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Animal-Vegetable-Mineral-Abstract: The Pants Memorial Game
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The chairperson selects an object/idea/whatever and announces whether it's animal, vegetable, mineral, and/or abstract. The others have to ask questions to figure out what it is. Whomever guesses the object correctly is given the chair for the next round; repeat ad nauseam.
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[Chalky] Using dictionary.com :
A plant cultivated for an edible part or the edible part of such a plant - No.
A member of the vegetable kingdom; a plant - Yes
Is it a living plant?
As in an oak tree rather than oak.

The public library - such an oasis of calm.

Is it Michael Howard?
Is it a whole plant?
Is it a single, particular thing (as opposed to, say, oak trees in general)?
Ha, nice to see I'm not the only one capable of starting minute pedantic arguments. See, everything is mineral really, and animal and vegetable are just more or less arbitrarily defined subsets of it, aren't they?

[Kim] Unrelatedly, some friends and I once spent a lunchtime trailing after Michael Howard surreptitiously through Folkestone town centre. Our stalking attempt was foiled when he drove off in a very flash car. Curses!
[Inkspot] Yes.
[Kim] Great Guess! But No.
[Raak] Yes.
[Breadmaster] Taking your 'Oak Tree' senario. I was thinking of a single thing like "An Oak Tree" as opposed to "All Oak Trees" or "Some Oak Trees", but I would give the chair to any of those three as they would be close enough.
Is it a tree?
Is it a maple tree?
Shame its not a Shrubbery! I want a shrubbery.
A rosebush?
[Lib]Don't we all? :)
[rab] YES!
[Lib] No.
[snorgle] No.
Is it indigenous to the UK? Silver birch?
Bugger, off for the weekend so probably won't get this one...
Is it an evergreen?
[rab] It can be found in the UK but AFAIK isn't a native (except possibly scotland?).
[Raak] Yes.
Is it a Christmas Tree?
[Btd] No. But I suppose it could be used as one.
Douglas fir?
Scots Pine?
*Sings* "Ohhh, aahm a lumberjack and aahm OK, aah sleep all night and aah work all day!"
Spruce?
[snorgle,Kim,Raak] - No, to all of you. Strange that is the second Monty Python reference (clue?)
Holly?
As in 'Holly Grail' and 'Hollywood Bowl". ... :-)
the Larch? The larch.
How to recognise trees from quite far away.
Cedar?
The tallest tree in the forest?
JGJG
OJVVNBVJKNNJNHVJ
Well done.
Goddammit it, Snorgle must have it. Ghfhj's guess was pretty good though.
Episode 12B. How to recognise different types of trees from quite a long way away. No. 1. The Larch. The Larch. - congrats to snorgle! Take it away . . . . .
Animal
the monty python hint gave it away, really..now, let's see..
Human?
Warm blooded?
Is it a living, entity with polymorhing abilities?
Moving right along to Red Dwarf.
...or is it something made from a dead animal?
Is it dairy?
To eliminate confusion as early as possible, or at least to try to! :)
Raak - yes; plump - yep; Inkspot - no and I'll throw in the fact that it doesn't have 4 eyebrows either for free; Inkspot - ugh, no!;ZK - no.
Is it Michael Howard?
Male?
Presently alive?
Some told me recently that there are currently more people living than have ever lived. Can this be true?
zk - no; kim - yes
kim - click here re:population for some info..
Four legged?
Spurned!
Oh sure, ignore my question, go on, I don't care. I hate this game anyway.
*sniff*
Are they lsted on celebdaq?would you recommend buying shares in them?
Is the person known as a politician?
Carefully phrased to be independent of whether the person is alive or dead.
British?
Riff (sorry! it was late!) Yes. Inkspot - yes (and no cheating and getting 2 questions in one!) Breadmaster - nope.
Are they a 'singer'?
By which I mean they get money to sing, not that they necessarily have any talent...
An entertainer, in the broadest sense?
i.e. including Frank Skinner, Nickel-arse Parsons etc.
American?
Is English his (their) first language?
Is it a member of the British Royal Family?
European?
Another spurnee
What about my last question?
Osama bin Laden?
David Blaine?
Arnie?
Ibid - no. Rosie - no. BM - no. Kayl - yes. Inkspot - no. Raak - you want to ask it again? Not Bin Laden, no. ZK - nope. barbacoa - nope.
It's not you, is it?
barbacoa - no.
Nice try, though..
BTW, when a said they're not an entertainer, I meant in the sense of Frank Skinner, Nicholas Parsons ,etc. All round entertainers. That's all.
A sportsman?
[snorgle] "Is the person known as a politician?" I don't see any answer to that question, or anyone else asking it. I notice Btd's "European?" has also gone unanswered.
Is he regularly on television?
I'd be very happy if it was one of the Knights who say NI but I fear it won't be.
A movie star?
Is he Australian?
Someone in the world of Pop?...and would they cost more than £1.50 a share?
One question but in two parts ...honest guv ;)
Raak-I'm not deliberately not answering, you know! Therefore - not a politician, not European, not regularly on tv, not australian, not a popstar and yes, Riff, he is a movie star!
sorry for ignoring you plump - not four-legged!
am presuming then - an american movie star?
Keanu Reeves?
ooh, yes please!
Chalky - YES! But ZK- he's canadian, I thought everyone knew that! Honestly, some people..
It's your go now, Chalky. I saw Matrix Revolutions yesterday. Am sorely disappointed! Action scenes good, characterisation awful, ending complete cop-out. At least I got to look at cute Keanu for long periods though. We actually waited until the end of the credits (through all that outrageously loud dance music) on the off chance something else would happen. I said "That is the suckiest ending ever! It's like the end of The Empire Strikes Back, but without another part to make up for it. It's just never explained." GRR!

