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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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Male?
[Dujon - Is this a character loosely based on a real person?] Not a character but yes, based on reality. [Rosie - Male?] Yes.
Is the novel more than 50 years old?
[Rosie - Is the novel more than 50 years old?] No.
Anything to do with the Harry Potter stories
[Rosie - Anything to do with the Harry Potter stories] No.
Not something from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, then?
Is this a real person who makes an appearance in a work of fiction?
No, not HGTTG.
[CdM - Is this a real person who makes an appearance in a work of fiction?] This is a representation of a man that makes an appearance in a work of fiction; and figures prominently in that work of fiction.
A physical representation, like a portrait or a statue?
Raak! YES........................which one?
Is the person represented alive?
tough question. I suppose not, in a way, yes. Sorry, that's a matter of interpretation. The exact person dead, but could probably find others like that one now alive.
Is there just one of the physical representation?
Is the person the holder of some official position?
Any religious connotations?
Raak - there is just one original of this representation. Rosie - No indication that the person is the holder of any official position. Darren - There are no religious connotations to the person or the representation - apparently.
Is this best known as a painting?
Is it some sort of "modern art"?
Is the person anonymous?
It is a painting or more likely, a pencil drawing by someone very famous for art. Not modern art at all. The person, the subject of the sketch, is rather anonymous.
Is the novel in question the Da Vinci Code?
Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man?
Yes, in DaVinci Code, the Vitruvian MAN!!! YOU WIN!!
(ImNotJohn) Are you there?
Is it the ordnance survey symbol for a cairn?
Is it the ordinance survey symbol for CdM?
That's "ordnance" of course. Even having the word right in front of me didn't stop me misspelling it.
If ImNotJohn doesn't materialise perhaps Néa should start one. She got closest.
Sorry
Had to take a little bit of time off to work.
This one is MINERAL

CdM - Y....No.
Darren - No

Is it man-made?
Is the Eiffel Tower?
Is it a specific object?
It just occurred to me that CdM might have an unfair advantage here.
[GL] - No is the answer that helps most
[all] - No
[Darren] - Yes
(Or alternatively CdM might have an unfair disadvantage.)
Is it on the Earth?
[Raak] Yes
The white cliffs of Dover?
Is it bigger than a house?
Mount Rushmore?
Basically watery?
Cold
[all] - No
[Raak] - No
[GL] - No
[Rosie] - No
In Europe?
Is it usually found inside a building?
Is it a notable precious stone?
Does it belong to someone well-known?
How did you do that?
[Néa] - Yes
[Kim] - Yes
[Raak] - Yes (startled pause followed by prolonged applause)
[Tuj] - Yes
The Crown Jewels?
The Hope Diamond?
(er, except that fails the Europe test. And possibly the belonging to someone well-known test...)
[Rosie] - No, but Yes, but No, but Yes, but NO
[CdM] - No
The Koh i Noor?
(trying to decide if that's a really stupid question or not, and leaning towards "yes", so asking it anyway)
The Star of Africa?
Well that wasn't that hard, was it?
[Néa] - No
[all] - YES
Cullinan 1 or 'The Star of Africa' (if you'd been struggling I would probably have accepted 'The Cullinan Diamond', but thanks to Raak's astounding intuitive leap it all went rather quickly)
So, over to all
drawing a line under it
That was unexpected
um...

MINERAL

Is it man-made?
Is there just one of it?
Is it on earth?
Is it a notable precious stone?
[ImNotJohn] - Yes
[Raak] - Yes
[CdM] - Yes
[Néa] - Nope
An engineering structure?
[Rosie] - I'll say, Yes, pending a clarification of the term "engineering structure"
Is it a building?
Is it bigger than a phone box?
Is it made entirely of metal?
Is it a sculpture?
Does it carry a means of transport?
Does it have a practical use?
Is it in Britain?
The Angel of the North?
[CdM] - No
[Raak] - Yes (Audience, titters)
[Tuj] - No
[Dazed5] No
[Rosie] - Yes (applause)
[Darren] - Yes
[Inkspot] - Yes
[ImNotJohn] No
Is it either the London Underground in general, or Mornington Crescent in particular?
Obvious, I know, but someone has to ask.
The inside of the Tardis?
Or rather, just the Tardis?
[CdM] - (Much Applause) No and No.
[Raak] - No
[Raak] - No
Is it the Northern Line?
[CdM] - YES! Well done. Over to you
And once again I sneak in on someone else's coattails, as it were. OK, this one is
ABSTRACT
Is it in a fictional work?
Is it an emotion?
In fictional work? No.
Emotion? No.
A religion?
Religion? No.
A human construct?
Human construct? Yes.
Is it a form of entertainment?
Form of entertainment? smattering of applause. No, but it has a connection to a form of entertainment.
Is it audible?
Audible? No.
Samantha?
Samantha? No.
Is it connected to something competitive?
Connected to something competitive? Yes. The competitive aspect is perhaps not hugely important, though.
Is it a game of Mornington Crescent?
The Laser Display Board?
A bifurcation?
Points?
Ignore my last effort, which is not even abstract were it to actually exist.
Game of MC? No. substantial applause from audience
Abstract Display Board? No. (actually, I would have thought the LDB was very definitely abstract)
Bifurcation? 1. No. 2. Yes. Congratulations! You won on the second strand! Unfortunately you still need to get the answer on the original strand.
Points? No.
The rules of Mornington Crescent?
Rules of MC? No.
Is it a technical term in MC (such as knip)?
Knip (or some such)? Kno. (The audience is now concerned that it applauded too hard after Botherer's question.)
Is it game other than MC played in the Morniverse?
Morniverse game other than MC? No. loud applause from audience
Is it the Morniverse?
ISIHAC?
ISIHAC? No.
Morniverse? No.
Mornington Crescent?
MC? No. (a rather confused response from the audience; a few people applauding enthusiastically but most remaining silent)
Connected with a pastime or form of entertainment not in the Morniverse?
(Three questions for the price of one!)
Connected with Non-morniverse entertainment? Yes (but I doubt if that is particularly helpful).
A Tim-Tam slam?
Tim-tam slam? No. I'd keep focusing on the morniverse, if I were you.
mc5?
mc^5? No. (some applause)
Orange?
Orange? No. (stony silence from the audience)
A winning move?
A pilgrimage?
A winning move? Yes, but that is not sufficient. (loud and sustained applause from audience)
A pilgrimage? No.
*The* winning move?
A lurker's victory in a game of MC?
The final move of the MC^5 long game?
The winning move? No.
Lurker's victory? No.
End of the long game? No.
hmmmmmm...
actually, you might be very very close with *the* winning move, but I need a clarification...
A cry of "Mornington Crescent"?
The final move of a game of MC?
The first move of a game of Reverse MC?
No, no, and no ... you weren't quite as close as I thought you might be. :-)
That's lucky, it's time someone else got a chance to set one.
The winner?
Do eeither of the words 'mornington' or 'crescent' appear in the answer?
The winner? No.
M or C? No.
Is the answer the winning move of a game?
Is the answer the winning move of a game? Yes. (ushers are moving among the audience to try to get them to be quiet, and the riot police are starting to look nervous)
Baker Street?
(cconnection to another form of entertainment - but then again it wasn't supposed to appear in a fictional work)
Baker Street? No. (I said that the other form of entertainment might not be helpful. I simply meant that the form of entertainment in question exists outside the morniverse as well as inside it.)
is it theMC5 Audience when it *shouts, screams and generally goes wild for someone*?
Stora Mossen?
I never met a winning move I didn't like
MC5 audience? No.
Stora Mossen? No.
You're running out of time today, folks; it's gone 11pm here...
Is the answer the name of a station?
name of a station? No.
Boardo!?
sorry CdM - are we keeping you up? :-)
Boardo? No. And no you are not -- I have been working up to now. But you are probably going to have to wait until tomorrow, now...
The Last Line Of A Limerick?
Checkmate?
Limerick?
Said Gertrude, that master of prose
"A rose is a rose is a rose"
There's wisdom, you see
In tautology:
An answer's an answer, I s'pose.

Checkmate? No.
The end of this game?
Is it a punchline?
[Raak] I think that is close enough!
The answer to this round of AVMA is "the answer to this round of AVMA". Over to you
After that rarefied flight of circular fancy, a very down to earth MINERAL.
Is it man-made?
Is it found on Earth?
[GL] Yes.
[all] Yes.
Is it a building?
[Néa] No.
Are there many of these?
Is it bigger than a bread box?
[Rosie] No. (But there are more than one.)
[all] Yes. (All of them are. Each of them is.)
Does it move?
[INJ] No. At least, they're not supposed to.
Are it made of stone?
Are they to be found in Britain?
[all] Um...no.
[GL] Yes.
That's all for today, I'm off shortly to a concert at the Aldeburgh Festival.
Were they all made after 1900?
I hope you enjoyed your evening the programme, not that I am in the least bit jealous.
Are these objects identical, more or less?
Would these consist of a soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone?
[Inkspot] Yes. (The Orlando Consort, giving a concert of Baroque recreational depression -- Tallis, Purcell, Tomkins, etc. There was a BBC OB van there, so it might get broadcast at some point, but of course, that's nothing like being there.)
[Rosie] They're similar.
[Dujon] Soft? No.
Are they composed entirely of a single substance?
[INJ] They are known for it!
Is the substance liquid?
[INJ] No.
Does the name of the substance appear in the answer?
[GL] Yes.
Is the substance iron?
Is it made to be decorative?
Are they all in the same city or town?
A brick outhouse?
[GL] No.
[Inkspot] Yes.
[Darren] Yes.
[INJ] No.
The Crown Jewels?
Concrete cows?
[Rosie] No.
[GL] YES! The Concrete Cows of Milton Keynes.
(Gusset Login) Coo-oo!
[Gusset Login) Coo-ee!
Sorry, I was away for a few days
I assumed I had it wrong. um...

Vegetable

A potato?
[Raak] - No
Is it edible?
[Darren] - Yes, or part of it is
Is it processed?
Can you buy it in a typical U.K. supermarket?
[Darren] - No.
[Raak] - No
Does it grow wild in the U.K.?
[Raak] - Yes
Is the edible part of it a fruit?
Is it a nettle?
Is it later processed into a product?
Is it a magic mushroom?
[Kim] - No
[CdM] - No
[Rosie] - Yes
[rab] - No.
Is it rhubarb?
Is it nicer with custard?
Is it a type of grain?
Is the edible bit green?
Dandelion and Burdoch?
Is it a mustard seed?
[Darren] - No
[Irouléguy] - No
[Raak] - No
[Tuj] - The websites I've checked are undecided about the green bit being edible.
[Dujon] - No
[CdM] - No
Hops?
Would you (well, not necessarily you personally) ever eat the edible bit in its unprocessed form?
[Chalky] - No
[CdM] - Yes
It might be worth clarifying that most products produced from it are not intended to be edible
Are those products flowers?
Oil See Rape?
or perhaps Linseed?
[Irouléguy] - No
[Chalky] - No (nor Oilseed Rape)
[Chalky] - No
Are the products produced from it mostly liquid?
Is it a tree?
[Darren] - No
[Rosie] - Yes
Is the edible part a nut?
[Darren] - No
Is the product produced from it decorative?
Is the non-edible product timber?
[Darren] - That depends, can you think of any decorative uses for wood?
[Raak] - Yes
Is the answer a particular tree (such as a maple tree, for example)?
Are we looking for the final product?
[CdM] - Yes
[Darren] - No, it's a tree
So we are looking for a tree that grows wild in Britain and which has an edible part that is not a leaf or a fruit or a nut or a blossom...
A pine tree?
Licorice?
If I'm right, someone else needs to carry the torch...
The mighty oak?
My "other" computer is an Acorn but I've never eaten one.
Is the edible bit a vegetable?
[CdM] - Good summary, But you forgot to mention that the edible part can be eaten raw and it is mainly used for non-edible products.

[Raak] - No
[Botherer] - No
[Rosie] - No
[Irouléguy] - No, the whole thing is a tree.

Willow
The bark is edible in small quantities but is mostly used for medicinal ones
[ImNotJohn] - No, but you're thinking along the right lines
Is the edible part the sap?
Alder?
[Raak] - Yes, but also the bark.
[Inkspot] - No
Is it from the salicaceae family of trees?
[Inkspot] - No
Family Fagaceae?
Jesuit's bark aka cinchona?
[Darren] - No
[Irouléguy] - I've never heard quinine bark called that before... No

Would a clue be useful at this point?

WE will ask the questions, Mr Login. Er, yes please. :-)
Very well.

It's a conifer and easy to recognise from a distance.

The Larch?
[Darren] - YES! Well done, it would have been easier if no one had asked about it being edible, which it is, apparently.
Ah, but it's the unexpected questions that can produce misleading answers which are so much fun!

So, this one is primarily VEGETABLE but I wouldn't be surprised if MINERAL or indeed ANIMAL could be involved in some cases.

Stovold's Mornington Crescent Almanac 2002 ?
Is the vegetable still alive?
[Chalky] I can see your reasoning, but no.
[Gusset Login] No.
Is it man-made?
Austrian wine?
GL] I know the name from the Patrick O'Brian 'Master and commander' books.
[ImNotJohn] Yes.
[Irouléguy] Not typically, but some of them may well be.
[Irouléguy] Whoops, I thought you said "Austrian made?". It's not Austrian wine.
Is it monochromatic or multi-coloured?
[irach] Normally multi-coloured.
Is it largely wooden?
[Rosie] Sometimes it can be.
A set of children's building blocks?
[Raak] No.
A work of art?
Are you using, eating or viewing one now?
Does one normally use it at home?
Is it a book?
[Rosie] Could be, I suppose, but not normally.
[irach] (1) No, no and no. (2) Yes.
[Irouléguy] No.
Can it be read?
[Raak] No.
A chopping board?
[all] No.
Is it an item of furniture?
A cupboard of some kind?
[Raak] No.
[Rosie] No.
Is it generally found in the kitchen? In the living room? In the bedroom?
[irach] (1) No. (2) I suppose if anywhere, you might find it there. (3) No. Well... depends on whose bedroom, I suppose!
Were you being sneakily literal in your earlier response to the question "is it man-made?"?
*slinks off to hide in the corner*
Eeeek... I didn't mean to post that question; it was prompted by a stupid misreading on my part. Sorry. Please carry on.
[CdM] It's not the product of a bodily function, if that's what you mean. It's a manufactured product.
Can one curl up on or in it if one is larger than an average-sized domestic cat?
Does it generally have a glass component to it, in addition to sometimes being wooden?
Is it elongated, and sometimes made of metal?
A coaster?
Is it a bookshelf?
[irach] (1) No.
[RedSnapper] No.
[irach] (2) Yes (elongated), but as far as I know, no (not metal).
[Raak] No.
[all] No.
In its normal use or state of being, is it found above eye-level when one (of usual adult height of say, five to seven feet) is standing and looking straight ahead in its direction ?
[irach] No.
Is it an implement of some kind?
[Rosie] Not really.
Would most players of this game be likely to have one in their homes?
[Darren] er, no, I didn't mean that at all. I simply had misread, and thought you had said it was not man-made. Then I realized my mistake, but posted instead of editing my question. In other words I was confused, which is a not unusual state-of-being for me.
[CdM] I would say no. As for your other unquestion, well, just look on it as getting an extra answer for free.
Is it smaller than a breadbin?
[Raak] Yes.
Is it connected with a hobby or interest?
Summary (is it just me, or are we having these more often?)

It is: man-made (as in constructed by humans); possibly, but not typically, Austrian; multi-coloured; possibly wooden; possibly, but not normally, a work of art; used at home, most likely in the living-room; elongated; smaller than a bread-bin; normally found below the eye-line of the average-height person.

It is (or was) not: Austrian wine; a set of children's building blocks; being used, eaten or viewed by Darren at 09.38 BST on Friday; a book; readable; a chopping-board; furniture; a cupboard; generally found in the kitchen or the bedroom; something you can curl up on or in (if larger than a cat); containing glass or metal; a coaster; a bookshelf; really an implement; something that most players of this game would have in their houses.

Who was it who said 'knowledge is power'?

