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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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[cfm] Protester? NO * some heated discussion among part of the audience +
[Phil] Wikied? YES!
[Chalks] Knighted? NO * spontaneous sporadic claps from audience *
Has this person been stripped of his honour from the Queen?
[Bool] Demoted? NO
Has he received the Order of the British Empire?
Does he have an employer?
[GL] OBE etc? NO
[Phil] Employer? YES! * chuckles from some of the audience *
Is he a 'Lord ...'?
Is he a Duke?
[Chalks] Peer of the Realm? YES!
[GL] Duke? NO
A life peer?
[GL] Lifer? YES!
A man of the cloth?
The Lord Williams of Oystermouth?
(simulposted with Phil)
[Phil] Sky pilot? YES!
[CdM] Lord Who? NO.
Justin Portal Welby?
[NJ] The Lord Archbishop? YES!

Well done! Please accept this Shepherd's Crook shaped baton!

pedantry rears my ugly head
He's not, technically, a life peer, is he? I know ex-Arch B's of C generally are given life peerages, but not until they're ex. I think. I could well be wrong, though :-)
But no applause for my guess? That audience was harsh! Also, not to cavil, but saying "we know about him because of something that happened to him" seems to be dissing someone who rose to the highest possible point on his career path. A bit like saying we know David Cameron or Jack Welch because of something that happened to them (being elected, being appointed by a Board of Directors).
Hmmm.
Yes, I think Sir Alec would have had a few things to say about the ref in that round - I didn't guess earlier because I was sure CdM was right.

Moving on we'll have primarily VEGETABLE with major ANIMAL connections - In fact technically, there are also significant Mineral and Abstract associations as well, but that's not going to help at this stage

Can I eat it?
Can I eat it if Boolbar doesn't?
[Boolbar/CdM] Edible? - NO?
Bigger than a breadbox?
[cfm] > breadbox? - YES
Is the Vegetable part the Animal connection's habitat?
[Raak] Is the Vegetable part the Animal connection's habitat? - YES, you could put it like that (a little ripple)
Is the animal a bird?
Is the animal human?
Is the animal a fish?
Going OK so far
[cfm] avian? - NO
[Raak] Human? - YES
GLogin] Piscine? - NO
A log cabin?
[GL] Log Cabin? - NO *audience is stirring, some applausse heard*
Unique?
A famous home?
Warm
[CdM] just the 1? - YES
[cfm] Famous home? - YES *sustained applause*
Located in Europe?
In the USA?
[GL] Bravo
Well, this is very efficient
[cfm] European? - NO
[Tuj] USian? - YES
Built in the 20th century?
[cfm] C20? - NO
George Washington's home at Mount Vernon?
Is it famous because someone famous lived there?
Does it begin with the initial letter of Pennsylvania?
And the winner is
[Raak] Mount Vernon it is!!
I've just been reading a biography. Interesting that his greatness is as much about when he gave up power as when he wielded it.
Here, have this branch of a cherry tree I've just cut down as a baton.
Ah, so this is why my memory failed to conjure up a vision of a wooden house.
Q: Is the mansion at Mount Vernon built of wood or stone?
A: Mount Vernon is of frame construction, and the sheathing is beveled and covered with a mixture of paint and sand to give the appearance of stone.
Never actually been there, so I just went straight to Wikipedia, which just says 'The mansion is built of wood in neoclassical Georgian architectural style'.
The next is ANIMAL.
Is it unique?
Human?
[Notboolbarjohn] A unique human.
Is the unique human male?
Is this human still alive?
[cfm] Male.
[Boolbar] Alive.
Begins with P?
The odds aren't good on our 4-0 start continuing...
[Tuj] **applause** Yes, I think it would be fair to say so.
Is this unique living male human beginning with P European?
[CdM] Almost certainly European.
Is the answer a title rather than a name?
The next pope?
[NotJohn] Yes!
[CdM] The exact words on the card! Habemus papam! *a puff of white smoke emerges from a cottage in north Wales*
Fastest ever?
Well, yes, that was what I was hinting at, but I didn't want to hog it.
We got that one with 8 guesses, all answered 'Yes'. That must be a record.
[NJ] Well, except for this. And, yes, I knew that you had probably guessed the answer, but I didn't want to let the streak be broken.