Audience goes wild for Chalky, whoops, cheers, outrageous hand gestures, sausages, etc.

*coughing*
*Whilst cheering rapturously* would like to point out the order in which the entries came...I'm sure I knew he was canadian anyway. aren't all the stars canadian? eric mccormack is (I think), so is michael j fox, paul gross, mike meyers....
Z.K. - it was simulposted, and you were wrong anyway..
Dan Aykroyd, William Shatner, John Candy...
* a bit embarrassed*
I thankyou. That was somewhat akin to a lurker's victory. I haven't been around much this weekend, just popped in to catch up, hazarded a wild guess, and there you go ....
[snorgs] Yes - I thought Matrix Rev was a pile of cack, but at least I didn't fall asleep during it [which I did during Matrix Reloaded].
I'll post a new thingy tomorrow, if you don't mind. I HAD lined up a person, but we've just had one, so I'll attempt to think of something sparklingly original to brighten up a Monday morning :-)
It's Monday morning ....
... and time for an * A B S T R A C T * thing
Is it the gravitational relationship between Leonard Nimoy and Saturn?
I think I've got it!
snorgle
sausages etc??!?
Is it a human concept
average opening gambit
Can it be heard?
Is it p?
(Putting the question in the "Stance" because HTML doesn't work in Apropos.)
Is it a good book to read by Jeffrey Archer?
Is it found in a book?
Is it common knowledge?
[Btd]What is your problem with sausages? Do you want one?
Might it be commonly considered art?
Proper sausage
snorgle] Yes please! I'm sausaholic.
Is it fictional
Is it a saying or verbal expression?
Is it "the absence of Chalky"?
Sorry to keep you all waiting ...
Bob - the gravitational guess - No
Bob - the snorgle guess - No
Software - Sort of, yes
rab - No
Raak - No
Boolbar - the J A guess - No
Boolbar - the book guess - Yes, but most things might, wouldn't you say?
snorgs - indeed, it is common knowledge [but that's not the answer]
Breadmaster - No
Bob - the proper sausage guess - No
Marfa Farker - No
Inkspot - It can be
Rosie - No :-)
Does it have to do with language?
Is it something to do with the weather ?
Is it an emotion?
I really am a top sausage connoisseur. The best I've ever found come from here.
Bugg@r
got it wrong again, try this http://www.growingconcern.co.uk/homefarm.html
Raak - er ... No. It would be very misleading if I replied otherwise
Boolbar - No, not directly
Bob - Emotion - No, but it can have an effect on the emotions [Clue #1]
Bob - Buggary - No
is it a feeling ?
Does it have to do with music?
Is it an action?
Anything to do with water?
being a bit negative
Bob - No
Riff - No
Inkspot - Not really ... it could be ... sometimes ... vague, sorry
Boolbar - No
Is it an action?
We're not getting very far with this one, are we?
BM - no, especially if we don't read the last but one question :-)
Is is connected with the arts (other than music)
?
Would it have been known about in 1900?
Is it made of non-abstract things?
Kim - Not really
Boolbar - Yes
Raak - Yes, it is 'made' of abstract AND tangible things
Is it a scientific theory or principle?
Inkspot - mmmm ... tricky. I shall say No, but your line of questioning might lead you to the right place.
Is it 'historically'attributed to one person?
Is it a religion? (And if so, can I claim Christianity at this juncture)?
