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 ....
[Boolbar] Cartography? NO [Raak] Here? NO but of course it does overlap with the AOTC [Bismarck] Sporting? YES - in certain circumstances a few claps from the audience
[Simons Mith] NOT a table condiment. [Rosie] NOT living. [Raak] YES, it is extracted from a plant. [Software] NOT beginning with "P". The audience that made it back from the interval are engaged in polite applause.
[Raak] NOT a spice. [Boolbar 1] NOT cubic, though this does usually have a geometric shape. [Boolbar 2] Sorry, dear. [Rosie] NOT a poison. [Dujon] NOT a hot drink, but it is cooked involving a little water. The audience is still showing signs of interest.
[Raak] NO, definitely not Italian. [Software] Hmmm... YES, on balance, in the sense that this requires mixing of ingredients and cooking. The audience is maintaining a polite silence.
[Raak] NOT a cake. [Super] NOT Bovril. [Software] NOT sugar, though it is the major ingredient. Smartphones have made their appearance among the audience. Bored? Surely not...
[Raak] NO, not as such. [Dijon] NO, but that deserves a round of applause. Hoots and skirls from the Scots in the audience, mumbles of approval from the Yorkshiremen. Some muted cries of "Not bad!" from the polite seats.
[S.M.] NO, Nice try but no fruit. [SW] NO, not a drink. [R] Getting close, at least as far as the sugar goes, but a bit too high-class. Still a NO. The part of the audience who know what a sugar basket is give a restrained round of applause.
[Simons Mith] NO. Great idea though. [Superman] Nice thinking! Toffee is almost a yes, it could be argued that it's an ingredient, Everton mints are getting closer, but NO! The interest of the audience is being maintained, with some "Ooohs!" showing their appreciation.
[Simons Mith] NOT fudge. Quite the opposite, down-to-earth sort of thing, this. [Raak] NO, although that is the name of the next-but-one release of Android (with built-in joke). [Software] NOT caramel. This is all going a bit soft. Murmurs heard among the audience.
Is the place one of which John Clute, the science fiction critic, remarked that it was the first time he had seen pigeons pecking at human vomit in the streets?
[Simon's Mith] No, although there is a prison not too far away. [Dujon] Yes indeed. [Raak] Among other things Mr Clute was shocked at, yes indeed. No doubt Canada is more cultured. A polite hush descends, breathlessly awaiting the answer...
The tranquillity is breached by [CdM] getting it wrong. Not Inchcape Rock, Fraggle Rock or any other mineral, just to save you the trouble. Audience murmurs reach force three.
[CdM] YES!! Actually NO, but I'm getting fed up. [Simon's Mith] Other than those witnesses to global warming, the Arctic Monkeys. Please stick to the subject. The audience has formed an action group and are shouting "What do we want? The Answer! When do we want it? NOW!"
I was going to say that CdM was close enough for me, but Blackpool rock it is, so Rosie cannot be denied. Rosie will now take this sweet baton (not that end, I've been sucking it there) and note that it has the word WINNER written all the way through! Audience clap Rosie politely
(Chalky) Hello, m'dear, nice to see you again. Unfortunately your suggestion is wrong. Isn't scorchio an adjective? If I may indulge myself I would suggest that it is a Welsh verb, the -io- ending being the giveaway. Could mean "to burn the toast" &c. (Simons Mith) NO, not an isobar, nothing quite so technical.
Counters set to zero, AOTC generator enclenched, combobulator aligned, sphinx tube at operating temperature, and posting a live Facebook stream. Ok, that should do it. This is MINERAL, and may God bless all that sail in her.
Part 4, in which Jane realises that the Comte de Chambord is up to no good, and she says "NO" a lot.
[Rosie] NO. [Raak] The galaxy being big an' all, who knows, there may well be some. But otherwise NO, though some "reports" etc. etc. [Bism] That gets a round of applause only for the inventiveness. NO.
[Rosie] YES. Now we're getting somewhere. [Raak] Also YES. [Simon] YES. Kryptonite it is. Studio tapes of hard static played, imitating applause. Please take this green, glowing baton, it's been having a bad effect on me.
[Bismarck] YES. Well I thought they were. Don't they sting you, then leave you to rot and soak up the juices? Perhaps that technically counts as something else. But AIUI even carnivorous plants only use meat as a dietary supplement. [Raak] No, just clackclackclack as far as I remember. Bismarck has it. I'll just put on a nice thick pair of gloves and then hand over this... baton.
[Simon's Mith] NO, not a dresser. The AOTC might have turned up in the eponymous film, I shouldn't wonder. [Raak] I feel it would make a rather unwieldy tool, so NO.