How Many Liveblogs Can We Get Onto One Page?!

Jan 20, 2008

How Many Liveblogs Can We Get Onto One Page?!

WRAP-UP!

As a favor to everybody who worked on the puzzle remotely, Death from Above is doing a live webcast of the wrap-up events that happen today at Noon EST. Hope you can watch!

http://dfa.mit.edu/stream/

*************************************************************************************

DONE.

Hey guys, thanks a ton for helping. It was an intense push there towards the end. I'm not sure if you could sense it from where you were, but it came right down to the wire. We were frantically solving puzzles as fast as we could and checking the blogs for "answers from the prefrosh ether" every 20 seconds. We tested almost every answer you guys suggested.

I'll post answers to the puzzles you guys worked on and some to puzzles I wasn't able to show you. I hope you all had a good time, I know I did (even though I've only gotten 3 hours of sleep since 9 AM on Friday (that's being awake 57 of the last 60 hours). For those of you who come here next year, you should definitely experience this hunt first hand, it's a completely new kind of experience!

Thanks again, more to come later!

NEW PUZZLE! POUR ALL EFFORT INTO THIS:

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Alien Species

A little bird told us that the suspect was seen attending a sci-fi convention. Perhaps one of these other attendees knows something. Geez, what kind of elaborate get-ups are those?

What Species Are These Star Trek Characters?!

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(11)

(12)

*************************************************************************************

TIME TO HELP ON A PUZZLE!!!

KEEP GOING!

UPDATE:

BENTO NATION and JAPAN were excellent guesses and we called both in. Unfortunately, both were wrong, and we are still working. KEEP GOING! Focus all of your efforts on Chimera. You're officially our guerilla prefrosh army, show the other teams what you're made of!

*********************************************************************************************************

Chimera

Yee-haw! Time to round up those islands!

We need as many ways to solve this thing as possible. Thanks!
*********************************************************************************************************

Matt, Laura, and Bryan have all blogged about Mystery Hunt, I want to blog too!

I'm going on 42 hours with 1.5 hours of sleep, a lot of caffeine, and mind-splitting puzzles. Honestly, these are the most ridiculous things you've ever seen! I'll post some afterwards because we're still competing, but they're devious.

The main reason for ANOTHER Mystery Hunt blog is this: It's all coming down to something, but what? Last night there was very little activity, but tonight there have been a ton of developments, communication with the coordinators, and a general feeling of getting kind of close. From what I've heard from my secluded area off the infinite, a lot of teams have dropped out due to the sheer insanity of this hunt, and I don't blame them. My team (Death from Above) is still chugging along with help from alums, remote solvers, and dozens of current students. It's a battle, a hunt to find the mystery!

-----

Aditi, here are the pictures you asked for:

Death From Above at the beginning of the Hunt

Here we are pondering our massive, wall-covering puzzle. It's like a command center here.

I'm trying my hardest to force this puzzle into submission.

My workstation as of now, rocking the dual monitors.

More to come as I have time. . .

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

Snively always has cool things to say.

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

please stop blogging

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

One more Mystery Hunt blog, and all the "most recent ones will be on the mystery hunt! Surely someone can do at least one more, right?

Posted by: Valerie on January 20, 2008

These mystery hunt blogs are awesome!keep the updates coming in.
I presume you are taking Course VI Intro classes;sure do blog about it someday.
Best of luck with your hunt!!

Posted by: Deusse on January 20, 2008

get some sleep snively!
and good luck

and honestly , it doesnt matter what you blog about , we're all going to read it anyway

please put up mystery hunt related pictures of frantic-mystery-solving-sleep-deprived-excited-happy-people! i want to see! =)

Posted by: Aditi on January 20, 2008

Good luck!

Posted by: Piper on January 20, 2008

Anon2 - That's not very nice.

Valerie - Actually, I was indeed planning on doing an entry to round-up the various photos, quotes, and other random pieces of insight I've accumulated over the weekend. So you may just get your wish!

Posted by: Paul on January 20, 2008

The wargame is crazy ! I'm looking at all the different game strategies to find one that matches the description given. I'm still looking. I found this page : http://www.historifigs.com/wargamers_corner/index.htm
By the way, maybe the last confrontation he did was death, since he died in 1988. You might want to try that : "death" as an answer.
I'm still on it !

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

S--NI--VE--LY YOU SURE CAN CATCH MORE THAN 1.5 HOURS OF SLEEP IN 2 DAYS!!
Phew!! You guys really have an exciting life. Good luck in the puzzles. Perhaps you could feature one of them so we could puzzle our minds.

