhoff advises that users not use their computers > until the future of bit production is clear. "It would be terrible if you > opened up Legacy on your computer and created a book report only to have > your computer run out of bits halfway through, leaving you with only the > first chapter." > > If the bit shortage eventuates, the internet is expected to suffer massive > failures as computers simply run out of bits to send. "The 'net is like a > huge series of pipelines criss-crossing the world," says Springhoff, "except > that instead of conveying oil or gas it conveys bits. Obviously, if > computers in some parts of the world just run out of bits then there is > nothing for the net to send and things will come to a standstill." Worse, > some commentators predict a 'negative bit suckback effect' which might > affect a computer full of bits that is connected through the internet to a > computer which suddenly runs out: the other computer, in a desperate attempt > to keep running, could create a 'bit vacuum' which, in effect, will suck > bits from your machine to it, probably crashing your machine and corrupting > its data in the process. The effect would be worst for those computers > connected to the 'net by high-speed and high-bandwidth connections such as > ISDN or ethernet lines, but modem users could experience the effects on a > smaller scale. The only suggested solution is to refrain from connecting to > the internet at all until the world supply of bits can be assured. > > Major private companies are already turning to countries with a positive bit > surplus in an attempt to head off potential problems. Brazil, New Zealand > and Iceland are the hot choices as the low level of computer usage in these > countries means that many small businesses and government departments have > reasonable stockpiles of unused bits which can be bought and transferred to > the US and other large users of computing power. "While the exact figure for > New Zealand is unknown," says Springhoff, "it is believed that they have > some 15 or 16 terabytes of unused bits stockpiled around the country, which > is even more per head of population than the > number of sheep in that country. If carefully used, it could be a major > export for the country and provide much-needed foreign exchange." Other > analysts are worried, however, that the bits will be used purely for their > electrical value in powering generators in the blacked out city of Auckland. > That would be a terrible waste, according to Springhoff, equivalent, he > says, to burning 200 year old mahogany wood to heat your house. However, the > possibility is quite real if power is not restored in that city soon. > > The other major winners from this crisis are companies that specialise in > recycling bits. These companies, which generally buy old computers and break > them apart to salvage the bits inside, are expected to make a killing from > the boom in demand for their bits. It is not known how many bits can be > provided by this method, but it is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of the > shortfall of bits could be made up. However, it is a non-renewable source of > bits and there is already sign of possible opposition from environmental > groups opposed to the environmentally unsustainable use of bits. > > A last possible hope would be that the company is either taken into > bankruptcy administration or that its bit generation and bit foundry works > are taken over whole by another manufacturer so that the disruption of bit > production is minimal. So far no overt expressions of interest have been > made, although leading Japanese bit producer Wondrous Star Bits Kaisen > Kaisha is reported to be interested in some form of arrangement. > > Ben Kremer > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 1 April 2002 > > > > To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp > > Legacy User Group Etiquette guidelines can be found at: > http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp To unsubscribe please visit: http://www.legacyfamilytree.com/LegacyLists.asp Legacy User Group Etiquette guidelines can be found at: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Etiquette.asp
