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The mental_floss offices in Birmingham (AL), Brooklyn (NY) and Chagrin Falls (OH) are sent a lot of books, and it’s about time we started giving them away again. I’ve asked interns Mark Arminio, Casey Johnston and Eric Johnson to come up with contest ideas, and come up with contest ideas they have. We’ll be running a few of these book giveaways each week. We’ll start with a Mark Armino special.
You’re playing for a copy of An Interactive Sherlock Holmes Mystery – The Crimes of Dr. Watson (Chronicle Books).
In the grand tradition of sidekicks, if you could be paired with any figure as a young apprentice, who would you pick and why?
We’ll will pick a winner this time tomorrow (some combination of “the one that made us laugh and/or consider a career change” and “Mark’s favorite”), and then we’ll announce another contest. Good luck!
Comments (98)
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Merlin. Hey, it worked for Arthur.
posted by Melanie Feller on 7-14-2009 at 4:15 pm
Batman. Get trained by the world’s greatest detective (next to Sherlock Holmes), have my body and mind honed to near perfection, and become the bane of criminals. What’s not to like?
posted by Steve from San Diego on 7-14-2009 at 4:24 pm
Tiger Woods. He’s the greatest in the entire world(and probably history) at what he does, he’s world renowned, loved by millions and he could probably get you some pretty cool Nike gear. How terrible would it be to play golf with him 8 hours a day every day? Plus his wife must have at least one single friend.
posted by Nick on 7-14-2009 at 4:32 pm
Hercules. Then I could be a demi-demigod.
posted by Paul on 7-14-2009 at 4:32 pm
Oh how I wish I could be the sidekick to the Most Interesting Man in the World from the Dos Equis commercials. He rides jet skis, is surrounded by beautiful women, has sword fights, frees bears from bear traps, drinks beer on occasion, and lives vicariously through himself. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to live vicariously through themselves. On top of all that, he’s got a wicked awesome beard.
posted by grant on 7-14-2009 at 4:33 pm
Ignaz Semmelweis
You probably don’t know him because all of you are William Pasteur chaps. He BEAT Pasteur to the punch and saved thousands of mother’s lives by telling doctors to wash their hands before they enter surgery. I know what you’re thinking, “Why would respectable gentlemen like doctors have dirty hands?! Are you insulting their class?” Nonetheless, turns out that the autopsy fluids that were used to figure out why the mothers were dying were killing the mothers. And Ignaz Semmelweis was the end to that vicious cycle.
He was a genius. He was humble. And he knew when to stand up to the man. Not many heroes like him can do something so great and not boast his ego to every street passerby. His shadow was brighter than most people’s actual persona and I would have loved to be that shadow
posted by Griffin Patterson on 7-14-2009 at 4:35 pm
Theodore Roosevelt. Not that he would need a sidekick but who wouldn’t want be along for that ride?
posted by Samantha on 7-14-2009 at 4:38 pm
James Bond. I can’t believe no one has said this yet. You get cool gadgets, you learn how to be suave and be an international spy, you get an amazing car and you always get the girl, and you get to say your last name first and not sound like an idiot.
posted by Garrett on 7-14-2009 at 4:42 pm
Dr. Livingston; so I wouldn’t have to presume anymore…
posted by Kevin on 7-14-2009 at 4:44 pm
I would want to be paired with…well, I want to be one of the Doctor’s many companions. Honestly, the hopes that I would be invited into the TARDIS was the only reason I decided to give retail a try…that and because nobody else would hire me :(. See, cool and relatable, now where’s my book?
posted by Liz on 7-14-2009 at 4:50 pm
It would be Donald Trump..If he can’t fire them, he’ll buy them off!
posted by Tony F on 7-14-2009 at 4:52 pm
Dr. House, even though he has sidekicks coming out of his ears. Not only is he a brilliant (albeit deeply troubled) doctor, he has some very cultured tastes. And I think he would be most engaging in a witty repartee of any sort.