All right. A nice easy MINERAL .
Unique?
Cor.
Primarily Rock/stone?
Of course, if the Ghanaian or Canadian cardinal is appointed then we will have to come back and rewrite one of the YESs as a NO)
On/in the Earth?
Unique? Yes. But, oddly enough, also No.
Primarily Rock/stone? Yes. *applause*
On/in the earth? Yes.
Incidentally, there is also an animal connection, but I was unaware of it until I started reading Wikipedia, and I suspect it won't be useful.
Is it smaller than Kylie Minogue?
Begin with 'P' ?
A human construction?
The remains of the Chelyabinsk meteor?
Smaller than Kylie? No.
Begins with P? Yes?
Human construction? No. (*a few members of the audience whisper among themselves about some technicalities, but agree with the conclusion*)
Meteoric remains? No. ( *a few members of the audience applaud the insight of the question*)
A natural geographic feature?
Pyramid of Cheops?
Natural geographic feature? Well, yes and no. The spirit of the question points to Yes, but I am not sure it really qualifies as a geographic feature, and there is some potential quibbling about natural (see "Human construction?").
Pyramid of Cheops? No.
The parallel roads?
You know how it is - you have a thought and just have to throw the guess in even though there's plenty more digging to be done.
Is it south of the Tropic of Cancer?
Parallel roads? No.
South of Tropic of Cancer? No.
In one single geographical location?
The North Pole?
In one location? Strictly speaking, No.
North Pole? No.
Geographic location modified by man?
Geographic location modified by man? I am really having trouble knowing how to answer this. The answer does not refer to a geographic location as such, though it does refer to something associated with a particular geographic location.

I think you just asked this that so you can get revenge on my quibbling about your previous one. :-)
Does it move?
Is this a jewel?
Does it move? Not in general, no.
A jewel? No.
This is one of those topics that i thought would be relatively straightforward when I thought of it, but was a bit more complicated once I did a bit of research. You might find the best route is to think in terms of the geographic location.
Is the associated geographic location in Europe?
In Europe? No.
Is the associated geographic location in Asia?
In Asia? No.
You might also want to revisit the audience applause.
Is the associated geographic location in N America?
Welcome back, Chalky
North America? Yes.
Is the answer on the card the name of the rock/stone?
Thanks CdM.
Is it connected with mining/drilling?
Answer on card name of rock/stone? Yes. *applause*
Connected to mining? No.
Is the geographical bit a mountain?
Yellowstone Park?
Mountain? No. *some laughter*
Yellowstone? No.
Does it have a superficies of less than 1 square mile?
Superficial superficies? Yes.
Is the word begining with P the location of the AOTC?
P-word = location? Yes. *applause* (Technically, actually, the answer is Yes and No, but that would mislead much more than it would help.)
Roxbury Puddingstone?
Roxbury Puddingstone? *googles* No.
In the USA?
In the USA? Yes. I think this is eminently guessable now.
Plymouth Rock?
And I was right!
Plymouth Rock is correct!

Never having been there, I had always assumed it was just this place on the coastline. But no. Turns out it is a smallish rock (though bigger than Kylie!) that has been split into two (not to mention having lots of smaller pieces chipped off it), and both pieces have been moved. One is still in Plymouth, and one is in Brooklyn.

