[Puzzle] JayNineteen Simultaneous Updates [6/4/07]

[trainer101]

New Update!!

Thanks for the cap, cainam!

From the Greek poem "Ithaca", by Konstantinos Kavafis (1911)

Full text at

http://www.endless-greece.com/poetry/poem/ithaca.php

This might be a bit of a stretch, but perhaps we should consider the possibility of an upcoming drop at Cornell University? It is, after all, located in Ithaca.

Yes, I know, I know, different Ithaca. And he probably won't give another drop until we finish figuring out the last one. But I guess it's something to keep in the back of our heads.

Also: the capitalization of the poem is a bit goofy. Should we be looking for a coded message?

Profile Update!!!

[phipunk]

Using 0 --> dit and 1 --> da, the MySpace update gives us the morse code signal

2WSE2K

which takes us to a tinyurl redirecting to

http://cnj.craigslist.org/mis/345007660.html

which reads (carriage returns added for readability)

You Should Know What To Do With This -
Reply to: [email protected]
Date: 2007-06-04, 8:55PM EDT


MDcwMDUwMDU1MDYzMDUxMDQwMDY1MDUwMDUzMDYx
MDUxMDQwMDYyMDUwMDUzMDYyMDUxMDQwMDYyMDUw
MDUzMDYxMDUxMDQwMDY0MDUwMDUzMDYyMDUxMDQNCjAw
NjIwNTAwNTMwNjEwNTEwNDAwNjEwNTAwNTUwNjEwNTEwNDAw
NjYwNTAwNTUwNjIwNTEwNDAwNjQwNTAwNTUwNjAwNTEwNDAw
NjQwNTAwNTMwNjAwNTEwDQo0MDA2MjA1MDA1NTA2MDA1MTA0
MDA2NzA1MDA1MzA2MDA1MTA0MDA2MjA1MDA1MzA2MTA1MTA0
MDA2MjA1MDA1MzA2MjA1MTA0MDA2NTA1MDA1MzA2MjA1MQ0KM
DQwMDY0MDUwMDU1MDYzMDUxMDQwMDY1MDUwMDUzMDY0MDUx
MDQwMDY1MDUwMDUzMDYxMDUxMDQwMDcxMDUwMDUzMDYxMDU
xMDQwMDY3MDUwMDUzMDYyMDUNCjEwNDAwNjQwNTAwNTUwNjIw
NTEwNDAwNjEwNTAwNTUwNjEwNTEwNDAwNjIwNTAwNTUwNjMwNT
EwNDAwNjIwNTAwNTUwNjMwNTEwNDAwNjYwNTAwNTUwNjMwDQo
1MTA0MDA2MTA1MDA1MzA2NTA1MTA0MDA2NDA1MDA1MzA2MjA1M
TA0MDA2MjA1MDA1MzA2MDA1MTA0MDA2NzA1MDA1NTA2MDA1MTA
0MDA2MjA1MDA1NTA2NA0KMDUxMDQwMDYxMDUwMDUzMDYxMDU
xMDQwMDY0MDUwMDUzMDYyMDUxMDQwMDY2MDUwMDUzMDYxMD
UxMDQwMDYyMDUwMDU1MDYzMDUxMDQwMDYyMDUwMDUzMDYNC
jYwNTEwNDAwNjMwNTAwNTMwNjAwNTEwNDAwNjIwNTAwNTMwNjE
wNTEwNDAwNzEwNTAwNTUwNjAwNTEwNDAwNjIwNTAwNTMwNjEw
NTEwNDAwNzEwNTAwNTUwDQo2MzA1MTA0MDA2MzA1MDA1MzA2M
DA1MTA0MDA2MzA1MDA1NTA2MjA1MTA0MDA2MjA1MDA1NTA2MzA
1MTA0MDA2MjA1MDA1MzA2MjA1MTA0MDA2MjA1MDA1Mw0KMDYxM
DUxMDQwMDYxMDUwMDUzMDYxMDUxMDQwMDYxMDUwMDU1MDYx
MDUxMDQwMDcwMDUwMDU1MDYxMDUxMDQwMDYyMTQyMTYzMTY0
MTU3MDY0DQo=

[TOSG]

Nice work!

