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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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[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?
Is a religion involved?
Is it the symbol of some organisation?
Is it a geographical location?
ImNotJohn] Is the animal connection alive? Yes
rab] Is a religion involved? *more applause* Yes
Raak] Is it the symbol of some organisation? No
Rosie] Is it a geographical location? No
Holy Communion?
The Feeding of the Five Thousand?
Miracle of The Loaves and Fishes?
rab] Holy Communion? No
Rosie, irach] The Feeding of the Five Thousand? No - see INJ's question about the animal connection being alive.
The wording of rab's previous question is important.
Is it Christmas-related?
Kissing under the mistletoe?
Is it connected to Christian ceremony?
Is it related to an object of religious veneration?
I think we also need to explore Iroul's statement that 'Singularity is a key part of the definition'
A partridge in a pear tree?
On the 3rd day before Advent, Raak has it! (with a strong assist from INJ) It is originally a religious song, and each line has a particular religious significance. One baton handed over.
[I] According to snopes, the religious significance is an urban legend.
ABSTRACT and MINERAL.
The snopes URL was wahwahwahdot snopes.com/holidays/christmas/12days.asp.
Hmmm... you should have been able to type that in. Let's try again. Yeah, that works - Raak, you probably mis-typed 'href'. I'll set about producing a warning when this happens.
Anything to do with Christmas?
The Anarcho-syndicalist Tennis Championships Cup?
Santa's Sleigh?
[Rosie] Indirectly.
[INJ] No.
[irach] No.
A building?
Is the mineral metal?
Well, you live and learn. I grew up Catholic, so I knew the 'underground Catholic' thing was wrong, but I had always though it was a memory thing like 'Deck of cards'. Sorry if I misdirected anyone.
[Tuj] No.
[I] No.
Is it an idiom?
A natural phenomenon?
[rab] No.
[Rosie] Yes!
Something related to the weather?
related to snow?
An 80% chance of rain?
[Inkspot] Yes.
[INJ] Yes. (Applause!)
[rab] No.
The dissimilarity of all snowflakes?
Anything to do with the colour of snow?
[CdM] No.
[I] No.
A snow drift?
A blizzard?
The snowman?
[Chalky] No. (More applause.)
[rab] No. (Applause continues.)
[I] No.
A particular way in which snow falls?
I'm trying to work out the abstract connection...
Being snowed-in?
[Tuj] Close...
[Chalky] Yes! Being snowed in.
I'm not sure whether it was really justified to call it abstract. I think we sometimes use the word too readily.
ooops
sorry - all contributors - I seem to have barged in at the end and found the right phrase. After a few months of playing and never quite getting the right answer, I think I'm learning how certain minds work - ie. I would not have posted that particular phrase if the chair had been anyone other than Raak. Weird eh? :-)

Here goes ...

A N I M A L and I, too, will play down the abstract nature of this one ..