Failing that, the guy from the FreeCreditReport.com commercials would do just fine. :D
posted by Allison on 7-14-2009 at 5:02 pm
Dr. Who
Perhaps someday I too could become the master of space, time and dimension!
posted by Steve on 7-14-2009 at 5:03 pm
Marie Skłodowska–Curie. Hopefully the ionizing radiation exposure would finally get my pesky back hair under control.
posted by Doug on 7-14-2009 at 5:06 pm
I would give up one of my ears to be Van Gogh’s sidekick/apprentice.
posted by Sarah on 7-14-2009 at 5:07 pm
Captain Jack Sparrow – all I’d be responsible for is making sure the rum is never gone and I’d get to dress up as a pirate.
posted by Becky on 7-14-2009 at 5:12 pm
Lucrezia Borgia. Can you imagine what *her* dirty work looked like? Plus, I’d get to hobnob with a zillion of the great figures in history, and I’d probably get a sweet expense account. What’s not to love?
posted by Frank on 7-14-2009 at 5:14 pm
Jay & Silent Bob
They need an intellectual, sassy southern belle that swears like a sailor to round out the posse, yo! Snootchie Bootchies!
posted by Danielle on 7-14-2009 at 5:18 pm
Ty Webb (played by Chevy Chase in Caddyshack) for sure! My golf game would be a whole lot better, and I might have had a chance to go night putting in college with Mitch Cumstein.
And I have to say to the guy above who wants to be the sidekick to the Most Interesting Man in the World from the Dos Equis commercials, friggin’ awesome answer!!! That definitely deserves to win. That guy once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels; people hang on his every word, even the prepositions; he can speak French in Russian!
posted by MW on 7-14-2009 at 5:20 pm
Ben Southall – the Brit who won the “best job in the world” in early May to be the one to live on a tropical island for six months and blog about it.
According to CNN, his jobs include blogging and video reports, feeding the fish, and cleaning the pool.
Not only am I an expert fish-feeder, having owned six fish since I was a child (all named Gopher, incidentally), but I can hold the video camera while he makes his report from a beautiful beach with the sun glimmering off the water and I’m going to buy a plane ticket now goodbye.
posted by Monika on 7-14-2009 at 5:23 pm
You’ve got to be kidding me here, folks. Yes, you’ve got good people here, but there’s only one person to be sidekick to: Professor X. Not only do you get to learn all about genetics, mutants, and general science, I’m sure he’d teach you a thing or two about being telepathic, all while being a calm, peaceful, generally likeable guy.
posted by Amauriel on 7-14-2009 at 5:27 pm
His Imperial Majesty Emperor Norton I! There is much one could learn from the Emperor of the United States. And, furthermore, San Francisco is a great place to live.
posted by Michelle on 7-14-2009 at 5:30 pm
I have Multiple Personality Disorder, so I would be my own sidekick. Light and Dark, Good and Evil, Peanut Butter & Jelly. I would literally get my own back.
posted by Randy on 7-14-2009 at 5:32 pm
Jesus. Historically and spiritually it would be totally worth the time and so incredibly interesting.
posted by Kevin Beeson on 7-14-2009 at 5:33 pm
The Dude.
Frankly, a lot of people have offered some good suggestions as to people that have been successful in their lives, but there seems to be none more successful than the Dude, (or El Duderino, if you’re not into the whole brevity thing) who somehow manages to make rent every tenth of the month even though he conceivably has no job. (”Employed? Is this… what day is it?”)
posted by Nathan Miller on 7-14-2009 at 5:34 pm
Thursday Next, from the Jasper Fforde novels. Because then I could stop spending so much of my hard earned money ordering books from Amazon–I could just jump into the books instead!
posted by Wendy on 7-14-2009 at 5:34 pm
While I really want to see some strong female characters in this list, for me the answer is easy: Gil Grissom.
