The solution to this puzzle is a single word described by a cryptic phrase found by ignoring this message (after some reflection):

nofit celof rerem mosre tfaae
galss lemys ichtg onnir ongif
ybedn ruofe asarh fipcf ittpy
yrcay bddeb oircs elddl
arrow felga nicse asiin elzaz
merup sihto tinoi tulos ehcat.

(In reply to re: Partial Solution by Dej Mar)

I knew Grant was on the $50, but I wasn't sure if that was the answer since it seemed like there was more (hence my initial apprehension).  Then I remembered the title of the puzzle, and realized that to "formally confer" is another way of saying to "grant".  I'm not sure if there's another grant reference I'm missing, but that was enough to convince me I was right. :)

Posted by tomarken on 2006-03-14 15:58:59