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[WF][Trailhead] Whitechapel Foundation: Open Cases
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badaim68
Boot

Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Posts: 38
Location: Sussex, UK

More QS denial

In the spirit of being honest(ish) with QS about our info that Typoxic has used to good effect with the ritual, I tried to garner his opinion about the Msg1-5 (but did not mention WF). I sent him the letters plus what our interpretations were. His response was:


Quote:
My Dear Paul,

Circles and triangles and squares, oh my.

Not to say that I don't find all of these fascinating; for their own oddness, of course, and, more so, for whatever they point to YOU being involved with.

But before I give them a look, you have made a comment that fills me with wonder. As a student of my own obtuse character, whatever could you mean when you
say "...but some of the answers we've uncovered (if we're correct) seem to indicate your area of expertise..." What, pray, IS my area of expertise? I do so want to know.

QS



So I decided to go down the following route to see if he'd bite on anything:


Quote:
Well, I confess it is primarily an assumption on my part regarding your expertise, gleaned from the email conversation we have had to date, but I assume your interest is piqued and aroused by the esoteric, the arcane, the secret and the academic, essentially an interest in "knowledge". Now, as you have already stated that you have knowledge of triangles, I am prepared to take a leap of faith and guess that your expertise is grounded in those areas that revolve around certain Orders that some would say are secretive and where symbols, such as the triangle, occur frequently.....The Brethren of the Rose Cross, Freemasonry, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn....and the structure around that including alchemy and theurgy, the lesser key of Solomon, the circle and triangle of the Goetia etc.

Of course the problem for me is if I am right you are very unlikely to confirm my suspicions due to the very nature of what I'm assuming......in which case the best I could hope for is a reply along the lines of "i'm sorry Paul but you're very wide of the mark, however this is what I think the messages may mean anyway...."

Looking forward with interest, as ever, to your reply.



Of course, if I had read his reply to Luke first I wouldn't have focussed on the triangle angle Rolling Eyes

Reply received this morning:

Quote:
My Dear Paul,

You are a sport. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

And you are correct, to a point. I am interested in...just about everything, really. But I am not involved in everything, least of all those things you mention. Fascinating, all; but mainly in the way that Coca Cola ads from the 30's are fascinating. These ads are also dated, outmoded, quaint, and, to a large degree, depict fictions invented whole cloth by ad men.

They've never given up the true nature of Coke, though, have they, just the theatrical trappings.

So, yes, you are wide of the mark, dear Paul, but, believe it or not, I am not married to secrecy and mystery and obfuscation and redirection (you can keep going it you like) simply for their own sakes. As a matter of fact, I find that I don't have much of a need. It's a very strange dynamic, and one that - and this always surprises me - most straight people do not care one whit for. They, too, like the secrecy (everyone does, I suppose) and - in my experience, at least - if they ever do pierce the veil they simply do not want to believe the truth.

But enough of this. As I mentioned to young Luke, I am off to a fete, should have been some time ago, actually. Adieu. I did scan the images you send, and, I must confess, nothing grabbed me by the throat. But I shall keep them on hand to while away the lazy afternoons with. And if I do see anything of interest, you, dear Paul, may rest assumed that you will be among the first 7 people to know. (grin)

QS



Well for starters he mentioned going to a fete to me but a fancy dress ball to Luke....two quite different things (especially in UK, not sure if a fete is the same in US....)

The other thing that I noticed in both posts is his use of the word "straight" and implying he isn't. Straight people in my reply, and the straight market for antiquities in Luke's.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:55 am
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mortality
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Well...we did spend most of last night discussing whether QS was a fairy. Or as gay as the day is long...not that those are mutually exclusive. His triangle could very well be pink...his prose certainly is purple.

The jokes, they write themselves.
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:27 am
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Typoxic
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mortality wrote:
Well...we did spend most of last night discussing whether QS was a fairy. Or as gay as the day is long...not that those are mutually exclusive. His triangle could very well be pink...his prose certainly is purple.

The jokes, they write themselves.

Gayer than a Key West bakery on Bette Midler Festival Week? Yeah. He's "not married to secrecy" because it's not legal for him to marry secrecy in Florida.

In American English, fete means "1. A festival or feast. 2a. An elaborate, often outdoor entertainment. b. An elaborate party." I think the equivalent phrase for a UK fete would be "county fair".

Hilarious as it is, I think his use of "straight" implies the same thing as it does in the world of crime; someone who's not involved in his particular underworld (so to speak).
Quote:
Of course, if I had read his reply to Luke first I wouldn't have focussed on the triangle angle

Yeah, it was a bit tl;dr. Maybe I should code in the purple text to jazz it up.

PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:27 am
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mortality
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Jade wrote:
Howdy, Mort-O.

He wishes! He's a minivan kind of guy! LOL Oh, that explains so much.

Cool. But I was hoping you might get a little more insight from your numerous familiars. Very Happy No problem, though; probably more fun to just see what happens. I can tell you right now, however, that I WILL NOT be digging randomly trying to find frick-all. Those are tight coords, but they are not that tight. This had better not turn into some sort of Roanoke Island mystery, 'cause if it does you can haul your own ass out here with your entrenching tool. Very Happy Anyway, it'll be Sat or Sun, might have to run across the state on Sat now.

From what you sent from old Slider previously, I suppose I should take a spare neck ruff.

More soon,
Jade

PS. Just curious, was "frozen dagger" just stream of consciousness, or was that another haha ref to those RN morons (as sweet Petunia puts it so well)? Either way, pretty funny, dude.

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:39 pm
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petunia
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from Jade

He called them morons first, I was just following his lead. Whatev.

Quote:
Grooooaaaaannnnn, on that last riff (hahahaha, I did one too!) I've known a couple sincere, knowledgeable coffee hounds in my day, but I've known a hell of a lot more total burks that wouldn't know the difference between coffee and distilled tobacco juice.

And speaking of burks, looks like my note to the lack-wit Spearmint at the Open Cases site has brought him out of his lair. I love it when they get all apoplectic like that! Really wish I could run into him in a dark alley sometime... Wink

I've seen the Cowboy Junkies live several times, always a wonderful show. Still like 'em, even there recent stuff which doesn't hold a candle to their early stuff. But what a voice.

More soon,
Jade


He was replying to:

petunia wrote:
Um... right here? ^^ Rest assured, I am female (we'll leave aside the whole question of ladylikeness, heh). And oh my yes, do I likes my coffeh. But I definitely wouldn't call myself a connoisseur, not like the guy at the cafe where I get my beans... he'll start going on about "notes" and such in single origin coffees, and I just smile and nod and buy what he recommends. Smile

Finland, seriously? Wow. So if I want to know what Finnish coffee tastes like, I just need to go to IKEA. Cool!

Well, now that's just... yeah, bizarre is the right word. I don't know what the hell they're doing. If it's a game, they're not exactly going about it in the usual way... which could be fine, except that games that do that are usually well-done enough to at least avoid the stupid mistakes RN has been making, like with the dates and such. Unless they're not dates of course, but what else could they be? In fact from the very beginning, when they made their site "more secure"... yeah, not so much. Weirdos.

In fact, I'm not so sure they're even paying attention anymore. They haven't posted to the Open Cases site in forever, nor have they made any changes to their site. I don't suppose you've heard from them?

I'm not aware of any Cowboy Junkies connections with the uC. I used to have a dub tape of The Trinity Session, but I think it got thrown out a long time ago. Anyway, I plan to have a look at the lyrics and see if anything strikes a chord (insert rimshot here).

P

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:37 pm
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petunia
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new comments on OC:0701
Spearmint vs. Jade

spearmint wrote:
Jade Macalla,

I don't pretend to understand your game, but I can assure you it will not work. Whatever trick you are trying to pull will not keep us from what we know the be the TRUTH. WE WILL NOT LEAVE LEAVE THIS WORLD TO BE RULED BY SUPERSTITION AND AND MYTH AND THOSE WHO SPEW FAIRY STORIES IN THE FACE OF REASON AND FACT. BE VERY CAREFUL WHERE YOU GO.


What's with the doubled words? LEAVE and AND. Plus s/he seems to have forgotten where the caps lock is.

Jade wrote:
Spearmint, my man, as much as I'd like to reply, I can't 'cause I am quite literally LAUGHING MY ASS ASS OFF OFF. Zen breathing, brother, zen breathing. If you hope to fight the dark forces of the big, bad fairy story spewers, you are going to have to learn to control yourself. IT'S A FACT. FACT.

Still waiting.

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:41 pm
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petunia
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from Ethan
gah, sorry to triple post but i just got this

Ethan wrote:
Dear Petunia,

Hi there, how have you been?

I had no idea there was a biblical reference to a Tubal-Cain. Just assumed it was some Masonic construction. (The old saw about "assumption" holds true, as ever). To make a (surely unfounded) leap, weren't the Jinn supposed to have been imprisoned in brass vessels?

You know, your chain of thought is very interesting and although it could be as plausible as much of the stuff we've discussed, it just doesn't hit me in the gut like some of the ideas do. Do you know what I mean? (I'm probably not describing it well.) Not that I would necessarily place a lot of faith in my "intuition", but some things seem to "click", you know?

