2011 Mystery Hunt

[Suspence]

CONNOR MACLEOD is correct.

We've already started on the next one:
Everybody's Got To Be Somewhere - http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/11/puzzles/world1/everybodys_got_to_be_somewhere/
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

The missing one from gftt's list is Santa Fe, NM.

Baltimore: I love this city, and I'm going to show everyone what I can do! (6 / 5,8)
Dublin: This city is more interesting than anything you could find in drama or literature! (5 / 6,3)
Atlantic City: We can run away from all of our troubles here! (6 / 6,6)
London: This city is one of a kind! (7 / 7,4)
Memphis: This city is a part of me. (2 / 4,7)
Natick, MA: I just want to take one last drive around this old neighborhood before I die. (6 / 7,4)
Manchester: I like to imagine myself as a famous film director. (2 / 6,6,8)
Padua : I'm here to find a rich woman! (4 / 4,6)
Paris: I guess the dress I got from here might not be so unique after all. (2 / 8,10)
Siracusa: I can't wait to get back home here! (3 / 10)
Brooklyn: My buddies and I agree—this is a heck of a city! (1 / 4)
Cuttyhunk, MA: My boyfriend dragged me here for an incredibly boring vacation. (5 / 6,7)
Denver: I'm so impressed by all the high-class people here! (1 / 5,5)
Venice: I love flirting with the frilly, silly ladies here! (7 / 8)
Vatican: My boyfriend told his wife I was calling him from here. (4 / 5)
Barcelona: One time my boyfriend talked me into missing a flight here—big mistake. (1 / 5)
Jerusalem: People here don't understand the truth about power. (3 / 5)
Ho Chi Minh City: We were here near the end of the war, and my buddy really needed to get laid. (3 / 4) -> Miss Saigon?
Toledo: I don't think those guys were real pastry chefs, but they were great backup dancers! (1 / 5)
Santa Fe: I think this city might be a nice place to open up a small business. (9 / 3,7)
Bangkok: I didn't find the red-light district here very interesting. (3 / 7,7)
Kansas City: This city has reached the ultimate level of technological and cultural sophistication! (1 / 4,6)
Amarillo, TX: I thought when I left this city that anything was possible. (1 / 4,8)
Marietta, GA: This is the town where that poor girl grew up. (9 / 4,6)
Boca Raton, FL: I found some great real-estate investment opportunities here; let's get in on the ground floor! (1 / 6,6)
Hannibal, MO: The best baseball player in the history of the team came from here! (8 / 6,6) -> refers to Joe Hardy from Damn Yankees
Buenos Aires: Arriving here, I'm ready to make it big! (1 / 3,6)
Chicago: This city is the pride and joy of the whole state! (1 / 5,7)
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt]

[SuperSlug]

Might be the character that sings it; these 2 work that way (as far as letter counts):

1 I love this city, and I'm going to show everyone what I can do! (6 / 5,8)
Baltimore
Hairspray - "Good Morning Baltimore" – Tracy Turnblad

26 The best baseball player in the history of the team came from here! (8 / 6,6)
Hannibal, MO
Damn Yankees - "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal, Mo." -- Gloria Thorpe
_________________
Some people are lost in the shuffle. I'm shuffling along with the lost.

[Suspence]

As you said, Padua seems to point to Taming of the Shrew.

Padua : I'm here to find a rich woman! (4 / 4,6)

KATE MINOLA fits the 4,6 designation, though the line would be said by Petruchio.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

Santa Fe: I think this city might be a nice place to open up a small business. (9 / 3,7)
There's a song called "Santa Fe" in RENT, with the lyric "Let's open up a restaurant in Santa Fe", sung by TOM COLLINS.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt*]

[Suspence]

That works better.

