I am moving this here, as I no longer think it should be in the "best evidence" category, as it may just be a chance happening, as doranchak and glurk have shown, and for whatever merit it may have as a discussion topic, it can have its own thread.

Here are some vertical word finds discovered in the Zodiac 408 by Doug Oswell, Zander Kite and myself. Of course all of these could be random white noise.

BUT…they do all occur in a fairly concentrated area on or near the word PARADICE, most between six lines and between columns 5 and 13. These include TED, TEASE, HEAL, EARN. And the Halloween Card introduces the idea of PARADICE intersecting vertically with a horizontal SLAVES. Here PARADICE is intersected vertically by several words.

Several also have a nautical theme – WAVE, TIDE, BELL. (Bells were used on early light houses, rocks and buoys to warn ships). Ted’s favorite writer was Joseph Conrad, a former sailor who wrote nautical tales, and who cited Marryat as a key influence on him. Doug Oswell noted a short story by Frederick Marryat called "The Legend of Bell Rock" that had all three elements in the key concluding page, featuring a man who could not earn enough money to win the hand of his love and dies because of the absence of a warning bell on an ocean rock and the woman who loved him "plunging into the wave" at tide.

Similar to the Mikado line quoted by Zodiac, "he plunged into the billowy wave" and the Zodiac line "help me I’m drownding". And all of these remind of the short story "Ship of Fools" written by Ted K, concerning a ship sinking and everyone drowning.

Now this gets a little twisty, and thus more prone to possible coincidence, but Doug Oswell also found:

MATH I TEACH

TED AND DAVE

And I found a twisty:

SHORE

DORANCHAK: You should be careful to conclude that there is a pattern without first considering all the other possible words that can be found in the text. Here are 174 other examples that you didn’t already point out:

TOTAL, TENDS, NAMES, CELLO, BELLY, INTO, ALSO, MANY, SOON, NEWS, SEAT, TEND, TALL, SHOT, ENDS, WISE, EASE, TALE, ROLL, TIES, LUNG, POTS, SORE, IRIS, NETS, ROBE, RITA, TORT, DUMP, MEMO, MOSS, LEAR, EDIT, PITT, MATS, TROT, DELL, SASH, DARA, MINA, MEWS, MIRO, SIRI, APTS, SWAB, DEMI, MOLT, NOSH, ROMS, NOAA, MARI, CAN, ALL, HIM, ITS, ANY, NEW, GET, SEE, YES, MAN, GOT, END, TEN, PUT, AIR, ART, LET, LOT, SON, SIR, RED, LOW, SEA, OIL, EYE, ARM, HOT, TEA, BAR, GAS, INC, MET, LEG, IAN, AYE, EAT, SIT, ETC, OOH, LEE, FIT, OCT, WET, EAR, NET, EGG, DNA, ILL, LIE, TIN, POT, MUD, TIP, LAD, TIE, LES, PIT, YEP, SIN, ROB, OWE, LEA, WEE, FOG, EGO, RON, MEG, EVE, ACE, LOU, APT, ASH, EVA, RAM, ALE, RIM, TOY, MAC, BEE, MAT, TON, TAG, ORE, GEL, TEE, HEN, ANT, LOO, SIC, RIG, ION, SLY, SGT, WIG, ROT, TOW, MAR, SIP, RAP, REP, FAG, WES, GEM, COY, FIR, NRA, VEG, GIT, ROM, VIE, SEW, BOO, MAG, TOT, CUM, FAY, MED, GIL, ABS, ERR, POE, LAM, SAG

I updated the gadget: http://zodiackillerciphers.com/word-search-gadget/ . Click the "408 solution" button at the bottom. Then you can highlight the words via the "Show this word" drop down list.