I would get to learn about entomology and other forensic tidbits, laugh at his one-liners delivered deadpan over dead bodies, and live mostly nocturnally. Unfortunately, it would mean relocating to Vegas which might be the deal-breaker.
posted by Cheryl on 7-14-2009 at 5:39 pm
Mr. Rogers if he were still alive. Who wouldn’t want to work alongside the nicest man on television???
posted by Kristine on 7-14-2009 at 5:40 pm
Yeah, mad props to the poster who suggested The Most Interesting Man in the World from the Dos Equis commercials. If grant doesn’t win, I would be surprised. Stay thirsty, my friends!
posted by Steve from San Diego on 7-14-2009 at 5:41 pm
Miss Marple.
Hercule Poirot had Hastings, but Miss Marple is all on her own in her adventures. I could be the active counterpoint to her passive observations. We’d travel the English countryside, taking tea and solving crimes, all while smartly dressed in tweed.
posted by Kathryn on 7-14-2009 at 5:48 pm
Macgyver. You’d get to go on really cool adventures and learn how to fix things and disarm bombs with random doohickeys. I have a drawer full of random doohickeys I need to do something about.
posted by Lilly on 7-14-2009 at 5:50 pm
Meat Loaf.
My name would be Soul Food and we would capture the hearts of a generation with our songs reaching the ten minute mark. Nay, exceeding it! And so I could appear in such films as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “Spice World.”
Honestly, who doesn’t want to be in Spice World?
posted by Tuppington on 7-14-2009 at 5:51 pm
Hunter S. Thompson
If you survived the experience, you would have some pretty sweet stories!
posted by Mitchell on 7-14-2009 at 5:58 pm
Conan O’Brien
Being 6 ft tall, I am rarely presented with the opportunity to feel really short. Also, I’d like to know how I can get that much volume in my hair and make it look so effortless.
posted by Amy on 7-14-2009 at 6:01 pm
Pretty obvious choices but so much so, I’m surprised no one’s mentioned them yet–either Jesus or Gandhi. Who better to learn from then the world’s best known religious figure and a revolutionary pacifist!
posted by Nico on 7-14-2009 at 6:03 pm
Not to steal from the prize itself, but Sherlock Holmes!
What a great way to learn observation, logical thinking, and crime solving with a bunch of adventure. It’s just dealing with his ego and cocaine habit I’d have work on lol
posted by Angel on 7-14-2009 at 6:07 pm
Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde.
It would be awesome to learn from the master how to turn good into evil and then change history by turning evil into good.
posted by Andrew on 7-14-2009 at 6:19 pm
No question, I’d want to be President Obama’s sidekick. I’d get to hang out at the White House where I’d get to look at anyone who said anything dumb as though they were idiots, flip them off, tell Congress where they can shove their legislative agenda, work feverishly to undermine the House and Senate minority leadership with well timed press releases, and at the end of the day, kick back in my office (just off the Oval) and maybe call my brother (who, for the sake of this fantasy, is a well known Hollywood super-agent and inspiration for a Jeremy Piven character) and tell him what I did to make the world a way better place.
Oh, if such a thing were only possible…
posted by Doug on 7-14-2009 at 6:21 pm
My son.
He is 4 and is completely into superheros. Wears the t-shirts daily. We spend each night watching Batman/Superman from the 40’s/50’s. He ties on his cape and flies around the house. He REALLY wants to be a superhero!
He has such a blast fighting “the bad guys” with Superman, Batman, Spiderman and Buzz Lightyear that I often get to be his sidekick on his adventures.
No one I’d rather fight crime with!
posted by Tim on 7-14-2009 at 6:29 pm
Coleslaw, definitely. It’s light, refreshing, and compliments so many different flavors. Oh wait, you said sideKICK? My bad.
posted by Nikki (Randy's Wife) on 7-14-2009 at 6:30 pm
J.K Rowling (Harry Potter series) or Brian Jacques (Redwall series)…two of my fave authors. I would like to write a book one day and I think I would learn so much from being one of their sidekicks!!!