Memphis: This city is a part of me. (2 / 4,7)
"Memphis Lives in Me" from Memphis the Musical, sung by HUEY CALHOUN

Boca Raton, FL: I found some great real-estate investment opportunities here; let's get in on the ground floor! (1 / 6,6)
"Boca Raton" from Bounce, sung by WILSON MIZNER
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt*]

London -> Sweeney Todd "No Place Like London"
Buenos Aires -> Eva Duarte (she sings "Buenos Aires" before she gets married)
Saigon -> John, I guess? "The Heat is on in Saigon"

[Suspence]

Cuttyhunk, MA: My boyfriend dragged me here for an incredibly boring vacation. (5 / 6,7)
From "A New Brain", the song "Sitting Becalmed In The Lee Of Cuttyhunk", sung by GORDON SCHWINN
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt*]

[Suspence]

When we're all online working on these, we should use a Google spreadsheet like novice put out there earlier.

His is still around, if anyone wants to move their work there for collaboration.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq1IiQ8fbOs2dG85c2U5dUkzWE9LOVVuTmhQWWU0TlE
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt*]

Well, I'm going to sleep more or less now, so I'll take that suggestion up another time. Meanwhile,

"Barcelona" - April from Company.

[Suspence]

OK, we'll I'm working there now, and someone else is poking around there as well.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[SuperSlug]

TINYURLDOTCOMSLASHKNEWMEWHEN
http://tinyurl.com/knewmewhen

Leads to a map of Gary, Indiana
"Gary, Indiana" from The Musicman

Call in WINTHROP PAROO

Our A is Amaryllis
_________________
Some people are lost in the shuffle. I'm shuffling along with the lost.

[Suspence]

Correct and nice work.

Next up:
Hammer Time - http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/11/puzzles/world1/hammer_time/

I've created a new tab on the spreadsheet if you'd like to work there.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

This puzzle has been successfully solved on the Google spreadsheet, almost entirely by SuperSlug. I'm sure he'll call in the answer soon, but I'm heading to bed.

Just wanted to warn anyone who might be thinking of working on Hammer Time (though it was a fun puzzle), I didn't want you to waste your time.

If you do want something to work on, try the next one:
Vive la Différence - http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/11/puzzles/world1/vive_la_difference/
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[SuperSlug]

TOMMIE'S HAMMERIN' BRO

call in HANK AARON

[Suspence]

Even better. HANK AARON is correct. New puzzle is posted above.

Goodnight!
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

[gftt*]

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cin%C3%A9man

I think the code on top is the list of films parodied in the trailer. ??? after the films I don't recognize myself.

ZQQ ZBKS DX THUWC
the mark of zorro

F CQBWNYQ EO GIEAOWH
a fistful of dollars

ZGT VVPJOGHWRU TX KHVDQ SXCE
the adventures of robin hood

GHYBU
sissi???

PFMPJGYSU
cleopatra

WSWKH ZSVIQC
barry lyndon?

NUGMPB YPZ OTW RET
tarzan of the apes

CMKB EKUEXL
taxi driver

F GUCWSBXFE TJOSAR
a clockwork orange

IDN IYFFMKTMX
the duellists???

[gftt*]

[gftt]

Taking the difference mod 26:

ZQQ ZBKS DX THUWC
the mark of zorro
FIL MASH OR TSCEN

F CQBWNYQ EO GIEAOWH
a fistful of dollars
E WHICHDE PI CTSONEO

ZGT VVPJOGHWRU TX KHVDQ SXCE
the adventures of robin hood
FYO URTEAM

OK, it's clear we won't be able to go any further with this puzzle once the tedium is over, so I vote we call in FILM A SHORT SCENE, find the real answer, and move on.

GHYBU
sissi???

PFMPJGYSU
cleopatra

WSWKH ZSVIQC
barry lyndon?

NUGMPB YPZ OTW RET
tarzan of the apes

CMKB EKUEXL
taxi driver

F GUCWSBXFE TJOSAR
a clockwork orange

IDN IYFFMKTMX
the duellists???

[Suspence]

Once you've filmed the short clip as directed, you get this:
http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/11/puzzles/world1/vive_la_difference/answer/clip.mov

I've seen the answer now, so I'm out.

EDIT: Clip isn't working for me, but I think it's something on my side. I hope it is working for others.
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt]

I got it. It's the famous scene from SAFETY LAST.

[Suspence]

SAFETY LAST is correct.