Human?
(Raak) It's true we are a bit free-and-easy with the abstract occasionally but there's nothing wrong with the last one. Being snowed in is a "state", so cannot be anything other than abstract.
[Rosie] Human? Indeed, yes
alive?
Female?
I think I agree with Rosie -- perfectly legitimate to call that last one abstract. I was less sure that the partridge in the pear tree should have been so classified.
[INJ] Alive? Yes
[CdM] Female? No
[Chalky] A propos the discussion at mcios, you should have chosen "George Best", hoping that someone would have asked the inevitable "alive?" question in time for you to answer "yes" and throw us all off the scent.
European?
CdM] I was following the convention that if it's fictional, it's abstract.
Over 50?
In the news lately?
Elton John?
[CdM] I started my 'go' a couple of hours too late for that ruse :-)
[Iroul] European? Yes
[Kim] Over 50? No
[Raak] In the news lately? No
[irach] Elton? No
British?
[Inks] British? Yes
A sportsman?
A musician?
[R] sports? not in the way you probably mean
[I] musician? yes
Am out and about for much of the weekend - will try and look in tonight ..
A sports commentator?
Instrumentalist?
[Inks] commentator? No
[Rosie] Instrumentalist? Yes
Are albums released under his name?
[Inks] Nooooo. Did I say he was famous? [that was a clue]
Colin Sell?
[Rosie] Colin Sell ? No
Is he a pianist?
Herr Bratsche?
[Inks] pianist? yes
[Néa] HB? No - but excellent guess :-)
Is he, ahem, one of us?
[Rosie] He .. ahem ... is :-)
Rosie?
Mick Smetaphor?
JLE?
(Raak) Can't be me - he's under 50.
Projoy?
I think that we have just about exhausted the list at this point...
shouting above audience cheers
[Raak] Not Rosie
[Iroul] Not Mick Smetaphor
[Rosie] Not JLE
... but Projoy plays the piano amongst other musically things - so the winner is CdM! :-)
*hands baton overseas*
Oh. That was unexpected. All right then, this one is ABSTRACT. And apologies in advance -- I will not have much net access for the next 36 hours.
Merry Christmas?
[Raak] Thank you?
If the various accusations that have been flying about are true, then it has to be:
Anarcho-syndicalism
A-s? No.
Does this abstract thing arouse strong emotions?
Arouse strong emotions? In itself no, though certain examples of it certainly do.
Is this a natural phenomenon?
Football?
A period of time?
Anything to do with science?
An idea or concept?
Natural phenomenon? No. *significant non-applause*
Football? It is an example of the answer, but not the answer.
Period of time? Perhaps an example of the answer, but not the answer.
To do with science? Many things to do with science are examples of the answer.
Idea or concept? *applause* These are examples of the answer, but not the answer.
An abstract noun?
Abstract noun? Well, "abstract noun" is an example of the answer. The answer is also an abstract noun phrase.
the right answer?
Right answer? This is an example of the right answer, but is not the right answer. (Besides, I already did that.)
Abstractness?
Otherness?
The English language?
Abstractness? No.
Otherness? No.
English Language? No.
A word?
A word? No.
By all rights you should have got this one long ago. It is Chalky's fault that you are having such difficulty.
Things which are examples of the answer, but not the answer?
hmmmph
A human construct?
That which is different from every possible guess, including this one?
we have a winner!
Raak's Russellesque guesses were nice, but the answer is indeed "A Human Construct". *passes baton*
Yes, we should have got it from the 'significant non-applause'.
On a less esoteric note, this one is VEGETABLE & MINERAL
Salted peanuts?
[Raak] Salted peanuts? - So far and yet, so far.
Is it edible?
Manufactured?
A postage stamp?
[Iroul] edible? - Strictly - NO
[CdM] Manufactured? - YES
[Chalky] postage stamp? - NO
Can you wear this?
[Iroul] edible? - Strictly - NO
[CdM] Manufactured? - YES
[Chalky] postage stamp? - NO
[Chalky] wear it? - NO
Don't know what happened there - I couldn't see my response and was told I'd simulposted. Still, at least the answers didn't change.
Is the vegetable part wood?
Is this a weapon?
[Raak] Is the vegetable part wood? - NO
[Chalky] a weapon? - NO
I think it only fair to mention that there were some mutterings in the audience at my last answer to Irouléguy
If one ate it would the consequences be dire?
[Rosie] dire consequences - YES (though that's probably not helpful)
Is this a medicine?
[Chalky] medicine? - NO, although some would claim medicinal properties for it (some laughter in the audience)
Larger than a telephone box?
[CdM] Larger than a telephone box? - NO
A bottle of whisky?
[CdM] bottle of whisky? - NO (but loud and prolonged applause from the audience)
Some type of alcohol?
[Néa] alcohol? - YES
Tequila?
This could take a while by this method
[Iroul] Tequila? - NO
To clarify. The answer is 'A bottle of .......', which explains the mineral, the dire consequences on eating etc. We're now just looking for the contents.
I thought someone would be there by now
I'll be away from t'interweb until about 0800 GMT now. I'd go out and look for some inspiration for the answer (could be hard for Flerdle).
A bottle of beer?
A bottle of methylated spirit?
Poteen?
Is the missing word (or words) a generic type of alcoholic drink (e.g., beer, wine) or more specific (e.g., Samuel Adams, 1960 Chateau Petrus...)
Is it a spirit?
[Raak] beer - NO
[Rosie] meths - NO
[MadC] Poteen - NO
[CdM] generic/specific - YES (Oh, all right, it's more towards the generic end of that spectrum)
[Iroul] spirit - NO
A bottle of Pastis
(which I think is not distilled and therefore not a spirit, although I may be wrong on either count there (and can't be bothered to google to check))
A bottle of cider?
A bottle of schnapps?
Just noticed that no-one has asked the (probably too obvious) A bottle of wine? question. Consider it asked.
A bottle of champagne?
Let us spray
A bottle of champagne for the lucky lady!
It's over to Chalky.
eeeek
oh blimey - again! I like these quick-fire ones.
Here's another that should also be guessed in less than 20 questions ...

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

Aslan?
Human?
[Raak] Aslan? No, but damn fine guess.
[CdM] Human? No
Anything to do with Narnia?
An example of anthropomorphism?
[Iroul] Narnic? Funny you should ask but ... not really.
[INJ] anthropomopomomorphinismic? nn-n-n-n-n-no
Anything to do with the world of Harry Potter?
[Kim] HP? Nah
Fictional?
Lamb of God?
[Rosie] Fictional? More FictITional - but also fictional - 'though some might say not :-)
[CdM] Lamb of God? No
Shub-Internet?
[Raak] No - whatever it is
Found in a particular book?
Something to do with computing?
Anything religious connection?
[Tuj] Particular book? Found in many books
[Raak] Computing? No
[Rosie] Religious connection? Yes :-)
Is the animal bit a real animal?
Connected to the Christmas story?
*cheers from the audience for both questions*
[Iroul] Real animal? Based on a 'real' animal, yes
[CdM] Christmas? Yes!
The ass?
[CdM] ass? No.
Remember this Animal is also tagged with the Abstract definition.
Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer?
drum roll
[Raak] Rudolf? YES!

Nice and easy does it. 15 guesses. Over to you Raak :-)

