# Odd Riddle...is there an answer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033>\
**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:** 3

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**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/41 "2008-12-16T04:26:08Z")

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Oh lord…what have I created.

Another piece: Absolutely nothing to do with birds of prey or tables of knowledge.  
Sorry. :[  
Also, it could go a few ways, so, as far as I’m seeing, eggs is probably one of the correct answers…

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**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/42 "2008-12-16T09:19:59Z")

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Cats. Lots and lots of cats.

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/43 "2008-12-16T12:15:44Z")

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> [@Aspidistra](#):
>
> My guess would be that they are somebody’s pet newts, who they have named all “Clinton” for shits and giggles - the names are kind of irrelevant.

I used to have a batch of Sea Monkeys who were all named “Rotifer,” except for one who was named “Scooter.” Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, and Scooter. Hee hee, good times.

I think actually **Wolverine** may have it. “Al-Gore-rithm” sorta ties in the whole Clinton aspect. **TheVioletCreep** , whack that riddle-giver when you get a chance, will you? We don’t much like non-answer-telling riddle-givers around here. Hmmmph!

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**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/44 "2008-12-16T17:37:09Z")

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Yeah, and the longer the answer is withheld, the better it should be. This one better be really really clever, not something stupid like they’re eggs named the clintons and their house is their carton, and to put them in the basket you take them out of the carton first.

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**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/45 "2008-12-16T17:44:32Z")

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Aren’t there 14 Karls of Gauss in a Father of Physics Department?

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**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/46 "2008-12-16T21:00:57Z")

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> [@brujaja](#):
>
> I used to have a batch of Sea Monkeys who were all named “Rotifer,” except for one who was named “Scooter.” Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, Rotifer, and Scooter. Hee hee, good times.
> 
> I think actually **Wolverine** may have it. “Al-Gore-rithm” sorta ties in the whole Clinton aspect. **TheVioletCreep** , whack that riddle-giver when you get a chance, will you? We don’t much like non-answer-telling riddle-givers around here. Hmmmph!

That I shall. Have already in fact, a few times.  
He’s giving it another day, then we’ll know.

In the mean time, here’s a stupid one I know the answer to, to settle everyone a bit:  
A woman live on the 15th floor of an apartment building.  
On days that it rains, she takes the elevator.  
When it does not rain, she uses the stairs.  
Why?

Too easy. Think Logically.

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**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/47 "2008-12-16T21:54:13Z")

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She’s a midget and can’t reach fifteen without her umbrella. You forgot the part where she takes the elevator if someone else is in there with her. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/48 "2008-12-16T22:03:47Z")

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She’s an exercise fanatic, but the stairwell is outside and exposed to the weather.

> [@Freudian\_Slit](#):
>
> She’s a midget and can’t reach fifteen without her umbrella. You forgot the part where she takes the elevator if someone else is in there with her. 🙂

She enjoys elevator small talk even more than exercising.

What? My answer’s as good as any other.

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**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/49 "2008-12-16T22:07:37Z")

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She likes to exercise, but slips on the stairs if her shoes are wet.

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**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/50 "2008-12-17T03:38:14Z")

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Midget indeed. Completely forgot that part, thanks for the reminder!

Answer to the original: Wolverine got it.

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**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/51 "2008-12-17T03:55:37Z")

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😕 Wait, what? Algorithm is the answer? Really? I don’t get it. Where does the basket fit into it? They use an algorithm to get into the basket? Because they are Clintons and Al Gore invented the internet? What’s going on? I don’t understand! Help me!

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**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/52 "2008-12-17T04:03:42Z")

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Can’t get an explanation as of yet, Brian has gone off to other duties, I’ll ask for a clarification tomorrow.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/53 "2008-12-17T04:57:15Z")

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Egg scam devout mushroom sled peanut camera bullet.

(makes about as much sense as “Al-Gore-Ithm” to me)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/54 "2008-12-17T04:59:13Z")

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I like it better.

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**Author:** ![Wolverine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ba9def/32.png) [@Wolverine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolverine)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/55 "2008-12-17T05:13:09Z")

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Don’t look at me, I have no idea. “Al Gore gets them” fits the “how do they get in” question. Algorithm sounds like it is an esoteric enough answer. That was all I had. Sorry.

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**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/56 "2008-12-17T05:57:59Z")

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You know, I don’t think it’s going to turn out to have much of a further explanation. See, there are two kinds of people: the ones who understand what it is that makes a riddle joke truly work (and be funny); and those who think that it simply involves some kind of casual homophonic entanglement, and nothing else is necessary.

If I sound grumpy, it’s because I know several folks like that, sorry. Arrrgh.

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**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/57 "2008-12-17T06:18:45Z")

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```auto

foreach (Clinton c in room)
{
  basket.Insert(c);
}

```

See, that Al Gore rhythm only works because all the Clintons are in the same room and look the same (i.e. they’re all instances of type Clinton).

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**Author:** ![TheVioletCreep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@TheVioletCreep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheVioletCreep)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/58 "2008-12-17T06:21:49Z")

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You’re probably correct, **brujaja** This person, not all that lit up there, intelligent, yes. Clever, not so much. I haven’t the slightest if it was made up, but, I can’t seem to find anything else like it anywhere [internet-wise]

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**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/59 "2008-12-17T06:32:26Z")

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It’s not a riddle. It’s just random stuff posted after other random stuff.

Vertical climbing things make boris angry

Clue: Where’s Waldo?

Answer: Free kittens!

That makes as much sense as the OP.

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**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2008, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-riddle-is-there-an-answer/477033/60 "2008-12-17T08:02:49Z")

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Well, since the question is “How do you get them all in the basket?”, maybe the answer is “algorithmically”, or “Al Gore with Mick Lee”.

Googling “Mick Lee” brings up a few pages about a London based songwriter / producer with 25 years of experience in the music business. Maybe he wrote a song about putting similar-looking things named Clinton into baskets.

There’s also a fairly accomplished table-tennis player from Western Australia by the name of Mick Lee. Maybe he hits balls into baskets, but can only do it if all the balls look the same and are named Clinton.

So yeah, that’s definitely the answer, no doubt about it.

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