Can it exist/occur where there aren't any people around? Say, on Mars?
Is it a rule or law?
back again for a while :-)
Inkspot - No
rab - No
Riff - Yes
Bob - Sort of, yes.
Is it anything to do with mathematics?
Dazed [hello darling :-)] - In a way, yes.
Is it common sense?
...vague I know but I'm thinking...Oh!the pain,the pain! and going by William Hague's campaign, an oft misquoted commodity, which is what you would expect really.
Pythagoras Theorem
simulposted curses!!
Inkspot - that was one of the early questions .. snorgle's I think
Inkspot - No..not such an obvious mathematical connection
Is it possible for people to make one?
Gravity?
Coming in ... yawn ... rather late.
tending the night shift
Raak - I think we've established that it's an 'it'.. therefore, it's a common perception that people can make 'it' - although they may not be aware they are [Clue#2]
Duj - No
Sorry, Chalky, missed Btd's question earlier, I must only be slightly awake; I shall now retire.
Um... Is it something to do with physics?
I'm completely at sea.
throwing a lifeboat to Riff
Riff - No.
[all] Don't get too fixated on science [or even maths]. There are a whole bunch of questions that haven't been asked yet, which should simplify matters considerably.
Is it silence?
*throwing random things into the melting pot of ideas*
reading back...
i think I can count my own answer as no! :-) nvm, just me being inattentive...
Heat?
A quincunx?
Good morning :-)
Is it an effect rather than a cause?
Good morning Chalky, kettles on.
Can it be perceived by any of the five senses?
I'm away for the day from about 10am ....
.... so if this isn't wrapped up by then .. there will be a 10 hour hiatus ..
Rosie - No
Raak - What an interesting guess - it isn't correct but some might believe that the occurrence of such might have some bearing on 'it'.
Inkspot - It is both a cause and effect :-)
*coughs*
Is it one of the seven deadly sins?
& Rab's question?
Sorry rab :-) [I'm scurrying around a bit and missed the simulpost] Yes - and to save further questioning - All of them
Bob - No
Is it a maze?
Raak - That's probably a bit too tangible for an 'abstract' :-)
The choas theory
I googled quincunx and was pointed to the Law of Error, none the wiser so I'm stepping back as its time for a Kit-Kat.
Interesting - you answered "no" to the question "Can it be heard?"
Does it have something to do with the sun?
Inkspot - No
rab - Indeed I did. It was a specific question and I would have been misleading you if, at that time, I'd answered yes. However, as 'this' can be perceived by all the senses collectively, I answered yes. I feel it may be more helpful.
Boolbar - No, not really.
Sorry - I've got a train to catch
... but as I am continually astounded by your collective grey matter, I fully expect the answer to be here when I return this evening. Clue#3 - it has two sides - the one I'm thinking of is the happy/desirable side.
Is it beauty?
Is it good luck?
Is it the future?
I keep not noticing earlier questions/answers - I do apologise, it doesn't indicate any contempt for fellow questioners/answerers on my part...
This summarises all that chalky answered before catching the train. I’ve taken out the wild guesses and repeated questions and added the clues at the end.

This is an * A B S T R A C T * thing.
It is (sort of) a human concept.
It can’t be heard.
Is it found in a book? Yes, but most things might, wouldn't you say?
It is common knowledge [but that's not the answer].
It is not commonly considered art.
It is not fictional.
It can be a saying or verbal expression.
Does it have to do with language? er ... No. It would be very misleading if I replied otherwise.
It is not directly something to do with the weather.
It is not an emotion.
It is not a feeling.
Does it have to do with music? – No.
Is it an action? - Not really ... it could be ... sometimes ... vague, sorry.
Nothing to do with water.
It is "not really" connected with the arts.
It would have been known about in 1900.
It is 'made' of abstract AND tangible things.
Is it a scientific theory or principle? - mmmm ... tricky. I shall say No, but your line of questioning might lead you to the right place.
It is not 'historically' attributed to one person.
It is not a religion.
It can exist/occur where there aren't any people around e.g. Mars.
Is it a rule or law? - Sort of, yes.
Is it anything to do with mathematics? - In a way, yes.
Is it possible for people to make one? - I think we've established that it's an 'it'.. therefore, it's a common perception that people can make 'it' - although they may not be aware they are.
It is not Gravity.
It is not Heat.
A quincunx? - What an interesting guess - it isn't correct but some might believe that the occurrence of such might have some bearing on 'it'.
Is it an effect rather than a cause? - It is both a cause and effect :-)
It can be perceived by any of the five senses.
It is not one of the seven deadly sins.
It is not a maze.
It is not the chaos theory.
Does it have something to do with the sun? - No, not really.
- Sorry - I've got a train to catch

[Clue #1] It is not an emotion but it can have an effect on the emotions.
[Clue#2] It is an 'it'.. therefore, it's a common perception that people can make 'it' - although they may not be aware they are.
“There are a whole bunch of questions that haven't been asked yet, which should simplify matters considerably”.
Oops
[Clue#3] - it has two sides - the one I'm thinking of is the happy/desirable side.
Is it ambience?
Is it the act of winning?
Red Sky at Night?
From all that, I interperet it as being a natural occurance or event, the quincunx which I interperet from a quick browse as illustrating 'randomness'(is this right), is the scientific/maths a blind alley which leads down to something measurable even on Mars
Does is have anything to do with the weather?
it
Would I be pleased to have/be this?
Is it 'time'?
Is it a naturally occuring event?
I suppose I should ask in case I suppose erroneously
Even if Boolbar is not right, its a damn clever answer.
Analysing the analysing ...
rab - No, but getting closer
Boolbar - No, not exactly, but excellent guess. Winning could be considered a part of 'it'
Inkspot - No, but the portent itself has a connection
Kim - Not directly
Software - Yes
Dazed - No
Inkspot - Yes to 'occurring event' as for 'natural' - I would say more 'yes' than 'no', although the mathematics might prove otherwise [Clue#4]
Is it good luck?
Is it coincidence?
You know what Raak ....?
..... that's close enough. The answer was 'serendipity' but as this one has dragged on for a couple of days now, it may be best to leave it that a combination of your two guesses will do nicely. [insert smiley face here] I'm pleased because I was a-rootin' an' a-tootin' for you. So whilst ...
*the audience whoops and hollers [and exhales a collective sigh of relief] and waves handkerchiefs and garters and all manner of private apparel for that vair vair clever Raak*

... I shall prepare myself for the possible questioning of some of my replies :-)

The next object is MINERAL.
Stonehenge?
Congrats Raak, and about bl***y well time!
Man-made?
Metallic?
Inkspot: no. Btd: yes. Software: not usually
Used domestically?
Is it made from a combination of materials?
Does it have a practical function (as opposed to e.g. aesthetic)?
Is it consumable?
Is it unique?
Software: can be, but not primarily; Btd: yes; rab: yes; Chalky: no; Inkspot: no.
Does it require electrical power to function?
rab: no
Could you fit it inside a regular-size fridge?
Did it exist before the eighteenth century?
Is it today primarily manufactured on a factory production line?
Riff: yes. Breadmaster: yes (not a lot of people know that). Inkspot: yes.
Inkspot: But perhaps not on the scale that those words suggest.
Is it a tool?
Is it a musical instrument?
Chalky: yes. rab: no.
BTW, I've just realised that it can be VEGETABLE instead of MINERAL.
A dwelling?
This tool - is its function for the 'good of man'?
Software: no. Chalky: isn't that the function of every tool? But no, not specifically.
Is the mineral, stone?
Is it a calculating machine of some sort?
An abacus?
Is the 'vegetable' sort of this tool made of wood?
[Raak] Re 'good of man' - I meant the sort of tools that make killing machines - I should have been more precise
Inkspot: no; Boolbar: YES! snorgle: no; Chalky: yes
Slide rule?
A computer?
Boolbar: no; rab: YES.
Point to rab. Next!
Oops, meant to include one of these:
Coo
Despite being sorely tempted by an abstract, I did one of those last time so I think it's only fair I plump for a more tangible MINERAL on this occasion. Guess away.
Is it man- (or woman-) made?
Is it metallic?
Could you fit it in the fridge, next to the slide rule?
Outstep
Stepped out of the office for a moment to talk to my boss. We were discussing an integral and he suggested a few times that I "take it up the imaginary axis" which, I'm sorry to say, had me in schoolboy-snigger mode.

[Boolbar] Yes.
[Chalky] Bits of it are. (Oh, how I hate giving extra information away...).
[Riff] Probably not.

Was it created post-1940?
I'm afraid I don't know.
Does it contain electronics? (Valves count.)
Does it have anything to do with the arts?
Is it unique, being the one and only ever made?
Is it considered decorative?
Is it a device used for a specific purpose?
An atomic bomb?
I'm in a foul mood!
Do you own one?
Mornin'
[Raak] Yes.
[Bob] No.
[Inkspot] No.
[Dazed5] Not generally.
[Riff] It certainly has a primary purpose.
[Dujon] Bang.
[Boolbar] No.
Is it a calculating device?
[Raak] That is not its primary purpose.
Is it a computer?
Is it used for communication?
Does it have a screen for playing games?
Negativity
[Bob, Boolbar, Inkspot] No.
Is it used for transport?
Was it invented?
I mean that ships, the wheel are generic but vacuum cleaner, camreras where invented, does it fall in to either category?
Would one find it inside the home?
[Boolbar] No.
[Inkspot] Yes.
[Chalky] Possibly, but probably not.
Could it be considered a communication device?
Does it have wheels?
Is it a game machine of some sort?
[Boolbar] No.
[Breadmaster, Raak] I guess you could try and use this thing in those ways, but as that's not what it's designed for I'll say no.
Is it usually found in a hospital?
Was it invented before 1900?
Is it a photocopier?
Should every office have one?
[Boolbar] There are places where it is usually found, but I don't believe a hospital is one of them.
[Inkspot] I don't know when it was invented but that would be my guess.
[Chalky] No, but the way my mind works I can't help seeing at least a few similarities.
[Lib] That's a subjective question to which I would probably answer 'yes', but I expect the more usual answer would be 'no'.

Hmmm... not sure this spurious extra information would help anyone...

Is it a camera?
**** CORRECTION ***
To Inkspot's last answer, I would guess AFTER 1900. So, Boolbar, no - it's not a camera. Sorry...
Oh, so shall I go for a facsimile machine then?
Does it require electricity in order to function?
Would its primary use be for a particular profession(al).
ie stethoscope (doctor) V's a spanner (plumber/engineer/mechanic)
[Boolbar] You can, but I believe we have established that the primary purpose of this thing is not for the act of communication.
[Chalky] Yes.
[Inkspot] No.
Is it a machine for making something?
even though its primary function is not for communication, can you use it to communicate?
When in use, is it noisy?
That is, would it be obviously making a noise if you where (say) 20 feet away.
[Raak] I'll give a clue here - it is not used to manufacture something from raw materials, but it is a machine that processes something.
[Lib] Well, you could but I wouldn't sniff round this hole if I were you.
[Boolbar] No.
Is it a barcode reader?
Does it have an industrial application?
No to both, though Boolbar's notion of processing is closer than than of Ibid's, though I will throw in that this device contains no optics (e.g. lenses etc).
A punchcard reader?
A paper shredder?
A pasta maker?
printer?
although I'm sure that you could fit that in the fridge...:S
is it still in common use today?
Is it a scientific instrument?
An iron maiden?
Oh, wait -- those tend to be noisy.
A Thermostat?
An automatic cigarette-rolling machine?
Has it any connection with photo-processing?
Sorry for the delay
[Riff, 1] No
[Raak] No
[barbacoa] No
[Chalky, 1] Yes
[Inkspot] No
[Riff, 2] Ouch, no
[Boolbar] No - but (clue alert) it probably contains one.
[Breadmaster] No - although it might be adapted to perform this "roll"
[Chalky, 2] Probably not.
Would it cost less than ... say £200 to buy?
Cost
[Chalky] *googles* It seems so, yes.
A Laminating machine?
Does it process 'paper' in some way?
I ask because we seem to getting fixated on paper processing and for all we know, this machine could be a sausage maker.
[Boolbar] No, but you're getting warmer.
[Chalky] No, not paper.
It is some sort of alarm device?
Helping hand
[Raak] No.

Since I will wish to hand over the chair before leaving a little early this afternoon (probably about 4-5pm) I will give some hints as to what information would be very helpful, viz:

  • where it is most commonly found;
  • what it processes;
  • how it processes it.
I have a further clue up my sleeve which I will issue at about 3pm if we make no significant progress by then.
Is it a glue gun?
Is it a food maker of some sort?
Not a toaster but more along the lines of a breadmaker.
Does the application of heat 'mould' something, like glass?
Does it process a solid item?
Glue gun - Nah, it can't be that.
Is it found commonly in an office?
Just retract breadmaker,as you prevously said probably not found in the home.
Does it use water in the process?
Excuse the multi posting.
A hot water urn?
Hokey cokey
[Boolbar] No.
[Chalky] The heat is part of the processing, not really moulding, and almost certainly not glass.
[Boolbar] Yes.
[Inkspot, 2] Not an office.
[Inkspot, 3] I think not - although a small amount could be useful.
[Raak] Hence, no.
Is there a missing answer?
I keep searching back to find the answers to the food processing question. rab - I know you're probably fairly busy, but can we eliminate food as we have done with paper?
Is it something an interior decorator, electrician, plumber, or similar trademan would use?
[Chalky] Its primary function is not food related. However, less conventional uses of this device are limited only by our imagination, or perhaps an arbitrarily chosen numerical factor.
[Raak] No - or at least, not in order to do interior decorating, electrifying, plumbing or similar trades.
An iron?
as in shirts and all that
[Software] No - but you're not far off...
A steam engine?
A car crusher?
An electric seat warmer?
A trouser press?
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