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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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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.
Does it come in a tin?
Just seen irach's question, so my previous one was superfluous. Tut, tut!
- sauerkraut?
Associated with a particular country?
[Rosie] Ouch. I'm glad I just knew the nose part before!
[INJ] Culinary dish? Culinary = as in pertaining to the kitchen? Yes. Dish? Debatable
[Irach] Underground? No
[Raak] Porridge? No
[Rosie] Root veg? No
[Rosie] Come in a tin? Can do :-)
[Dandalf] sauerkraut? No
[Tuk] Associated with a particular country? Good question. More a particular region, I'd say
Is it a form of offal?
I like the story of his pet elk falling downstairs drunk after too much beer the best.
Ah, vegetable. Ok, is it a veggie imitation of some sort of offal?
Brussels sprouts?
Delicious steamed, or boiled quickly with chestnuts. Curried sprouts not such a good idea though.
[Raak] Fake offal? No :-)
[Iroule] Brussels Sprouts? No

NB: Correction to my reply to Inkspot's first question "Does it grow on trees?" - broadly speaking, my reply should have been Yes.
A fruit of some kind?
[Rosie] A fruit of some kind? No
Is the region it's associated with in Europe?
A spice?
It grows on trees - is it Spaghetti?
[Iroule] Europe? No
[Dandalf] A spice? No
[Kim] Grows on trees? - Yes, but not spaghetti
Associated with Asia?
Does one drink it?
[INJ] Asia? Yes *cheers from audience*
[Raak] Drink it? Yes *even louder cheers from audience*
Darjeeling tea?
[Iroule] Darjeeling tea? ONE WORD is correct! *gasps of anticipation*
Jee, darling, which could it be? Um...Assam tea?
Earl Grey Tea? (©Alan Bennett)
[Iroule] Assam tea? sorry, No
[Rosie] Earl Grey Tea? No to that as well :-(
Is there just one word on the card?
[Raak] There are TWO words on the card [one of them is tea] and I predict you'll guess it very soon ...
Green Tea?
Actually, I hope I'm wrong as I'm just about to go away and be incommunicado until Sunday evening.
Jasmine tea?
Oolong tea?
Isn't it always the way ... ImNotJohn wins it by a short head from his uncle!
I'll hand over the baton - do with it as you will ...
There will now be a short intermission, while ImNotJohn goes away.
And then again
Struggling slightly with an azerty keyboard, as I'm logged in at Hbach's. So here's an Abstract to be going on with. I might get on again tomorrow morning.
The azerty keyboard layout?
Dexterity?
Qwerty?
The notion of nationality?
Is it an action?
Is it a work of art?
Arachno-syndicalism (sic)
Back to normal now
[Raak]: azerty keyboard - NO
[Rosie]: Dexterity? - NO
[Kim]: qwerty - NO
[Tuj]: notion of nationality - NO
[Inkspot]: an action - NO
[Chalky]: a work of art? - NO
[Rosie]: The National UInion of Spiders - NO
One of the seven deadly sins?
[Chalky] a deadly sin - NO
A natural occurrence?
Something mathematical?
[Chalky]: natural occurrence - NO
[Raak]: Something mathematical? - NO (one or two of the audience are raised from their slumbers)
Something geometric?
[Kim]: Something geometric - NO (the level of snoring is rapidly rising towards previous levels)
A human construct? [well - someone had to ask]
Something to do with time?
[Chalky]: human construct? - YES
[Inks]: Something to do with time? - NO
An invention?
Still cold
[Chalky]: invention? - NO
A form of entertainment?
Are numbers involved?
Getting Warmer
[Chalky]: A form of entertainment? - Not in itself (but you've woken the audience up)
[Iroul]: Are numbers involved? - YES (but only loosely)
