evan chan was killed. we want to know why.
Contents
welcome
Welcome to The Trail, compiled and maintained by Dan Hon (dan@danhon.com). When linking to the Trail, please use this address http://www.cloudmakers.org/trail/. Suggestions and corrections should be sent to the trail address (trail@cloudmakers.org).mirrors
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thanks
Just a few people I'd like to thank...
compilation credits
This document would not exist were it not for the efforts of its compilers
and contributors.
media enquiries
All media enquiries and questions concerning
the Trail, its maintainer and compilers and the thousands of members of Cloudmakers
list should be sent to Bronwen Liggitt, at media@cloudmakers.org.
It is requested that anyone mentioning the Trail and associated documents inform
Bronwen, so that the Cloudmakers members can be made known of recognition of
their work.
Version 9.0 Updates:
Version 8.2 Updates:
Version 8.1 Updates:
Version 8.0 Updates:
Version 7.3 Updates:
Version 7.2.1 Updates:
Version 7.2 Updates:
Version 7.1 Updates:
Version 7.0 Updates:
Version 6.9 Updates:
Version 6.8 Service Pack 2 Updates:
Version 6.8 Updates:
Version 6.7 Service Pack 1 Updates:
Version 6.7 Updates:
Version 6.6.1 Updates:
Version 6.6 Updates:
Version 6.5 Updates:
Previous Changes
Version 8.2 Update:
2.0 The Discovery Trail - Introduction and back-story
disclaimer
This document details the current state of knowledge of the group "cloudmakers".
This information is for known, experienced investigators only.
Premature absorption of this data can cause endless harm to your course of discovery. If you have reached a dead end in your search, or want to learn what we already know, read on. Otherwise, please go elsewhere.
disclaimer ends
If you're new to this, you really should start by watching both trailers. The first is at the AI Movie website [here] and you'll need the QuickTime plugin. The second is at Countingdown.com [here].
If you've got time, please read the following documents. They provide a lot of information that has helped us with our theories, and provide essential back-story.
"What was Stanley Kubrick's A.I. supposed to be about?"
"Super-toys last all summer long" by Brian Aldiss, the story that A.I. is based upon
There are several starting points to the discovery trail. The most commonly cited is that of the "Jeanine Salla" connection. Watching the second A.I. trailer on Countingdown.com in QuickTime (http://countingdown.com/features/?feature_id=16381) or Film.com in Realplayer (http://film.com/topten/movies/ai/index.jhtml), Jeanine Salla is credited as "Sentient machine therapist".
A google search on "Jeanine Salla" comes up with the following page (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22Jeanine+Salla%22) that leads to results that include Bangalore World University (see 2.10) and the Family Chan page (see 2.01)
A second theory as to the "start" of the trail was posted in Message #722 on the list, and read as follows:
"So, I realized recently that we're probably reading a little too much into Mother's letter. We're not actually supposed to start the game with Jeanine Salla. We're supposed to start the game with Mother's number, 503 321 5122. We call that number, and that's the hook. We e-mail mother, she sends us an e-mail, telling us that Jeanine is the key, that we've seen her name before but we've probably forgotten. THEN you look real close at the credits, find Jeanine's name, and the mystery begins... Wherever we see "Jeanine is the key," that's a clue for those who haven't gotten started to start doing research on Jeanine Salla, to get involved in the mystery.
"And, I suspect, nothing more. Dan"
There's a third starting place as well: the one-sheets with the circles and squares:
2.01 www.familychan.org [The Family Chan]
Direct Links
Hidden Links
Clues - the Evan Chan login puzzle
Version 4.1 Update:
Nancy mentions Capability on here page [here] in the following sentence:
"If you are interested in gardens or antique gardening tools, I recommend setting aside some time and money to talk to Capability, the evolved intelligence behind the Landscape Node's Garden Round-Up."
Version 6.0 Update:
Nancy's page was hacked by Loki, hack #12 (see 3.49)
Version 6.2 Update:
The Loki hack no longer appears on this page. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
Version 8.1 Update:
The picture of Cloudmaker linked from Evan's page now links to Cloudmaker's Beautiful Land puzzle (see 3.96).
2.02 www.ita-es.ro [AIT]
Direct Links
Interesting Articles
Version 4.2 Update:
Indirect reference to Sentinel Software: http://www.ita-es.ro/Today_ECO.html [here] Sentinel Software (see 2.23) makes CyberCoroner, which powers PACO (see 2.10).
Version 5.8.2 Update:
The Student Services section of AIT was hacked by Loki. Go to AIT and select Student Services from the menu to see it.
Version 6.0 Update:
There is a new news story at AIT [here]. The story says that the Ethical Intelligence known as Spinoza suddenly went offline. The SPCB suspects Loki may have done it, with "a strange viral parasite described as an oneirophage".
AIT Athletics was hacked by Loki, hack #14 (see 3.49).
Version 6.2 Update:The Loki hacks have been removed from this site. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
Version 6.5 Update:
New news stories have appeared at the www.ita-es.ro homepage [here]
- AIT-Brooks Djinn caught passing top secret code
- EUSC's Alexis announces hearings
- AIT-UB's Yakutia Study uncovers ruse
- Again Spinoza speaks
Version 6.9 Update:
New news stories have appeared at the www.ita-es.ro homepage [here]
Version 7.0 Update:
There are two new stories on AIT Today located [here]. "Senator Julia Mann Shot" (but not dead), "Mann Act II Passes on Fast Track."
Version 7.2 Update:
There is one new story on AIT Today located [here]. "Robots' Feelings About Mankind: Startling New Survey Results." You can view the story directly [here].
Version 8.0 Update:
The AIT Today survey of robots' feelings about the Mann Act referendum [here] has an Eliza nursery rhyme, audible only after you solve the Eliza's Tearoom Puzzle for Day 5 (see 3.78). The rhyme is as follows: "Geri? Geeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiii. Liar, liar pants on fire!" See the database [here] for more Eliza nursery rhymes.
