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AVMA Take 2
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Yes, it's another round of that classic guessing game - Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Abstract [or any combination thereof]. This effort - '03/'04 should address any queries, but then again, may just serve to confuse and baffle which some might say is the point of the game. Patience, integrity and a decent search engine may be useful ....
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Unique?
But is it art?
An iron--like the kind with which one presses one's shirts?
Smaller than a telephone kiosk?
A bridge?
[NJ] Manufactured? YES
[Raak] Stainless Steel? YES, that's what it's made of *a ripple of applause*
[Quendalon] Unique? NO
[Tuj] Art? NO
[cfm] An iron? NO
[Chalky] < phone box? YES
[GL] Bridge? NO
Medical connections?
Is it smaller than a breadbox / bread bin?
Inverting the classic question.
[Raak] Medical? NO (well, a small connection, but it won't help)
[Quendalon] Smaller than breadbox? YES
Does it have any moving parts?
[NJ] Moving parts? YES
Is there one in your kitchen?
[Tuj] In my kitchen? NO. Well, there might be, but I'd move it if I were tidying up.
A tool?
[NJ] Tool? YES
Calipers?
[Software] Calipers? NO *Most of audience look slightly bemused by the handful that clapped, briefly*
A Leatherman?
(On the grounds that a Swiss Army Knife has plastic as well)
A hole punch?
[NJ] Leatherman? NO *some audience members explain to others what a Leatherman is, after which some of them make appreciative noises*
[Raak] Hole punch? NO
Does it cut?
[cfm] A cutter? YES *Applause*
A tin-opener?
Garden shears?
A kitchen tool?
End game appears to have commenced
[Rosie] Tin opener? NO (I wouldn't move that out of the kitchen when tidying)
[Raak] Garden Shears? NO (I'd call them bigger than a breadbin) *appreciative applause*
[NJ] A kitchen tool? NO (again, I'd keep that in the kitchen).
Secateurs?
[Software] Secateurs? NO *more applause*
Scissors?
D'oh - I meant to ask 'garden', for that reason and then turned the question round without thinking.
Wire cutters?
[NJ] Scissors? YES, but more detail required. *Lots of applause*
[Raak] Wire cutters? NO, see above.
Pinking shears?
Nail clippers?
[Quendalon] Pinkers? NO *some applause*
[Raak] Nail clippers? NO *Thunderous applause, oohs, aaahs, gasps and winces*
Nail scissors?
Hair scissors?
[Raak] Nail scissors? YES INDEED! *Deafening roars*
Congrats! Here, have this toenail as a makeshift baton.
VEGETABLE, with ABSTRACT connections.
An object made from vegetable matter?
[Rosie] Yes, made from vegetable matter.
Is wood involved?
Is it edible?
Unique?
Is it smaller than a toaster?
[GL] Would be wood.
[NotJohn] Edible wood? No.
[Tuj] Not unique.
[Phil] Bigger than a toaster.
Is it bigger than a cross-channel ferry?
[GL] Smaller than a cross-channel ferry.
Found domestically?
Does it have writing on it?
Naturally occurring?
[S] Domestic? Not really, at least nowadays.
[Q] Probably not written on.
[T] Not naturally occurring.
A piece of furniture?
Would one find it in a pub?
[R] Not furniture.
[C] *a ripple of applause* Yes, one might find it in a pub.
Does it have a picture or pictures on it?
Is it a container of some sort?
Is it used for a leisure activity?
[Q] No picture.
[NJ] *applause* A container.
[P] A witty thought goes up on the laser display board. Laughter in the audience. Not used for a leisure activity.
Normally holds liquid?
[NJ] Can normally hold liquid.
A barrel?
Might be my turn in it, innit?
[Rosie] *cheering* A barrel is involved. I suggest the abstract connection would repay attention.
Is it a well-known phrase or saying .. like Roll Out The Barrel?
[Chalky] Yes! A well known phrase or saying.
"Over a barrel"?
[Q] Not over a barrel.
So it's a colloquial phrase along the lines of "a can of worms"?
Scraping the barrel?
Barrel of laughs?
[D] Yes.
[R] *oooooh!!* Not quite.
[Q] Not a barrel of laughs.
The bottom of the barrel?
Attempted lurker victories R us
[CdM] Yes! Rosie was nearly there, but you have nailed the exact answer! Have this recycled wooden planter. Ignore the rotten apple juice seeping out of it. And it can now be revealed that the Witty Comment on the laser display board was about the undemanding leisure activity of shooting fish in one.
hmmm ...
.. thought it might be that - was rather hoping that Rosie might get a turn 'in the chair'.
May I respectfully suggest a slight change to the non-rules of this game, ie. you need to have asked at least one question before guessing the AOTC? Or is that altogether too regimentatious? < made up word alert >
I am more than happy for Rosie to take the chair if he wishes. He definitely got 98.2 percent of the way to the AOTC. Mind you, I think this game has had its share of lurker victories, and I'm not exactly a lurker in the grand scheme of things. :-)
Is flattered
(Chalky, CdM) Generous, but let's play by the rules. In any case, if a lurker wins, their "punishment" will be to host the next one. That'll teach 'em not to just jump in and out.

(CdM) Couldn't you have made it 98.4 - body temperature, the percentage of H2SO4 in conc. sulphuric, the number of feet in 30 metres . . . . I could go on.

While you're all being polite, I'll get the first question in: Would you find it in your kitchen?
Is it a sandwich?
Anarcho-syndicalism?
Convectively Available Potential Energy (CAPE)?
Where's CdM? Give us a category, man.
This is ANIMAL and VEGETABLE with a trace of MINERAL. I had decided on this before I saw any of your questions, so I am going to go with it. Oh god, I hope Rosie has heard of it :-)

In your kitchen? You could, but it's probably unlikely. I'm pretty sure I have never had one in my kitchen.
A sandwich? Yes! *applause*
Anarchosyndicalism? No.
CAPE? No.
Is egg an ingredient?
Explicitly not counting any egg(s) that are part of the bread-baking process.
A horseburger in a bun?
Eggy? Interesting question. Not necessarily, and not in its own right. But there are versions of this that would include egg as an ingredient, I think.
Shergarburger? No.
Unique?
[Chalky] You have taken the very wind from my sails!
Unique? No. (A unique sandwich??)
Edible?
Is saurkraut involved?
Contains fish?
A Croque Monsieur?
Edible? I certainly hope so. It's a sandwich!
Sauerkrauty? It's possible (I can find examples online), but it is certainly not an essential or even a standard ingredient.
Fishy? It sometimes contains fish, yes, but need not. For free, I will tell you that it is quite common for it to contain other seafood, however.
Croque monsieur? Non, madame.
Clarification on the egg: my reply was meant to imply that it would be very unusual to see egg listed explicitly as an ingredient, and I stand by that. But googling reveals that it is not unheard of.
A po' boy?
Chip butty with mayo?
could have been a knuckle sandwich :o)
Served hot?
Smörgåsbord?
Slicing to the chase
A po'boy? Yes! (It was the only sandwich beginning with P that came to mind.) Have this foot-long baton stuffed with fried oysters. [Software] Touché, even if I'm not sure what the vegetable component of a knuckle sandwich would be. :-)
Never heard of it ;-)
Yes, well...
[Chalky] I'd bet big money that the number of people who have heard of a po'boy is at least an order of magnitude larger than the number who have heard of the Avebury Stone Circle. :-)
Ah .. but
.. we'll never find out so you may as well bet your big money on the 4.45 at Redcar :-)
For the record - yet another Lurker Victory ...
[CdM] But which is Rosie more likely to know? ;)
[Chalky] I wasn't lurking! It was just my first question of the round. And your first question plus the mention of fish made it easy. :-)
However, I am glad to hand this yummy but calorie-laden baton to someone who would like a turn. Speak up if you'd like to give it a whirl.
[Tuj] Hehe!
[cfm] Only teasing ... as you well know ;-) My mind's eye is seeing badly disguised AVMA players in the shadowy fringes of the game poised to pounce on the AOTC and it's given me an idea for a very silly game along the lines of Spot the Ostrich.
By the way, I shall decline a turn/whirl as I'm a bit too busy this coming week.
[cfm] I'm always glad to take a turn with the baton, assuming that no better candidate presents themselves.
Take it away, Q. :-)
Very well then! This one is unequivocally Vegetable.
Unique?
Well stepped into the breach, that Quenders!
[Chalky] A game idea! Sounds good!
[Tuj] Not unique. *laughter from the crowd*
Peas in a pod?
Is it a sandwich?
leaping in so if i win will not be a lurking victory :)
It is some species of wood?
Victory goes to the swift
The word on the card is "pea," for which Raak's guess is more than sufficiently accurate. Passing a small, round green baton...
Wow! Ok, the next is ANIMAL.
Human?
I chose it largely so that I could giggle inanely if Tuj asked if it began with the letter 'P'.
Is it unique?
[Q] Human.
[GL] In a sense, it is unique. But one could quibble interminably about it.
Male?
[Q] Apologies for letting you down! I do worry my poor history of questioning has skewed the game somewhat...
Currently alive?
[Quendalon] For your giggling motive alone, you're my hero!
[Q] OOPS! I meant to say "Not human".
[Tuj] Male.
[Phil] Quite likely to be currently alive.
Quadruped?
Is it unique by virtue of something it has done?
[S] Not a quadruped. [NJ] *applause* It is indeed unique by virtue of something it has done.
Is the thing that he has done a physical (versus an abstract) act?
Is this bloke animal larger than the average domestic toaster?
[cfm] A physical act.
[Chalky] Smaller than a toaster.
Is it a bird?
[Phil] Is it a plane? Is it Superman? No, it's a bird!
Cock Robin?
.. avoiding the lurker label
Nah - that was a daft question. It's still alive, you say? And 'sort of' unique?
[Chalky] Not Cock Robin. To clarify the uniqueness thing a little: the answer is a singular noun phrase beginning with "The".
The Early Bird?
[Chalky] Not the early bird, but you're thinking along the right lines.
The First Cuckoo of Spring?
[Phil] The very thing!
Woohoo! (or something that sounds remarkably like that). And not a lurk in sight.
Pressing on rapidly with