:o)
reCaptcha: gazpacho vida
posted by Lindsey on 7-14-2009 at 6:49 pm
Carmen Sandiego… if I can find her.
posted by Mandy on 7-14-2009 at 7:04 pm
Captian Jean-Luc Picard. Anyone who has EVER watched Star Trek: TNG and thought he wasn’t the most awesomely renaissance man ever, well…. you could learn a lot from this well-educated mediator. And you could tell him that wearing pajamas that look like some woman’s sexy-time robe are NEVER a good idea.
posted by Beth on 7-14-2009 at 7:14 pm
I choose to be Marie Curie’s sidekick because, in a perfect world where I can be a sidekick to anyone, all that radiation would have given her superpowers making her one kickass scientist/super hero.
posted by Hope on 7-14-2009 at 7:19 pm
Robin Williams
I would laugh constantly. I could carry his many water (and pill) bottles. I am also certified in CPR in case he has another heart problem. How could you have a bad day listening to Robin Williams all day long?
posted by Mike on 7-14-2009 at 7:32 pm
Henry David Thoreau.
He said in “Walden” that he had two chairs for friendship. It would be exciting to learn his teachings.
posted by Monica on 7-14-2009 at 7:41 pm
Warren Buffet’s side-kick, then I would have more then just two wooden nickles to rub together!
posted by Jean on 7-14-2009 at 7:44 pm
In honor of the – at last! – arrival of ‘Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince’, I would be side-kick to
VOLDEMORT…
As the much *shorter* (being 4 feet 8.25 inches to his 6 ft, at least as portrayed by Ralph Fiennes), I’d be viewed as ‘the LESSER of two Evils’!)
posted by Amy on 7-14-2009 at 8:00 pm
Really? Nobody said Jim Henson yet? I’m stunned.
The man was basically imagination distilled into human form- whimsical and gentle and goofy and witty.
Taken from us too soon, that’s for sure.
Failing that, it’s an honest toss-up between Billy Collins (the poet) and Tony Stark (Ironman)
captcha: Crichton, risible.
Indeed! :-)
posted by Elizabeth W. on 7-14-2009 at 8:05 pm
I’d be a sidekick to myself. Not for vain reasons, just so I could watch and learn from myself in social situations and see what I really look like. I’m guessing the picture in my head isn’t accurate.
posted by JetaN on 7-14-2009 at 8:07 pm
I would be Julia Child’s sidekick for the day so that I could learn how to cook a perfect meal and get rocked on wine while doing it. Plus I would love to find out what she really thought of the French…
posted by Anna on 7-14-2009 at 8:07 pm
I’d be the sidekick to one of those guys (or gals) that artificially inseminates cows; that way, I’d have my hand in everything.
posted by anotherfascist on 7-14-2009 at 8:54 pm
I think I’d have to say Douglas Adams. The man had an amazing sense of humor and creativity. He also cared for great causes and did something about them (how many people you know would climb Mt. Kilimanjaro wearing a rhino costume to raise awareness to a charity? How many would climb it, period?). And I already share his propensity for endless procrastination, maybe he’d have been able to give me some pointers on that.
I almost said The Dread Pirate Roberts (that’s, after all, an apprenticeship that actually leads somewhere), but all the kissy stuff he’s been into ever since Buttercup moved in would make me terribly wistful; I mean, do you know how hard it is to find a Buttercup? You wouldn’t happen to have one to spare, would you? ;-)
posted by Raphael Sutton on 7-14-2009 at 9:11 pm
The man with no name. But I don’t know how he’s going to teach me if he doesn’t talk much.. and oh what my name would be, I wonder!
posted by Julienne on 7-14-2009 at 9:24 pm
MOSES Learn to be a shipwright, be a sailor, party with animals and “Singing in the rain”!
posted by Grant on 7-14-2009 at 10:31 pm
Wow, someone already said Voldemort, but I would like to be Dumbledore’s apprentice. Maybe he could give me some pointers on his amazing style. For example, like when he took Fawkes and fled before he was arrested by the Ministry in Order of the Phoenix. If I was a guy, I would totally say his amazing beard too. ;)
posted by Krista on 7-14-2009 at 10:34 pm
Lucille Ball she had it all sense of timing, what is good and, how to make people laugh. At least work would be fun.