Maybe it's just that I'm still expecting a more obvious "solve" to the riddle of MSG4. Maybe I'm just a ridiculous optimist. Wink , but I'm really hoping that when we crack 4 we'll know it.

Regards,
Ethan


This was in reply to:

petunia wrote:
On Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 12:19 AM, <petunia> wrote:

Hi Ethan,

We've been tossing around some ideas, looking into Genesis (the book, not the band) and whatnot, and I thought I'd update you on what we've been thinking.

MSG4:
First, Genesis 4:22 introduces Tubal-Cain, a descendant of Cain and the man whose name would become famous among Freemasons the world over. :/ He supposedly pioneered the working of brass and sharpening of iron and such.

I found this particular legend interesting: http://uncletaz.com/templelegend.html
This one features a Golden Triangle which Hiram Abiff (the first Mason and the architect of Solomon's Temple) wore around his neck. After he was attacked by the "three ruffians", but before he died, he threw the triangle into a well. It was later recovered and secreted away in the Temple.

I'm wondering if this Golden Triangle could be the "it" referenced in MSG4.

Apparently it had the Masons' secret password engraved on it or something, depending on which legend you read. (I know, there are so many...) And its final resting place seems to involve a cube-shaped stone.

MSG3:
Looking at Genesis again, and thinking about three punishments (execution, banishment, and being cursed), we thought of Cain, Abel, and Seth. Cain was banished for killing Abel (who was executed, sort of), so that's two out of three. As for Seth, we're thinking that since his was the only line to survive past the flood (again, depending on whose version of history you believe I guess), he inherited the curse of Adam & Eve. Are we stretching here? Anyway, by that logic, Cain would match up with Enlil (banished), Abel with William Wallace (executed), and Ahasuerus (cursed).

What do you think? More coincidences, or could we be on to something?


P.

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PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 1:14 am
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Sylvia
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 2062

Jade posted this on his blog a couple of days ago. Funny

http://treeandthistle.blogspot.com/2008/02/too-perfect.html
Quote:
Too perfect

For the obvious (and less so) reasons, this really, really cracks me up.

http://www.manilamac.com/

I can only hope that there's an Air inside the next one she brings. Wink

Priceless.


ETA: I wonder if that means Jade got a new assignment. Like the ones mentioned in Autumn Country (faeries) and on Portfolio #7

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:35 am
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Sylvia
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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notice I edited the above post: up there ^

Well Petra is still around. She finally answered one of my emails. At some point we, and for some reason I can't remember now, wanted to know if Philly smoked Lucky Strike cigarettes. So I asked her and she finally replied today.

Quote:
Sylvia,

Hi sorry to just be writing back to you I've been using a different e-mail and not checking this one very much. No he didn't. Still hasn't shown up huh. I still think he's a jerk but I wonder what's going on. Its been awhile now. He probably just moved on out of town I guess.

See ya,
Petra


So I don't know what to make of this other than Philly didn't smoke Luckys and she, Petra, has a different email. No, I'm not asking. If she had wanted me to know she would have told me.

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:13 pm
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petunia
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Well, ain't she a big help. Rolling Eyes I suspected Petra was done with us, and it kinda looks that way now. Notice she didn't tell us what Philly does smoke. (I think the Lucky Strike thing was something to do with the fact that it has a big circle/bullseye on the label, and we were batting around geometry ideas etc.) Oh well.

Jade's blog is so random. I have no idea if he's dropping totally out-there kl00s or just being, well, random.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:31 pm
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Sylvia
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Joined: 21 Apr 2006
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Hey, she just replied to my other email. I'll post both so we will know what she is talking about.
Sylvia to Petra wrote:
Petra,

With your help, we finally got answers from smoke lady. We still don't know where Philly is but smoke led us to an email address for Slider, believe it or not. However, we have run into another brick wall.

It appears that Slider want talk to us unless we know the answer to what perfection is. We're working on it.

You said that you talked to Slider at the parties you and Philly went to, how old did Slider appear to be? By any chance did he also smoke, cigarettes, cigars or pipe tobacco? If so, did you happen to notice the brand?

Did it ever appear to you that Philly might be an apprentice of Slider's? I know all these questions sound so off the wall. And I know you are probably sick of hearing from me, but I don't know where else to turn.

Once again, any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
Sylvia

Petra to Sylvia wrote:
Hi again Sylvia.