Is it something that comes in the form of a set of a certain number of things?
7 D S, 3 B M, 4 C V, etc.
[Raak] a numbered set? - NO (but the odd stutter of stifled applause)
Any music connections?
[Chalky] music connections? - NO
Is this a game of some sort?
and if so, more specifically, a card game?
A lottery?
[Chalky]: a game of some sort? - NO, not as such (But some applause)
[Dandalf]: a card game? - NO, not as such (Loud and prolonged applause)
[Raak] - a lottery? - NO
Solitaire?
A competition of some kind?
A sport?
the audience subsides
[Néa]: Solitaire? - NO (I see where you're coming from, but I would have called that a game - I'm not being deliberately awkward)
[Chalky]: A competition? - NO
[Projoy]: A sport? - NO
Anything to do with greetings cards?
A day that celebrates something?
[Raak]: greetings cards - NO (clever but not close)
[Chalky]:A day that celebrates something? - NO
As the audience has indicated - Dandalf is the person who's got closest so far
Is it anything to do with gambling?
[Chalky]: connected with gambling? - YES (applause)
Is a set of playing cards involved?
Bingo?
Betting Slips (especially abstract ones)
Political Voting?
(ignore my last)
Damn, I meant political betting. Although I'm now going to change again and ask whether it's an election.
Quite warm now
[Raak]: Is a set of playing cards involved? - YES
[Raak] Bingo - NO
[Projoy]: Political Voting/Betting/election? - NO
Tarot
[Projoy]: Tarot - NO (neither divination nor the game - since it isn't a game)
A card trick?
[Iroul]: A card trick? - NO
shufflling?
-l
[Projoy]: shuffling - NO
I don't think you need a clue - you've got the information you need to home in on this.
Three Card Monte?
(although I suppose that is probably classified as a card trick, come to think of it)
Dealing?
[CdM]: Three Card Monte? - NO - there's no trickery involved
[Chalky]: Dealing? - NO
Is it the name of one of the suits?
[Projoy]: a suit - NO
You're not taking sufficient account of one of the bits of audience reaction
A full house?
Bridge?
Not a game; war.
"the turn of a card"
Marked cards?
[CdM]: A full house? - NO (gasp from the audience mixed with loud and prolonged applause)
[Rosie]: Bridge? - NO
[Chalky]: the turn of a card? - NO
[Raak]: Marked cards? - NO
A Royal Flush?
House of Cards (the metaphor, hence abstract)
A winning hand?
Two pairs?
We have a winner
And Chalky it is - a Royal Flush.
Over to you.
oops
oh dear - I didn't intend to win that, even though I made a lot of the running. Erm ... how about a nice easy
V E G E T A B L E [with a teensy bit of Abstract]
to get us through the day ..
edible?
A deserved victory, I thought, though CdM's close shave nearly brought about a lurkers win.
Is it a fruit?
[INJ] Edible? NO
[Iroule] Fruit? NO
Manufactured/Processed?
Wood?
[CdM] Manufactured/Processed? YES
[Raak] Wood? NO
Paper?
Cotton?
Textile?
[Dandalf] Paper? NO
[Inks] Cotton? YES *audience cheers*
[Raak] Textile? YES
clothing?
Jeans?
Welsh Rugby shirt
[INJ] Clothing? audience gasps and anticipates a speedy conclusion* YES
[Projoy] Jeans? NO
[Inks] Welsh Rugby Shirt? NO
A Gap t-shirt?
(adding in a teensy bit of abstract)
[CdM] Gap t-shirt? NO (well referenced, though :-))
Incy wincy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bikini?
A little bit of both
the shirt off my back?
Scrub that... How about "my little cotton socks"?
Knickers?
[Inks] i w t w y p d bikini? Isn't it 'itsy witsy' - you may be confusing said garment with a spider :-) NO
[Projoy] the shirt off your back? scrubbed .... but

.. YOU ARE CORRECT WITH 'LITTLE COTTON SOCKS' [Aw bless]

[Rosie] same to you :-)