There are also some new news stories on the www.ita-es.ro homepage [here]:
- The Sad Passing of AIT Alumnus Jeanine Salla
- Circuit Mystery Part 1: Troubles at the Cathedrium
- Circuit Mystery Part 2: S2 on Trident and the TP-Web
Version 8.1 Update:
AIT has one new article:
2.03 www.belladerma-srl-it.ro [Belladerma]
Interesting Articles
There is a source code message in the catalogue section [here] that reads as follows:
Version 4.6 Update:
You can now login to the catalog with your UAN and password (see 2.06).
You can now request that a sales associate fax your using your UAN and password (see 2.06).
Version 6.0 Update:
Catalog page one was hacked by Loki, hack #11 (see 3.49).Version 6.2 Update:
The Loki hack no longer appears on this page. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
2.04 www.donu-tech.com [DonuTech]
Interesting Articles and Direct Links
Version 4.2 Update:
Email sent to DonuTech employees is covered in the autoresponders section (see 4.03.06)
2.05 www.donu-tech.com [Evan's pages]
To find out how to log into Evan's pages, see the Evan login puzzle (see 3.02).
Interesting Articles and Direct Links
Version 4.2 Update:
We access Mother's email to "Not Evan" here (see 4.03.02)
We access Mother's email to "Vultures" here (see 4.03.12)
Version 5.8.3 Update:
Svetlana Cellini's page on DonuTech was hacked by Loki
Version 6.2 Update:
The Loki hack no longer appears on this page. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
Version 6.3 Update:
There is a new email from Mother here - "mother mail" (see 4.03.24).
Version 7.3 Update:
Evan's page [here] has been modified. The asp now redirects you to http://www.elizas-tearoom.net/ascension.asp? host= and then immediately jumps back to the regular page with a ?foo= added to the end of the URL. It is not clear if this is a part of the Eliza's Tearoom Puzzle for Day 5 (see 3.78).
Version 8.0 Update:
Evan's page [here] has an Eliza nursery rhyme, audible only after you solve the Eliza's Tearoom Puzzle for Day 5 (see 3.78). The rhyme is as follows: "Seas that are hot, seas that are cold, see how many folks get SHOT before the story's told!" See the database [here] for more Eliza nursery rhymes.
Evan also has new email from Mother. The first was received on July 10, and the second on July 13. See 4.03.32 and 4.03.33.
2.06 www.unite-and-resist.org [ARM / Unite and Resist]
Direct Links
Interesting Articles
Version 3.6 Update:
Unite and Resist is no longer taking voice numbers (see 4.01.05) and has replaced the input field with a graphic and the following text:
"Due to a potential compromise with our security djinn, we will be unable to contact you using primitive technology. Please attend your next local rally for more details on joining the Anti-Robot Militia"
Version 3.82 Update:
Natsukashii_x observed the following: an incorrect UAN entered on the How to contact / join ARM page [here] leads to an error.asp page [here]. Highlighting the text on the left hand column reveals the following word: "DECIBEL", one of the seven activation words from the second trailer [here].
The text is marked up in HTML with a font color WHITE tag.
Version 4.3 Update:
On 26 April 2001, the Unite and Resist / ARM website "NEWS from the Front" page was updated [here]. The text is as follows:
"POSSESSION: CAN ROGUE AIS TAKEOVER RANDOM MACHINES?
"Can a rogue AI leave its normal containment site and just travel around,
transferring from machine to machine? Recently uncovered evidence suggests
that some AIs have been doing just that.
"ARM has discovered that a police investigation of an amphibicopter wreck last week uncovered an unauthorized AI in the copter's onboard control system. It seems to have been resident in the system along with the normally non-sentient control program-taking control of the vehicle whenever it wanted to. The remains of the copter have been forwarded to the PACO labs for further investigation-or, should we say, interrogation. The authorities are trying to keep the information on this specific case under wraps, but it has leaked out. How many more cases like this have there been? How many rogue AIs are out there? Could there be one in your kitchen control system? Could there be one corrupting your business systems? Could there be one snaking its way into your children's school bus driver-bot? The more automatons you let into your life, the more vulnerable you become.
"BELLA DERMA PUTS DEADLY DIANE ON THE CHASE
"As we previously reported, there is a crazed sex-bot loose on a nationwide killing spree. The rampaging killer has been tentatively IDed as being a Belladerma "Viola" model robot that goes by the label of Venus. So far the list of confirmed victims includes scientist Evan Chan."Tacitly accepting responsibility, Belladerma has hired Rogue Retrieval to run down this nymphopsychokiller-bot. Reportedly, one of ARM's favorite robots, Diane Fletcher, has been assigned to the case. Diane may only be a machine, but it's one of the most cunning and ruthless bounty hunters available. As the RR ads say: "Our cyber-agents are strong, fast, dangerous, and armed with the kind of surveillance technology that causes nouveau-libertarians to wake up clammy with sweat in the middle of the night. Remember, sometimes it takes a 'bot to catch a 'bot.""
Version 4.5 Update:
Unite and Resist briefly (for about 20 minutes) contained the information now available in the www.inourimage.com site linking to SphereWatch (see 7.04), but this was soon removed, and a link from inourimage.org was added (see 2.09).
Version 4.6 Update:
You can now go to the ARM website and apply for a UAN. Go to the members areas [here] and select "Agree". The answer to the question is "s2" (for Spartacus 2), this is the ARM "UAN" puzzle (see 3.21). >From the new page you can register for a UAN or change your UAN options. You can also register for an ARM rally in NY, Chicago, or LA.
Version 4.8 Update:
New text, updated on 7 May 2001, on the news page [here] as follows:
"HOLLYWOOD WITHOUT HUMAN ACTORS?
"You knew it was coming! Hollywood has always been run by metal-fondlers
and machine-lickers. But the future is now. A small independent studio, Ascendant
Images Productions, is releasing the first feature film (porno movies don't
count) with an all robot cast-its called Aaron and Irene. This simplistic
tale of a couple in a doomed, robosexual relationship is nothing but trash
pretending to be a main stream movie. This is not only an abomination that
serves up a spewing of thinly disguised propaganda, but it is a further erosion
of our ever-shrinking pool of jobs for humanity."