posted by Jaime on 7-14-2009 at 10:42 pm
Vanna White. If I’m gonna be a sidekick, I might as well learn how from another one first. And I think Vanna is the quintessential sidekick–rarely talks, always smiling, and gets to wear better clothes than everyone else.
posted by catherine ann on 7-14-2009 at 10:45 pm
I would love to be paired with Leonardo DaVinci…..to have been sidekick to a man so far ahead of his time surely would have been absolutely thrilling! I believe He was responsible for the first ever form of photography, one of my favorite hobbies, and he was fascinated with the human body….an amazing man, in my opinion.
posted by Sandie on 7-14-2009 at 10:46 pm
As an apprentice? I suppose I’d have to pick Dexter. From the tv series/book series. I know he already had a mentor and all, but still. I just think it’d be interesting to mold such a well done double life.
posted by Sarah on 7-14-2009 at 11:36 pm
I’d be Mark’s sidekick.
That way I could take part in all the glory of assisting the many goals he scores during soccer games, singing backup during endless nights of karaoke, and if there’s a girl he likes but she’s already in a relationship I could break them up for him.
posted by Katie on 7-15-2009 at 12:41 am
Mr. Spock, hands-down. The guy is a genius. I think it would be so cool to be his lab assistant. Navigating around the universe in the Enterprise, playing 3D chess. Cool.
posted by Alan on 7-15-2009 at 2:31 am
Super Grover! He’s wacky,cuddly,and he gets to hang out on Sesame Street.
posted by Melissa on 7-15-2009 at 2:35 am
I’d have to say Edgar Allen Poe. You know, the usual. Pick him up in whichever random part of Baltimore he wakes up in, steer him clear of any particularly fresh looking graves, and then make sure he sits down every night to write the terrifying things going on his head. And Through some sort of trickery I’d be gifted with eternal life, and would promise to honor him every year after that, at which point i’d TOTALLY BE THE POE TOASTER. T’would be honorable indeed.
posted by Ben on 7-15-2009 at 2:44 am
Definitely Kathy Reichs or her alter ego, Temperance Brennan. The world of forensic anthropology looks fascinating and who better to learn it from than the master herself!!
posted by Rhonda on 7-15-2009 at 8:21 am
Terry Pratchett. Discworld rules
posted by noble on 7-15-2009 at 8:33 am
I do agree with the notion that it would be great to share the life of ‘The Most Interesting Man in the World’, but seriously would he really want to SHARE ALL THAT with a ’sidekick’?
If I were him, I’d probably want it all for *myself*! ;-)
posted by Anon Emous on 7-15-2009 at 8:38 am
Ash Williams from “Army of Darkness.”
I’d keep the chainsaw oiled and clean.
I’d make sure our stockpile of shotgun ammo seems infinite.
There would always be gas in the car.
We would travel through time trashing Deadites and freeing primitive screwheads.
And I would write down the magic words, every single little tiny syllable.
posted by wreck on 7-15-2009 at 9:08 am
Samuel Adams. While learning brash political intrigue, philosophy, and the importance of steeping tea in harbors is fine and Yankee-doodle-dandy; and though I may not get my own book…. I could have an ale named after me.
Ricktoberfest Fall Ale… I give it 13 stars.
Honorable mentions: Julius Caesar from whom I could learn to order a “Martinus” when I only want one cocktail, and Wolf Blitzer to learn about best male grooming practices.
Also, Ben Franklin: learning to invent, found, and flirt with pretty young ladies… nice.
posted by Richard on 7-15-2009 at 9:11 am
Alf…because I’ve always wondered what cats taste like.
posted by Greg on 7-15-2009 at 9:31 am
I can only imagine what a freaky and bizarre (re: fun!) time one would have as Salvador Dali’s apprentice.