Animal (or Abstract, depending on your point of view)

Unique?
Fictional?
Is it an archosyndicalistic sandwich?

... and a 'woohoo' and 'wahay' [sounding exactly like they're spelled] for Phil's victoreee.
Human?
The bee's knees?
Is it edible?
[Quendalon] Unique? YES
[Software] Fictional? YES
[Chalky] A wossname sarnie? NO
[Tuj] Human? YES
[Rosie] Apiarian patellae? NO
[GL] Edible? NO. Technically yes, but I really don't think you should eat it.
Abstract solely because it's fictional?
An eponymous character?
[Quendalon] Solely fictionally abstract? YES
[NJ] Eponymous character? NO
A male character?
[cfm] Male? YES
I don't have a question; this is just a place-marker to avoid accusations of lurker victory later.
[CdM] This is not an answer, merely an acknowledgement of your statement.
A detective?
This is a question and also an acknowledgement of CdM's non-lurker status.
[GL] Detective? NO
C20 Literature?
This is a question but also a quibble as to whether a non-interrogatory interjection is sufficient to remove lurker status.
[NJ] 20th Century Literature? YES
Is the animal one of the big cats?
[Rosie] A big cat? NO, he's human (see Tuj's question)
Originally written in English?
[NJ] English lit? YES
Fantasy genre?
Harry Potter?
Does an interrogatory interjection remove lurker status if the question is unrelated to the AVMA AOTC?
[Quendalon] Fantasy? NO
[Software] Harry Potter? NO, not eponymous
[CdM] Questionable lurker? NO, you're not getting out of it that easily.
Appears in a series of books?
Why is CdM so convinced he is going to score a lurker's victory? Is he in league with Phil? </ratsmelling>
[NJ] In a series of books? YES *some applause*
[NJ] Am I in cahoots with CdM? One question at a time, please.
James Herriot?
[Software] Herriot? NO
I should add that when I said yes to '20th century Literature' I simply meant that there were books, not necessarily great works of literature.
Also, although I have described the character as not eponymous, I have found that he is mentioned in the title of at least one book.
A detective series?
Is CdM in league with Phil?
Is this person a restorer of antique sewing-machines who keeps an Afghan hound and lives within earshot of St. Paul's in an apartment that appears to be beyond his modest means?
Does asking an apparently relevant question remove lurker status if the question was asked solely for the purpose of removing lurker status?
[cfm] Detectives? NO
[GL] Conspirateur de Moi? NO
[Raak] Your main question? Oh so close! Actually, I lied. NO, not any part of it is correct, and a meaningless note has been made of your completely legal, yet immoral, lurk avoidance (as opposed to lurk evasion, which is strictly illegal).
Is there a connection to espionage?
Any day now we'll be getting phone calls asking 'Do you believe you have ever suffered unfairly at the hands of a lurker?' and offering their services on a 'No Win No Fee' basis (once you've paid the £300 administration charge)
[NJ] Espionage? NO *a couple of giggles from the audience*
Are they books for adults?
Which is worse - lurking or taking successive turns?
[NJ] Books for adults? NO *applause*
Are they comic books?
Did the character first appear before 1960?
[GL] COmic books? NO
[Quendalon] Pre-1960? YES
Tin-Tin?
[Tin-Tin] NO, not eponymous.
Do they share the books with an eponymous character?
[GL] Is there an eponym? Well, only about a fifth of the book titles feature one character's name, but most people would automatically answer YES. It's a definite YES for other media. *applause for a very good question*
Does this character have a "sidekick"?
Violet Elizabeth Bott?
If that isn't right I'll thcweam and thcweam until I'm thick.
[GL] Has a sidekick? NO
[NJ] Violet? NO, thcweam away.
Christopher Robin?
[cfm] Christopher Robin? NO
The Fat Controller?
[Gusset Login] YES, dagnammit, YES !! It was indeed Sir Topham Hatt 1st Bt, of "The Railway Series", often referred to as the "Thomas the Tank Engine" books, although Thomas' name is only in the title of 9 of the 42 books. The Fat Controller is named in only one title, "Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines".
Nice to get that one finished off for the weekend. And not a hint of a lurk in sight. Please take this green flag in lieu of a baton.
Cool. I never expected having a three year old nephew would help me win anything.

This next one is:

Mineral.

Unique?
[Phil, GL] Excellent =)
Begins with 'P'?
[Tuj] I see you have well and truly nicked my signature question! So I must claim yours in turn.
[Tuj] A one off? Yes
[Quenda] P...? No.
Made of iron?
[cfm] iron? Depending on how loosely you define the terms 'made of' and 'iron' the answer could be either Yes or No.
It is more than 5% steel (which is an alloy of iron).
A building?
*lurks*
[Quenda] Building? No
[CdM] Good to see you, feel free to stop lurking and join in.
Is it larger than a standard kitchen-size refrigerator?
[cfm] > average fridge? No.
A work of art?
Made before 1900?
I'm assuming man-made because it incorporates steel rather than iron.
[Phil] Work of art? No. Although, as always with that question, some people might call it such.
[Quenda] Made before 1900? Yes.
Unique?
A scientific instrument?
Is it in a fixed location?
[Quenders] Apologies, but a change is a good as a rest!
[Rosie] Unique? Yes, still unique.
[Raak] Scientific instrument? No.
[Tuj] Unmoving? Yes.
Military in nature?
[Tuj] A fair cop. Perhaps I will advance to asking whether a thing starts with 'Q'...
Outdoors?
Shaped like a human?
*unlurks*
In the USA?
Located in a museum?
[Quenda] Military in nature? Yes, although perhaps not in nurture. :)
[Rosie] Outside? No
[Chalky] Humanoid? No
[Tuj] 'Merk'n? No
[cfm] In a museum? That's a tough question. Personally, I wouldn't count it as a museum, as such but others might see it differently.
I seem to be very much in the minority. Yes, it's in a museum.
Does it have moving parts?
Even though I have now asked a question, I would like to declare that I am immediately going to revert to lurker status.
[CdM] Moving Prats? (If you're lurking again, I don't have to answer.) No.
Does it have royal associations?
[Tuj] Royal inclinations? *Drowned out by audience aplause and has to repeat* Yes
A sword?
A suit of armour?
Moving Prats? Sounds fun.
A crown?
[cfm] Sword? *More applause* Yes
[Rosie] Suit a'more? No
[Chalurkery] Crown? No
Sword of Mercy?
Military in nature, although not in nurture.
Is this a sword used only for ceremonial purposes?
Pops out of the shrubbery hoping that no one will notice.
The Great Sword of State
Lurker? Me? No! Just a slow starter.
"The Wallace Sword" (William Wallace's Claymore) ?
[Phil] The Gromit Sword? No
[NJ] Greatsword of State? Nope
[Dujon] Ceremonial? Yes
[Quendo] Sword of Mercy? Is the AOTC.

Have a baton with an inch broken off of one end.
[GL] I accept! And with this baton, I dub thee Sir Gusset of Login.

