View source for Blog/February 2016/Feb 26th

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{{bheadernew|Feb 26th|http://ronware.org/wiki/Devar/5769/Ki_Tisa}}

Once again we had a very busy week.  There were a couple rainy days, followed by a warming trend — the past couple days have been bright and sunny, and are supposed to stay nicely warm.  The world continues to amaze us.

The Apple/FBI brouhaha continued to attract a lot of press this week.  Here’s [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/431640/apple-fbi-phone-privacy-san-bernardino one article] which says Apple is affirming a Constitutional principle.  Here’s [http://www.zdziarski.com/blog/?p=5645 another article] from a digital-forensics expert.  And then there’s the bizarre claim of John McAfee that he will [http://www.businessinsider.com/john-mcafee-ill-decrypt-san-bernardino-phone-for-free-2016-2 decrypt that iPhone for free].  

I think he means he will crack the PIN of the iPhone for free.  Because “decrypting” the iPhone means cracking 256-bit AES encryption (which is used on the iPhone).  That kind of encryption uses a key with 10<sup>77</sup> possibilities (that’s a one with 77 zeroes after it).  To put it in simple terms: if everyone on the planet had a computer (say 10<sup>10</sup> people), and all the computers were working in tandem 24/7 to crack the encryption (say 10<sup>10</sup> instructions per second, which is beyond current capabilities), then the computing power put to use would be about 10<sup>27</sup> instructions per year.  Assuming all that, and that an “instruction” could check one potential key, then a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brute-force_attack brute-force] search for the correct key would take on the order of 10<sup>50</sup> years.  

Since our sun is only scheduled to last another 10<sup>10</sup> years (more or less), we’re a bit short of time to ''brute-force'' any 256-bit keys.  Of course, if someone discovers a significant weakness in AES encryption (or devises a great cracking algorithm) then all bets are off.  But that day has not yet arrived.

Speaking of 256-bit AES, that’s the encryption used by [http://8th-dev.com “8th”] to protect the applications it creates.  Just a plug for our product, you know?  The Indians are starting their campaigns to get people to use 8th.  But until they start bringing in the Big Money™, we need to bring in Small Money™ of our own.  So we resumed [http://8th-dev.com/hireus.html searching for contracts] this week, blasting out emails to a number of our contacts.  One of them responded immediately with a “you know what?” response.  So we’re talking with them about doing some work. Just a little bragging: they said, “You surely know, but your response was quick and precise. Really a pleasure!”.  So we’re feeling good about the prospects.  I mean, I really do like beans and rice, but I don’t want to be forced into ''only'' eating beans and rice.  Know what I mean?

In unexpectedly good news, we received our [https://www.irs.gov/ IRS refund check] in the mail.  It ''should'' have been a direct-deposit, but the IRS for its own unfathomable reasons sent a ''paper check''.  To Israel.  And we actually received it.  Miracles happen every day!

But the ''really'' good news is that Esther discovered that she could download and use the “app” our US bank provides, and that she could ''scan'' in the IRS check and ''deposit'' it.  From Israel, to our US account.  So we thereby avoid the ludicrous fees we would incur if we deposited the (very small) check to our Israeli account.  Miracles happen ''every'' day!

And in even better news: Esther and I got new phones!  No, not really. Instead, we replaced the batteries and screen-protectors on our existing phones, and now they ''seem'' like new phones.  So for a small fraction of the cost of a new phone, we rejuvenated our trusty Nexus 4’s!

On the lighter side:
* President Obama [http://www.nationalreview.com/article/431692/obama-cuba-upcoming-trip will be visiting Cuba].  OK, that’s not a “lighter-side” thing, but really: at this point, what difference does it make?
* Roger Waters is in stable condition [http://dailyfreier.com/2016/02/22/roger-waters-in-stable-condition-after-gaza-tunnel-collapse/ after a Gaza tunnel collapse].  Calm down, it’s a satire site.
* A recent meta-study found, shockingly!, that [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Homeopathy-found-to-be-effective-for-0-out-of-68-illnesses/articleshow/51066514.cms?from=mdr homeopathy was effective for 0 of 68 illnesses] tested.  It’s ''shocking'' that nearly pure H<sub>2</sub>O doesn’t cure very many diseases!  And here I thought that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_magic sympathetic magic] was something real.  Live and larn.
* And on the topic of quackery: [http://mamabee.com/apple-cider-vinegar-and-honey/ apple-cider-and-vinegar] does not “transform your body from acidic to fully alkaline organism!”.  You are already and permanently (until death, anyway) a “fully alkaline” organism.  Kind of: your body’s pH stays strictly between 7.35 and 7.45, just alkaline of “neutral”.  Were it not so, you would be killed by a glass of lemonade.
* Here’s why [https://www.facebook.com/hadshotedomim/videos/1125653980802854/?pnref=story “Arab work”] is cheaper


Again just the nuclear family this ''shabbat''. We’ve been invited out for one meal; for the rest we’ll enjoy:<br>
veggie-stuffed fish rolls,
veggie-stuffed eggplant rolls,
roasted potatoes,
roasted veggies,
''salatim'',
and pastries.


Until next time,<br>
''shabbat shalom''!

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