[Novalug] IMPORTANT: Internet Spring Cleaning IS TODAY - DON'T FORGET.

[Maxwell Spangler]

SHUT DOWN YOUR COMPUTER FOR 97 MINUTES -- TODAY!

I just want to remind everyone that today is the annual Internet Spring 
Cleaning and as usual at this time of year you should do your part to keep the 
computers and networking gear you have refreshed for the next 12 months.

For over 27 years on this day savvy and dedicated internet users have 
unplugged their computers, modems, and, in relatively more recent times, 
network connections for at least 97 minutes in order to let their equipment 
rest and flush the capacitors in their computers of built up electronic 
charges.

It was just over 30 years ago in the earlier days of the internet that 
scientists and engineers at several government run labs and universities 
including UC Santa Cruz, M.I.T. and UC Berkeley, noticed that by keeping 
computer equipment running non-stop computers were prone to spontaneous 
explosions which could cause fire.  These early internet operators started 
what are now referred to as the first "April" discussions when an email 
question from one university asking about computer fires discovered that over 
40 early internet sites had experienced the same problems.  

While there was much argument over what caused the fires, a simple challenge 
was proposed: Turn off all computing equipment once a year to discharge faulty 
electrons and the problem would be greatly reduced.  On April 1 later that 
year, the universities participated in this first "Internet Spring Cleaning" 
day.  At the end of the next 12 months any computer or network related fires 
could be explained by other reasons, thus eliminating all practical cases of 
spontaneous computer fire.

Tests were then done to determine exactly how long computers should be turned 
off to discharge rogue electrons and 97 minutes was the number produced by the 
first RFC for Internet Spring Cleaning.

I personally lost three computers to electrical damage about eight years ago 
and while some people tell me I should blame a serious thunderstorm and its 
lightning going on just before my computers died, I blame faulty electrons.  I 
had been running early versions of Linux on these computers, letting them sit 
and do nothing simply to see how long Linux systems would last if they were 
not rebooted constantly.  They had been running for over a year and 8 months 
when they suddenly sparked and ceased operating.

So, happy spring! Enjoy your 97 minutes of off line time!

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Maxwell Spangler
Chapel Hill, North Carolina