Their last known whereabouts: Washington, D.C. The J. Edgar Hoover Building is national headquarters of the FBI. Named after the bureau's most famous director, it's the heart of the FBI's fight against terrorism, kidnapping, extortion, and organized crime, and every day, thousands of visitors come to see exhibits and target-shooting demonstrations. But this morning, Double Trouble turned on their vacuum and hoovered up the Hoover Building. Oh, dear, how embarrassing. It's the size of a city block and they want to throw the biggest block party ever. Gumshoes, you've got to capture Carmen and halt the J. EDGAR HOOVER MANUEVER!
Her last known whereabouts: Crystal Falls, Michigan. In 1988, scientists began a startling discovery in a forest near Crystal Falls. They found one of the world's largest living organisms. It's called Armillaria bulbosa, a single giant fungus of intertwined tendrils and mushrooms. The fungus weighs over 100 tons, covers more than 35 acres. It's been growing for about 10,000 years and it hasn't stopped yet. But it was uprooted today when Eartha Brute, driving her fearsome fungus fetcher, plowed into the forest and took every last tentacle. Gumshoes, you got to unearth Eartha, reearth that fungus, and answer the question...
Her last known whereabouts: Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Chincoteague Island's fame come from a herd of wild ponies. Most of the year, the ponies live across the channel on nearby Assateague Island, but every July, ponies from Assateague wild herds are rounded up, driven across the channel to Chincoteague, and sold at auction. The ones that aren't sold swim back to Assateague the next day. This tradition dates back more than 65 years. Until today, that is when Patty Larceny crashed the auction with her Pony Patty Wagon and filched every foal and filly. Gumshoes, you got to ride to the rescue, pinch Patty, corral Carmen Sandiego, and put an end to...
His last known whereabouts: Vancouver, British Columbia. Vancouver's Stanley Park Cannon has been in place for 98 years, and every day at 9:00pm, it goes boom. (explosion) The tradition goes back to the turn of the century when the gun was used to tell fishermen it was time to bring their boats in. (explosion) Vancouver has grown a lot since then, but the 9 O'Clock gun still fires. Every morning, a city worker packs it with powder, and every night, an electric fuse wired to a clock sets it off. (explosion) Or it did until today when Robocrook subbed into Stanley Park. He scoped out the cannon, uncaged it, and carried it off. Gumshoes, you got to rope Robocrook and solve today's case...
Her last known whereabouts: Chicago, Illinois. Chicago style blues was popularized by performers like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon, most of whom were former southerners. Blues music began in the south when African-American musician forged the styles from the spirituals, work songs, and ballads of the 19th century. Today in Chicago, you can still hear great blues musicians crank out the tunes. Stars like Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, and Sunnyland Slim. Or you could until today when Kneemoi hit the Southside to take in some tunes. When Kneemoi gets into the music, she really gets into the music. She liked it so much she took it with her when she left. Gumshoes, you've got to stop the sad sound of...
Their last known whereabouts: West Africa. What reggae is to Jamaica, Juju is to the West African nation. A homegrown form of pop music. (music plays) Juju grew from the music of the Yoruba people. Band leaders, like Ebenezer Obey and King Sunny Ade, combined the talking drum patterns of the jungle with soft singing and electric and slide guitars. But today, those bopping bands fell silent because Juju music is gone. Double Trouble wailed into West Africa, turned up their VILE volume, and nabbed every note. Gumshoes, you got to derail that dastardly duo, rescue those rocking rhythms and answer today's musical question...
His last known whereabouts: New York City. The New York City Subway System is the third largest in the world. Only Moscow's and Tokyo's have more riders. Have a look. Begun in 1904, the system totaled 731 miles of track. If you stretched it out in a line, it would reach from New York City to Indianapolis. Not bad for the price of one token. But today, there was a major service delay when Vic the Slick decided they'd make great getaway tunnels. Armed with 17 zillion cubic feet of helium, he stole the entire subway system. Gumshoes, you've got to stop...