*ahem* This next one is MINERAL.
Is it unique?
[Phil] One of a kind? NO.
Man-made?
[Raak] Man-made? YES.
Begins with Q?
[Tuj] Q-ish? NO.
Made of metal?
Bigger than an average household microwave oven?
Electronic?
[NJ] Metallic? NO.
[Phil] Bigger than a microwave oven? NO.
[Raak] Electronical? NO.
Made of stone?
[cfm] Rocky? NO.
Found indoors?
Ornamental?
Solid?
[Rosie] Can be found indoors? YES.
[Softers] An ornament? Tricky, but I'll go with NO.
[Phil] Solid? PARTLY. *polite applause*
A thermometer?
[cfm] Temperature measurer? NO.
A barometer?
Is water part of this?
Is the AOTC related to light?
[Raak] Atmospheric pressure measurer? NO.
[Chalky] Partly water? My research suggests NO. *audience murmurs*
[Dujon] Light source? NO.
Contains a liquid?
Can I eat it?
Is it used for cleaning?
Contains alcohol?
A Cartesian diver?
Lava Lamp?
[NJ] Contains liquid? YES. *applause*
[Bools] Edible? NO.
[Chalks] Cleaning device? NO.
[Raak] Contains alcohol? My research suggests YES, but that may mislead you.
[Rosie] Cartesian devil? NO.
[GL] Lava lamp? NO. *audience murmurs*
Is the solid part glass?
[Rosie] Glass? According to my research, NO, although glass may have been involved at one point.
Is the solid part plastic?
An insatiable birdie?
(Drinking bird, dipping bird, nodding duck...)
[CdM] Plastic? YES.
[Raak] Unappeasable avian? NO.
A de-icing squirt bottle?
[Rosie] Anti-icy squirty bottly thingy? NO. *audience yawns*
Does it measure anything?
Is it a common household object?
[NJ] Measuring device? NO. *scattered laughter from the audience*
[cfm] Common household object? NO, although a household is one of the most likely places to find it.
Medicinal use in any way?
[Rosie] Curative? NO.
Is this usually dome shaped?
[Dujon] Hemispherical? NO. *laughter from the audience*
Does it have medicinal purposes?
Is it a saftey device?
[NJ] Medicinal use? Still NO.
[GL] Makes you safer? NO.
Does it contain ONLY liquid?
[Phil] Contains only liquid? NO. *applause*
Does it have moving parts?
[Raak] Parts that move? YES, though my answer may mislead you.
A glow stick?
[Phil] Radiant rod? NO.
Was it invented in the last 50 years?
[Tuj] Invented after 1963? NO.
Is the plastic Bakelite?
[Phil] Bakelite? Embarrassingly, I DON'T KNOW; my research doesn't say what kind of plastic(s) are involved.
Is its purpose amusement?
[Rosie] For amusement? YES. *applause, laughter*
Shurely it's not a replica mannequin pis?
[Rosie] Little peeing statue? NO.
A tip-up, clothed/naked lady pen?
[Phil] Pen with lady floating inside? NO. *solitary golf clap from audience*
One of those snow storm globe thingys?
[Softy] Snow globe? NO. *audience murmurs*
Is the mysterious plastic transparent?
[Rosie] Transparent plastic? PARTLY. *applause*
A Sand Sculpture?
Does it have a screen?
[Chalks] Sand sculpture? NO, not sand, nor exactly a sculpture.
[NJ] Has a screen? YES, of a sort, though this answer may mislead you. *nodding and murmuring from audience*
A magic 8 ball?
[CdM] Magic 8-Ball? SIGNS POINT TO YES.
*much applause, throwing of batons, etc*
Hmmm. Maybe I'll use the eight-ball to answer all the questions for this round. That might make it more interesting.
This one is ANIMAL with ABSTRACT connections.
Animal = Human?
Human? It is decidedly so.
Fictional?
Fictional? My reply is no.
Is this person in the arts and entertainment professions?
Arts and Entertainment? My reply is no.
Is the human a politician?
Politician? Yes definitely.
American?
Female?
[Quenders, CdM] Well persevered! I think most, like me, wanted to know the answer but didn't have a clue how to attack it.
American? Don't count on it.
Female? Outlook not so good.

Turns out magic 8-balls don't have many good ways of saying No.
British?
British? My reply is no.
European?
Currently alive?
Never heard of the Magic 8-ball - even after looking it up to check.
European? You may rely on it.
Currently alive? My sources say no.
Begins with a P?
Begins with a P? Very doubtful.
Known for military achievements?
Well known in UK?
Is the AOTC a dead male European politician whose name doesn't begin with a P?
Known for military leadership? Very doubtful
Well known in UK? Reply hazy try again
Dead male non-P European politician? Signs point to yes.
Did this person die after 1900?
Died after 1900? Without a doubt.
Did this person die after 2000?
Was he a francophone?
Well known in UK?
All right. Reluctantly I think I need to abandon the 8-ball, or I risk confusing and infuriating you all.
Die after 2000? No.
Francophone? I can't tell from the sources I have checked. French was not his mother tongue, but there are some reasons to believe he may at least have had a working knowledge of the language.
Well-known in the UK? Concentrate and ask again. Oh, sorry. I do not think that, at the present time, you would say that. But the abstract connection is at least somewhat well-known.
Quisling?
Quisling? It is decidedly so! An impressive leap there. The answer is indeed Vidkun Quisling, leader of the Norwegian collaborationist government from 1942-45. Tuj asked the wrong question. One baton inscribed "with best wishes, Adolf" handed over.
Yes, well, sometimes an answer just jumps into your head and you have to take a guess.
This next one is ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections
Animal = Human?
[Software] human animal? - YES is probably the most helpful answer
Fictional?
(The next question is: "Is this person in the arts and entertainment professions?")
[CdM] Fictional - YES
The next answer is NO
Actually, the best answer to Software would have been YESish and NO
Gollum?
[Chalky] 'well, sometimes an answer just jumps into your head and you have to take a guess' - this one happens to be wrong
is the animal a deity?
assumption alert
[Phil] Godlike animal? - NO *a couple of audience members exchange significant glances*
Begins with... um... R?
Proverbial?
Is the animal unique?
Is the animal mythical?
Aslan?
[Tuj] R-start? - NO
[Quen] Proverb? - Not as such but *some applause*
[CdM] Just the one? YES and NO
[Phil] Mythical? - YES and NO
[Raak] Aslan? - NO
Guardian Angel?
Mass assumption alert
[Software] Grauniad Angle? - NO
A character from a book (or books)?
[Phil] Character in book? - The human animal appears in at least one literary work.
A well known phrase or saying?
Is the AOTC more than one creature?
[Chalky] I say, I say, I say? - NO
[Tuj] >1 creature? - YES! *relieved applause*
All the creatures on Noah's Ark?
[Raak] The animals went in seven by seven? - NO
Devilish connection?
Does this human animal have any connection to nonhuman animals?
Is the abstract part the occupation of a human?
Yes, don't forget the abstract
[Software] Devilish? - NO
[Quen] human/nonhuman connection (until they caught him at it)? NO, not particularly, except in the context of the AOTC
[Dujon] Abstract = Occupation? - NO
Is the AOTC the title of a book?
[Tuj] Book title? - NO (at least not one I've heard of)
Bigfoot?
[Software] Size 17? - NO
Are these creatures different species - apart from the human?
First literary appearance before 1900?
[Chalky] multi-species? NO - (There's a misapprehension behind your question - I assume based on my answer to Tuj. I counted the human as a creature) So to be clear, the AOTC includes a human and another creature.
[Quen] First written about pre 1900? - YES *some chuckles in the audience*
Alice in Wonderland?
Is Software's question a 'book title' which Tuj asked and to which you have replied NO?
Thanks for clarification on the creature issue :)
Is the human named ie. Jonah and The Whale?
[Software] Miss Liddell and the Magic Mushrooms? - NO (I would consider that a 'Book Title'
[Chalky] Named Human? - YES *appreciative murmurs*
BTW - I've done some research and can't find a book title that matches the AOTC - though there are several which incorporate most of it, at least one of which is by a well-known writer. I don't think it's a useful approach for you.
Is the non-human a mythical creature?
Beginning to get somewhere
[Tuj] Non-human mythical? - NO
Is the human from the Mediterranean?
[Tuj] One of those 'Mediterranean' types? - YES
Silvio Berlusconi?
Shurely he is mythical by now.
Perseus?
Can I still pretend I'm lurking after making a guess?
First literary appearance BC?
[Software] Super Silvio? - NO
[GLogin] Perseus? - NO *some applause* (and NO)
[Raak] BCE initially? - YES
Jason and the Golden Fleece?
Is this from the Old Testament?
[Quen] Jason &c? - NO
[Chalky] OT? - NO
Is the non-human creature named?
Was this fellow an early aviator?
[Quendalon] e.g. Mrs Tiggywinkle? - NO
[Dujon] Icarine? - NO
Is the named human known to us by just a single (i.e., one word) name?
[CdM] Single name? - YES
Plato's man (i.e. a plucked chicken)?
Greek mythology?
[Raak] Plato's Man? - NO
[Quen] Greek Mythology? - YES (the human is from Greek mythology)
Theseus and The Minataur?
Pasiphaë and the Bull?
[Chalky] Theseus etc.? - NO
[Quen] Pasiphaë etc.? - NO
I said the human is from Greek mythology
Do the human and the non-human appear in combination in Greek mythology?
Does the Human's name begin with 'H'?
[Quen] Do the human and the non-human appear in combination in Greek mythology? - NO (and a good question)
Ahem *coughs*
Does the creature *belong* to the human from mythology
Looking for the link ...
Not a well known phrase or saying
Not a book title
Not a Greek myth as such
Not a proverb
[Chalky] H.....? - NO - didn't forget - just got interrupted.
All your statements are correct
You can derive from what I have told you that we have a mythical greek human and a non-mythical animal. If you get these you will not quite have the AOTC, but that will be obvious.
Is there a constellation named after either of them?
[GLogin] Constellation? - NO (at least not in the European tradition and the current standard list)
Actually, there has been a constellation proposed as the animal, but it never caught on and is not in current use. (Thank You Wikipedia)
Is it the name of a band?
Is the non-human a bird?
[NJ] Chalky's list had a question above it, note.
Is the AOTC formatted as " someone AND THE something "?
[Chalky] Creature 'owned' by human? - NO
[Phil] Band Name? - YES (or at least the name of a band is included in the AOTC, but I'd never heard of it - thank you Google)
[Tuj] Birdy creature? - NO
[Chalky] Someone & the Something? - YES *audience perks up* But that's not the entire AOTC
Is the animal a mammal?
Clutching at straws for anything that might trigger some inspiration.
Is it the name of a song?
Is the non-human aquatic?
[Phil] Mammal? - NO
[Quen] A song? - NO (I'm not going to bother to google that, so I may be wrong!!)
[Tuj] Watery? - NO
I'll see if I can think of a clue.
Is it a title of any sort?
I'm currently stumped.
Are either of them a reptile?
Quite a big nudge
[Quen] A title? - NO
[GLogin] A reptile? - Technically NO, but in common parlance some people may consider the non-human animal to be at least reptilian in some characteristics.