Is it culturally specific?
[Rosie] Almost anything could be!
[Irouléguy] Hmmm... its name would suggest so.
[Irouléguy] So as not to be too misleading, though, it's not something I'd say is culturally specific.
bric-a-brac?
[Raak] No.
A walking-stick?
[Rosie] No.
A ouija board?
[Raak] No.
Is the vegetable part solely wood?
A pencil-case?
[Irouléguy] As I implied above, no. There doesn't have to be any wood involved, although there sometimes is.
[Raak] No.
If no wood, then necessarily plastic?
a ruler?
[Rosie] Not necessarily.
[all] No.
Is the vegetable part some form of dried grass (straw, hay, etc)?
A window box?
[Irouléguy] The funny thing is, it can be, but that's such an incredibly misleading answer!
[Raak] No.

Does anyone want a clue?

(Darren) Yes please. Most of the answers seem to be a Pythonesque "could be". I detect widespread bafflement, of which I'm part. :-)
"Could be" is partly because I'm a vague person, and partly because I don't like leading people up too many dark alleys. Anyway, a clue: it's a kind of puzzle.
Is it generally placed on the floor, or is it in fact part of the floor?
Can one place umbrellas in it? As part of its normal usage, that is?
[irach] No and no.
[RedSnapper] No.
puzzled
Does this have any physical manifestation at all? Or is it purely conceptual?
confused
(Ansering my own questions) we're looking for the physical object. Is it essential to the game or puzzle? That is, can one play without the thing?
Dominoes?
[Effable] No, one cannot do this puzzle without the thing.
[Gusset Login] No.
Can it be turned off, or easily hidden away when house guests arrive?
Would you allow house guests to use yours? Even if they were only casual acquaintances ?
[irach] Turned off? No. Hidden away? Yes.
[RedSnapper] House guests? Yes. Casual acquaintances? Yes.
Is it typically held in one's hand when in use?
A Rubik Cube?
[irach] Yes... and yet no.
[Rosie] No.
A "Fifteen" puzzle?
Is the 'puzzle' a word game?
Su doku?
I hope I'm wrong.
pick-a-stix [that game with long pointy things]
[Rosie] No.
[Dujon] No.
[all] No.
[Chalky] No.
irach's question about holding it is a potentially rewarding line of enquiry.
Scoubi-dou? (spelling?)
A Magic Wand?
One of those stick-like things that will spin one way but not the other?
Spinning plates?
Is it some form of writing implement?
Playing cards?
[Irouléguy] No.
[ImNotJohn] No.
[Raak] No.
[Kim] No.
[irach] No.
[all] No.
A computer mouse?
A crossword puzzle?
paddle ball?
[irach] No.
[Rosie] No.
[all] No.
Could you take it on a camping trip with you without having to lug an electrical generator? Can you leave home without it?
Is the vegetable part of it part of its name?
[irach] (1) Yes. (2) Yes.
[Irouléguy] No.
Is it used in a recreation involving more than one person?
pooh-sticks?
Was this puzzle around in 1950?
Jigsaw puzzle?
[Raak] As far as I know, no.
[Chalky] No.
[Rosie] Yes.
[irach] No.
Solitaire?
A piece of juggling apparatus?
[Rosie] No.
[Raak] No, unless you were a very unusual juggler.

Another clue, anyone?

(Darren) Go on.
Is it normal to have more than one?
Does the puzzle/game involve trying to catch something?
Is it rectangular with specific places where one's fingers go?
[all] (1) Neither normal nor abnormal. (2) No.
[RedSnapper] Rectangular? Depends which way you look at it. Specific places for fingers? Yes.
It is hollow?
[Raak] Yes.
Does it have moving parts?
Does it have keys or buttons to place one's fingers on?
Does it rhyme with "cord"?
[Effable] No. It's got flexible parts though.
[irach] (1) No. (2) No.
Is is a folded paper puzzle?
[Dazed5] No.
Does the puzzle involve getting things into or out of this thing?
Are you going to give us the clue Rosie asked for?
Are building blocks involved in any way?
Is it for children as well as adults?
Can you easily bend it? (assuming you have average, and not Herculean strength)
[Raak] Yes.
[all] I was going to but you seem to be getting pretty close now.
[Irouléguy] No.
[Chalky] Yes.
[irach] Yes.
Cat's Cradle?
A Chinese finger-trap?
[Rosie] No.
[Raak] YES! Well done!

So, it goes over to Raak for the next round.

A finger-trap made of wood?

The next one is MINERAL

[Raak] Yep, they can be made of wood.
Is it metallic?
is it solid?
Is it larger than a teacup? (An average one, not the spinning kind in Disneyland)
Is it man-made?
Is it a geological feature?
Is it on this planet?
Metallic? Yes.
Solid? Yes.
Larger than teacup? Yes.
Man-made? Yes.
Geological? No.
On Earth? Yes.
Is there only one of this?
[finger-trap] After googling and finding a picture I can now state certainly that I have never seen nor heard of it - is it me, or generational, or geographical?
[INJ] More than one.
[INJ] (fingertraps) I saw them as a child in Edinburgh, erm, later middle C20.
Do they come in different sizes?
Is this used in the home?
Chinese Finger Trap - I've never heard of this either. T'was rather an anticlimax really :-(
Different sizes: Yes.
In the home: No.
Do you typically see it when driving on the street?
[IMJ, Chalky - Type www.ebay.com and put in "Chinese Finger trap" in the Search box. You'll see pictures of this infernal device]
Could you lift it?
A poll of 7 friends in The Greyhound, Carshalton revealed only one who had ever heard of Chinese Finger Traps. I think The Object should always be well known, so no characters from cult novels etc, or obscure asteroids. The game is difficult enough.
Is it used in cooking?
Is it / are they used in industry?
Is it mobile?
Is it a construction of multiple parts?
[Darren et al] Sorry, didn't mean to complain - what is well-known to one person may be obscure to others. It did explain why we found it so difficult though.
Typically see while driving: No.
Lift it: Yes.
Cooking: No.
Industry: No.
Mobile: Yes (but not under its own power).
Construction of parts: Yes.
Is it bigger than a breadbox?
[Finger traps] I've heard of them, but didn't think they were made of wood. Normally it's straw or leather.
Bigger than breadbox: Yes.
Is it closer to being rectangular or circular when viewed head-on ?
Er...no.
Is one likely to encounter it/them in everyday life ?
[fingertraps] They can be (and are) made of all sorts of things, which is why I had to be so vague about it. I would have thought everyone would have heard of them. The thing is, it's hard for one person to tell what everyone else has heard of without asking explicitly beforehand. Still, someone got it in the end which is what counts.
[irach] Most people won't.
Meteorites?
Meteorites? No.
Powered by electricity?
No.
A container of some sort?
Yes. (amusement in the audience)
Is it associated with substances not normally mentioned in polite company?
No.
(The audience's amusement was due to the fact that "a container" is so precisely accurate a description that only a child would spontaneously think of calling it one.)
A chastity belt?
A pair of handcuffs?
No, and no.
Are they normally found above ground?
Yes.
Does it have any moving parts?
Let's see.. Metallic... Man made... On earth...Not used in cooking...Not used in industry...Made of multiple parts...Not typically seen when driving... Can be lifted...Not likely to be encountered by most people in everyday life...Not powered by elecctricity... Normally found above ground... Container of a sort (likely to induce chuckles)... Hmm .. sure sounds like a metallic bra by Jean-Paul Gaultier as worn by Madonna, but probably isn't.
Moving parts? Yes.
Metallic bra? No.
Industrial use, in a broad sense?
A waste paper bin?
Industrial? No.
Waste bin? No.
Clue yet?
Clue? Go on.
Try and find out its size.
OK - what size is it?
only kidding. Is it smaller than the Malaysian Peninsula?
Is it larger than the New Forest?
Smaller than both.
Is it larger than a thimble?
The Tardis?
*waves at CdM*
Have just taken the trouble to read back and it seems that it's BIGGER than a breadbox but you can LIFT it - the plot thickens
Bigger than a thimble.
Not the Tardis. And smaller than the outside of the Tardis.
[Chalky] Lots of things bigger than a breadbox that you can lift...or does breadbox not mean what I think it means?
Is it powered by human effort (like a bicycle)?
A suit of armour?
[INJ] Yes.
[Chalky] YES! Over to you.
Oo-er! That was rather unexpected. OK - as I'm here ...

A N I M A L / A B S T R A C T

Is it a fictional human?
Are they male?
The Cheshire Cat?
[I] Fictional Human? Yes
[GL] Male? Yes
[R] The Cheshire Cat? No
Are they best known for being a character in a film?
Is he an adult fictional human?
Appears in Victorian-era literature?
Is he a comic book or cartoon character?
Is he a character in a novel?
Is it a specific single individual?
[GL] character in film? Arguable, but I'd say No
[i] Adult? No
[RS] Victorian era? No
[i] comic/cartoon? No
[I] novel? Yes
[INJ] specific individual? Yes
Does the name of the novel include the name of the answer?
Does this non-adult fictional male character that appears in a novel hail from the British Isles?
was the novel written in English?
Harry Potter?
Going for the obvious...
Adrian Mole?
Going for very nearly as obvious...
sorry for the long wait - I went out tonight
[INJ] name including name? No
[i] British Isles? Yes
[E] English? Yes
[Ra] Harry boy? Nah - 'though going for the obvious may not be a bad move - this is a relatively well-known child character in a novel which, I think, most of us will have, or been forced to have, read at some point in our lives.
[Ro] Adrian? No
was Dickens the author of the novel?
Was this young fellow involved with pirates?
William Brown?
Is the child the main protagonist of the novel?
Does he appear in one novel, as opposed to a series?
[E] Dickens? No
[D] Pirates? If you're thinking R L Stephenson, then No
[R] William? No
[I] main protagonist? certainly one of them, Yes
[Néa] one novel? Yes

[I'll be away until lunchtime]

Piggy (from Lord of the Flies)?
I'm reasoning along the lines that it's 20th Century (although we only know that it's not Victorian) and that Chalky said we may have been forced to read it, which suggests something slightly more serious than HP or the Famous Five.
Was the novel written in the 20th century?
Just to confirm.
Wart?
Peter from 'The railway children'?
A Result
[I'm Not John] Your reasoning is exemplary - Piggy it is!

Well played - here's the baton ....

Well, what do you know?
Thank you, though you might have given the baton a bit of a wipe down before passing it on. The next one is
ANIMAL & VEGETABLE
Sausages and mash?
[Raak] No (but think how good you'll feel when one of your stabs in the dark does work)
A partridge in a pear tree?
The New Forest?
Is the vegetable part still attached and growing ton the plant or is it detached, and parts now combined with the animal product in question?
Hamburger and French Fries?
Irish stew?
[GL] No
[Chalky] No
[Irach] No ;-)......Oh, all right then - No and Yes(ish), but you've made a lot of assumptions
[RS] No
[Irach] No
Is this something you eat?
I was wondering when someone would ask that
[Raak] Yes
Would this be served as a meal on a plate?
2 questions
[Chalky] No, but the answers you probably want are - No and Yes
[INJ] ah yes - was meaning: 'meal on a plate' as opposed to 'lolly on a stick' type of thing. But as you have vair kindly given me a precise answer ....
Would this be considered British food?
[Chalky] Yes
That's it until tomorrow morning now
Fish and chips?
Is the animal part meat?
Haggis?
is this an accompaniment to a meal?
[RS] No
[Raak] No
[Iroul] No
[Chalky] No
Is cheese involved?
Is it savoury [as opposed to sweet]?
[Chalky] No (small ripple from the audience)
Meetings until lunchtime now.
Cheesecake?
Is cheese involved?
I know I asked before, but you didn't answer
Jaffa cakes?
Pastry?
ice-cream?
Buttered toast?
Is the animal part eggs?
Cookies and milk?
Back online
[Raak] cheesecake - NO
[GL] cheese - NO (sorry)
[Iroul] Jaffas - NO
[Chalky]Pastry - NO
[GL] Ice cream - NO
[irach] toast - NO
[RS] animal part eggs - YES (Partly)
[irach] Cookies & Milk - NO
Some kind of cake?
An omelette?
Yorkshire pudding?
French Toast?
Is is a McDonalds Egg McMuffin?
pancake?
[Chalky] cake - NO (applause at the question and a bit of tutting and shaking of heads at the answer)
[Raak] omelette - NO
[Iroul] Yorkshire pud - NO
[GL] French Toast - NO
[Kim] Egg McMuffin - NO
[Chalky] Pancake - NO
Is the vegetable part a fruit?
Is a cow in any way involved with its origins?
[irach] a fruit? - Mostly NO
[RS] Is a cow involved? - YES
.The audience sits in stony silence through those questions and answers
Is it a well-loved traditional British pudding?
Custard?
Spam, sausage, spam, spam, bacon, spam, tomato and spam?
[Chalky] - YES (applause)
[all] custard? - Each to his own taste, but for me the answer is NO
Oh, you meant, 'is it custard?' - NO.
[Néa] - NO (I think most people would regard that as a touch savoury - unless you ignore the Spam, Sausage, Bacon and Spam)
Pineapple upside-down pudding?
Spotted Dick?
[Raak] - NO
[Chalky] - NO (avoiding all the obvious comments)
Is it bread and butter pudding?
Can't be long now
[all] - NO
Jam roly-poly?
Yorkshire Pudding?
Is it typically eaten at Christmas?
Rice Pudding?
[Raak] Jam roly-poly? - NO (but on the right lines)
[irach] still NO
[Néa] xmas - NO
[Chalky] Rice Pud? - NO
How many words "on the card"?
I think this is a legitimate question, traditionally.
[Rosie] - it depends which version of the game you're thinking of, but I'm happy to answer. 3 (though there is a two-word answer which I might consider close enough).
Caramel pudding?
Dumplings?
lemon meringue pie?
[irach] Caramel pudding? - NO but sooooo close
[Raak] - NO
Sticky Toffee Pudding
(not sure if that is any different from caramel pudding, mind you...)
Death By Chocolate?
Sussex Pond Pudding?
Sorry for the previous guess, didnt see it had 3 words.
And the winner is
[CdM] - YES - Sticky Toffee Pudding it is
I did have a little debate with myself over caramel pudding - I'd already decided to accept syrup/treacle sponge. I just wasn't quite sure what was meant by it exactly (for example is 'Crème Caramel' a caramel pudding. So, butter, eggs & milk for the animal and the fruit was because traditionally, it should be made with date sponge. So it's over to CdM.
[Dazed5] I wish I'd thought of that - I would have used it if I had.
All right -- I think this should be an easy one, actually.
ABSTRACT
anarcho-syndicalism?
Can I buy a vowel please?
anarcho-syndicalism? Oooh, very close, in the sense that "anarcho-syndicalism" contains all but one of the letters in both acceptable versions of the actual answer.
Monday morning? (or mornings?)
Is it a book?
Mondays? No.
Book? No.
Is the missing letter in "anarcho-syndicalism" an 'e'?
e-missing? No. And to clarify: it is a different letter that is missing for each of the acceptable answers. But in neither case is the missing letter an "e" (and in only one of the two cases is the missing letter a vowel).
Is the missing letter a "y"? As in anarchy?
Is it, in the broadest sense, a philosophy?
Is it a human concept?
missing y? No, in neither case.
philosoph_? No.
human concept? yes.
Is it a munificent human concept? Or the contrary?
Munificent or the contrary? Er. I think I would say No and No.
Is it a work of art?
Work of art? No.
Does it primarily or largely appear in a book?
Primarily or largely appear in a book? *considerable applause from audience* No.
Is it popular?
Is it to do with books or reading?
Is there a religious connection?
Is a book part of it?
Would Socrates have found use for it?
Is it fiction?
Popular? Somewhat, depending on what you mean by "popular".
Books or reading? It need not have anything to do with books or reading, but having said that, there is a definite connection.
Religious? No.
Book part of it? No, although there is a connection to some books.
Socrates? No.
Fiction? No.
A cataloguing scheme?
Cataloguing scheme? No.
Is it anything to do with colour?
Is it a general human concept, or specific to a particular culture or cultures?
Is there only one / one manifestation of this?
Colour? No.
General human concept? *applause from the audience* It is a specific cultural example of a general human concept.
One / one manifestation? Yes. (See above: the answer is one specific manifestation of something more general.)
Is it generally considered a positive attribute?
Is it generally considered a negative attribute?
Anything to do with, ahem, desire?
Is it a thing called Love?
Anything to do with religion?
Positive? It is not an attribute. People would probably view it neutrally. Some people might view it positively (I know some people in the Morniverse do.) I see no reason why it would be viewed negatively in general.
Negative? See above.
Desire? No.
Love? No.
Religion? Still no.
Scansion?
Philology?
Is, it: Punctuation?
Rhythm?
Language?
Scansion: No.
Philology: *some applause from the audience* No.
Punctuation: *tiny smattering of applause* No.
Rhythm: No.
Language? *applause from audience* No.
Is it a particular language?
Particular language: *major applause from audience* Yes!
Finnish / Suomi?
(though isn't the language actually Suomen?)
The Queen's English?
Chinese/Mandarin?
European?
Do (does?) more than a tiny minority of the Morniverse understand it?
Is it a computer language?
html?
Is it the language of luuuurve?
Japanese?
Kyllä!
Finnish? YES! *throws baton at Néa* I never quite worked out all those Finnish cases, but I think "suomen" is the indirect passive fifth person ablative.
[CdM]I think you left out non-neuter
ooooooh
Wow, this is quite a responsibility. *catches baton deftly and drops it on her foot*

[CdM] I believe you'll find that all those cases is a reason that some people do, in fact, view it negatively :-) (I don't!)

