print unpack 'b8', pack 'b8', '01010101';;
01010101

print unpack 'b8', pack 'b8', 'babababa';;
01010101

print unpack 'b8', pack 'b8', "\x00\x01\x00\x01\x00\x01\x00\x01";;
01010101

print unpack 'b8', pack 'b8', "()()()()";;
01010101

print unpack 'b8', pack 'b8', "@?@?@?@?";;
01010101

print unpack 'b8', pack 'b8', 'dcdcdcdc';;
01010101