A couple of clues:
1. The format of the answer is actually 'THE something abstract OF someone AND THE something
2. Consider what else has come down to us from the Greeks apart from their myths and legends

Does the 'something abstract' begin with P?
Even more stumped than before.
The Ballad of John and Yoko?
Sorry, couldn't resist.
[Quen] P-abstract? - YES
[Phil] Christ, you know it ain't easy? - NO
The Paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise?
See, it wasn't that hard!
[Phil] YES!! It is Zeno's Paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise which gets most of a chapter to itself in 'Gödel Escher, Bach'

Here, have half a baton and a quarter of a baton and an eighth of a baton, and ........

The "reptilian in some characteristics" was the giveaway, once I spotted it. I am a herpetophobe, and once ran away from a girlfriend's pet tortoise, which she was holding to try and show to me. It was rather embarrassing, and gave me nightmares, but up to that point I'd thought my phobia only stretched to snakes.
Hidden text Just typing that has made me curl my legs up under my chair, rather than under the desk where I can't see.

So, our next offering is

Mineral

The plane from "Snakes on a Plane" after all the snakes have been removed?
[NJ] Ah. I'd forgotten all about the whole "Achilles and the tortoise" bit; I always just think of it as Zeno's paradox.
[CdM] The plane from the film I deliberately haven't even seen the trailer for? NO
Made of metal?
[CdM] Yes but Zeno had 9 paradoxes including the one I quoted in handing over the baton, which is related to, but not identical to 'Achilles..'
Unique?
[CdM] Good guess - after all, simply "the absence of snakes" would've been abstract, right?
Man made?
[NJ] Tortoises are reptiles in the order Testudines. What technicality are you thinking of that that cancels out?
[NJ] Made of metal? Partially
[Tuj] Unique? YES
[GL] Man-made? YES
[NJ] Have a toffee for being the only person so far not to have mentioned snakes/reptiles.
Sculptural?
[GLogin] I plead stupidity. For some reason I'd always thought that chelonians were a separate class and I didn't bother to check.
A bridge?
[NJ] Sculptural? NO
[Raak] A bridge? YES *Applause*
London Bridge?
[NJ] I always get that one confused with the Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare.
[Quendalon] London Bridge? NO
The Golden Gate?
In the USA?
The Sydney Harbour Bridge?
[NJ] I just checked Wikipedia; I hadn't ever heard of (or perhaps had forgotten; I read GEB two-thirds of my lifetime ago) several of Zeno's paradoxes. But the ones you were referring to I simply classify together in my mind as the "Zeno didn't understand infinite sequences paradox".
In UK?
In Asia?
[Raak] Golden Gate? NO
[NJ] USA? YES *Applause*
[CdM] Sydney Harbour? NO
[Chalky] UK? NO
[Quendalon] Asia? NO
In New York New York?
[NJ] NY NY? NO
Chappaquiddick bridge?
In a state on the Eastern Seaboard
[Software] Chupa Chups Bridge? NO
[NJ] Right-hand side state? YES *some more applause*
The Talmadge Memorial Bridge?
Is it well known because of an incident that happened there?
[Chalky] Talmadge? NO
[NJ] Well known because of an incident? NO
The Seven Mile Bridge?
(on the route down through the FL keys)
[CdM] 7 Mile Bridge? YES - dang, you're good! Have this baton made of recycled railway line, and well done!
Well, that was unexpected!
It was in my head because Geoguessr deposited me there a week or so ago.

VEGETABLE and possibly ANIMAL
Is the vegetable wood?
Is the animal leather?
Is it bigger than the 7 mile bridge?
Is there one in your [CdM's] home?
Begins with a P?
A vegetarian meal of some sort?
Wood? No.
Leather? No.
Bigger than 7-mile bridge? Not really a well-defined question, but the answer would have to be No if anything.
One in my home? I am pretty sure (not 100% certain) the answer is currently no, although I have had the AOTC in my home at various times.
Begins with P? One of the words on the card begins with a P.
Vegetarian meal? No. *some applause, nonetheless*
Is it a sandwich?
Sandwich? No. :-)
Potable/Edible?
Is it liquid at room temperature?
Potable/edible? Yes.
Liquid at room temperature? Yes.
Carbonated?
Is the AOTC a brand name?
Is it a condiment?
Carbonated? No.
Brand name? No.
Condiment? No.
Is it a type of tea?
Tea? No.
Alcoholic?
Is it normally consumed cold?
Alcoholic? No.
Normally consumed cold? No. [SuzieR] Welcome!
Contains coffee?
Contains coffee? No.
A type of soup?
Tea?
Sometimes served with milk, don't you know.
Is the animal element dairy produce?
That's ten noes in a row
Soup? No.
Tea? Still No.
Dairy? No.
Is it a beverage?
Is it medicinal?
A beverage? No.
Medicinal? No.
Is it sold in an average supermarket?
Is its normal use as a foodstuff
Just 'cos it's edible doesn't mean that's its primary purpose.
Sold in an average supermarket? Hmmm. Good question. It can be. I have certainly seen it for sale in regular supermarkets in the US (and perhaps in other countries, though I am not sure). But would I expect to find it if I wandered into an average supermarket here in Australia, or in the UK? Probably not. So I will go with No.
Normal use as a foodstuff? Yes. (But a good assumption-checking question!)
Argan Oil?
Still with bits of goat mixed in.
Argan oil? No.
Is it consumed by itself?
Is the P-word on the card paste?
Consumed by itself? No. *applause*
P = paste? No.
Is it a sauce for a dish?
A sauce? Yes. *applause*
More likely to be consumed in USA?
As per
Pasta sauce?
More likely to be consumed in USA? Um. Than where? It is more likely to be consumed in the USA than in some other places, and less likely to be consumed in the USA than in other other places. It is almost certainly more likely to be consumed in the USA than in the UK, if that is what you mean. :-)
Pasta sauce? No.
Does it normally contain chili?
Contains chill? Yes. *applause*
Tabasco Pepper Sauce?
Tabasco? No. (I think I would have classified that as a condiment.)
Originates in Asia?
Asian? No.
*ouch*
CdM - ooops. Thought I'd typed 'than in the UK' but didn't check preview. Thanks for clarification. I have a hunch this may be a foodstuff I haven't heard of so will withdraw from the chase ..
Pico de gallo?
Pico de gallo? No. *some applause*
*changes mind* Might this be classed as a Mexican sauce?
Piri-piri
aka peri-peri or pili-pili
Mole poblano?
Mexican sauce? Yes.
Piri-peri-pili? No.
Mole Poblano? Yes! It is indeed the Mexican sauce (or class of sauces, really) made from spices, peppers, nuts, and chocolate. And if you have never tasted a good Pollo con Mole Poblano, put that on your bucket list right now. The "animal" is because the sauce can be made with (typically chicken) stock or just with water.
[Q] Here. There's a baton on this plate somewhere.
[CdM] I will eat my way through the entire dish until I find the baton - and then keep on going! A good mole sauce dish is delicious indeed. Now I'm hungry...
Anyway, I'm currently busy in town. I will post a new AVMA item when I get home in a few hours.
By my decree, this one is MINERAL.
Unique?
[Chalky] Well? Had you heard of it?
it is solid?
[Cdm] I'd heard of "mole", but not the "poblano" bit.
Begins with a P?
(Presumably it's not a sandwich)
Begins with a Q?
[Phil] I had decided that I would accept "mole" as close enough. In most people's minds, I think mole = mole poblano.
Made of stone?
I knew 'Mole mole' but not 'Mole Poblano'
Is it metal?
[CdM] Not only knew it but have made it - and also thought it might be the answer which is why I asked the 'mexican' question. I have always believed '.. mole' to be '.. sauce' ie. Guacamole. Be that as it may, and it may not - Quendo slipped in there before me which is probably for the best given my schedule over the next few days :)
Sorry for the delay
[CdM] Unique? NO.
[Phil] Solid? YES. *applause*
[Tuj] Begins with 'P'? NO, not this time.
[CdM] Begins with 'Q'? NOPE.
[NJ] Rock? Technically YES.
[Chalks] Metal? NO.
Made of glass?
[Phil] Glass? YES. *audience murmurs*
Ornamental?
Man-made?
[Softers] Ornamental? SOMETIMES. *audience murmurs*
[Raak] Man-made? NO.
Smaller than a toaster?
Is it made of obsidian?
[Tuj] Smaller than a toaster? N/A.
[GL] Obsidian? YES, that's the word on the card!

