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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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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.
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