Re: [Palindrome] Pondering the Note

[Scott Purdy <smpurdy btinternet com>]

I considered trying to get a clarification on that, but realized that I 
probably wasn't going to get an answer. My best theory is that teams will 
be receiving something more concrete than a username and password in order 
to get started. We were asked to provide a username and password as part 
of registration. But if, for example, a PIN was also necessary, and was 
going to be provided to teams in the form a mechanical puzzle at noon on 
Friday, where the PIN is the number showing in the configuration when the 
slide is removed. Or something. You get the idea. Anyway, I know there are 
remote teams which have participated entirely remotely, with the knowledge 
that there's stuff they simply won't be able to do, like win. This note 
might be telling them that they aren't even going to be able to get 
started.

One piece of "inside information" that I don't feel bad about sharing, 
because they're clearly not trying to keep it from me when both Jenn and 
Dan have grumbled about it, not just in my presence but directly to me, 
and, come to think of it, because I think Dan mentioned it in his LJ, is 
that they're over-budget, but feel it was well worth it.

----- Original Message ----
From: Trip Payne <trippayne bellsouth net>
To: Palindrome <palindrome cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Friday, 15 December, 2006 2:41:49 PM
Subject: [Palindrome] Pondering the Note


I'm left wondering about the point of the "note" about this year's hunt 
on the MIT Hunt homepage.  If you haven't seen it, it says:

> Note: For various reasons that can not be revealed at this time, every 
> team in this year's Hunt needs to have at least one member on campus. 
> Most puzzles will be available remotely, but certain key elements of 
> the Hunt will not be posted on the Internet.

Well ... how is that different than any other year?  There are always 
runarounds, always scavenger hunts, always things you have to construct 
and take to HQ.  There are always group events that need to be attended 
(game shows, mixers, etc.).  Heck, you can't even retrieve the coin if 
you don't have a member on campus.

So I'm wondering why they posted this at all, since no team can ever do 
well without having some of its members on campus.  Is there something 
that we should be inferring from it?

-- Trip


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