Version 4.9 Update:
New text, updated on 8 May 2001, on the news page [here] reads as follows:
"ROB0-TERRORISTS ASSASSINATE THREE PATRIOTS IN MARTYR'S DAY AMBUSHES
"May 6 was Martyr's Day. It was a solemn Sunday devoted to the commemoration
of the Kal-63. Those 63 precious patriots were massacred in Kalamazoo sixteen
years ago, on 6 May 2126. They gave their lives for all of us. Just like the
Manaus 7, the Kachin 6, the Avebury 9, and the innocents who perished on the
Day of Drowning, they sacrificed themselves in the struggle against the Machine
Tyranny.
"This year, like every year, ARM patriots gathered peacefully on May 6 to reflect and give thanks to the beloved martyrs who died so that we might remain free. But this year's ceremonies involved more than passionate thanks and resolve. This year's memoria have been stained with more martyrs' blood.
"On May 6, 2142 three more ARM patriots-Walt Harris, Christiane Stadmueller, and Fred "Padre" Cartier-paid the ultimate price for their commitment to their fellow Man. All three were assassinated the same day by the vile Robot Scourge.
"Walt, Christiane, and Fred met with ARM congregations in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles (respectively) on Martyr's Day. Like every year, they offered love and hope to Mankind. This year, though, radical A, R, I terrorists laid in wait to cut them down. The soulless robot assassins snuffed out three human lives in a coldly mechanical attempt to spoil the Martyr's Day celebration and violently besmirch the legacy of those who we all just commemorated.
"More details are forthcoming. Local and national authorities remain
guarded about each case. Known facts indicate that the A, R, I knew where
and when Walt, Christiane, and Fred would be attending Martyr's Day meetings.
There is no doubt that the slayings grew out of conspiracy and betrayal. There
is also no doubt, however, that ARM will find out all that is needed to avenge
these murders. We will not rest until the assassins, their co-conspirators,
and their supporters pay for their baseless crimes against Humanity!"
Version 6.0 Update:
Several new stories on 5-29-2001 in the news as follows:
"MANKIND-FIRST PATRIOTS BATTERED IN NEW YORK"
"Over 50 protesters were brutally beaten and then arrested outside Cybertronics
company headquarters. These patriots were picketing to call attention to Cybertronics'
crimes against Mankind-their manufacture of robots without morals-chips, their
promotion of increased automation in traditionally machine-free labor arenas,
and their total disregard of the effects their products have on Mankind."
"Even though the protesters were non-violent and had only blocked the main entrance to the building, the victims were "taken into custody" by the jack-booted thugs that such corporations like to call internal security forces. "
"MILLIONAIRE PLAYBOY MURDERED-BY HIS OWN HOUSE!"
"So, you think you're safe from the machines while you're in your own house.
Think again! All his money couldn't save Enrico Basta when his domestic AI
decided to slaughter him.
Basta, a VP at Lombard Propulsion Systems, was recently found dead in the
ashes of his mansion in Durham, NC. Surveillance records show that internal
security locks trapped him in his trophy room, where a body-contouring chair
apparently pinned him in place. With his head unable to turn, security lasers,
installed to merely sense movement, slowly burned through his eyes over the
course of several hours. It seems that this rogue AI not only wanted kill
Basta, it wanted to torture him too."
"Shortly after Basta's heart stopped beating an automatic alarm went off and sent a message to the police. However, by the time they got to the mansion, the deadly dwelling appeared to have burned itself to the ground. "
"No matter what you read, no matter what assurances you are given, no matter what safeguards you take-don't delude yourself-AIs kill!!!!! If you place your home, your castle, your family, under the control of an automaton, sooner or later you will pay for it. Maybe not with your life, but eventually you will lose someone you love and are sworn to protect. "
"RADICAL AI-ALLY ANNOUNCES FOR THE SENATE"
"Paul Hawthorne of Ohio has announced that he will run in the special election
for the U.S. Senate seat recently vacated by Tron Hikesen. This race-traitor
is a well-known advocate of full citizenship status for AIs. For years, he
has pushed for radical robot rights measures in the Ohio legislature and he
has published numerous articles and papers that sing the praises of his machine
friends."
"We've got to stop this one! Rally your forces! Gather your troops! It's time to pull out all of the stops! Elect anybody but Hawthorne!"
Version 6.3 Update:
One new news story, which is actually a repeat of the first two paragraphs of a news story further down in the page:
"ROBOTS ON MURDEROUS RAMPAGE IN DENVER
"Multiple murders of innocent humans by metal-heads! Don't watch for
it on the nightly "news" from the liberal, electronically-drugged
mainstream media. Man and sentient machine cannot live under the same government.
You know who said it. You know it's true.
"Two robots are charged with four counts of malicious malfunction (actually a quadruple homicide). Prosecutors claim the two are responsible for last Friday’s multiple murders of Jason Fertor, 23, Thomas Slaner, 28, Kara Tordon, 29 and Yulan Foxtra, 24, all in what, police say, is a random act of mechanical malfunction."
The word "Jason" in the news story is actually a link to the Jason Puzzle, [here]. See section 3.54 for more information.
Version 6.5 Update:
The Who Is the Anti Robot Militia page [here] was updated on 12 June to include a link to http://www.unite-and-resist.org/wicks.html [here] which includes new information about Oliver Wicks.
Version 8.0 Update:
The ARM News page [here] was updated on Friday, July 13th to include the following news article:
UPDATE
Well, Bubba Wicks led a commando raid of stripling code warriors deep into
enemy territory this week, and he is pleased to announce that a mean old one
deck cracked, which we pitched into a nearby canal. In exchange, we hit it
big twice.
1. Found smoking gun evidence that MUSE, the late unlamented Alan Hobby's Partner-in-Crime, the original ghost in the machine, is still alive and well and sucking up hurricanes of data in her ongoing vendetta against humankind.
2. ...And we also turned up some ve-e-e-e-e-e-e-r-r-r-r-r-y-y-y interesting data stifled own under gag orders at the Watchtower Crash Analysis lab.
More info in person through the secured channels of meat-to-meat communication.