*chips off baton-sized piece and hands it to cfm*
[CdM] *declines contraband baton* You can get arrested for that, you know. :-) Okay, let's try this:
ABSTRACT with animal assocations
Is the animal association a single human?
NotJohn's retired "Im"?
A piece of music?
[INJ] Singularly human? NO. There are multiple associations.
[Tuj] Nominal amputations? NO but *laughs*
[CdM] Hum a few bars? NO
Are the animals referred to by association human?
Is it a well-known saying?
Is there a religious or spiritual connection?
But is it art?
[Phil Human association? YES and NO. There are multiple animal associations and at least one of them is human.
[Boolbar] Just sayin'? NO.
[NJ] Prayer and stuff? NO
[Tuj] Artful? YES *applause*
The visual arts?
A story?
Is the answer on the card a single word?
[NJ] Eyes have it? YES *applause*
[Phi] Tell me a story? YES *fair and equal applause*
[Tuj] One word answer? NO
Related to a TV series?
[Tuj] TV-related? NO
Film/movie related?
[NJ] Wide screen? YES *applause*
Was it nominated for an Academy Award?
[GL] Nods from the Academy? YES *three thundrous claps*
Was it a winner of the Best Picture award?
Came out since 1/1/2000?
[Cdm] Top honor? NO
[NJ] Post-2000? NO
Begins with P?
Is Meryl Streep in the film?
[Tuj] I'll have the usual? NO
[Boolbar] Meryl-y on our way? NO
Did it win an Academy Award?
[GL] Oscar winner? YES
Was it filmed in color?
Does the answer on the card include the word 'king'?
[CdM] Full spectrum? NO
[Dujon] Royal treatment? NO
Did it star Jimmy Stewart?
[CdM] That leading man? NO *audience perks up a smidge*
Was it a musical?
[NJ] Musical? NO.
Passport to Pimlico?
[Software] P-to-P? NO (I don't think that won any Oscars.)
(Players may want to revisit unresolved questions around animal associations?)
Was the Oscar won in the 1950s?
[Phil] 50s vintage? NO *a little twitter from the audience*
earlier?
[NJ] Pre-1950? NO
The Poseidon Adventure?
Is it an English language film?
[Software] Fish story? NO
[Boolbar] English language? YES
To recap, The AOTC is both an English language story and a non-musical, black-and-white film made between 1959 and 1999. It has won 3 Academy Awards, but none of those were for Best Picture. There is at least one human association (hard to imagine a story or film without one) but there may be other animal associations, as well. Oddly, the audience perked up at the mention of a leading man not connected to the film--perhaps because the players were getting warm in some way. It could also point to another productive line of questioning. :-)
Did it win the Academy Award for Best Actor?
Is this black-and-white movie from the 60s?
Psycho?
[Boolbar] Leading leading man? YES *vigorous applause*
[Chalky 1] Product of the 60s? YES *applause continues*
[Chalky 2] Shower scene? NO
To Kill A Mockingbird?
Has to be, surely...
[CdM] TKAM, surely? YES. A favorite film. I came perilously close to naming a kid Atticus.
*hands CdM the severed leg of a busted up chiffarobe* Careful now, don't get yourself a splinter.
Well, once we know we were looking for a multiple-oscar-winning B&W movie post 1960, it was pretty easy, even without the answer to Boolbar's question.
MINERAL with ANIMAL and VEGETABLE connections
Unique?
metallic?
Bigger than Dame Judi Dench?
Unique? Yes.
Metallic? No.
Bigger than Judi? *audience laughter* Bigger than Dame Judi and Dame Maggie combined!
A statue?
A statue? No.
A building?
A building? No.
Human-made?
Human-made? Most definitely not.
Mountainous?
Is it in Europe?
Begins with P?
Mountainous? No.
In Europe? No.
Begins with P? Yes.
Does it have a border?
Is it a desert?
Does it have a border? Depends what you mean by a border. In a sense it does, yes, but you might want to clarify what you mean.
Is it a desert? No.
Of this earth?
Of this earth? Yes. *a little muttering in the audience*
Is there a connection to the earth's atmosphere?
Is it underground?
Connection to atmosphere? Well, yes, for a fairly broad definition of "connection"
Underground? No.
Is it less than 65 million years old?
Is it wet?
Now we are getting somewhere
Less than 65 million years old? No. *applause*
Wet? Yes. *applause*
Might this be an expanse of water?
Is it likely to be a source of preciptation?
Might this be an expanse of water? Yes it might.
Source of precipitation? Only in the sense that an expanse of water is an indirect source of precipitation.
Is it a pacific ocean?
Pacific Ocean. No. *some more muttering in the audience*
(I think that my No is the best answer, but the mutterers do have a point.)
The Philippine Sea?
Phil's sea? No.
Is it contained within the Pacific Ocean?
Contained within the Pacific Ocean? No.
Patagonian fjords?
Patagonian crinkly bits? No.
Panama Canal?
Is it bigger than Wales?
(clarifying) ...in surface area?
In the possession of a single country?
*pondering the audience applause for the age question*
Is it a glacier? *trying to imagine how a body of water gets classified as mineral*
Panama Canal? No.
Bigger than Wales? Yes.
In the possession of a single country? No. *some laughter*
A glacier? No. (And, yes, that is I guess a legitimate question/complaint. I think that in this game we generally take a broad definition of "mineral". For example:
4 : something neither animal nor vegetable.
The answer on the card certainly wouldn't fit the more narrow definition of mineral, which includes the word "solid". I am not sure how else I should classify a body of water, though. In any case, you (the group) have correctly figured out that this is a body of water, bigger than Wales, more than 65 million years old, with some muttering about whether or not it is a Pacific Ocean.)
Is it under the Antarctic ice cap?
Under Antarctica? No.
*Stands corrected and clearly uninitiated* Does the P stand for Pacific?
P for Pacific? No. (And I don't think you should stand corrected at all. Your definition is more standard than the one I was (unthinkingly) using.)
Panthalassa?
Panthalassa is correct! Three hundred million years ago (give or take a decade), our current continents were joined in the single landmass of Pangaea. Panthalassa was the ocean surrounding that continent. Or, if you prefer, the giant salt lake in the middle of it. It can be thought of as the precursor of the current Pacific Ocean. I had originally planned to make Pangaea the word on the card, but when I checked some sources (ok, ok, wikipedia) I learned about Panthalassa, and thought that sounded more fun.