ABSTRACT
Anarcho-syndicalism?
It's got to be right some day.
This is not that day
[INJ] No. Some people would probably say that there is a connection, but that's not a very helpful clue.
The long dark night of the soul?
Summer?
Sarcastic anachronisms? (Why not?)
Political?
[Raak] No. *a few people in the audience clap, though*
[Iroulé] No.
[RS] No. (Cos it isn't.)
[Rosie] No.
A Finnish winter?
[Raak] No.
FYI
My Internet access will be patchy the next few days, but I should be able to log in at least once or twice a day.
Does darkness have something to do with it?
Hmmmmmm
[Raak] I would say that darkness is implied but not necessary.
Does it have anything to do with the weather?
The long dark teatime of the soul?
Hello Néa :-) Is this an emotion?
Does the connection between the answer and anarcho-syndicalism have anything to do with Spain?
[Irouléguy] No.
[all] Hmmm. No.
[Chalky] Hello. No. (*applause*)
[Irouléguy] No.
gothdom?
Is it a state of mind?
Is it anything physical?
Is it a human construct?
[Raak] No.
[Chalky] No. *some applause*
[Rosie] Yes but no but yes but no.
[INJ] It is not a construct.
Gloom? Despair? Dyspepsia?
Fannishness?
No, no, no and no. You are not really on the right track at the moment.
Is it some sort of game?
Hoping the points have been set right.
Sleep?
[Rosie] Not a game.
[Raak] No, but now you are most definitely on the right track. *audience claps and cheers*
A dream?
I think he's getting it...
Yes, but that's not specific enough.
A nightmare?
A dream of a better world?
A Midsummer Night's Dream?
Boo!
[Rosie] YES! *hands over baton with a flourish*
ABSTRACT, with MINERAL CONNECTIONS
Should have added ANIMAL CONNECTIONS also.
Anything to do with Harry Potter?
Raak - Absolutely nothing. :-)
Are the animal connections human?
Irouléguy - Yes
Anything to do with King Arthur?
Raak - No, not a thing.
Is the mineral connection metal?
Is the human connection to a non-fictional human
(ImNotJohn) - Both yes.
Camilla's new coat of arms?
Is it a human construct?
(That was original, wasn't it?)
Raak - No.
CdM - Yes. It has to be asked, and you are a couple of inches nearer the Holy Grail. :-)
The Sword of Truth and the Shield of British Fair Play?
Is the non-fictional human alive?
Raak - No
Irouléguy - No
Is the mineral connection a weapon?
Is the mineral connection a precious metal?
[CdM] Wot you doin' aksin my question?
The Holy Grail?
Raak - No, but it can be used as one.
ImNotJohn - No.
all - No.
Lord Byron's bicycle?
Raak - No, but the format of your answer is getting warm.
X's Y for some animate X and inanimate Y?
Davy Jones' Locker?
Pandora's Box?
Midas' Golden Touch?
Raak - That's right
Dazed5 - No
irach - No
RedSnapper - No

Don't forget the meaning is essentially Abstract.

Any political connection?
Dazed5 - No
Newton's three laws of motion?
Is there a musical connection?
Irouléguy - No

Dazed5 - No (Surprised that hasn't been asked earlier).

Is transport involved?
determined to narrow it down
Foucault's pendulum?
Dazed5 - No.
Raak - No. Don't forget the answer has an essentially abstract meaning.
Although the answer could be classed as a little arcane or academic it should be known here, and has 172,000 Google hits worldwide.
[Rosie] So does F's P, a certain novel...
The King's shilling?
Raak - No (Yeah, it means bugger all really. :-) )
Is there a scientific connection?
Is there a religious connection?
Irouléguy - Yes, this could be used in science.
Dazed5 - No.
Did the person live before the 20th century?
Was the person male?
Raak - Yes.
Dazed5 - Yes.
Was he English?
Raak - He was.
So, although this was a real person and a real metal thingy [that could be used as a weapon, or in science] essentially this is an abstract notion? Is it a 2-word answer?
Was the person involved a 19th century Englishman, or did he live (and die) prior to that?
Was the 'weapon' a pen?
Morton's Fork?
Chalky - Yes and yes. The whole thing could be used in science, among other things. The metal thing is part of the abstract idea but as an actual object could be used as a weapon.
irach - Died before 1800.
Dazed5 - No, but some appreciative murmurs from the audience.
ImNotJohn - No.
Chalky - (PS) See my answer to Raak's Lord Byron's bicycle query.
Anything to do with Newton?
Is there a literary connection?
Is the metal thing a hammer?
irach - No. Pre-dates Newton.
Dazed5 - No.
Raak - No.
Predates Stonehenge?
irach - No, not by a long chalk.
Anything to do with Freemasonry?
Any connection to medicine?
Occam's Razor?
Funny you should ask that [Raak] because Occam's Razor attracts exactly 172,000 Google hits worldwide. I reckon you've got it. I've never heard of it mesself :-)
Raak - YES! Well done. A rather obscure one which I thought might just get by, particularly in a place like this. It's meaning is this: If someone says those lights in the sky are UFOs then the application of Occam's Razor makes one ask "couldn't they be aeroplanes, or unusual reflections in the glass, or were you just a bit pissed?", i.e always think of the simple explanation first. Do not elaborate unnecessarily, etc. etc.

Carry on, Raak

VEGETABLE, with ANIMAL and ABSTRACT connections.
Is it edible (or drinkable?)
Is it a constructed object?
Could this be held in your hand?
Is the animal connection a human one?
Edible/drinkable: No.
Constructed: Yes.
Held in the hand: Some could be.
Human connection: Yes.
Is the vegetable wood?
Any religious connection?
Is it purely decorative?
A Water Diviner?
Wood? No.
Religious? Yes.
Purely decorative? Nothing to stop anyone from having one as an ornament.
Water diviner? No.
Correction of my previous answer about being small enough to hold in the hand: as far as I can tell from Google, none of them ever are, when called by the words on the card. The hand-sized ones have a completely different name, so should be excluded.
OK - re. the human connection - does this thing have to be in contact with a human in some way in order to fulfil its function?
Re: religious connection: Eastern religion?
(and I don't mean "originating in the Middle-East")
[Chalky] Not nowadays.
[Néa] No.
A crucifix?
Is the religious connection christian?
Crucifix? No.
Christian? No.
An item of clothing?
Pagan?
Clothing? No.
Pagan? Yes. (applause)
A wicker man?
[Dazed5] Yes!
Here we go with....
MINERAL
Jumping the gun...
Should read MINERAL with the possibility of some VEGETABLE in it also.
A carrot encased in a slab of crystal?
[Nea] That's even better than mine, but sadly, no.
A long shot - coal?
Something to do with fossils?
Is the mineral pure or a mixture?
Rosie. Not coal.
Raak. Nothing to do with fossils.
Irouleguy.Yes, a mixture.
(Apologies to Nea and Irouleguy, I do not know how to do an 'e' with an accent over).
A pearl?
Is the mineral (semi-)precious?
Dazed5 - re. the acute accent - just type [(the ampersand symbol)eacute;] - when you would normally type the 'e' - the semicolon is important.
As for a question ... I expect I'll think of one soon
Another frivolous long shot - Soil?
If I'm right it's my question, otherwise it's Chalky's. Another way to do e-acute is Alt+0233. Look, é.
Does this occur naturally, or is it a human artefact?
A cute accent
INJ. Not a pearl.
INJ(2). Not precious, nor semi-precious, although some older versions may be of considerable value.
Rosie/Chalky. It is not soil (thanks for the pointers).
Irouléguy. Yes, a human artefact.
Is the vegetable part wod?
Or wood?
Raak. Yes it would be, but on the whole, it is quite insignificant.
Is it a toy?
Chalky. It is not a toy.Very slight murmers from the audience.
Is it a weapon?
Made of metal?
Chalky. Not a weapon.
Raak. The relevant bits are metallic, certain bits may probably be wood or even perhaps plastic, but this is not significant.
Is it small enough to hold easily?
A musical instrument?
Is it normally a particular colour or colours?
INJ. No.
Chalky, yes. Major applause from audience.
Iroulegéguy; I don't think so.
A saxophone?
Harmonica?
Rosie, irach. Both no. See INJ question above.
A church organ?
A barrel organ?
A drum kit?
irach. No
Raak. No
Rosie. No
Trinidad steel drums?
Tubular bells?
To produce sound from this musical instrument does one ( a) Bang it (b)Blow on it ? (c)Hit on some keys (d)both b and c (e) Turn a handle (f) Turn on a switch (g) None of the above?
Church bells?
[RedSnapper] While you are waiting for Dazed5 to get back, I can tell you that the answer to your question is "yes".
irach. No
Raak. No
Red Snapper. a)No. b)No. c)No. d)Therefore, no. e)no. f)Not in isolation. g)see f)
irach, No.
Does it require electrical power?
Can it be strummed?
Oversized Karaoke machine?
A mechanical carillon?
A choir of metallic singing robots?
Raak. Yes
irach. No
RedSnapper. No
Raak. No (had to look that one up)
irach, lovely idea but wrong.
Jukebox?
Update
irach, it is not a jukebox.
Whilst doing further research, I have learned that some modern instances of these can be held in the hands, but not the type I was thinking of. Apologies if this has mislead anyone but size is quite irrelevant, or so the females in my life would have me believe.
It's a
I think I know what this is - but I'll leave it for someone else
A Moog synthesiser?
Irouléguy. Not a Moog - Murmers of appreciation from the audience
A Yamaha Synthesizer
irach. It is not a Yamaha synthesizer.
Is it an electronic musical instrument?
Raak. Yes -More excited murmers and much shuffling in seats
Trying not to awaken anyone
I would have thought the musicians in here would have killed this long before now. I will give a further clue if requested.
207,000 Google hits worldwide
Chalky, I get 368,000, but who knows?
Go on, have a guess.
Is it known by its brand name?
Rosie, not a brand name as such, it is named after it's inventor.
The Hammond organ? (171,000 hits)
Irouléguy. It is not a Hammond organ. (Clue: if you find out how it is played you will get there)
A theremin?
BINGO!
Well done CdM, it was a theremin.
Wow, something of a lurker's victory there.
This next one is NONE OF THE ABOVE.
The instant of the Big Bang?
BANG No.
Another fungus?
an emotion?
fungus? No.
emotion? No.
Something Infinite?
Is it connected to the game of MC and/or the Morniverse?
Is it alive?
a vacuum?
<gloat>I hope I'm wrong as I probably won't be logging on more than a couple of times in the next 16 days</gloat>
A sound?
The number zero?
Not a very auspicious start
infinite? No.
connected to MC? No.
alive? No.
a vacuum? No.
A sound? No.
Zero? No.
Is it Animal, Vegetable, Mineral or Abstract?
AVMA? No. Hence my introduction.
The spatio-temporal continuum?
Nothing?
spatio-temporal continuum? No.
Nothing? No.
Might I respectfully suggest that if you just guess without gathering more information this is likely to take you a long time...
Has it ever been alive?
ever alive? No.
Has it ever existed?
Can it be seen?
An elementary particle?
(CdM) Sorry for being a bit thick. :-(
Has it been theorised but not proven?
Could it be better described as real or virtual?
Is there a religious connection?
Is it something one might aspire to?
Why isn't this abstract?
I assumed that all four categories [or any combination thereof] covered everything - are we in danger of becoming über-pedantic?
ever existed? It often exists.
can it be seen? Yes. *applause*
elementary particle? No. *some applause*
!proven? No.
real or virtual? Yes. Oh, all right then, real.
religious connection? Hmmmmm... There were once several religious connections, but nowadays the best answer is No.
aspire to? No. At least, it does not make sense to aspire to the answer on the card, although one might have an aspiration connected to it. Sorry if that sounds cryptic; it is meant to be straightforward.
AVMA Redux? Let me say the following. It is definitely not animal, vegetable, or abstract. If it is anything, it is mineral, but I thought is was misleading to describe it as such. (Apologies in advance if people end up disagreeing!)
The aurora?
The Northern Lights?
A rainbow?
A solar eclipse?
Light?
getting right to the point...
The words on the card were either "aurora borealis" or "northern lights". Thus, although Rosie's answer got massive applause, it did not exclude the possibility of the aurora australis. Thus the judges award victory to Chalky!
taking a bow
Aww shucks - thanks CdM.
Hand on heart, I wasn't influenced by Rosie's guess possibly because I recall this very subject cropping up in the original Pants game a few years ago - I think we labelled it Abstract/Mineral, although I'm sure someone who was there will correct me if I'm wrong ...

And now for something completely tangible ...

A N I M A L

Is this one specific individual?
[Raak] Specific? No. [good question]
Human?
Vertebrate?
Ungulate?
Homo Florensis?
[Rosie] Human - Yes
[Irach] Vertebrate - Yes
[RedSnapper] Ungulate? No
[Raak] Homo Florensis? No, probably not :-)
A group with a common purpose? Eg, The Cabinet, Crystal Palace Football Club. No, scrap that last one.
Is this a species of man?
Meaning Cro-Magnon or its ilk.
Genus Homo?
Are all members of this group of the same gender?
[Chalky] I have to say, I don't see how the aurora would be abstract, since it certainly has a physical existence...
Is this group culturally specific?
[Rosie] Common purpose? They certainly have something in common
[Dujon] species of Man? Yes
[irach] Genus homo? Of course - as previous answer
[CdM] Same gender - No
[Irouléguy] Culturally specific? If I said yes, that might be misleading. Can you be more culturally specific? :-)

[CdM - Abstract as an adjective. Yes, agree in principle. The word should mean something that only exists as a mental concept, but I have noticed is often used in this game to suggest a wider/popular interpretation of the merely physical. I chose not to tag it on to the ANIMAL label in this round, because I felt sure that this 'group of people with something in common' would be established fairly early on.]

Us?
[Raak] Us? As in Us? No.
Is this group linked by a common language, religious or cultural practice?
A musical ensemble?
The ISIHAC teams?
Homo-sapiens?
Person(s) specifically known to carry outd certain particular actions or follow particular professions?
[Irouléguy] Linked? As I've already stated that they have something in common, the answer must be Yes - sort of
[Rosie] Musical ensemble? No
[Gusset Login] ISIHaC teams - No
[all] Homo Sapiens? I think that's been established
[RedSnapper] particular actions or professions? Yes *discernible muttering in audience*
The thing that links these people, is it what they do for a living?
Person(s) of a particular profession?
Persons with a particular hobby or penchant?
A Greek chorus?
Chalky] My question was about how they were linked.
[Raak] making a living? No
[irach] particular profession? No
[Redsnapper] Hobby or Penchant? No and Yes
[Irouléguy] Greek Chorus? No
[it would probably be safer to say that there is no cultural link in the way that you mean]
Are these people fans of something?
Anything to do with sports?
Commuters?
[Raak] Fans of something? Mmmm - I have to say Yes. *polite applause*
[irach] Sports? No
[Dazed] Commuters? No
Does this 'group' number in millions?
[Dazed] Millions? Probably not in the UK
Is this group then specific to the UK?
This thing that they are, one might have to say, fans of, are they practitioners of it?
Do these people go out of the house to indulge their interest?
Would you expect many of the Morniverse's inhabitants to be among these people?
Would many of them gather together in one place to experience this thing for which they have a penchant?
... sorry - been busy
[Dazed] specific to UK? No
[Raak]practitioners? In a manner of speaking, Yes.
[Rosie] Out of house indulgence? No - not necessarily
[Irouléguy] Crescenters? Can't say I know them all well enough, but No *chuckles*
[Kim] Gathering? Some may, some may not.
When somebody gets the right answer, will this site become NSFW?
*laughs out loud*
[CdM] I only practise safe chairwomanship
Would this shared interest be considered risqué in a polite society?
Does it involve any aspect of procreation?
[Dazed] Risqué? No
[irach] Procreation? No

... so that's eliminated any saucy shenanegans :-)
However, both questions are the type of questions that need to be asked.

