#simon singh

[el-ffej]

This is a great book -- I've read it twice, and it is both entertaining and extremely good at explaining how ciphers work (this is not easy).

Moreover, it's a history of how secret codes have worked through the ages; the context is (to me) the most enjoyable part of the book to me. Even if I wasn't interested in how encryption and decryption work at all, the stories of how they were developed would carry my interest alone.

Highly recommended!

Years and years ago, I read a book on cryptography that I picked up because it looked interesting--and it was!

But there was a side anecdote in there that stayed with me for more general purposes.

The author was describing a cryptography class that they had taken back in college where the professor was demonstrating the process of "reversibility", which is a principle that most codes depend on. Specifically, it should be easy to encode, and very hard to decode without the key--it is hard to reverse the process.

So he had an example code that he used for his class to demonstrate this, a variation on the Book Code, where the encoded text would be a series of phone numbers.

The key to the code was that phone books are sorted alphabetically, so you could encode the text easily--picking phone numbers from the appropriate alphabetical sections to use ahead of time would be easy. But since phone books were sorted alphabetically, not numerically, it would be nearly impossible to reverse the code without exhaustively searching the phone book for each string of numbers and seeing what name it was tied to.

Nowadays, defeating this would be child's play, given computerized databases, but back in the 80s and 90s, this would have been a good code... at least, until one of the students raised their hand and asked, "Why not just call the phone numbers and ask who lives there?"

The professor apparently was dumbfounded.

He had never considered that question. As a result, his cipher, which seemed to be nearly unbreakable to him, had such an obvious flaw, because he was the sort of person who could never coldcall someone to ask that sort of thing!

In the crypto book, the author went on to use this story as an example of why security systems should not be tested by the designer (because of course the security system is ready for everything they thought of, by definition), but for me, as a writer, it stuck with me for a different reason.

It's worth talking out your story plot with other people just to see if there's a "Why not just call the phone numbers?" obvious plot hole that you've missed, because of your singular perspective as a person. Especially if you're writing the sort of plot where you have people trying to outsmart each other.

[sofwritesreviews]

Fermat's Last Theorem by Simon Singh

Rating: 5 stars Pages: 340 Tagged: educational

I love love Simon Singh's The Code Book, but somehow had never read his probably more famous Fermat's Last Theorem. Well, I set out to finally change that, and I really loved this book. Singh remains the King of mathematical pop science books, taking the reader through much of the history of mathematics through the lens of discoveries and techniques related to Fermat's Last Theorem, starting with Pythagoras and continuing through to the 90s with what was at the time some of the most ground-breaking mathematics. He makes complex topics extremely approachable, and managed to make me excited about conjectures and theorems I knew nothing about.

Goodreads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3881645564

[bvrnesher]

*sniff, sniff*

i'm so in love with this man (he’s fictional)

[erenfox]

when the plot twist is so gut-wrenching it has you staring at the wall like 👁️👄👁️

[discoursets]

books of autumn. 🍁

[talknerdytome18]

Ranking All Books by Holly Jackson

Since I've read all of Holly's books, I'm going to rank them! Disclaimer: This is my opinion. If we don't have the same opinion, then respect that. Let's go!

Warning: this may contain spoilers for all books published by Holly Jackson. If you don't want to be spoiled, then scroll away.

6. Killjoy (2021)

I found this story cute! Very fun and fast-paced. I loved seeing how it all started and loved seeing the friend group's dynamic again. I just found this to not be the best out of all of Holly's books (granted this is a novella, but it's not my fave). Also, too much Ant Lowe in my opinion. I would have preferred more Jamie Reynolds. Also, I personally think Connor and Zach should've kissed but oh well.

Overall, fun book! If you wanna go back to where it all started, then this novella is worth it.

5. Five Survive (2022)

Guys... I have a reason why this book is ranked so low. I'm going to start by saying that I did not hate this book. I found the story intriguing and was engaged once the action started. For her first standalone, this book was really good and exceeded my expectations. My main problem with this book was that I found that I could care less about the characters. Personally, I found Red Kenny to be a weak protagonist in comparison to Pip and Bel and, not to mention how I could care less about Red and Arthur. Red and Arthur are cute, but honestly, I could care less if they got together or not.

Again, I don't hate this book. For Holly's first standalone, it was really good. However, I found that I didn't really care for any of the characters.

Overall, good book! Wish I connected more to the characters because the premise is incredible.

4. Good Girl, Bad Blood (2020)

All books in the AGGGTM series are five star reads in my opinion, but I find this the weakest book in the trilogy. Honestly, I love this book with my whole heart. Coming from being Connor Reynolds's biggest fan, I love how much he appeared in this book and how he aided in finding Jamie.

I think this book suffers from what I've dubbed "Sequel Slump" - meaning that the first book is so good that the sequel "slumps" in comparison. In this case, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is so good that this book just "slumps" in comparison, and I think it's because it takes a while for the mystery to officially begin, since we're taken through a quick recap over the previous book's events and then the memorial.

Also, I personally think that Connor and Zach should've kissed. Connor going to Zach's house to play Fortnite after the memorial? Very fruity to me (joking... or am I?)

Overall, love this book. Wish it got more recognition in the fandom.

3. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2019)

LOVE THIS BOOK. This book is fast-paced, thrilling and mysterious. It has a healthy dose of mystery and romance, along with characters I truly felt interested in. Pip's an amazing protagonist who fought hard to prove Sal innocent and find the real killer under the guise of her EPQ, all as she got the guy (Ravi Singh) in the end.