Base 64 ---> ASCII text:

07005005506305104006505005306105104006205005306205104006205005306105104006405005306205104
00620500530610510400610500550610510400660500550620510400640500550600510400640500530600510
40062050055060051040067050053060051040062050053061051040062050053062051040065050053062051
04006405005506305104006505005306405104006505005306105104007105005306105104006705005306205
10400640500550620510400610500550610510400620500550630510400620500550630510400660500550630
51040061050053065051040064050053062051040062050053060051040067050055060051040062050055064
05104006105005306105104006405005306205104006605005306105104006205005506305104006205005306
60510400630500530600510400620500530610510400710500550600510400620500530610510400710500550
63051040063050053060051040063050055062051040062050055063051040062050053062051040062050053
061051040061050053061051040061050055061051040070050055061051040062142163164157064

Octal ---> ASCII text:

8(-3) 5(+1) 2(+2) 2(+1) 4(+2) 2(+1) 1(-1) 6(-2) 4(-0) 4(+0) 2(-0) 7(+0) 2(+1) 2(+2) 5(+2) 4(-3) 5(+4) 5(+1) 9(+1) 7(+2) 4(-2) 1(-1) 2(-3) 2(-3) 6(-3) 1(+5) 4(+2) 2(+0) 7(-0) 2(-4) 1(+1) 4(+2) 6(+1) 2(-3) 2(+6) 3(+0) 2(+1) 9(-0) 2(+1) 9(-3) 3(+0) 3(-2) 2(-3) 2(+2) 2(+1) 1(+1) 1(-1) 8(-1) 2bsto4

http://tinyurl.com/2bsto4

[TOSG]

From the tinyurl (another craigslist):