Are particular types of clothing involved?
[Irouléguy] Clothing? No
Would most people say these people are anoraks?
[Rosie] Anoraks? No
Does this shared interest require any specialist equipment?
Does the shared interest require ambulation of any kind?
Are there roughly equal numbers of both sexes involved?
Does it involve the playing of a game?
[Dazed] specialist equipment? Equipment isn't really the right word, but it certainly requires a certain something to belong to this group
[irach] ambulation? Not really [see Rosie previous question]
[Rosie] equal numbers? I should think so
[Raak] game playing? No

CLUE: The word 'hobby' got a thumbs down, if you read back. This isn't an 'interest' either. It is something that a certain group of people have in common. 'Fan' [as in fanatical] and 'penchant' have both been given a cursory nod ..

Is it connected with either eating or drinking?
[Dazed] Yes! At last :-) * audience wakes up and overcompensates by whooping and hollering *
Wine connoisseurs?
Are they linked by food from a particular part of the world?
[Raak] Wine Connoisseurs? They may well be [but that's not the word on the card]
[Irouléguy] Linked? Food? Part of World? No, No and Thrice No
Alcoholics?
Gourmands of any kind?
Is the "certain something" that is required inherent in the individual?
Vegetarians?
Four very good questions, but only one is correct:

Well done Raak - Alcoholics is the right answer. Over to you ...

I'm off to the Worldcon on Wednesday, but I'm sure you'll get this before then.

MINERAL

Something made by humans?
A natural phenomenon?
[I] Yes.
[K] No.
Uses electricity?
[Rosie] Yes.
Used in the preparation of food?
[nights] No.
Used for recreation?
Normally used in the home?
[irach] Can be.
[Rosie] No.
Is it noisy when in operation?
Can it be used to get from one place to another?
Bigger than one metre cubed?
Ever used in the office?
[irach] No.
[RS] Yes.
[Chalky] No.
[irach] Yes.
Can it be used for communications?
[irach] No.
Is its primary use as a means of transport?
[I] Yes! (applause)
A mode of transportation that's used in the office? (you said above it WAS used in the office). Or primarily to get you to work at the office?
[irach] You asked "Ever used in the office?" so the answer was yes, because I've heard of it happening. But that's an unusual use.
An electric scooter?
An electric wheelchair?
[I] Erm...not entirely sure whether "scooter" would cover this or not.
[R] No.
A Segway?
I was going to post this guess on Friday, but thought that RS's comment would have earned applause if it was right... however, it seems to fit with some of the later Q and A...
[CdM] Yes, a Segway.
OK, an easy one: MINERAL
The new planet 'Xena'?
not that easy
warrior princess? No.
Man-made?
Is it a specific object?
Man-made? No.
Specific object? No.
A type of rock?
A present from Brighton? No.
Is it a solid in its normal state?
Solid in normal state? No. *applause*
Is it bigger than a phone box?
Given that it is not a specific object, the question does not really make sense. However, in the individual instances in which it is normally encountered, it is smaller than a phone box.
Is it mobilel?
A snowman?
mobile? If you mean can it be easily moved, the answer is yes.
snowman? No.
A snowflake?
Is it fluid?
Does "not a specific object" mean "not a named object", so it could be "a mountain" but not "The Matterhorn" even though a mountain could be classed as a specific object?
Is this a type of metal (e.g. mercury)
?
snowflake? No.
fluid? Yes.
clarification of 'not a specific object'? The words on the card are a fairly generic term that refer to a category or class (using those terms loosely) of which there are many different instances, some of which are named. In terms of your example, it is more like the answer being "mountains". Which isn't the answer.
metal? No. silence? No.
A spring?
boingggg? No. *substantial applause from audience, together with stamping of feet and a chant of  "Ro-SIE! Ro-SIE! Ro-SIE!"*
Is the answer the container of a fluid?
Water?
container? No, although the 'specific instances' that I referred to above do involve containers.
water? *applause* Water is one of the words on the card. It is not a sufficient answer, however.
Would the water in question be considered potable?
potable? Yes. *some applause*
Bottled water?
God knows what the audience will do if this is right. I'm a quiet sort of bloke really, you know. :-)
Mineral water?
Soda water?
Water-ed down drinks?
and the winner is...
...Irouléguy. MINERAL WATER it is. I just wanted to be sure there were no disputes about the AVMA classification this time.
Wahay! Nice team-work there, everyone. I'm away after Friday lunchtime for the weekend, so another easy one:
MINERAL
Man-made?
Solid?
Man-made? No
Solid? No is the most useful answer, though there could be some discussion about this
Is it a terrestrial object?
Terrestrial? Yes Object? Yes, but see qualification above
The earth's crust?
*the audience cheers, hoots, stamps and lets off fireworks, and several shouts of "RO-sie, RO-sie" are heard from the balcony* No
Atmospheric particles?
The earth's mantle?
Atmospheric particles? No
The earth's mantle *the audience pull shawls round their shoulders, button up cardigans and tighten scarves* No
A tectonic plate?
Let's see what this volatile lot will do with this one.
Molten lava? (It is not solid, but does solidify soon after emergence from the nether regions, so there could be some discusion regarding its physical form.)
Mineral-laden hot springs?
A tectonic plate? *a low approving approving murmur rises from the audience* No
Molten lava? *the audience passes around Damart catalogues as the ushers attempt to turn up the radiators* No
Mineral-laden hot springs *"We could use some of those here", think the audience* No
A continental shelf?
À la Lara Croft, he muses, with a silly grin.
Magma?
Tsunami?
An Earthquake?
A Glacier?
An Iceberg?
A continental shelf? *the audience muses on the fact that there are about 21,500 Google hits for "Lara Croft" and "the answer"* No
Magma? No
Tsunami? *the audience seeks diversion in a spirited discussion of the correct plural of 'tsunami'* No
An earthquake? No
A glacier? No
An iceberg *the audience nods knowingly at the ironic appropriateness of Chalky and irach's moves*

Looking back, I may have mis-directed people with the answer to the solid question. Perhaps a better answer would be "Yes, partly."
Do we want a clue?
Antarctica?
Antarctica? *the audience sits up straight, puts away their papers, Sudoku puzzles and knitting* No, but in some ways the closest answer yet
The ocean?
The North or South Pole ?
The Arctic Ocean?
[irach] that's TWO guesses - very naughty!
Well then, North Pole?
The South Pole?
[Chalky] Nothing wrong with irach's question -- it has a yes-or-no answer, and if the answer were yes, then it would simply be all fingers on the buzzers to guess which one!
Oh, and if I am right, I hereby transfer my win to irach.
The ocean? No
The North or South Pole? *the audience giggle quietly* No
The Arctic Ocean? No

I'm with CdM on irach's question - people do bend the one-question rule (me included), and a single question can anyway turn into a mutiple answer (see "terrestial object" above).

Chalky has now got the geographically closest answer, but in other, more important ways, irach is still closest.

I am going away this afternoon, and work means I'm unlikely to be able to play more than once again before I go. Any volunteers to take over as quizmaster/mistress? Email me at pubsalesatbaafdotorgdotuk .
No e-mails, so...for your safety and convenience, this game will not contain any further replies from me until Monday (maybe) or Tuesday (more likely. Have a good weekend, everyone

Parting thought - the speed of this game is somehow appropriate.

Parting clue - there's a coincidental connection with both Bob Dylan and organised religion.
Glacier?
The North Magnetic Pole?
Well, of course a b&b in St Austell will have a broadband connection - silly of me to assume otherwise

Glacier? No
The North magnetic pole? *the audience breaks into small groups to find any connection between Bob Dylan, organised religion and the north pole, magnetic or otherwise, but fails to reach any conclusions, rejecting the theory of the small group arguing for a metaphysical interpretation of "Quinn the mighty Eskimo".* No
The Greenland Icecap?
Does this have a direct relationship to air movement?
The Greenland icecap? *the audience wonders if their earlier tumultuous reaction to one of Rosie's moves has perhaps been overlooked* No. Direct relationship to air movement? Hmm...perhaps Rosie can shed more light on that once the answer's been revealed. Locally, yes, almost certainly; more generally, don't know.
Anything to do with drifts?
Drifts? (snow or continental?) Either way, no.
Auroro australis?
A volcano?
Aurora australis? No.
A volcano? *considerable applause* No.
fergawdssakeRosie - guess the damn thing!
Well, I'm FIIK, m'dear. The quizmaster has turned it into his own show and the audience are pissed.
The Arctic ice sheet?
Not being clever when it comes to Bob Dylan and religious sects I'm probably well adrift.
The Canadian Archipelago?
The Arctic ice sheet? No
The Canadian archipelago? No.

On present progress, it doesn't look like pure guesswork is going to get there - time for more general questions, perhaps? And another clue?
Is it an oilfield?
Geysers?
An oilfield? No
Geysers? No
Is the liquid water?
Deep-sea volcanic (hydrothermal) vents?
*yawns*
Liquid water? What liquid? There is some liquid present, but it's not really the defining characteristic. And yes, it's water.
Deep-sea volcanic vents? No
*yawns* *some applause* An apt description (of both game and answer)
By the way - what IS the 'earth's crust?'
[Irouléguy] I'm usually pretty hopeless at these geographical minerally ones so I leave them to more worthy participants, which I guess doesn't help much. Trouble is, if these posers are not guessed within 3 days, the game tends to lose its momentum. It is now Day 8 of this one so perhaps a chairman's summary of the positives might help? Then a clue?
It is Iceland?
Is it specifically in either the north or southern hemispere?
Chalky] Fair points all, though I have been trying to steer people away from the more detailed minerally answers (and I was away for most of three days). It's really not obscure - I feel sure that everyone will have heard of it.

Summary - it's terrestial, partly solid, sort of an object. (Those are the answers which I think have caused people to go astray, but it's problematic because of what exactly "it" is. Let's say that "the answer" is defined by solid objects.
There's a strong connection to the earth's crust (which is just the top bit of the earth itself -between 5 and 65km thick), and specific geographical features have got strong applause. It's NOT - man-made, either of the Poles, Antarctica, a tectonic plate, an oilfield, a continental shelf, a volcano, the Canadian archipelago, the Greenland icecap (or any other form of ice).
Clues 1) It's very aptly named; 2) it has a university named after it; 3) over four million people went there last year.

Iceland? No
Is it specifically in either the north or southern hemisphere? Yes, the northern.
Is the name metaphorical? eg "The roof of the world", "The home of the blizzard" etc, etc.
Is its location in Northern Europe?
Is the suffix or word "land" part of its name/identity?
Metaphorical name? No, if anything the reverse
Northern Europe? No
Is the suffix or word "land" part of its name/identity? *cheering, the audience all put their hands to their ears as through participating in charades* No
Is it in Nothh America?
...that should read "North America"
North America? *the orchestra strikes up "My country, 'tis of thee" as the audience jump up and down in anticipation* YES!
A part of the U.S.?
A National Park or part thereof?
The Grand Canyon ? ( It is in North America, there IS a Grand Canyon University, there is a lot of earth's crust to see there, there is some liquid-the Colorado among other forms found there, it sure does fit the bill).
[If the above IS the answer I would argue its classification as purely "Mineral" though, as the flora and fauna are also an integral part of the Grand Canyon as a whole].
*exhausted, the audiience can do nothing but sigh in pleasure* We have a winner - it is THE GRAND CANYON! Purely mineral? Not sure about irach's argument, but I'll think about it.
Anyway, the baton finally gets passed on - take it away, irach!
[Irouleguy] Thanks.! What was the Organized religion connection though? Bob Dylan I think I know.
Here goes. Well, its MINERAL once again.
[irach] hmmmm - hope it's snappier than the last one :-)
[Iroulé] GCanyon - classification, perhaps Mineral with Vegetable [and possibly Animal] connections?
Is it man made?
I have never seen a more self-indulgent and comprehensively misleading set of comments as in the last AVMA. The Grand Canyon has no more to do with the earth's crust than has the Vale of Evesham. It's a surface feature FFS. So why did the audience wet themselves, generally an indication that one has very nearly hit the bull?
[Chalky] Not man made.
Sorry.. [Inkspot] Not man made.
It is a geographical feature?
Call me pedantic, but I would argue that the Grand Canyon is composed entirely of air.
Chalky] Possibly - but then you'd have to apply that to practically every place or geological formation. Would that definition help you to get Everest, for instance?

Rosie] I may have misunderstood what I Googled - I'm no scientist. But this is from the GC National Park's website: The Canyon’s mile-high walls display a largely undisturbed cross section of the Earth’s crust extending back some two billion years.
from http://www.nps.gov/grca/pphtml/subnaturalfeatures14.html
and lots of sites talk about the GC being made by upheavals in the earth's crust, so that was the basis of my reaction. I'm sorry if it was misleading, and you're right about the self-indulgent bit - sorry again.

Kim] Well, that was why I was unsure about the answers to "solid" and "object". But it can't be all air - what about the floor or the sides of the canyon?

move] Is there just one of it?
[Kim} No. Not a geographical feature. [Irouleguy] There are more than one of these.
Is it a weather phenomenon?
(Irouléguy) Talk of the earth's crust made me think the answer was something to do with the material of the earth well below the surface whereas the Grand Canyon (and Cheddar Gorge) were gouged out by running water, i.e. surface erosion. Not to worry. :-)
[Rosie] No.
Is it metal?
[Irouléguy] Yes!
[Chalky] Not metallic per se, though there may sometimes be metal salts or ions embedded within it.
A precious stone?
{Rosie] No.
Is an individual one of these bigger than an elephant?
Chalky] OK2
A component of a man-made object such as Stonehenge?
[Irouleguy] Generally it is considerably larger than an elephant.
[Rosie] No, it's not possible to make any man-made object from it/them using any known contemporary technology.
An asteroid?
Or, more specifically, a meteor (or even more specifically, one or more Perseid meteors)
FWIW, I'll come to Irouléguy's defence here: (i) I think the categorization of the GC as mineral is entirely reasonable, since the flora and fauna are not an essential part of the Canyon; (ii) I think the positive response to the earth's crust was also reasonable (although I agree that the audience went a bit over the top), since a "no" would have been a more misleading answer; (iii) "self-indulgent" is an unfairly harsh term, given that he was just injecting some humor.
(CdM) Agree on (i), not on (ii); (iii) is more a matter of taste. BTW a meteor the size of an elephant would fall to earth and cause a lot of damage and would then be classed as a meteorite. Can't be that, but we'll see.
[Rosie] Not an asteroid or meteorite [CdM] Not a meteor, Perseid or otherwise. (However, the audience sits up in rapt attention, biting its nails in great anticipation of the next guess. Not quite cigar yet, but close).
A comet?
[Rosie] You are absolutely right about the elephant, of course.
[CdM} A Comet ? YES!!! Congratulations! How spatial! What a brilliant win! The tail end of this guessing game was great! Here's to many more, the sky is the limit! The baton is passed, so take it away...
[CdM} A Comet ? YES!!! Congratulations! How spatial! What a brilliant win! The tail end of this guessing game was great! Here's to many more wins, the sky is the limit! The baton is passed, so take it away...
[Irouleguy] Wouldn't that be like saying that a hole in the ground comprises not only the hole but also the ground around the hole? I think the GC is just a big hole.
All right, let's get back into the ethereal world of the ABSTRACT.
(with ANIMAL connections)
The bee's knees?
(or should I move that apostrophe?)
Nope. Nor the cat's pyjamas, or a dog's dinner. However, the audience applauds for the fact that the answer is indeed of the form: Definite article + 2 words.
Is the answer of the form "The + animal's + part of animal"?
No. But since I am feeling generous, I will tell you that the answer is of the form: "The + part of animal + something that is not an animal at all".
The skin of one's teeth? ...and thank you, though even I think I was being self-indulgent.
Kim] Yes. If the GC's just a great big hole, what defines where the hole ends?
The heart's desire?
(CdM) Useful generosity. :-)
The heart of the matter?
The foot of the stairs?
The brains of the operation?
Is the something that is not an animal at all an abstract noun?
[CdM] So what if there's more than one bee?
Or rather, why is it just one bee? I suppose I'm just hoping someone round here happens to know a lot about the phrase...
The Lion's share?
[Tuj] I've always thought it came from a colloquial bastardisation of business - in the sense of "he's the beeesneees" - meaning suited.
Ingnore that post. It's part of an animal. Go back to sleep, Duj.
skin of teeth? No. Some applause from audience, though.
heart's desire? No.
heart of matter, foot of stairs, brains of operation; No, no, no. The + two words, remember.
third word abstract noun? Yes.
lion's share? No.
Is the animal human?
The tooth fairy?
We have a winner! The tooth fairy it is. *places baton under pillow for Rosie to find*
(CdM) It's gone. But I'm richer by 25 pesetas. What joy!

