Merge pull request #69 from freenode/style-vars

[irc/freenode/web-7.0.git] / content / news / 2013-04-09-april-1st-2013-the-aftermath.md

author: RichiH
date: 2013-04-09 22:24:47+00:00
slug: april-1st-2013-the-aftermath
title: April 1st 2013, the aftermath
category: April 1st
---
It’s been a little more than a week since we started our April Fools quiz this year; thanks to everybody who participated.

The first ten people who completed all three tracks are, in descending order of aprilness:



	
  * jojo

	
  * homerj

	
  * AndrewF

	
  * stereo`

	
  * ditzydoo

	
  * talisein

	
  * nebkat

	
  * timgoh0

	
  * Aster

	
  * PyroPeter




Here are the riddles and their solutions, in the original order:


## Misc





	
  1. ###>++++++++++ [>++++++++++>+++++++++++>+++++++++++>+++++++++++>++++++++++><<<<<<-] >+>++>++++>+>+++> <<<<<< >.>.>.>.>.

	
    * This was brainfuck code, writing eprog to stdout

	
    * **###eprog**




	
  2. #####946684800_–_4102444800

	
    * This was a range between two unix timestamps, from 1.1.2000 until 1.1.2100 (midnight)

	
    * **#####century**




	
  3. ##### 277453665

	
    * This level was slightly harder, on a phone keyboard (according to TU-T E.161) writing with these numbers spelled aprilfool (with some guessing or T9)

	
    * **#####aprilfool**




	
  4. [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0 ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0)

	
    * The beloved Rick Roll video. This was a joke idea, the channel ########gotyou was actually hidden as a channel forward (mode +f)

	
    * **########gotyou**




	
  5. ###### BOGBOS, SEAPHXDENDALMSP, CPTOSL, SCLBOSCPTARN

	
    * Similar to last years keyboard riddle, you had to connect the airports on a map which formed the letters I W I N.

	
      * Bogota to Boston: I

	
      * Seattle to Phoenix to Denver to Dallas to Saint Paul: W

	
      * Cape Town to Oslo: I

	
      * Santiago to Boston to Cape Town to Stockholm: N




	
    * **######iwin**





The topic in **######iwin** was: _Congratulations, you finished the misc track. Here, have a puzzle piece: It's dangerous to go alone! Take this! ###the. Make sure to also play the other quiz tracks!_


## Music


The list number references the level number of the listed question.



	
  1. What does Dorothy wish she was on the other side of?

	
    * **##rainbow**

	
    * Referencing: Dorothy from the _The Wizard of Oz_ sings "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."




	
  2. What is the first thing Rick Astley will never give up?

	
    * **##you**

	
    * Referencing: _Never Gonna Give You Up_ by Rick Astley.

	
    * [ Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ)




	
  3. This person can't touch "this."

	
    * **##mchammer**

	
    * Referencing: _U Can't Touch This_ by MC Hammer.




	
  4. This old song leaves many people wondering what the writers had wrote it about. Most people think the song is about drugs, however the group has said in interviews that it didn't really have any meaning at all.

	
    * **##hotelcalifornia**

	
    * Referencing: _Hotel California_ by the Eagles.

	
    * [Source](http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/hotel.asp)




	
  5. This 1975 classic is fairly self-explanatory.

	
    * **##bohemianrhapsody**

	
    * Referencing: _Bohemian Rhapsody_ by Queen.




	
  6. The main character, a kid, in this classic music video was mocked for being "this".

	
    * **##poet**

	
    * Referencing: _Another Brick in the Wall_ by Pink Floyd, specifically **Part 1**.

	
    * This question seemed to trip up the most people, as it was the most vague question.




	
  7. We reminisces about the good ole days of when those popular in music were radio stars.

	
    * **##buggles**

	
    * Referencing: _Video Killed the Radio Star_ by The Buggles.

	
    * This was the official answer for Level 8, however, as someone pointed out the official name of the band is "The Buggles."




	
  8. Michael Jackson's most popular song predicts this future event that is popular on the Internet as an event worth preparing for.

	
    * **##zombieapocalypse**

	
    * Referencing: _Thriller_ by Michael Jackson.

	
    * This one was a tad tricky as the answer was not in the lyrics of the song.




	
  9. This 80's song was very controversial when it came out, offending several people, including average working people. It is often censored on the radio when played.

	
    * **##moneyfornothing**

	
    * Referencing: _Money For Nothing_ by Dire Straits.

	
    * More about the [controversy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_for_Nothing_%28song%29#Controversy).




	
  10. The most popular guitar riff is from the beginning of this group's most popular song.

	
    * **##deeppurple**

	
    * Referencing: _Smoke on the Water_ by Deep Purple.




