# Odd Riddle...is there an answer? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 13, 2008, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033 "2008-12-13T19:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/21 "2008-12-14T23:39:07Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > You don’t. Don’t put all your dregs in one basket. (Clinton bashing?) > > Are you sure you copied the first line correctly, or are you just paraphrasing? Is the bad grammar part of the riddle? That’s how it was told to me, exactly…bad grammar…I don’t see why it wouldn’t be, but I don’t really see a significance. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/22 "2008-12-14T23:52:35Z")
Why not just give us the alleged answer and we’ll analyze rather than guess. ---
**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/23 "2008-12-14T23:53:09Z")
I don’t have it! ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2008, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/24 "2008-12-14T23:59:11Z")
hot air balloons get people around and have a basket. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/25 "2008-12-15T00:33:03Z")
> [@TheVioletCreep](#): > > I don’t have it! Dear og, not again. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/26 "2008-12-15T00:55:02Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Dear og, not again. See what I mean? Q ---
**Author:** ![jali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@jali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jali)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/27 "2008-12-15T01:22:41Z")
> [@TheVioletCreep](#): > > The Clinton’s all live in the same room, they all look the same. In order to get them around, they have a basket. How do you get them all in the basket? > > Hint: The Father of Physics The only answer I can imagine has nothing to do with physics. You put the pure bred Siamese cat mother in the basket and all the kittens get in too so that they can eat. Since I’ve had Chica, \*everything \*has to do with Siamese kitties. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/28 "2008-12-15T08:39:01Z")
While searching the Wiki page on Galileo for any mention of eggs or baskets, I ran across this paragraph: “On **31 October 1992** , Pope John Paul II expressed regret for how the Galileo affair was handled, and **officially conceded that the Earth was not stationary** , as the result of a study conducted by the Pontifical Council for Culture.” :eek::eek: **1992?** :eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/29 "2008-12-15T08:49:44Z")
14 Keplers of Galileo in a Fermat Planck Descartes? (Yeah, they’re not all physics, bite me) ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/30 "2008-12-15T09:15:40Z")
My guess would be that they are somebody’s pet newts, who they have named all “Clinton” for shits and giggles (a bit like “Romeo and Juliet are dead” if anyone knows that riddle) - the names are kind of irrelevant. Is there a particular way of getting newts into a basket? I know nothing at all about them. ---
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/31 "2008-12-15T09:44:04Z")
Pancake kittens revealing sweet ammunition diapers. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/32 "2008-12-15T09:59:53Z")
> [@brujaja](#): > > While searching the Wiki page on Galileo for any mention of eggs or baskets, I ran across this paragraph: > > “On **31 October 1992** , Pope John Paul II expressed regret for how the Galileo affair was handled, and **officially conceded that the Earth was not stationary** , as the result of a study conducted by the Pontifical Council for Culture.” > :eek::eek: **1992?** :eek::eek: Better late than never. For what it’s worth, I always thought it was a publicity stunt on John Paul II’s part. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/33 "2008-12-15T15:24:36Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Why does a newt when it spins? The higher the fewer, though I’ve always substituted “mouse” for “newt”. What’s the raven/desk thing all about? ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/34 "2008-12-15T16:13:44Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > The higher the fewer, though I’ve always substituted “mouse” for “newt”. > > What’s the raven/desk thing all about? It was a riddle posed by the Mad Hatter to Alice. It has no answer. Or at least, it wasn’t supposed to. That never sat well with some people, though. The full story from the SD column archives: [Why is a raven like a writing desk? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1173/why-is-a-raven-like-a-writing-desk) ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/35 "2008-12-15T16:35:48Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > [Here’s an incomplete list of the various “fathers” physics has had.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers_of_scientific_fields#Physics_and_Astronomy) > > The first name that came to my mind when I saw the clue was Isaac Newton, so I’ll guess that you newt 'em. You newt 'em into the basket. How else would you get such similar-looking people into a basket? No, you newt 'em from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/36 "2008-12-15T19:14:18Z")
> [@Hoopy\_Frood](#): > > It was a riddle posed by the Mad Hatter to Alice. It has no answer. Or at least, it wasn’t supposed to. That never sat well with some people, though. > > The full story from the SD column archives: [Why is a raven like a writing desk? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1173/why-is-a-raven-like-a-writing-desk) Ha, I knew I remembered it (or rather, forgot it) from somewhere! Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/37 "2008-12-15T19:14:47Z")
Maybe something along the lines of: Algorithm = Al Gore gets them (with Al Gore being the “father/inventor” of physics as well as the internet) Of course, I don’t know what the basket has to do with anything and why the Clintons look alike, but this is a WAG anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/38 "2008-12-15T19:21:45Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Why does a newt when it spins? I accidentally meatspin. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/39 "2008-12-15T19:59:32Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I accidentally meatspin. Sorry. Accidentally what? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/40 "2008-12-15T20:49:28Z")
Meatspin! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033.md?page=3)