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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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[Darren] No
Flerdle YES (Thunderous applause, with maybe just a slight tinge of relief, from the audience)
I might have given it to you anyway if Rosie hadn't already said 'the magnetic field'.

So, it's over to Flerdle

whoah
Oh. Ah. umm... M I N E R A L
Is it an object?
Is there more than one of it?
[Rosie] Yes
[Darren] Yes
Is it man made?
let's set a speed record
[Dujon] Yes
A household item?
Do you own one?
[Rosie] Yes
[Irouléguy] Yes and no.
Is it a natural feature?
[Raak] No
Does it have a practical use?
[flerdle] I doubt a speed record is possible any more. If memory serves, someone once managed to guess one of these on Pants MC in the first move.
ah.
[Darren] Yes
Is it one word?
Darren] Genuinely? And if so is there evidence?
Do you own more than one?
[Tuj] How can there be evidence since Pants came down? All that remains is a memory of what was inside when we were last able to have a look. I still miss having Pants.
Is this essentially an electronic device? (meaning it's construction rather than its use)
'its construction' - *slinks off*
[Tuj] No
[Darren] Yes and No; to clarify my answer to your and Irouléguy's questions I have it, but number, as such, is not an issue
[Dujon] No
Double glazing?
what, here??
[Raak] No
Is it powered?
[Raak] No.
Is it (or are they) used at mealtimes?
Is it a container of some sort?
[Irouléguy] No
[Rosie] No
Is it used in the construction of a house, rather than being brought in afterwards?
[Darren] No
Is it decorative?
(This isn't mutually exclusive with "practical" of course.)
[Darren] No, but it could be, if you were creative.
Artexed ceilings?
[Raak] No
Is it of mainly man made materials?
Mainly metallic?
Something to do with interior decoration?
[Inkspot] Yes
[Rosie] No
[Raak] No
It's too early in the morning, so some clarifications:
[Inkspot] Is it of mainly man made materials? Yes, as it is known now.
[Raak] Something to do with interior decoration? You could probably use it somehow in interior decoration, but to be fair, no, that's not the usual reason for having it.
Would this have something to do with reading?
[Dujon] No
Would people have used this a thousand years ago?
[Raak] Yes, there is apparently evidence for it having been used well before then, but of course not in its modern form which is what I really want, so strictly, no.

I'm having some network problems here, so sorry for some delay over the next day or two.

Is it to do with cosmetics?
Summary
It is - a man-made object, a household item, with a practical use.
It is not - one word, a natural feature, double-glazing, powered, a container, used at mealtimes, used in the construction of a house, aertexed ceilings, mainly metallic, decorative, something to do with interior decoration, something to do with reading.
flerdle owns more than one of it, and something like it was in use over a thousand years ago, but its modern form is the answer.
A question about cosmetics is outstanding.
Is it some form of clothing?
[Irouléguy] I suspect that "flerdle owns more than one of it" may be a misunderstanding. I interpreted flerdle's response to mean that it's a thing which doesn't usually have number, such as wallpaper (although interior decoration has been ruled out).
[Darren] hmmm... No.
[Irouléguy] No.
[Darren] Your interpretation is correct. And no, it's not wallpaper.
A comb?
[Rosie] No.
Is it a liquid?
[Tuj] No.
Air conditioning?
[Raak] No.
Is it portable?
is it an aid to personal hygiene?
[Raak] Yes
[CdM] Yes
Toothpaste?
ghhnnnn
[INJ] No
Soap?
I'd call soap vegetable (possibly veg/animal) but that's me. Still worth asking.
Toothbrush?
Razor?
Shaving foam/gel?
Dental floss?
Darren] Thanks - well spotted.
ker-ching!
[Darren] No.
[Darren] Still No.
[Raak] No.
[Kim] No.
[Irouléguy] YES it is indeed dental floss; remember, you don't have to floss all of your teeth, just the ones you want to keep.
I was hoping more of its qualities would come out but it was a race through the bathroom that got it in the end, thanks to CdM's astute observation. hmmm...

Over to Irouléguy

ah, just too slow... I thought of toothpaste first, but realized it suffered from the one-word problem, and so went for my general question instead.
Is it a Higgs boson?
Is it something you'd want to show your friends?
Sorry for the delay, y'all - I'm off work so only switching the computer on intermittently. So, our answer is ABSTRACT. No colour clues, but with a connection to tomorrow's elections.
CdM] Is it a Higgs boson? No
Darren] Is it something you'd want to show your friends? Possibly
Opinion Poll(s)?
