Enigma Puzzle #23

[enigma]

Hawking offspring
This weekend’s Arts & Crafts Fair
Dear Abby’s groom
Apparently an aardvark, kids
With four, heading off road
Talk about a double double entendre…
Four years after a million years B.C.
Crossed theme song
L&O regular character
Eponymous district monsters
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley?
Mad Stork
Memorable for milk mention
Whole year was a bad dream
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too
Possible Bond summer dud

[Buzzbee]

Hawking offspring - reference to Stephen Hawking? Isn't that his name?
This weekend’s Arts & Crafts Fair
Dear Abby’s groom - Abigail Van Buren, Dear Abby married Morton Phillips
Apparently an aardvark, kids- Perhaps "Arthur", a kids cartoon about Arthur the aardvark?
With four, heading off road - Four by Four?
Talk about a double double entendre…
Four years after a million years B.C.
Crossed theme song
L&O regular character - L&O would obviously be Law & Order, but I don't know the characters and/or actors/actresses to help on this. Besides, there are so damned many of then it could include half of Hollywood.
Eponymous district monsters
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley?
Mad Stork
Memorable for milk mention - Seems like I remember some sort of controversy regarding the Got Milk? ads. Can't remember who or why there was a controversy.
Whole year was a bad dream
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too
Possible Bond summer dud

Hope this kick starts things.

[digamma]

Hawking offspring Stephen's son or Stephenson?

Four years after a million years B.C.--999,996 B.C.? NOt sure what the reference is here.

[Buzzbee]

Also, with the "Whole year was a bad dream" wasn't there a TV series where the season ending episode or something like that explained away the season's events by having the character wake up from a dream? Or am I just dreaming?

[Huckleberry]

Dallas was the show.

[Buzzbee]

Hawking offspring Stephen's son or Stephenson?

Four years after a million years B.C.--999,996 B.C.? NOt sure what the reference is here.

Good call on Stephenson. Not sure what it means or what to do with it, but I guess we'll figure that out as we identify more of the clues.

For some reason the B.C. reference keeps stirring up images of that horrible TV show Land of the Lost. *shudder*

[Buzzbee]

Dallas was the show.

I was thinking Dallas or Ally McBeal. Not sure why I remembered it, since I never watched Dallas.

[cuervo72]

That was Dallas....Bobby Ewing showed up in the shower.

Sneaking Sally Through the Alley? - Robert Palmer?
Mad Stork - Ted Hendricks?
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too - Cohen Brothers?

[rkmsuf]

The answer is Parker Stephenson

[cuervo72]

Or perhaps the Gershwin Brothers (Ira is the elder)?

[gottimd]

Is the answer Secretariat?

[QuikSand]

He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too - Cohen Brothers?

That seems to me like it would be his little brother, rather than the little brother...

[cuervo72]

That seems to me like it would be his little brother, rather than the little brother...

Implying that the answer may not be a person?

Four years after a million years B.C. - I wonder if this could be a reference to the movie(s) One Million B.C. There were at least two of these, one in 1940 and another in 1966 (so says IMDB). The latter starred Raquel Welch. Now, I don't know if 1970 has anything to do with the answer, or possibly a movie that Ms. Welch starred in in 1970 (Myra Breckenridge?), but thought it might be something.

[Buzzbee]

Implying that the answer may not be a person?


I think QS is pointing out that the clue seems to allude to the elder brother of the two.

Are the Wayans brothers also scriptwriters? I think the Cohens are a more likely answer, but wanted to toss out the Wayans brothers.

[QuikSand]

He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too

...Cohen Brothers?

That seems to me like it would be his little brother, rather than the little brother...

Implying that the answer may not be a person?

Implying that maybe there is someone who has co-authored scripts with two different brothers, perhaps a famous older brother and a less famous younger brother.

I'm suggesting that maybe it's the word little that would be emphasized in the original clue, when you say it -- maybe that makes my thought clearer.