GQZFPCZBTNSUIGPRMOYRKWWHVKUDPDALSFVRHYVYJUIJNMHYMYSFZMZELGSMZBAKKTDEMHSXDGFKFWVM
KUJUCOBQSTSOHRDZZVPENMEBWISUYUFSZSOSVFIIJDJETDFMYLWEHPYDVHLYJQNVGJFOFWMQSAIGMXMJ
YOJZEYKCMKMLWZHRTNIDNFYSWDPIUYJTWAVOCBCGVLNMEWNKLZVFTVLPAWQXGRPCVYGWFMTMZMRAWLOO
FIFBZLERNPRRRHZRMTMAOVYODSFDHVNMXIJGXZRWXMEUTTCIDCGLQNFDOTAICXNVGBOUYLSKCAMXRCGU
GAWDBGQDCQSVOTVVETQSFWCNNYGUEIGAVAPWNFSURWTGPVWILNHRNSRHZVFXXMKGYYMEMYHKWMGBBZWL
GPCPNHGBKNFZRZVUDUCWLYELPMYVGXMYXCAEZAGCJGLWCMIDWHXTTVKJWANZWMPCOHGDBETPDPACTBMC
LDCNFIVDZZZYMIAVMEZSDMDJQNHLKRBDUWPMGLAVZLBHOQPTFGERQJOKQSJQYJENYDJYUEFAOTUWFYMF
RNPXWGUSOOFEHDRKFEYGGLUTRSYIVPRGSUYTYLTEMJQDWMLRPMUWAXIYRGIDKAFSBCPRZOCXIDFQIOOD
LQGLSFVYBCRYDHILNKFWVEZOMGMNYZFTIIJKRVJEMNSZDTWKLYCMKUWWJMBKQCWHHRFZBTPEWFESNGZQ
RHLUFZISVMIBCKLXCWMZUEPGJRYDXHFADXGVAJSVLDVHYGGZZKTNCKWZLPEAKOMLCIOVXLRMUOYSSUPE
YAJCJNROCBCGVYNVEJATYDIWMMJGTWSQMPCACSTFSSZMZVTGCEOOSEJBZRKEPPRXNUMEGGVUFOCKDSOX
DIAZDMLPVZRPBZROTGCRDVILSNWXBCGBWDNMEBXHYHSGPHVKVCKSKRSDHGSDAMSCFGZTXZXMHJWNHPGY
LRNNVTRWWFWBRUTGCVWIHNURHORNGVYEVQKAYLZRZYFGNQTXVDWNCPWTGAXIKABGITMSQSEWEPEPWFYI
EXDRRECNVGKCJGFWJGBZDNVARVOJYWWXWKPWQHMJVCZWUPNVROGCYZWLFIPWQSTFMBNBZEZZMSDWONUS
XIBQYNITGLYMSUBJOQCTMGXIJAOKHFDOWCGLLMCYBEWABMLWFYIFYEJXCCQYMMZXJDRMZCFGZLUPISFI
CWYTSUWTYPTLZDQZSOYPVTHDGDMYIGGHKNSLOTCAIICKBWJUCIQXJDARLORYDPPPWOIJRKFYZRFSGIZN
UGZVMBJIRTJKZJWXKNDKHYIFTHQNLMFQWCWOHRJVBVPGNMGFNMZOADFLBZKSEMGICMJEGWFMLEPKNVYQ
XNFEJQTECPSVFDZQSCZGTEMJCOQTNYGTKITYCMOVTNRMWSFSJUJISESTWNPOGOPKTSHZNJURHDVJZVPN
GQQXMVJAIYGDZSTMTZTGWLIUSCJKZRKNTYIRRUMNMPMASXWIJFSQBVWZDZLNXZTPBVEQZTAPDEGLSHFX
KCCOYZAVKKOHYFLKLNVGVYXSGYWJHCWFGDZCMAZZEMZFFJCGNWGYLIPJOTIJNSQULUTIPRDVLLDRHMYH
ZEHGODIAHYMRGEYXNDCBOQYNARPTNNGOBJZMPVVUZYVDRWEJWSFVGEKYXIAEVTXLJTLDPGBZFAOTKOBA
YNAZCMVPOHZFOIVPHYAVXXGCSZWLFPPDXBVFOKAXZEBBKSMJUGHYXIBDLNIZINEZZLXHIDJZOZERSHVG
HOWHPCXNHQJWHRWHIVLCLYZYALPTWGOYOSBENXEKBEFGGCSPIFYIEPRCJUCMECTRIFQQQSLIPZUFCXIH
PCZUTHZYIALRIBCKIJFOEKUZLQANSFPADPRCFHKCRMYWTRBOZMZESIBTMBNOTMJGMNSZKTWQLYIMKOQA
COFDWTSHHLFVFZVXNSKZWZBOYHFUFZBQIFZILMPKAWMTYRYKJPYZBNYAJDTETPZVHJZUYGMZMGZACKQV
LYEGMKVSCIHIXRPQWSFZSHJEURQCDJRSAILXZSNTEDWTYXEDZVPGGQWZZPCGCYADZSVSVVRCCNBHOEFO
TLKRTWVRLOMRITZUOVCOWMFZDVAMXGPPBZTWBZEHVGGPBEGPWHJXOCGKWZATKOBOEHLXLJTKVCKYEYQF
HCSWGQSCFCMMXTQMLWYPACZURVTAOTRWWOQDNNCZCPFVYRBVJSRJMCYXODBGYYTEMAYGADCVBDCRGVYT
THKKKAZZVZTSXSCFRYGJCOFCGKMEXECEMTXCQCLJCZKZWNBCTOBAPAWQCQRYHAZWBEMYBYHVXOGCLDPR
FVIWXFVYOIWOIESSKSQFOPDUGPODUNIMGNYVSLOHBDLMFIGVWJOGUFDHCCXRYQCCHLDABZLCFCILELCR
WCOSFFSGHZLMZILGGJUNVBYPVCYCSUPZYCMLIJMZQMYRITQJTXGYPCMBTABSKTJRGOCXKDJOVKHQLDAL
LSRYUYVYJQOLLMHCMYBSZIZNYGFZGIABTMDGMNSQMGJDYWEFTHJNPOSKSASHULFTSZIXNSXFUMSUYBFU
ZBIQCFIBPQLGTDOTLRYEJPLZXHFYJXPCCJFOFJZHUTGGTGTJWIQZEPEGDOMLPMHPTLVDWMHZJDPVLRST
FHIFGBLXVYAVLWNRHDCDMMLPTWSXMVJTCLCWFSTFVVRCCLIUOVWKVNEETCIXLQMEINVWSBPBFFMDBIUV
ZZJTBMXWBVRQMGGIBEILJJWXOTCIWDAVGBVHYLLKJNMGVPELXYSJHASWGQBESTVZXMQFFFWNJCZURITH
XTVWAMQBLWCIPVJELEUPJOAHGEYXVKBCLUVEZEHEAMAXVQYNCRYGGAGOKJZMRMZYZYVDLPEPYSFCKEQE
TECRVAGLWAYFPIKZWAXCTVIJWANQCMVYONIFOITWUCNEXVGVYDYRHIIFDBMYSONVGXZZKSMFQTDLXROD
UAVZIERMSLOAB

What a mess. What now?