Is it a vote?
A broken promise?
A political party?
Gusset Login] Opinion Poll(s)? No
Darren] Is it a vote? OOH - close *audience breaks into prolonged applause*
all] A broken promise? No
Kim] A political party? No
A tactical vote
A protest vote?
ImNotJohn] A tactical vote?
flerdle] A protest vote?
Both equally close, but not exactly right
A wasted vote?
a transferable vote?
postal vote?
An informal vote?
A donkey vote?
(mind you, i don't expect either of these two to be it, because the terms are probably confined to Aus, because of the preferential voting system; see here and here. Just think of the fun you'd have if you got preferential voting in the UK. woot.)
A spoiled vote?
Darren] A wasted vote? Close, but no cigar
CdM] a transferable vote? Almost certainly not
all] postal vote? As close as the other close guesses
flerdle] An informal vote? Possibly
flerdle] A donkey vote? No
So that's what a donkey vote is. I always thought it was the loyal vote for a long-standing member - because healw-healw-healways gets elected sorrysorrysorry
Raak - A spoiled vote? Almost certainly not
[Irouléguy] That deserves a thwap. *thwap*
A casting vote?
goodness, how many are there?
flerdle] *thwap* Ouch
flerdle] A casting vote? Almost certainly not.
goodness, how many are there? GOOD question
A vote for a specific party?
A majority?
Does the answer contain the word 'vote'?
A proxy vote?
An illegal vote?
A Pop Idol vote?
Tuj] A vote for a specific party? As close as anyone else has got, but no
Raak] A majority? No
Chalky] Does the answer contain the word 'vote'? GOOD question - No
Gusset Login] A proxy vote? Close, but no
Gusset Login] An illegal vote? Almost certainly not
Gusset Login] A Pop Idol vote? Definitely not
One of the guesses above contains the answer
Protest?
flerdle - Protest? No
Normal service may be interrupted for some time, as I'm off out canvassing, knocking up, etc and I'm not quite sure when I'll be back. Clues
1) The answer could be in number 10
2) The answer is in the next government
Brown?
An invitation from the Queen to form the next government?
Pop?
Is it a political post?
Is it marginal?
A mandate?
An exit poll?
A proxy?
...and then there was drinking. Apologies for the delay.
all] Brown? No
Raak] An invitation from the Queen to form the next government? No
ImNotJohn] Pop? No
Darren] Is it a political post? No
Kim] Is it marginal? No
CdM] A mandate? No
Raak] An exit poll? No, but partly correct
ImNotJohn] A proxy? No, but partly correct
The result of the election?
Does the word 'proxy' appear in the answer
A swingometer?
I'm too old to stay up all night...
Raak - The result of the election? No
ImNotJohn] Does the word 'proxy' appear in the answer? No, but if you rearranged the sentence, the answer would be YES and the audience would go Whooooooo!
Darren] A swingometer? No
Does the answer appear in the word 'proxy'?
Is it an X?
In fact, reading back, I am quite sure it is ... and also that the credit really goes to Raak.
WACK-WACK-WACK-WACK We have a winner!
Raak] Does the answer appear in the word 'proxy'? YES!!
CdM] Is it an X? YES!!
Thnaks, everyone - that was fun. And now over to over to CdM in the studio...
All right. This is ABSTRACT, with animal and mineral connections.
Is it a geographical feature?
Is it a fictional thing?
geographical feature? No.
fictional thing? No.
Is it a human construction?
Is it an activity of any kind?
human construction? Depends what you mean by construction, but I would say no (except under a very broad definition of the term)
an activity? Not really an activity as we would usually use the term (although, again, maybe yes under a very broad definition of the term).
In both cases I think that the most helpful answer is probably no.
service announcement
I am going to Thailand for a week tomorrow (for those who don't know, the reason why is here). We are staying somewhere new, and so I do not know if I will have easy connection to the internets. If I fail to respond to questions here within 24 hours, someone else should take over.
urging all to follow that link
[CdM] Thank you. Hope the trip goes well for you all.
having followed link, seconds Chalky's urging
[Chalky, Iroul] Thanks. Of course, if nobody posts any questions, it will be a non-issue. :-)
Is it an emotion?
Is it located in a particular place?
Is it a saying or proverb?
Is it fun?
Is it generally regarded as positive?
Looks like CdM is in an internet-free zone - anyone want to do a quick interim one to see us through until he returns?
not so fast...
