findthemessage.com puzzle solution
Regarding the General Motors billboard puzzle http://www.findthemessage.com/ ("Find The Message"), Dave Winer writes:
Interesting puzzle from GM. More or less approximates the route I took from west to east. I even saw one of the billboards, but I don't remember where or what the word was. I thought it was weird enough to remember it. Anyway, this is the kind of thing the blogosphere should be able to solve in short order.
You don't need the blogosphere. Just an expert.
Solution in extended entry below, for those interested.
Solution:
"This is the last time you will ever have to feel alone on our nation's roadways ."
The data's in the publicly-available binary which runs the animation. http://www.findthemessage.com/map.swf
The full information is:
This | Bayshore Freeway north of Haven | San Francisco, CAis | San Berdo Freeway east of Evergreen | Los Angeles, CA
the | I-10 Squaw Peak Hwy. north of Harrison | Phoenix, AZ
last | I-10 east of Geronimo Drive | El Paso, TX
time | 2601 S. Danville | Abilene, TX
you | I-30 east of Commerce | Arlington, TX
will | I-20 west of Industrial Loop | Shreveport, LA
ever | I-55 north of Old Pearl River Bed | Jackson, MS
have | Atlanta Hwy. (I-85) at Mt. Meigs | Montgomery, AL
to | I-20W east of McDaniel Street | Atlanta, GA
feel | I-20 1st west of Wheeler Road | Augusta, GA
alone | I-20 east of Broad River | Columbia, SC
on | 1811 S. Saunders St. at Junction I-440 | Raleigh, NC
our | I-95 1st south of Boulevard | Richmond, VA
nation's | New York Avenue west of Florida Avenue | Washington, DC
roadways | I-95 north of SR 72 | Wilmington, DE
. | 1535 Broadway @ 46th Street | New York (Times Square)
No encryptions were broken in the making of this post.
By Seth Finkelstein | posted in security | on January 18, 2005 08:22 PM (Infothought permalink) | Followups
I dunno, does Notepad have any non-infringing uses? Even without cracking, GM might be mad that you've short-circuited their little game. But they'll probably be reassured that no one hears you anyway ;)
Is this a promo for OnStar, then? What else does GM offer that would prevent customers from feeling alone?
(XM is the only other thing I can think of. But I doubt they'd do such a massive campaign for it.)
Has anybody seen the added signs near the Canadian boarder?