*vacates the chair to make room for Projoy*
Hmmm. OK. ANIMAL & VEGETABLE (abstract too, but we needn't worry too much about that). I'm going away at the weekend, so I might hand the answer to some trustworthy person if we haven't got it by then...
A bit of further research reveals there is probably a small MINERAL part to it, but don't get too hung up on it.
A manufactured item?
[Inks, Chalky] I believe it's actually "itsy bitsy".
Is it something to eat?
[INJ] Manufactured - YES, literally
[Raak] To eat - NO.
A sporran?
[INJ] A sporran - NO (out of curiosity, is there anything vegetable in a sporran?)
A musical instrument?
Raak - musical instrument - NO, not musical
Something you wear?
Vegetable in a sporran - surely the authentic ones have real thistles?
[Irouléguy] Something you wear - NO
Is the animal part leather?
[Raak] Leather? Hm. I had to resort to a dictionary to find the answer, which is NO (but only just)
Is the vegetable part some sort of colouring?
[Raak] vege coloring? YES!
Woad?
(INJ) Itsy bitsy it is. I heard it when it first came out ca 1959. Even amongst us horny 16-yr-olds it was regarded as simply pathetic.
Is the not-really-leather part parchment?
Is the animal part a particular non-human animal?...if that makes sense
The Magna Carta?
Is it an object which can fit in the palm of your hand?
Is the animal part (which isn't leather) some other products of animal skin?
A knitted tea-cosy? [something manufactured (literally!) from dyed sheep's wool but which isn't worn]
[CdM] YES!!! - a superb bit of deduction.
and for the other questions, therefore...
[Raak] YES, vellum to be precise
[Inkspot] YES, a goat, I think, although I'm not sure
[Dandalf] NO
[Kim] YES
[Dandalf] Good guess, but NO

Well, that's handy, as I now have to go and catch my train to Manchester to see Lib singing. Over to you, CdM.
OK... This one is ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections.
is the animal human?
Human? No.
Did it happen in the past?
Is the animal a symbol?
Fictional?
Did it happen in the past? Did what happen in the past?
Animal a symbol? That is not its primary purpose, but it can be interpreted in a symbolic way. I'm not sure that's helpful, though.
Fictional? Yes.
Capricon?
Is the animal a carnivore?
Written fiction?
A mythical creature?
Capricorn? No.
Carnivore? Yes.
Written fiction? In part, yes.
Mythical? No (unless you take a very broad definition of mythical).
The lion king?
Lion king? No.
A single specific animal?
Aslan?
A cartoon character?
Agnus Dei?
If we find out the animal, will we have the answer?
Single specific animal? Yes.
Aslan? No.
Cartoon character? Yes (unless you take a very narrow definition of cartoon) *applause*
Agnus Dei? No.
Animal = answer? Yes.
Clarification: I should probably have answered 'Cartoon Character?' with "In part, yes".
Is the cartoon part animated?
Jessica Rabbit?
A newspaper cartoon?
Animated? In part, yes.
JR? No.
Newspaper cartoon? In part, yes.
There is a noticeable lack of applause accompanying these partly correct suggestions.
Did this fictional carnivore first exist in writing?
Was it first illustrated before 1948?
First exist in writing? I could answer "in part, yes", but I think it is fairer to say that 'in writing' is not how one would typically describe its first incarnation.
First inkspotted, er, illustrated before 1948? Yes. *applause*
Rupert Bear?
RB? No.
Is the animal a mammal?
Mammal? Strictly speaking, I think the answer has to be no. *some muttering in the audience*
Was its creator Walt Disney?
Is the animal aquatic?
Disney creation? No.
Aquatic? No.
Summing up: we are looking for a fictional, carnivorous, single specific animal, which is in part a newspaper cartoon character, and in part an animated cartoon character (we don't know if those are the same parts) and in part comes from written fiction, though "'in writing' is not how one would typically describe its first incarnation." It can be interpreted symbolically, though that's not necessarily helpful, and it is not mythical. Strictly speaking, it's not a mammal (though the audience muttered about that answer). It's neither a Disney creation, nor acquatic.

Was its first incarnation in the 19th century?
No wonder the audience muttered - it's either a mammal or not a mammal - nothing in between, however strictly one speaks!
Does it appear in the works of Lewis Carroll?
Is it aimed at an adult audience?
Hobbes?
[Irouléguy] Excellent summation. Minor clues: I would not put too much emphasis either on newspaper cartoons or written fiction.
[Dandalf] Well, we can discuss that when the round is over. :-)
19th Century? No.
Lewis Carroll? No. *some smiles in the audience*
Adult audience? That's not really the target market, although many adults like at least some incarnations.
Hobbes? No.
A clue: When I set this AVMA I expected a question to which I could give a correct but misleading answer. And you fell right into my trap. Mwahahahaha!
Does the animal take human form?
Human form? Yes! *applause*
A superhero?
Superhero? Yes. *applause*
Superman?
*hands the kryptonite rod to Raak*
Superman? YES!

