 Mystery: March 13, 2013 Issue [#5565] |
  Mystery
This week: Kryptos Edited by: Jeff  
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."
-- Carl Sagan
Mystery Trivia of the Week: Celestine Sibley, in addition to publishing nearly thirty books in her lifetime, was also a well known southern journalist and syndicated columnist. She wrote for the Atlanta Constitution for nearly sixty years, writing about everything from politics to key lime pie. She was one of the most enduring and recognizable southern names in journalism; her last column appeared July 25, 1999... a mere 21 days before she succumbed to cancer.
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KRYPTOS
Did you know one of the most enduring mysteries of cryptography is literally right outside the door to CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia? In 1990, American artist Jim Sanborn created a sculpture for the grounds of the Central Intelligence Agency which consists of four encrypted messages:
Even now, twenty-three years since its installation, only three of the four messages have been deciphered. Part of the difficulty comes from Sanborn himself admitting that some letters were omitted, a few others are incorrect, some have been displaced from their actual position, and one of the lines is one character too long. All except the last are intentional choices Sanborn admits to making. He created the encrypted messages with the help of a CIA crytopgrapher and has said that the fully-deciphered text of the statue will reveal and riddle within a riddle. Sanborn has given the statue a lot of thought... to the point where he's revealed a couple clues to help people solve the encoding... and has a contingency plan where someone else will be able to confirm the correct solution should he die before the fourth piece of the code is cracked.
While the NSA reportedly had a team of people who solved the first three portions of the sculpture as early as 1992, the most famous individuals credited with cracking the first three sections of the statue didn't do so until 1998 and 1999... almost ten years after the statue had been unveiled. All three of these attempts involved an incorrect translation of one of the sections.
For those of you who fancy yourselves codebreakers, there is a Yahoo! Group formed in 2003 that coordinates the work of over two thousand amateur and professional cryptographers attempting to decipher the fourth part of the statue. Sanborn has even given a couple hints, including that the answers to the first sections contain clues to the last section, and has even revealed that letters 64-69 in the fourth part can be deciphered as "BERLIN."
Think you've got what it takes to solve the fourth piece of a 23-year-old puzzle? 
Until next time,
-- Jeff
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I encourage you to check out the following mystery items which were nominated at "The Quills" earlier this month:
You don't have to have a twisted mind to enter this contest, but it helps!
This Campfire is created for the sole purpose of experimenting with character development and character interactions by mixing the worlds of Mr Midnight - Broken Faith Ops 's work in progress, "Broken Faith: The Awakening" /"Broken Faith: The Reckoning " and E~Humbled w/BestBlog in Quills 's work in progress, "Agent 38".
Lily's aim in life is to get through it. It's a small life, which suits her fine. No extremes, no complications, no pain, no surprises - that is, until she meets Jack. Suddenly her life is full of all the things she didn't want, including a bothersome but growing attraction to a man who is out of her league in global proportions.
Breanna needs help to find words associated with her job.
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Feedback from my last newsletter about the secret rooms and passageways:
Shannon  writes, "Awesome NL! I've always been intrigued by hidden rooms and passageways myself, and I think it all started in early childhood when I read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." Secret doors that lead to other dimensions (or even other rooms) are fantastical fodder for imagination, inspiration, and creativity."
Thanks, Shannon! I'm so glad you liked this newsletter! And I fondly remember C.S. Lewis' work as well, for all the possibilities of that magical wardrobe. 
Mrs. Nixie Clause  writes, "Hi, SoCal, Your newsletter jogged my memory of several hidden passages I've encountered. Ok, only three and one was only in my mind. I'll be looking into creating a story based on your suggestions and clever way of expressing your thoughts. You're an inspiration!"
That's very kind of you to say. I'm glad you enjoyed this newsletter!
Zheila  writes, "Hi SoCal, I read your "Secret Doors & Passage ways" is wimply amazing. I enjoyed reading it. Sincerely, Zheial"
Thank you very much!
DB Cooper writes, "WOW!!! You know what really creeps me out is that some sick killers/rapists do that for sinister reasons."
Yeah, there are all kinds of reasons for people to want secret rooms and hidden passageways in their house; I'm afraid that not everyone wants them just because they're cool. 
Gaby  writes, "Loved the story of the hidden room!!"
Thank you!
Mark Allen Mc Lemore writes, "That is awesome.
How come I enjoy reading these newsletters, always finding some great information within, and the last time I read a mystery was in grade school (Encyclopedia Brown)? Strange. Perhaps this is a mystery.
When I was younger I was intrigued by a run down farmhouse that was for sale in my neihborhood. I dreamed of buying it and making a staircase from the second floor to the basement, accessible by a bookcase/secret door at the top of the visible steps. I believe my fascination with secret rooms is because of a captains bed my dad, a master carpenter, built for me when I was 8 years old. It had steps leading up to the matress with 3 drawers on both sides of the steps. The best part of all was the space on the right side of the steps which went beneath them creating a tunnel which led BEHIND the both sets of drawers forming my own little secret room. It was amazing.
Anyways, till next time, great newsletter!
Mark A. McLemore"
Thank you very much for writing in and sharing!
jenlynn002 writes, "Of all the newsletter submissions this weeek this one caught my eye. I too have a fascination of secret passages, rooms and doors. I think it may be the element of surprise that a space existed within our proximity or just the secrecy of being able to enter and exit a space incognito. Whatever the reason they are an extension of being creative in architecture and maybe that is why we are hooked."
Very true. I imagine secret passageways and hidden rooms are probably great fun for architects to design.
Quick-Quill  writes, "My husband was a custom home builder and we saw many secret doors. One looked like an extra closet door opened to a spiral staircase down to the small exercise room. One in a hall panel that led to a small office between the living room and a hall powder room. Mostly just had bookshelves, a desk top and a small octagon window to let in some light. That one is my favorite."
Sounds like an interesting job! I bet it would be fun to try and figure out how to work a secret room or passageway into a building.
blunderbuss writes, "I know what you mean. Once I knew about priest holes and tunnels/passages as escape routes for people of various (usually) religious or political divides, I visited historic houses and buildings forever looking at rooms and exteriors for signs that they had been built in! "
I'm sure there are all kinds of wonderful passageways and secrets in old houses!
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