[gottimd]

What about the Zuckermans? The ones who do the spoofs like Naked Gun. Or the Wayans Brothers?

[Buzzbee]

See, I can't even interpret QS posts, much less solve an enigma puzzle. Although, enigma puzzles ARE probably easier.

[Buzzbee]

Weren't Zucker, Abrams, and Zucker the writers for Airplane? Naked Gun? Both?

[Qwikshot]

Also, with the "Whole year was a bad dream" wasn't there a TV series where the season ending episode or something like that explained away the season's events by having the character wake up from a dream? Or am I just dreaming?
Dallas did that, though Roseanne did it as well but for a series finale, not season finale.

[gottimd]

Weren't Zucker, Abrams, and Zucker the writers for Airplane? Naked Gun? Both?

We must've posted simultaneously, see post #16

[henry296]

How about Bob Newhart for the dream show. I think it was more than 1 season, though.

[TazFTW]

How about Bob Newhart for the dream show. I think it was more than 1 season, though.

Yep, Bob Newhart from The Bob Newhart show dreamnt the entire series of Newhart.

[Buzzbee]

In looking up the Got Milk? campaign it seems like DC's mayor took a little heat for agreeing to participate in an add wearing a chocolate milk mustache. Williams was his name.

[gottimd]

Not sure, basically taking a stab, but if the Enigma creator is from Georgia, "this weekends Arts and Crafts fair" was The Elisha Winn Fair.

Also, not sure of the meaning of Eponymous District Monsters, but what about Gerrymander? Not a monster I know but sounds like one.

[TazFTW]

Four years after a million years B.C.

Since I'm getting a TV vibe here, Raquel Welch had a TV show called Raquel! four years after she starred in One Million Years B.C.

[Buzzbee]

Since so far the list seems to be people's names, does anyone know what character from Dallas had the dream? Was it J.R.?

[gottimd]

Since I'm getting a TV vibe here, Raquel Welch had a TV show called Raquel! four years after she starred in One Million Years B.C.

She was in 2 movies after in "one Million years BC" in 1966. In 1970 she was in, "Myra Breckinridge" and "The Beloved".

[Buzzbee]

She was in 2 movies after in "one Million years BC" in 1966. In 1970 she was in, "Myra Breckinridge" and "The Beloved".

Then it seems Raquel Welch might be the answer we're looking for, not the name of the movie.

[QuikSand]

Then it seems Raquel Welch might be the answer we're looking for, not the name of the movie.

Then why mention four years?

[Buzzbee]

Then why mention four years?

Damn. Now I know why I never get these things. Good point QS.

[QuikSand]

I did a search on "Arts & Crafts Fair" using this weekend'd dates, and found hits for several podunk towns:

Southington, CT
Bellevue, WA
Van Buren, AR
Westhampton, NY
Scott City, KS
Caruthersville, MO
Ocean City, MD

[TazFTW]

L&O regular character

Dennis Farina .... Det. Joe Fontana (2004-)
Jerry Orbach .... Det. Lennie Briscoe (1992-2004)
Paul Sorvino .... Sgt. Phil Cerreta (1991-1992)
George Dzundza .... Sgt. Max Greevey (1990-1991)
Jesse L. Martin .... Det. Ed Green (1999-)
Benjamin Bratt .... Det. Reynaldo Curtis (1995-1999)
Chris Noth .... Det. Mike Logan (1990-1995)
S. Epatha Merkerson .... Lt. Anita Van Buren (1993-)
Dann Florek .... Capt. Donald Cragen (1990-1993)
Sam Waterston .... Executive ADA John J. 'Jack' McCoy (1994-)
Michael Moriarty .... Executive ADA Benjamin Stone (1990-1994)
Elisabeth Rohm .... ADA Serena Southerlyn (2001-) (as Elisabeth Röhm)
Angie Harmon .... ADA Abbie Carmichael (1998-2001)
Carey Lowell .... ADA Jamie Ross (1996-1998)
Jill Hennessy .... ADA Claire Kincaid (1993-1996)
Richard Brooks .... ADA Paul Robinette (1990-1993)
Fred Dalton Thompson .... DA Arthur Branch (2002-)
Dianne Wiest .... Interim DA Nora Lewin (2000-2002)
Steven Hill .... District Attorney Adam Schiff (1990-2000)


Have no idea who the clue is pointing to, but I'd guess it'll either be McCoy, Van Buren, Briscoe, Green, Schiff due to their longevity on the show.

