Rachel just discussed the State Department email system

[Loki]

and I think I just heard her say that our entire nuclear arsenal system is still run from 8 inch floppy discs? WHF? Is this insane? Also that every email that is sent has to be copied and put in a file, an actual printed copy without a cross reference system in place, just throw them in a big box. I don't want to hear another thing about this made up email scandal. What a bunch of shit.

http://time.com/4348494/pentagon-nuclear-floppy-disks/

[MADem]

1. Those BIG 'uns!!!

I remember stepping down to the little ones--such progress!!

And the teeny ones in the plastic case, why, such convenience!!!

[Her Sister]

2. Wow! RM is doing a great job tonite!

Covering all the bases! Thanks for the info.

[sheshe2]

3. KnR!

That sure puts things into perspective. Thanks Loki.

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Brilliant job by Rachel, showing up this faux scandal for what it is.

The history of floppy-disks bit was hilarious.

Antiquated systems require stop-gap measures. LOL!

[mcar]

5. I knew the govt system was bad but seriously

[mercuryblues]

6. yes on the nuke

technology.

Emails can get saved via digital method or hard copy.

Many digitally backed up email can not be accessed because the files are corrupted or the program is obsolete.

It is recommended that hard copies be made for back up. As you pointed out they aren't even filed. Just tossed in boxes.

[Treant]

7. Look at NASA

The Space Shuttle ran off ancient hardened 386 hardware and, towards the end, replacement parts were almost impossible to find and extremely expensive.

But then, why not upgrade? Because you really don't want to find out that there's a hardware/software interfacing glitch during re-entry, that's why. So at least that one makes some sense.

Similarly, I can certainly argue that if the hardware/software for the nuclear arsenal is fully debugged and works...well, maybe we don't want to upgrade it without some very good reasons to do so.

Printing stuff out and boxing it, though...that's insane.

[spooky3]

8. Sounds like my attic. Not a good thing.

[stopbush]

9. I'm getting the feeling that the entire federal government is appalled

that their crappy insecure systems have been revealed to the world through what amounts to a witchhunt.

How much you want to bet that the FIRST thing they told Hillary when she got to State was "our email system sucks and isn't secure, so you need to set up your own server if you want to keep a lid on things."