*passes NJ some empty space with a baton-shaped hole in the middle*
Oops - Sorry for the lurker's victory
Let's try ABSTRACT with significant Animal connections (Mrs NJ thinks it should actually be Animal)
Is it fictional?
Is it a taxonomic class?
Does it refer to a group of animals (more broadly than in the sense of Raak's question)?
Unique?
[CdM] That's my one new thing for the day, ta!
[GL] Unreal? - NO
[Raak] Group of creatures? - NO
[CdM] Group of creatures? - NO
[Tuj] Just the one? - YES (though not a very meaningful question or answer)
Is it a characteristic or feature of an animal?
A human invention?
Onomatopoeia?
Cold
[CdM] Animalish thing? - NO
[Tuj] Man-made-up? - NO
[cfm] Sounds like? - NO
Phrase of saying?
[Software] I say, I say? - NO
Begins with P?
Are the animal connections human?
[Tuj] P-ness? - One of the words on the card begins with a P
[CdM] Oh, the Humanity? - YES
Is the AOTC a post/job/position held by a person?
Connected with a particular geographic location?
[Chalky] Gissa job? - NO
[Tuj] In one place? - YES *for the first time the audience shows some interest*
Is the particular geographic location in Africa?
[Boolbar] African? - NO
Geo = Europe?
Is the association a particular country?
[Software] EU? - NO
[Tuj] Is the association a particular country? - NO (but I'm not quite sure what the question is asking)
(*the audience is still attentive at this line of questioning*)
Is this a race or tribe of peoples?
[Chalky] Race/tribe? - NO (Remember, it's abstract)
A language?
A belief system of some kind?
[Chalky] Lingo? - NO
[cfm] Belief system? - NO
A disease?
Is the particular geographic location a body of water?
[Chalky] Poorly? - NO
[Boolbar] Watery? - NO
Connected with religion?
Is the particular geographic location in the Southern Hemisphere?
Back to basics: Is the AOTC the name of a place?
[Tuj] God-bothery? - NO
[CdM] Meridional? NO
[Chalky] Place Name? - Not as such but *considerable applause*
Do the animal connections involve more than 10 humans?
[CdM] >10 people? - YES (quite a lot more, but I won't be able to give you an exact figure)
Related to a trade or skill?
To do with a nation or race?
[cfm] Artisanry? - NO
[Software] Nation/Race? - NO (or only vaguely)
To do with a religion?
[Phil] Religion? - Well, it wasn't when Tuj asked, but He does move in mysterious ways *checks* - Still NO
Clarification
I should probably have been slightly less dismissive of Software's question wrt a nation. There is a bit of a link there, but I'm afraid it might lead you astray. The answer is still NO.
To do with politics?
If it does suddenly become to do with religion, you will let me know, right?
[Phil] Political? - NO (or only obliquely)
Is it something that people do at a particular location?
Is it related to light?
A website?
We apologise for the short break in service
[Boolbar] Let's do the show right here? - NO - not 'do'
[Tuj] Et lux erat? - NO
[Chalky] Where the spiders are? - NO
Is this a custom or tradition linked with a particular location?
Race rather than nation related?
[Chalky] Custom/tradition - I certainly hope not
[Software] Race v Nation - a bit of both (depends on your pov), but I'd still answer NO to either.
An area which covers part/all of more than one country?
Would you characterize this as a negative phenomenon or experience?
Is this connected with death?
Progress of a sort
[Dujon] >1 country? - NO
[cfm] Negative? YES (phenomenon or experience? - NO)
