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What is the hidden message in this advertisement?

Neurotic Frogs Ought To Relax In Mud Baths!

Perpendicular lounging calms. A frog, a mud cap... bliss! Wallowing generates happiness. Amphibian spa isn't expensive--seventy dollars--cheap! That's not a large expense from any discerning frog's money, unlike Super 8.

Everyone--frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders! Get a wonderful shiatsu, or receive an other kind. Masseuses are here today! Invite a fiancée, supervisor, roommate, niece: all welcomed!

You simply never believed these possibilities; they're (I swear) absolute truth! The Montgomery Amphibian Salon! Come luxuriate today!

Hint 1:

Notice that the last word in a sentence never contains italics.

Hint 2:

Frogs, toads, or newts--makes no difference. But dogs or horses are a different story.

Hint 3:

"Tadpoles" must be accompanied at all times. Our company policy states: "Business standards allow only adult amphibians."

Hint 4:

Eggs and tadpoles are quite different, of course. However, we don't discriminate among eggs, tadpoles, or even tadpoles. On the other hand, there's a big difference between tadpoles and polliwogs.

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  • 18
    $\begingroup$ Italics are: OaMouAueeaosaxeyoeysaesveseéallovosswearem $\endgroup$
    – Chris Cudmore
    Apr 19, 2016 at 20:16
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    $\begingroup$ Which I believe is welsh for "Get your stinking frog out of my bathtub!" $\endgroup$
    – Chris Cudmore
    Apr 19, 2016 at 20:19
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    $\begingroup$ Maybe it's time for a hint? This puzzle is driving me crazy. ;) $\endgroup$
    – axavio
    Aug 9, 2016 at 0:24
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    $\begingroup$ If you count the number of letters in Come luxuriate today, it gives you 4 9 5, and if you convert this back in letters, it gives you DIE. Which is what I am going to do after spending nights on this puzzle :) $\endgroup$
    – IAmInPLS
    Aug 19, 2016 at 9:32
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    $\begingroup$ My bounty went unspent. :( Maybe some collaboration? I opened a chat room for this puzzle. All welcomed! I really want to see this guy solved. $\endgroup$
    – axavio
    Aug 25, 2016 at 0:58

2 Answers 2

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The main idea:

Convert each word: If not italicized, to word length, if italicized, then irrespective of number of italics, either to 1, if the length is odd, or 2, if length is even. Then pair each italicized to the right side word, and read in A1Z26.

The entire message reads:

Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

The #3 hint reads:

Hint

Puzzle is a, ... I can't. I puzzlingly ... I didn't. Don't ... I swear.

Thanks to @Verence and @Wu33o for having time do decrypt the message. It took me around 13+ hours to solve, ended up waking up all night, and the fourth hint reduced too many possibilities.

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  • $\begingroup$ The message is actually a meme: knowyourmeme.com/memes/you-killed-my-father-prepare-to-die $\endgroup$
    – Verence
    Aug 31, 2016 at 10:48
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    $\begingroup$ Good job on finding the decryption method, and I'm happy to help. Btw, the company policy in hint 3 translates to "Hint" $\endgroup$
    – Wu33o
    Aug 31, 2016 at 10:57
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    $\begingroup$ Congratulations for having solved this one :). $\endgroup$
    – IAmInPLS
    Aug 31, 2016 at 11:09
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    $\begingroup$ And in the end, I was right for the last word! Damn! $\endgroup$
    – IAmInPLS
    Aug 31, 2016 at 11:10
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    $\begingroup$ Rejoice, all frogs and toads also! Montgomery Salon opens up! Happy throng fills street ecstatically! $\endgroup$
    – DLosc
    Aug 31, 2016 at 15:55
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As @GentlePurpleRain noted, the only letters that are italicized are "aemosuvxy".

Now, to put that aside for a moment, consider:

During reproduction, many amphibians keep their eggs in mud structures that could resemble 'animal spas'

Also, we see that dogs and horses aren't allowed, and this nods to the fact that inter-species reproduction is impossible.

Finally, we note that this may be a sort of "adult" topic, as noted by the 3rd hint.

Taking this together with @GentlePurpleRain's observation, we realize the message is an anagram of those letters:

A Sexy Ovum !!!!!!!!

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    $\begingroup$ This answer is dead wrong, but hilarious. ;) $\endgroup$
    – DLosc
    Aug 26, 2016 at 20:12

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