	
  11. This band was the first band to have three consecutive multi-platinum albums.

	
    * **##styx**

	
    * Referencing: The Grand Illusion, Pieces of Eight, Cornerstone, and Paradise Theatre. These albums have been certified Multi-Platinum by the [RIAA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riaa).





The /topic in **##styx** was: _Congratulations! | You have answered all the music trivia correctly. | Make you to play the other quizzes and you'll need this for later, ###best_


## Crypto


The list number references the level number of the listed question.



	
  1. Blog post of **##bhggbyhapu**

	
    * This is a simple [ROT13 cipher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rot13)

	
    * where AtoN, BtoO, CtoP, etc.

	
    * python -c "print 'bhggbyhapu'.decode('rot13')"

	
    * The answer is: **##outtolunch**




	
  2. pTShnJAmo3W0

	
    * This is base64 encoded **then** ROT13'ed.

	
    * python -c "print 'pTShnJAmo3W0'.decode('rot13').decode('base64')"

	
    * The answer is: **##panicsort**




	
  3. [http://i.imgur.com/AArVy5H.png](http://i.imgur.com/AArVy5H.png)

	
    * JWGUBNYMGBQWOI is the text

	
      * This text is encrypted using a [Vigenère cipher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigen%C3%A8re_cipher)

	
        * Here is a script I built to decrypt/encrypt [Vigenère ciphers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigen%C3%A8re_cipher) [http://git.io/TLfWTg](http://git.io/TLfWTg)




	
      * The key is **git**. This is from the reference of [Linus Torvalds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_torvalds) in the image.

	
      * The answer is: **##DONOTUSENVIDIA**







	
  4. QOZTMLUVG IPAJGECYZ | Don't forget to nT92MKV= | orange

	
    * QOZTMLUVG IPAJGECYZ

	
      * This is a [Vigenère cipher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigen%C3%A8re_cipher) again.

	
      * The key is **JUICE**. This is hinted at by _orange_.

	
      * Searching the web for the unencrypted text, **HURRICANE EGGBEATER** yields [https://xkcd.com/944/](https://xkcd.com/944/)




	
    * nT92MKV=

	
      * This is the same as the previous level, rot13'ed and then base64'ed.

	
      * python -c "'nT92MKV='.decode('rot13').decode('base64')"

	
      * **hover**




	
    * If you **hover** over the comic on [https://xkcd.com/944/](https://xkcd.com/944/) you'll see:

	
      * _After exhausting the OED, we started numbering them. When overlapping hurricanes formed at all points on the Earth's surface, and our scheme was foiled by Cantor diagonalization, we just decided to name them all "Steve". Your local forecast tomorrow is "Steve". Good luck._

	
        * This next step is a bit of a leap, but we expected you to search for key phrases in the string. You should end up on [Cantor's diagonal argument](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantor%27s_diagonal_argument) on wikipedia. From here you'll see some description of it. We want the most popular example of Cantor's diagonal argument, which is Russell's Paradox. (_Can a set of all sets contain itself?_)







	
    * The answer is **##russell'sparadox**




	
  5. [http://git.io/Y60F5g](http://git.io/Y60F5g) | 936 | UHG | NZCBXBXUSXDBXIWZWMMLLVLHM | WEQ | I'm So Meta Even This Acronym | freenode | 12 | ♥

	
    * The /topic changed a little bit during the game. This is the most recent form.

	
    * Hints given:

	
      * 2013-04-01 18:51:18 <yano> i think you should focus more on how you "cracked" the code for the last

	
      * 2013-04-01 18:51:32 <yano> and by code i mean, QOZTMLUVG IPAJGECYZ

	
      * 2013-04-01 18:52:12 <yano> UHG and WEG are pretty important

	
      * 2013-04-02 04:13:28 <yano> it is vigenere

	
      * 2013-04-02 05:42:38 <yano> **one more semi-important hint: UHG | NZCBXBXUSXDBXIWZWMMLLVLHM | WEQ are each encrypted with the same KEY and method**




	
    * The last hint pretty much gave it away for many people.

	
    * UHG | NZCBXBXUSXDBXIWZWMMLLVLHM | WEQ

	
      * This is [vigenère](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigen%C3%A8re_cipher) again.

	
      * The key is **IRC** ROT**12**-ed.

	
        * **IRC** is expected to come from the reference of _I'm So Meta Even This Acronym_ and _freenode_ as in an acronym of/about freenode.

	
        * The **12** comes from the number directly in the /topic.

	
        * UGH decrypts to

	
          * 


**AES**





	
        * NZCBXBXUSXDBXIWZWMMLLVLHM decrypts to

	
          * 


**TWOHUNDREDANDFIFTYSIXBITS**





	
        * WEQ decrypts to

	
          * 


**CBC**








	
      * Now, let's take a break and follow a pattern from previous levels. Let's pull up [https://xkcd.com/936](https://xkcd.com/936)

	
        * This should be obvious given the previous pattern of XKCD being involved in these levels.




