Presidential Prenomens
These ten goos, major achievers in their own right, have first names linking them to former Presidents of the United States. If you can't identify the celebrity, perhaps figuring out their presidential namesake will help?
Madison Brengle
publication date: Friday, April 11, 2014
category: 
Sports
clue: She has won five singles tournaments and five doubles tournaments, but she hasn't enumerated that many rights in law.
explanation: Brengle was a champion tennis player, and namesake of James Madison. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Tyler, The Creator
publication date: Thursday, April 10, 2014
category: 
Music
clue: It must have seemed like an odd and uncertain future when a vice president seized power.
explanation: Tyler, The Creator performed with the group Odd Future, and was the namesake of John Tyler. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, and Joanna Woods
Arthur Conan Doyle
publication date: Wednesday, April 9, 2014
category: 
Literature
clue: It doesn't take a master sleuth to deduce the importance of the Pendleton Act in fighting corruption.
explanation: Doyle wrote many stories featuring brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes, and was the namesake of Chester Arthur. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Washington Irving
publication date: Tuesday, April 8, 2014
category: Literature
clue: His characters Rip Van Winkle and the Headless Horseman made him the father of American folklore, if not the father of his country.
explanation: Irving wrote Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and was the namesake of George Washington. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Wilson Pickett
publication date: Monday, April 7, 2014
category: Music
clue: His songs "In the Midnight Hour" and "Land of 1000 Dances" were popular across an entire league of nations.
explanation: Pickett was the namesake of Woodrow Wilson. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Harrison King McCann
publication date: Friday, April 4, 2014
category: 
Business
clue: His company's creation of the modern Santa Claus left an imprint on society lasting much longer than one month. Who's the king?
explanation: McCann founded an influential advertising firm, whose clients included Coca-Cola with their holiday advertisements that introduced the modern version of Santa Claus. He was the namesake of William Henry Harrison (as well as Benjamin Harrison). more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm and Samir Mehta
Jefferson Davis
publication date: Thursday, April 3, 2014
category: 
Government
clue: How ironic that the man who failed to lead his confederates in a successful free nation shared his name with the author of the Declaration of Independence.
explanation: Davis was the only president of the Confederate States of America, and the namesake of Thomas Jefferson. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Jackson Browne
publication date: Wednesday, April 2, 2014
category: Music
clue: The expression "running on empty" is a sad metaphor for the Trail of Tears.
explanation: Browne was a rock star whose hits included "Running on Empty." He was the namesake of Andrew Jackson. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Truman Capote
publication date: Tuesday, April 1, 2014
category: Literature
clue: His books Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood changed literature, but not as much as two nuclear bombs changed warfare.
explanation: Capote was the namesake of Harry Truman. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Joanna Woods, and Mike Rothstein
Taylor Swift
publication date: Monday, March 31, 2014
category: Music
clue: This young singer of hits "You Belong with Me" and "We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is many years away from a nickname like Old Rough and Ready.
explanation: Swift was the namesake of Zachary Taylor. more…
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, Joanna Woods, Erik Bates, and Mike Rothstein
Other Themes in Spring 2014
The Spirit of Sochi
The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi produced the usual stories of triumph and heartbreak associated with the quadrennial games. Here are some of the most interesting people to emerge from the event. Go »
Video Game Heroes
Video games have become a billion-dollar industry, with annual revenues that outgross Hollywood. These five characters are some of the most popular stars in the business. Fictional characters are normally excluded from the game, but this week makes a special exception. This theme was created by Matthew Preston. Go »
Days of Our Lives
Each weekday brings a new celebrity goo, and that's extra true for these five goos, each of which was inspired by a different day of the week (not the day of publication). This theme was created by Chris Lemler. Go »
Angel on My Shoulders
Whatever your personal beliefs about angels, there's little doubt that their influence in culture has been enormous. These five celebrities from different fields all have some connection to angels. This theme was created by Steve West. Go »
Life is a Fairy Tale
Classic fairy tales teach universal lessons about wisdom, patience, and other virtues, remaining relevant even in our modern world. Each of these five celebrities has something in common with a classic fairy-tale hero or villain. Go »
I Want to Believe
Nearly 75% of Americans believe in some form of paranormal phenomena, so it's no wonder that celebrities do too. These five people, each famous in their own right, are also known for their beliefs about specific supernatural activity. Go »
The Game Masters
These ten celebrities would be instant masters at certain games if they ever got to play, judging from their previous life experience. The first week of this theme features celebrities who would dominate at modern board and card games, and the second week switches to modern video games. Go »
Spring 2014 Tournament
Justin Woods. Matthew Preston. Russ Wilhelm. Steve West. The list of winners includes some very talented players. Are you prepared to do what it takes to feel the thrill of victory? This tournament will produce the game's 60th champion. Go »