[phipunk]

That's quite a freq. show.

So apply some frequency analysis!

[TOSG]

That's quite a freq. show.

So apply some frequency analysis!

I tried, briefly, and didn't get anywhere. Deagol is WAY better than me at that stuff, though, so maybe he will come up with something.

Or maybe someone else will!

[phipunk]

That's quite a freq. show.

So apply some frequency analysis!

I tried, briefly, and didn't get anywhere. Deagol is WAY better than me at that stuff, though, so maybe he will come up with something.

Or maybe someone else will!

Yeah, the deagol machine ought to lend some insights.

In the meantime, perhaps there's a clue right under our noses

The Key to Knowledge is Understanding

As in the vigenere key?

I tried applying "understanding" to that big mess up there, and got nothing good. Also tried "knowledge". Even tried decrypting "knowledge" with the key "understanding", and using that as the key: still garbage.

Expert assistance is required.

[phipunk]

From the tinyurl (another craigslist):

Just noticed that the craigslist category is "missed connections". (Location is, as expected, central New Jersey.) Jay told cainam that we might need to review past clues. The YouTube update includes the line

To understand the future, look to the past.

which, while thematically consistent, is not part of the poem "Ithaca".

There's a big arrow pointing us to the history books. Good thing we've got the wiki and forums!

[Aja]

Since I'm not good with frequency analysis and the like, I'll try to help out with the little stuff.

Also: the capitalization of the poem is a bit goofy. Should we be looking for a coded message?

The uppercase letters read HJMSMWPJYHMPPTFTMPCAESPASPAECTLLATWK if anyone cares.

Octal ---> ASCII text:

8(-3) 5(+1) 2(+2) 2(+1) 4(+2) 2(+1) 1(-1) 6(-2) 4(-0) 4(+0) 2(-0) 7(+0) 2(+1) 2(+2) 5(+2) 4(-3) 5(+4) 5(+1) 9(+1) 7(+2) 4(-2) 1(-1) 2(-3) 2(-3) 6(-3) 1(+5) 4(+2) 2(+0) 7(-0) 2(-4) 1(+1) 4(+2) 6(+1) 2(-3) 2(+6) 3(+0) 2(+1) 9(-0) 2(+1) 9(-3) 3(+0) 3(-2) 2(-3) 2(+2) 2(+1) 1(+1) 1(-1) 8(-1) 2bsto4

That key has 48 shifts, so I think we're looking for something 48-letters long to amino-acidize (that's a verb, I promise!) and plug into our decoder.


If I come up with anything else I'll add it here.

[phipunk]

Octal ---> ASCII text:

8(-3) 5(+1) 2(+2) 2(+1) 4(+2) 2(+1) 1(-1) 6(-2) 4(-0) 4(+0) 2(-0) 7(+0) 2(+1) 2(+2) 5(+2) 4(-3) 5(+4) 5(+1) 9(+1) 7(+2) 4(-2) 1(-1) 2(-3) 2(-3) 6(-3) 1(+5) 4(+2) 2(+0) 7(-0) 2(-4) 1(+1) 4(+2) 6(+1) 2(-3) 2(+6) 3(+0) 2(+1) 9(-0) 2(+1) 9(-3) 3(+0) 3(-2) 2(-3) 2(+2) 2(+1) 1(+1) 1(-1) 8(-1) 2bsto4

That key has 48 shifts, so I think we're looking for something 48-letters long to amino-acidize (that's a verb, I promise!) and plug into our decoder.


If I come up with anything else I'll add it here.

Hmm, that would take 144 base pairs, which is also 12*12. If anyone sees a 12 by 12 square hidden somewhere, take note!

[Luminous]

I tried the letters Aja extracted from the poem

HJMSMWPJYHMPPTFTMPCAESPASPAECTLLATWK

to vigenere decrypt the gobbledygook from Craigs list and got - you guessed it, more gobbledygook!