Even in your own post, many words can be found:

AK Wilks wrote:Yes at the old site the main TK post ran past 50 pages! So to have some…And the Halloween Card introduces the idea of PARADICE inte

Converted to a 17×24 block:

YESATTHEOLDSITETH
EMAINTKPOSTRANPAS
TPAGESSOTOHAVESOM
EOFTHEMOSTIMPORTA
NTANDKEYINFOHEREI
NONEORTWOPAGESISN
ICEHEREARESOMEVER
TICALWORDFINDSDIS
COVEREDINTHEZODIA
CBYDOUGOSWELLZAND
ERKITEANDMYSELFOF
COURSEALLOFTHESEC
OULDBERANDOMWHITE
NOISEBUTTHEYDOALL
OCCURINAFAIRLYCON
CENTRATEDAREAONOR
NEARTHEWORDPARADI
CEMOSTBETWEENSIXL
INESANDBETWEENCOL
UMNSANDTHESEINCLU
DETEDTEASEHEALEAR
NANDTHEHALLOWEENC
ARDINTRODUCESTHEI
DEAOFPARADICEINTE

Here are all the words you can find:

TUBES, LAURA, CRUDE, SUTRO, WITH, SOME, SEEN, NAME, MAIN, IDEA, NEED, SORT, GONE, FEET, WEST, FINE, ARTS, RARE, TAPE, EARS, LANE, ROSS, TUBE, RIDE, NATO, TIED, RUDE, DEER, SORE, DAFT, ERDA, REED, MARS, DASH, TETH, AURA, LAIS, AMEN, THAI, FADE, ASTA, LYON, OCHO, MEAD, EWES, TOSS, AFTR, ROWE, TART, TROP, LOOM, RETD, SERA, SATE, OMAR, LEES, DEEN, SEGA, NOIR, ESSO, PRAT, NEES, HELE, DARA, GIDE, DNAS, TARP, EROS, DOZE, DODO, THE, AND, ARE, HIS, SHE, HAS, ONE, ITS, TWO, DID, DID, TOO, SEE, MAN, MEN, YET, WAR, TEN, FEW, ART, LET, PAY, PER, NOR, GON, SET, RED, SEA, SAT, HOT, TEA, TOP, RUN, AID, LED, MET, LEG, IAN, DAD, EAT, VIA, ADD, ROW, LEE, SAD, GAP, OCT, HAT, WET, EAR, FEE, NET, RAW, NHS, DNA, DNA, ILL, RID, LIE, DES, ERA, TIN, POT, ROY, IRA, HEY, ATE, PAT, TIE, BET, LES, CRY, FAN, COW, TED, INN, TAP, OWE, WEE, OWL, DAN, NON, DOS, LEO, RAT, RON, WIT, EVE, DEE, WEB, CIA, DOT, ASH, DIG, EVA, PET, RAM, TOE, TOY, RIO, BEE, OPT, MAT, ORE, GEL, AMY, TEE, HEN, COT, ANT, DOO, LOO, SID, ION, MOD, DYE, TUB, ROT, TAN, SOD, MAR, HEM, DOE, RAP, NED, REP, WES, CON, WED, APE, RYE, DEW