[Buzzbee]

Hmmm...Van Buren seems to be popping up in several places. Dear Abby = Abigail Van Buren, Arts and Crafts fair in Van Buren Arkansas, Lt. Van Buren on L&O.

[cuervo72]

Well, if we're talking Van Buren...also worth mentioning an Arthur, and a Stevenson (as opposed to Stephenson). Van Buren and Arthur were Vice Presidents, as was the first Adlai Stevenson.

[Daimyo]

John Breckinridge was also a VP (fitting the requel welsch clue)

[Daimyo]

Dallas, George Mifflin

I think you're definately onto something with VPs

[cuervo72]

John Breckinridge was also a VP (fitting the requel welsch clue)

Heh, beat me to it.

[cuervo72]

Thomas Hendricks (1885)

[cuervo72]

L&O's Reynaldo Curtis could also match Charles Curtis (1929-1933).

[TazFTW]

Talk about a double double entendre…

Richard M. Johnson served under Van Buren.

[cuervo72]

To organize:

Hawking offspring - Adlai E. Stevenson (1893-1897)
This weekend’s Arts & Crafts Fair - Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)
Dear Abby’s groom - Levi P. Morton (1889-1893)
Apparently an aardvark, kids - Chester Arthur (1881)
With four, heading off road - William Wheeler (1877-1881)
Talk about a double double entendre… - Richard M. Johnson (1837-1841)
Four years after a million years B.C. - John C. Breckinridge (1857-1861)
Crossed theme song
L&O regular character - Charles Curtis (1929-1933) (?)
Eponymous district monsters - Elbridge Gerry (1813-1814)
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley? - Thomas Jefferson (1797-1801)
Mad Stork - Thomas Hendricks (1885)
Memorable for milk mention - Aaron Burr (1801-1805)
Whole year was a bad dream - George M. Dallas (1845-1849)
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too
Possible Bond summer dud

[cuervo72]

Richard M. Johnson served under Van Buren.

Way to make the link, I'll add above.

[Buzzbee]

JOHN ADAMS (1735-1826)
Party Federalist party
Served Under George Washington between 1789-97
Home State Massachusetts
Profession Lawyer

THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826)
Party Democratic-Republican
Served Under John Adams, 1797-1801
Home State Virginia
Profession Lawyer, Planter, Public Official

AARON BURR (1756-1836)
Party Democratic-Republican
Served Under Thomas Jefferson, 1801-05
Home State New York
Profession Public Official

GEORGE CLINTON (1739-1812)
Party Democratic-Republican
Served Under Thomas Jefferson, 1809-12
Home State New York
Profession Public Official

ELBRIDGE GERRY (1744-1814)
Party Democratic-Republican
Served Under James Madison, 1813-14
Home State Massachusettes
Profession Public Official

DANIEL D. TOMPKINS (1774-1825)
Party Democratic-Republican
Served Under James Monroe, 1817-25
Home State New York
Profession Public Official

JOHN C. CALHOUN (1782-1850)
Party See "Serve Under"
Served Under Democratic-Republican under John Quincy Adams, 1825-29
as Democrat under Andrew Jackson, 1829-32
Home State South Carolina
Profession Lawyer and Public Official

MARTIN VAN BUREN (1782-1862)
Party Democratic party
Served Under Andrew Jackson 1833-37
Home State New York
Profession Public Official