ZHNNDGKSVGGFTNKYAZWRGEHHDVUZNKPASMZHAPJGXYTAPFVJXFNMNXXEHODMHMAGIASTMOWNWXTSTAGD
MNXFNVWXGEQODZOZHGPALTTQWPWKRLTANWZJXYWTUKELHODMUTHEPAYZTOANJXRLZATWTAXHUTWRXEHQ
MZHZAGVCUVMHUGWGTUMTGWMAKHAZWRXEHHQVQMAGRTYMMHNGJGKUTCPFTNEFUVATXRUHQTOTNXPASTZO
NTFXXSTGNWVHKYNZAXXRQOMZOZAKVGLMTQUGFKRSVTTJTAGYWTUTERQUQMOTNEICUMMUUTDKKLMTPJVJ
GHATUXELQUDMQMJGPALZTHANJGRUMTGWTHELNMWKKNHODZHZNGVCYZMONGDXTUVGGJMAKFWZWTKRUQKT
UTNGPAUMVUAGFKTUZCNWTJEHNTNKGEQOQTOMNERTLZZHNTDKKSVTPDVJELNVUTEROOKTUVHXRTLTVUAN
WKXUTTTDVHKYUTARKLOHDTHZJEVTYVMUWPDXRSVCNWZHKYATNRENOQDZQZNGRASVMHUPWXTLZAPDTJKF
NVAXERUOMVUTHKVAYVMOUPFKTLMTGWMNGFWTUTEEUUQZUTAGPTYMTOWGFKTUMTTDMJKYNZAXELQQQZOZ
JXVASMZOUTFGRLTCPDTHGLUVARKNUHQTQTJGPCYTMUWPWKKSZCNDMNKHUTWRENUHDZQZJEPAUMTHNNDG
KYZCTDTJXFWMNRGEQHKZQMAGRCYZVOUPDEKLTAGDZHGYAZUKKROUQVUZHXPASZMHAPDKXSVCNFMAGYAV
ATXNUUMVQMAGRGYVMUAPWKXLMTNWMNGYATNRELHQDZUTNGRGYMZOAPJXXYZTPWVNGLAMUKGLHHQVOZJE
RTYZZUWPDKRLZGGDTNGHWMWTGRHODVUMHKITSMVHUPDGXSVGTJZHKYWTAXGLOQDTHZNEIGSTVUUNDXRY
TCNJTAGLWMARKLHOQZHZJGICSVMUUGWERYVAGWZNXFUVNXXNOUKVQTHKITLTVHWNWEKSMAPWMAELUMNX
EEHHKVQVJKVTLZTHUNWGRYTANDZJGHWTURELQOQZOTNEITYMTHUNJGRSTTNWMAEFUMNXXLOOMZHMHEIA
LMMHAGWERSTTGFZJKYNTURXEHHDZHMHEPTUTZQNPDXKLMTGDTJGFUMUXKNQUKTOMJKVCSTTONPFGKLTT
NDTAGFUTUXELHOQVQVNEVALTZUAGWKRYMGGWZAXHWTAKXEUUKTQTHKPGLVVOWGDXKSTATDTJKYAZUTXN
QOKVUMJEPAYZZQANDERSVCTWVAEYWTAXKNUODZUVJGPCLTVUNTDETUTTPDVJGFUTNTELUHDMHMAKVGYM
VUUTJXXUVGGDTHKHUVNRELHQQZOTJGRTSTTUATDKTUVCPJTAXYUZUXGEHUKVUZNKPASZVUUNFKKYZCTD
ZHEFAZURKRUOKZOTHKRGSTTUANJGXYZCTFMHKLAVATXRUQKTUMNXPGUZZHWNFKTLZCTFZAEFWVUTGLQO
MVQZJGVCYVMHUNWKTYVCTFMHGFAZATKNUHKTOTNKPTUMTUAGJERYTTPFMAXYNZUKELHQDVOMNERCSTTO
NPFGKLTAPJMNELNMNKGRHHMVOVAKPGUZMQUTDGTUVGGDZHEFUZUKGLOOQZOMJXICLMZOANWGTLMTGWMA
GYAVATKEOODVHZJXVCLMZQUNDGRSTANDTJGFWVATXLQQKZQZNXVGLMMUNGWKTUZGNWVHELUZWKENQOKV
HVAXITLVVUUNJKKSTCGJZJXYWTATEROUMZQTNEIAUVTOUGDGKYMTPWMJXFAMAKERQQQMOZAXPGYVVOWP
DGKLVANJTHGYWMAKERQOMVUVJXPCSMTQWGFKTLVTTFMHEYWVNXXEOQMTUMNKRTYVMUWPDKKYZCTDMHEL
NVAKKEQHDTQVNKVTLZZOWGFERYTCTDMHKYNTWTKROHKTUZJKRAYVZUNPJKXUMGNDVNKLAZAKXNUHQVOV
HGPGUVVOAPWXXYTGPJTHGLUVWKENOQMZOTJXVAYTMOWPWETSZCTWZHKHNTNXEROOKZQZJGPCYVMHWPFK
RSZGTDZHEFAZWXKLQOQZHTAGRGYMTOAPJKTSZGTWVNKFUVUXKLUOQVUVHGVAYZZOAPWXTUTGTJZNEFUV
ATGEUUDTHVAXIALTZHWPWKKUZGTWMAGLWVUTGEQHQTQMAKPGUZMQANWXKLMGGJTAKHNVAKGLUUQZUZJK
VAYVVHUGJKRSTANFZJGFAVURGRQUQVQMAXITSVZUNGFGKYZCPWMAXLWMAXGNHHDMUVAGPCSMZHUNWKKY
TGGWTNGYWTWKGLHHKZUVHGRCUTZUWGWXRUTCGWMHXLWMNTGRUQDVUMHXVTLZMUNTJERLMGGJTNGLATNR
ENOODMHVHGPCSZZOUNFEXUMAGJTJGFNZUKXLQUMVOTNGIAUZMOUGDGXSVTPDVAEYUZAXGLUODVHMJKPA
LZVONPJGXUZCNFVNXFWZNTXNUOQZOTAXRTSVMUWGFXXLMAPWVAXYAVNRGLQHQTQTAKITLZMUUTWKRSTC
NFTHEYWMAXGNHOMTHZJERALVVOUNJETSVATWTNKYWMURENOQKTOZAXPGLZMHNTWETSZTPDVHXHAMNKGE
QODMUMJXRGLVTHNNFKRSMTPFMNGFAZUKEEQHQZOMJGPCYTTUWGWGTUTTTJMNEHAMWRGNUUDMQMHKPTSV
VHUTJXXSZCGFMNKYUVWTXNHOQMQTHKVCUMTHUTWKRYMCTWTAXFWZARGEUUMVUMJKITLMTQUNFKKUZTTD
VAKLATURENQQDZUVNXIAUVVOUPWXRSMCTFVAXLWTATENOHMVQVJXITUZVQUTFXXYVGGDTAELWZURKLUU
MVQZJERCYTMQAPFGKLVCPDTJELNMATKNOUMVHZHEIGYVZOUGJKTYVTGFZJXYAZNREEOOKZQVJKRTLVZU
WTJKTLMTGWMAX