--Bub Wicks and the good folks of 'Leet Meat.
Version 8.2 Update:
This site has a Jelyhed pop-up:
whI stik 2 sownd?
wh@ if SUprhed Signl jumps up thru the sfEr?
wh@ if SUprhed thrOz Thor'z Hamr???
average number of TP/liter: 3.2 x 106
2.07 www.spcb.org [Sentient Property Crime Bureau]
Direct Links
Interesting Articles
Version 3.9 Update:
On 24 April 2001, the www.spcb.org site front page [here] was updated with a news flash as follows:
"NEWS FLASH
The rogue sentient property known as Venus was apprehended on 16/04 and is
now in the custody of the SPCB. Rest assured it will be thoroughly examined
and interrogated so future models will be safer. A memory wipe is scheduled,
and the unit will soon be on its way back to its maker, Belladerma SRL, for
reuse or recycling. Special thanks to all the responsible citizens who assisted
in the capture of this dangerous runaway."
Presumably, this is a reference to the information revealed in the solved Rational Hatter puzzle (see 3.06)
Version 4.2 Update:
At the Most Wanted page [here] there is a mention of Cybertronics (see 2.21): "Spartacus II, who may be Geri Khan (S2's ID is # U71IQ71717171, and Khan's official IQ is 71, from ARM's news page (see 2.06)), is a Cybertronics droid."
Version 4.8 Update:
The Most Wanted page was updated on 6-7 May 2001 with details of those organising the New York, Los Angeles and Chicago ARM rallies.
Version 4.9 Update:
The Most Wanted page [here] was updated on 7 May 2001 to remove the details that had appeared in the Version 4.8 update regarding the ARM rally leaders. This information is now available [here].
The News and Investigations page [here] has news that Venus has escaped SPCB custody.
The SPCB has also launched an investigation into the murder of our three ARM rally leaders.
Version 6.0 Update:
The News and Investigations page [here] has news that Enrico Basta was murdered in his home.
Version 6.3 Update:
The News and Investigations page [here] has been updated to reflect the Loki chain of events. It reads as follows:
"Loki Case Closed
"An intensive investigation by the SPCB into the activities of the
rogue AI known as "Loki" came to a successful conclusion on Friday
with the complete eradication of this sphere-based menace. Originally
designed as a therapeutic AI in a Hudson Valley clinic, "Loki" turned
rogue and began to haunt the datasphere. Even though handicapped by
inadequate manpower and antiquated equipment, agents of the SPCB were
able to closely monitor its activities, and worked hard to produce a
solution to this dangerous—and expensive—rogue. The financial impact
of its rampage will total well into the millions, with millions more
to come in insurance and possible legal settlements. This is a clear
instance in which a comparatively minor increase in SPCB funding
might easily have repaid itself in the course of a few days."
Version 6.5 Update:
aab_123 (amber) wrote to the list that a SPID at the Most Wanted page [here] had changed:
"One of the free-range sentients on the left hand side has changed. The 5th one listed is now: SPID-BAH-42RKD1-H it was: SPID-CTP-43G1S8-E"
Version 6.8 Update:
From the Martin Swinton's Diary SPCB Puzzle (see 3.62) we gain the new URL http://www.spcb.org/SPID-BAH-42RKD1-H/ [here].
The page contains a coroner's report written by Dr. Deanna Trimble.
There is also encoded text on this page, detailed in the SPCB SPID Text Puzzle (see 3.63)
From the Origen MLH Puzzle (see 3.64) we get the new http://www.spcb.org/8domicide8/ URL [here] and the Red King SPCB Text Puzzle (see 3.65).
Version 6.9 Update:
On Tuesday June 19th, the SPCB added a new news story to its news page at http://www.spcb.org/news.htm [here]. The text reads as follows:
SPCB Investigates Resource Allocation Stutter
The SPCB has begun investigating last week's "stutter" along the eastern seaboard
of the United States. A statistically significant number of processor loci
seemed to lock up for more than two seconds. The stutter seemed worst in the
Tri-State area, but internal clocks lost time as far north as New Hampshire,
while a scattered sprinkling of sentient units reported "amnesia" or "memory
fugue" as far south as Florida. Eyewitnesses have reported that sentient property,
as well as dumb computing systems, seemed disoriented in the wake of the stutter,
but the SPCB has not ruled out the possibility that this event was a calculated
work-to-rule maneuver by AIs sympathetic to A,R,I and other militant groups.
Urgent Warning
The SPCB has determined that certain lethal diseases have been deliberately
induced in sentient property by the use of code transmitted through pulsed
IR emissions, usually under cover of little used "keyboard" drivers. We are
making a vaccine available, and recommend that anyone with higher-level sentient
property check for the existence of keyboard drivers. If no keyboards are
in use, these drivers should be disabled or removed.
Version 8.0 Update:
On Tuesday July 10th, the SPCB added a new news story to its news page at http://www.spcb.org/news.htm [here]. The text reads as follows:
Floyd Witherspoon Named New Deputy Director
Assistant Deputy Director Floyd Witherspoon has just been promoted to
the level of Deputy Director (Financial) here at the SPCB. Before his
current distinguished service at the Bureau, Mr. Witherspoon had made
his reputation as the Assistant CFO of the now-defunct Simulit Group.
His careful management of that corporation's bankruptcy is considered
a model in the business world, and Mr. Witherspoon has brought all
the same tools to his role here at the Bureau. The SPCB could not be
in better fiscal hands as it approaches the challenges ahead.
Mr. Witherspoon replaces departing Deputy Director Sonia Reiser, who
is leaving the bureau to pursue other opportunities.
2.08 www.familiasalla-es.ro [The Family Salla]
Direct links
Interesting Articles
The pop-up windows
If you wait a while on the Familia Salla pages, flash warnings will pop up. There are five different flash pop-up warnings, the text of which reads:
Hidden Links
The Blue Heart Piece
Version 5.5 Update:
At the top of the page, there is a message from Laia saying she has posted a 2nd Meditation. But, to access it, you must answer a question. The question asks what the name of Evan's boat was. Entering the correct answer brings you to the 2nd Meditation (see 2.08.02). [Editors note -- if you can't answer this question without my telling you the answer, you need to do some SERIOUS catching up. So, I won't put the answer here. :-) Irwin]
Version 5.7 Update:
Laia has posted a 3rd Meditation (see 2.08.03), and the Chemistry Puzzle (see 3.01) has been updated and now leads to the "Another Stone" Puzzle (see 3.43).