RICHARD M. JOHNSON (1780-1850)
Party Democrat party
Served Under Martin Van Buren, 1837-41
Home State Kentucky
Profession Public Official

JOHN TYLER (1790-1862)
Party Whig party
Served Under William H. Harrison, March 4 to April 4, 1841
Home State Virginia
Profession Lawyer & Public Official

GEORGE M. DALLAS (1792-1864)
Party Democratic
Served Under Under James K. Polk, 1845-49
Home State Pennsylvania
Profession Public Official & Diplomat

MILLARD FILLMORE (1800-1874)
Party Whig party
Served Under Under Zachary Taylor, 1849-50
Home State New York
Profession Teacher, Lawyer, Public Official

WILLIAM R. D. KING (1786-1853)
Party Democrat
Served Under Franklin Pierce, 3/4/1853 to 4/18/1853
Home State Alabama
Profession Lawyer, Public Official, Diplomat.

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE (1821-1875)
Party Democrat
Served Under James Buchanan, 1857-61
Home State Kentucky
Profession Lawyer and Public Official

HANNIBAL HAMLIN (1809-1891)
Party Republican
Served Under Abraham Lincoln, 1861-65
Home State Maine
Profession lawyer, and Public Official

ANDREW JOHNSON (1808-1875)
Party National Union (Republican)
Served Under Abraham Lincoln, 3/4/1865 to 4/15/1865
Home State Tennessee
Profession Tailor, and Public Official

SCHUYLER COLFAX (1823-1885)
Party Republican
Served Under Under Ulysses S. Grant, 1869-73
Home State Indiana
Profession Newspaperman and Public Official Newspaperman and Public Official

HENRY WILSON (1812-1875)
Party Republican
Served Under Under Ulysses S. Grant, 1873-75
Home State Massachusettes
Profession Factory Owner, Public Official

WILLIAM A. WHEELER (1819-1887)
Party Republican
Served Under Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877-81
Home State New York
Profession Businessman, Public Official

CHESTER A ARTHUR (1829-1886)
Party Republican
Served Under Under James A Garfield, 3/4/1881 to 9/20/1881
Home State New York
Profession Lawyer

THOMAS A. HENDRICKS (1819-1885)
Party Democrat
Served Under Grover Clevelad, 3/4/1885 to 11/25/1885
Home State Indiana
Profession Lawyer, Public Official

LEVI P. MORTON (1824-1920)
Party Republic
Served Under Under Benjamin Harrison, 1889-1893
Home State New York
Profession Banker, Public Official

ADLAI E. STEVENSON (1835-1914)
Party Democrat
Served Under Grover Cleveland, 1893-97
Home State Illinois
Profession Public Official

GARRET A. HOBART (1844-1899)
Party Republican
Served Under William McKinley, 1897-99
Home State New Jersey
Profession Lawyer, Public Official

THEODORE ROOSEVELT (1858-1919)
Party Republican
Served Under William McKinley, 3/4/1901 to 9/14/1901
Home State New York
Profession Historian, Public Official

CHARLES W. FAIRBANKS (1852-1918)
Party Republican
Served Under Theodore Roosevelt, 1905-09
Home State Indiana
Profession Financier, Public Official

JAMES S. SHERMAN (1855-1912)
Party Republican
Served Under Under William Howard Taft, 1909-12
Home State New York
Profession Public Official

THOMAS R. MARSHALL (1854-1925)
Party Democrat
Served Under Woodrow Wilson, 1913-21
Home State Indiana
Profession Lawyer, Public Official

CALVIN COOLIDGE (1872-1933)
Party Republican
Served Under Under Warren G. Harding, 1921-23
Home State Illinois
Profession Lawyer, Public Official

CHARLES G. DAWES (1865-1951)
Party Republican
Served Under Under Calvin Coolidge, 1925-29
Home State Illinois
Profession

CHARLES CURTIS (1860-1936)
Party Republican
Served Under Under Herbert Hoover, 1929-33
Home State Kensas
Profession Lawyer, Public Official