[deagol]

We got DNA! ... with a little bit of luck, some frequency analysis, minimal guesswork, and of course, the always helpful (and suspicious ) nudge by Lum, I got the DNA sequence.

I tried the letters Aja extracted from the poem

HJMSMWPJYHMPPTFTMPCAESPASPAECTLLATWK

to vigenere decrypt the gobbledygook from Craigs list and got - you guessed it, more gobbledygook!

Code: Select all

ZHNNDGKSVGGFTNKYAZWRGEHHDVUZNKPASMZHAPJGXYTAPFVJXFNMNXXEHODMHMAGIASTMOWNWXTSTAGD  
MNXFNVWXGEQODZOZHGPALTTQWPWKRLTANWZJXYWTUKELHODMUTHEPAYZTOANJXRLZATWTAXHUTWRXEHQ
...

Decrypt again with key: "To understand the future, look to the past."

Code: Select all

GTTAACTACGTCAGGTGGCACTTTTCGGGGAAATGTGCGCGGAACCCCTATTTGTTTATTTTTCTAAATACATTCAAATA
TGTATCCGCTCATGAGACAATAACCCTGATAAATGCTTCAATAATATTGAAAAAGGAAGAGTATGAGTATTCAACATTTC
CGTGTCGCCCTTATTCCCTTTTTTGCGGCATTTTGCCTTCCTGTTTTTGCTCACCCAGAAACGCTGGTGAAAGTAAAAGA
TGCTGAAGATCAGTTGGGTGCACGAGTGGGTTACATCGAACTGGATCTCAACAGCGGTAAGATCCTTGAGAGTTTTCGCC
CCGAAGAACGTTCTCCAATGATGAGCACTTTTAAAGTTCTGCTATGTGGCGCGGTATTATCCCGTGTTGACGCCGGGCAA
GAGCAACTCGGTCGCCGCATACACTATTCTCAGAATGACTTGGTTGAGTACTCACCAGTCACAGAAAAGCATCTTACGGA
TGGCATGACAGTAAGAGAATTATGCAGTGCTGCCATAACCATGAGTGATAACACTGCGGCCAACTTACTTCTGACAACGA
TCGGAGGACCGAAGGAGCTAACCGCTTTTTTGCACAACATGGGGGATCATGTAACTCGCCTTGATCGTTGGGAACCGGAG
CTGAATGAAGCCATACCAAACGACGAGCGTGACACCACGATGCCTGTAGCAATGGCAACAACGTTGCGCAAACTATTAAC
TGGCGAACTACTTACTCTAGCTTCCCGGCAACAATTAATAGACTGGATGGAGGCGGATAAAGTTGCAGGACCACTTCTGC
GCTCGGCCCTTCCGGCTGGCTGGTTTATTGCTGATAAATCTGGAGCCGGTGAGCGTGGGTCTCGCGGTATCATTGCAGCA
CTGGGGCCAGATGGTAAGCCCTCCCGTATCGTAGTTATCTACACGACGGGGAGTCAGGCAACTATGGATGAACGAAATAG
ACAGATCGCTGAGATAGGTGCCTCACTGATTAAGCATTGGTAACTGTCAGACCAAGTTTACTCATATATACTTTAGATTG
ATTTACCCCGGTTGATAATCAGAAAAGCCCCAAAAACAGGAAGATTGTATAAGCAAATATTTAAATTGTAAACGTTAATA
TTTTGTTAAAATTCGCGTTAAATTTTTGTTAAATCAGCTCATTTTTTAACCAATAGGCCGAAATCGGCAAAATCCCTTAT