[Chalky] Connected with death - YES
Does it involve deliberate killing of humans?
[CdM] You have deaded me? - YES *applause*
Is it a method of killing humans?
[cfm] Method of Killing? - NO
The Black Plague?
(I seem to have mashed up "Black Death" and "bubonic plague." Abomination!)
The death penalty?
[Quendalon] Bubonic Death? - NO
[CdM] Judicial killing? - NO
(Remember - associated with a specific location) - let me re-answer Tuj's earlier question - the association is not a specific country, but is in a specific country. Also, I should probably have answered Phil's question about Politics a bit more positively - there is a link, but that's not the essence of the answer.
Is this a mass graveyard?
Is the geographic region (in) North America?
[Chalky] Mass Grave? - NO *a little ripple*
[Quendalon] Norteamericano? - NO
Associated with a specific historical event?
[Quendalon] Specific historical event? - YES *some relieved applause*
Did it take place in Asia?
Did the historical event occur before 1800?
A WW1 Cemetary?
Named after a person?
[Phil] Asian? - YES *more relieved applause*
[Boolbar] pre-1800? - NO
[Chalky] Rows of crosses?- NO
[Quendalon] eponymous? - NO
Did the killings involve firearms?
A shot in the dark.
Getting warm
[Quendalon] Shots in the dark and light? - YES
The My Lai (Pinkville) Massacre?
I was briefly sure that the answer had to be the My Lai massacre because INJ started this AVMA on its 45th anniversary. Then I was convinced that was wrong because of the lack of a P-word. Then googling revealed that My Lai was codenamed "Pinkville", which I hadn't known. So now I am convinced I am right again. :-)
Ha! I was waiting for that.
[CdM] My Lai? - NO but *considerable applause*
The Panjiayu Tragedy?
Going off to look it up
[Phil] Panjiayu? - NO
How about the Pingdingshan one then?
(good old wikipedia)
Let me follow you through wikipedia
[Phil] Pingpong? - NO (IMO it's less obscure - I didn't look it up)
Did this event take place in China?
[Phil] Sinitic? - NO
Phong Nhi and/or Phong Nhat massacres?
Yet more wikipedia for me
[cfm] Phong Not? - NO
(Bonus answer 'Massacre? - NO')
Did the historical event occur before 1920?
Did more than one person perform the actual killing?
[Boolbar] Pre 1920? - NO
[Quendalon] >1 killers? - YES *a few chuckles in the audience*
The 38th Parallel?
[Chalky] Korean? - NO
Was this a key event in a war?
In Asia. Which has been established. I think.
Aha!
[Chalky] Key event in a war? - YES *considerable applause* (and yes, Asia (not China or Korea) has been established)
So .. are we talking Vietnam then?
Which was NOT established by previous line of questioning.
or Japan?
The audience is beginning to pack bags.
[Chalky] Vietnam? - YES
[Phil] Therefore Japan? - NO
Dien Bien Phu?
Has Raak scored a lurker's victory?
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu?
... as you specifically stated earlier that this was not the name of a place.
There, that wasn't so hard, was it?
[Chalky] It is indeed The battle of Dien Bien Phu where a small French force held out for weeks against overwhelming Viet Minh forces before being comprehensively defeated. The French inability to relieve or effectively resupply the garrison spelt the end of French colonial ambitions in Indo-China.
Since I got this round as a bit of a lurker I feel disinclined to step into this quarrel, but the answer is specifically the battle, not the place.