JOHN N. GARNER (1868-1967)
Party Democrat
Served Under Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933-41
Home State Texas
Profession Public Official

HENRY A. WALLACE (1888-1965)
Party Democrat
Served Under Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1941-45
Home State Iowa
Profession Editor, Agribusinessman

HARRY S. TRUMAN (1884-1972)
Party Democrat
Served Under Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1/20/1945 to 4/12/1945
Home State Missouri
Profession Public Official

ALBEN W. BARKLEY (1877-1956)
Party Democrat
Served Under Under Harry S. Truman, 1949-53
Home State Kentucky
Profession Public Official

RICHARD M. NIXON (1913-95)
Party Republican
Served Under Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-61
Home State California
Profession Public Official

LYNDON B. JOHNSON (1908-1973)
Party Democrat
Served Under Under John F. Kennedy, 1/20/1961 to 11/22/1963
Home State Texas
Profession Public Official

HUBERT H. HUMPHREY (1911-1978)
Party Democrat
Served Under Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965-69
Home State Minnesota
Profession Public Official

SPIRO T. AGNEW (1918- 1995)
Party Republican
Served Under Under Richard M. Nixon, 1/20/1969 to 10/10/1973
Home State Maryland
Profession Public Official

GERALD R. FORD (1913- )
Party Republican
Served Under Richard M. Nixon, 12/6/1973 to 8/9/1974
Home State Michigan
Profession Public Official

NELSON A. ROCKEFELLER (1908-1979)
Party Republican
Served Under Gerald R. Ford, 12/19/1974 to 1/20/1977
Home State New York
Profession Public Official

WALTER F. MONDALE (1928- )
Party Democrat
Served Under Under Jimmy Carter, 1977-81
Home State Minessota
Profession Public Official

GEORGE BUSH (1924- )
Party Republican
Served Under Under Ronald Reagan, 1981-89
Home State Texas
Profession Oilman, Public Official

J. DANFORTH QUAYLE (1947- )
Party Republican
Served Under George Bush, 1989-93
Home State Indiana
Profession Lawyer, Public Official

ALBERT A. GORE, JR. (1948- )
Party Democrat
Served Under serving under Bill Clinton, 1993 - 2000
Home State Tennesee
Profession Public Official

RICHARD B. CHENEY (1941- )
Party Republican
Served Under serving under George Bush, 2001 -
Home State
Profession

[Buzzbee]

I think Dear Abby's groom should be Levi P. Morton.

Van Buren is probably the arts and crafts clue.

[VPI97]

With four, heading off road = WILLIAM A. WHEELER (1819-1887)

[cuervo72]

Yep...was going to post Wheeler, but the board was down.

[VPI97]

Memorable for milk mention = AARON BURR (1756-1836)


...remember the 'Got Milk?' commercial where the guy is eating cake and gets a call from a contest line? He can't speak because he doesn't have a glass of milk to wash down the cake. The answer to the contest question? Aaron Burr.

[cuervo72]

Yep, good one on Burr. I thought of that, and didn't make the milk association!

And eponymous district monsters must refer to Elbridge Gerry, the "father" of gerrymandering.

[cuervo72]

Duh....sneakin' Sally must be referring to Jefferson (Sally Hemings).

[gottimd]

Possible Bond Summer dud? Any ideas for that one?

[cuervo72]

Well, no breakthroughs overnight. Still three clues left, and I have no idea what the VP clues are pointing to as a final answer, other than randomly typing in names of other VP's (has to be more clever than that).

[gottimd]

16 clues, maybe arranged in chronological order, and the last one is the answer. There were certainly more than 16 VP's so you can't use the process of elimination.

[gottimd]

Possible Bond Summer Dud? This will be the 21st Bond movie, rumors say it may be called "Casino Royale", would William R. D. King fit that clue?