As for "mammal", my uncertainty was the following. As far as I know, Superman has all of the traits that are usually taken as defining a mammal. But I think that the strict definition of the term has an evolutionary basis, and thus cannot apply to someone not from earth. I expect to be corrected by either a biologist or the morniverse equivalent of Comic-Book Man from The Simpsons.
MINERAL
Largely or exclusively metal?
An engagement ring?
Manufactured?
[CdM] Mostly metal? Yes.
[I] Not an engagement ring.
[Rosie] Manufactured? Yes.
Bigger than a phonebox?
Unique?
[GL] Bigger than a phonebox.
[Néa] Unique.
A sculpture?
Is it in the UK?
[Phil] Not a sculpture.
[I] Not in the U.K. (the audience is amused)
Eiffel Tower? [CdM] You win! but (a) not mythical and (b) carnivore (are you sure?) suggested a real biological species.
[Davdand] Not the Eiffel Tower.
Beagle 2
[Inkspot] (APPLAUSE!) Not Beagle 2.
Extant?
[D] You may well be right about my answer to "mythical?". Since I had already said that the answer was fictional, I interpreted 'mythical' more narrowly. But one definition of 'mythical' is 'fictitious', so perhaps I was misleading. As for carnivore, I recently saw an episode of Lois and Clark (not my fault; my daughter is currently Superman-obsessed) in which Clark Kent ate a hamburger...
A more successful solar exploration thingy?
[Cdm]I would agree with you on your interpretation of 'mythical'. Superman could not be described as a mythical creature or person.
[I] Yes. (More applause! )
Voyager?
Not the Star Trek variety.
[Projoy] Not Voyager.
The Tardis?
I'd agree with CdM too, particulaly as Superman is a member of a particular (fictional) species. Is one difference between fiction and myth that a fiction has a specific author, but a myth doesn't? (Although that would make Robin Hood mythical rather than fictional, so hmm...)
[I] Not the Tardis. (the audience look glum)
Skylab?
I don't agree with CdM, Superman is an omnivore rather than a carnivore just like Ordinaryman.
A European mission?
[GL] Not Skylab.
[I] (pause to research this) Partly European.
Cassini-Huygens?
Yes! When I checked up on the telephone box q, I was quite surprised to find out how big it is.
Yay, thank you for that one Raak, and for my first time in the chair in this game ANIMAL
A single animal?
Mammal?
A single animal - Yes
Mammal - Yes
that should read [Irouléguy]A single animal - Yes [Gusset Login]Mammal - Yes
Currently alive?
[Raak]Currently alive - No
Human animal?
[irach] Human animal - Yes
Male?
[I] That's not a distinction I saw in my googling/dictionary checking, but it's an interesting idea. Mind you, at this point Superman certainly has multiple authors as well.
[GL] My bad: I think you're right. It is pretty clear at least that Superman is not an "obligate carnivore" (a term I just learned, meaning solely flesh-eating). And given that I also saw Superman eat a bomb in another episode, "omnivore" seems more appropriate. Googling seems to indicate, however, that the strict definition of these terms has to do with the necessity of different types of food in terms of nutrients. I actually have no idea if Superman has to eat anything.
British?
Scientist?
[Rosie]British - Yes
[irach] Scientist - No
Best known for cultural/artistic achievements?
[ImNotJohn]Best known for cultural/artistic achievements - Yes
Purcell?
[Raak]Purcell - No
Alive in the 20th century?
Musical connections?
[Raak]Alive in the 20th century - Yes
[ImNotJohn] Musical connections - No
An Actor?
You didn't answer CdM's question about maleness
ooops
[CdM]Male - Yes
[Gusset Login] - An Actor - No
A painter and/or sculptor?[sneaking in two for the price of one ;-) ]
A writer?
A mime?
[Dandalf] A painter and/or sculptor - No
[Rosie]A writer - taking the narrowest definition No
[Raak]A mime - No
A performer of some sort?
[Gusset Login] A performer of some sort - No
To do with cinema?
[Dandalf] To do with cinema - No
A poet, then?
[Rosie] A poet - YES
Siegfried Sassoon?
T.S. Elliot?
Rabbie Burns?
Ted Hughes
[CdM]Siegfried Sassoon - No
[irach] T.S. Elliot - No
[Chalky] Rabbie Burns - No
[Phil]Ted Hughes - No
Philip Larkin?
Wilfred Owen?
English?
[Rosie]Philip Larkin - No
[CdM] Wilfred Owen - YES and Yes it was he, and so the chair is yours.
An Easy One
I think the audience was being a little harsh not to give my earlier Sassoon guess at least a smattering of applause. Anyway, this is ABSTRACT, with ANIMAL connections.
Is it a fictional human?
Fictional human? No.
Is the animal connection human?
Animal connection human? Yes.
A mythical human?
Mythical human? No. *some wry chuckling in the audience*
Is this a place where humans go/gather together?
tut tut - ignore the 'together' - that's tautology, I believe.
Place where humans go? No, although it could be a cause of humans gathering together.
Is it an anniversary?
Is it your birthday?
:-)
Is it conected to religion?
Is it a specific date?
Is it an emotion?
An election?
Possibly setting a new record...
The answer is indeed, My Birthday. You can fill in the other answers for yourselves. *hands baton (lit at one end) to Chalky*
Oh, and sorry I didn't answer these sooner, but I was busy drinking margaritas.
.. and many happy returns, dear CdM :-)