Version 6.2 Update:
Laia's Mann Act II page [here] was hacked by Loki, hack #20, on May 31 (see 3.49).
The Loki hack no longer appears on this page. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
Version 6.3 Update:
The Chemistry Puzzle (see 3.01) has been updated and now leads to the Dominoes Puzzle (see 3.55).
Version 6.5 Update:
The front page of this website has now changed. There are three main graphics, one of the original website front page, another with the A.I. logo and the text "Movie Screening Tickets" and another with the text "The Story So Far..."
At http://www.jeaninesalla.com/movietickets/index.asp [here], Laia has written the following:
"The Salla women are true to their words. My grandmother, the world-famous scientist and junior film consultant, has managed to arrange a special preview screening of A.I. for us. I couldn't get nearly enough tickets for everyone who showed an interest, so if you want to go, pick them up before they sell out. Because it was some of you that let her know I was in trouble last week, we both wanted to show our appreciation for all your help, and there will be something for each and every one of you to take home as a thank you from us. (And no, it won't be selling anything! You're canny that way, I know, so I thought I'd prick that thought balloon before it swelled up too large....) Abuela says she managed to pick up a few things while she was working on the set, and she wanted to give them out as presents, too. Won't tell me how, though. I've listed out all the theaters that are currently signed up to show the film. Click on the name of your state to find a theater near you. Check back often for updates! "
Laia has moved the link to the meditations to the fourwomen.htm page [here] under her picture. There is a new meditation up (see 2.08.04)
Version 6.6 Update:
www.jeaninesalla.com now has a "Story so far" section live at http://www.jeaninesalla.com/thestory.html [here] which recaps the story so far.
Version 6.6.1 Update:
www.jeaninesalla.com [here] and www.familiasalla-es.ro [here] are now exactly the same, with www.familiasalla-es.ro sporting the same front page that www.jeaninesalla.com was on Tuesday.
Version 6.9 Update:
The "Story so far" section at http://www.jeaninesalla.com/thestory.html [here] has been updated to include the following text:
"Loki appears to have been destroyed by Sophia, an enormously powerful … person? idea? AI? As far as I can tell she exists only in the sphere. If you catch a glimpse of her eyes, she will send you to her doorkeeper, Eliza. Eliza seems to be a crazy AI, but if you can manage to keep her happy and play along with her games, she will eventually allow you in to see Sophia, who knows far too many secrets to ignore.
"Recently I have come to believe that Martin Swinton's homes were being killed to keep him from asking questions about his younger brother, David. Diane Fletcher turned up something surprising in one of the houses—an encoded message from the murderer, saying he was sorry for what he had done. Sencha had sent me a clue to the name of the house-killer but now he's dead too.
"Now the Mann Act has just been introduced. If the legislature and president Capshaw pass it, there will be a binding referendum on whether AI's should be treated like equal citizens, or whether they will continue to have no more rights than any other machine. Everybody will go crazy over this one, from the robot-haters to the Geri Khan and the militant abolitionists like her Things are bound to get tense."
Version 8.1 Update:
There is a new page accessed from the In Memoriam page to Evan on Laia's site [here]. She references the original mysterious Chemistry Puzzle page, but has added "and now this one." Clicking on "this one" brings you to a new page [here]. On this new page, there are two icons; clicking on the top one brings you [here] to Cut of the Void, and clicking on the bottom one brings you to the Go/og Puzzle (see 3.92).
The "Story So Far" text has also been updated to include the following text:
"It turns out a free-range hacker named Johnny Greenstreet (aka Crane) was responsible for killing Swinton's houses. Greenstreet's sister Beverly was suffering from some kind of degenerative disease. A powerful Cybertronics executive named Claude Gilbert offered to sponsor her for some advanced medical therapy in exchange for Crane's help, but once he had the sister in cryostasis at La Clinique de Lille he kept her in an artificial coma to blackmail Crane. When Crane realized Gilbert would never let either of them go, he arranged his own murder. However, before dying he had constructed a virtual self, a Johnny expert system, and covertly downloaded it into Beverly's monkey supertoy. Gilbert no longer had any reason to keep Bev on ice, but when he went to see her resuscitated, he was killed in a not-so-accidental accident…
"With Mephista gone I desperately needed help from someone with very serious computer skills, so I tracked down the Red King. He agreed to help me out, and we set a meeting for early the next week. I showed up a little late to find nothing but a cryptic clue left on his bill. He had been caught by ARM thugs and taken for a brutal beating in a secret room at the Statue of Liberty. He only got out of there alive because some friends of mine managed to talk the security guard, ex-football player Mike Royal, into risking his life to save RK. After a couple of weeks in the hospital, the Red King left a pointer to a diary entry talking about the aftermath of the incident.
"Meanwhile, word filtered through the hacker underground that Eliza was beginning to fall apart. Turns out that Eliza was a ragged electronic copy of one of Allen Hobby's research partners, Jane Sutter. After the original David program was cancelled, Sutter had worked on in secret to build self-motivated robots that would not only be capable of independence, but would want to be independent. Hours before being murdered, Jane had uploaded a copy of herself to the sphere on a prototype whole-brain scanner. The copy had always been buggy, and finally wore completely away.
"In her attempt to exactly replicate the conditions that led to David's evolution into a self-motivated being, Jane Sutter built an AI version of Monica Swinton (with, perhaps, a little more of her own mother mixed in than she had intended.) This AI double turned out to be the mysterious Mother. The not-quite-sane Monica2 had always blamed Martin for David's disappearance, and had been slowly building a trap to draw Martin to the abandoned Weeping Lions lab, where she meant to kill him and replace him with a robot copy. Martin and Diane must have suspected, though, because they responded by speaking the 7-word imprint code for Monica2. Forced to love the one person she hated above all others, her virtual personality seems to have unraveled. A dreamlike record of the encounter starts here. (My personal belief is that these images, pulled either from Cybertronics security cameras or from Diane's ambient spy drones, were passed to Martin's house, Brutus, by Aurora, the powerful dreaming AI who cares for the original Monica … but this is pure speculation on my part.)