Passing a black, glassy baton...
*says gosh*
*is impressed*
Oh. I'd expected something more specific.

OK, this one is ABSTRACT/ANIMAL.
Fictional?
[Tuj] Fictional? Yes
Fictional human?
[GL] I figured that I might want to try something obscure next time I have the baton, so I thought I'd build up some compensatory karma in advance.
In literature?
Male?
Begins with a P?
[Quenda] Fictional Human? No
[NJ] Literature? Yes
[Phul] Male? Assumed to be but I don't remember it being confirmed. I'm saying Yes.
[Tuj] Begins with P? No.
Fictional Animal?
[Chalky] Fictional aminal? Yes
Talking animal?
Is/was the author of this fictional animal female?
[Quendo] Talking? Yes.
[CdM] From the mind of a woman? No.
An animal native to asia?
[NJ] Lives in asia? No. *Some mutters of disagreement from the audience*
First written of before 1950?
Mammal?
[CdM] pre-1950? Yes
[Quando] Mammalian? No.
Ignore me, I accidentally posted twice in a row.
[Quenda] I'm sorry, did you say something?
Begins with Q?
Cheshire cat?
Cats are native to Asia, but the Cheshire cat is native to Cheshire.
[CdM] Q...? No.
[Quen Dalon] Grinning Cat? No. Also cat's are mammals.
A single individual animal?
Is it a bird?
First written of before 1900?
[GL] I thought that when you said "No" you meant "Yes."
[NJ] Singular? Yes.
[Suzierocket] bird? No.
[Quendal On] Pre-1900? No.
Does this animal also exist in the real world?
[Suzierocket] Is it a real animal? If you mean is this fictional talking animal also a real talking animal... No.
If you mean is it a member of a species that also exists in the real world... Also, no.
Smaug?
[CdM] Smaug? The very worm. Have a golden baton filtched from the dragon's horde.
All right. It has been a while since I have done an ABSTRACT. This also has ANIMAL connections.
Fictional character?
Fictional character? No.
The Origin of Species?
If this is right the cries of 'Fix!' will be deafening.
A human invention?
An emblem?
Bestiality?
Not that sort of animal connection? I'll get my coat.
TOoS? No
Human invention? No.
Emblem? No.
Animal Husbandry? No.
A metaphorical animal?
Metaphorical animal? No.
Is the AOTC a single word?
Single word? Yes.
Unique?
Unique? No.
Related to the Arts?
Related to the Arts? The best answer is No. There are connections—probably a lot of them; for example the AOTC certainly shows up in book titles and song titles—but I don't think they will be useful to you.
Is the animal connection human?
Animal connection human? Yes, but not exclusively so.
Is it an emotion or feeling?
Does it start with an S?
Does it start with a silent 'P'?
Does it end in Y?
Is the word on the card a noun?
Emotion or feeling? Yes. *applause*
Start with S? No.
Start with silent P? No.
End in Y? No.
Noun? Yes. (It is also a verb, but I am treating the AOTC as referring to the noun.)
Hunger?
Is it normally considered negative?
Attributed more commonly to one sex--reasonably or otherwise?
Hunger? No.
Normally considered negative? Yes.
Attributed more to one sex? I don't think so. I'm unaware of either an objective difference or a pervasive stereotype.
OK, I have done a little research now, and discovered that at least one aspect of the AOTC is—objectively—associated more with women than men.
Does it begin with a Q?
Begin with Q? No.
A pedantic clarification. I answered Yes to "Emotion or feeling?", and that is clearly the best answer. But we might be hesitant about applying those terms to non-human animals, so I should note that there are also senses of the AOTC that go beyond emotion/feeling.
Does this involve killing?
Sorry I'm late, it's the darned traffic.
Involve killing? Not usually. Occasionally, yes.
Would this type of behaviour be classified as a syndrome or even illness?
Syndrome? Well, first, it isn't a "type of behaviour" as such, though it certainly can be associated with certain behaviours. And although it can sometimes be associated with a syndrome/illness, it isn't in itself one.
Is it normally considered rational in reasonably common circumstances?
Do you know of an emoticon which expresses this?
Does it start with a non-silent 'P'?
Is it drepressing?
Normally considered rational? *audience applauds the question* No. In some circumstances quite the contrary. Although it is not always considered irrational, either.
Emoticonned? I was not aware of one, but the google does give me examples. Mind you, if you had just shown me these examples, I would not have identified them as the AOTC.
Begin with non-silent P? Yes. Of course.
Depressing or drepressing? No, not in general. Maybe in some specific circumstances.
Paranoia?
Paranoia? No. (I did actually think about making that the AOTC when setting this AVMA.)
Panic?
Panic? Yes! *throws the baton in Quendalon's general direction and runs away screaming*
Eeek! Er, I mean, yes! Of course! Success!

Our next selection is obscurely ANIMAL.
Unique?
[Tuj] Unique? YES.
Human?
[Tuj] Possesses personhood? YES.
alive now?
Male?
[NJ] Among the living? YES.
[GL] Male? NO.
A member of the Morniverse?
Does she begin with a Queen?
[Tuj] Player of Mornington Crescent? UNLIKELY, but since I don't know your real names there's no way to be sure...
[CdM] Name prefaced with female monarchical title? NO.
European?
In the entertainment business?
A sportswoman?
[Q] The best answers are often the scrupulously accurate ones =)
Has she received an honour from the Queen?
Over thrity?
[CdM] From Europe? YES.
[NJ] In the business of providing entertainment? YES.
[Tuj] Famed athlete? NO.
[Raak] Received award from female monarch? NO.
A thespian?
[NJ] Dramaturge? NO.
Does she begin with P?
Also, you forgot to answer GL's question: is she over thrity? Enquiring midns wnat to konw.
[CdM] Do any words on the card begin with 'P'? NO.
[GL] Is this personage over thrity years old? YSE.
A singer?
[Tuj] Vocalist? NO.
Is she a broadcaster?
[Chalks] Casts broadly? NO.
OK. Does she begin with Q, then?
Is she a writer?
[CdM] Starts with 'Q'? NO.
[Chalks] Writes? YES. *applause*
Does she write for television?
Has she published a novel within the last year?
[nights] Writes for the telly? NO. (In the interests of full disclosure, she has done a bit of TV writing but is not known for it.)
[CdM] Novel with publication date after June 16, 2012? NO.
Has she published a novel within the last ten years?
Is she aged over fifty?
Is she married?
British?
[GL] Published a novel since 2003? YES.
[Chalko] Over fifty years old? YES.
[Phil] Wedded? YES.
[Tuj] Brit? YES.
Tanith Lee?
[GL] Tanith Lee? YES. *wild applause*

I guess that wasn't so obscure after all?

*tosses Gusset Login the baton through a gate of agate, a gate of blue steel and a terrible gate of black flame*
*googles Tanith Lee*
Well Guessed Guss!
I've only heard of Tanith Lee because my local sci-fi/fantasy book group are meant to be reading some of her stuff next month. The guess was meant to rule her out and confirm my own sanity... which clearly worked well.

Time for an ABSTRACT, I think
The letter P?
Anarcho-Syndicalism?
[Tuj] P...? No.
[Chalky] Anarcho-Syndicalism? No.
Human construct?
Fictional?
[CdM] Human construct? I'm going to say No.
[Tuj] Fictional? I've not seen evidence of it for a while but No, not fictional.
Connected with the natural world?
Related to perception?
[GL] Do you know which of Lee's books you'll be reading? Her 70s sci-fi/fantasy is excellent, but I gather her style shifted over time and I'm not sure what the more recent stuff is like. But if you're reading her Tales of the Flat Earth stories or The Birthgrave, you're in for a treat.
[Chalky] From nature? Unclear, much like the human construct thing. I'm saying Yes, with reservations
[Quendalon] Perception? Not closely related, but possibly yes.