I'd say Slider's about 25 or so maybe 30. I'm trying to remember if he smoked. I dont think so. Perfection? haha Slider asks that to people sometimes. There's no answer I don't think. I think he just really wants to know what people think perfection is. He asked me that once and I thought he was joking but he said no he was serious. After I thought about it for awhile I told him a sketch that I'm really happy with when it turns out just right (I like to draw). He said he thought that was a noble answer (he talks kinda strange sometimes). LOL, no Philly wasn't any kinda student of Slider's if thats what you mean. They liked to give each other a hard time about stuff but they didn't work on stuff together. Tell Slider I say Hi if you talk to him.

Petra


PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:41 pm
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Typoxic
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L.S./M.F.T.

I still haven't written to QS. I spent yesterday shouting in a stained glass sphere. And before you ask, I was perfectly sober. I'll write now. Shall I say hi for Petra?

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 9:28 pm
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Sylvia
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yes, Please do. thank you

PostPosted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:18 pm
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Typoxic
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After a certain point my text is green. All the purple text is Slider's.

Quote:
On 13/02/2008, Quinton Salamanca <slider888> wrote:

Goodness, dear Luke, quite the chatty Cathy, we are. In an effort to not become hopelessly mired in my own, admittedly, mobius-like prose, I will endeavor to respond succinctly - for once, and by all means do not get used to it - and in a color that contrasts nicely with your own basic black. For, you see, time is of the essence, as I am off to a fancy dress ball.


Hope it went well. Should I colour my text as well?


So, let me get this straight; young master Phillip induced the fair Heather to spout some nonsense, the only purpose of which was to deliver the first letter of each word in the - I shudder to call it one - poem? Oh, such a scamp. And he wished me to cavort in the middle of a major interstate highway? Ah, the little imp. No respect for his betters. So first it's a dash to some lovely's apartment, then it's a leap to a highway across town...then what? I would have thought that there would be more in this vein, but what could he have hoped for me to find in the middle of such a place? And how would he have secured it there in the first place? Do you and yours have plans to continue this charade?

As to these triangles, m'thinks that you may be approaching the dread territory of the apopheniac. Tread lightly, dear Luke, that path leads to madness. Not all of the spider's skeins lead to the center of the web. The reference to the triangle was simply a contra-point to the mention, by Paul, of circles. Nothing more.


He wished you to cavort somewhere, that's for sure. Believe me when I say I have no more insight into his motives than you do. I'm just the messenger, more or less. And in light of that, let's be clear on something: anything that looks like apophenia on my part is just speculation meeting paranoia through the avenues of experience. We, that is to say our group, are in the business of noticing patterns and divining meaning, but rest assured we are not paranormal investigators. We're not paranormal anything. The truth is really boring; we like puzzles, and that's how we got involved in this. Someone knew we liked puzzles and gave us one, and that one led into more until here we are.


Hmmm, there is something odd about your telling, but I can't quite place my finger on it. I believe that all copies of the Amphitheatrum are old, the good ones are, at least. So you know what this ritual was to accomplish, I'd wager. That, at least, should give you some more insight into master Phillip's pursuits. Was the imagery lurid? Was the fire of heaven called down? Were the unbelievers consumed in cleansing flame? Dear God, how tiresome some of these old documents can be, but I'm sure you know all that. You have a copy of this document? Is it titled?

So, are you antiquarians, then? A noble calling. Is the straight market for these artifacts still booming?


I'm not an expert on the frequency of reprints of the Amphitheatrum, and I also don't know what the ritual was meant to accomplish. The imagery was dull; as I understand it I think it involved "iron" and "dying sun"(s). I didn't see anything that made it seem striking compared to any other "paranormal" rituals I've seen. The only difference is we're charged with finding out where a copy of this one came from. Ultimately, this is what we came to you about, to find out more about the ritual itself. It would seem you don't know anything about it, so we keep talking to you because you're so charming.

For some reason the juxtaposition of "Colin Cowie" and "tiny little kegs" is a jarring one. Maybe we can get some ice sculptures of swans happening up in here. It's not a party, it's a soirée!

Finally, someone attempts to answer my question. Perhaps not perfection, but oh so close.


So perfection is an ice sculpture of a goose? Maybe it's jarring juxtapositions coexisting for some kind of greater effect. I don't know what your idea of perfection is, but I can think of a few aspects of mine. Could be old fashioned of me, but tiny little kegs don't factor.

Anyway, QS, if there's anything you can think of that might be relevant, just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you?

LC


Tacked on: "By the way, Petra says hi."

PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:18 am
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wkelly42
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Apopheniac -- http://www.apopheniac.net/

"perceiving the connections among seemingly unrelated phenomena"

The blog's rather mundane, and not updated very often, but that's about the only reference to the word I found, other than a metal band (http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=45157), and lyrics to a song (http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/v/vader4683/apopheniac1003951.html).
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 7:50 pm
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