RE: https://mastodon.social/@cocoaphony/115721228932850978

Hardware optimizations for this stuff get added, too.

Alpha added CTLZ, CTTZ, and CTPOP (the CIX extension) specifically for cryptography.

Most processors now have at least this and possibly much more support for bit operations and cryptographic algorithms.

(Apropos of nothing, autocorrupt goes in a completely different direction when it detects “bit” and “crypt”, too.)

RE: https://mastodon.social/@sundogplanets/115701447682658918

“In the six month period up to the end of May 2025, Starlink satellites performed 144,404 conjunction risk mitigation manoeuvres, an increase of about 200% from the previous six months. The increase is due to the lower manoeuvre threshold, a larger fleet of Starlink satellites, and an increasing orbital object population.”

“SpaceX reported between 37 and 44 manoeuvres per satellite per year, based on the most recent data. My estimate is about 30 manoeuvres per satellite per year, based on the average number of working satellites over the year and the annual manoeuvre rate.”

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/starlink-manoeuvre-update-july-2025-hugh-lewis-utkhe

#spacex #starlink

Had an striking conversation many years ago with an older woman, the matriarch of a local family-run a grocery store.

She mentioned that the family had been watching some then-newly-available video footage of US troops landing at Iwo Jima during WW2, when the woman’s husband pointed at a soldier in the battle and commented “there I am”. 😳

The family had previously had no idea of his participation. 😱