News Stories

[Zu Ra]

* Cisco says New Router " Forever Change the Internet "

[Joojoobees]

Originally Posted by Zu Ra

* Cisco says New Router " Forever Change the Internet "

This will likely have minimal impact on users for quite a while. The intention is to sell the product to backbone companies (companies that ISPs connect to), which is fine, but end-users will still have the limitations of their local equipment, as well as the limitations of their connection to their ISP, and possibly the limitations of routers within the ISPs domain.

American end-users could see a big difference in Internet speeds with existing technologies, but the ISPs don't want to invest in the equipment. Look at this chart for what is possible, versus the service end-users are getting.

[Kyuusai]

Originally Posted by Joojoobees

This will likely have minimal impact on users for quite a while. The intention is to sell the product to backbone companies (companies that ISPs connect to), which is fine, but end-users will still have the limitations of their local equipment, as well as the limitations of their connection to their ISP, and possibly the limitations of routers within the ISPs domain.

American end-users could see a big difference in Internet speeds with existing technologies, but the ISPs don't want to invest in the equipment. Look at this chart for what is possible, versus the service end-users are getting.

To be fair to the US companies, it is VERY expensive to run that "last mile" in anything but the most crowded areas. The digging alone costs a fortune before even considering the cost of equipment, and providers that aren't located in major cities pay incredibly inflated bandwidth prices.

But, to be fair to the customers, most providers still aren't doing enough. Not that long ago I was working for (as in, was the sysadmin for) a company providing DSL out to customers spread out over a rural, mountainous region. It is among the MOST expensive regions to provide service for, and yet this company was highly profitable while providing 4Mbps/1Mbps DSL to nearly every single one of their customers. I'm currently in a much more populated area services by one of the largest telcos, and they can't be bothered to provide better than 1.5 Mbps here due to poor planning (and this is relatively *new* to the area--it was dial-up not long before!).

With any luck, though, these giant routers will have a trickle down effect: More bandwidth at the backbone means cheaper upstream bandwidth for the companies attached, which means lower prices and more bandwidth for customers... which means more expectation of reasonable levels of bandwidth within the populous in general.

[Xion Valkyrie]

Still waiting on Google to run their fibers through Cali =)

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by Kyuusai

To be fair to the US companies, it is VERY expensive to run that "last mile" in anything but the most crowded areas. The digging alone costs a fortune before even considering the cost of equipment, and providers that aren't located in major cities pay incredibly inflated bandwidth prices.

But, to be fair to the customers, most providers still aren't doing enough. Not that long ago I was working for (as in, was the sysadmin for) a company providing DSL out to customers spread out over a rural, mountainous region. It is among the MOST expensive regions to provide service for, and yet this company was highly profitable while providing 4Mbps/1Mbps DSL to nearly every single one of their customers. I'm currently in a much more populated area services by one of the largest telcos, and they can't be bothered to provide better than 1.5 Mbps here due to poor planning (and this is relatively *new* to the area--it was dial-up not long before!).

With any luck, though, these giant routers will have a trickle down effect: More bandwidth at the backbone means cheaper upstream bandwidth for the companies attached, which means lower prices and more bandwidth for customers... which means more expectation of reasonable levels of bandwidth within the populous in general.

It is no better than a local ISP which routs their network channels through the same web server as the broadband lines. Which means if more people are watching the set, less people will be able to surf the internet at the speed they paid for.

[JMvS]

China to build fast railway network around Eurasia within 10 years

China is in negotiations to build a high-speed rail network to India and Europe with trains that capable of running at over 200mph within the next ten years.

The network would eventually carry passengers from London to Beijing and then to Singapore. It would also run to India and Pakistan, according to Wang Mengshu, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a senior consultant on China's domestic high-speed rail project.

A second project would see trains heading north through Russia to Germany and into the European railway system, and a third line will extend south to connect Vietnam, Thailand, Burma and Malaysia.

Passengers could board a train in London and step off in Beijing, 5,070 miles away as the crow flies, in just two days. They could go on to Singapore, 6,750 miles away, within three days.

Gosh, a Pan-Eurasian modern railway system... Now I've got a good reason to root for China.

Mr Wang said that China was already in negotiations with 17 countries over the rail lines, which will draw together and open up the whole of Central, East and South East Asia. Mr Wang said the network would also allow China to transport valuable cargoes of raw materials more efficiently.

Chances are that Somali Coast piracy played quite a role here...

[SeijiSensei]

Japanese protest ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna

There has been protest in Japan over a proposed ban on international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna, a day after the European Union agreed to back the plan.

Wholesalers held a protest at Tokyo's fish market, while a top official said Japan was likely to opt out of any ban.

The EU agreed on Wednesday to back the proposal during next week's meeting of the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites).

But Japanese opponents say it would hit the country's massive tuna market hard.

Bluefin tuna, which is used in sushi and sashimi, is highly prized in Japan.

But a recent scientific assessment concluded that stocks have declined by 80% in the past 40 years.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Japanese protest ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna

I thought they are already breeding tuna in a farm.

ME WANT INVEST! I would suggest that you guys start investing in that farm. In 3-4 years you will see plenty of returns.