Throws a baton in the air to see who will catch it.

Me!
Thank you NotJohn for a splendid AVMA - spookily not dissimilar to a subject that'd crossed my mind a few weeks ago - should the chair beckon.
So this is not that one, NotJohn - it's this one ..

ABSTRACT
Related to mathematics?
The #1 question on the board.
Begins with P?
Surely #2.
[NJ] And well done for not getting impatient as the team worked at getting there! Bit worried about those black-humoured audience members chuckling near the end...
Pi?
In case the previous two were both correct.
Related to the arts?
Some answers
(Quendalon) Mathematics? - NO only obliquely
(Tuj) P? - YES :)
(Gusset Login) Pi? - NO
(NotJohn) Arts? NO
Is the AOTC just one word?
Science-related?
A human invention?
Good questions
(Phil) One word answer - YES
(NotJohn) Science-related? - NO only obliquely
(Tuj) Human invention? - YES although I'd question the word 'invention'
Perfection?
[Phil] Perfection? NO *audience begins to pay attention*
Does the AOTC describe a state of being or quality?
Would the answer on the card exist in a world without humans?
(No, I don't think this question is rendered moot by Tuj's question...)
Apologies for absence -
(cfm) State of being or quality? - YES
(CdM) Exist in a world without humans? - NO :)
Is the word on the card an adjective?
Clever questioning ...
(Quendo) Adjective? - NO, not in this instance.
Is the word used in reference to animals (as opposed to homo sapiens solely)?
(Dujon) In reference to animals? - NO
Is it normally considered positive?
Is the AOTC a state of mind?
Is the word used in reference to humans?
(NotJohn) Positive? To some YES; to most, I suspect NO.
(cfm) State of mind? YES
(Quendalon) Humans? - still YES
Is the word used in reference to one gender significantly more than the other?
(Quendalon) Gender specific? - NO
any more for any more?
Linked to a particular culture?
Is it a recognised medical condition or syndrome?
Pleasure?
Associated with a particular geographic location?
Does the word on the card start with a prefix?
Pedantry
(CdM) Linked to a particular culture? - Erm ... N0 - well maybe a small 'yes' but am not sure if that's helpful. Am struggling with the culture word to be honest.
(NotJohn) Medical condition/syndrome? - NO
(Software) Pleasure? - NO.
(Tuj) Location location? - NO
(Quendalon) Prefixed word? - NO
(Phil) Pedantry? - NO but *appreciative sounds can be heard in the audience*
Related to religion?
(Quendalon) Religion-related? Could be - but not necessarily.
An attitude?
Related to philosophy?
Related to language?
(Dujon) An attitude? - YES it is. And more. *audience has perked up* .
(Quendalon) Philosophical? - if you scratch the surface, the AOTC might be ascribed to various philosophies - so I'd say more Yes than No. However, this could apply to most attitudes so my answer may not be too helpful.
(NotJohn) Language? - NO

*contemplating an earlier question by Quendalon regarding mathematics - perhaps I should have replied 'Yes, but only obliquely'*
Perfectionism?
(NotJohn) Perfectionism? - NO *audience remains perky*
Does the AOTC end with "ism" ?
Aha!
(Phil) -ism? - NO - although all three letters are contained within but not necessarily in the same order :)
Promise?
Is the word on the card a noun (in this instance)?
.. back in business

(Tuj) Promise? - NO
(Quendalon) A noun? YES indeed it is.
Perfect?
(Software) Perfect? - NO more than when Phil asked the same on 28th March :)

I chose this 'P' word because it has a succinct definition. A human trait, which we have established, which can easily be arrived at given some judicious questioning.
However, this word has another use which necessitates a change to a couple of my replies. Mathematical/Scientific/Philosophical links are rather stronger if this path to the solution is chosen.
... and what's more
... a little research tells me that this alternative use of my P word is the crux of a Subject for guessing in this very game back in 2005.
Related to anger?
Proof?
Is the 'P' silent?
(cfm) Related to anger? - NO
(Gusset Login) Proof? - NO (see my last reply to Phil)
(NotJohn) Silent P? - NO. A noisy one :)
Does the word on the card end with a suffix?
Flailing around in the dark, because frankly I'm stumped.
(Quendalon) Suffix? NO - nor an 'ology' or 'ism'

--- begins with a P and also contains the letters m, s and i within. One word. A human trait which is neither gender nor geographically related. Desirable to some but probably rather annoying for others.
This particular word has another use and is key to a scientific/mathematical/philosophical principle which was the subject for an AVMA in 2005.
Parsimony?
While I try to think of another way in.
Result!
Thank you and well played NotJohn - was hoping for an early solution today as I am in need of rescue ...
For me - Parsimony is frugality or excessive economy which was my starting point all those days ago. As for the secondary meaning - Occam's Razor was the subject of the AVMA (with the principle of parsimony at its technical core).