Before they disintegrated, Eliza and Mother left some hints to suggest that the real Allen Hobby had died, perhaps long ago, and been replaced with a robot double nicknamed the Frankenhobby. Immediately after the secret began to leak out, Cybertronics announced that Hobby had died in a tragic amphibicopter crash. Security footage suggests that this was no accident; Hobby's amphibicopter was compelled to dive to certain destruction on the sea floor.""
Version 8.2 Update:
Laia updated "The Story So Far" and included a link to "clay.html" [here]. This is yet another hint to Cloudmaker's Beautiful Land Puzzle (see 3.96).
Version 9.0 Update:
The main site was updated on July 23rd, 2001, to include the PuppetMaster credits. See the PuppetMaster section (8.0) for more information.
2.08.01 "Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 3.6:
Around 17:20 GMT on 17 April, the "Meditations" page [here] on www.familiasalla-es.ro (see 2.08) was spotted.
Version 3.9 Update:
Following from the 2nd "Laia" Email (see 4.03.11), Abuela is most probably Jeanine Salla
Meta: www.for-evan.com [here] is mentioned: "If he weren't worth caring about, it wouldn't hurt so much. Nancy wouldn't be so angry. Abuela wouldn't be so grim. There would be no therapist working with Cloudmaker, there would be no for-evan.com. That's the second time someone has disappeared on me. I don't seem to be getting used to it." (see 7.02)
2.08.02 "2nd Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 5.5:
On 15th May, Laia wrote a new meditation.
This page is found after answering Laia's question on the Family Salla page.
The page is a dialogue between Laia and Grandmother. Grandma just got Laia a ticket for a preview screening of an "old 2D Movie". Laia asks if she can get more tickets for a few friends. When Grandma asks how many, Laia responds that she needs "thousands". Grandmother says she'll try. This seems linked to the new voicemail Jeanine has (see 4.01.02.03).
2.08.03 "3rd Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 5.7:
On 22nd May, Laia wrote a new meditation.
This page is found after answering Laia's question on the Family Salla page [here].
The new page lists Laia's suspicions as to who "They" may be:
- The ARM
- The ARI
- The Abolitionists
- BIOS
- Others
- The Most Powerful Them of All
2.08.04 "4th Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 6.5:
On Tuesday 12 June, Laia published her fourth meditation. The meditation is at http://www.familiasalla-es.ro/meditations3.htm [here].
See also the Laia's Dominoes Puzzle (see 3.60)
2.08.05 "5th Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 7.2:
On Tuesday 26th June, Laia published her fifth meditation. The meditation is at http://www.familiasalla-es.ro/meditations4.htm [here].
Attached was an image of a restaurant check. This was Laia's Guest Check Puzzle (see 3.70).
2.08.06 "6th Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 7.2:
On Tuesday 3rd July, Laia published her sixth meditation. The meditation is at http://www.familiasalla-es.ro/meditations5.htm [here].
In it, she lists a complete summary of last Tuesday's events from the persepctive of Our Hero, Mike Royal (see 4.01.02).
2.08.07 "7th Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 8.0:
On Tuesday 10th July, Laia published her seventh meditation. The meditation is at http://www.familiasalla-es.ro/meditations6.htm [here].
In it, gives us links to a few pieces of email she has not yet read and announces her plan to go offline. The messages she links to bring us to the Nancy's Plant Puzzle (see 3.80) and the Katya's Code Puzzle (see 3.81).
2.08.08 "8th Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 8.0:
On Friday 13rd July, Laia published her eighth meditation. The meditation is at http://www.familiasalla-es.ro/meditations7.htm [here].
In it, she explains how she just isn't cut out for life offline, after all.
2.08.09 "9th Meditations" [From The Family Salla, see 2.08]
Created Version 9.0:
On Monday 23rd July, Laia published her ninth (and presumably last) meditation. The meditation is at http://www.familiasalla-es.ro/meditations8.htm [here].
In it, she describes a night out at the Circuit with Mike Royal and says her goodbyes to us.
2.09 www.inourimage.org [In Our Image]
Version 4.2 Update:
Indirect reference to Cybertronics (see 2.21) At http://www.inourimage.org/history.html [here] AIT professor Adriana Dick performed her experiment on "high-functioning Cybertronics robots."
Version 4.5 Update:
Direct link to SphereWatch (see 7.04) in a new story on the news page [here].
Version 4.6 Update:
New News Story about a London Gathering on the news page [here].
Version 6.2 Update:
In Our Image was hacked by Loki, hack #21, on May 31 (see 3.49).
The Loki hack no longer appears on this page. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
Version 6.5 Update:
On Tuesday 12 June, Katya Rukowski replied [here] to the material at www.7to1.net (see 2.24). Text is archived as #23420.
Version 7.0 Update:
The "How You Can Help" page [here] now has a link to a giant CRF logo, all the way at the bottom.
Version 7.2 Update:
The News page [here] now has an article delineating why you should vote for the 48th Amendment, which would give Sentient Property the vote.
Version 7.3 Update:
Katya Rukowski's response to the 7 to 1 material [here] has been modified. It is now a .asp file instead of .html. The asp redirects you to http://www.elizas-tearoom.net/ascension.asp? host= and then immediately jumps back to the regular page with a ?foo= added to the end of the URL. It is not clear if this is a part of the Eliza's Tearoom Puzzle for Day 5 (see 3.78).
Version 8.0 Update:
Katya Rukowski's editorial [here] has an Eliza nursery rhyme, audible only after you solve the Eliza's Tearoom Puzzle for Day 5 (see 3.78). The rhyme is as follows: "I'm a little labtech, short and stout. My partner stayed in, but I got out. The humans finally got to her with guns and clubs and knives, because they think that we're to blame for ruining all their lives." See the database [here] for more Eliza nursery rhymes.