MINERAL. I confidently expect Chalky to get it in one.
Chalk?
A nut behind the wheel of a car?
An empty champagne bottle?
Is the mineral metal?
[rab] No.
[Inkspot] No. (The reference to Chalky should not be taken too literally.)
[INJ] No; no.
Hail?
The salty deposit left on cars and stuff after it's snown then melted
[Rosie] excited murmurings from the audience No.
[Chalky] more of the same No.
A meteorological phenomenon?
Snow?
[Chalky] Where is the religious connection of R the RR?
[Néa] Loud applause! Yes, but that is not yet the answer.
Sleet?
[INJ, missed earlier] Yes.
[Rosie] No.
A blizzard?
[Rosie] No.
Being snowed in?
[CdM] Again? No, the weatherr's not that bad.
Rain?
Slush?
[I] No.
[Rosie] No. However, your last three answers are all examples of the answer, but are not the answer.
Ice?
Gotta be!
[Rosie] Nope.
Is the answer some form of frozen water that falls out of the sky?
[Rosie] Yes. CLUE☞You just have to find the CLUE ☞ right ☜ CLUE sort.
Precipitation?
Graupel (i.e. snow pellets)?
[Chalky] Yes.
[Rosie] No.
Freezing rain?
Snow grains?
[Néa] This is an example of the answer, but not the answer.
[I] This is an example of the answer, but not the answer.
The reason that these are not the right answer is exactly the reason they are examples of the right answer.
Solid precipitation?
The wrong sort of snow?
[Rosie] Yes, but etc.
[I] Yes! The wrong sort of snow.
I like it when being wrong is right. Staying with the topical theme, our next is ANIMAL, ABSTRACT and has again a Christmas connection.
The fairy on top of the Christmas tree
Is it a male animal?
Human?
ImNotJohn] The fairy on top of the Christmas tree? No
Inkspot] Is it a male animal? Yes
Raak] Human? No
One of Santa's reindeer, other than Rudolph?
Is it a panto character?
Kim] One of Santa's reindeer, other than Rudolph? No
Inkspot] Is it a panto character? No
is this an animal that might appear in the nativity scene?
Is it four legged?
Is it Biblical in a Christmas-related way?
Chalky] is this an animal that might appear in the nativity scene? No
Inkspot] Is it four-legged? No
Raak] Is it Biblical in a Christmas-related way? It's not Biblical

Kim's move should have provoked an "oooh" from the audience.
Sorry - the answer to Inkspot is "yes".
an elf?
Sorry - confused by the correction to Inkspot. So
Santa's little helper?
Is this a cartoon character/creature?
INJ] Yes! (the second one) Another nice fast one. One slighly-chewed, drooled-on baton being thrown your way.
Ooh, that was quick!
One to ponder overnight
OK, the next one is MINERAL (with ABSTRACT connections)
I'll only be around to answer questions for the next 15mins or so, so you can think about it.
Anything to do with the weather?
The cornerstone of anarcho-syndicalism?
[Raak] weather? - NO
[Rosie] cornerstone of anarcho-syndicalism? - NO (though it will be one day)
A work of sculpture?
Manufactured?
Looks like this might be quick too
[Raak] - work of sculpture? - YES (applause)
[Iroul] Manufactured? - YES (see previous answer)
Nelson's column?
A statue of an anarcho-syndicalist?
[Iroul] Nelson's column? - NO
[Raak] an anarcho-syndicalist? - NO
Topical just now?
Please forgive tautology.
[Rosie] topical? - NO (I'll happily be pleased to forgive the tautology)
Is it in Britain?
Is it more than 500 years old?
[Raak] in Britain? - NO
[Inks] more than 500 years old? - NO
Is it in Europe?
Does it commemorate a politician?
Rodin's "Thinker"?
[Iroul] in Europe? - NO
[Rosie] a politician? - NO
[Raak] Rodin? - NO
Is it made of metal?
[Inks[ metal? - NO
Is it in Asia?
Does it commemorate a religious figure?
Getting warm
[Néa] Asia? - NO
[Phil] religious figure? - YES (considerable applause)
The Buddha?
[Iroul] Buddha - NO
Christ the Redeemer?
(in Rio de Janeiro)
Was the person it commemorates alive within the last 200 years?
And the baton is passed
[Néa] - YES It is the Statue of Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado in River of January
Gah, I need to stop guessing when I'm sure I'm right...
All right, then - ABSTRACT.
With ANIMAL and MINERAL connections.
A human construct?
(trad)
[Néa] Just as well you got that as I could have had a problem answering Raak's question.
Human construct? YES.
Feel free to answer it now if you like!
sedevacantism?
Salt cod?
[Sede vacante] NO
[Gadus salinicus] NO
Is the animal connection human?
Anything to do with Christmas?
[Human] YES
[Christmas] NO
One particular human?
Is there a literary connection?
[One particular human] NO
[Literary] NO (the audience doesn't look entirely convinced of this answer)
Is it a class of human identified by reference to geographical location?
[Geography] NO
Fictional?
[Fictional] NO
Is the abstract notion always obvious in any of the humans involved?
Connected with a branch of the arts?
Is gender relevant?
[Always obvious] I think the answer must be NO, depending on what you mean by "always".
[Arts] NO
[Gender] NO
Is the mineral connection water?
[Water] YES
Any religious significance?
Connected with folklore/faerie or the like?
[Religious significance] There is a definite religious connection, YES, but it doesn't intrinsically have to be there, NO.
[Folklore/faerie] NO
Is it some form of ritual?
[Ritual] YES! (Big applause)
A rain dance?
[Rain dance] NO
Is it water in a particular form?
[Particular form] YES (audience smiles)
A snowball fight?
Does it involve the sea?
[Snowball fight] NO.
[The sea] YES!
Is the religion Christianity?
[Christianity] YES, but NOT exclusively.
Is the particular form of water snow?
[Snow] NO
Anything to do with Christmas/New Year?
[Christmas/NY] NO
Is it something to do with precipitation?
[Precpititita... er... falling water] NO
A ceremony performed on crossing the equator?
[Equatic ceremony] NO.
Any sea, or a particular sea?
Burial at sea?
*applause!*
[Any sea] YES - because...
[Burial at sea] YES! Well done, that Raak.
The next one is MINERAL.
Anything to do with snow?
[CdM] No.
Man-made?
[Rosie] Yes.
Mostly metal?
[Rosie] Yes.
Is there just one of this?
[I] No.
Entirely metal?
Is it found in the home?
[Phil] No.
[Rosie] No.
Is it bigger than a telephone box?
[Kim] No. (But not much smaller either.)
Does it have moving parts?
[Kim] Yes.
A machine of some sort?
A car? A particular type of car?
[INJ] Yes.
[Wol] Um, not really.
A Sinclair C5?
[INJ] Well guessed! (laughter) No.
A motor vehicle?
A mainframe computer?
A Motor Bike?
Housed in a building?
[Kim] Yes.
[rab,Chalky,Rosie] No.
An autorickshaw?
[rab] No.
[Hint] Guessing different types of "motor vehicle" is unlikely to get any closer to the answer.
Used for transporting people?
[CdM] No.
Does it fly?
[Néa] No.
Used for transporting a cargo of some sort?
[INJ] No.
Is transportation its primary purpose?
Is it fixed in place?
[rab] Yes.
[Rosie] No.
(Remember, there's more than one of these.)
Is it electrically powered?
[I] Yes.
A quantum teleportation device?
Robots from Robot Wars?
Did you play any role in the development of any such vehicles?
[rab] No.
[Phil] (Applause!) No.
[CdM] I wish. No.
Does this device normally travel through the air?
[Kim] No.
Daleks?
[rab] No. (Daleks can fly these days, anyway.)
A Mars rover?
[I] Close enough. Specifically, The Mars Rovers.
Sorry for the delay everyone - Xmas party season is upon us. And I'm off out again, so it'll be late tonight when I log in again, assuming I'm not too drunk. Our next is VEGETABLE with ANIMAL connections, and no seasonal connotations at all.
Can you eat it?
Not in the sense that you can eat a cork mat, given the will. :-)
Vegetarian meat-imitation?
A turnip amusingly shaped like a todger?
A triffid?
Rosie] Can you eat it? Yes - fully edible
Raak] Vegetarian meat-imitation? *shudder* No
Chalky - A turnip amusingly shaped like a todger? In one sense possibly close, but no.
Kim - A triffid? Triffic guess, but no.
An edible item in which has miraculously appeared a holy image?
Is any of it actually Animal?
Normally eaten raw?
Raak] An edible item in which has miraculously appeared a holy image? No
Rosie] Is any of it actually Animal? No - but most of the words on the card are the name of an animal.
ImNotJohn] Normally eaten raw? *cheers and cries of "Encore" from the audience* YES

