VMs: Re: Is an "o" always an "o"?

[steve ekwall <ekwall2@xxxxxxxx>]

hi all :-) ~a sneaking back out from under my rock here~ (LOL) :-)

 

 Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 20:59:21 -0700
 From: DANA SCOTT <dscott520@xxxxxxx>
 To: Voynich Ms. mailing list <voynich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 Cc: AFScott@xxxxxxx
 Subject: VMs:  Is an "o" always an "o"?
 
-=se=-> Is an "o" always an "o"?  
        MY ANSWER = NO ! per ES 'Folding Key' <-=se=-

:DANA WRITES:


 I am curious at to what the general consensus is concerning the
 Voynich "alphabet"? Can we say that each "character" (symbol, glyph,
 etc.) always represents the same "character" wherever it appears in
 the manuscript. Statistically speaking, isn't it most likely that
 this is the case and that the "characters" are not being generated
 through some exotic encryption key. Just the placement of the
 letters throughout the manuscript, the easy flowing, almost
 predictable manner in which they appear in each of the "words" would
 probably rule out any key controlled text I should think, unless my
 lack of understanding of cryptology is so naive that I miss numerous
 alternative possibilities for encoding the text. 
\

-=se=->
        The Folding Key allows for a "hike-shift" type of encryption!
        at ANY time, with the introduction of a "gallows" one can move
        easily from 1 of 4 sections of the KEY.  I liken your question
        to "Isn't 50 on a safe dial "50"? - again the answer is NO!"
        Fly's (also known as drivers) between the wheels have for
        decades been "5 numbers"
        wide (a mechanical engineering quirk that was standerdized way
        back when) so, at one position 50 IS 50!, the NEXT (L/R) adds
        10 (1st Fly to NEXT Fly wheel) to
        that same "50"+10 = "60" , while the NEXT (R/L) mirrors IT to
        the original "50" or "50 - 10 = 40" ... The NUMBERS or
        "pointers" on a safe dial are just ~Truely FLOATing~
        _Indicators_ at (from) it's preent starting 'position'.
        While (above) safe dials are circular in positioning, I
        believe the "Gallows Characters" take place of the 'fly' to 
        reposition the "is this an "o" character again"..
        IF this concept is true and correct, an "o" can be upto four 
        (4) different characters, "o" included itself of course.

        I say "at ANYTIME" to explain the gallows mid-word etc.

        I was shot down predicting they wouldn't be side by side, but
        indeed if not space(s) tightly pushed together, there may be 
        2 if indeed not 3 occurances of this, in the entire VMS (sigh)
          m ybe (TYPO's)? 
        
<-=se=-

 If we can agree
 that an "o" is an "o" no matter where it occurs or what it stands
 for, then perhaps we can focus our efforts on finding a key
 association between the text and the drawings. It is just a thought
 and probably impossible to say with any degree of certainty, but
 then again maybe the cryptologists and linguists can say with a high
 degree of probability that "yes" an "o" is most likely an "o" in
 every case throughout the text. As for the "4o" combination, I am
 reminded of "qu" in English.
 
 Regards,
 Dana Scott
 
-=se=-> 

Your Question is valid and falls under a substitutions
code(s)?, like the Ceasers code (key?) or strip of cloth or leather
wrapped around a rod (of known diameter)

Folding /KEYs of the VMS requires a 3x3 key (or 9 total areas) on a
simple piece of paper! The upper four (4) areas are one SUBset, so "o"
can be 1 of 4... and the "c_GALLOWS_c" points to an EXACT _MIRROR_ of
the upper set (which sadly just 'DOUBLES the TROUBLE' to uncoding it!)
The Center is yours? - put a nail in to rotate? H*ck I still don't
know about CENTER FOLDed key - sorry:-(( , But reminds me of the
"spindle" that attaches a safe "dial" - to the combination "pack".. 
If TRUE(?) the VMS is what I'd call a 4 wheel pack!, or otherwise,
just has 4 different "o's" that it can encompass with in its coding 
structure.

All in All - this is not "exotic", (albiet ~unique~), but it can be a
real B*tch (if you'll pardon my French - and it MAY well be decoded to
French?). As one writing OR decoding the FOLDing KEY - must keep
~constant attention~ as to where one is at in the process to "UNLOCK
IT" (decode it) etc..

(Whatever Language it is in!) I stand by the VMS "characters" are just
"POINTERS". Yes they are substituted code, but EACH has a placement of
4 areas .... 3 x 3 FOLDED paper YEILDS the "Tic.Tac.Toe" MASTER KEY! 

That is why it has been SOooooo HARD to ~Crack!~ IT ROTATES (Mirror).

Sorry to make everone here think round and Round and ROUND, but the
Gallows dictate their current area, AND the "gallows"  oddly?
are sparcer(?) towards the end (final pages?) of the
VMS, I think THEY? too, got _tired_ of turning paper Keys around?

1 folding is more than enough - the c_gallows_c is X2 mirror etc..

Best to your & your
-=se=-
steve (BACK under my rock now :-) ekwall

P.S. 4 Wheels combinations?, "Gallows (mirrored)" is not so bad!
     The VMS DEcoding is well within reach!

<-=se=-