OK - in the hot seat again. This time I'll go for:

V E G E T A B L E with M I N E R A L and a smidgin of A B S T R A C T
Is the vegetable wood?
Happy birthday!
A work of art?
Is it a unique item?
very good questions ...
[Iroule] Wood? YES
[Raak] Work of art? Sort of - YES
[GL] Unique? Yes, one could say that.
[Iroule] It's CdM's birthday today - mine is next week :-)
Seen in a museum?
Is the mineral metal?
[irach] Seen in a museum? No
[Dandalf] Metal? A small part is metal
Another crucifix?
[Raak] Another crucifix? No
Larger than a telephone box?
Any religious significance?
A decoration of some sort?
Smaller than a telephone box?
A wooden telephone box?
[Dandalf] Larger than a telephone box? No
[INJ] Religious significance? No
[Rosie] Decoration? Can be decorative - but not primary purpose
[GL] see above
[Raak] wooden TB? No
Is it in Britain?
A door?
[Rosie] In Britain? Yes
[Dandalf] A door? No - but you are moving towards the right area
Is it in a town/city?
A window box?
[Rosie] Town/City? Yes
[Raak] Window Box? No
City?
Is it normally found indoors?
Is it hand carved?
[GL] This one is in a city, yes.
[Phil] Indoors? No
[Inks] Hand-carved? Nothing so exotic.
The fact that Phil has joined the game is a BIG clue .
A pub sign?
[CdM] Pub Sign? YES - that's close enough for a *huge roar of applause from the audience*
Now guess which pub.
The Three Crowns?
[Inks] Not the Three Crowns
Elephant and Castle?
Is there an animal connection in the sign?
Is the pub in Ratby?
The Red Lion?
The Bull's Head?
The Nag's Head?
[Rosie] Elephant & Castle? No
[Inkspot] Animal connection? No
[Raak] Ratby? No
[GL] The Red Lion? No
[Phil] The Bull's Head? No
[all] The Nag's Head? No
Is this just one particular pub?
Head of Steam?
The Hogg's Head?
The words "Straws" and "Clutching" spring to mind
The Clutching Straws?
[Rosie] One particular pub? I'd already replied to GL earlier that it's unique - so Yes.
[CdM] Head of Steam? No
[GL] The Hogg's Head? No
[Raak] The Clutching Straws? No :-)