His last known whereabouts: the sky. The Moon is Earth's closest neighbor. For centuries, people worship the Moon as a goddess and it is powerful. Its gravitational field affects the tides in our oceans. Some even think it affects human behavior. The word lunatic, from the Latin word for moon, was used to describe crazy people. For over four billion years, the Moon has circled the Earth more than 27.3 days until today when Robocrook snatched our nearby satellite and left a big space in space. How could he do such a thing? Maybe he just took a shine to it. Gumshoes, its your job to stop...
Her last known whereabouts: Santa Fe, New Mexico, the second oldest city in the USA. The Institute of American Indian Arts Museum was founded here in the early '60s. Museum instructors from many Native American cultures teach traditional and new arts. The museum's collection, featuring works by artists like T.C. Cannon and Bill Souza, is one of the most important in the US. Or it was until today when Sarah Nade skidded into Santa Fe, piled the collection into her Band-Van, and stole it. She wants to trash it in her next music video. Gumshoes, you've got to stop Sarah, corral Carmen, and mitigate this...
Her last known whereabouts: the Mediterranean Sea. The island nation of Malta lies smack in the middle of the Mediterranean. 1/10 the size of Rhode Island, it is almost entirely built up with cities. For a long time, outside powers controlled Malta. The Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the knights of St. John, Spain, France, and England. Malta finally went independent in 1964. But that changed today when Eartha Brute windsurfed in, winced Malta out of the water, and walked away with it. Gumshoes, you've got to right this wrong, catch Carmen, stop Eartha Brute and solve...
His last known whereabouts: the sky. Ozone is a type of oxygen that forms in the stratosphere, around 17 miles above us. It blocks the Sun's dangerous ultraviolet rays before they reach the Earth's surface. Recently, scientists discovered that man-made chemicals are eating a hole in the ozone layer above Antarctica. The increase in radiation may already be causing diseases and enviromental destruction. Well, you'd better get out your SPF 9 zillion sunblock because today, Robocrook stole the ozone layer, holes and all. Gumshoes, you've got to wrangle that robot, make the sky safe again and stop...
His last known whereabouts: London, England. In the 17th and 18th centuries, most English gentlemen wore wigs. The fashion faded except in courtrooms. White horsehair wigs are still required to tire for judges and for barristers, the English equivalant for trial lawyers. Today, some barristers complained that the toppers are hot, ugly, and unsanitary. But England lost tradition and so far, the wigs have stayed. Until today, that is when Vic lollygagged into London and whisked away the wigs. Gumshoes, you've got to stop the slick one, catch Carmen, and answer the barristers cry for justice...
His last known whereabouts: Amazonas, Brazil. The Amazon Rainforest is home to many living things including inch-long ants and spiders the size of dinner plates. There's even a rare giant beetle that one scientist kept on a leash. Millions of species may still be undiscovered and they might just contain genetic information that could help scientists improve or even save people's lives. But today, the rainforest insect population dropped to zero. Top Grunge rumbled into the jungle and bagged every bug. Gumshoes, you've got to get a grip on that greaseball and squash his plans for...
Her last known whereabouts: Williamsburg, Virginia. From 1699-1780, Williamsburg was Virginia's capital. It was home to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and about 2,000 others, half of whom were slaves. Williamsburg's colonial glory was restored in 1926, and today, many of the 10,000 permanent residents recreate life in the 18th century, wearing colonial era clothes and demonstrating period crafts for thousands of daily visitors. Or they did until today when Patty Larceny tootled into town. She didn't just take snapshots, she took every bit of Williamsburg and filed it in her photo album. Gumshoes, it's your job to stop...
His last known whereabouts: Germany's Rhine River. On a small island in the Rhine stands a 700-year-old Mäuseturm, or Mouse Tower. According to legend, an evil bishop invited a crowd of starving peasants into his bond, promising them free food. Then he burned down the barn with the peasants inside. The next morning, 10,000 mice chased the bishop out of his castle and into the tower where they ate him alive. I love happy endings. Now the tower is a popular tourist spot. Or it was until today when that caped crudhead Wonder Rat scoped up the tower while rowing up the Rhine. He backed up and bopped off with it. Gumshoes, you've got to retrieve the tower, catch Carmen, and stop this game of...