FacilityJ [Solution] - "Catalyst (You Rang?)"

[ignatzmouse]

Here is my summary of the "You Rang?" puzzle. It makes a lot more sense when you cut out all the dead ends we went down

The original video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86cKFW2mV4E

Contains Morse Code:

-.-- -. .--. ---.. ...- -.-.

which decodes as:

YNP8VC

The URL http://tinyurl.com/ynp8vc resolves to http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/mis/301063692.html which says:

Walter says "hi."

Walter was as pleasant to deal with as he always is. He told me that we have been helping him to destroy “the cure.” He wouldn’t explain any more than that. I don’t even know what that means. Sure he’s had some issues in the past, but he can’t really be that crazy can he? I don’t know if I should even keep helping him or not. I do know that if they were after him, then they’re probably after me now that I have more vials of the stuff. I guess I should send it out to some of you who may be smarter than I am and can figure it all out. You can decide what to do with the vials. Just send the full address to my YT account like before. Include the word that you get from the code in this message, so that I know that you are clever enough to know what to do with the vials.

QVRUQ0NUQVRDQVRUQVRBQVRDQVRBVEFBQVRUR0FUQVRDQVRBDQo2KC1hKSA2KC1iKSA2KC1hKSAx
MigtYykgNigtYSkgMTIoLWMpIDYoLWEpIDEyKC0wKSA2KC1hKSA2KC1kKSA2KC1hKSAxMigtYykN
Cg0KYTogdGhlIHN0YXRlIHRoYXQgSZJtIGluDQpiOiB0cmF2ZWxlcnMgaGF2ZSBubyBvbmUgdG8g
Z28gaG9tZSB0bw0KYzogSZJ2ZSBoYWQgYSByb3VnaCB5ZWFyLCBidXQgSSBzdGlsbCBzbWlsZQ0K
ZDogdGhlcmUgbWF5IGJlIG1vcmUgdHJvdWJsZSBpbiBteSBmdXR1cmUgdGhhbiB0cmliYmxlcw0K
aHR0cDovL3d3dy5jcmVlYm9iYnkuY29tL3NvbmdzZm9yYXNtYWxsc3RlcmVvLmh0bWwNCg==

The last paragraph Base64 decodes to:

Code: Select all

ATTCCTATCATTATAATCATATAAATTGATATCATA
6(-a) 6(-b) 6(-a) 12(-c) 6(-a) 12(-c) 6(-a) 12(-0) 6(-a) 6(-d) 6(-a) 12(-c)

a: the state that I’m in
b: travelers have no one to go home to
c: I’ve had a rough year, but I still smile
d: there may be more trouble in my future than tribbles
http://www.creebobby.com/songsforasmallstereo.html

The DNA codons are:

Code: Select all

Isoleucine
Proline
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Isoleucine
Ochre
Isoleucine
AsparticAcid
Isoleucine
Isoleucine

The URL contains a playlist:

1. For Karina
2. You're In Love Again
3. My Sweet Skyline
4. How's It Goin', Wells?
5. The Ship Is Real
6. Sweet Like Worms
7. 6,000,000 Dead Punks Can't Be Wrong.
8. The Little Homie In My Tummy
9. White Amplifier 1956
10. He Kept Painting
11. Same As Always
12. If You Loved Anyone (Mary 2004)

plus a lyric sheet which is enough to answer the questions:

a: state (#6 Sweet Like Worms)
b: go home (#1 For Karina)
c: rough year smile (#4 How’s It Going, Wells?)
d: tribbles (#5 The Ship Is Real)

Substituting a b c d for 6 1 4 5 in the shifts:

Code: Select all

6(-6) 6(-1) 6(-6) 12(-4) 6(-6) 12(-4) 6(-6) 12(-0) 6(-6) 6(-5) 6(-6) 12(-4)

This fails to apply to the DNA codons, as 12 is out-of-range. But we got a hint from TJ19:

http://www.looperama.com/

and "looping" the DNA codons:

Code: Select all

Isoleucine
ProlineProlineProline
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
OchreOchreOchre
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
AsparticAcidAsparticAcidAsparticAcid
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine
IsoleucineIsoleucineIsoleucine

then applying the shifts gives:

Code: Select all

OMOOOOOCOOOO

A further hint from TJ19 said that the second shift should be 6(+1) rather than 6(-1) so now we have:

Code: Select all

OOOOOOOCOOOO

Swapping the 12(C) for the matching 12(-0) gives:

Code: Select all

6(-6) 6(-1) 6(-6) 12(-4) 6(-6) 12(-4) 6(-6) 12(C) 6(-6) 6(-5) 6(-6) 12(-4)
OOOOOOOOOOOO

and reading off the second component of each shift gives:

Code: Select all

6164646C6564

which is hex/ascii for:

Code: Select all

addled

which is the solution.

[trainer101]

I split this off into a discussion so it gets the attention it deserves.

[TOSG]

Excellent work on a tough puzzle!

I knew that it wouldn't be long before you cracked one of these, i-mouse.

[janesalteredstates]

Great work!

Are we now awaiting a drop?

[trainer101]

We are waiting on word from Traveler J about the next delivery. He asked for an address and Ziola volunteered to receive the next package.

[Ziola]

Thank you thank you thank you for the breakdown!! That makes it so much easier for my little brain to comprehend

And as of yet, I have not received confirmation from TJ that he will be sending me the package...

[ignatzmouse]

Excellent work on a tough puzzle!

I knew that it wouldn't be long before you cracked one of these, i-mouse.

Thank you. Of course, Deagol did most of the productive work on this one, I concentrated more on dead ends, and grabbing the glory right at the last minute

[Luminous]

Nice summary mouse, thanks. I'll link this to the Jpedia.

[janesalteredstates]

We are waiting on word from Traveler J about the next delivery. He asked for an address and Ziola volunteered to receive the next package.

Thanks Z!