Back after lunch - which may well feature one of these
Lady's fingers?
Black Sheep Bitter?
Vodka Red Bull?
King Edward potatoes?
Granny Smith Apples
?
CdM was right the first time - no question mark necessary. The answer is GRANNY SMITH APPLES. A nice quick one, and some excellent guesses. Over to CdM...
I had an unfair advantage, since I really did have a Granny Smith on my mother's side. Only problem is, I am leaving in 4.5 hours to catch a plane to Hong Kong and San Francisco, and I don't think United Airlines is wiffed in the air yet. So I won't be around the internets for the next 36 hours or so. Does someone else want to take the baton?
I'd vote for Raak, as he got nearest.
Well, if that's nem con since yesterday afternoon, here's an
ABSTRACT
There is a topical connection for people in the UK, but not strongly connected with Christmas or winter. Snow is not involved.
The leader of the Conservative Party?
I've just remembered that I'll be off travelling from Sunday midday to Tuesday midday, so on second thoughts I should have passed the baton on to someone else. Anyway...
[Chalky] No.
Combustion?
[Rosie] No.
The weekend lull... I suggest someone else does one instead. Got to catch a plane to Amsterdam.
Allow me...
Never backward in coming forward, I'll offer this festive little number: ABSTRACT
Season's greetings?
Good will?
Would the average person regard this as a Good Thing?
[rab] No.
[Tuj] No.
[Rosie] Average person....hmmm...difficult. Probably. Can you be more specific?
Santa?
A carol?
Radio 3's Bach Christmas?
[Irouéguy] Yes! If my one was still running.
[Raak]No.
[rab] No.
[Irouleguy] No.
Is it a condition, either mental or physical?
[Rosie] No.
No room at the inn?
Raak] I've never been so pleased to be off work before Xmas.
[Irouleguy] No.
Shopping?
[Rosie] No.
Is it s human construct?
[Kim] Yes.
Is it connected with the media?
Is it connected with the biblical Christmas story?
[Raak] No.
[Irouleguy] Yes. *Some applause*
Rising from the dead after three days?
[Irouleguy] No.
There are clues in my opening remarks.
A Happy New Year?
The Salvation Army?
A New Year resolution?
A Silent Night?
12 Days of Christmas?
[All of the above] No, but CdM and Phil are in the right ball park.
New Year's Eve?
"I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus"?
Christmas Day?
Bingo!
Raak gets it on the nose. The "little number" in question was 25. *Hands baton to Raak*.
Ok, this had better be a non-seasonal something. Or perhaps not. VEGETABLE, possibly including MINERAL and ANIMAL as well.
Something you can eat?
[Rosie] No.
Is it some form of habitat?
An object made largely of wood?
I don't know how that happened - but that last one was me. A preview would've helped, of course. :-(
[Kim] No.
[Rosie] No.
Man-made?
[Rosie] Yes.
Is there just one of these?
Happy New Year, everyone
An item of clothing?
[I] No.
[Rosie] No.
Found in most hoseholds?
Getting sloppy. That's households, of course. Of course.
Anyone else playing?
[Rosie] Found in many, perhaps even in most, but I can't be sure.
Would it generally be regarded as welcome in the households in which it is found?
[Kim] Sort of, though it's not like these things just show up by chance and get welcomed.
Xmas tree?
[Projoy] No.
Does it weigh more than 3lbs (1.3608 kg)?
Groping about in the dark here.
[Rosie] No.
Is the mineral element metal?
[INJ] Yes.
Is it alive?
[jim] No.
Does it have a handle?
[irach] No.
Is it decorative?
-Is it flammable?
Does it have moving parts?
[Jim] The usual protocol in this game is that questions are put into the "a propos" box.
[I] Generally not.
[jim] Yes.
[Kim] I suppose yes, though that's rather misleading.
Is it a tool?
Is it usually to be found in the kitchen?
Is it a container?
[Saxon] No.
[Kim] No.
[Inkspot] No.
At least, narrowly speaking. It is used for a purpose, might as easily be in the kitchen as anywhere else, and does, in a sense, contain things. But it lacks the toolness of a hammer, the coquiniosity of a sink, and the envelopaciousness of a bottle.
Is the animal bit hair?
[I] No.
Is it a standard geometric shape?
[jim] Yes.
That's about twenty questions so far, and the audience is still asleep. A hint: there is a slight seasonal relevance, although the relevant season is not Christmas.
Does it have an effect on the temperature around it?
[Kim] No.
Another hint: the standard geometric shape that it is, is rectangular.
A calendar?
An Advent calendar?
Is it a box of something?
[CdM] (APPLAUSE!) No.
[I] No.
[Kim] No.
A diary?
[Kim] YES!
Didn't think that would take so long. Is interest waning?
Nah - just the time of year.
Me again? Shucks...OK, ABSTRACT with plenty of ANIMAL and MINERAL associations and probably some VEGETABLE ones to boot.
Is the animal, human?
A human construct?
A dream about a panda sitting on a rock?
- just a stab in the dark.
Manchester United?
speaking of booting vegetables...
Is there only one of this?
[Inkspot] Predominantly.
[INJ] Yes.*Some applause and a little laughter*
[Wol]< irony> Oooh! So close! < /irony>
[Irouleguy] No.
[INJ] No.
Paleontology?
An activity of some kind?
[Raak] No.
[Rosie] No.
Is it a cultural production?
[Irouleguy] Not sure what you mean. Can you clarify?
Is it an event?
[Irouleguy] No.
Is it a belief system?
