Comments

Clive Robinson • December 20, 2023 11:26 AM

@ ALL,

After a moments thought I’m thinking

RE x RE = 60 x 60 = 3600 = TREE

As, MI x MI = MAA, 12 x 12 = 144
And, TI x TI = RA, 32 + 32 = 64

CHGQ • December 20, 2023 2:41 PM

Well, the answers to #1 and #2 are the same: VElNRQo=

Because MjAsIDksIDEzLCA1ID0gVElNRQo=

Y2hlZWt5YmFzdGFyZHMK

lurker • December 20, 2023 4:40 PM

@Andy

If this is intended as an exercise for students, then there’s no security by obscurity going on … I might have expected solution to be published, say, Boxing Day.

emily’s post • December 20, 2023 5:04 PM

Of course, the right way to solve this is to notice that it is the problem of finding in a nine dimensional 90 point finite geometry the variety of intersection of 3 algebraic varieties in the complement of the set of diagonals.

For your leisurely Christmas holiday reading, treat yourself to a copy of Dembowski’s [1] Finite Geometries [2]

  1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Dembowski
  2. https://archive.org/details/finitegeometries0000demb

Next year, elliptic curves in finite geometries. 😉

Clive Robinson • December 20, 2023 7:08 PM

@ emily’s post

Funny you should mention Peter Dembowski. I have had on occaaion reason to visit Queen Mary College, of London University (in East London) and there are still one or two there that talk about him.

Sadly he died at an early age, and one wonders what else he might have achieved.

Erdem Memisyazici • December 20, 2023 7:47 PM

This is a nice way to entertain children however I think you’d get more success if a chocolate company sponsored it. Ovaltine is available in the U.K. too apparently.

Clive Robinson • December 20, 2023 8:34 PM

@ Erdem Memisyazici,

Re : It ain’t what you think.

“Ovaltine is available in the U.K. too apparently.”

The Ovaltine I’ve drunk in the UK when young was not chocolate but vitimin and egg powder enriched “Malt extract”[1][2]. And rather than sharpen your mind like coffee is alleged to do, it actually causes the release of hormones that aid in sleeping –as do all carb heavy drinks/food– hence it is seen as “a hot bed time drink for old biddies” (to stop them otherwise drinking “tonic wine”).

[1] It’s also used cold as the basis for “Thick Milkshakes” to which other flavours are added. Although nolonger containing egg powder but seaweed extract instead apparently MuckyD’s use a version in their milkshakes.

[2] It is also said by some to have similar issues as “high fiber” and thus the same side effects that baked beans are reputed to have…

Erdem Memisyazici • December 20, 2023 11:38 PM

@Clive

I didn’t know you were from the U.K. Fascinating. It was a Christmas Story reference but also a childhood memory when a teacher of ours was quite successful because she would hand out toys, chocolate and so on to kids who get the answers correctly. I am sure it would be difficult to get away with today but it certainly kept the kids interested and excited to get the correct answer.

echo • December 22, 2023 3:56 PM

Security isn’t just about boys toys and shouty worldviews not that the Tory regime care much, or the leader of the opposition playing cosplay soldier for a photo-op.

https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/12/18/uk-gchq-pride-flags/

Bigots furious after government building plans to fly Pride and trans flags
Right-wing fusspots are reportedly livid that a government intelligence agency is planning to fly a single trans Pride flag in the near future.
A planning application filed by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) reportedly revealed it is planning to fly the LGBTQ+ flag outside its Cheltenham, Gloucestershire offices.

Security is also about more squishy factors.

The card, available to download below, contains a series of brainteasers, designed by GCHQ’s own puzzle volunteers, specifically for 11 to 18-year-olds.

What chance do they have if they’re dead before they enter adulthood because of state sanctioned abuse and discrimination, and a dark money funded lobby network, and ethics free cut outs, and rogue and human rights abusing states, and captured regulators, and complacent legacy media and social media platforms making bank off hate for clicks funneling the worst of human nature direct into the brain of our body politic?

I’ve given up on this blog being a useful platform for anything but here’s some graffiti. It has to be said.

Protect Trans Kids.

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