BETTERMENT, SWALLOWED, STAMMERER, OUTERMOST, WRESTLERS, ANNEMARIE, THREESOME, TRENCHANT, FILENAMES, AFTERLOAD, UTTERMOST, RETINITIS, SOMERWEST, TEALEAVES, MORETHAN, FOLLOWED, ATTENDED, POLLIWOG, ILLUSION, RESTLESS, ROMANIAN, DETECTOR, LABELLED, ENCLOSED, MONTREAL, UNIONISM, FROWNING, FILENAME, STALLION, FOLLOWER, ILLINOIS, LAVENDER, MILLWALL, SWALLOWS, SMELLING, TROTTING, VENEREAL, ERECTING, STORMONT, MANSIONS, ARABELLA, VIVIENNE, HERRINGS, RESTORES, TERRENCE, INCITING, WRESTLED, LOATHING, PHILPOTT, FRETTING, THINNESS, GELASIUS, REBELLED, ALLUNION, WRESTLER, LEVIGATE, RESTORER, ANDREWES, FORTIETH, VALLARTA, LITIGANT, THROSTLE, GRITTING, TRESTLES, TEETOTAL, ANTIETAM, TOTTERED, HOSTILES, HERESIES, ROCKETED, LINESMEN, TEXTURAL, BILLOWED, NASTIEST, INTERIMS, TOILSOME, DELLARTE, MONTEITH, STOREMAN, ISLANDER, GHETTOES, TORTURER, TAILINGS, SOMEONES, NOMINALS, BELLEVUE, SKILLING, TIMELIKE, ALSORANS, ROMANIST, MILLIKAN, NOISIEST, THIEVING, WALLOWED, KITEMARK, ELSINORE, MELLINGS, OSTEITIS, TREELIKE, GELATION, STENOSES, SILLIMAN, LATERALS, ANIMATES, ANIMATOR, ONEMONTH, ATHELING, MELUSINA, BELLLIKE, STILLING, MEDICEAN, CLELLAND, WOLLATON, MILLINGS, SNELLING, SOMERTON, MORTISES, FACEDOWN, ANTIGONE, REWIRING, IRONWOOD, GERMANIA, CATSKILL, TIMORESE, FORGOING, RETRENCH, CELLLIKE, KILLEARN, IVINGHOE, TRENTINO, LATHERED, HILLFORT, HAREBELL, WRESTLES, BELLENDS, ROSEMONT, MOONRISE, MACALLAN, EARENDEL, COLOREDS, TORRENCE, HAIRTHIN, GIGANTEA

GLURK: Perhaps Zodiac was a werewolf:

DORANCHAK: Nice try, glurk, but I know you’ve got something to do with it:

Or maybe it was Gareth Penn after all:

Or Voigt?

Or even AK Wilks??

And here’s ALA to round out the team:

By the way, here are some larger lists of "twisty" words that seem relatively orderly because diagonal moves and jumps are not permitted:[EDITED by AK Wilks as the original exceeds character limits and was redundant.]

UTTERMOST, HILLFORTS
ETIOLATE, RESTLESS, KILLINGS, LAVENDER, REBELLED, MELUSINA, MEDICEAN, REWIRING, GERMANUS, LATHERED, HILLFORT

FOLLOWS, WESTERN, SELLING, SMILING, THINNER, TERENCE, STAMINA, TILINGS, DEMISED, ELITISM, ANTHEMS, WADDELL, ANIMATE, VISUALS, FELLING, PITTING, HOTTING, BERATED, LAVELLE, MEDICIS, TILLING, INTEMET, ETRURIA, GERMANE, ETRURIA, CAITLIN, THEATER, BLATHER, TEAPOTS, LOWDOWN, ILEITIS, UTTERER, CYTOSOL, LEANDER, SOLOING, LALANDE, KILLALA, LECLAIR, SMITING, BELLEND, SICILIA, DENDERA, THORENS, SEEMETH, ALHITHI, REDNALL, AERATED, LINITIS