Having just found the internets again...
an emotion? no
located in a particular place? yes, it was.
saying or proverb? no.
fun? no. (except, just possibly, for one person, but probably not even for him)
generally regarded as positive? definitely not.
Anything to do with a tsunami?
Was it a single event?
Sorry for trying to kill you off prematurely.
The crucifixion?
Did this event occur pre 1900?
[Irouléguy] That's a fine guess you've made there and I was going to ask the same question, but then - He died to 'save' us all - so that might be constrooooood as a positive result :-)
Was it a natural disaster?
Generalising Raak's question.
Was the place in Europe?
tsunami-related? no.
single event? yes. (and it wasn't premature -- I had passed my own 24 hour deadline, after all)
crucifixion? no. (but a slight smattering of applause perhaps)
pre-1900? no.
natural disaster? no.
in Europe? no.
Did this event occur pre 2000?
pre-2000? yes.
A political event?
was the event connected to religion in any way?
Did it involve death?
Was it a trial or legal process?
Chalky] I can never hear 'Jesus saves' without thinking 'but Keegan scores on the rebound'.
political event? no.
connected to religion? no.
involve death? yes. (*applause*)
trial or legal process? no.
Was it the first occurrence of something?
first occurrence of something? it was a unique event, so in that sense yes, but it is not noteworthy for being a first occurrence.
So is the answer something along the lines of "The Death of ........"?
"the death of..."? yes. *applause* (although if I were to insist on the exact answer I have in mind, that would not be the phrase)
Was it the death/demise of a human being?
Or perhaps the death/demise of an animal?
Or maybe the death/demise of a concept?
Excuse my exuberance - just trying to narrow it down a bit.
death/demise of a human being? yes.
of an animal? no (except in the AVMA sense, of course)
of a concept? no
...of a male?
The assassination of John F Kennedy?
a male? yes.
JFK? no. (but some applause)
...Martin Luther King?
...or Robert Kennedy?
John Lennon?
Does the answer contain a specific person's name?
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
Sorry for the multipost, but I suddenly thought "if not 'death' then ...."
The death of Lee Harvey Oswald?
cutting to the chase...
Raak WINS -- it was the murder/assassination of John Lennon.
Best wishes for your Thailand trip, CdM. Next!
ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections.
Do the animal connections refer to a person?
[Raak] Thanks!
A cultural artefact?
[CdM] No.
[I] Yes.
White Elephant?
Is it a mythological creature?
Does it involve a gathering of individuals?
[all] No.
[Darren] No.
[Rosie] Yes.
A fictional creature?
[Kim] No.
Does it involve sport?
Is it the Rugby pilg?
[Rosie] No.
[Darren] No.
I'll be away most of Saturday.
A musical ensemble of some sort?
A science-fiction convention?
Does it usually involve money changing hands?
[Rosie] Yes.
[Irouléguy] No.
[Darren] Yes.
A gig?
Is this a series of gatherings?
[Rosie] Yes. Although I think that only a musician would call it that.
[Dujon] (applause from the audience) No.
The Last Night of the Proms?
More generally, is this one of a series of gatherings?
[CdM] YES! It is The Last Night of the Proms.
*decides against "The Death of George Harrison"*
All right... This is ABSTRACT
A decision?
An event?
decision? no.
event? I think the least misleading answer is no.
Is it generally regarded as positive?
Is it a colour?
Is more than one person involved?
generally regarded as positive? no, nor is it generally regarded as negative.
colour? no.
more than one person involved? no.
Is ANY person involved?
any person involved? no. (More precisely, it is perhaps possible that people could be involved, or affected, but that is in no way a defining characteristic. I don't think it is a helpful line of enquiry.)
Is it something that happens/exists/manifests itself everywhere in the world?
happens/exists/manifests everywhere in world? If it h/e/m anywhere, then I suppose it could h/e/m anywhere, and I suppose it could therefore h/e/m everywhere in the world. Whether it does is quite another matter.
Does it have an existence independent of human perception?
existence independent of human perception? Well, if it has an existence, then that existence is independent of human perception. But it probably doesn't have an existence, in which case its existence is not independent of human perception.
Is it fictional?
is it fictional? *applause* It exists in fiction. Maybe it also exists in fact. Probably not, though.
The philosophers' stone?
philosophers' stone? no.
The Holy Grail?
Does it exist in a single work of fiction?
holy grail? no
single work of fiction? It is strongly associated with a single work of fiction, although it might exist in others that I am unaware of.
The Da Vinci Code?
da vinci code? no. (you are up late, Chalky...)
Is it associated with religion?