Posted by: desmond on January 20, 2008

OMG! It looks like you are trying to crack the location of a hidden nuclear explosive in the MIT campus...but certainly NOT a coin

Btw Michael...what does the winning team receive?(other than...Im guessing they get to keep the coin?)

Posted by: Nihar on January 20, 2008

Yeah, enough blogs about the Mystery Hunt. Give the other bloggers their space.

Posted by: Anon on January 20, 2008

Snively - Thanks for blogging and keeping us cyber observers up to date!

Byran and Laura - Awesome jobs also!

Posted by: Chris T on January 20, 2008

So you're leaving Odd one out and Wargame ?

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

ummm this is probably completely unhelpful, but the only thing that I'm seeing is "birdyam" on the second row (which i suppose could be a chimeric-ish creature - bird body and potato head?!), of which both elements seem to have a connection to Easter Island (apparently there is some sort of indigenous legend involving a bird with a long beak cultivating the soil, holding a red yam, as the potato was an important part of land cultivation).

these puzzles absolutely befuddle me. in an exhilarating sort of way. thanks for all of the blogs on mystery hunt!

Posted by: sharon on January 20, 2008

I have found 'neatly', 'terribli', 'May', 'Abdul', 'did', and, assuming that the '3' means you have to insert 3 letters (I have no idea whether that is right) 'simpl[...]' in the upper left corner.
Maybe someone can make something useful of it.

Posted by: Matti on January 20, 2008

Oh, and I forgot 'fit', 'oil' and 'key' (last two backwards).

Posted by: Matti on January 20, 2008

This is all the words that I found.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5099/mhpuzzlepx5.jpg
Is this of any use ?

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

Oh I forgot "tin" diagonally the 4th letter starting from the back, in the first column.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

I noticed that there's a path you can trace. From the top left corner you can go (3 SPOTS) to arrive at 2, from there you can go two spots two ways, though the one going down is a dead-end, and the one going right has an e, convincing me its right. Will this help?

Posted by: Harish on January 20, 2008

Additionally, you've got 2 4s, 4 3s, and 6 2s, all even counts, and if you add the count with the number together, you get 6, 7, and 8. You may also notice 4*3=6*2.

I don't know, how much help this is either, but this one seems useful with the 6,7,8 deal. I guess I'm just digging out random patterns

Hope I'm useful!

Posted by: Harish on January 20, 2008

Interesting, on the 5th row, "oil" and "birr" are found backwards. "Birr" is a town in Ireland, which is another island. not quite sure how oil ties in, but according to wiki, 98% of Ireland's final energy demand comes from fossil fuels.

Posted by: sharon on January 20, 2008

Here's another one: wiki on chimera (genetics) "An analogy is two jigsaw puzzles cut using an identical cutter, but with different pictures. A single puzzle can be made out of the mis-matched parts, but the completed puzzle will show parts of both pictures."

I hope I'm not just spamming your blog

Posted by: Harish on January 20, 2008

Hm, Harish, you are making me rethink how to solve this...

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

I think the answer is ten.

Posted by: Julie on January 20, 2008

Is it legit to blog asking for help on a clue?

Posted by: Piper on January 20, 2008

If you figure that islands=numbers and round up=add then you add the numbers so the answer would be 32.

I know it seems way to easy but it is elegant(and most likely wrong).

Posted by: nick on January 20, 2008

I feel like the pathways would make sense in the 'round up those islands' clue. Pretending the length of rope from an 'island' (number) is the number itself, then you would throw the rope to the next 'island'. Maybe I'm overcomplicating things.

Posted by: Harish on January 20, 2008

Yeah but following that, where does it lead to ? Is the answer a letter ?

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

Heyyy! my comment went missing :S

anyway! thankyou for the pictures! it looks pretty intense.

work station , eh? =)

i wish, i wish, i wish i was there!

good luck!

PS.i'd try to help with the puzzle except i can barely keep my eyes open and i need sleep now!

Posted by: Aditi on January 20, 2008

It's one of the Nikoli puzzle types.

Good luck.

Posted by: Sam on January 20, 2008

So is the answer 42? Haha.

Posted by: Harish on January 20, 2008

Hey Sam great link ! I'm exploring this path.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

wow, looks fun

Posted by: Judy on January 20, 2008

I think it may be this kind of puzzle.

http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/number_link/

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

Actauly, I want to take that back, I think it may be this kind because it says that the continouos white parts are called an island.

http://www.nikoli.co.jp/en/puzzles/nurikabe/

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

So if you follow the rules of this puzzle maybe the white parts left will make a word?