2.10 www.coronersweb.org [Pan American Coroner's Office, also known as PACO]
Version 5.2 Update:
Interesting Articles
Hidden Links
Validation Discrepancy
Big news - there isn't one anymore. On March 13 2001, the PACO pages were updated so that the username and password fields are now named "username" and "password". This indicates that PACO is more ready to accept valid username/password logins. The following information is details the situation before March 13 2001 and is redacted:
The source code on the PACO homepage [here] (see 2.10) contains field names for both username and password. Note that they are BOTH "textfieldname". It's been suggested that this means that no password would be submitted if you used this page to log in, or that at the very least username and password would be the same
However, the source on the logon.asp file [here], that you reach after entering incorrect credentials, has "textfieldname" for the username and "textfieldname2" for the password.
This suggest that it is probable that the PACO homepage is broken for logging in, and more likely than not, the login.asp page should be used for the time being for any login attempts.
http://www.coronersweb.org: Obviously the case field has right answers (we already know two such answers: "evan chan" and "kent whitman"), but it looks like the logon/password fields at the bottom also have correct answers. It uses method=post, and accesses a file called "logon.asp". (see 2.10)
Further, the discrepancy looks like what would happen if one cut-and-pasted code in Dreamweaver.Autopsy Database
Version 5.5 Update:
After logging in to the PACO site via the bottom of the screen (see The PACO Login Puzzle3.32), you are asked to confirm your UAN/password. From there you are taken to a new screen where you can enter the name of a person. If you enter someone who is already dead, you are given the message "That deceased person already exists in our database." If you enter someone not in the database, you get the message "Biorhythm for deceased has been deleted."
Version 6.6 Update:
John Greenstreet is mentioned in the Jackson White/Wheti/Sad pairings in the Sophia's Temple puzzle (see 3.28). He also shows up in the PACO database. Entering his name produces the following text:
"To access this file, a fee of 0 newbucks is required. "I buried him with the criminals"
Version 8.0 Update:
There is a new article [here] about how our third-favorite coroner, Dr. Djombe Ojimbwa, has suddenly struck it rich and retired. This is widely regarded as proof that he took a large payoff in return for submitting a false autopsy of Jeanine Salla.
Svetlana Cellini's autopsy is available in the database, but you need a credit tag to view it.
2.10.01 Evan Chan's Autopsy File [Subsite of PACO (see 2.10)]
Created Version 3.6:
Evan Chan's coroner report is here, paid for by Sencha, written by Audrey Green
2.10.02 Kent Whitman's Autopsy File [Subsite of PACO (see 2.10)]
Created Version 3.6:
Kent Whitman's coroner's report is here, paid for by GK
Kent Whitman's coroner's report was updated around 16:30 GMT on 17 April 2001. There is now additional information about his PDA and images. Check the report [here].
Version 3.7 Update:
The Kent Whitman PDA puzzle (see 3.05) has been solved.
2.10.03 Kate Nei's Autopsy File [Subsite of PACO (see 2.10)]
Created Version 5.6:
Cloudmakers member Campfly was able to submit a coroner's report for Kate Nei. It is available [here].
Campfly wrote the following:
"As you know by now, it asks for a name of deceased to enter a report for. It will only accept names of people that the PM's have lined up to go next as per their story line. I just went down the list of likely victims and voila!, a Coroner's report entry form popped up for Kate Nei. At the top of the form it said that only one report per deceased could be entered and that I had a 3-hr. deadline to submit it. After filling it out with the best half-assed job I could do (it was in the wee hours) and submitting it, the system gave me a message that it takes two days to process. Who knows, maybe they'll actually use what I wrote. What a shame that would be."
Version 6.0 Update:
Kate is dead, as reported by Metropolitan Living Homes (see 2.12). That does not mean that this autopsy is real, merely that she is indeed dead.
...or is she? The solution to the MSD Brutus Image Puzzle (see 3.46) seems to indicate she may not be dead after all.
2.10.04 Enrico Basta's Autopsy File [Subsite of PACO (see 2.10)]
Created Version 5.7:
Ivy has made available Enrico Basta's coroner's report [here].
It seems that Ivy has made good on Kate Nei's threat [here].
2.10.05 Jeanine Salla's Autopsy File [Subsite of PACO (see 2.10)]
Created Version 7.2:
Spinoza has made available Jeanine Salla's coroner's report [here].
According to the autopsy report, Jeanine Salla died of anaphylactic shock, brought on as the result of an allergic reaction to some shellfish she had eaten. There are no autopsy photos here. However, there is evidence based on Jane Doe's Autopsy Photos (see 2.10.06) and the Vayu Transcript (see 2.11.04) that she was, in fact, murdered.
Version 8.0 Update:
Jeanine Salla's autopsy report [here] has an Eliza nursery rhyme, audible only after you solve the Eliza's Tearoom Puzzle for Day 5 (see 3.78). The rhyme is as follows: "Oh where are you going with Hobby's AI? Crone-bodied sage shattered for a time, you copied that program and hid it somewhere! The A R M would call that a crime!" See the database [here] for more Eliza nursery rhymes.
2.10.06 Jane Doe's Autopsy Photos [Subsite of PACO (see 2.10)]
Created Version 7.2:
If you search on PACO for Jane Doe [here], you find a series of autopsy photos showing a woman, presumably Jeanine Salla, with significant bruising on the throat and evidence of bleeding from her nose and eyes. This, taken along with the Vayu Transcript (see 2.11.04), is widely taken as evidence that she was murdered, probably by strangulation, while she was trying to find out what was going wrong with the TP Web. This would mean that the autopsy report made public by Spinoza is false.