Right, this is MINERAL and ABSTRACT

Does it appear in a particular work of fiction?
Is it man-made?
(Inkspot) - No
(Irouléguy) - No
Does the abstract have something to do with measurement?
(Dujon) Not a thing, I'm afraid. I'm going to bed now - it's 3 a.m. :-(
Cassiopeia?
Is the mineral metal?
(CdM) - No
(ImNotJohn) - No
Is the abstract because it's fictional?
Is it one particular thing?
(Gusset Login) - No, certainly not. Abstract is a valid part-classification but don't concentrate too much on it.
(Irouléguy) No, there are lots of these.
A lodestone?
Is it a human construct?
(Software) - No
(ImNotJohn) No. The abstract nature is not an idea.
The Philosopher's Stone?
(irach) - No.
The Giant's Causeway?
Rock of Ages?
Is it found in a particular place?
Is the mineral solid?
(Kim) - No
(pper) - No
(Tuj) There are lots of them (see above) and there are certainly preferred places.
(Irouléguy) A small amount of it is in some cases, otherwise no.
Ocean currents?
(ImNotJohn) - No
Clouds?
(Irouléguy) - No, but *some applause*
Precipitation?
Can you drink it?
(CdM) - Not the answer, but always involved *more applause*
(Tuj) - You can, and ultimately you do, in some cases.
Rain?
April Showers?
Singing in the Rain?
(irach) - See the answer to CdM's question
(ImNotJohn) - No
(RedSnapper)- No
Tornados?
A meteorological phenomenon?
(Irouléguy) - No - but *some polite applauase*
(Tuj) - Yes *rather more fulsome applause*
The monsoon?
(Raak) - No
Floods?
(irach) - No, but a strong connection.
A spring thaw?
(Dujon) - No, not quite that strong a connection.
Does this involve significant air pressure differences?
A hurricane?
The hydrological cycle?
Is it a one-word answer?
well waddya know - I return after a few days away and here's Rosie - doing a weather one!
(Dujon) - Can do, but that is possibly misleading
(CdM) - No
(Raak) - No
(Chalky) - One word preceded by the indefinite article.
A tsunami?
A thunderstorm?
A cloudburst?
A shower?
(Chalky, ImNotJohn, all) - No, but
*Thunderous applause* for Irouléguy with his bolt from the cumulonmimbus. It it indeed a thunderstorm. Carry on, squire.
Squire tat work this afternoon. A lightning-quick round there - let's hope this one is as quick. I promise to keep the audience sober this time. It is ABSTRACT, involving ANIMAL, VEGETABLE and MINERAL.
An Anarcho-syndicalist protest march?
[Rosie] Is the existence of precipitation what makes it a thunderstorm rather than an electrical storm (c.f. your reply to CdM)?
INJ] One of these days, but not today.
An organisation?
(INJ) Technically, and probably in popular parlance too, a thunderstorm is defined by the electrical phenomena but there has to be precipitation for this to happen, but it need not be at the point of observation and a there's a specific meteorological code number for this (17, for the anoraks, of which I am one). There is no code figure for "freak storm" BTW. Top whack is 99, "heavy thunderstorm with hail", the "heavy" referring to the precipitation rather than the lightning and thunder. Also, I've noticed that "anarcho" is an anagram of "arachno". What have spiders got to moan about? There are 1014 of them, apparently.
An organisation? No.
Is the animal component human?
Is the vegetable part paper?
Does it move?
Is it a country?
irach] Human? *sustained applause* Yes
Raak] Paper? No
Kim] Does it move? *cries of "OOOH!"* More accurate to say that it involves movement
Chalky] A country? No
Is it a sport?
Is it geographical?
Relocation?
Does it involve dancing?
Rosie] Is it a sport? *cheering and loud applause* Not a sport, exactly, but close...
Tuj] Is it geographical? No.
Chalky] Relocation? No
Dujon] Does it involve dancing? No
tai chi?
[Rosie] I lived in Africa for a year and for a few weeks before the start of the rains there were repeated electrical storms but no rain reached the ground. Would the precipitation have been contained within the cloud structure? (feel free to transfer to the banter page if there's a long explanation - or tell me to go and look it up for myself!)
INJ] Tai chi? No
Extreme Ironing?
If not a sport, then a performance of some kind?
(ImNotJohn) OK - See Banter Page.
Does it involve a group of people doing something?
ImNotJohn] Extreme Ironing? No
Rosie] A performance of some kind? Yes, in the sense of Raak's answer below, but not more than that.
Raak] Does it involve a group of people doing something? *a mighty cheers rises from the audience* A perfect definition.
After-work drinks now, so no more for a few hours.
Does this collective activity require a fair amount of skill and practice?
Don't get too pissed; we need answers. :-)
A beer festival?
Rosie] Does this collective activity require a fair amount of skill and practice? No, neither (you can do it pissed, though there is an attendant danger).
Raak] A beer festival? No, but it is a mild form of exercise.
A Mexican Wave?
An orgy?
well - someone had to say it
Are the Vegetable and Mineral components essential equipment for this activity?
Is it a type of dancing?
Rosie] A Mexican Wave? No
Chalky] An orgy? No - this is perfectly SFW
CdM] Are the Vegetable and Mineral components essential equipment for this activity? *sustained applause* Yes - one of them is part of the name (though equipment isn't quite the mot juste for most of them)
Raak] Is it a type of dancing? No
Is it a traditional activity?
ImNotJohn] Is it a traditional activity? Depends on the definition. The name of this activity dates from the last century, but people almost certainly did it before then.
Is the mineral liquid?
ImNotJohn] Is the mineral liquid? *cheering and stamping of feet* Yes, liquid is one of the necessary components, though other minerals may also be involved in another component.
Ye Olde Timme-Tamme Sucke?
CdM] Ye Olde Timme-Tamme Sucke? Ouch - I wondered how long it would be before that came up. No, and not remotely close. Hint - finding the vegetable would help.
Is the vegetable edible (by which I mean normally eaten, not just that it won't actually kill you7)?
Is it that game where you have to dunk your head into a bucket of water and grab an apple with your teeth?
[I feel sure there must be a simpler name for it]
Is the liquid water?
[Chalky] I know it as 'Bobbing for Apples' or 'Apple Bobbing'.
Is it normally carried out indoors?
ImNotJohn] Is the vegetable edible (by which I mean normally eaten, not just that it won't actually kill you)? No
Chalky] Is it that game where you have to dunk your head into a bucket of water and grab an apple with your teeth? No
ImNotJohn] Is the liquid water? Yes
Rosie] Is it normally carried out indoors? No
Is the vegetable wood?
Water Divining?
CdM - Is the vegetable wood? *cheers and whooping from the audience* Yes. There are four necessary components of the answer - three you've got, the fourth is either vegetable, mineral or a combination of both.
Could this be descibed as an outdoor leisure pursuit?
Messing about in boats?
Chalky] Could this be described as an outdoor leisure pursuit? Yes
Raak] Messing about in boats? No
Angling?
Rosie] Angling? No
Poohsticks?
Croquet?
sorry - strike that. It doesn't involve water.
Water Polo?
We have a winner! Raak takes the baton - yes, it's Poohsticks. Good game, everyone.
ABSTRACT
Tiddly pom...
A drunken Brit in Australia?
A human construct?
[Rosie] No; yes.
A property of the physical world?
[Rosie] No.
A philosophical concept?
A single noun?
The sound of one hand clapping?
[irach] No.
[Tuj] A noun phrase.
[CdM] No.
A description of some human endeavour?
Is it specific to some particular historical period?
[i] Yes.
[I] No.
Is this endeavour in any way heroic, such as climbing Everest, or Leith Hill, come to that?
[Rosie] Only by humorous hyperbole.
Is it specific to a geographical location/area?
[INJ] No.
Is it a sport or recreational activity?
[CdM] No. Quite the opposite, really.
Bone idle?
[I] No, a different opposite.
Are the endeavouring individuals typically in receipt of renumeration for their participation in this abstract human construct? Does it pay?
[CdM] Yes. *murmurs from the audience of "oooh, they're getting warm!"*
Is it being in/on Big Brother?
[bl] No.
The working day?
Is it a routine administrative task?
Bringing home the Bacon?
[INJ] No (but you're getting warmer).
[R] No.
[Rs] No (also warmer).
Working up a sweat?
[i] No.
Working nine to five?
Is the answer a figurative phrase?
Putting one's nose to the grindstone?
[irach] Close...
[Rosie] No.
[ResSnapper] Also close...
Does it apply to a particular trade or profession?
[INJ] No.
Working all hours?
Overtime?
[I] No.
[R] No.
The players are hot on the track...
the day job?
[INJ] No.
Working like a dog?
A Hard Day's Night
?
(ahem...)
Burning the midnight oil?
[All] No. These could all be involved, but there's a crucial component no-one's mentioned yet.
A hint: the words on the card do not make any explicit reference to work.
Does the "crucial xcomp
Does the "crucial component" occur in all types of work?
Stuttering.
All work and no play?
[Rosie] No.
[irach] Inching closer...
Whistle while you work?
Does the answer contain an explicit reference to time or a period of time?
Working day and night?
[i] No.
[INJ] Yes.
[RS] No.
Working until you drop dead?
[irach] No.
Working overtime?
Is the referenced time a season?
Does this only occur in/refer to manual work?
The night shift?
Remember guys - there is no specific reference to work
[irach] No.
[Dujon] It can be called one, but not one of the canonical four.
[I] No.
[INJ] No.
Is the referenced time a holiday period?
Does the answer relate to the licensing laws?
[CdM] *riotous applause* Yes!
[CdM] No.
Is the referenced time period Christmas?
[CdM] No.
Wakes week?
[I] No.
A Bank holiday?
Begins with an M?
[I] No.
[Tuj] Er, no.
Summary of what has been established: it's connected with holidays, and connected with work, while not being either.
A working vacation?
[irach] No.
Days of wine and roses?
[I] No.
Anything to do with preparation for a holiday?
Labo(u)r Day?
[Rosie] Absolutely not.
[irach] No.
Leisure Time?
[Chalky] No.
Anything to do with the aftermath of a holiday?
[CdM] *riotous applause* Yes!
Boxing Day?
Something to do with the holiday you need after having been on holiday?
[irach] No.
[Rosie] No. Think simpler.
A tan?
How simple is that?
[Rosie] No.
Holiday Pay?
[Chalky] No.
Monday morning?
Er, except it doesn't begin with an M. OK,
is the holiday the weekend?
[CdM] No; no.
Your earlier guess that drew the applause was the closest yet, and I might just give it to you if no-one comes up with something closer by the end of today.
Post - holiday blues
and if I'm correct - I shall say thank you to CdM
[Chalky] No.
...although it could be involved.
Jet Lag?
[GL] That can also happen when this happens.
Is it to do with the aftermath of the holiday as experienced by the holidaymaker (as opposed to, say, those who have to clean up after the revelries)?
[CdM] Yes.
Back to work after the holidays?
[RS] YES!
Well, well... The next one is ABSTRACT WITH VEGETABLE CONNECTIONS
Is it a fictional piece of vegitation?
[GL] No.
With apologies, I'd like to amend the first clue to ABSTRACT WITH VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL CONNECTIONS for indeed there is one of each.
Is the animal connection human?
Anything to do with heraldry?
[Rosie] Yes, but not exclusively.
[Raak] No.
An anarcho-syndicalist picnic?
a piece of literature?
[INJ] No. However, one might well consider taking the vegetable part to picnic, anarcho-syndicalist or otherwise. [Rosie] No.
Is either the vegetable or the animal part figurative? (eg a carrot as enticement)
(RedSnapper) No to what? Should I have bothered with this question? :-)
[Chalky] Not a piece of literature.
[Rosie] Yes. The vegetable part is used figuratively. (I had answered Chalky's question with a No, and mistakenly used your moniker in parentheses. Apologies to Chalky too. Nominative dyslexia!)
Is it associated with a particular country?
Does the animal part refer to the whole "animal"?
(RedS) The nominative dyslexia explains all. I wasn't trying to be accusative. :-)
[Tuj] No. [Rosie] No. A part of the animal. Reiterating an earlier answer to you, I remind you that the animal part could be human.
Would this be a phrase such as an adage, old wives' tale ... ?
Is the vegetable part wood?
Is it a work of art?
[Dujon] Yes. It is a phrase. [Inkspot] No. [Raak] No.
A long shot - The apple of one's eye?
[Rosie] Yes!!! You're right!! The baton is all yours
Well, that's nice - I don't often score with a long one these days.

This next one is simply ABSTRACT.