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

Snively do you agree ? Or have you gone on another path.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

Look here.

I think I did solve it correctly. Now we have 'lammbentonationalise' and 'pedaydribredidfiquerribletywriteaccorkab'.

Posted by: Matti on January 20, 2008

Right Track.

Chimera. Two halves.

Posted by: Snively on January 20, 2008

ha ha, i solved it and i got the same:
lammbbentonationalise
i see:
BENTO NATION
aka- japan

Posted by: aprl on January 20, 2008

call it in, call it in!
it has to be right! its about islands!
bento are the little lunches you get in japan!

Posted by: april on January 20, 2008

@april

Awesome guess. Called it in, incorrect, but it looks very pretty. Keep going!

Posted by: Snively on January 20, 2008

I think on Matti's guess you can change it a little bit by changing the 3 on the top left corner to make and "L" instead of a line and change the four on the bottom left corner to be a line with the four at the bottom of the line. It may spell out something different.

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

Just did it and it spells out "lammabnftonationalie" dont think it spells anything elso out.

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

Just wanted to say that this http://www.wordsmith.org/anagram/index.html is an anagram solver. Maybe it could help you.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

You can't change the 3 in the top left to make an L because it will leave the square with a p solo, which doesn't follow the rules of a continuous black stream in nurikabe puzzles.

not to shoot you down or anything....

Posted by: april on January 20, 2008

I totally forgot about that, good eye.

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

@Isshak-If Death from Above finds the coin first, I tihnk you will deserve at least a recognition award!

Posted by: Edgar on January 20, 2008

LOL why ? I think everyone that helped should get recognition, and I did not actually find answers. More like I tried a lot.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

ok, ok, here's my new trail:
Outside japanese shrines are shishi, which combine elements of both the Korean "Koma-inu" (Korean dog) and Chinese "Kara-shishi" (Chinese lion). Could they be considered a kind of chimera?
Or maybe it is just the lion part "kara-shishi", as chimera traditionally in greek mythology have a lion's head.

Uh, i'll keep thinking. This still doesn't explain "yee-haw"

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

ok, better idea than above:

"A nue (鵺) is a legendary creature found in Japanese folklore. It has the head of a monkey, the body of a raccoon dog, the legs of a tiger, and a snake instead of a tail. It is sometimes referred to as a Japanese chimera."

thank you Wikipedia!

Posted by: april on January 20, 2008

Try calling in the Bermuda Triangle

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

Hm, lammbbentonationalise we have to find names of islands, or maybe the name of a chimera that was suppose to be on this island (like in a myth).
Still searching !

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

Oh too bad I don't watch that tv show, but wikipedia should help ! (going on it).

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

Hehe, that is true. I just threw that one out because you seem to be most enthusiastic non-MIT student working on the puzzles, but I agree with you, everyone deserves an award. Of course, the experience of working on the puzzles with amazing people is an award itself!

Posted by: Edgar on January 20, 2008

Any ideas for the Yee-haw in the clue. it is giving me the run around, it doesnt fit in.

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

Edgar, I completely agree with your last sentence !
Found this link for the star trek puzzle, but it will be a long search...
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/gallery.htm

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Star_Trek_races

Here is a list of all the Star Trek Species

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

Yeah I found this link too, but it doesn't have pictures.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

You have to look for the links in the descriptions of each creature. Most have pictures

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

1. Algolian(looks like)

OK this will take a while..

Hey Michael!! Check out this awesome link!

<a>http://cage.p.tripod.com/b.htm</a>

Just get a few members of DFA on it and youl crack this puzzle in no time...or just some time.

Posted by: Nihar on January 20, 2008

THE LINK ABOVE HAS PICTURES N DESCRIPTIONS (BY SPECIES) it holds the key!!!!

Posted by: Nihar on January 20, 2008

Okay, I think my browser has a problem, because I see no pictures, that's why I did not share the link. So I guess I'll have to continue with various galleries.
Snively, which one are you working on ?

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

#1 is a Kobheerian

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

I'm not really able to say which I'm working on due to other teams reading the blogs. We are working though, and you guys are helpful. Keep going . . .

Posted by: Snively on January 20, 2008

Could number 3 be a yridian ? (picture of one here http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/gallery/contimission/yridian2.jpg )
I am not sure.

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

#9 could be Bynar. Not sure, though.

