Here's my disclaimer- this diary really has nothing to do with politics. Over it? Moving on...
For those not familiar with the Herald Hunt, it's a giant multi-part puzzle created by Dave Barry for the express purpose of driving everyone who takes part in it completely MAD.
Here's a quick overview of the insanity:
First, you solve five ridiculously easy opening questions, which will give you five letters. At the start of the game at noon, Dave Barry will give out five numbers, which when put together with the five letters will give you map coordinates.
Second, you use the map they give you to locate the puzzle sites. Then solve the puzzles. This step is a lot harder. The only hint you get is that each puzzle's solution is a number. Each solution corresponds to a specific clue on a clue list they give out.
Last, at 3pm Dave Barry gives out a final clue, which when combined with the five clues figured out previously, should theoretically give you a set of instructions on what you need to do to win the Hunt. In practice, it usually just makes you want to rend Dave Barry limb from limb.
Familiar now? Over the fold, then, for the details on this year's Hunt Madness...
First thing any good Hunter does on the morning of a Hunt is go out and pick up a copy of the Miami Herald, pull out the puzzle section, and read it cover to cover, making note of anything that looks fishy or out of place. Given that they tell you in the rules that no sponser ads contain clues, my eyes first fall on the only ad listed that is not a sponser ad...
Hmm. I'll keep that in mind during the Hunt. Next, the astute Hunter familiarizes themselves with the map. The map, quite aside from telling you where the puzzles are located, can contain many clues and could be the key to solving any number of puzzles.
Next, time to solve the opening questions. Who the heck are Tommy James and the Shondells? Thank heavens for wikipedia...
Done reviewing the puzzle section? Time to meet up with your team and head out to the main stage, located this year in Bicentennial Park (Hey, Barack Obama was just here last week!)
At noon, Dave Barry reads of a list of numbers: 4, 3, 5, 5.5, snd 5. Hey, look- three of those puzzle locations are right here in the park! The closest one is on the Main Stage itself.
There are three politicians from the Unity Party, all urging both left and right to come together in the center to form real solutions. Here's a close-up of the party slogan.
On the left, there is one sign:
On the right, there is another sign:
Hmm... what can it all MEAN? Remember, you're looking for a NUMBER.
Next, let's head to H-3, where there is a field of twelve signs set up on the grass. Annoyingly, a song from the Sound of Music is playing on a loop in the background....
First row:
Second row:
Third row:
Fourth row:
Here's the lyrics to the song clip they played:
"Do - a deer, a female deer,
Re - a drop of golden sun,
Mi - a name I call myself,
Fa - a long long way to run,
So - a needle pulling thread,
La - a note to follow so,
Ti - a drink with jam and bread"
After figuring out what you do with the lyrics and the signs, check out the comments for the next step...
Once you're ready to move on, you're going to hit the puzzle at the entrance to Bicentennial Park, where a group of Herald staffers are handing out small backscratchers and notes.
Heading to the coordinates as listed on the note, you make your way into an auditorium where a comedian is giving a five minute show, involving spotlights, mad clapping, and jumping up and down.
To be perfectly honest, this was the hardest puzzle to solve. Good luck trying.
Once you've figured out the applause guy, head across the street to the fourth puzzle location at the other performing arts center building, where an interesting concert is going on.
That was fun, wasn't it? I loved the ending. And the ten minutes sitting down indoors with the cold A/C. Oh well- back out into the 86 degree with 90 percent humidity weather. It's raining. Time to head out to the final puzzle, located at the Arena, where a marathon is apparently taking place.
After the race, I congratulated the winner, K, as well as second place finisher BL and third place finisher FL.
Did you solve all five clues? :) Get the solutions here: http://www.dailykos.com/...