Kim] Apologies for posting ambiguously and then buggering off for the weekend. I was trying to ask a number of questions at once - cultural production meaning book/film/play/musical/song/whatever else - hence the awkward wording.
The sport of building huge rows of dominoes and then making them fall over?
Is it competitive?
[Irouleguy] No, not a cultural event.
[Inkspot] No, not an event.
[Irouleguy] No, not a belief system.
[Raak] *Some laughter and a little applause* No, but....
[Tuj] No, not competitive.
Is it a pastime?
Is this an emotion?
[Raak] No a pastime.
[Chalky] No, not an emotion :-(
Gravity?
Is this a place?
[Raak] No.
[Chalky] Yes.
A single, specific place?
Is it a ruin?
Kim
[Raak] Yes.
[Projoy] *Some laughter and applause* No. At least, not in the conventional sense (it's not Lullingstone Villa, or some such.)
Is it a controversial work of architecture?
[Raak] No.
Stonehenge?
I have to admit to being a little bit puzzled by the fact that this is 'A single, specific place' but that there isn't 'only one of this'
A work of art?
Is it in Britain?
Given it's abstract, is it a fictional archaic site?
Could I replace that question with "is it a fictional geographical site, like Hy Brasil?"
My back yard, as in "Not in my back yard"?
[INJ] No. You're right and I think I may come in for some criticism. By answering Chalky's question "Is this a place?" with a Yes and not directing her and following questioners to the fact that there is more than one of these, I think I have unwittingly misled people into thinking that there is, in fact, only one. Even as I think about it, I am beginning to doubt whether this is really abstract at all, but merely animal, mineral and (to a lesser extent) vegetable, but I will stick to my guns and take the flak if it comes.
In the light of this, the answer to each of the five questions following yours is No.
Raak and Projoy are currently the strongest links and, moreover, have already used the words that are on the card here in separate questions.
Questioners may get more benefit focusing on the non-abstract qualities.
Are these tourist attractions?
So the answer is somewhere in:
is a abstract and archaic architecture art Brasil building controversial Could dominoes fall fictional geographical Given Gravity huge Hy I is it it's like making of over Paleontology pastime place question replace rows ruin single site specific sport that the them then with work
Oh Raak - you DO make me laugh sometimes :-) Spot on.
Now I shall ask a question ...
Is this a place that might be visited by tourists?
Might have helped if I'd actually read your question aswell ... sorry Kim, I'll do another one
Would people pay to see this?
Sporting venue(s)?
[Raak] Tourist attractions? Unlikely, but then some tourists would go to see a hole in the ground.
[Raak] Yes! Now, perm any three from forty-four in alpha order.
[Chalky] Unlikely, but then some people would pay to see a hole in the ground.
[Irouleguy] No.
A building site?
A type of public building?
A burial site/graveyard/gravesite?
The site of an archaeological dig?
Whew!
Chalky wins! The answer on the card is, indeed, "A building site". Well done, Chalky. Now, was I right or wrong?
[Kim] I agree it's reasonable to call it abstract. As for one or more: I see your problem, but I think you needed to answer Raak's 'single specific place' differently - otherwise it is no longer abstract.
the incredible rightness of being ..
[Kim] Thanks M'dear :-)
hmmm - I wonder if you had answered Raak's question "A single, specific place?" with a No and a Yes - it might have been obvious that, although having a singular purpose, this type of place was not unique. As for the 'Abstract' label, I can understand your misgivings. Probably not, I'd say.
I'll post a new one a bit later - give others a chance to comment ..
[simul'd with INJ]
The incredible siteness of building
Kim] Nice one, first of all. I tend to think of 'abstract' as meaning fictional or unreal, so I would have labelled this as MINERAL (with qualifications) rather than ABSTRACT, but I do think it's a fine distinction. I agree with Chalky about your answer to Raak's question, but I don't think it led us too far astray. And I thoroughly enjoyed it, which is what really matters.
Thanks for the comments. I think you're all being far too nice. The fact is that I intuitively chose to describe it as ABSTRACT without really considering the issue. During the course of the game I had to start considering first of all whether a building site really is more than the sum of the materials and people that fill it up; then I agonised over whether "a building site" meant "that building site, there", or "some building site, somewhere" or "any building site anywhere". Also, is a building site a place, or is it in a place? So, I still think that my problem started with my answer to Chalky's question "Is this a place", rather than Raak's "A single specific place?". Even questions such as "A human construct" (INJ) "The sport of making huge rows of dominoes and then making them fall over" (Raak) and "Is it a ruin" (Projoy) I found difficult and thought-provoking, but, hey, it was fun to wrestle with and I hope you all found it as entertaining as Irouleguy did.
Let's draw a line under it and move on.
Now? Yes?