I have had some more ideas for our islands, but none of them seemed to be leading to something.

Posted by: Matti on January 20, 2008

It is times like these that i wish i was a Star Trek Buff. Anyone know one by chance?

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

Hey, I sent you an email.

Posted by: Sam on January 20, 2008

I responded, go!

Posted by: Snively on January 20, 2008

Snively, did you try saying Arezzo as an answer ? I know it's easy, but we never know.
Well good luck people ! I'm stopping for now, it's late here. ^^ Good search !

Posted by: Isshak on January 20, 2008

just called in "arezzo" and it wasn't right, sorry, keep going

Posted by: Snively on January 20, 2008

this is intense.

Posted by: Agneta on January 20, 2008

hm... the boxes (gray lines and black dots) are the same ones used for the common optical illusion

Posted by: dan on January 20, 2008

OHHH
its 8x9

Posted by: 0 on January 20, 2008

Haha we got both those puzzles already. Keep trying...

Posted by: Harrison on January 20, 2008

#9 is a vidiian (although that particular one is technically a hologram)

Posted by: Alison on January 20, 2008

#2 is an Ankari

Posted by: Alison on January 20, 2008

So now that it is all over, what are the answers? It is really bugging me.

Posted by: Andrew on January 20, 2008

(1) is surely a Dopterian

Posted by: Nihar on January 21, 2008

(9) I thinks its Ktarian

Posted by: Nihar on January 21, 2008

Hey Michael...do post the answers soon. N has the coin been found? Where was it??

Posted by: Nihar on January 21, 2008

I've started working seriously on the Star Trek puzzle. Watch out for answers in some time...

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

Here's my strategy so that you guys can try it too:

1) Go to the list of Star Trek races on Wikipedia
2) Copy-paste the names on Google image search.

The process is long(30 mins or so), but you'll get the answers for sure!

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

hey! i wish death from above had won the mystery hunt =(

anyway...i have a question...
i made it to the second round of the national science olympiad and I'm organizing a huuuuge Model United Nations conference with the Rotary. These are both relatively new (but important) developments that didnt show up on my application. Should i mail the admissions office? Can i send them an email about this stuff (or am i being just plain paranoid?) ?

Posted by: Aditi on January 21, 2008

@ Aditi:

Qualifying for the second round is a good national distinction.Congrats! You must send it if they allow this, as it's only going to help you. (I too happen to have written that on my application, but last year's olympiads)

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

Added to that, I know someone at MIT who represented India at the astro internationals, the decision of which comes very late but I guess MIT admissions did consider it.

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

tanmay , yes i'll do that

where are you from?

Posted by: Aditi on January 21, 2008

India. Dehradun to be presise. 31E 78N to be even more presise!

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

oops! it's the second time I made a spelling mistake at MIT Blogs. "precise". Please excuse me on that. :O

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

Wow! Aditi and Tanmay! That is impressive... I wish I could take part in some of those competitions... sigh!!! stuck out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do... (larger sigh!!!)

Posted by: Anonymous on January 21, 2008

There's nothing to be sad about! If you're "stuck out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do", I am sure they will recognize it and judge you over a different aspect...

(that is one of the reasons why I love MIT)

Posted by: Tanmay on January 21, 2008

Aw man...you mean to tell me I missed a Star Trek puzzle yesterday? (Well, drum corps rehearsals are fun too...) It's too late, of course, but I'd venture to bet that most, if not all, of those pictures were taken from Memory Alpha, the largest Star Trek wiki.

Anyway, I love the 'command center' set-up your team was using. That's exactly the way I'd do it. Banks of computers, tons of wall space, and lots of people adding their input.

And I'm decided now--I am definitely coming up to Cambridge for next year's hunt. I've got a year to plan, so there's no reason not to.

Posted by: Matt, PSU '11 on January 21, 2008

Hm, the stream is not working for me. :/
Something about no framerate in the header. But even specifying one manually only makes the player quit. Dunno what's wrong.
Thanks anyway.

Posted by: Matti on January 21, 2008

Hi, I'm the author of the Star Trek puzzle (Alien Species), as well as several others. I'm glad you all are enjoying it!

And yes, most (but not all) of the pictures are from Memory Alpha. After this was noticed by the test-solvers, the revisions I made (which were for other reasons) avoided pictures from that site.

Your link to the species with pictures is nice! I almost wish I'd known about it when I was writing the puzzle -- though it probably would've made me try to avoid species that were listed there.

Posted by: MattZ on January 23, 2008

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