Tales from the Crypto

I'm about halfway through Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. It's a very exciting book about the historical convergence of a WWII codebreaking and protecting unit and a present-day infromation-technology company. At any rate, it includes as a part of its plot the so called "Solitaire/Pontifex" Algorithm. It's pretty neat. You can read about it here. There's a web version of it here, to prevent you from having to do it all by hand. There's also a downloadable version here.

I think it appeals to me because I went to Bletchley Park right before my senior year in high school for a special history class....and well, I love secret-agent stuff. If you like that sort of thing you can send me a message if you decrypt this. You might need to cut and paste a couple times.

Passkey: blogspot

GNXYQYJMUQJVQGPBGGCUQFKARZ
MZHEMONZTHXMUDANNSYCZAIALH
CVVXXRXJOCQACLPMDYNPFSREZWG
FXNBGBCHSLFXNYKHALFQARGIGGG
WBUYBFFFGMZWQORNAMMZZZVQS
CAFTFHHDMQVXIOBZUZNTFZGELYL
APUDXLDSGTQ ZNCCDJXATUFFJUOU
AAHUJOZXBTTDIQ

Onwards and upwards

While it appears that the space shuttle launch is delayed another day, I ponder exactly how amazing it is that humans have built upon their own prior knowledge to create something as complicated as a space shuttle. Sure something is bound to fail in the thousands of individual parts, but it amazes me to no end that something that complicated can be constructed in the first place from raw materials on earth.

Neshoba County Justice!

Klansman Edgar Ray Killen was found guilty of all three counts of manslaugher in the "Mississippi Burning" killings.

OK, I give up.

I promise. PROMISE. I promise that I am not fascinated by strange looking criminals. But in all seriousness...I wrote that last post as an "ultimate" post, the ending of a trinity of grotesqueness.

It appears that CNN.com's penchant for oddity and disturbing journalism has risen once more!

Another horrible story. This time they are reaching back a year ago to add onto a disturbing theme of stories hitting the main page over the past week. Marcus Wesson's tale is so frightening that it is only trumped by...you guessed it...his picture. I'm beginning to think I'll be safe from any such weirdness since nobody I know looks remotely like the three men I've showcased in my blog thusfar.

Good lordy.

Creepy McCreepums

O.
K.

So you thought "Chet Atkins of Minto" was disturbing looking. I'm beginning to think that Dean Arthur Schwartzmiller might take the cake for pure eeeevil looks. Most importantly, why do I have to encounter three articles in the past week about a crazed chainsaw fellow, a deviant child molester, and Michael Jackson (who is a little bit of both??).

CNN, I humbly submit that its time to start reporting on stuff like lollipop factories, fluffy clouds, and cute little bunnies.

"Autoopsy"

After the 7 year legal battle, a Bush family intervention, 6 (count 'em!) Supreme Court denials, and the embattled emotions of two sides of a family...many many people were proved wrong today. The autopsy of Terri Schiavo was released showing that there was no chance of improvement in her condition and that she was indeed in a persistent vegetative state.

First of all, I'm a little concerned that they didn't know beforehand that her brain was "half" the size of a normal functioning brain. Did they not do any sort of test throughout the media frenzy?

Second, it's a real shame that this poor woman's tragic circumstances were used in such a public manner as a "cause" which people on both sides of the line rallied behind. I'm proud of our Supreme Court for not bowing to pressure and adhering to the law.

Third, it's a good lesson not to grandstand unless you know what you are talking about.

SPF 45000

The light of day? Pshaw? The great dancing Gollum of our time and his quaint European supermodel nose have avoided the authorities and are free to grab their own crotches and sing of world peace once again.

Reality has taken a turn for the worst as MJ (not the sportsman) retreats back into his Neverland of chronological denial...an ivory tower built of legos and stuffed animal fur.

Reasonable doubt is a powerful thing...

"Chet Atkins of Minto"

"Nobody asked us to detain him," Anthony said. "Being bizarre is not a reason to keep somebody out of this country or lock them up. ... We are governed by laws and regulations, and he did not violate any regulations."

Laws be damned! If this guy was anywhere within 100 yds of me, I'd run like Calista Flockhart from a plateful of cheese fries! If I was a cop, say a border guard for the United States of American in Calais, Maine.... and he were brandishing brass knuckles, a homemade sword, a hatchet, a knife and a stained chainsaw...well, I'd probably go with my gut feeling and put him away. Seriously! LOOK AT HIM!!!!