A N I M A L

Four-legged?
A single, individual creature?
Alive?
Winged?
Human?
[Kim] I think all of us who have set AVMAs have grappled with this problem -- you pick some subject that seems quite straightforward, and the next thing you know someone asks a question that also seems quite straightforward, and yet you find you have no idea how to answer it. And, usually, the more you think about it, the worse it gets...
Food?
Mammal?
grappling
[Raak] Four-legged? No
[Wol] single individual creature? After much thought - No
[Phil] Alive? In this instance, Yes
[Puckoon] Winged? No
[Rosie] Food? Not in the sense you may mean
[CdM] Human? Do you mean A Human? Yes and No
[Iroule] Mammal? Do you mean A Mammal? as above

[CdM] How right you are - a couple of my replies above took considerable thought. I should know by the next batch of questions whether I have misled ... and reserve the right to review :-)
Is it a category of person (eg, left-handed people)?
[Kim] Category of person? No
A part of a creature?
Three, yet one?
Is it a role? (e.g. Leader of Conservative Party)
Is it a part of a human?
The Dalai Lama?
The current Crystal Palace goalkeeper?
I only put that up to say I think we're getting warm.
significantly warmer
[INJ] A part of a creature? Yes *applause*
[Raak] Three, yet one? No
[Phil] Role? No
[Kim] Part of a human? Yes *more applause*
[iroule] Dalai Lama? No
[Rosie] The goalkeeper? No :-)
Do all humans have this part?
[Iroule] Do all humans have this part? At birth, Yes, I suppose they do.
Placenta?
The umbilical cord?
[irach] Placenta? No
[Raak] Umbilicus? No
Do most adults have this part?
[Raak] Most adults? Yes
Would it's absence be visible to another person (assuming no clothes)?
AAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!! *Climbs to the top of nearest greengrocer and throws himself off*
*breaks INJ's fall*
[IN'J] Naked Absence Of Body Part - probably not.
Is it an internal body part?
Is it an appendix?
Spleen?
Do both men and women have this part?
Would the absence of this part be a serious medical condition?
.. today we have naming of parts ..
[irach] Internal? Yes, but nothing as obvious as the appendix :-)
[CdM] Spleen? No
[Raak] Men & Women? Yes
[Rosers] Absence causing serious medical condition? No, not on its own.
Is it something that all humans are born with, but lose after being born?
[Kim] Born with, yes, but lose after birth, as a matter of course, No.
A secretion of some kind?
A secretion of some kind?
Preview, you silly boy!
[Rosie] Not a secretion, No [was trying to avoid mineral/vegetable connections] although your guess gets a *smattering of applause*
Tonsils?
[Iroule] Tonsils? No
Hair?
[Raak] Not hair - [see my last reply to irach]
The organ of Zuckerkandl?
Appendix?
Gall bladder?
[Raak] Zuckerkandl's thingy? No
[Kim] Appendix? Ni [see my last reply to irach]
[Rosie] Gall Bladder? No, but very very close!
Pancreas?
Surely its removal would lead to serious medical problems, such as instant diabetes?
[Rosie] Indeed it would, which is why the pancreas isn't the correct answer :-)
Prostate?
(if I can intrude) Bile duct?
[Kim] Prostate? No
[Dandalf] Bile duct? No. (intrude more! It's good to have new players in this game)
Duodenum?
[Kim] Duodenum? No
Am thinking about Rosie's remark re: Serious medical condition. I know of people without this part who have what could be termed a medical condition but wouldn't label it serious. S'pose it's a matter of opinion.
Large bowel?
left kidney?
[Raak] Large Bowel? Close - location-wise - but No. * audience frantically points to one of Rosie's guesses*
[INJ] Left kidney? No
Urethra
The navel?
Bladder?
Haven't had the gall to guess that one previously.
[Inks] Urethra? No - but SO close
[Raak] Navel? No
[INJ] Bladder? Cheeky but CORRECT! *relieved cheers from audience*
Over to you ....
That's a relief
OK in that case we'll have an ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections
A work of art?
[Raak] - work of art? - NO
Character from fiction?
[Kim] Character from fiction? - YES (some hesitant applause)
Any religious connothingies at all?
Human?
Character from a novel?
A character in a film?
A character from mythology?
Is the character human?
(intruding more) From science fiction?
Robin Hood
This is going well
[Néa] - religious - NO
[Tuj] - human - YES