Is it associated with magic?
[CdM] Yes, I am rather - have been painting and I tend to forget the time. Best be off now :-)
associated with religion? No.
associated with magic? No.
I forgot to mention that the audience applauded Irouléguy's question.
Is it the Title of a work of fiction?
title of a work of fiction? no.
Was the work written before 1970?
Shelley's 'Ode to the West wind'?
written before 1970? no.
ode to west wind? no.
Is it part of a larger work like an aria?
The magic flute?
Is the specific work of fiction a book?
OK so, to sum up.
We have an abstract something that is associated with, but is not the title of, a single work of fiction written since 1970. It is not associated with magic or religion. It does not necessarily have any actual existence, but if it did it would not be restricted to a single location, nor does it necessarily involve any participation by a person. It is neither a decision nor an event. It is neither positive or negative, nor is it a colour. In addition there are a number of specific things it isn't.
So, it seems to be some sort of concept or idea.
Was the work published before 2000?
part of a larger work like an aria? It is part of the work of fiction, but not really like an aria.
magic flute? no.
specific work of fiction a book? among other things, yes.
published before 2000? yes.
[INJ] I think your summary is accurate. I go back and forth a bit still on whether it is an event: I suppose it could be an event, although I still feel that no is the best answer to the question.
Is the book science fiction?
Any connection with Douglas Adams?
Any connection to television?
science fiction? yes.
Douglas Adams? yes *applause*
television? no.
The meaning of life, the universe and everything?
42? No. (but that would have been a good subject to have chosen, now you come to mention it)
The 'someone else's problem' field?
SEP? No. This kind of guessing could go on for a long time. :-)
I know it's unlikely, but - the improbability drive?
improbability drive? An extremely plausible answer, and therefore wrong. Although it wouldn't surprise me if operation of the ID were to lead to it.
A pain in all the diodes down Marvin's left side?
Interesting - the 'no' to television, from which I am tempted to assume that it did not appear/occur in the television series.
The shoe event horizon?
Did it appear only in the first series?
pain in diodes? no.
[I believe I am correct in saying that it did not appear in the TV series, although I don't really remember the TV version very well]
shoe event horizon? no.
only in first series? no.
Was it seen by Arthur or was it an entry from "the Guide"?
seen by arthur/entry from guide? It was not seen by Arthur as such, although it had consequences for him (and he saw several of those consequences). As far as I recall the guide didn't say anything about it, although my memory may be letting me down there.
Does it involve hyperspace?
involve hyperspace? I suppose it very well might.
A brain the size of a planet?
planet-sized brain? No.
A bowl of petunias?
The total perspective vortex?
petunias? No. [Raak] Reminder: it is abstract. Reminder no 2: not in the TV series.
TPV? No.
Did it happen on a spaceship rather than a planet?
spaceship rather than planet? It is hard to say where it happened. It is not even clear that is a meaningful question. However, in the radio series and book, it had implications on a planet and -- if I recall correctly -- on a spaceship as well.
The artistic necessity that holds a gigantic paper cup made of marble suspended in midair?
The birth of Zaphod Beeblebrox
(Which allegedly caused comets to streak across the sky and civilisations to rise and fall)
artistic necessity? no.
birth of ZB? no.
Did I mention that this could go on for a very long time with this kind of guessing? :-)
Is it a characteristic (or quality of something, as opposed to a thing)?
sorry, I didn't word that too well, but anyway...
Were any of the main characters involved?
My question may seem meaningless to someone who knows the answer and when it is finally I will probably think "what a duff question That was!". Have no fear, I shall ask you no more of this type of question.
characteristic of something? No, not really?
main characters involved? two main characters were very significantly affected.
Does this appear/occur in the first book?
Inkspot] No - it produced a definite answer, which makes it a very good question for this round.
first book? No. (*some applause*) [Clarification: to be honest, it is many years since I read the books, and I always knew the radio series better anyway. It definitely did not appear in the first radio series, and I am pretty certain that it therefore did not appear in the first book.]
The act of falling on the floor and missing?
how to fly? no.
Bistromathics?
bistromath? no.
The Golgafrinchan exodus?
Most of the way through The restaurant at the end of the universe, and no nearer the answer, but re-confirmed in the view that the radio series was better than the books.
Golgafrinchan exodus? no. I need to start thinking of some clues...
Day 9
[CdM] hmm - doubt if any clues will help me, not being over-familiar with Adams's work. But please slap a couple of mighty ones in. Then someone can guess this soon. Very soon.
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