EDIT: Actually now I see it will be called "The Best for Last", could that be alluding to John Edwards?

[cuervo72]

It could be...seems to be a tenuous link, but I don't have any other ideas.

edit: that was to the 'King' idea.

I'd thought Edwards, but didn't try it. I have tried Cheney, but that didn't work (forget if I tried capitalized or not).

[Northwood_DK]

Possible Bond Summer Dud? This will be the 21st Bond movie, rumors say it may be called "Casino Royale", would William R. D. King fit that clue?

EDIT: Actually now I see it will be called "The Best for Last", could that be alluding to John Edwards?

The name of the new Bond is possible Dougray Scott. Not sure that helps any.

[gottimd]

So the two clues we have no leads on or anything are:

Mad Stork
Crossed Theme Song


Any Ideas, the only thing I see for Mad Stork would be Quayle, but not sure how to tie the two besides a simple bird reference.

[cuervo72]

See above. Mad Stork should be Hendricks. The ones I'm thinking are unanswered are:

Crossed theme song
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too
Possible Bond summer dud

[gottimd]

Scriptwriter one, I thought we were getting somewhere on, and the bond clue we have some leads on, as for the Crossed Theme song....I have absolutely no idea.

[cuervo72]

The only thing I thought of for Crossed Theme was George Clinton (pick one) because of the musical link. But I know not the theme to which it refers.

[enigma]

Very solid progress thus far.

The list of connections posted in post #41 (on page one) has only two "mistakes" on it -- and both are very understandable. For one, you took a clue more literally than I had intended (it's my fault for being so proper), and apparently found a connection that I wasn't aware of. The other was just a fork in the road issue, which I also didn't anticipate. Both are resolvable, though, I think.

Doesn't look like you need any real hints at this point. Carry on.

[QuikSand]

Just to refresh the working list:

Hawking offspring - Adlai E. Stevenson (1893-1897)
This weekend’s Arts & Crafts Fair - Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)
Dear Abby’s groom - Levi P. Morton (1889-1893)
Apparently an aardvark, kids - Chester Arthur (1881)
With four, heading off road - William Wheeler (1877-1881)
Talk about a double double entendre… - Richard M. Johnson (1837-1841)
Four years after a million years B.C. - John C. Breckinridge (1857-1861)
Crossed theme song
L&O regular character - Charles Curtis (1929-1933) (?)
Eponymous district monsters - Elbridge Gerry (1813-1814)
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley? - Thomas Jefferson (1797-1801)
Mad Stork - Thomas Hendricks (1885)
Memorable for milk mention - Aaron Burr (1801-1805)
Whole year was a bad dream - George M. Dallas (1845-1849)
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too
Possible Bond summer dud

[Buzzbee]

Just to refresh the working list:

Hawking offspring - Adlai E. Stevenson (1893-1897)
This weekend’s Arts & Crafts Fair - Martin Van Buren (1833-1837)
Dear Abby’s groom - Levi P. Morton (1889-1893)
Apparently an aardvark, kids - Chester Arthur (1881)
With four, heading off road - William Wheeler (1877-1881)
Talk about a double double entendre… - Richard M. Johnson (1837-1841)
Four years after a million years B.C. - John C. Breckinridge (1857-1861)
Crossed theme song
L&O regular character - Charles Curtis (1929-1933) (?)
Eponymous district monsters - Elbridge Gerry (1813-1814)
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley? - Thomas Jefferson (1797-1801)
Mad Stork - Thomas Hendricks (1885)
Memorable for milk mention - Aaron Burr (1801-1805)
Whole year was a bad dream - George M. Dallas (1845-1849)
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too
Possible Bond summer dud

The ones in BOLD seem to ME to be the ones with the most solid connections. The Van Buren - Arts & Crafts connection seems a little tenuous, but perhaps that is simply because without knowing we were looking for VP's there's no way to identify that. L&O regular character COULD be Van Buren instead of Curtis. Never saw anyone explain a connection on Mad Stork and Thomas Hendricks. I'm not bright enough to figger it out on my own. Aaron Burr seems pretty solid, but based on enimga's comments, this one seems like it might be a candidate for going down the wrong fork in the road.