[Iroul] - from novel - NO
[Raak] - in film - Has been depicted on film, but originally NO
[Inks] - from mythology - NO
[Kim] - see above
[Dandalf] - SF - NO
[Inks] - Robin Hood - NO - *Huge round of applause*
Someone else who figures in the Robin Hood stories?
Soon be there
[Raak] in the Robin Hood stories? - YES
Maid Marian?
Sheriff of Nottingham?
Friar Tuck?
Little John?
Obviously not you, squire.:-)
BUGGER!, done it again. That last one was me. These drop-down lists are a pain in the posterior passage.
Will Scarlett?
[now firmly intruded) A merry man?
Well, there you go
[Rosie/Rock] Little John it is.
That wasn't very hard then, was it. Just as well, given my infrequent appearance on here in the last few days.
[ImNotLittleJohn] It was good to have a nice short one for a change.
agree .. although Inkspot landing on the precise area of fiction was inspired. How did he know that?
oooh
Maybe Inkspot is INJ's evil twin?
The clue was in how INJ answered Kim's first question it' a middle age thing.
Inkspot] You being middle-aged, or the historical Middle Ages?
[Irouléguy]It was just a poor cross server play on words type joke.
[Inkspot] I don't see how "(some hesitant applause)" would lead you to "Robin Hood", but I can see how INJ's answer to Raak's second question would help.
[Kim] I took the reply to your question to be a fiction based on someone, it was a toss up between 'mythology' or legend. When almost a day had passed I took a shot at the fella in green tights.
Sorry for the delay.
This one is MINERAL. Nothing whatsoever to do with steam engines.
Anthracite?
Diesel?
A manufactured object?
Are there more than one of these?
Is more than one mineral substance involved?
Anything to do with the weather?
(irach) - No
(Irouléguy) - No
(INJ) - Yes
(CdM) - Oh yes.
(Kim) - Yes
(Raak) - Not even a teensy little bit.
Clarification
(Kim) The object itself is one mineral substance in the way that the term is used in this game.
Is it made of plastic?
Is it used inside the house?
Small enough to pick up with one hand?
Inkspot - No
(Irouléguy) - No - *chuckles from a few members of the audience*
Raak - Yes
Is it made of metal?
Chalky - Indeed it is.
Could it be a component of other things (like a ball-bearing)?
Does it explode?
Is it a dream deferred?
InNotJohn - No
Raak - No
CdM - No, nothing as fancy.
does it always have a defined shape that is chaarcteristic to it, e.g. circular, square...?
Is it a weapon of some sort?
A boule?
A tool of some sort?
A sporting implement?
irach - Yes, a shape but not a simple geometrical one.
Chalky - No
Raak - Non
(ImNotJohn) - Only in an extremely broad sense. The answer really is No.
Kim - No.
Does it have moving parts?
A sculpture by Bathsheba Grossman?
As seen at http://www.bathsheba.com/.
Inkspot - No
Raak - No; functional rather than artistic.
Mobile Phone?
Phil - No (metal only)
Housekey?
A spoon?
A coin?
Is it made of steel?
Forget the coin question; geometric shape.
A car key?
We have a winner! Well done, Dandalf. The "word on the card" is front-door key, but that's near enough. That was too simple, wasn't it? Next time.....evil grin
ABSTRACT with ANIMAL and MINERAL connections
A work of art?
An organisation?
Picasso's 'Les demoiselles d'Avignon'?
A human construct?
(oblig)
Raak - No Rosie - No Irouleguy - Non! ImNotJohn - errrrrm....Yes and No (sorry!)
Oh Dear! - Sorry about lack of linebreaks. (hangs head in shame)
An activity?
A state of mind?
Raak - No
Irouleguy - That could describe the object on the card. *sprinkling of applause*
An emotion?
Thirst?
"The artist in despair at the magnitude of antique fragments"?
The Golden Age of Mankind?
Kim - No
Rosie - No
Raak - No - (laughter)
irach - No
Anarcho-syndicalism?
It had to be right eventually.
Patience on a monument?
(INJ) I'm thinking monkeys, typewriters and Shakespeare. :-)
INJ - No
Rosie - No - no link, however tenuous, to monkeys, typewriters and/or Shakespeare :)
An aspect of conscioussness?
[Kim] Too many "esses", precioussss
Hunger?
Kim - No
Inkspot - No
A hangover?
*yawns*
As this is going so slowly, I'll do a quick recap:

It is NOT:
 a work of art, an organisation, Picasso's "Les demoiselles..", an activity, an emotion, thirst, "The artist in despair ..", The Golden Age of Mankind, anarcho-syndicalism, patience on a monument, an aspect of consciousness, hunger.

