I don't think this was on UM, but it sounds of interest to UM fans:

Basically, some person or persons, part of a group called "The Orphanage," has been taking out ads every May Day in the Arizona Wildcat student newspaper since the early 80s. The ads are part of an on-going 'treasure hunt' of some kind, and the ads themselves feature 'clues' to a promised "prize" - whatever that is. The clues are in Greek, Latin, Chinese, mathematical equations and symbols - you name it.

Whoever is doing this is rich - the ads are always taken out in the most expensive locations in the newspaper ($1000+ range).

Some other person has a website devoted to the whole thing - http://www.maydaymystery.org/mayday/index.html. He has spent a lot of time working on the clues and swears that they do appear to lead to something-or-other. The website owner has also received a number of mysterious letters and even some phone calls from, apparently, the May Day Mystery Writer[s], containing more clues and cryptic statements. He has also received money from them, albeit only ~$400, in bills and gold coins.

Who knows what the writer is up to ... I doubt, somehow, that's it's some erudite billionaire waiting to hand over tons of cash to the one who proves themself intellectually superior, but, as I said, who knows. Whoever it is has spent decades and a lot of money and effort. A religious cult? A complete hoax? UM fans? The Circleville Letter Writer's other project? You decide!

And here's an article that seems to provide the most comprehensive summary of the whole thing:

http://www.explorernews.com/article/show/12395

Um, yeah. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, so there's not much mystery for me here. It's pretty clear that this one guy is behind the whole thing, and either he's a loon or thinks he's being really clever. The really sad part is that the guy who started investigating the whole thing has wasted countless hours of his life. :rolleyes:

The Circleville Letter Writer's other project? You decide!

Heh. That is a good one. Thanks for the chuckle. ;)

How about it is the Zodiac's other project? ;)

In all seriousness, I tend to agree with MysteryMachineGirl. Based just on your post, it sounds like it could be just a ruse to bring attention to the one person who both took out the ads and claimed he received correspondence from the ad writer. They are probably one in the same person.

If it can be shown they are NOT one and the same, I would say it is likely a professor (perhaps a math professor) at Arizona doing it. The fact it was published in a student newspaper (and has been since the 80's) leads me to the conclusion of someone who works at the university. The whole essence of the ads seems innocent and more like a practical joke that is done just for fun.

I will try and give the article you posted a gander and see if I change my mind.

Take care.

Ok I scanned the article and here is what interested me:

With an undergraduate degree in philosophy from the UA and a doctorate in theology from Drew University in New Jersey, Hungerford is a member of Mensa and a former member of a variety of mathematics, statistics and historical societies. His downtown office is littered with books on cryptography, history, languages, physics, medicine and a variety of other topics. While he possesses a vast collection of language-to-language dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedias and other references, Hungerford denies he has ever read the volumes in his office.

Is there any question as to who is behind it? It seems open and shut to me.

The fact that Hungerford is a Mensan should be clue enough. I would wager that this "Hungerford" character knows Gareth Penn, or is at least familiar with him. He has probably read Penn's book "Times 17." Cryptography nerds travel in small circles. ;)

Um, yeah. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, so there's not much mystery for me here. It's pretty clear that this one guy is behind the whole thing, and either he's a loon or thinks he's being really clever. The really sad part is that the guy who started investigating the whole thing has wasted countless hours of his life. :rolleyes:

It is kind of a waste, but on the other hand, the people who have tried to unravel this have at least learned a little about Greek, Latin, Chinese (simplified and traditional characters), Tibetan, Afrikaans, and some math theory and a fair amount of obscure history.

In fact, apparently some of the "clues" turn out to be rants about the Deplorable State of Education Today -- so it's quite possible that this has all just been a way to get people to study history and foreign languages!

Ok I scanned the article and here is what interested me:



Is there any question as to who is behind it? It seems open and shut to me.

The fact that Hungerford is a Mensan should be clue enough. I would wager that this "Hungerford" character knows Gareth Penn, or is at least familiar with him. He has probably read Penn's book "Times 17." Cryptography nerds travel in small circles. ;)

Yes, that seems likely. I hadn't found that article when I first posted.... It's too bad, it seemed at first like such a cool little problem.

Weird. I would still like to know if there is any actual meaning to the messages if they are decoded (even if it is something as mundane as a tired rehash of the Communist Manifesto or something, etc.), or whether they are, in fact, just unconnected jibberish. Very odd that someone would go to all this trouble when it clearly isn't "catching on" in any kind of way as a phenomenon. I could understand doing this, for example, in an effort to get on "Unsolved Mysteries." But, after 20 years without any significant media attention, you'd think the person or persons responsible would find a new way to amuse themselves.