[Quendalon] I'll find out on Saturday which one I get but the whole gammet of her work is being covered as far as I can tell.
One of the seven deadly sins?
[Chaky] A sin? No. *Laughter*
Generally considered to be pleasing?
[Quend] Positive? Yes.
Is it an emotion or feeling?
[Tuj] Emothing or feeling? Yes.
Is there more than one word on the card?
[Quendalon] Multi-word? No.
Does it begin with either P or Q?
[CdM] P... or Q...? No.
Related to attachment?
[cfm] Attachment? It can be but not always, depending on your definition of attachment.
Is it some form of familial bond?
[Dujon] Bond, Familial Bond? No.
Is it an '.. ism'?
[Chalky] ...ism? No.
Felt only by humans?
Does it end in "-ness"?
[Quendalon] Only human? I have seen it ascribed to other animals but who can tell? (Hence my earlier answers regarding human constructs and nature)
[Phil] ...ness? Not on the card but a reasonable synonym does.
Does it begin with a letter from the first half of the alphabet [incl M]?
Joy?
Empathy?
[Chakly] A-M...? Yes.
[Phil] Joy? No.
[cfm] Empathy? No.
Is it directed at someone or something outside oneself?
[Quendalon] Targetted? Yes.
Generosity?
Love?
[Chalky] Generosity? No. *Much applause*
[Phil] Love? No.
Does the word begin with a vowel?
[Chalky] A... E... or I...? No.
Does it end -ion?
[Tuj] ...ion? No.
Is it an '.. ity'?
[Chalky] ...ity? No.
The word on the card does have a fair number of acceptable synonyms, many of which would elicit different response to some recent questions. I'm not sure this is your best line of attack.

Summary/Clarification/Hints
This is a single word describing a felling or emotion directed by humans (and possibly other animals) towards something. Generally it is considered positive for at least one of the people involved.
It starts with a consonant between B and M (G) and doesn't end with 'ity', 'ion', 'ism' or 'ness'. Although synonyms ending with at least two of those option and beginning with completely different letters may be acceptable answers.
Is it a noun?
[Quend] Noun? Yes.
Can it be used as a name?
I think the fact we've dropped to this poor line of attack is no-one's had a good idea how to approach it!
Friendship?
Is it typically directed at a single person (in any given instance) or at multiple people at once?
[Tuj] Can it be used as a name? Not traditionally but I wouldn't put it past some people.
[Quendalon] Friendship? No.
[CdM] Directed at a single person? In the last year, I have directed it at individuals, couples, groups, inanimate objects and the results of blind chance.
Gratitude?
[cfm] Gratitude? Yes. Have mine and a baton.
[GL] Similar sentiments to you, dear. Let's try VEGETABLE AND MINERAL
Is it a geographical location?
Is the vegetable wood?
[NJ] Here or there? NO.
[GL] Wooden? NO.
Unique?
[Q] Unique? NO
Edible?
Is the mineral metal?
Is it a sandwich?
Would it normally be found in a sandwich?
Is it bigger than a breadbox?
[Raak] Edible? YES
[CdM] Metallic? NO
[Tuj] Two slices plus? NO
[Q] Big as a loaf or two? NO
[GL] Sandwichable? NO
Wet?
Is the mineral salt?
Is it a foodstuff?
[Chalky] Watery? I think the best answer is YES, but in practice, it would be to varying degrees.
[Raak] Salty? The best answer to your question is NO, that is not the primary mineral ingredient. But I know of at least one instance where salt is involved.
[GL] Cuppa? NO, that is not the AOTC. But YES, tea may be involved.
[CdM] Foodstuff? NO. *audience interest increases*
Is it found in a typical Western home?
Is it generally considered valuable?
Is it medicinal?
[Q] Western staple? YES---though not as common as say, a carton of milk or a pair of scissors.
[GL] Pricey? NO.
[Chalky] Medicinal? I think the best answer is NO. *murmurs from the audience*
Is alcohol involved?
[Phil] Alcoholic? NO, the AOTC does not involve alcohol. But there is a peripheral connection.
[Chalky] By the same token, I guess that's true for your question, too.
Is the AOTC the name of a meal?
Is it always both vegetable and mineral, or is it sometimes just vegetable or just mineral?
[Chalky] Name that meal? NO.
[Q] One not both? YES. While the vast majority of the AOTC is both mineral and vegetable, sometimes the answer is just one of those things. *applause*
Begins with a P?
Hmm.
Is its primary function to be ingested?
Energy drinks?
Would it normally be consumed towards the end of a meal?
[Tuj] Having the usual? NO, not this time.
[Q] Primarily ingestible? NO.
[Chalky] Energy drink? NO.
[Phil] Finishing touch? NO.
Intended for topical application?
[Q] A dab here or there? YES. *generous applause from the audience*
suncream?
Lube?
How naughty!
[Chalky] SPF-something? NO.
[Q] Slippery stuff? NO. But I like the way you think. :-)
Moisturiser?
Condoms?
[Raak] Day or night cream? NO. *audience applauds nonetheless*
[Chalky] Barrier method? NO.
Cleanser?
[Chalky] Good clean fun? NO.
Lipsalve?
Toothpaste?
[Q] Good clean teeth? NO.
[Chalky] Lip salve? Well, not exactly -- hence my equivocating on the question of whether the thing was medicinal. The AOTC is actually the purely decorative (and much more fun) relative of lip salve --lip gloss-- but I think you are due the baton. Here, take this miniature one from my handbag! I hope Plum Passion is your shade.
for the win
[cfm] Mighty generous of you - in my mind lip balm, lip gloss and lip stick were also queuing for the limelight .. it was just a matter of timing.

Now - dare I unleash this ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections?
Fictional?
Animal = human?
a work of art?
A philosophy?
The bee's knees?
round up
[Gusset Login] Fictional? NO
[CdM] Animal = Human? YES
[NotJohn] Work Of Art? NO
[Phil] A philosophy? Erm .. NO
[Tuj] Knees of bees? NO
A human invention?
Associated with governance?
[Tuj] Human invention? YES
[Quendalon] Associated with governance? YES *audience stirs*
Surely it's anarcho-syndicalism then?
[Tuj] *fingers crossed*
[Tuj, Phil] Anarcho-syndicalism? Shurely NOT I'm afraid *audience murmuration*
Begins with a P?
Phew!
Related to the making of laws?
Associated with a specific individual?
A specific style of governance?
[Tuj] P? NO
[cfm] Related to law-making? YES
[CdM] Specific individual? YES
[nights] Specific style of governance? YES
Marxism?
[Gusset Login] Marxism? NO
Is the specific individual a politician?
Summat like democracy and all people being equal and all that sort of malarky?
[CdM] A politician? NO
[Dujon] Democracy equality malarky? NO
Named for the individal it's associated with?
[Quendalon] Named for the individual it's associated with? Am not clear what your "it's" is referencing (the AOTC?) - however I will respond with a cautious YES.
Does the individual's name appear as part of the AOTC?
[CdM] Name on AOTC? Not exactly .. *audience applauds question*
Is it Thatcherism?
Is the individual an ancient historic figure?
[nights] Thatcherism? NO
[cfm] Ancient historic figure? Could be.
Does the identity of the specific individual change over time?
That is, at any moment there is just one such individual, but it is not always the same person.
[CdM] Changing identity? YES *more applause*
A dictatorship?
Associated with a particular country?
Is there a religious connection in addition to the connection to governance?
[Phil] Dictatorship? NO
[Raak] Associated with a particular country? YES
[cfm] Also a religious connection? YES
Connected with Christianity?
A monarch?
Pope Francis?
[Quendalon] Christianity connection? Yes-ish
[Raak] A monarch? YES!!!! Yesyesyes!!!
[cfm] NO - not the Popey.
The King or Queen of England, Defender of the Faith
[Raak] The King or Queen of England, Defender of the Faith? Absolutely YES. That's the ANIMAL bit - now guess the ABSTRACT *audience senses a dénouement*
The British monarchy?
[Raak] The British monarchy certainly relates to the AOTC but you are travelling away from the solution. Most questions so far have centred on the Animal connection - the Abstract is yet to be resolved.
Order of Succession to the UK Throne?
Hair apparent?
[Phil] Order of Succession? NO
[GL] Hirsuteness? NO
The Supreme Governor of the Church of England?
Thought I'd answered this earlier ..
.. sorry to keep you. Now ..
[Raak] The Supreme Governor of the Church of England? If that's what she also is then I am bound to say YES.
However, that is not the AOTC. Having established some guesses back that Her Maj is the 'animal' perhaps some lateral thinking is required to find the 'abstract'.
In Her Majesty's case is this an event of some sixty years ago?
[Hi Dujon] An event? NO
.. can't reply if no-one asks :(
Am shortly away from the 'net until approx 2200 BST
Summary
We are looking for the name of a specific style of government. It was named after the current Queen of England and other people but only one at a time. It isn't Monarchy and doesn't begin with P.