It IS:
a state of mind, and may or may not be a human construct.
Is it a state of mind that a normal person would experience on a regular basis?
Is it an agreeable state of mind?
It the mineral part a liquid?
[Chalky]With Dandalf calling in once every couple of days this one is going to take weeks.
A mind as quick as quicksilver?
A cunning plan dancing naked upon a harpsichord and singing "Cunning Plans Are Here Again"?
Is the animal part human?
L'esprit de l'escalier?
Thinking of a snappy comeback ten minutes after the conversation
Absence?
To liken the sound of a harpsichord to two skeletons copulating on a tin roof?
Profound apologies to all for the long pause - I've been having modem problems.
INJ - No
Rosie - No
Inkspot - No
Irach - No (laughter)
Raak - No
INJ - Yes
Irouleguy - No
Rosie - No
Raak - No
Think entertainment. (One of my answers to Rosie contains a hint!)
Can it be experienced on ones own?
Is it an anthropomorphism?
Inspiration?
A film?
Paranoia?
INJ - The entertainment? - Yes
Kim- Yes
Snorgle - No
Chalky - No
Botherer - No
Is it connected to the weather?
Is it religious in nature?
Sorry again - can only use office computer [ ; ) ]
KIM - No
Projoy - No
Time for another hint? I've used one of the three words on the card in one of my answers to R.....
Anything to do with computers?
Anything to do with monkeys?
Is one of the words "no"?
Tears of Laughter?
Pretending to be a snail - literally hours of fun.
[Projoy] No - since it's not an activity.

Hm. Surely the fact that it's "an anthropomorphism" should be the main giveaway, except that I can't really put parameters on what that is, precisely.
Is the anthropomorphism male?
*is bored*
sorry Dandalf - I know it's not your fault - but up until 11 days ago this was the snappiest, sharpest game on this server. Forgive me - you see, I started this game and there's a sense of personal pride. How shallow am I? :-)
(Chalky) You make Hamsey Green pond look like the Marianas Trench. No, not really, honestly.
Methinks its time to put this one to sleep. If you don't get it after this you are all "The w------ ----" and you leave with nothing!
The Weakest Link?
I think I may be right. Hahahah! Thanks Dandalf :-)
In the interests of the game I shall decline the 'chair' - mainly because I won't be able to post regularly during the daytimes.
[Rosie?] would you care to take my place?
Shame
I can't help feeling we should have got closer to that. The 'state of mind' is what put me off the track for quite some time. I sympathise with Dandalf though as I also often find it difficult to look in more than a couple of times a day and once at weekends if I'm lucky.
Chalky - You are the strongest link.
(Chalky) Strictly we ought to wait till Dandalf rubber-stamps it, even though you're obviously right. OK, I'll do one even thought I got nowhere near the answer.
This one is ANIMAL
Non-human?
Non-alive?
non-edible?
Is it native to a particular country?
irach - No
CdM - Yes
ImNotJohn - Probably not, now
Inkspot - Was (see answer to irach and CdM)
Clarification - (INJ) Probably not edible, I meant.
Non-fictional?
Male?
rach - Yes
Raak - Yes
Is he European?
Mozart?
Anything to do with either monkeys, typewriters or Shakespeare?
A broadcaster?
Inkspot - Yes
Irouléguy - No
Kim - Not a thing
Phil - No
Might I make a suggestion? This game went through a period [I think CdM started the trend and I'm sure you, Rosie, amongst others, followed the initiative] of putting the Yes/No replies next to, not just the name of the questioner, but also a C&P of the question. For those folks, like me at the moment, who can only rush in for a few moments, there isn't time to trawl back through the questions to match them to the replies .. so I end up not bothering to frame a question of my own. It may make for more participation ..
Born in the 18th Century?
Is he Welsh?
(Chalky) OK, not a bad idea.
Kim - Born in 18th C - No
Inkspot - Welsh? - Nag'dy (No)
Musically inclined chap?
A poet?
Well that's me stumped.
Born in the 19th Century?
(irach) Musical? - Not known for it.
Inkspot - Poet? - No
Kim - Born 19th century? - No.
- Born in the 20th Century?
Did he hold a political office?
British?
A scientist?
A cultural figure?
Dandalf - Born in 20th C? - No
Raak - Held a political office? - Well, sort of. Not what he's known for
ImNotJohn - British? - No
Inkspot - A scientist? - Yes *considerable applause*
Irouléguy - A cultural figure - No.
An astronomer?
Einstein?
Oops, not borh in 19th or 20th century. Ignore that, try this:
Galileo?
ImNotJohn - An astronomer? -Yes
Raak - Not Galileo.
Was he German?
Inkspot - German? - No
Did he have a silver nose?
.. Or Copper Knickers?
Is it indeed Copernicus? If so, award the win to Chalky.
Kepler?
Yes, his underwear was unusual and cupric, so courtesy of irach, CHALKY is the winner. (Raak) Don't geddit. :-(
[Rosie] Raak is referring to Tycho Brahe.
Here is The Straight Dope on the subject.
Marvellous - y'learn something new every day

V. generous [irach] :-) I now have a little more time to do one of these, so I think we'll go for ...

V E G E T A B L E
Tony Blair's Cabinet?
Does it grow on trees?
Is it edible?
Is it manufactured?
Hey Chalky, it's been more than an hour since Raak's question...
Is it just one species of vegetable?
[Raak] TB's cabinet? No *chuckle*
[Inks] Does it grow on trees? No
[INJ] Edible? Yes
[CdM] Manufactured? um .. Yes
[CdM] Yes - he's very eager, isn't he?
[Iroule] One species? Yes
Does it require cooking to make it edible?
[C/C] I just asked the question, I can wait...
[Raak] Cooking? Yes [with hesitation]
Is it a (culinary) dish?
Does it grow underground?
Porridge?
Is it a root vegetable?
(Raak) re Tycho Brahe - I didn't know that. What is also not too well known is that he died of a burst bladder and the consequent peritonitis. At a boozy banquet with the King of Denmark he dared not leave the table until His Maj had got up despite a certain degree of urgency. Awful.
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