OT Don't read this (was Re: Altair MBL source)

[Geoffrey Thomas]

 I guess nobody in DC watches Classic Star Trek and installed "manual
 over rides".
 Funny in WWI & WWII warships worked well with out puters but then they
 had 'sound
 powered phones" for commication on ship -- no electricty needed -- just
 wire between phones.

Many  years ago the husband of my wife's friend- who is an officer on a
naval destoyer- was in a local port , and invited me on board - I was
working there at the time - as part of a pr exercise in the locality. After
the meal and g&t's  I was given a tour of the ship -including the missile
bay . Everything was hard wired and relay based - partly a distrust of
software but mostly as protection against emp.
Before we went in he said " If the fire alarm - or any alarm - goes off ,
hold your breath and bugger off out" - it wasn't a big space . Apparently
the whole area gets flooded with halon ( sp?) to quickly absorb any oxygen
from the air , so if you hang about ........

Geoff.