lol @ stonking.
this is funny. I noticed a post by skipthefrog for the first time a couple of days ago, and I thought it was VERY interesting as well, so I pmed him asking how he chose his name. he replied and it turns out that we both got our names in completely different ways. it's just a really odd coincidence. I think it's pretty cool.
as for blazing through phases...I honestly didn't think I was all that fast until you guys pointed it out. I really love logic-type puzzles and riddles and codebreaking, and I thought the premise of this site was VERY clever, so I've been hammering away at the phases almost nonstop since I joined. I guess with my experience I've gotten pretty good. it's funny though, because I get mad at myself if I can't figure out a phase right away. I feel dumb when something that should have been easy doesn't come to me right away.
it's also probably due to the fact that (at the moment) I have a lot of time on my hands. that won't be the case much longer, however, as I'll be working and going back to school next week.
anyway, I'm definitely not cheating...I don't think I'd know how to cheat. and if I was cheating, I'd probably be going through them even faster.
no offense taken, though...your reasoning makes sense. now, if you could just give me a little more help with phase 37...