Recaptcha: victory marxist
posted by Bert on 7-15-2009 at 10:04 am
Miss Parker from “The Pretender” tv show. Cause she’s pretty much awesome, and has the best evil glares ever. :)
posted by Tiffany on 7-15-2009 at 10:05 am
Cant believe no one has suggested Indiana Jones. I would think anyone who is a fan of Mental_Floss (i.e. me) wouldnt want to be his side kick. Travel the world… learn knew things… see odd things… learn stuff that no one else in the world knows… great stories for parties ;). I LOVE Dos XX and No offense to grant, but I’m wondering if maybe The Most Interesting Man in the World was perhaps Indiana Jones’ sidekick…I’ll gladly take his place!
posted by Gregg on 7-15-2009 at 10:40 am
I second Indiana Jones; scouring the globe for mystical lost treasures, all the while foiling the plans of the world’s worst villains…what a life that would be.
posted by Hutch on 7-15-2009 at 10:54 am
Easy: Benjamin Franklin. If I was considering a career change and was interested in getting involved with U.S. Politics, I would definitely be better off by first learning from our nation’s first genius. If “Doctor” Franklin’s ideals were still alive today, our country would be on the right track.
posted by Jason Olmstead on 7-15-2009 at 11:17 am
George Plimpton. The dude was awesome! He was a journalist, a writer, an editor, and an actor. He helped wrestle Sirhan Sirhan to the ground after the shooting of Bobby Kennedy. He boxed Sugar Ray Robinson while on assignment for Sports Illustrated. He attended preseason training with the Detroit Lions as a back-up quarterback. He was in a bunch of movies. The guy was a true Renaissance Man!
posted by Missy on 7-15-2009 at 11:37 am
Zack Morris
posted by kt on 7-15-2009 at 11:51 am
Old Gregg (Mighty Boosh) because I enjoy Baileys and would not mind drinking it out of a shoe.
posted by Amanda on 7-15-2009 at 12:11 pm
Hopefully this isn’t too creepy, but I’d LOVE to be Stacy Conradt’s apprentice!
It’d be really cool to hang out with her on her pilgrimages to Disney’s Haunted Mansion or The Tower of Terror .
Also, it’d be fun to see where she gets her ideas for her Quick 10 lists and where she gets her info. I picture her sifting through ancient Sumerian texts and dodging poison-tipped darts in Mayan temples to bring us “The Quick 10: 10 Ancient Rulers That Wore Woman’s Clothing!”
Yes, I do need a reality check…
Finally, mental_floss’s recaptchas have some strange combinations. Today’s was “Washington adolf.”
posted by Josh on 7-15-2009 at 12:36 pm
Bill Cosby. He tells it like it is.
posted by Sue on 7-15-2009 at 12:36 pm
Death from Discworld – Not only does he have a ripping sense of humor but hobknobbing with Death would allow me to meet all those who are important in Discworld or meet very unusual ends (maybe I could solve the mystery of Spontaneous Combustion)! I would get to meet Vimes numerous times and hang out with the Death of Rats and maybe get to ride on Binky!
Kudos to those who put Miss Marple, Teddy Roosevelt, and Carmen Sandiago. I really enjoyed reading those and agree that it would be perfectly marvelous to be their sidekick. I also thought about choosing Jeeves and Wooster, but they are so complete together that they probably don’t need anyone else!
posted by VScott on 7-15-2009 at 12:37 pm
“The Most Interesting Man in the World” is merely a gimmick. When I learned about the actor I quickly grew disenchanted.
From Slate.com:
“Grade: B. Well-made, amusing ads that somehow manage to blend absurd humor with suave sophistication. The campaign’s less successful companion Web site is rich with content but often devolves into Maxim-ish lifestyle advice. I assure you, only the world’s least-interesting men read Maxim.”