Is it a title something?
Is it a philosophy?
(Inkspot) - No
(Raak) - No
Is it a type of human behaviour?
well guessed Rosie!
(Chalky) - No It works every now and again. :-)
Is it a mental phenomenon?
(Raak) - No
A saying or phrase?
(irach) - No. Despite all the No's so far this is not obscure or difficult.
Is it anything to do with time?
(Inkspot) Yes - *hesitant but approving noises from audience*
Is this a scentific theory?
(Dujon) - No, nothing so abstruse.:-)
Daylight Saving/Summer Time?
(Dujon) - No. The connection with Time is very general, hence the audience's reaction to Inkspot.
any connection with meteorology? *ducks*
(Chalky) Yes, but you don't need to be a weather nut to have put up this subject, far from it.
The shipping forecast?
(Raak) - No (too particular)
A weather forecast?
(Raak) - No The answer is not only about meterology, and is ONE WORD.
Aeromancy?
(Divination by cloud shapes.)
(Raak) - No Nothing as fancy as aeromancy.
Sunrise? (in the general sense)
(Dujon) - No
Summer?
(Raak) - No - but a lot of audience applause.
I'll let someone else guess another season...
Summer Solstice?
oh dear - sorry - forgot it was just the one word.
Solstice?
Narrowing ayes or extending noes: Is it one of the 'four seasons'?
heatwave?
Autumn?
(Chalky) - No
Dujon - Yes - nearly there...
(ImNotJohn) - No
(Lurker Kim) - No - even nearlier there...
OK, I'll try Spring
Winter
Tough luck, INJ, but all is the winner. Well done, sir/madam. Your go.
Thank you
OK people this one is VEGETABLE/ANIMAL
Is the animal human?
[INJ] No (at least I hope not)
Is it man made?
Is it a type of food?
Mmm, beef and vegetable stew.
[Inkspot] Yes
[Raak] Yes, but not beef and vegetable stew
Is it a associated with a particular country?
Is it a well-known food recipe (eg. Shepherds Pie)?
[Inkspot] Yes, possibly two particular countries
[Kim] Yes
Does it involve noodles?
[Raak] No.
Is/are the particular country/ies European?
[INJ] The main one is, but the optional one isn't.
Chicken Tikka Marsala?
An 89, a 34, and an egg fried rice, please.
[INJ] No
[Raak] It'll be about 20 minutes, cash only please.
Pizza?
[irach] Yes.
This one is VEGETABLE WITH AN OCCASIONAL ANIMAL CONNECTION
This one is VEGETABLE WITH AN OCCASIONAL ANIMAL CONNECTION.
Waiter, there's a fly in my vegetable soup!
[Raak] Good and amusing try, but no.
Edible, in the normal sense?
Is it related to the generally accepted term 'The Arts'?
[Rosie] Yes. Very edible.
[Dujon] No, not really.
Welsh rabbit?
Caesar Salad (optional chicken)?
Is it a created dish, as opposed to just a particular fruit/vegetable?
apple (optional maggot)?
[Raak] [Kim] No.
[CdM] Yes, a created food. No, not an apple, and neither is an arthropod of any kind involved.
Fly cemetery? (a currant tart or slice)
[Raak] Not a currant tart, but inching ever so closer.
A kind of pudding?
[Néa] No.
Is the vegetable part fruit?
[Irouléguy] No.
A pie of some kind?
[CdM] No. (Getting warmer, but not quite toasty yet).
Something stuffed with something?
[Raak] Not generally.
Does this include raisins?
Please ignore that, irach. Not a fruit; sorry.
Is pastry part of its make up?
(egg) fried rice?
Is it a vegetarian imitation of meat?
[Dujon] It is a bakery item.
[IMJ]{Raak] No. No.
An angel cake?
[Raak} No.
Sweet, rather than savoury?
Generally savoury, in its most common incarnation.
oooh, Cornish pasty? (although, given the suet in the pastry, I'd question the occasionalness of the animal ...)
[Wol] No.
A type of bread?
[Raak] Yes, of sorts.
A sausage roll?
[I-guy] No.
Sandwich?
Toast?
[all][Chalky] No.
are we to die of boredom?
[Trotterman] Not if you go to France and think French.
A baguette?
I might add, in defense of my following of Bolton Wanderers and general insanity as a result thereof (which might lead some to think that I had adopted a nom de plume), I was and am not 'Trotterman'. :-)
Pizza?
Pitta?
[Dujon] There's no defence for following Bolton Wanderers ;-)
A gallette?
Croque Monsieur?
Is it French then?
INJ's view is seconded, soundly.
[Dujon] [Raak] [INJ] [Inkspot] [CdM] No.
[Tuj] Yes it's as French as Au Claire del la luna, and that's a clue.
Croissant?
(although I wouldn't say that was generally savoury...)
Yes. A (butter) croissant.
Me again?
OK, this is ANIMAL and VEGETABLE
Is the animal human?
Human? No.
Is this edible?
I don't think of croissants as being savoury, either
Edible? Yes. (*some applause* )
Is it savoury?
savoury? Yes
Is it a drink?
A drink? No (*smatterings of applause, however* )
Soup?
Soup? No.
Is it French?
French? In part, yes. (*some applause* )
Is it liquid?
Liquid? In part, yes.
A banana milk shake?
Banana milk shake? No. In fact, impressively far from the correct answer.
Is this meat in a sauce, say Coq Au Vin?
Meat in a Sauce? *tumultuous applause* At least by the usual definitions, the answer is almost yes, but not exactly.
Cod in parsley sauce?
Is pasta involved?
Cod in parsley sauce? *further sustained applause*   No.
Pasta? *sudden dead silence*. No.
Is it a type of soup?
Pickled herring?
Soup? *tut-tutting noises from the audience, together with mutterings of "young people today have no attention span, that's the problem"*
Pickled herring? No.
Moules Marinière?
Popeye? No, but inching closer.
Is the animal bit seafood (crustacea, etc) rather than fish?
Crustacea? No, the animal bit is fish.
Grilled red snapper with rougaille sauce?
Fish and chips?
Oops, no attention span, liquid involved...
[Raak] ... drenched in vinegar?
Caviar?
How about Oysters dripping in Oystery thingy ... ?
sorry, I was out for dinner...
Red snapper with rougaille sauce? *ecstatic applause and much fainting in the aisles*. The fish is indeed red snapper. Now you just have to figure out the key ingredient of the sauce.
Fish and chips and vinegar and caviar and oysters? No.
Is the key ingredient alcoholic?
Way back there was a little ripple at the mention of a drink...
Alcoholic? Yes. (*applause* ) And, as a reminder, just for free, the key ingredient is also French.
Is the name of the sauce the name of the alcoholic beverage?
If anyone comes in and steals this one, I'll throw a wobbly :-)
Red Snapper Provencale?
The thing is, I don't eat fish as a rule so I'm just taking a culinary flyer ....
A poached fish with mushrooms in a white wine sauce?
The French supermarkets I saw on hols had a wonderful wide selection of fresh seafood that beat Sainsbury's regimented display of mackerel, salmon and kippers into a cocked hat.
Refusing to name my sauces
Name of sauce = alcohol? Yes. Though, to be precise, the sauce doesn't have a name as such. I simply want a key French alcoholic liquid ingredient.
Provencale? No.
poached with mushrooms in white wine? It could be.
Red Snapper Chasseur?
.. which is loosely connected to mushroom and white wine, which on reading the above has been indicated as a possibility. This may be my last guess. I simply don't know of any other sauce one might serve with Red S. And if someone else guesses the right sauce I WON'T throw any wobblies because I'm busy from now on and so don't really care :-)
Pernod or Ricard? [the sauce that is]
He MADE me type this :-)
Who made who type it? You're both pissed. Disgraceful.
Red Snapper in Bouillabaise Sauce?
Chasseur? No.
Pastis? No.
Bouillabaisse? No.
I say again, the words on the card are not so much a particular sauce as a particular ingredient (French, alcoholic, liquid). In that sense (although only in that sense), the guesses of Pernod/Ricard are on the right track. And although the RedSnapper could be poached in mushrooms in white wine, the mushrooms are irrelevant, and there is a sense in which that particular recipe is unlikely, given what is on the card.
You might make more progress at this point if you stop thinking of this as a culinary puzzle...
Champagne?
Champagne? No.
Is the other element of the dish also the name of an MCer (like RedSnapper)?
In a Rich sauce? In an Orange sauce? In a (Prof) Plum sauce? In a Chalky sauce?! Can't think of anyone who posts as Campari, but....
another MCer? Yes! *audience rises to their feet as one and cheers*. OK, now just how hard can this be...?
Rosé? ;-)
Brown Sauce
Or maybe not
Krug?
I'd thought of Sauce à l'anglaïs, but decided against it
Red snapper in Ros(i)é wine?
[Iroul] I think I've guessed that already :-)
Chalky *blushes deeply* I don't even have the excuse of being pissed...
Brown, Rosie, Krug? No. This is evidently more obscure than I thought. I am particularly surprised that neither INJ nor Irouléguy have got the answer.
(Or even if they haven't got the answer, I'm surprised they haven't gotten it.)
Red Snapper in Bernaise Sauce made with wine vinegar?
OK, The weekend is coming up
Béarnaise sauce? No.
The missing ingredient is French and alcoholic, and would be suitable as a basis for a sauce. There have been suggestions that this ingredient might be a wine of some kind, and I have done nothing to discourage those suggestions. It is also the name of an MC player who plays regularly in this game. And, no, it isn't Chateau Flerdle.
RedSnapper with Iroulëguy Wine sauce
Finally...
*hands over the baton* (although you might want to microwave it before you eat it)
Just returning from lunch, dining not on Red Snapper but a rather measly soggy tuna sandwich unaccompanied by any fine wine, Iroulëguy or otherwise... This one is ABSTRACT BUT WITH A NECESSARY ANIMAL CONNECTION
Is it Narnia?
[Kim] No.
A constellation?
Is it a saying, proverb, or figure of speech?
[Raak] [Nea] No.
Fictional?
Double identity?
A cartoon character?
Is the animal human?
CdM] Never heard of it - I'll have to try making it, if I can find a bottle of me in this country.
[Raak] Not fictional. [Chalky] No. [Dujon] No. [Irouléguy] Yes.
Is the human alive?
[Irouléguy] The first time I ever heard of Irouléguy was in the context of the wine. Do you not take your name from the region, then? Or did you just not know they made wine there?
*is neither French nor alcoholic*
Is the abstract bit a place?
CdM] No, I did take my name from the wine, I meant I'd never come across the particular dish. Do you just poach the fish in the wine, or is there more of a recipe?
[CdM] The human component has to be alive. [Irouleguy] The abstract bit is not a place, but a specific place is required for the abstract thing in question to take place.
Fishing?
Does it have a connection to religion?
[Irouléguy] No, not fishing. [Néa] No. Yet some of the human component may be said to pursue the abstract thing with almost religious fervour.
Something to do with a game?
Is it a solo pastime?
[Raak] Not a game per se, but people do compete at it
[Inkspot] Generally carried out in a group setting, although some enthusiasts may do it solo in private.
Bullshitting?
[Raak] No.
Playing air guitar?
Getting drunk?
Running?
Animal breeding?
Is is associated with a particular culture or country?
[
[Irouléguy] No, but getting closer.
[Inkspot]1. Not running. 2. It was originally associated with a particular country but is now universal.
[Raak] No, and no.
Was the particular country a European one?
[Raak] No.
Is there a musical connection?
Or a connection to martial arts?
[Irouléguy] Yes. Very much so.
[Néa] No, not that I know of.
Did it originate in Amrerica?
Does it involve strenuous physical exertion?
[Inkspot] No.
[Raak] Only if the participants so desire, but strenuous exercise is not a required activity.
Karaoke?
[Irouleguy] Yes!! Congratulations!
*waves arms wildly, attempts to twirl microphone*
If I was being pedantic, I'd object that the definition should really have read "necessary animal and mineral connection" - you have to have the equipment for it to be karaoke as opposed to just singing while drunk. Anyway, our next is MINERAL .
Is it found on earth?
([Iroul] Re fish and wine -- no, I had no particular recipe in mind; it was just intended as a culinary marriage of two MCers. (The internets reveal plenty of recipes for red snapper in wine sauces, and plenty of recipes for various fish in Irouléguy sauces, but I couldn't find a specific example of my chosen combination.) I still say that by the time it was clear that the missing component from the answer was the name of an MCer that was also the name of a French alcoholic drink, you might have been expected to make a guess!)
Is it man made?
Is it bigger than a telephone box?
Is it a telephone box?
Is the mineral metal?
Related to Cassini?
Cdm] Found on earth? Yes (and yes, I should have tried the guess - I'm too literal about this sometimes)
Inkspot] Is it man made? Yes
Kim] Is it bigger than a telephone box? In the volume sense of bigger, no
all] Is it a telephone box? No
ImNotJohn] Is the mineral metal? Some of it is.
Does it have moving parts?
Used in the home?
ImNotJohn] Does it have moving parts? Yes
Rosie] Used in the home? No
Raak] Related to Cassini? No (sorry I missed you out above - you must have simmed me).
Is the part that's not metal composed of plastics or synthetic polymers?
Would it fit inside a telephone box?
irach] Is the part that's not metal composed of plastics or synthetic polymers? Yes (some of it, anyway - there may also be other bits)
Raak] Would it fit inside a telephone box? Normally, no
An aerial of some sort?
Is it associated with the dissemination of sound?
A fishing rod?
Raak] An aerial of some sort? No
irach] - Is it associated with the dissemination of sound? Not really - some of these do make sounds, but most don't
Rosie] A fishing rod? No
Does it run on electrical power?
Is it anything to do with transport?
Inkspot] Does it run on electrical power? *applause* Yes
Rosie] Is it anything to do with transport? *louder applause* Yes
Is it wheeled?
A Segway?
ImNotJohn] Is it wheeled? No
Raak] A Segway? No
Is it something you would attach to a vehicle?
Is it flexible?
Raak] Is it something you would attach to a vehicle? No
CdM] Is it flexible? No
Is it anything like one of these?
Is it used for public transportation?
An elevator?
Does the electrical power typically come from a battery or batteries?
Raak] Scary! There is a colour connection, but otherwise, no.
irach] Is it used for public transportation? No An elevator? No
CdM] Does the electrical power typically come from a battery or batteries? No
A Belisha beacon?
Is it used in or on the ocean?
A speed camera?
Traffic lights?
We have a winner! Traffic lights it is. Take it away, irach.
What? Me again? This one is just VEGETABLE.
Is it edible?
[Rosie] Yes. A part of it is edible.
Is the part that is edible a fruit or seed?
Does it have to be cooked before being eaten?
The Nasturtium?
[irach] - re: "What? Me again?" Who dares wins ;-)
Is it a herb?
IDoes it have a shell?
[CdM] I guess it can be construed as part of the seed.
[Raak] No. But it is used in parts of the world for cooking purposes too.
[Inkspot] No. [Kim] Yes.
A coconut?
[Raak] Yes, you got it! Take it away...
This one is ANIMAL, MINERAL, and VEGETABLE.
Man-made?
You must be psychic, or brilliant. Take your pick.
Contents of a pet store?
[Rosie] Yes.
[irach] No. (slight murmuration from the audience)
Is it a meal, rather than one item?
The Notlob parrot?
Just checking to see if my psychic powers have reappeared. [Raak] A terrific deduction.
[Rosie] Not a meal.
[Dujon] No.
A pie of some kind?
[Rosie] No. (snoring from the audience)
Is the mineral part metal?
[Inkspot] Some of it is.
Would the animal part be found in a pet store?
Is the vegetable part eaten by the animal?
[CdM] Yes, but that's a very misleading answer.
[I] Yes, partly.
Are there many of the thing as a whole, or just one?
[Tuj] Many.
Is this a geographical feature [loosely speaking]?
[Chalky] No.
A Zoo or Wildlife Park?
[C] No.
Might one find this in the home?
Looks as though I'm the only one playing today ....
[C] No.
I'm here too...
Is the animal part a living animal or a product from a dead one?
Is the animal part a living animal or a product from a dead one?
eliminating more possibilities ... found in the workplace?
[R] ... but you know the answer
Is the animal part human?
[irach] Primarily living. Dead animals, if any, are only peripherally involved.
][C] Ah....no.
[i] The living animal part is human.
Is this a person undertaking an activity?
[C] That is a deep philosophical question, but for present purposes we can say that the answer isn't, but people undertaking an activity is a big part of what it is. (Several members of the audience attain enlightenment.)
Any link to transport?
[INJ] No.
Are any of the mineral or vegetable parts clothing?
[I] No. That is, the people involved are usually wearing clothes, but that isn't a part of the answer.
Do these people have to pay to do this?
A religious or spiritual activity (in a broad sense)?
[C] Yes. (a sprinkling of applause.)
[INJ] Only in a sense broad enough to be jocular.
For clarification, the activity itself is not the answer, but a definite activity takes place there.
Is this a building designed for a specific purpose?
[C] Yes. (APPLAUSE!)
A shop?
[C] Yes! (Several members of the audience ascend into heaven.)
Harrods?
[INJ] No.
Is it a 'well-known High Street store'?
[C] No.
Is it a generic shop type (as in 'a grocer's shop')?
[INJ] Yes.
A cheese shop?
[INJ] No.
A shoe shop?
[C] No.
A butcher shop?
[irach] Not many vegetables in a butcher's shop.
A supermarket?
A wholefood shop?
A greengrocery?
[i,I,C] No.
A healthfood shop?
A Florists?
[all] I think that's what a 'wholefood shop' is?
[all] No.
[everyone] Don't get too hung up on narrow definitions of "vegetable" and "shop".
A coffee house or café?
A newsagent?
A public house?
[CdM] No, and no.
[Chalky] Yes! Over to you.
Thanks :-)

A B S T R A C T with mainly A N I M A L connections

Would the animal be feline, by any chance?
A 'wholefood' shop is organic stuff (veg, beans, pulses, sometimes baking). I'd think of a healthfood shop as being more vitamins and minerals, like Holland and Barrett.
[I Rule A Cute Guy] healthy/whole food - yeah, it's a fine line. The ones we have here do both and are known as health food shops.

Feline? No

Is the animal connection human?
[Rosers] Human? erm - Yes
Is the, erm, human a fictional human?
Chalkers, Rosers, I Rule A Cute Guy - there's a game in this, somewhere!
[The Kimster] Fictional? Yes!
King Arthur?
[Raak] No ... but * cheers from audience*
The Arthurian Legend?
Going for the bleed'n' obvious. How's that, O Calciferous One?
Female?
Camelot?
Chalky] Yes, they mostly do both round here too (though Stoke Newington Church Street still has an organic baker). I think 'wholefood' may have been a seventies thing, and I might be showing my age.
good morning all :-)

[Rosers] Arthurian Legend? No
[Raaaaaak] Female? No
[Iroulé] Camelot? No

A fictional king?
[INJ] Yes
King Lear?
[CdeM] Lear? No
Shakespearean?
Was there some significance to your "erm" in response to the 'human?' question?
[INJ] Nay
[CdeM] significance? Well spotted
King Kong?
A man in a suit but probably not human enough to count.
[all] King Kong? No
King Louie?
Granted, he wasn't a man at all, but he wanted to...
A cartoon?
The king of the hill?
English King?
[Néa] King Louie? No
[CdeM] cartoon? No
[Iroulé] hill? No
[irachsnap] English King? No
Prester John?
[Raaak] Prester John? No
The Sun King?
Thrashing about in the dark. Hmm, chance would be a fine thing.
Neptune?
Is this pseudo-king from a nursery rhyme?
Was he European?
[Rosie] Sun King? No
[CdM] Neptune? No
[Duj] Nursery? No
[Iroul] European? No ... although trying to find out a little more about this fictional king may well be the way forward
*takes off 'stating the bleedin' obvious hat'*
Is the answer in the form "King ......."?
And while we're in thrashing about mode - King Rat?
[INJ] Form/Rat? No & No ['though the word 'King' IS on the card]
Is it a king of myth or legend that only approximated to human (The Fairy King, for example)?
Does he feature in a specific novel or set of novels?
As opposed to someone like Arthur (or the Fairy King).
Is he originally from religion or mythology?
we have a breakthrough
[Kim] myth/legend approximate human? Would be misleading to say yes because ...