Have I missed anything?
Divine Right?
Ends with -ism?
[Gusset Login] Thanks for your brave attempt at a summary ..
.. however - we are actually looking for an ABSTRACT which has the Queen of England as its ANIMAL connection ( and it still feels somewhat treasonable typing that ...)

As you were ;-)
continuum
NOT a style of government ... NOT a title. It certainly has the Queen of GB, Ireland, Dominions blah be blah etc. as its core but if you guessed a memorial ceramic plate with her face on it .. well that would be mineral obviously ... but you'd be closer than you have been thus far :-)
Elizabethanism?
It is I, Rosie.
[Tcb] Elizabethanism? NO.
My bad - didn't reply to [Raak] and [Quendalon] NO not divine right nor an -ism.
Is it a doctrine?
[Rosie] Thanks for joining in - but NO - it's not a doctrine or a philosophy etc.

Most of questions along these lines related purely to the Animal connection - very few have asked what type of Abstract this is. 'Is it a work of art' came the closest. For those that can be bothered I would suggest forget all that has gone before - concentrate on standard Abstract questioning ..
Coinage?
[gil] Coinage? NO - but *audience applauds this line of questioning*
The Divine Right of Kings?
Given that "to do with religion" was established.
[Phil] The Divine Right of Kings? Still NO. Religious connection was established to confirm the Animal, ie. Her Maj.
Having said that - one of the words in the AOTC is 'God'. < < < clue!
"Dieu et Mon Droit"?
straw-clutching
"God Save The King/Queen/Other"?
[Phil] Mon Dieu! Drat! NON
[Raak] God Save The King/Queen/Other? - that well-known phrase or saying [another standard Abstract question that wasn't asked] is about as close as it gets without being the AOTC
*audience cheering in desperation willing Raak, or anyone really, even a lurker, to make the leap .. *
Who are you, the Queen of England?
The National Anthem?
Is this an alternative title for the monarch?
Honi soit qui mal y pense?
[Phil] Pass us a straw, mate.
Allelulia Phil!
The Abstract is a SONG - the SONG is the AOTC which was 'The British National Anthem - God Save Our Gracious Queen' [who was the Animal connection all the way through]
Thank you Phil - here's a victorious, happy and glorious baton ...

Golly, thanks Chalky. Long did you reign over us with that one - chortle chortle!
Next up is

Mineral

Liquid?
Metal?
Commonly found in the household?
[Rosie] Liquid? NO
[CHalky] Metal? NO
[Quendalon] Household object? NO
Is it a mineral [ a naturally occurring inorganic solid etc] ?
[Chalky] A (well-defined) mineral? YES
Perovskite?
[Raak] Perovskite? NO
Clarification: I meant that it is composed of a mineral.
Man made?
[GL] Man made? Ummm, YES is the best answer, I believe as it would not be recognisable as what it is without mankind.
Asbestos?
Is it unique?
Does it naturally occur in nature?
[Raak] Asbestos? NO
[Quendalon] Unique? YES
[nights] Naturally in nature? Speaking strictly about the AOTC, NO.
Is it used as a building material?
Is the metal extracted from an ore (e.g. Aluminium from Bauxite)?
Does it move?
Is it a landmark?
[Rosie] Building material? The AOTC is not, but the substance of which it is composed is.
[Dujon] metal from an ore? NO
[Tuj] Does it move? NO
[GL] Landmark? NO
A cairn?
A wahoo from 60 yards.
Made from stone/rock?
Is it in Europe?
[Rosie] A cairn? NO
[Chalky] Made from stone/rock? YES. *some applause*
[Tuj] In Europe? YES
Made of diamond?
A natural geographical feature?
A mine?
[GL] Diamond? NO
[Rosie] Natural feature? NO
[Raak] Mine? NO
In the UK?
Smaller than a Range Rover?
[Tuj] In the UK? NO
[Chalky] Smaller than Range Rover? YES
A monument?
The Blarney Stone?
[Software] A monument? NO *audience stirs*
[Chalky] De Blarney Stone? NO
Begins with a P?
A statue?
[Tuj] P word? NO
[Chalky] A statue? YES *much applause*
In Italy?
[Software] In Italy? NO
The statue of liberty?
The one in France, obviously.
In Denmark?
[GL] Liberté? NON
[Chalky] .dk? NEJ
Is this a creation of Claude Michel?
[Dujon] Claude Michel? who? NO
This statue - a female human?
[Chalky] Female human statue? YES *Applause*
Venus de Milo?
[Chalky] VdM (any relation to CdM, I've often wondered?) - YES.
Congratulations, may I pass on this severed-arm-shaped baton to you.
*curtseys*
Thanks Phil. Not sure why I chased that one - given my absence from the internets, therefore this game, for the next week. I guess I enjoyed it :)

* tosses severed-arm-shaped baton into the air hoping someone will catch it before it lands and shatters into a thousand pieces*
*reaches for the baton, but not too aggressively on account of having held it twice recently*
Shall I grab it? Oh, all right then.
It is Abstract with Animal and Mineral connections.
Animals human?
Begins with a P?
*jumps*
The title of some work?
[Rosie] Human? Mostly, I would say
[Tuj] Pish? No P anywhere
[cfm] Title of some work? Googling actually says YES, not sure that it is helpful though.
A human invention?
Do the humans have a common purpose?
Is a horse likely to be associated with this person?
Supernatural?
[Tuj] Homogeneous? NO
[Rosie] Common purpose? Mmmm, maybe but largely NO
[Duj] Horsey? Perhaps figuratively but mainly NO
[Quen] Eerie? NO
A well knwon phrase or saying?
Is the mineral aspect metal?
[GL] Adage? YESish
[Phil] Metalic? NO not exclusively.
Whoops!
I must also rap my own wrist for just noticing that I omitted Vegetable from the definition.
Is the vegetable element wood?
Does the abstract result from human activity? (eg urbanisation)
Are any of the aspects a geographical location?
*taking an interest ..*
Wow - a whole week away and not a lot has happened.
So we have an Abstract with Animal Vegetable Mineral connections and have ascertained that it's a sort of well-known phrase or saying?
Is it a place?
[Phil] Wood? NO not exclusively
[Rosie] Global Warming? Mmmm, interesting but probably NO
[GL] Geographic? NO non specific but much rarer in some locations
[Chalky] Place? NO specific location.
A naturally occurring phenomenon?
A mental process?
[Chalks] Natural? YES
[cfm] Think? NO
Is agriculture part of this?
rm? in a way YES
A weather condition?
[Chalks] Meteo? YES
Raining cats and dogs?
Datsun cogs, old ladies and sticks etc.
[Rosie] Precipitation? - NO but chuckles and random clapping from audience
Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey?
[Phil] Chilly NO * audience chuckles and talks among themselves and some spontaneous clapping *
Something to do with climate change?
[Duj] Global warming? - NO * chattering and sporadic clapping in audience *
A Weather Forecast?
[Phil] Wet seaweed? - NO * audience murmuring and sporadic clapping *
Is the weather condition adverse?
[Rosie] Adverse? - YES. * audience getting excited *
The Shipping Forecast?
Does H2O (or lack of same) feature?
[Chalks] Forth, Tyne etc? NO
[Duj] Wet n'dry? - YES! * audience getting excited *
The Biblical Flood?
Would Rosie's last comment be the antithesis of the AOTC?
Does the AOTC take the format, "X as a Y"?
Does the AOTC relate to measuring weather?
[Rosie] Noah? - NO
[Duj] Oposite? - in a way but probably NO< br> [Quen] Logic? - NO but close
[Chalks] Meteo? - NO
Clue time: 4 words 2 the same relating to weather.
As right as rain?
[Chalks] Wet, wet , wet? - NO * gasps of anticipation and clapping from audience *
As dry as dust?
Are the two identical words "the"?
Hot as hell?
[Raak] Dusty - NO
[Rosie] Definite article?NO
[cfm] Bong! Right on the money!

As hot as hell is on the card. Well it felt that way when I kicked this one off! I hand over the iced baton to cfm.