	
      * While viewing that you should probably download [http://git.io/Y60F5g](http://git.io/Y60F5g)

	
        * wget http://git.io/Y60F5g




	
      * Y60F5g is encrypted with AES-256-CBC. This is provided by the previous clues.

	
      * The key for the encrypted file is **Tr0ub4dor&3**

	
        * This is obtained from the XKCD comic: [https://xkcd.com/936](https://xkcd.com/936)




	
      * openssl enc -d -aes-256-cbc -a -in Y60F5g -out Y60F5g.plaintext

	
      * The output of the file is: **##K&R**




	
    * The answer to this level is **##K&R**





The topic in **##K&R** was: _Congratulations! You have completed freenode's crypto challenge! | Make sure to also play the other quizzes, and take this with you ###est | [http://git.io/TLfWTg](http://git.io/TLfWTg) _

With **###the** and **###best** and **###est** you are expected to put these pieces together to find **###thebestest**

Congratulations to those who have completed all the tracks and levels!


## Top 10


All times listed are in UTC.
<table >
<tbody >
<tr >
Rank
Nick
Time
</tr>
<tr >

<td >1
</td>

<td >jojo
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:04:34
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >2
</td>

<td >homerj
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:14:31
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >3
</td>

<td >AndrewF
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:42:53
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >4
</td>

<td >Stereo`
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:51:42
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >5
</td>

<td >ditzydoo
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 07:20:45
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >6
</td>

<td >talisein
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 08:06:23
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >7
</td>

<td >nebkat
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 08:24:36
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >8
</td>

<td >jarick
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 09:53:51
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >9
</td>

<td >Sarah
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 10:06:50
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >10
</td>

<td >PyroPeter
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 10:55:47
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


## Lists


Those who have completed all the levels and made it to the final channel but didn't make it in time for the top 10:



	
  * alex_joni

	
  * CeruleanSky

	
  * DonkeyHotei

	
  * erkin

	
  * fsckd

	
  * kaneda^

	
  * Kent

	
  * luckybunny

	
  * Martok

	
  * pekuja

	
  * Pixelz

	
  * PoohBear

	
  * Rutix

	
  * shino

	
  * slidercrank

	
  * stac

	
  * Tordek

	
  * Valodim


These people were elligible for our cloak lottery, where we used a piece of code to randomly pick three people to win a cloak. Those people were: **fsckd**, **Rutix**, and **stac**.


## Top 10 For Each Track


All times are listed in UTC.


### Misc


<table >
<tbody >
<tr >
Rank
Nick
time
</tr>
<tr >

<td >1
</td>

<td >Xneby
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:19:19
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >2
</td>

<td >Stereo`
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:25:27
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >3
</td>

<td >AndrewF
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:31:31
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >4
</td>

<td >FireFly
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:36:28
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >5
</td>

<td >ubuntor
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:38:47
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >6
</td>

<td >thommey
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:40:30
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >7
</td>

<td >luckybunny
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:44:34
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >8
</td>

<td >lastplacer
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:48:33
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >9
</td>

<td >Pixelz
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:50:20
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >10
</td>

<td >Mortomes
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 20:51:10
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


### Music


<table >
<tbody >
<tr >
Rank
Nick
time
</tr>
<tr >

<td >1
</td>

<td >grawity
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 22:00:47
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >2
</td>

<td >PoohBear
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 22:32:45
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >3
</td>

<td >nikis
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 22:37:01
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >4
</td>

<td >CeruleanSky
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 22:37:32
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >5
</td>

<td >ss
</td>

<td >2013-03-31 23:31:32
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >6
</td>

<td >AndrewF
</td>

<td >2013-04-01 00:01:47
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >7
</td>

<td >Kent
</td>

<td >2013-04-01 00:05:03
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >8
</td>

<td >carharttjimmy
</td>

<td >2013-04-01 00:07:31
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >9
</td>

<td >Sarah
</td>

<td >2013-04-01 00:09:11
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >10
</td>

<td >fsckd
</td>

<td >2013-04-01 00:09:49
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>


### Crypto


<table >
<tbody >
<tr >
Rank
Nick
time
</tr>
<tr >

<td >1
</td>

<td >jojo
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 03:30:13
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >2
</td>

<td >homerj
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:12:04
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >3
</td>

<td >AndrewF
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:41:25
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >4
</td>

<td >Stereo`
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 06:43:39
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >5
</td>

<td >ditzydoo
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 07:12:06
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >6
</td>

<td >talisein
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 08:05:32
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >7
</td>

<td >nebkat
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 08:21:49
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >8
</td>

<td >shino
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 09:21:46
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >9
</td>

<td >jarick
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 09:52:16
</td>
</tr>
<tr >

<td >10
</td>

<td >Sarah
</td>

<td >2013-04-02 10:05:44
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>