...[Néa] set of novels? YES!!!! *hoorays from audience*

[Iroul] religion/mythology? see Kim's answer

The Return of the King?
[INJ] YES! Nice and easy does it. Over to you ...
After a weekend away
OK - sorry for the delay. The next one is
ANIMAL
Human?
Rudolf Rocker?
Human - Yes
Mr Rocker - any relation to Mr Hucker? - No in any case.
Alive?
[Néa] No
Female?
[CdM]Female? - No
Alive in the last century?
Dead White Male?
(I still think Rudolf Rocker was a good guess, btw.)
A religious personage?
Died before 1998?
[Iroul] Alive in last century - No
[CdM] Dead White Male? - No
[Néa] Religious? - No
[all] Died before 1998? - Yes
Alive after 1 AD?
Any connection with anarcho-syndicalism?
Anticipating a negative, here we go again...
Asian?
Big place, Asia, alas.
[Raak] Alive after 1 AD? - Yes
[Rosie] anarcho-syndicalism? - No (though I was tempted)
Asian? - Yes (several of the audience wake up and applaud)
Chinggis (aka Ghengis) Khan?
Well, that didn't take long
YES - that's the guy.
Well done and over to you.
Sweeping across the steppe...our next is ABSTRACT, necessarily involving ANIMAL (and almost certainly VEGETABLE and MINERAL as well, but they won't help).
An anarcho-syndicalist hog-roast?
Related to a work of fiction?
Is the animal human?
Armageddon?
Trying to think big here.
The extinction of the dinosaurs?
The Black Death?
ImNotJohn] An anarcho-syndicalist hog-roast? It could be a feature of this, but it's pretty unlikely.
Related to a work of fiction? This does occur in works of fiction, but it's not related to any particular one.
CdM] Is the animal human? *scattered applause* Yes
Néa] Armageddon? No
Raak]The extinction of the dinosaurs? No
Rosie] The Black Death? No

Advance apologies - because of work I won't be near a computer tomorrow till about 5pm.
A swarm or herd of any kind?
Is the human a single particular individual?
Does it happen in real life as well as works of fiction?
Is this a historic one-off event?
Ignore my previous question - I didn't see CdM's Q & A.
Is war involved?
The King of the Gypsies?
Rosie] A swarm or herd of any kind? No
ImNotJohn] Is the human a single particular individual? No
all] Does it happen in real life as well as works of fiction? Yes
Rosie] Is this a historic one-off event? *the audience giggle* Possibly.
Gusset Login - Is war involved? Quite the reverse.
Raak] The King of the Gypsies? No
Sex?
A love-in?
Néa] Sex? *cries of "phwooar" from the audience* Yes, but more specifically...
Raak] A love-in? Is that what the young people are calling it these days? Again, more specifically...

The words on the card should be safe for work, unless your manager is exceptionally straitlaced.
An orgy?
An orgasm?
(Chalky) Works both in English and French; humps, humps, humps etc. Sorry to be so flippant.
Somebody's first time?
Rosie] An orgy? No
Chalky - An orgasm? No
Raak] Somebody's first time? Possibly, but not specifically.
Procreation?
At this point would you still say that the vegetable and mineral components are not helpful?
Raak] Procreation? Definitely not the point of this.
CdM] At this point would you still say that the vegetable and mineral components are not helpful? Yes - while vegetable and mineral will almost certainly be involved in this, the possible range is so wide that focussing on them wouldn't help.

There's an indirect topical political connection.
A kiss?
foreplay?
The cigarette afterwards?
Invoking Ken Clarke.
The rhythm method?
Anything to do with contraception?
Raak] A kiss? No
all] foreplay? No
Rosie] The cigarette afterwards? No
CdM] The rhythm method? The jazz-lover's preference? No
Tuj] Anything to do with contraception? Contraception would almost certainly be part of this.

The first two of these, and the last, would almost certainly be involved in the answer. The other two might well be involved (and the likelihood of this would be greater in the past).
Safe sex?
Non-procreative sex?
Anal sex?
Bugger it; it's worth a try.
CdM] Safe sex?
Raak] Non-procreative sex?
Rosie] Anal sex?

All of these could well be involved - think circumstances rather than activity.
This game was completed in MCiOS ' Truth Game' along with the other puzzles that followed - shall we steal it back? Yes? Yes?
Yes!
Might be nice to shift Gary Glitter off the top of the page.

Please don't paste in the intervening moves, though.

The Summer of Love?
In the midst of which I was born
Anyone bothered enough to transfer a summary?
Shazam!
And the mystery object is an ABSTRACT object that can be physically realised in MINERAL form, and has nothing to do with almost every guess so far, be it of concrete, water sports, transport, weather, crocodiles, pagodas, or Contango Day.
Is it connected with the Internet?
[Tuj] No.
Does the mineral form take the form of writing of some sort?
[Tuj] No.
How much will it help if we find out what sort of mineral it is?
[I] Possibly, a bit. It might help more to find out what sort of abstract object it is.
Something to do with computers and the internet?
[I] No.
Is this something that people would pay to see?
[Chalky] No, but they can pay to buy one, at prices from $30 to $12000.
Is it an event?
[I] No.
Is this a piece of "abstract" art?
A Klein Bottle?
[Rosie] Yes!
[CdM] (the audience die of heart failure and are taken up bodily into heaven) YES! A Klein bottle!
All right. I will once again turn to the WRAVMASG...
...and this is either ABSTRACT or MINERAL/VEGETABLE with ANIMAL connections. I should perhaps warn you that it is very possible that no-one here has heard of this, but it should still be solvable with judicious questioning and googling.
Is it a physical construction?
Does it originate from a particular culture?
Physical construction? No.
Originate from a particular culture? Not exactly, but *some applause*.
Would it be found in a specific country?
Found in a specific country? Yes. *substantial applause*
Is the Animal connection human?
An English-speaking country?
A European country?
Is it a place?
Is the mineral metal?
Is the vegetable edible?
Is the associated country in Asia?
Rare audience appreciation!
Human? Yes. the animal connection is not particularly useful, though.
English-speaking? No.
European country? Yes
A place? Yes. *applause*
Metal? Some. Since you have now identified that we are looking for a place, I would say that the mineral/vegetable/animal connections are not that helpful.
Edible? Some. See above.
Asia? No.*dead silence from audience*
Is the place best known for an event that happened there?
Is it found in one of the EU member states?
Is the answer the name of a town (hamlet/city etc.)?
It is a place where one might go to contemplate the beauty of nature??
Actually, on second thoughts, given the ABSTRACT primary definition, I wonder - Is the answer the name of a geographical area in some sense?
best known for event? Um, I am not sure if it is known for anything
in EU? Yes.
Name of town (hamlet/city, etc.)? No, unless "etc." is very broadly defined.
beauty of nature? Er, I have no idea, really. I'll hazard a guess at yes, though I don't think it is particularly known for its natural beauty.
****
Ah ... good thing I previewed before posting. Name of a geographical area? Yes. *applause*
Is it in France?
France? No. 24 to go.
In current EU?
Oops - forget that one - how about In a country with a Mediterranean coastline?
In current EU? Er, yes. Didn't I already answer that?
*****
Ah, you are saved by the preview again.
Mediterranean coastline? No.
And, for free, here is an addendum to a previous answer. The name of a town/hamlet/city is one of the words on the card, although the answer is not the name of a town/hamlet/city.
Does the area have a coastline?
Is the answer an administrative area?
In Scandinavia - including the Baltic States?
Coastline? I am pretty certain that the answer is no.
Administrative area? Yes. *applause*
Scandinavia including Baltics? Yes.
(Make that 99.9% certain that it does not have a coastline)
Is it in Finland?
Finland? No.
The province of Jönköping?
Does the name itself consist of more than word? (Or, contrariwise, is the phrase on the card 'the province/region/whatever of ...' plus just one word?)
In Germany?
Oops, missed that it's Scandinavia.
In Denmark?
The Tivoli Gardens?
In one of Baltic states?
Remember guys - the initial setting said that we've probably never heard of this.
Does it have connections to Norse legends and myths?
Is it in Sweden?
Jonkoping? No.
Form of answer? The answer is two words: Place Name + Administrative Area Designation.
Part of the Third Reich? No.
Denmark? No.
Tivoli Gardens? Never heard of them
In Baltic States? Yes.
Connection to Norse legends? Not as far as I am aware.
Sweden? No.
Something like "Latvian Borough of Riga"?
LBoR? Well, something like that, although see my previous response on the form of the answer.
Estonia?
For the sake of brevity assume I've asked the other 2 in turn if each preceding one is wrong.
Oh, it would have been briefer to ask the 3 questions separately, wouldn't it?
Estonia? Yes.
One of the 15 counties?
One of the 15 counties? Sadly, no. :-)
A municipality?
Municipality? Yes, although that is not the word on the card.
Is the word on the card 'township'?
OK so we're down to one of the 208 municipalities (aka townships) or possibly one of the 47 towns. Shouldn't take long now.
Is the second word "commune"?
Township/Commune? The word on the card is "Commune" but I think that is just an equivalent term for "township". As you say, shouldn't take too long.
Does the county it is in begin with a letter in the first half of the alphabet?
I can do binary chop searches
Disappearing into meetings now, but I'm using Wikipedia's 'list of municipalities in Estonia'
County in first half of alphabet? Yes, most definitely. :-) I'm leaving in 15 minutes; think we can get it worked out by then?
If it has not been figured out before I leave, I might hand the baton to INJ (*cries of "nepotism!" from the audience*) given that he has done most of the heavy lifting on this one.
Hiiu county?
In the hope of a quick win
Is it in the County of Harju?
[agree re: INJ so I'm just helpin to move things along - not aiming for a lurker's victory}
Harju it is
So, there are 19 communes, of which seven have coastline, so just 12 left to choose from
Saku Commune?
Nope. The answer was Kernu Commune. And as I am now going out for the evening, I am going to declare INJ the winner. Sorry it was so obscure, but that's what the Wikipedia Random AVMA Subject Generator gave me...
[CdM] An interesting technique for subject generation, but not very satisfying once we get down to the 'find the one from the list' bit. BTW I should also like to deny categorically that I am CdM's nephew.
Anyway, the next one is ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections
Is the animal part a person?
[Ink] - Is the animal part a person? The animal part is human.
Is there a musical connection?
[Iroul] - musical connection? - NO
Is the animal part some number of specific humans?. [INJ] Agreed. If I use it again I will throw in a bit of my own discretion about the suitability of the subject.
[CdM]some specific humans - NO
A crowd or gathering of some kind?
[Rosie] gathering - NO
Is it a role?
[Raak] Role? - NO
Is it male?
[Inks] Male? - Not defined
[forgetting the animal part for the time being] - Is this an activity of some sort?
[Chalky] an activity - NO
Normal service (i.e. slow) will be resumed shortly - in about 20 mins - when I pack up to go home.
A belief system?
[Iroul] Belief system - NO
Human construct? (oblig.)
Does this involve the senses?
[CdM] Human construct? - YES (though that may not help a lot)
[Chalky] involve the senses? - NO
Is this an intellectual creation?
[CdM] an intellectual creation? - YES (some shaking of heads in the audience)
Is it a field of study?
[Hux] a field of study? - NO (some laughter in the audience)
Entertainment (or intended to be entertainment)?
[Iroul] entertainment? - NO
Hmm, I didn't think it would be this hard to get - I'm in meetings all afternoon, so I may have to start thinking of clues.
Is it an abstract noun?
Is this a medical condition?
[Tuj] abstract noun? - NO
[Chalky]a medical condition? - NO
I'm not very convinced by my own answer to the Intellectual creation question - I'm not completely sure what CdM meant by it. However the answer is a product of human minds, so I stand by it. I also refer you to my answer to the very first question from Inkspot.
Is the human a specific human?
Is this historically specific?
[Tuj] a specific human? - NO
[Iroul] historically specific? - NO (though its abstract existence does not span all of human history)
Clarifications on the last 2.
Not a specific human, but a specific subset of humankind.
Its existence spans about the last couple of hundred years.
An organisation?
[Raak] An organisation? - NO
Is it connected to the USA?
(I'm not sure what my 'intellectual creation' question meant either; I simply threw it out there in the hope that it would generate some response other than 'NO'.)
Or is it connected to some particular technological invention or innovation?
[CdM] connected to the USA? - Not particularly (nor originally)
technological invention or innovation? - NO (some laughter in the audience)
Religious?
[Tuj] Religious? - NO (but definitely no laughter)
Is the "specific subset of humankind" either 'men' or 'women'?
[CdM] either 'men' or 'women'? - NO
Trekkies?
To do with science fiction?
Is this represented by an acronym?
[Iroul] Trekkies - NO
[Raak] SciFi - NO
[Tuj] Acronym - NO
Time for a little help here. The human connection is with a specific subset of humankind which is neither men nor women.
Hallowe'en?
[Rosie] Hallowe'en? - NO
Children?
(i.e., is that the human connection?)
[CdM] Children? - YES; the human connection is with children (substantial applause from the audience)
Is it a game of some kind?
(I presume not, since you said it wasn't an activity, but just in case...)
[CdM] a game? NO (you presumed correctly)
Spelling bees?
Connected with a work of fiction?
[Raak] Spelling bees? - NO
[CdM Connected with a work of fiction? - This has appeared in a number of works of fiction, but that is not the normal context for it; so NO is probably the most useful answer
It's that point in the day where I go to my hotel and my laptop gets locked in a drawer at work. I have every confidence that it won't take long now - you just need to pin down what sort of thing this is.
The tooth fairy?
Child labour laws?
[Inkspot] I hope not. I did that one not so long ago...
Is it related to childcare?
Compulsory schooling?
OK - an apology. I've done a bit of looking up and I now think that I should have answered YES to the Connected with a work of fiction? question, in that the majority of the references were in the context of a single work. Anyway, we're nearly there.
[Inkspot] The tooth fairy? - NO (but substantial and prolonged applause)
[CdM] Child labour laws? - NO
[Raak] Compulsory schooling? - NO
Is this a make-believe character?
The sandman?
[Chalky] make-believe character? - YES
[Iroul] The sandman? - NO
The audience is surreptitiously putting on coats etc. ready for an early exit
Jack Frost?
Fairy Godmother?
We have a winner!!
THE FAIRY GODMOTHER it is. Back to CdM
Although the character appears in many stories and predates Perrault, Cinderella now appears to have a working majority.
Credit where credit is due...
...it was actually Ms CdM who figured this one out.

Anyway, back to the Wikipedia Random AVMA Subject Generator one more time...

