So what was the “upcoming operation” Gordon was talking about? Two words: Operation Slipknot. And no, I’m not talking about the heavy metal band.
Whew, it’s been a busy week for me with finishing up my semester at college! I’ve still been rushing around trying to get things done, but I finally have some time to sit down and put together a post. 
On the 23rd many Batman fans like myself received another email from Jim Gordon entitled “Operation Slipknot”:
OK friend, you’re up to bat now. You have yourself a new assignment: Operation Slipknot.
The project entailed tracking down various fugitives who had been tracked to the Gotham Intercontinental Hotel. According to the intel the Gotham Major Crime Unit (GPDMCU) had collected based on a letter from a guy named Joseph Candoloro, each criminal had a unique reference number that would be used to access his specific package.
You should have received your duplicate care packages by now. If not, contact the concierge at the Intercontinental and have him forward you your original package (reference #’s, as always, the total number of letters in your name followed by your last name shifted forward one letter, like 15DBOEPMPSP). He’s been instructed to send no-questions-asked if these ref #’s are used. Do NOT contact me.
Bon Voyage!
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to sit down and work the puzzle out at the time, so I wasn’t able to call the concierge using the phone number on the hotel’s website with the hopes of snagging a package. But looking at it now, it’s actually very simple. Candoloro is using his own name as an example—there are fifteen letters in his full name, and each individual letter in his name is shifted forward one letter. Simply, the “C” becomes a “D,” the “a” becomes a “b,” and so on (C-a-n-d-o-l-o-r-o), forming the code 15DBOEPMPSP.
At any rate, the viral project was a success.
Operation Slipknot is complete. Even though three suspects remain at large, your work represents a huge step forward in cleaning up our beloved city.
The fugitives are being arrested, handcuffed, and extradited back to Gotham for prosecution.
Doesn’t it feel better to be on the right side of the law for once?
Thanks to you, Gotham can hold its head high once again. But do me one favor… stay out of trouble.
-Gordon.
Way to go (despite the part about three remaining fugitives)! This article by thebadandugly.com reported that those who managed to claim a package found this inside:
* A letter from Joseph Candoloro
* A cell phone & charger
* An itinerary for a flight to various cities depending on the package
* A fake ID
* A bond from Wayne Industries worth between $5,000 and $25,000, depending on the package
* A translation dictionary, depending on where the destination city was, with a Joker card placed inside.
The article features various pictures of the loot, including the letter, playing card and dictionary (pictured above), and the bond from Wayne Industries. Batman-on-Film.com has uploaded pics of fugitive Jon Rosenthal’s (alias Bobby Mariotta) package here.
Okay, okay, so I was wrong about the “group of offenders” being the Joker and his clown possy. At any rate, the Joker is planning something in response to Gordon’s cute little venture in crime fighting. The lucky impostors who were sent a package also received this text message from the Clown Prince of Crime (hopefully for real this time): “I wouldn’t worry about Gordon. IT’S ALL PART OF THE PLAN!”
Awesome. I can almost see Ledger’s Joker saying those words (from the trailer) now … Anyway, keep a close eye on this Why So Serious? page.
Hm, a countdown to what?
April 26th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Very intriguing viral campaign. Glad to see they’re pushing forward with it, despite Ledger’s death.
April 26th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Oh, yeah. There’s a ton of stuff that’s been going on, and I’m glad, too, that they’re respecting his final completed work and continuing on as planned.
April 26th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
It is a very interesting.