Now that's a surprise. I was pretty much lost during all of that that round.
Well then, let's try ANIMAL WITH ANIMAL AND ABSTRACT CONNECTIONS
Is the primary animal human?
[Chalky] I suppose that I should have asked "Does it have any supernatural associations?" rather than the vaguer "Supernatural?"
[Q] Human first and foremost? YES.
Richard the Lionheart?
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
I'll behave next time ;)
Is the secondary animal canine?
Begins with P?
Me And You And A Dog Named Boo - Lobo?
[Quendalon] *confused face*?
[GL] Dickheart? NO
[Dujon] The end of the world as we know it? NO
[CdM] Woof? YES *audience is too awed to applaud*
[Tuj] Having the usual, I see? NO
[Chalky] That 70s sound? NO
Is the canine a specific, identified dog?
[CdM] Name that dog? After a bit of research (and also technically speaking), NO. But YES would not have been a bad answer. :-)
One man and his dog?
(Went to mow a meadow.)
Would Julius Caesar be pertinent to the AOTC?
Anubis?
[Chalky] Oops! That should have been aimed at Software.
fictional?
[GL] One plus one? NO
[Dujon] Roman rule? NO--at least not as far as I know or could identify from a Wikipedia search.
[Q] I want my mummy? NO
[Chalky] Storytime? NO
Is the human a specific, identified person?
Is this a well-known phrase or saying?
[CdM] Can I see some ID, please? YES
[Chalky] "It's like they say..."? NO
Is this person alive?
[Tuj] Still among us? YES
Showbiz connection?
[Software] You oughtta be in pictures? YES, but I fear this may lead you astray. *nods among the audience*
Famous for doing something rather than who he/she is?
[GL] Real life action hero? YES.
Human=male?
[Chalky] Dude? YES
Has this man been depicted in film(s) but not appeared there?
[Dujon] I don't have sufficient knowledge answer your question. But I will answer another. YES, this man has appeared in films.
The abstract connection? Is that the 'films' bit? Documentaries?
I don't think I have sufficient knowledge of man with dog appearing in films .. so may withdraw my participation. Hope others demonstrate a little more curiosity ...
[Chalky] That's a big [YES] Don't drop out. :-( You've made an important connection!
Steve Irwin?
[Software] Mass market wildlife expert? NO
Hint: It might help to probe a little more on the abstract connection...
One Man And His Dog?
[Raak] Sheepdog drama? NO But one man and his dogs? YES :-)
Actaeon, torn apart by his own hounds?
[Raak] Bloody mess? NO. Was there a film about that? :-)
Are these multiple dogs all presented as if they were the same fictional dog (e.g. like when Lassie was periodically re-cast)
Has Timmy fallen down the well, again?
Is this USA-centric?
[Projoy, GL] Lass-a-likes? NO
[Chalky] Red, white and blue? YES and NO. The human is American. The dogs, I believe, are ethnically German.
Is he an explorer?
Are the dogs Dalmatians?
[cfm] Film? I don't know, but I'd watch it if there was.
Christopher Plummer and the Hounds of Munich?
I am completely stumped!
[Chalky] Explorer? NO, not unless you are speaking metaphorically.
[Raak] Spot the AOTC? NO *audience applauds enthusiastically at this line of questioning*
[Phil] Von Trapped? NO. (hint: the human is not an actor, although he has appeared on TV and in film.)
Is there a succession of dogs, rather than a number of dogs at one time?
If that makes sense. I'm remembering when I chose the MGM lion and discovered there had been (I think) four of them.
[CdM] YES and NO. There was at least one well-known succession but there have also been multiple simultaneous dogs. (Is it just me, or does that sound kinda dirty?)
Are the dogs Alsations/German Shepherds?
Just for my own clarification purposes.
Is the abstract connection musical?
[Dujon] A/GSs? NO *audience still approves of this line of questioning*
(Also, it's just you.)
[CdM] Rhythm and rhyme and harmony? NO *audience applauds nonetheless*
cartoon/cgi dachshunds?
Clearly I haven't the foggiest what this is .. don't know why I'm bothering.
Or even dancing dogs?
Is the abstract connection artistic?
You did say we should pursue it...
Turner and Hooch?
[Chalky] Dancing cartoon dachshunds? NO *audience claps encouragingly*
[CdM] But is it art? YES *loud cheering*
[Phil] Tom Hanks? NO The AOTC only has a tangential connection to show biz.

To summarize, we are talking about a contemporary American artist (male) working with multiple dogs of a German breed that is not the shepherd or Dachsund. He has appeared on at least two famous American TV shows and in his own films. I will add that those appearances may not be the only connection to film. And I will apologize for choosing what appears to be an extremely obscure AOTC. My guess, however, is that many of you would recognize this man's (iconic, really) work, which is held in the permanent collections of major museums including the the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Smithsonian. A quick scan of his biography informs me that his work has also been exhibited in London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Munich, Seoul and Singapore.
Pinschers?
[Projoy] Police pup? NO
And I think it's time I put an end to the misery of this round. Sorry I picked such tough one. The furry baton goes to the first person who grabs it. And for those who are interested, the AOTC is revealed here.
It's good to learn new stuff
[cfm] I feel sure the AOTC would have been solved at some point. We are also missing some of our more, shall we say - forensic? gameplayers.
Chalky I'll take the fresh baton, thanks. I did give up a turn a few weeks back.
And now for a puzzler that everyone will have heard of .. A N I M A L
Human?
[cfm] You are too hard on yourself! I had certainly heard of the AOTC and know the photographs. I think I ended up getting stuck on the film angle, even though you did warn us that it might be a red herring.
An individual, unique animal?
[cfm] I'd never heard of him, but one man's obvious being another man's obscure is part of the fun of life.
[Phil] An individual, unique animal? NO
*points quietly at CdM's question*
[CdM] Human? NO
A pet?
Alive?
[Dujon] A Pet? NO
[CdM] Alive? YES
Found in UK?
A mammal?
[Softers] In UK ? YES
[CFM] Mammal? NO
An arachnid?
An insect?
A duck?
[Dujon] Arachnid? Technically NO .. *applause*
[Rosie] ... Insect? YES *enthusiastic applause*
[Sir Bedevere] Duck? NO
Can it sting?
Does one generally enounter them as a swarm or infestation -- as opposed to a lone bug?
[Rosie] Sting? Not 'sting' exactly ...
[cfm] Swarm or infestation? YES *audience getting excited*
*chances it* Mosquitos?
Midges?
Does it belong to the order of Hymenoptera?
Please ignore that, Chalky. From personal experience I know only too well that some of them can indeed sting.
[cfm] Mosquitos? NO
[Rosie] Midges? NO
*ignores Dujon's question*
Locusts?
Do they fly?
ladybirds?
[Raak] Locusts? NO
[CdM] Do they fly? NO
[Softers] Ladybirds? NO
This can be solved within 20 questions if you look back to where the audience got a bit excited ...
Ants?
They're made of Formica.
[Rosie] Formica Ants? NO
Do they attack vegetation?
Fleas?
Is this a common parasite found on humans?
[Rosie] Attackers of veg? NO
[cfm] fleas? NO
[Dujon] Common parasite found on humans? YES - three quarters of your question is correct, the other quarter half correct! *audience senses a result*
Lice?
As soon as I typed the word I started scratching...
Bed bugs?
Tapeworms?
Being in humans rather than on them.
[CdM] Lice? NO
[Raak] Tapeworms? NO

But Software has it on the 21st question - the AOTC being Bed bugs.
*gingerly hands over an insecticide-sprayed baton*
Well I'm Blowed!
* Carefully accepts baton from Chalky wearing surgical gloves *

Twice in quick succession. Well, well!

Now what do we have here? Another ABSTRACT with ANIMAL, VEGETABLE and MINERAL connections.

* Scantily clad girl parades the answer card in front of the audience *

Pornography?
[Phil] *laughs*
A human idea or concept?
A fictional place?
Unique?
[Phil] DIY passtime? - NO
[Rosie] Man made? - YES
[GL] Fairy story? - NO
[Duj] Only one? - depends on pedantic interpretation but generally NO
Humans with a common purpose?
[Rosie] Mass conciseness? - NO (although may be disputed when the AOTC is revealed, perhaps)
Are there animal connections other than human?
Is this an idea, political or social, say?
[cfm] Bestial - NO (although some may dispute this)
[Rosie] Conceptual? - YES
Anarcho-syndicalism?
[GL] Direct Action - NO (I had to look that up so no chance of it being the AOTC!)
Anything to do with economics?
Does it begin with P?
Is it a sandwich?
[Rosie] Money, money money? - NO * a few claps from the audience and some chattering *
[CdM] P-ish - NO
[Chalks] Cheese and tomato on brown? - NO
Virgin Trains?
[Rosie] West coast delays? - NO I suppose they could be described as abstract * chuckles from audience *
Is this a symbol of something (e.g. a coat of arms or a flag)?
[Duj] Symbolic? - NO
Is it a place?
A whole week and very little interest in this one ..
Is it a well-known phrase or saying?
Is it connected to the arts?
Multi-Chalks: Place? - NO; Saw? - NO * stiring in audience * ; Arty-farty? - NO (only indirectly but that could be misleading)
A political theory?
[Rosie]Dogma? - NO
A personal philosophy or way of living?
[cfm] karma? - NO
Something to do with language?
[cfm] Chatter? - NO
Conneted to religion?
[GL] Belief? - NO
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