... and this one will be easy, I think. It is ABSTRACT (possibly with VEGETABLE and and/or MINERAL connections, but I don't think those are very helpful).
Atlantis?
Is this another place?
A human construct?
(trad)
It an event in the natural world?
Sorry for the delay
Atlantis? No.
A place? No (thankfully).
Human Construct? Very definitely.
Event in natural world? Not quite sure what you mean, but I think the answer is no.
Is this a building perhaps?
An organisation?
The Daytona 500?
(that's what I got when I followed the link...)
Building? No.
Organisation? No.
Daytona 500? No.
An idea?
A work of fiction?
A work of non-fiction? [thanks Kim]
A proverb or saying?
A belief-system or philosophy?
Connected with a belief-system or philosophy?
Is it connected with anything connectable-with?
sorry - ignore that - I was being unecessarily facetious
An idea? Only in a very vague sense.
work of fiction or nonfiction? No.
proverb or saying? No.
Belief system or philosophy, or connected thereto? No.
Connected to anything? Yes. :-)
A state of mind?
Is it of recent origin?
state of mind? No.
Recent origin? No. (Googling suggests that the first instance of the answer was in the early 16th century, but it is probably less misleading to suggest that it has been around since the mid 19th century.)
An artistic endeavour, or connected thereto?
Artistic endeavor? No. (Nevertheless, a smattering of applause.)
Anything to do with Music?
A style of doing something?
Music? No.
Style of doing something? No, except in a very very general sense. However, it is a specific abstract thing that exists in the context or a more general abstract thing.
Is it an academic study of any kind?
A form of dance?
Academic study? No. (But again, a slight smattering of applause.)
Dance? No.
Science fiction?
A particular style of architecture?
Science fiction? No.
Style of architecture? No.
Something "alternative" such as homeopathy, dowsing, etc?
A scientific theory?
Something alternative? No.
Scientific theory? No.
Hmmm... so much for my belief that this would be easy. It seems to me that you have still missed a key broad class of abstract things.
Mathematical?
Mathematical? No. (*significant applause greets the question and some "oooohs" greet the answer*)
Linguistic?
Linguistic? No. (also, perhaps the applause for "mathematical?" should not have been quite so significant)
Geometrical?
Geometrical? No. (the applause was less significant than that)
To clarify
It is not mathematical. It could however be said that there is a mathematical connection. I am not sure that is a fruitful line of enquiry, however. I would still look for the 'key broad class of abstract things' that has not yet been mentioned.
Numerology?
Numerology? No.
Is this a type of game?
Something imaginary?
Something to do with computers/worldwideweb?
topological - in ythe sense of connected with shapes etc?
Something to do with time?
Type of game? Yes! *sustained relieved applause from the audience*
Imaginary? No.
Computers, WWW? Well, I know you can find examples of the answer on the WWW, but I refer you to my previous answer concerning the 16th and 19th century.
Topological? No.
To do with time? No.
Chess?
A specific board game?
Is this a game that's often bet on?
Chess? *massive applause*. Chess is one of the two words on the card. I now refer you to my earlier answer to Tuj.
Specific board game? The answer is not a specific board game.
Often bet on? Very rarely, I would imagine.
Speed Chess?
is that what it's called??
or "Blitz" Chess
just looked it up :-)
Fairy chess?
Speed/Blitz chess? No.
Fairy chess? No, although there is some connection.
Blindfold Chess?
Blindfold chess? No.
Four-handed chess?
4H chess? Never even heard of it. So, no.
Haw about "Wizard's Chess"?
Haw/How
Wizard's chess? No.
Chess Championship?
I assume from the 'not a specific board game' answer that we are not looking for a type of chess.
Chess, the musical?
Chess Problem?
So this is 'a type of game', but 'not a specific board game' and one of the 2 words is 'chess'. Hmmm.
[Raak] Lloyd Webber hasn't been around since the 16th century, it just seems that way.
And INJ and I keep swapping back and forth: Chess Problem (actually, the word on the card was Puzzle, but I decided earlier I would also accept Problem) is the answer. INJ's careful parsing of 'not a specific board game' was correct; that was why I answered that question even after Chess had been guessed. Finally, I hope "yes" to "type of game" wasn't misleading; I was just so relieved that someone was finally on the right track!
*thinks CdM and INJ are each other's nephews*
(no, not really :-) )
[Néa] No, CdM and I are each other's uncles
I do have a tendency to get involved more towards the end of these games - the Michael Owen approach
Anyway, have a go at: Mineral
Manufactured?
[Chalky} Manufactured? - YES
Specific ("the Eiffel Tower") rather than general ("stainless steel")?
[Néa ] Specific? - YES (Eiffel Tower? - NO)
Primarily or exlusively metal?
Bigger than a telephone box?
[CdM] Metal? - NO
[Raak] Bigger than a telephone box? - YES
Is it a monument?
[Raak] a monument? - NO (but some applause)
Is it in Europe?
In Europe?
Hmph. No mere simulpost is going to stand in the way of my question.
Promarily or exclusively stone?
[Iroul] In Europe - YES
[CdM] I will let it stand in the way of a separate answer
[Tuj] stone? - YES
The Notre Dame Cathedral?
Was it built in the last 100 years?
Sacré Coeur?
In Britain?
Big Ben?
Chartres Cathedral?
[irach] Notre Dame? - NO
[Iroul]built in the last 100 years? - NO
[Rosie] In Britain? - NO
[irach] Big Ben? - NO
[CdM] Chartres - NO
A place of worship?
[CdM] place of worship? - NO. There's an untested assumption here.
Is it a building?
[Inks] a building? - NO (that's the one)
Is it a free-standing structure?
A place of worship doesn't have to be a building, you know...
Is it a statue?
[CdM] free-standing? - YES
[Raak] a atatue? - YES (loud and enthusiastic applause)
(it's also a Statue)
Is it made of marble?
Is it in Italy?
David's statue of Michelangelo?
(which is much less well-known than the other one)
[Inks] marble? - YES
[Chalky] in Italy - NO
[CdM] David's statue of Michelangelo? - NO (nor vice versa)
The Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen?
[Chalky] Little Mermaid? - NO (can't be long now)
In France?
suppose it would help to find out which country - NOT Britain, NOT Italy ...
In Spain?
Scandinavia?
[Chalky] France? - YES
[CdM] Spain - NO (now there's a surprise)[Néa] - NO
it's a race now
The statue of Joan of Arc?
[Chalky] Joan of Arc? - NO
Venus de Milo?
Is it in a public square/place (as opposed to in a museum, say)?
[Néa] Venus? - NO (Oooohs from the audience)
[CdM]public square/place? - NO (next one gets it I reckon)
Rodin's Thinker?
[CdM] Rodin - NO (OK, so I was wrong)
Rodin's Aphrodite of Melos?
[Raak] Rodin's Aphrodite of Melos? - NO
Nike of Samothrace?
[Néa] YES! - It was the Winged Victory or Nike of Samothrace
Over to you then
I broke the chain of uncles!
Oooh... well then. VEGETABLE AND MINERAL (with certain ANIMAL connotations)
Is the vegetable part largely or entirely wood?
[CDM] YES
The Cross?
[Raak] NO.
Are there many of these?
(Raak) Brilliant long shot. Glad it failed. :-)
Is the mineral part largely or entirely metal?
[Rosie] YES
[CdM] YES

Oh, and I said "connotations" where I meant "connections". I should only do one thing at a time - that results in fewer mixups!
Is the animal connection human?
(A deserved win if only for being the person who took notice of the marble and telephone box answers)
*blush*
[INJ] NO
A piece of furniture?
Is the metal part the fixings that hold the wooden parts together?
Am getting a feeling that this one will be quick
[furniture] YES
[fixins] NO
Bigger than an armchair?
[Tuj] NO
A rabbit hutch?
A stool?
You at the back stop giggling.
[Raak] NO
[Rosie] NO

The audience is silent (except for that one suppressed snicker at the back).
Smaller than an armchair?
[CdM] YES.
Is it made for sitting on?
[Inkspot] Oh deary me, NO.
Is it for storage? (Cupboard, bookshelf, etc.)
[Raak] NO.
Is it a piece of furniture by a particular designer?
[Inkspot] NO. (It is not entirely straightforward, but "yes" would both be untrue and misleading, I think.)
Does it have wheels?
[Raak] There are wheels, YES, but not in the way you probably think, NO.
A lava lamp?
[INJ] NO.
A clock?
[Raak] YES! *audience cheers and claps mightily*
That is not the full answer, though.
A cuckoo clock?
We have a winner!
[Chalky] YES - it is indeed a cuckoo clock! *audience starts singeing cuccu*
Over to yourself.
oh Lordy - I've finally achieved a lurker's victory . Makes a change :-)
Nice easy one:

A N I M A L

Mammal?
alive?
Mammal? YES
Alive? NO
Human?
Edible?
[N] Human? YES
[R] Edible? To cannibals perhaps :-)
Bigger than a telephone box? A specific individual?
European?
(I like this minimalist approach, as opposed to CdM's verbosity)
[C] Specific? YES
[I] European? YES
Alive in the 20th century?
Any connection with Mornington Crescent?
♀?
A scientist of some sort?
A monarch/ royal?
Nicholas Sarkozy?
Politician?
[N] Alive 20th century? YES
[R] MC? Possibly - I haven't read ALL of the archives
[C] Male? YES
[Tuj] *cheers from audience* YES!
[i} Monarchy? NO
[I] Sarkozy? No
[R] Politician? NO
Einstein?
(Getting the obvious out of the way first. I would have asked if it was Heisenberg, but I figured you would just say that you weren't sure.)
Pierre Curie
(He might have a connection with MC - wasn't he active on the radio or something?)
Wasn't he married to MC?
Physicist?
[CdM] Einstein? NO
[I] Pierre Curie? NO
[INJ] Physicist? YES *ooohs from audience*
Feynman?
British?
[R] Feynman? NO
[INJ] British? NO
Steven Hawking
Danish?
[K] Steven Hawking? NO
[I] Danish? NO - though you're right to try and get the nationality of this person.
Germanic/Scandiwegian?
[CdM - Heisenberg - ah yes. See what you mean now. I think :-)]

[INJ] Germanic/Scandiwegian? YES ;-)

Schroedinger?
German?
[CdM - It's only Schroedinger if you don't guess him.]
A superposition of Schroedinger and Hahn, in that case?
We have a winner !
Well deduced CdM - it's that cat man Erwin Schrödinger. Was that a stab in the dark?
Me again?
OK, I'll go to the WRAVMASG one more time...
... and I will reject "a municipality in the Honduran department of Comayagua" on the basis of the Estonia experience...
... and I will also reject two succcessive entries concerning RPGs on the grounds that I would be completely unable to answer questions about them...
and so today's subject is ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections.
A macrobiotic diet?
An anarcho-syndicalist dude ranch?
Going back to my roots
Macrobioticism? No.
a-s dude ranch? No. *more than a smattering of applause from the audience, though*
A group of people?
I mean the *name* of a group of people
Is it a symbol?
Connected with animal husbandry?
Group of people? Yes. *applause*
Name of group of people? Yes.
Symbol? No.
Animal Husbandry? No.
Anything to do with trade unions?
To do with trade unions? *some uncertain applause from the audience* Hmmmm... it depends on what you mean by "anything to do with". The answer is not a trade union.
Is this group found in one specific country?
One specific country? Yes. *applause*
In Europe?
In Europe? Yes. (OK, so maybe this isn't completely free of the Estonia problem)
Is it a political organisation?
Political organization? Yes. *applause*
Is it a political party?
The EU?
Is it in one of the former Eastern bloc countries?
Is it a left of centre?
Political party? Yes.
In EU? Not when I last checked.
Former Eastern bloc? Yes
Left of Centre? Yes.
That might be enough information to get it...
The Soviet Communist Party?
Going to feel a right plonker if it isn't . . .
Soviet Communist Party? No. [Rosie] There was a very specific clue in my previous responses.
Latvian Social Democratic Labour Party?
LSDLP? No. *The audience is silent for a moment, then applauds, then continues to applaud, then stops applauding, then applauds again.*
The Social Democratic Party of Romania?
SDPoR? *The audience starts applauding excitedly, and then stops dead, save for a tiny smattering of applause at the very end* No.
SDP of Slovakia?
SDPoS? *The audience, once burned twice shy, stays silent throughout* No.
Is it from the former Yugoslavia?
former Yugoslavia? Yes. *applause*
Croatia?
SDPoC? Yes! *passes baton*
Oh!
Goodness! I wasn't expecting that. I thought a more exact answer (including the policital party) would be expected, once the relevant country had been identified. Not that I'm complaining, mind. I've been wanting to set this one for some time. It should be quite easy and I won't be surprised if one of you bright sparks gets it in one.
It's ABSTRACT with both ANIMAL and VEGETABLE connotations.
Marvin Gaye's 'I heard it through the grapevine'?
Are there a lot of these?
Is the animal connection human?
Is it an idiom?
Is it a human construct?
[Kim] Well, I figured that the "Social Democratic Party of" bit had already been established, and all that was missing was the country.
(Oh, and my "not when I last checked" comment re EU membership was meant to be a clue to the fact that Croatia (like Turkey) is in the middle of negotiations.)
The Green Party?
(INJ) Shurely it must be if anarcho-syndicalism is involved.
An anarcho-syndicalist pot-luck dinner?
[Rosie] So right - I feel such a fool.
[Irouleguy] Nice, but no.
[Raak] No, only one.
[INJ] Yes.
[rab] Idiom? No.
[CdM] It was a generous judgement on your part, I think. Human construct? Yes.
[Rosie] Green Party? No. *A few wry smiles among the audience*
[INJ] Not this time, I'm afraid, but hang on in there, I'm sure your day will come.
Specific to some particular culture?
An organisation?
[Nea] Culturally specific? Very broadly, yes.
[Raak] Organisation? No.
I may not be able to look in this evening, but will do so tomorrow morning.
Vegetarianism?
[Rosie] Vegetarianism? No. *A few more wry smiles, mostly from the same people who previously smiled wrily*
A book title?
A gardening programme?
Is it food-related?
[Inkspot] Book title? No.
[Irouléguy] Gardening programme? No.
[rab] Food related? Yes. *applause*.
A kosher diet?
Is it a particular dish?
A cookery programme?
Cannibalism?
Related to politics?
Is it a single word?
That looks quite a dizzy question, in retrospect, I'll have another.
[Rosie] Kosher diet? No.
[Inkspot] Particular dish? No.*more wry smiles*
[rab] Cookery programme? No.
[Raak] Cannibalism? No. Yuk!
[Tuj] Related to politics? No. Certainly not as far as I am aware.
[Tuj] Single word? No.
Is it an event?
Fast food?
Is it a cuisine?
Is it related to a job realted to food?
Heh.
realted
*related
[Inkspot] Event? No.
[Irouléguy] Fast food? No.
[Tuj] Related to a job related to food? Hmmm, I think, on balance, I would have to say Yes, but I'd be hard pressed to say what the food-related job that the answer is related to actually is.
Is this anything to do with food deprivation?
[Chalky] Food deprivation? No.
Is it related to food production?
[CdM] Related to food production? Yes.
Organic farming?
The Jolly Green Giant?
Crop rotation?
Hoh, hoh, hoh!
With a single imaginative leap, Chalky lands spot on the answer, which was, indeed, the Jolly Green Giant! It was the word "Green" and the vague connection to vegetables in two of Rosie's answers that made the audience smile. Congrats, Chalks, over to you.
eek!
... and there's me thinking I wuz being a bit silly. Nice one Kim :-)

Next up - VEGETABLE

edible?
Sweetcorn?
It's gotta be.
[INJ] edible? not usually
[Kim] S'corn? As if!
Partly or wholly wood?
Is there just one of these?
[Raak] partly/wholly wood? Not really, No
[Iroul] one-off? No
A flower?
Is it manufactured or significantly processed?
Made of paper?
[Rosie] Flower? YES!
[CdM] manufactured? No
[Raak] paper? No
*is now office-based for a few days - will try very hard to look in here on a regular basis but please forgive any delays*
Does it have a conventional symbolic meaning?
[rab] symbolic? YES
Is said symbolic meaning to do with løve?
Is it National flower ?
A rose?
A lily?
[Néa] lerve? No
[Inks] National? No
[Raaak] Rose? No
[rab] lily? No
A snowdrop?
Is it a particular colour?
Associated with death?
A Bachelor's Button?
A poppy
Coming back for seconds rab] What's that?
[Irouléguy] It's a symbol either of chastity or unity, depending on who you listen to. Also known as a cornflower.
Is said symbolic meaning to do with death?
Result!
Irouléguy has the right answer! It's a poppy.
Sorry I wasn't around much to reply to the earlier couple of questions - I'm sure someone would have got it sooner. It was one of those days *sigh*
(Chalky) Poppies, at least the ones you wear, are not Vegetable but Mineral and I rejected the idea on those grounds. Rage, rage. Woman of your calibre? I dunno. :-)
awww
[Rosie] I looked into my Natural History book when it was my turn, randomly chose a page with wild flowers on it and picked an easy one. 'Twas as simple as that :-)
Sorry for the delay - got home late yesterday. Carrying on with the easy-ish themes, our next is ABSTRACT involving ANIMAL and VEGETABLE
Chalky] I knew what you meant
Is is a recipe?
Is there just one?
Is the animal connection human?
Kim] Is is a recipe? No
Raak]Is there just one? *applause* Singularity is a key part of the definition.
ImNotJohn] Is the animal connection human? No
Is it a fictional character from a book?
The Eco-system?
The Last Rose of Summer?
(A Victorian drawing-room song)
Inkspot] Is it a fictional character from a book? No
Rosie] The Eco-system? Gaia-d guess, but no.
Raak - The Last Rose of Summer? A great song, but no.
Is the animal connection alive?
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