There are real heroes that are way cooler than that lame-o. Put your faith in the Crocket!
posted by Davy Crockett - A Real Man on 7-15-2009 at 12:45 pm
Not one jedi mentioned? hmm…
How about Adolf Hitler? i will state immediately that i am not talking about the war, or his motives of ethnic “cleansing.” i think that learning his charismatic ways, his abilities to take charge and become one of the most powerful people in the world in such a short time span, and to be able to absorb the intelligence, wisdom, and creativity he possessed would make me a very influential and powerful person even just as his right-hand man. i might even be a voice of logic and reason in some circumstances.
lol at my reCAPTCHA with my sidekick choice… sorrowfully reign
posted by Steven on 7-15-2009 at 12:48 pm
Zaphod Beeblebrox from Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Two heads. President of the Universe. Thief. And makes the best pan-galactic Gargle Blasters in the known universe. All the while stealing the greatest spacecraft in front of a crowd. If you don’t want to be like him you may as well be dead!
posted by Andrew on 7-15-2009 at 12:49 pm
Definitely Baron Münchhausen! Go on all sorts of crazy adventures, and if he’s just making it up, i can be there to elaborate!
posted by Carlos on 7-15-2009 at 1:08 pm
I’d have to say Socrates. Some incessant asking “why?” (as so many youths do) would be a nice counter to the Socratic method. After all, why not?
posted by Heather on 7-15-2009 at 1:17 pm
Forget Smee…I’d like to be Captain Hook’s right-hand (wo)man!
posted by Noelle on 7-15-2009 at 1:19 pm
Bono! No only would I meet the other members of u2, heads of state, and other famous people. I would also be helping to bring attention to the plight of African nations and try to improve there current situations by educating, medicating, and living conditions.
posted by Mavis on 7-15-2009 at 1:47 pm
Terry Gilliam – I love the way his mind works.
posted by Barbara on 7-15-2009 at 2:04 pm
Andrew Jackson – He lead one of the more interesting lives in history, from the War of 1812, to dozens of deuls, to being president, to surviving an assassination attempt only to beat the perpetrator with his cane.
posted by Sean O. on 7-15-2009 at 2:37 pm
Slash. One could learn to master an instrument, and hang with out with one of the coolest dudes ever. Plus think of the naming possibilities: splash, dash, sash, etc.
posted by Randy Strevy on 7-15-2009 at 2:40 pm
Edmund Dantes, otherwise known as the Count of Monte Cristo.
Money, power, and an imaculate sense of style. WOW!
Or failing that…I’d sidekick for Inego Montoya. I want to learn Benetti’s defense and have an over-developed sense of vengeance damnit!!!!
posted by Zack R on 7-15-2009 at 2:41 pm
Dr. Henry Jones, Sr.
He wouldn’t have been easy to work for, but as a lover of all things medieval (well, not all….not a big fan of bubonic plague) I think that would be incredibly fascinating. A
I’d love to be Dumbledore’s apprentice, though, probably more than the above. But I can’t think of anything witty enough to make it worthy of the contest. :)
posted by Kate on 7-15-2009 at 2:41 pm
Quincy Jones. The man can capture a concept, a character, a mood, and a plot in a twenty second theme song. I would love to observe his creative process and fetch him orange gummi bears or whatever he needs to sustain his genius.
posted by CBM on 7-15-2009 at 2:51 pm
I’d be the sidekick of the Master Distiller at the Jack Daniel’s plant in Lynchburg.
Just think – free samples and I’d never have to think of another birthday, Christmas, or wedding gift again!
posted by Kaden on 7-15-2009 at 3:50 pm
Dave T. Magician. I need to learn how to pull a rabbit out if my pants and find bar trivia leftovers (women or food).
posted by The Other White Mark on 7-16-2009 at 2:28 pm
I’d be Wonder Woman’s sidekick…take a ride in the Invisible Jet, kick ass & take names…all while my long brown hair and makeup looked flawless and flowy-like. :) She was my childhood hero because she wore big glasses like me but transformed into a strong & beautiful Amazonian crime-fighter and protector of the weak.
posted by Tina on 7-17-2009 at 8:05 pm
I’d like to be the stable girl for the 3 Musketeers ! They have the best hats !
posted by JeanB on 8-9-2009 at 5:32 pm