And I used the word 'rescue' advisedly. My daughter has just gone into early labour and I may needed at the hospital ...
*swiftly hands over baton to NotJohn on way out*
Calling Raak
[Chalky] Hope it all goes well
Yes, the mathematical and philosophical connotations did come to me after I'd thought of the word.
Now maybe I can remedy the unsatisfactory end to the previous game by suggesting that Raak gets his belated turn.
Who, me?
Er, ok then. The next is ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections.
[Chalky] Best wishes for all three of you.
Is the animal connection human?
Any artistic connection?
[cfm] Human
[NJ] Not artistic.
Is it the act of giving birth?
[Chalky] More best wishes winging their way to you.
Is there more than one word on the card?
[Chalky] Best wishes and congratulations! Remember that "Mornington Crescent" is a lovely name for a girl or a boy.
Is the answer a phrase or saying?
[Chalky, Ms Chalky] All the best!
An intellectual process?
[Chalky] How lovely! Also you look far too young to be a grandmother. :-)]
[B] Topical waaaah!!!? No.
[Q] More than one word.
[Tuj] Not a saying?
[cfm] Not intellectual.
we are not a grandmother .. yet
Thanks for all the good wishes! Bad News - daughter poorly. Good News - 32 wk foetus staying where it is for the time being.)
Sorry to interrupt your game Raak. I have a question .. coming up shortly
More than one human being?
Is it unique?
Is it an event?
[Chalky] More than one.
[Q] Not unique.
[NJ] Not an event.
Fictional?
[Chalky] Not fictional.
A group?
[GL] Not an organised group, although the people associated with this have something in common.
Do any of the words on the card start with 'P'?
[Q] No Ps anywhere.
[Raak] To be clear, is this simply a flamboyant way of saying no to the question that was asked, or are you providing additional information to the effect that the letter 'P' does not appear anywhere on the card?
[Q] The letter P does not occur anywhere on the card.
[Raak] Excellent, thank you!
This thing in common - medical/health connections?
Any political connections?
[Chalky] No medical/health connections.
[NJ] Yes, political connections.
The Iron Lady?
[S] Ding-dong? No.
A recognized voting block that is not formally organized?
Is it associated with a specific geographical area?
[cfm] Not a voting block.
[NJ] Not really. The thing on the card is found in many places.
Anarcho-syndicalism?
[Chalky] (laughter) Absolutely not anarcho-syndicalism.
The humans involved, are they politicians?
[Q] Not politicians.
Is it a political or economic philosophy?
[NJ] Not a philosophy, although it could be said to be connected with one.
A trade agreement?
[GL] Not a trade agreement.
Is there a fiscal or financial connection?
[NJ] *applause from those members of the audience who haven't been holding their breath so long they've expired* To do with money! Yes!
Does each instance of the phrase on the card relate to more than one human?
[Q] Er....no. Each instance involves one human.
How about playing Hangman for it! Is there a Ⱙ?
(hastily withdrawing his hand from the ventriloquist's dummy) No Ⱙ.
Is there a 'V'?
Hmm. Related to both politics and money. Each instance involves one human, and the people associated with this have something in common. Could be said to be connected with a philosophy.
[Q] No V.
Connected with individual wealth?
[NJ] **applause** Yes! Very much connected with individual wealth!
Income tax?
[CdM] Not income tax.
Connected with an increase in individual wealth?
Shareholder?
Unearned Income?
[GL] *more applause* Yes, an increase in individual wealth.
[S] Not shareholders.
[NJ] *laughter* Legally speaking, it is not classified as unearned income.
Union strike benefits?
[Q] Not strike benefits.
Expenses of some sort?
[NJ] Duck houses? No.
Associated with gambling?
Connected with Banker's Bonuses?
[NJ] Not gambling.
[GL] Not merely connected, but the very words on the card! Have this fat brown envelope.
Oh, um er... right

