I actually received this in the mail a while ago, but I wanted to try to figure it out on my own before posting it. Here's what I received in the mail from Mike (click for larger):
I've already figured out a lot of it (and found some secret messages in the list of words)... but I'm not going to give any hints yet, so you guys can work together to figure it out. If it turns out inside knowledge is needed from me (I think it may be in a couple of places), I'll chime in in the comments. Have fun!
All I need is to write a computer program to figure out the secret messages. It is just a simple string replacement with some human assistance. Programmers have an unfair advantage in a puzzle like this.
ReplyDeleteAh, classic vowel removal in the first picture.
ReplyDeleteAh yes. It all makes sense now.
ReplyDeleteYou're going to need a fork lift for your present, because if my deductions are correct, it's three tonnes of krill and a luminous vest.
I've not won that many puzzles.
I'm concerned about Jen. She didn't post on Halloween. I hope the unholy candy didn't get her. (http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/23723-the-danger-of-celebrating-halloween?showall=1) ROFL
ReplyDeleteNah, she's just acquired a life/got lain.
ReplyDelete"iT ReLLY FoRCeD Me To LooSeN uP" lead me to the realization that serenity, lament, feather, lady, summer, life, spy, memory, study, lion, rose, fairy, prince, block, butterfly, control, mother, manequin, medieval, Greek, orange, friend creation, indigo, perseverance, forbidden, always, flamingo, attack, flower, escape, dragon, eagle, fishing, strawberry, disco, and creek are all words used in titles of Jen's artwork. That's 37 out of the 100 words in the wonderword list. This could just be part of the puzzle's customization, or perhaps there's more significance. The associated letters DBWKFCIGIMHAYSUSTRAIGHEDRRSUQZEWTATUT might be an anagram, but it's beyond my ability to completely break it up into words.
ReplyDeleteErik
Yup, coders do have an unfair advantage (along with anyone on Linux who has a word list easily to hand!). With the aid of a little Python (http://paste.pocoo.org/show/147958/) the following's my effort:
ReplyDeleteDELICIOUS HANDS
DEMENTED BRAINCHILD
SHE HAS THE MOST PERSONALITY
BUNCH OF SAVAGES IN THIS TOWN
THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY IRONIC
SOLD IT TO AN ACQUAINTANCE
IT LOOKS LIKE AN OLD STORYBOOK
ITS TOO INTRIGUING FOR WORDS
IT REALLY FORCED ME TO LOOSEN UP
I WANT TO BE THERE RIGHT NOW
APPROX SEVEN HOURS
THE CARPET AND WALLS
ITS THE ANSWER TO ?AMEN/MAN/MEN? TOO
MOST PEOPLE ARENT CRAZY ENOUGH
HUMANS AND ELVES ARE VERY SIMILAR
BEAUTIFUL YET DANGEROUS
CREEPY IN LIKABLE WAY
IT LOOKS LIKE HE HAS A ?BOOK/BIKE/BEAK?
LOVE THIS ONE BECAUSE ITS SO CUTE
MOST OF THEM ARE FALLING APART
WE ARE OFTEN TORN
PLEASE DONT STONE ME
ARE YOU ALWAYS ON CRACK
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW
SHE WENT TO THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN