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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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Is it an item made of stone or rock?
Earthenware?
Kim]Yes
Raak]No
Is it a geographical feature?
Is it a gnomon?
Worth a throw;)
Breadmaster] *a slight murmur from the audience* No
Tuj]No, an interesting guess, I'll tell you why later.Stonehenge came from quarries near here
Does this thing stay in one place?
Is it man-made?
Is there more than one of these things?
Breadnaster]Yes, definitely.
Toby]Yes
sorry simulpost there
plump]Yes and No
Stonehenge?
Would this be a monument?
Is it a building?
Toby]No
Dujon]Yes
Breadmaster}No
Is it Cleopatra's Needle?
Come to that, is it in Britain?
Breadmaster]1.No 2.Yes
Is it the Cenotaph?
In England?
Bigsmith] No
Software] No, and I'll be sending a raiding party for your sheep later.
Is it in South Wales?
snorgle]*excited clapping* yes
Is it a prehistoric monument?
Cardiff Docks?
Swansea Docks?
Milford Haven Docks?
Raak]YES *almost there*
Bigsmith]No
Bigsmith]No
Bigsmith]No, my bedroom widow used to look out over Milford docks, towards the BP and Texaco refineries.
Crick Barrow?
There's quite a few prehistoric monuments in South Wales.
[Inkspot] Why, did she enjoy the view?
To the hills!
Raak]No. There is a hidden clue in my reply to Tuj which may help with the location.
Raak]...curses foiled again!
Harolds Stones?
If you're wondering why - look here.
snorgle]No, not a stone circle, try further west.
clue: This early Neolithic ancient monument was built for a purpose which we kmow for certain, and is one of the best examples of its kind in the U.K.
Was it built as a tomb?
Was it built to make astronomical observations?
Given the earlier mention of gnomons...
Is it on the Gower Peninsula?
Raak]Yes; Burial tomb or cromlech
Raak] No; Stonehenge being the tenuous link, the stones came from the Preseli hills 200 miles away *hint*? extra points will be awarded for guessing how they got them there, and we all know what points mean.
Bigsmith]No; further west
Pembrokshire blue stone?
stoking up the Aga
Software]Yes; It is in the Preseli Hills, Pembrokeshire and made from blue stone
Pentre Ifan?
Just google-guessing...
Cooking with gas
Raak] Yeeeeeeessssssssss, on the button, well done Raak, an excellent guess.

that was educational to me as to what not to chose or almost risk killing the game

The next item is MINERAL.
Are we moving away from stone?
....and towards metal?
Plastic, anyone?
Is it a gnomon?
Maybe some day this'll be a standard opening question for Mineral.
Is it heterogeneous?
i.e., metal and plastic?
Is it a(n) household item?
[Software] Yes.
[Kim] Yes, almost entirely.
[Breadmaster] Not to any significant degree.
[Tuj] No.
[Toby] Somewhat, but primarily metal.
[Dujon] No.
Is it manufactured?
[Dujon] Yes.
Does it use either battery or electrical mains power?
refreshed by sleep and with my morning cup of tea at the ready
[Inkspot] Ah...yes, it does actually. (This is a Misleading Answer.)
Is it a battery?
[Software] No.
Am I likely to possess one?
Is it made for a specific purpose?
Despite not being a(n) household item (per Dujon), is it nonetheless most likely to be found in the home?
[Bm] It's unlikely, but not impossible.
[Inkspot] Yes.
[Kim] No. It will never be found in the home.
Does it use solar panels to collect energy to move around?
[Inkspot] No.
A particle accelerator?
Just a wild guess that popped into my head.. :-)
[snorgle] No.
Will it never be found in the home because it's too big to fit?
Or maybe because it has to be outside?
Does it need to be switched on to perform its function?
Toby stole my question :)!
Would it be used by a mechanic in a garage?
[Toby] Yes.
[Toby] It usually is.
[Tuj] Yes.
[Inkspot] No.
A searchlight?
All right, it's a wild guess. Well, a bit big for the home - usually uses its own generator (with batteries) - and so on.
[Dujon] No.
Do we want a hint yet?
Does it make something else?
Is it some sort of vehicle?
This seems unlikely, as Raak said Breadmaster was unlikely to have one, but I suppose it could be atank or something.
Would it be likely to be too expensive for the average household?
[Tuj] Actually I'm highly unlikely to own any kind of vehicle!
[Inkspot] No.
[Tuj] YES!
[Bm] Probably. Depends how wealthy the average household is.
Does it have wheels?
[Chalky] Some do.
That's assuming you mean, does it travel on wheels.
One of the Mars rovers?
[Toby] Good one, but no.
Could it legally go on the roads?
[Bm] Yes.
Is it a military vehicle?
Would the alternative to wheels be tracks?
[Inkspot] No.
[Dujon] Yes.
I'm not sure what you call them, but a 'bobcat' - i.e. a machine - often with a loader/digger in the front and often a hoe or similar on the back.
Bulldozer?
[plump] Close...
[Dujon] Yes! The word I had in mind was "backhoe", but you have the article.
Cheering audience lifts Dujon onto their shoulders and carries him around the room.
I've never heard either of those words. Do you mean a JCB?
[Bm] Well, JCB isn't the only firm that makes them, but yes.
*Takes embarrassed bow.*
I really had no intention of selecting the correct answer. I've done this before (when the Pants site was alive) - because I'm in a significantly different time zone to most participants it makes it awkward for everyone if I take the chair.
Accordingly I invite someone else to volunteer for the position ... perhaps, as Tuj got us on the right track (sorry) and Chalky the wheels/track, one of them might care to break the champagne and launch the next subject? Please!
Thanks Duj. Nice thought, but I don't feel I made a significant contribution. Perhaps Tuj would like a crack at the next one? If not - perhaps someone else is burning for a turn?
Noted
Fine, Chalky. I am unsure as to when Tuj normally posts but perhaps we could all wait until, say, 11;00 GMT on Monday (It's around 01:50 as I type) to allow time for a response. After that time I suggest the 'first in, best dressed' option be invoked.
Filling in space
[Breadmaster/Raak] On the 'bobcat' term: Yes, 'backhoe' is also used here. I suspect that 'bobcat' (well, I'm 90% sure) is a trade name - something like 'Biro' for a ballpoint pen, although the latter term does seem now to be fading somewhat.
Marking time
Well, neither Tuj nor anyone else has posted. I haven't had a go in the driving seat yet, because I'm not very good at guessing, but unless anyone objects I could have a go, if that's OK with Dujon et al...?
Yes
[BM] I was thinking that if Tuj wasn't available - you might take the chair - I say go for it :-)
Excellent. OK. This one is ABSTRACT, but it arguably has both mineral and animal overtones.
Is it connected with religion?
Raak - not notably.
Is it a fictional, mythical or legendary being of some kind?
Is it connected with science?
Kim - Nope.
Toby - Again, not notably.
Is it connected to a famous saying or cliche?
Ibid - It is not.
Is it made of words?
Raak - It is not.
Very negative so far, isn't it?
Does it involve fish in any way?
Sorry about my absence - this has happened before. Really I'm far too sporadic for this, the fastest paced game on MC5, so I've carefully avoided the chair so far.
Can it be seen or heard?
Tuj - Once more, not notably. But never mind about being absent, I'm enjoying this bit of negativity...
Inkspot - Tricky one - I would say yes, it can - both directly and, very much, indirectly.
Is it an emotion?
The Giant Rat of Sumatra?
Would this be dream like?
Only attempting to narrow the field.
Just a thank you!
Tuj, sorry you missed out - although it seems you are not too disappointed with that.
Breadmaster, I thank you for taking up the reins.
Is it something negative, like silence or emptiness?
Is it an event?
Chalky - No.
Toby - No. Not fictional, remember.
Dujon - No.
Raak - No.
Inkspot - No.
I thought this would be fairly easy, but no-one's made the breakthrough yet.
Is it a piece of music?
Is it a period of time?
Inkspot - No.
Raak - No.
Is it the sound of silence?
Is it a reflection?
Software - No.
Inkspot - No.
I'll give you a clue. It did not exist before the twentieth century.
Is it the artistic merit of a dead cow in formaldehyde?
RECAPPING
IT IS NOT:
notably connected with religion
fictional, mythical or legendary
connected with science
connected to a famous saying or cliche
made of words
notably involved with fish
an emotion
The Giant Rat of Sumatra
dream-like
something negative like silence or emptiness
an event
a piece of music
a period of time
the sound of silence
a reflection.

IT IS:
something that can be seen or heard, both directly, and very much, indirectly.
CLUE: It did not exist before the twentieth century.

Could this be seen/heard anywhere on this earth?
Is it television?
Raak - Yyyyyyyyy - no.
Chalky - If it is possible to see or hear this thing directly, then there are places on this earth where one can do so, although not many. In theory, one could see or hear it indirectly anywhere.
Kim - No. But getting a little closer...
Is it related to mass communication?
Whalesong?
Request for clarification: What category does something like a soundwave fall in? It's not technically abstract - it can be measured, heard, and felt. Does it retain the property of its creator, as its quality and existence depend on it - i.e. the bark of a dog is animal and the whirring of gears mineral? Or does "abstract" really just mean none-of-the-above?
Wireless?
Tuj - It is indeed.
Raak - No.
Toby - Gosh, I don't know. Fortunately it's not a problem that affects this round, because that's not it.
Software - No.
It might help if I told you that this a particular individual thing.
Can it be seen AND heard?
The 'or' is confusing me.
the World Wide Web?
Is it the Internet?
Cyberspace?
Toby - Yes.
Kim - No.
Toby - No.
Is it the tile of a programme?
Inkspot - Nope.
Is it a language?
Chalky - It is not.
News broadcasting?
A broadcasting corporations channel?
The War On Terror?
Chalky - No.
Inkspot - Not quite, but very close!
Raak - No (not mythical, remember...?)
Is it the view through the Jennicam?
Raak - Alas, no.
The BBC?
Rounds of applause
Chalky - YES! It is indeed the BBC.
Looks like it's the turn of the Chalky one!
"Ooh, ta Sir!" *curtsies*
Have only just remembered to look in here ... was rather busy playing Thwack the Penguin [see MCiOS Hyperlynx].
As there have been a string of Abstracts lately - I'll choose A N I M A L . . .
Is it human?
Nice one, Chalks, picking the Bah Beh Seh!
aw shucks
Kim - it is indeed human :-)
Is it a politician?
Are they living?
Tony Blair, Anne Widecombe? hope not.
Is it a living person?
Are they well known in the UK?
Clearly I have gone blind.
Is it male?
Obvious, but useful ...
[Brendan] You might as well have asked "Is it female? (ornamental, but useless)" ;-)
... some answers
Toby - No
Inkspot - No
Software - No
snorgle [2nd question] er .. tricky to reply to - I guess one asked 100 people in the UK [random] if they'de heard of this person, 50% might reply in the affirmative - but I'm assuming that the players of this game would all be aware of her.
Brendan - No
JLE - *thwack*

*BONUS ANNOUNCEMENT* .. and well done all, because you have succeeded in narrowing this down to a single being without asking the question directly

Was she born before 1900?
Was she famous in field of entertainment?
Mrs. Trellis?
Inkspot - No
snorgle - ah, that depends on how you define 'entertainment'. A cautious 'yes' but don't be misled by that.
Raak - No :-)
Was she British?
Is she an occasional ISIHAC pannelist?
Was she famous in a sports-related way?
Mae West?
That covers sport and entertainment, possibly.. ;-)
Mary Whitehouse?
Inkspot - er ... yes [although not born on UK shores, she was certainly perceived as British]
Kim - Not as far as I know
Breadmaster - No
snorgle - No :-)
Software - No :-)
Was she famous for writing-related activities?
Breadmaster - Oh yes indeedy! *cheers from studio audience*
Is she best known as a columnist?
Kim - No
A novelist?
Agatha Christie?
Iris Murdoch?
Breadmaster - YES!
Well done - is this a first? :-)
*cheers, applause, goes generally and then specifically wild for Breadmaster*
Crikey
Huzzah! Yes, it is indeed a first. At last. I feel I can take my place among you as an equal.
OK then, I think this is slightly harder than the last one, which probably means it will be guessed in two goes. MINERAL
Metallic?
Stone?
Software - No.
Kim - No.
Plastic?
Glass?
Raak - No.
Inkspot - No.
Magma or lava?
is it in liquid form?
Is it from the element table?
Brendan - No. That would sort of be stone, I think.
snorgle - No. At least, it would be misleading to say otherwise.
Inkspot - No.
Is it gaseous?
(which would be "mineral" by the eccentric definition thereof that AMV uses) [Bm] Thought you might say that, but I wanted to check. [Chalky] I'm curious why you thought we'd narrowed Iris Murdoch down to a "single being" so early on ...
Brendan - No.
Is it a man-made material?
Is it a geographical feature?
[Brendan] Groups of people [or even whole races] qualify as 'Animal' [we've had them in the past] so the gender question has always been tricky to reply to without giving the game away. In Iris's case, the questions were asked in such a way that I had to respond in the singular.
(per Inkspot) Does it have a known chemical composition?
The empty plinth in Trafalgar Square?
Is it fictional?
[Chalky] Ooooooooooh. I thought you meant that the answers to our questions uniquely identified her as being her, if you see what I mean ...
Inkspot - No.
Chalky - No.
Kim - Yes, pretty much.
Raak - Ooh, where do you get these ideas? No.
Brendan - No.
On reflection
My answer to Chalky's last might be a bit controversial or debatable. I will stand by it, though.
Is it made largely of solid water?
Is it located in one particular part of the world?
Raak - A breakthrough! Yes.
Inkspot - It is not fixed to one spot, if that is what you mean.
Obviously ice is involved?
[Brendan] I see what you mean, yes :-)
Chalky - Very involved indeed.
Jakobshavn Glacier?
Inkspot - No.
Going for simplicity, an iceberg?
My bloody Mrs?
Software - Yes. But be more specific...
Bigsmith - Ha, probably not.
The North Polar ice cap?
The iceberg that sank the Titanic?
And put all the crew in a panic?
Oh, sorry, wrong game.
What a waste! Such a shame!
Does it live in the northern Atlan[t]ic?
I foresee a new twist to the rules
Does it like sex games that are tantric?
Sorry for brief absence
[Raak] Yes! It is indeed The iceberg that sank the Titanic, for lack of charms talismanic. Well done all round.
The next is both MINERAL and VEGETABLE.
Is it edible?
Splendid - a different category mix :-)
Is it man-made?
Is it found in the home?
Is the vegetable, wood?
Does the vegetable grow on the mineral?
[Toby] Nice idea. Let's keep the limerick lines within the "apropos" postings.
The answer to Chalky is yes.
Bm also makes a good guess.
Dazed5 is quite right
Inkspot's not -- what a fright!
And Kim's wrong, I have to confess.
Is't a recipe that I could make?
Breadmaster a black mark must take.
Would one eat it by choice?
Is it a sauce?
With something warm and moist
Like a recipe for devilled snake?
The audience slightly amused
Toby's wrong, but the laughter's a clue
Inkspot's further away
In ev-e-ry way
Kim's a country mile out of our view.
Is it medicinal?
More laughter from the audience.
It can be.
Is it made to be eaten?
[Inkspot] No.
Does it contain alcohol?
Is it a drink?
...and there was me ready to suggest a slice of burnt toast
[Kim] Yes.
[Inkspot] Yes.
Bushmills Whiskey?
Well, it covers most bases including medicinal;)
Is the vegetable constituent grapes?
[Kim] No. [Inkspot] Well, I had any type of whisk(e)y in mind, but I reckon you're close enough. Inkspot wins!
...and a small nip for everyone, seeing as it's a bit parkey out there today.

Let's kick this one off then, ANIMAL

Is this human?
Well done Inky. Cheers for the wee nip. I understand that we are about to be subjected to extreme parkyness this week. *wondering how that word originated*
Is it alive?
Maybe parky is from parka jackets? Googling for it, I haven't had any luck with the etymology other than the fact it seems to have been around since before WWII.
Chalky] Yes
snorgle]Yes
Some in the office are claiming that its probably too cold to snow. In this part of Wiltshire I've only been able to build two snowmen in the last 14 years, so my wife is looking forward to a couple of inches.
Is it Michael "Parky" Parkinson?
Too cold to snow?! Never could understand that one. It's bloody cold at the South Pole but it still snows there!
Is it male?
Bigsmith]Definitely too cold to snow, No
Breadmaster]Yes
If this keeps up we may have snowdrifts by tea time.
Is he a sporty type person?
Snowdrifts, really. I was amused watching the weather the other day to see big red patches on the map as the weather person talked urgently of the chances of each part of the country having snow. All this for what would be perhaps a centimetre of the stuff. If this were America no-one would get worked up over anything less than six feet. When I grow up I shall move to Canada, just you wait.
Is he well known in the UK?
re:couple of inches - fnarr fnarr!

I lived in Canada and it snowed however damn cold it was! Besides, it's not that cold, you wimps.

Breadmaster]Yes
snorgle]Yes
But was it proper snow? I suppose your going to say in Canada you you had several inches every night! Not like the stuff that we get roundabout here that turns to slush by lunchtime!
Has he been involved in any scandals?
Still too warm for snow here; should get some tomorrow, though (they say). Better not affect my getting to other half's graduation.
Is he a footballer?
With any luck, tomorrow or Wednesday, I shall have the perfect excuse to stay away from work - the wrong type of snow.
Is he still playing whatever sport he's famous for professionally?
I only wish I had several inches every night. *Ho-hum* Snow finds it difficult to go slushy in Ottawa, at least, until about, oooh, end of March?
I'll probably be on strike on Thursday and Friday. And definitely not on any picket lines. Far too cold for that! (all the standing around, see..)
Does his sport involve ball play?
[Inks] Are you in North Wilts? The forecast says we're unlikely to get any here in mid south
Is he famous primarily for playing sport (as opposed to managing, punditing, etc)?
Brendan]No
Kim] No
snorgle]No
Chalky] Yes
Breadmaster]Yes, like many has been pundit briefly and even was a team captain on a well known sprots quiz between, 1979 - 1982. But he will be best remembered as a player.
A two day strike, a perfect way to catch up on Trisha.
Yes' I'm in North Wilts, and don't mention Swindon, folks here are very touchy about that metropolis.
Is he a cricketer?
I don't know why I'm asking, the only sports people I have ever heard of are those I am forced to subtitle at work, so I won't know any retired ones. Especially cricketers.
Bill Beaumont?
Hurricane Higgins?
Emlyn Hughes?
Gareth Edwards?
Breadmaster]No
Chalky]No
Raak]No
Kim]1 No
Kim]2 YES
The crowd at the Arms Park stand and cheer and burst into song.

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