mc5 - AVMA Take 2

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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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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?

Tea?

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 :-)

The clever brigade

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

A scientific theory or hypethesis?

[Rosie] Good science? - NO

Is this a physical 'thing'?

[Duj] Physical? - NO this is an abstract concept that like many such has a physical side effect but the AOTC (3 words by the way) will make this clear

Bored to death?

Anything to do with fear?

[Chalks] Ennui? - NO maybe the participants are becoming that
[Rosie] Scary? - NO

Is this a relatively modern idea?

[Rosie] Newish? - YES end of 19 Century apparently

Anything to do with health matters?

Modern? Newish? End of 19th Century - that's 18 hundred and something! Did you just say YES so that it doesn't look as though everyone except Rosie has had a NO for the last fortnight? :-)

Anything to do with Trade Unionism?

(Chalky) 1899 is only yesterday. My Dad was alive.

[Chalks] Healthy? - NO not directly anyway- recent well not BC is it?
[Rosie] All out? - NO * some stirring in the audience *

Modern Olympic Games?

Health and Safety?

Is this a form of revolution?

[Chalks] 5 rings - NO
[Rosie] H&S Gestapo? - NO
[Duj] Uprising? - NO you are all drifting away from ABSTRACT.

CLUE: there is more than one of these

The real Chalky

Is it a Lifestyle Choice?

Softers - please can you do a summary to say what it's NOT. Ta :-)

[Chalks] My way? - NO anyone can do it, most do.

SUMMARY - Concentrate on the ABSTRACT. It is not: a fairy story, a life choice, a saying, a game, a passtime, scientific, religious or other social theory, nothing to do with language, politics philosophy or art. ANIMAL connection is strong the others less so. Good luck, it ain't that hard!

Is it culture-specific?

[CdM] Foible? - YES - well to qualify, the AOTC is AFIK but the principle isn't

Associated primarily with the UK?

[CdM] Blighty? - YES, primarily, the AOTC is anyway.

Is it an activity, i.e. something that one does?

[Phil] Out and about? - YES and NO, perhaps is the best answer.

Is the AOTC a present participle?

as "yes and no" isn't a very useful answer :)

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