Just my thoughts.

[QuikSand]

(clipped, obviously)

Ted Hendricks, Miami
Defensive End, 1966-1968

The 6'8" Hendricks might have been one of the greatest defensive players in college football history, but he could've easily been a star on offense. The 220-pounder certainly had the athleticism to be a killer tight end, but instead he became a dominator on defense. A three-time All-American, Hendricks finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1968.

The greatest ever?: Think of all the great players in Miami history on the defensive line. Warren Sapp, Russell Maryland, Jerome Brown, Daniel Stubbs, Cortez Kennedy just to name a few. None were the player the "Mad Stork" was as none dominated the way Hendricks did. How much did teams fear him? Joe Paterno once ran 14 straight plays away from him. He is currently 8th all-time on the UM tackles list with 327 total tackles, #1 among all UM defensive linemen. He also lead UM with the most solo tackles by a defensive lineman with 139. Miami didn't keep sacks stats that far back. He is the only Hurricane to be an All-American in three consecutive years.

- - -

Point being- Google "Mad Stork" and you get dozens of hits for DE Ted Hendricks. There may have never been another person on the planet with that nickname.

[gottimd]

Thank you, I was wondering that connection myself. And I second BuzzBee on the L&O reference, Van Buren has been a recurring character more than Detective Curtis.

[cuervo72]

Jeez, no love for the Mad Stork on a football message board??

[Buzzbee]

Jeez, no love for the Mad Stork on a football message board??

I have a newly found appreciation for all things Stork.

[enigma]

SOLUTION TO ENIGMA #23

The clues all reference various US Vice Presidents (as an homage to the recent VP candidate debate), in almost every case referencing the last name of the person who served as Veep.

Hawking offspring - STEVENSON
This weekend’s Arts & Crafts Fair – VAN BUREN (Arkansas)
Dear Abby’s groom – ADAMS (wife Abigail)
Apparently an aardvark, kids – ARTHUR (cartoon)
With four, heading off road - WHEELER
Talk about a double double entendre… - (Richard) JOHNSON
Four years after a million years B.C. – BRECKENRIDGE (Raquel Welch starred as Myra Breckenridge in 1970)
Crossed theme song – ARTHUR (Christopher Cross performed)
L&O regular character – (Anita) VAN BUREN
Eponymous district monsters – GERRY (-mandering)
Sneaking Sally Through the Alley? – JEFFERSON (reference to alleged illicit affair with slave Sally Hemings)
Mad Stork – HENDRICKS (nickname of DE Ted H from Raiders)
Memorable for milk mention (Aaron) BURR (from famous “got milk?” ad)
Whole year was a bad dream – DALLAS (reference to “lost season”)
He’s co-scriptwriter with the little brother, too – GERRY (film co-written by Matt Damon and Casey Affleck)
Possible Bond summer dud – King ARTHUR (Clive Owen film flopped in 2004)


The series of VPs referenced in the list are all among the first 26 to serve in the position – taking the number of each VP mentioned and translating it to that letter of the alphabet gives us:

WHATSINTHEBUCKET

or more easily read as:

WHAT’S IN THE BUCKET?

This, hopefully, conjures up the most often-quoted (misquoted) statement ever made about the U.S. Vice Presidency, made by John Nance garner – who famously quoted as saying that the vice presidency is… “not worth a bucket of warm spit.”

Despite the rumor that the final word was cleaned up for printability by a restrained media, this phrasing has stuck, and is most frequently raised by people demeaning the importance of the VP role in modern politics.

For this puzzle, we stick with the common telling – and the answer therefore is:

warmspit

.

[digamma]

nice puzzle.

[SplitPersonality1]

This was one of the better enigma puzzles. Nice job.