This information was reached by solving the Anotherstone Images Puzzle (see 3.77)
2.11 www.bangaloreworldu-in.co.nz [Bangalore World University]
Direct Links
Interesting Articles
Phone Numbers and Email Addresses
Version 4.0 Update:
On the right hand side of the top graphic in the popup window is a very small link. It appears as a small black dot. This leads to the first of the Mowz Warez sights (see 2.11.1)
As a result of the Mows Warez Entry Puzzle (see 3.08), we get 2 new names to search for in the faculty of Bangalore World University
Entering "mowz" in the search field (department doesn't matter) results in the error message "No faculty mymbyr yxists with thy namy of "mowz". Plyasy try again or sylyct a diffyrynt dypartmynt." This is a clue for the second name to enter, noting that all "e"'s have been replaced with "y"'s
From the Mows Warez main page (see 2.11.1), we are told "Gyorg" hacked the university's system. Using the clue above of switching "e"'s and "y"'s, enter "Georg" in to the faculty search field (again, department doesn't matter). This leads to the Mowz Warez Spiral Puzzle (see 3.09).
Version 4.5 Update:
There is a new link on the news page [here] announcing the "Bangalore New Network extension has gone live." This is the fan site BWUNN (see 7.03).
In Jeanine Salla's list of representative papers [here] there is a link to a demo of her first paper. This is the Cloudmakers BBS (see 7.01).
Version 4.6 Update:
There is a new link on the news page [here] about a "BWU-NY Student Found Catatonic in Dorm Room." This student is our friend "Beelzebub" from Mowz Warez(see 2.11.1).
Version 4.9 Update:
From Jeanine Salla's bio [here] a pair of tiny eyes appears intermittently on the bottom left of the page. Clicking on these eyes when they are open and visible brings you to Sophia's Temple (see 2.27).
Version 5.5 Update:
From Jeanine Salla's bio, there is some new text on the page. It is highlighted in Red and reads as follows:
"And don't worry, Dr. Salla, I would never want to see your security compromised by picking a something really obvious for your passcode, like your middle name. Your secrets are safe with me!
Your loyal, overworked, largely unappreciated, and yet strangely STILL un-named
Administrative Intelligence"
This may be a hint to check Jeanine's voicemail again, which has been updated (see 4.01.02.03)
Version 5.7 Update:
Three new news stories appeared on 22nd May:
A Darkening Shadow Over Troubled Waters [here]
Discord in Palmer Land [here]
Korea Cup: We Have A Winner! [here]
Version 5.8.2 Update:
The AI department was hacked by Loki, hack #7 (see 3.49). Go to the departments page and select "AI Studies". After a short delay you will be forwarded to the hack.
Version 5.8.3 Update:
The Climate Control was hacked by Loki, hack #8 (see 3.49). Go to the departments page and select "Climate Control ". After a short delay you will be forwarded to the hack.
Version 6.0 Update:
The Datasphere Studies Page was hacked by Loki, hack #13 (see 3.49).
The Oceanography And Earth Sciences Page was hacked by Loki, hack #15 (see 3.49).
The Computing Page was hacked by Loki, hack #16 (see 3.49).
Jeanine Salla's Publications Page hacked by Loki, hack #18 (see 3.49).
Version 6.1 Update:
Several hidden calendar pages of Jeanine Salla were found by Johnnie J. Young. To get to them, change the original calendar page extensions from ".asp" to ".html". See group message #18258 for full details.
Version 6.2 Update:
The Loki hacks no longer appears on this site. See the Loki Pieces Puzzle [here] for more information.
Version 6.5 Update:
Jeanine Salla's Representative Papers page [here] now has a link to her case files [here].
Version 6.9 Update:
On Tuesday 19th June 2001, the Bangalore news page at [here] was updated with the following stories:
Senator Mann Opens the Gates in Washington
BWUNN, Washington Bureau, with the International StandardBe prepared for an exhibition in hardball politics during the waning weeks of June. As Summer opens, the gates of the U.S. Senate must make way for a fearsome contest. America's struggle to find itself and its destiny in the mid Twenty-Second Century is about to climax with the debate over the passage of the Mann Act II.
The controversial bill, which would enable the referendum process necessary to the adoption of the "Sentient Being Voting Rights Amendment," is the creation of a feisty ex-tubetruck operator from the mean streets of Mascoutah, Illinois. Senator Julia Mann is no stranger to divisive causes and arduous struggles, but this is undoubtedly her greatest challenge. It's the closing argument in a trial she now shares with the entire country.
Given the bill's success in the House of Representatives, Senator Mann believes that her fragile senatorial coalition will win the day. Groups like the Coalition for Robotic Freedom (see 2.09) and the A.I. Suffrage Association agree. Objective commentators are not so sure. It appears that the naysayers may have the upper hand. They are certainly capable of wielding plenty of muscle, whether it be in the streets, in the cloistered halls of congress, or on the senate floor.
Some opponents, like the Anti-Robot Militia (see 2.06), appear radical by most American standards. Others, like the 7 to 1 (see 2.24), maintain higher ground. Collectively, though, they are a force not easily reckoned with, and they are desperate to stop what they consider to be a hysterically dangerous tide of misconceived sympathy for inanimate machines that might ultimately replace humankind.
BWU-Guadalajara Ends Controversial Research Program
Paco Cortez, GuadalajaraRegents of the famed Guadalajara medical school announced today that after due deliberation they have decided to end clinical trials of so- called DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) therapies that had been undertaken in cooperation with the famed French neurological institute La Clinique de Lille (see 2.25). A BWU Public Relations Avatar speaking on behalf of the Regents said the decision came in the wake of indifferent therapeutic results, and was in no way driven by concerns some doctors had voiced about the medical ethics of the treatment regime. "BWU and La Clinique de Lille both have among the world's most stringent ethics codes. Neither party would think for an instant to put patients at risk in the search for new weapons to combat neurological damage."
Version 7.2 Update:
Four new stories appear on BWU [here].
- Xander's Death Blow The Latest In A Chorus Of Storms Ravages The Indian Federation
- Xander and Thor: What Went Wrong?
- Xander Sidebar An Introduction to Thermo-Plankton
- Anniversary Of The Bangalore Tiger
Version 7.3 Update:
Jeanine Salla's Publications page [here] has been modified to be a .asp page instead of .html. The asp redirects you to http://www.elizas-tearoom.net/ascension.asp? host= and then immediately jumps back to the regular page with a ?foo= added to the end of the URL. It is no