[iLney]

But wild catch is always better... Still, I'm glad that bluefin tuna sushi is still available

Originally Posted by JMvS

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...l-network.html
Mr Wang said that China was already in negotiations with 17 countries over the rail lines, which will draw together and open up the whole of Central, East and South East Asia. Mr Wang said the network would also allow China to transport valuable cargoes of raw materials more efficiently.

Great! This rail will carry everything: people, foods, cars, tanks, planes, missiles ... Hurray for China!

[Jinto]

Originally Posted by iLney

But wild catch is always better... Still, I'm glad that bluefin tuna sushi is still available

Great! This rail will carry everything: people, foods, cars, tanks, planes, missiles ... Hurray for China!

The difference between great visions and reality is more often then not feasibility. The EMUs will be the cheap part in this project, the truely costly part is the high speed railway network.

[JMvS]

Originally Posted by Jinto

The difference between great visions and reality is more often then not feasibility. The EMUs will be the cheap part in this project, the truely costly part is the high speed railway network.

In this regard, the Southern route will certainly provide the most technical challenges, due to all the mountains and tropical climate. Political barriers are less of a concerns, as Burma and Vietnam seems quite eager for it and ready to adapt their gauge.

On the other hand, the Northern route will face mostly political challenges, as the Russians have to balance their desire to upgrade infrastructure and develop the Far East with the concern of Chinese migrations in their territory and the need to change their gauge. Notice that such an overhaul of the Russian railways network would also open it to Western Europe, with consecutive benefits (as well as concerns).


Regarding the costs of building the network, as long as there is a need for connection and a political will to address it, I have little concerns, as high speed railways have already been demonstrated as the optimal solution: cheaper than high ways or even large roads, speed second only to airplane, capacity second to high sea freighting.
More so, most if not all the technologies not only exist but are already applied widely.

[SaintessHeart]

Originally Posted by JMvS

In this regard, the Southern route will certainly provide the most technical challenges, due to all the mountains and tropical climate. Political barriers are less of a concerns, as Burma and Vietnam seems quite eager for it and ready to adapt their gauge.

On the other hand, the Northern route will face mostly political challenges, as the Russians have to balance their desire to upgrade infrastructure and develop the Far East with the concern of Chinese migrations in their territory and the need to change their gauge. Notice that such an overhaul of the Russian railways network would also open it to Western Europe, with consecutive benefits (as well as concerns).


Regarding the costs of building the network, as long as there is a need for connection and a political will to address it, I have little concerns, as high speed railways have already been demonstrated as the optimal solution: cheaper than high ways or even large roads, speed second only to airplane, capacity second to high sea freighting.
More so, most if not all the technologies not only exist but are already applied widely.

I wouldn't want this to pass through Singapore! It is not like we have enough land left to reclaim for the tracks.

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by iLney

Great! This rail will carry everything: people, foods, cars, tanks, planes, missiles ... Hurray for China!

Yes, this will allow China to project power well beyond its borders, a capability they currently lack. Of course that might not be the intent of the people behind it, but even if it isn't, will it stay that way? Though on the other hand, a pan-Eurasian high speed rail system could mean great things for the economies of central Asian states.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by SaintessHeart

I wouldn't want this to pass through Singapore! It is not like we have enough land left to reclaim for the tracks.

>_> if it pass through singapore it will have be underwater unless you guys can built a sea train.

[FateAnomaly]

We already have train services through Malaysia.

[AnimeFan188]

"The international anti-piracy patrol has admitted that it is now pursuing a policy of
hunting down and destroying pirate mother ships. Several recent incidents, that
resulted in the destruction of mother ships, indicated that this was the case. But
now this has been confirmed, along with the warning that even if there is not
enough evidence to prosecute the pirates, the mother ship will be destroyed, and
the crew dumped on a Somali beach."

See:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/hts.../20100311.aspx

[Joojoobees]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"The international anti-piracy patrol has admitted that it is now pursuing a policy of hunting down and destroying pirate mother ships.

I'm not surprised by this turn of events. The pirates caused so much trouble that those with substantial economic interests in the shipping routes could no longer dismiss their behavior as a form of corruption. Skimming a bit off the top is one thing, but it had become difficult to reliably do business.

[FateAnomaly]

Its okay. Just do other stuff till they drop their guard and go back to piracy.

[Kamui4356]

Originally Posted by AnimeFan188

"The international anti-piracy patrol has admitted that it is now pursuing a policy of
hunting down and destroying pirate mother ships. Several recent incidents, that
resulted in the destruction of mother ships, indicated that this was the case. But
now this has been confirmed, along with the warning that even if there is not
enough evidence to prosecute the pirates, the mother ship will be destroyed, and
the crew dumped on a Somali beach."

See:

http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/hts.../20100311.aspx

Good. Maybe this will finally put a dent in piracy off Somalia. Though it'd be better if they didn't just dump them on a beach. That would require some kind of international legal framework to be drawn up on the issue though. Set up some kind of international court for piracy maybe?

[Zu Ra]

* Caretaker in RL , ' JIHAD JANE ' Online