End of Surplus?

Joe> A couple of days ago several people were discussing their Joe> problems with a couple of DG Novas. I mentioned that I had just Joe> seen one in a scrap yard and a couple of people asked me to Joe> check on getting it for parts. I went back there today and the Joe> Nova was still there and it looks complete. HOWEVER the owner Joe> of the yard informed me that he is no longer selling ANY surplus Joe> to anybody for any reason. I talked to him and found out that Joe> the US Government is now requiring all surplus and scrap dealers Joe> to keep DETAILED records of EVERY piece of equipment that they Joe> sell! Furthermore they must ensure that NONE of it goes Joe> overseas. It sounds like a severely scrambled interpretation of the export control regulations that have existed in the USA for many years -- long before 9/11. Yes, people often blame 9/11 for all sorts of things, and not too long ago there was a long thread on this list where export restrictions were wrongly blamed on 9/11. Detailed records of everything sold? Bizarre. Ensuring nothing gets overseas? Makes no sense. What DOES make sense is "if it goes out of the country, look at the export regulations". And for surplus equipment that can indeed be onerous, because it may not be clear what specific rule applies to, say, a 20 year old Cray, or even a 20 year old Nova. paul