Next up:
Photo Album - http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/11/puzzles/world1/photo_album/
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

Blue Angel - Batman holding a can of Moxie (the official soft drink of Maine)
Baby Kal-El/Superman in pod - Apollo lunar lander
Circle with something math-y - Green apple (Granny Smith)
Minolta camera - Brooklyn
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Scurra]

I looked at your list of answers before I looked at the puzzle, and thought that some of the words looked familiar - not because I did this puzzle first time around (I don't remember it at all), but because Apple and Brooklyn came up on QI only the other day.

I think they are stupid names that celebrities have given their children.

? / ?
Kal-El Cage (G) / Moon Unit Zappa (groan - that's the lunar lander) (A)
? / Apple Martin (I)
? / Brooklyn Beckham (M)

- - G A - I - M
_________________
_{still Quiz Olympiad champion. Must get a life.
New definitions: COFFEE - someone who is coughed upon}

[Suspence]

Good catch.

Likely headed toward ORGANISM
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

Blue Angel Evans is the child of U2's The Edge. eVans

Maybe we're headed for VEGANISM instead...

Moxie Crimefighter Jillette - jillEtte seems to confirm.

Call in VEGANISM
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Suspence]

VEGANISM is correct.

Next:
Flat Head - http://www.mit.edu/~puzzle/11/puzzles/world1/flat_head/
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[novice]

Moxie Crimefighter Jillette
Camera Ashe
Trig Palin

[Suspence]

Scurra, a question, do the meta-answers combine up into another puzzle?
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[Scurra]

I honestly can't remember.
The meta answers are often used as part of the runaround at the end, but not necessarily for anything more complex than that.
_________________
_{still Quiz Olympiad champion. Must get a life.
New definitions: COFFEE - someone who is coughed upon}

[gftt*]

3. LETTER BANK (3, 8, *8'4)
The totem pole's crowned by a bird crying "ONE!";
It was carved by the THREE out on Vancouver Island,
I guess out of cedar, as it's usually done,
And not out of TWO, 'cause that grows in New Zealand.

searching for native americans of the pacific northwest gave:
ONE = kaw or awk
TWO = kawakawa
THREE = Kwakwaka'wakw

Flat head -> Screwdriver? Is there a wordplay association here?

[gftt*]

I looked at "Bowser's Castle". There might be a use for the meta answers there... but it also might give a hint about the meta in world 1-3 that maybe we're not supposed to have.

[gftt*]

1. TRANSPOSAL (7, *7)
This totem pole's crowned by a fierce, massive eagle;
It was carved by the SECOND in northern B.C.
The bird makes the pole seem top-heavy, though regal,
Since it looks like the totem is FIRST-ONE to me.

TLINGIT and TILTING? Is that a transposal?

[Suspence]

7. LETTER BANK (3, *7)
The climate in TWO is especially fine,
So they grow peaches, cherries, and grapes to make wine.
I would guess that it's hot enough there to grow ONE,
But it's not worth as much, and it's not as much fun.

YAP / PAPAYA

4. LAST-LETTER CHANGE (*5, *5)
Sir Francis Bacon never visited Macon,
Or so I've been led to understand.
And I know that it's true that Augustine of TWO
Never came out here to ONE Island.

HIPPO / HIPPA
_________________
I hate people who try to write interesting things in their signature.

[gftt]

I don't get YAP/PAPAYA. Isn't the second word supposed to be 7 letters?

5. LETTER BANK (3'1, *7)
At NUMBER TWO Lake there is plenty to do,
You can camp, windsurf, hike, you can float your canoe,
But if you're looking for nightlife, that's what it's not got,
'Cause it NUMBER ONE known as a swinging hot spot.

AIN'T and NITINAT

8. NO-LETTER CHANGE (*5, *5) (base does not change)
Whenever I visit British Columbia
I stay with friends in FIRST-NUMBA FIRST-NUMBA.

BELLA BELLA?

Flathead River is a river in British Columbia.

1. FIRST-LETTER CHANGE (*6, 6)
Fort ONE-THING has such a tiny school, according to my mother,
That they only have three pencils, and only one THE-OTHER.
FRASER/ERASER

[Suspence]