I'm not sure how many pub names there are in the Cities and Towns of the UK, but yu can be assured that I don't expect you to start guessing them all. C'mon - there HAS to be a hook ....
The Fisherman's Arms?
You said there had to be a hook...
Is this a single famous pub (like The Prospect of Whitby)?
Does the name relate to an MC player?
[GL] The Fisherman's Arms? No
[INJ] Single famous pub? I suppose you could call it famous [in its area] *murmurs of approval from the audience for INJ's line of questioning*
[CdM] Does the name relate to an MC player? No
Is it also the name of an underground station?
Is it in London?
One of the pubs that claims to be the oldest in Britain?
If I don't live in the area would I still have heard of it?
Bolsover Hall?
The Euston Flyer?
The Swiss Cottage?
[INJ] Underground station? No
[CdM] London? No
[INJ] Oldest in Britain? No
[GL] Heard of it? Probably not - but I have :-)
[INJ] Bolsover Hall? No
[Iroule] Euston Flyer? No
[PJ] Swiss Cottage? No
Is it your local?
Is it in Devon?
Is it in Cornwall?
[INJ] My local? Yes it is, as it happens, but I wouldn't expect you to know it because of that! It is well-known around these parts for another reason
[Inks] Devon/Cornwall? No
Is it in Dorset?
Working my around the country
Is it in Wiltshire?
Four down 35 or so to go
[Inks] In Wiltshire - where I live.

In fact to speed things up a bit, it's in Salisbury.
The Haunch of Venison?
(I googled for famous pubs in Salisbury)
The Anchor and Hope?
Loking for pubs with no animal connection
[GL] The Haunch of Venison? good guess - but not the right place.
[Inks] Anchor & Hope? No.

Tip: google for pubs that have brewed their own beer and then become quite famous for doing so ...
Surely not The Wyndham Arms - of Summer Lightning fame?
The Moonraker?
[Phil] The Wyndham Arms? Oh YESYESYES. Just round the corner from me. The answer on the card is 'The Sign Outside The Wyndham Arms' so I shall gladly hand over the chair to you, landlord :-)
[Chalky] I am so jealous, locationwise.
OK - well, I've not done one of these before, but I'm at my desk off and on all day (and night), so here goes.

ANIMAL


Human?
[Projoy] Human? Yes
Still alive?
Female?
A single individual?
[GL] Alive? Yes
[all] Female? No
[CdM] Single individual? Yes
British?
[INJ] British? Yes
Is this person in the news on a regular basis?
Is he under 50?
Associated with the arts/culture?
Is he under 30?
Is he famously involved with sport?
A musician?
Is he a regular in the Morniverse?
[Chalky] Hmmm...not in the news as such
[GL] Under 50? Yes
[INJ] Arts/culture? Yes
murmur from audience
[Projoy] <30 ? No
[all] sport? not any more mixture of confused "huh?" and knowledgeable "ah" from audience
[Inkspot] Musician? Yes another murmur
[Irguy] Morniverse? No
Ian Broudie?
[Projoy] Broudie? No
Nigel Kennedy?
[GL] Kennedy? No
Over 40?
Pop music or classical?
[Projoy] >40? Yes
[Dandalf] Pop or classical? Yes

Hint: Music is not how he makes his living.

Is he a politician?
[Raak] Politician? No
Does he make his living as a writer?
Is he a broadcaster?
Yes Pop, Yes Classical or Yes both?
[CdM] Writer? Sometimes
[Rosie] Broadcaster? Hmmm...is probably best known for TV work, if that's what you mean
[Dandalf] pop/classical? Probably a bit of both, but it's not really important.
Is he a celebrity cook/chef?
[Chalky] Cook/Chef? No

[Clarification for Rosie] Broadcaster - if a broadcaster is someone like David Dimbleby, Jeremy Paxman, David Frost, then the answer is No

An actor?
[GL] Actor? Yes - (applause and sighs of relief from audience)
Primarily known as a film actor?
FORGET THAT
Just seen the 'best known for TV work' - So
Primarily known for comedy?
Well known for his sci-fi work?
Hugh Laurie?
Vinnie Jones?
David Tenant?
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