AAATCAAAAGAATAGCCCGAGATAGGGTTGAGTGTTGTTCCAGTTTGGAACAAGAGTCCACTATTAAAGAACGTGGACTC
CAACGTCAAAGGGCGAAAAACCGTCTATCAGGGCGATGGCCCACTACGTGAACCATCACCCAAATCAAGTTTTTTGGGGT
CGAGGTGCCGTAAAGCACTAAATCGGAACCCTAAAGGGAGCCCCCGATTTAGAGCTTGACGGGGAAAGCGAACGTGGCGA
GAAAGGAAGGGAAGAAAGCGAAAGGAGCGGGCGCTAGGGCGCTGGCAAGTGTAGCGGTCACGCTGCGCGTAACCACCACA
CCCGCCGCGCTTAATGCGCCGCTACAGGGCGCGTAAAAGGATCTAGGTGAAGATCCTTTTTGATAATCTCATGACCAAAA
TCCCTTAACGTGAGTTTTCGTTCCACTGAGCGTCAGACCCCGTAGAAAAGATCAAAGGATCTTCTTGAGATCCTTTTTTT
CTGCGCGTAATCTGCTGCTTGCAAACAAAAAAACCACCGCTACCAGCGGTGGTTTGTTTGCCGGATCAAGAGCTACCAAC
TCTTTTTCCGAAGGTAACTGGCTTCAGCAGAGCGCAGATACCAAATACTGTTCTTCTAGTGTAGCCGTAGTTAGGCCACC
ACTTCAAGAACTCTGTAGCACCGCCTACATACCTCGCTCTGCTAATCCTGTTACCAGTGGCTGCTGCCAGTGGCGATAAG
TCGTGTCTTACCGGGTTGGACTCAAGACGATAGTTACCGGATAAGGCGCAGCGGTCGGGCTGAACGGGGGGTTCGTGCAC
ACAGCCCAGCTTGGAGCGAACGACCTACACCGAACTGAGATACCTACAGCGTGAGCTATGAGAAAGCGCCACGCTTCCCG
AAGGGAGAAAGGCGGACAGGTATCCGGTAAGCGGCAGGGTCGGAACAGGAGAGCGCACGAGGGAGCTTCCAGGGGGAAAC
GCCTGGTATCTTTATAGTCCTGTCGGGTTTCGCCACCTCTGACTTGAGCGTCGATTTTTGTGATGCTCGTCAGGGGGGCG
GAGCCTATGGAAAAACGCCAGCAACGCGGCCTTTTTACGGTTCCTGGCCTTTTGCTGGCCTTTTGCTCACATGTAATGTG
AGTTAGCTCACTCATTAGGCACCCCAGGCTTTACACTTTATGCTTCCGGCTCGTATGTTGTGTGGAATTGTGAGCGGATA
ACAATTTCACACAGGAAACAGCTATGACCATGATTACGCCAAGCTACGTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGCAGATCTTCGAA
TGCATCGCGCGCACCGTACGTCTCGAGGAATTCTACTGCTCTGTTACTCTTTGCTACACTGACATGTTTGTGAGTGAAAC
ACAAATCTGGCCTACATGCACATCCAAAGACACAGTAGGTCTAAACACAAAGTTAGTGTTTGTACAGTCACATCGTTTCT
CATTGTCTCGTCATTACGAATTCCTGCAGGATATCTGGATCCACGAAGCTTCCCATGGTGACGTCACCGGTTCTAGATAC
CTAGGTGAGCTCTGGTACCCTCTAGTCAAGGCCTATAGTGAGTCGTATTACGGACTGGCCGTCGTTTTACAACGTCGTGA
CTGGGAAAACCCTGGCGTTACCCAACTTAATCGCCTTGCAGCACATCCCCCTTTCGCCAGCTGGCGTAATAGCGAAGAGG
CCCGCACCGATCGCCCTTCCCAACAGTTGCGCAGCCTGAATGGCGAATGGCGCTTCGCTTGGTAATAAAGCCCGCTTCGG
CGGGCTTTTTTTT