I loved that this book kept me guessing until the very end. I was suspecting everyone (Max, Jason, Naomi, Elliot, etc) and was genuinely surprised finding out Elliot killed Sal. Holly had written him to be such a likeable person that I couldn't believe he would kill Sal just so he could frame him as Andie's killer. AND BECCA? Never would've guessed it. Holly Jackson knows how to write compelling thrillers and I love that for her.

My only real complaint is again, Zach and Connor should've kissed. Connor honey I get that you liked Pip, but Zach Chen is literally right there. You boys are soulmates and I pray that the show recognises that (along with LauCara).

Overall, AMAZING BOOK. Deserves all the hype!

2. As Good as Dead (2021)

AHHHHH I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. THIS BOOK IS HOW YOU END A TRILOGY GUYS. From the beginning, I was hooked by the mystery of Pip's stalker. This book broke my heart with Andie's email - poor girl was so scared of her father and died trying to escape him. I really like how this book doesn't give Andie a full redemption arc, rather it explains her actions. It really humanises Andie - a girl who grew up in a toxic environment and died trying to save herself and her sister.

My heart shattered when Pip broke up with Ravi. AND HIS SUGGESTION WAS TO MARRY SO THEY COULD GET SPOUSAL PRIVILEDGE??? RAVI FUCKING SINGH WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME???

The ending? EVIL. FUCKING EVILLLL BUT I LOVE HOLLY EITHER WAY. In my heart, I believe Pip got back together with him and they married. They also got another golden retriever in my mind after they got married.

Only complaint was WHERE WAS ZACH CHEN? CONNOR AND HIM SHOULD'VE KISSED WTF. Not to mention Lauren and Cara... Love my girl Steph though. Hoping that Lauren and Cara are a thing in the show though since we don't know much about Steph.

Overall, BEST BOOK IN THE TRILOGY GUYS.

The Reappearance of Rachel Price (2024)

HOLY FUCKING SHIT.

THIS BOOK... I WILL ONLY SAY ONE WORD: BRILLIANT.

When Holly Jackson said that this book was her favourite, I can see why it is. While I struggled to get into it from the beginning, once I read past 100 pages, I was hooked. Bel Price is such a complex protagonist that I could find myself relating to. All the characters were just so complex and you truly don't know who's lying until the very end, when we find out (spoiler alert) that Charlie (Bel's dad) had ordered his father to kill Rachel.

Not to mention how insane the sibling plotline was??? I NEVER WOULD HAVE SUSPECTED THAT CARTER WAS RACHEL'S BIOLOGICAL DAUGHTER. My heart broke when Rachel spoke about how Patrick took Carter away from her when Carter was only two weeks old. The Price family are truly disgusting - Rachel, Bel and Carter deserved so much better.

Also, I preferred the romance between Ash and Bel over Arthur and Red. Ash is such a fun character and I was genuinely sad when him and Bel weren't endgame. I believe that one day, in the near future, they reunite and get together officially.

Overall, LOVE THIS BOOK. If you haven't picked this up yet, then do so now!

~~~~

That's it! If you wanna talk, then my inbox is open :) - Em

[ba-romanoff]

Maja Ma (2022) was such a beautiful movie to watch.

And this particular scene with Pallavi and Kanchan dancing is stuck with me

[humasahsultanimsworld]

Some Costumes from Bahu Begum TV Series + Razia Begum's pure white caftan

Ep.1

[bollywoodbyradha]

[trevlad-sounds]

For the Birds 9

12.07.2024

Intro 00:00 Lee Hannah-Thermal Pool 00:08 Runaway Horses-Condensa 04:01 Mike Dickinson-Wreckage 06:54 Willebrant-Inlet I 11:20 Darren Harper-Trickle 21:01 Time Rival-Mill St. + Offset Sequencers (Prairie Trail 6-21-23) 22:27 Ruby Singh-Lost in the Grasslands 26:09 Bethany Ley-Cycles Renew 32:21 Simone Gatto-Living In The Paradox Of Consciousness 36:45 Hans Kammerer and Marston Mortaine-Species 44:35 lofield-internal whisper 50:32

[venusssands]

remember, body, how they trembled for you in those voices

https://archiveofourown.org/works/49297570

“I have been a fool for my whole life. And it hurts so much to know that it cost me the life of my love.”

Eyes filled up with tears, Kanchan swallowed to stop them from falling. She put a hand on Pallavi’s cheek to open her eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. No matter when and where, look out of the corner of your eye, and I will be there.”

Pallavi and Kanchan have a much-needed conversation after Kanchan's secret is revealed.

[erenfox]

guess who just speedran through A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and One of Us is Lying, and now is gonna hyperfixate over pipravi, natewyn, addy mf prentiss as a whole, and ashton x eli (what's their ship name???) 😍😍😍

[celiab0wen]

sharing my kanvi playlist 💌

[talknerdytome18]

AGGGTM One of Us is Lying AU

Hear me out... AGGGTM One of Us is Lying AU. I've only read the books so any change that happens in the show isn't taken into account.

Bronwyn Rojas: Pippa Fitz-Amobi

Nate Macauley: Ravi Singh

Cooper Clay: Connor Reynolds

Addy Prentiss: Lauren Gibson

Simon Kelleher: Max Hastings

Maeve Rojas: Josh Amobi

Jake Riordan: Ant Lowe

Keely Soria: Stella Chapman (Pip's classmate from book 2 who had her pictures used for Layla Mead)

TJ Forrester: Tom Nowak (Lauren's ex who broke up with her during book 1.)

Kris: Zach Chen

Janae Vargas: Either Naomi Ward or Millie Simpson (Millie was in Sal's friend group if you don't remember)

Thoughts? I just thought about how Pipravi are so Natewyn coded and ran with it. - Em