thanks

ANIMAL and VEGETABLE
Is the animal element human?
Is the vegetable edible?
[NJ] Oh the humanity? (animal) No.
[Chalky] Just eat it? (veg) Yes
Is the AOTC food?
[NJ] Glorious food? Yes, I believe most people would classify it as food.
Marmite?
Associated with a particular culture?
[Quenda] Yeeeach? No
[CdM] regional speciality? I would say, no, but some people disagree.
Savoury - as opposed to sweet?
Is it cooked?
[Chalky] Savoury? Yes
[Quenda] Heated? Yes
Containing multiple distinct (as opposed to mixed or blended) ingredients?
Is the animal part - meat?
[CdM] Clumps o'stuff? Yes
[Chalky] meat? (animal) Yes
Is the AOTC in the form 'A and B'?
As in 'Bangers and Mash'
Is there a liquid component?
Is it a sandwich?
Is it like a proper meal - Sunday Roast or suchlike?
Is the vegetable part potatoes cut into strips and deep fried?
Sorry for the delay, I was at a friend's funeral and couldn't get to the net.
[NJ] A + B? No
[cfm] liquid? There shouldn't be, No.
[Tuj] The Earl of foods? Yes
[Chalky] A meal in itself? No, its a sandwich, see Tuj's question above.
[Raak] Do you want fries with that? No.
A hero/hoagie/submarine sandwich?
A BLT?
[cfm] One of those types? It can be
[Chalky] BLT? Yes. Have a delicious baton.
<mode=ultrapedant>So the bread was made without salt? Yuk.</mode> Sorry, once I thought of it, I couldn't keep it to myself. Sorry again.
Gosh
Thanks GL - that was a swift conclusion - probably due the early airing of the 'edible' question.

Aiming for another quickie with:

MINERAL and VEGETABLE with a pedant-sized trace of ANIMAL

Is it a tool?
[NotJohn] Tool? NO
Something made of wood held together with metal?
[Raak] Wood held with metal? NO
A geographical feature?
Is it a sandwich?
Is the vegetable part potatoes cut into strips and deep fried?
[NotJohn] Geographical feature? YES
[Tuj] Sandwich? NO :)
[Gusset Login] Stripped fried spuds? NO :)
... furthermore - it doesn't begin with P.
Is its name something-or-other forest?
[Rosie - hello:)] Something-or-other forest? NO *audience perks up*
Is its name Mount something-or-other?
[GL] Mount ...? NO
Is it in a single country?
[Chalky] Oh, you answered a question I didn't ask! Perhaps "Is it a sandwich?" should become my default question...
Is it unique?
[GL] Unique? YES
[Tuj] In a single country? YES
In Europe?
[Tuj] Europe? Oh YES indeedy
In the British Isles?
[Rosie] British Isles? YES
Is it on a hill?
Is it a range of hills?
[Raak] ON a hill? There is some undulation but contour lines indicate the AOTC isn't actually ON a hill. *audience applauds the question*
[Rosie] A range of hills? NO
A site of archaeological significance?
... nearly there
{Raak] Archaeological significance? YES! *huge cheer erupts from audience*
A henge?
A stone circle but not technically a henge?
Is it about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Amesbury and 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury?
Stonehenge?
I may be wrong but I'm not proud.
*audience on edge of their seats*
[NotJohn] A Henge? YES!
[Gusset Login] A stone circle/not technically a henge? NO - the AOTC is both
[Raak] NO ... therefore
[Quendalon] NO - not Stonehenge.
Avebury Stone Circle?
The Ring of Brodgar?
It's a win!
[NotJohn] Brodgar? Not in Scotland .. staying with my county of residence - Wiltshire - and
Phil scores a stunning lurker's victory with the correct [more-or-less] AOTC - Avebury Ring.
*gently passes neolithic baton to Phil*
,
Apols for the lurk, but every time I thought of a question, someone else had asked it. I'll make this one quick (I hope).

Mineral

Metal?
A good start...
[NJ] Metal? YES
Iron?
[GL] Iron? YES or NO, depending on the specific meaning of the question.
A manufactured item?
Stainless steel?
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?
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