BECAME, BETTER, CHANGE, SKILLS, WINTER, FOLLOW, GERMAN, CAUSED, LIVING, ATONCE, VISUAL, FINGER, EATING, CAUSES, LEANED, THAMES, EARNED, REFUGE, PARADE, ATBEST, FOSTER, DEMISE, MELLOR, TRENCH, HEATER, PISTOL, WINGER, HEATED, SOFTER, SMELLS, LENDER, INSITU, WIRING, SOFTEN, ELLAND, ANTHEM, WESTEN, FORMEL, CEASES, TEAPOT, BLIMEY, INGRES, HEALED, CELLED, LAMINA, LOWELL, OREGON, LEVIES, ANDERE, HAINES, HANKIN, TURRET, SITING, NAAMAN, HITECH, RHINOS, TOWING, HEEREN, LEVINE, WESTER, THEBES, RUTTER, SLAVEN, MEDILL, MILLIS, MEDILL, DELAND, ORTNER, FOREGO, CHASES, LEVITT, BEATER, LATHER, CELLOS, MIMOSA, PUTNAM, GILLAN, LANDER, TILING, LNCOME, MATEOS, HANNES, HEARNE, TIWARI, AUTISM, TEASES, MONASH, BERNAL, VEDDER, MEDICI, BESTEN, BAWDEN, MEDEVA, LATTRE, PARAMO, ENDALL, ANIMAM, SCONCE, THRIGG, VALLIS, REDDEN, DOTING, BELIKE, NEVINS, RELIST, VARADI, AHERNE, VARADI, ELLICE, BERATE, LEFORT, REWIRE, VENDER, EDITIO, VARAHA, NEVILE, VARAHA, NEVILE, ROSINA, LEVENS, AERATE, GEMARA, THEALE, ALLIWA, SEINEN, THASOS, SEINEN, NEROLI, MILLES, MENTHA, ENTRER, NELLIS, MILLES, HEFLIN, MOHAVE, SOFALA, SLAVED, MOHAVE, FOLATE, CAUSIS, SLAVED, KILLEN, ELLING, WINNOW, LINCEI, FOSTEN, TITTIE, LINCEI, INTROS, BESCOT, TOEING, TITTIE, TAMINO, FORTHE, ESTERO, ERENCE, BESCOT, ERENCE, WADDEN, GIRTIN, THERED, SLIMES, ECLAIR, NOSTER, ALCIDE, WELLOF, STEROL, LLORET, WELLOF, SELLIN, PUTMAN, MANISA, AMETHI, ALTHEA, SELLIN, MANISA

THERE, THREE, OFTEN, THING, BEGAN, SEVEN, MONTH, PETER, GIVES, CELLS, NAMES, SMILE, METAL, WORST, INNER, BEGUN, SHEET, THEME, TELLS, RAPID, LIKED, SKILL, THREW, SHEEP, SILLY, ROCKS, ROGER, SMELL, LISTS, TOWER, EMILY, SHEER, MARIE, YOUVE, SHORE, HATED, FORTH, WAVED, ELLIS, MILLS, LINEN, RINGS, BELLS, SLAVE, ROLLS, BELLY, REBEL, VEINS, CEASE, ELLEN, MOUNT, FISTS, AMINO, WIRES, CHASE, UTTER, KILLS, RONNI, METER, HINTS, NOSES, BELLA, SLOTS, ELVES, WISER, STERN, RATED, RESIN, EINEN, BELLE, DWELL, BLAIR, TAMIL, ELINE, NIVEL, WHORE, WILLI, SWELL, ILIAC, EXPER, EVADE, INTER, OHARA, SENNA, ALOFT, SLOWS, HEERE, ILEAL, ATTHE, CELLE, RHINO, OWING, BEHAR, CELLO, SLIMY, LABOR, TINGE, MILLI, TEASE, ELISE

AK WILKS: Doranchak and Glurk – Thanks for your input. Its always good to get constructive criticism and another view of things.

I am not making any big claims for these 408 vertical word finds. As I noted from the start, they could well be coincidence. But as I have noted vertical word finds in the 340, I thought it worthwhile to mention these finds, most discovered by Doug Oswell.

Now, for sake of debate. I would say lets limit any comparisons to words of four letters or more (like WAVE, TIDE, BELL, HEAL, EARN) and that occur in a similar area. Here they all occur in an area of I think 6 lines and 9 columns, so a 54 word area. Also, and this is a little debatable I admit, but I would argue three of the words are related thematically.

In a day or so I will post my current work on the 340, which is still my focus.

I think these 408 finds catch the eye…but do not go beyond the realm of coincidence. I think the totality of the work done by Kite, myself and others on the 340 does, but that is still a minority opinion.

ShayneThill:

[Doranchak noted DETECTOR]

Detector? Is a detector used for metal detecting?