I tried doing the protein > decoding dance, but the first dozen letters got me gibberish. Maybe we have another cipher, or more likely we need to cut this one or use a different frame than "5'3' Frame 1."

I'll try PMing Jay, but TOSG, now's your turn to be number (I)!

[phipunk]

This might be a bit of a stretch, but perhaps we should consider the possibility of an upcoming drop at Cornell University? It is, after all, located in Ithaca.

Yes, I know, I know, different Ithaca. And he probably won't give another drop until we finish figuring out the last one. But I guess it's something to keep in the back of our heads.

That seems pretty likely to me. I'll ask Jay if he's got plans to head to upstate New York the next time I send him a note.

[phipunk]

We got DNA! ... with a little bit of luck, some frequency analysis, minimal guesswork, and of course, the always helpful (and suspicious ) nudge by Lum, I got the DNA sequence.

I tried the letters Aja extracted from the poem

HJMSMWPJYHMPPTFTMPCAESPASPAECTLLATWK

to vigenere decrypt the gobbledygook from Craigs list and got - you guessed it, more gobbledygook!

Code: Select all

ZHNNDGKSVGGFTNKYAZWRGEHHDVUZNKPASMZHAPJGXYTAPFVJXFNMNXXEHODMHMAGIASTMOWNWXTSTAGD  
MNXFNVWXGEQODZOZHGPALTTQWPWKRLTANWZJXYWTUKELHODMUTHEPAYZTOANJXRLZATWTAXHUTWRXEHQ
...

Decrypt again with key: "To understand the future, look to the past."

Code: Select all

GTTAACTACGTCAGGTGGCACTTTTCGGGGAAATGTGCGCGGAACCCCTATTTGTTTATTTTTCTAAATACATTCAAATA
TGTATCCGCT...TTCCCAACAGTTGCGCAGCCTGAATGGCGAATGGCGCTTCGCTTGGTAATAAAGCCCGCTTCGG
CGGGCTTTTTTTT

I tried doing the protein > decoding dance, but the first dozen letters got me gibberish. Maybe we have another cipher, or more likely we need to cut this one or use a different frame than "5'3' Frame 1."

I'll try PMing Jay, but TOSG, now's your turn to be number (I)!

NICE! Did you try BLASTing it? There are 991 triples by my count (2973 total bases), so we're going to have to winnow it down considerably to get the 48 proteins we're looking for.

[deagol]

NICE! Did you try BLASTing it? There are 991 triples by my count (2973 total bases), so we're going to have to winnow it down considerably to get the 48 proteins we're looking for.

I did, but I have no idea what I'm doing or what I'm looking for, and there's so many ways to search.

http://130.14.29.110/BLAST/

I clicked on "nucleotide blast" and I think I looked for human DNA and it found something near the end of the sequence that matched a bit of chromosome 5, I think. No idea what's up with that.

Searched again now against the mouse genome, and found a big chunk matching chromosome 12 of mice.