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AVMA Take 2
help
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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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.
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?
[INJ] Comedy? Yes
[GL] SF? No
[Rosie] Hugh Laurie? YES!
[Projoy and all] VJ/DT? See above :-)

Congrats, Rosie, we await your teaser with baited breath. Meanwhile, I'd be curious to know how many people knew what Hugh Laurie's sporting background is?

Rowlocks
Well, I certainly didn't. To save other people having to look it up, HL rowed for Cambridge in the 1980 boat race.
out of tune
I didn't realise he was a musician either. Talented chap.
[mutter, fader] Hello!
I've got one if Rosie's busy.
Although it's not 1am yet, so he'll probably be on shortly :)
And here he is . . . .
(Chalky) Not a bad jazz pianist, Mr L.
And the next object is . . . ABSTRACT
A wild guess?
Climate change?
Sociolinguistics?
Gravity?
A human construct?
Or perhaps a natural phenomenon?
String theory?
Light?
(Irg) A wild guess? - Have another one.:-)
(Phil) Climate change? - No (It's snowing here in bleak upland Surrey)
(Néa) Sociolinguistics? - No
(GL) Gravity? - No
(INJ) A human construct? - No
(Chalky) A natural phenomenon? - Yes *a slight ripple of applause*
(Raak) String theory? - No, or brass either. :-)
(all) Light? - No, but *considerable applause*
A rainbow?
Relativity
Cataracts?
Weather-related?
It's been snowing here in bleak upland Farringdon too
Dark?
Does the answer on the card involve "light"?
sunlight?
(Raak) - Not a rainbow
(Projoy) - Not relativity
(Kim) - Not cataracts
(Irouléguy) Weather-related? - Can be, but no more than that
(Gusset Login) Dark? - No
(Tuj) No, but *a little applause* nevertheless
(all) No, but again *some applause*
Moonbeams?
The vernal equinox?
An Eclipse?
The dawn chorus?
Sunrise?
(Raak) Moonbeams? - No, nor polka dots, alas
(INJ) Vernal Equinox - No
(GL) Dawn chorus - No
(all) Sunrise? - No
Sundogs?
It's some bloody weather thing, isn't it? ;-)
Is the light natural (as opposed to human-generated)?
Aurora ?
Optimism?
(Raak) Sundogs? - No, not page 3 girls
(Projoy) Some weather thing? - No, that would be a bit corny. What do you take me for, sir?
(Irouléguy) Could be either ("Light" is not on the card though some would have put it there)
(irach) Not the Aurora
(Chalky) Optimism? - Regrettably yours is misplaced this time.
I'm possibly being a little particular, but everybody has heard of this and knows what it is.
Lengthening Evenings?
Scratch that, how about "starshine"?
Phosphorescence?
Is it anything to do with the passage of time?
(Projoy) Starshine? - No (or lengthening evenings)
(Raak) Phosphorescence - No, but *a slight murmur of appreciation*
(Chalky) The passage of time - No
Radiation?
photosynthesis?
A mirage?
(GL) Radiation - Yes. - Now, which sort?
(Projoy) Photosynthesis? - No
(Irouléguy) A mirage - No.
Electromagnetic Radiation?
infra-red?
Come to think of it, we seldom refer to infra-red light, so perhaps ultra-violet instead?
Step forth, the immaculately-tanned Projoy! ULTRAVIOLET it is. Ironically there's an article about the current tanning fad in today's Grauniad.
Hmmm...
This one might be very easy indeed or a bit of a bastard. It's NOT ANIMAL, VEGETABLE NOR MINERAL and although it is ABSTRACT in one way it's also a real thing.
Gravity?
A tan?
[Raak] gravity, no
[Rosie] a tan, no
That thing called love?
Fiction?
The speed of light?
[all] Luurrve, nope
[GL] Fiction, nope
[Ig] the speed of light, nope
Atmosphere?
Is it just one thing?
[GL] Atmos, no. [Ig] One thing, yes.
Sexual orientation?
How well you know me, dear Raak, but no, it's not that.
Is it s human construct?
Is it q human construct?
[Kim, all] It is neither, nor is it, for the sake of brevity a human construct, or even an human construct.
Can it be seen?
Is it weather related?
Electricity?
Is it a form of sound?
Is it any form of natural disaster?
[Raak] Can it be seen? No
[GL] Weather related... not really, only in the most unhelpful tangential way
[all] Electricity - no
[Raak] Form of sound - no
[Rosie] Natural disaster - debatable, but you could say yes

(Incidentally there have been a couple of answers so far where I perhaps should have used the studio audience, but thought it would make it much too easy. I'll bring them back if it seems like it's too hard)
Global warming?
[Raak] Global warming - Nope.
[Raak] I should perhaps add that a flat "no" to "Can it be seen?" is perhaps a teeny bit misleading. There are some rather specialised senses in which it can be seen, although most people would say that it can't.
Actually, after further thought, I should think even the specialists, when pressed, would say that it can't be seen.
An epidemic?
A soul?
[Rosie] Not an epidemic
[Phil] Not a soul (and my I be damned for all eternity if I ever claim without caveat that such a thing exists!)
A past event?
[Ig] Past event, yes and no. :)
The Big Bang?
[CdM] The Big Bang, no. *murmurs of interest in the audience, who are now back from their tea break*
The Begining?
[all] The beginning, nope.
Any connection with astronomy or cosmology?
The soul? It's a metaphor. Your eternal damnation is on hold :-)
Evolution?
[Rosie] connected with astronomy/cosmology, YES *applause*
[Ig] Evolution, no.
An orbit?
[Raak] An orbit, no. *sound of several members of audience leaning forward at the same time*
Black Hole?
The Universe?
[Phil] Black Hole, YES
[Kim] The Universe? Only the bent parts of it :)
Yikes - two wins now! I think it was the "can it be seen" explanation that triggered the realisation. Anyway, here goes for a new one.

Mineral - with an animal reference

Is it bigger than a toaster?
Cat's-eye (Chrysoberyl)?
A cat-flap?
Pot-shot from 50 yds hoping the goalie's asleep.
[Projoy] Bigger than toaster, Yes
[irach] Chrysoberyl, no
[Rosie] Cat-flap, no
Is it bigger than a tank? A WW2 one, that is.
Is it metal?
A fish-eye lens?
Is there just one of it?
[Projoy] Bigger than tank, yes
[GL] metal, no
[Kim] fish-eye lens, no
[Raak] Just one, yes
The Dog Star?
The Horsehead Nebula?
[Projoy] Dog star, no
[GL] Horsehead nebula, no
Is this a sea or ocean?
[Chalky] Sea or ocean, no
A sculpture?
[Chalky] Sculpture, no
Man-made?
[Néa] Man-made, no
A geographical feature?
Pluto?
An astronomical feature?
[Raak] Geog. feature, yes - smallish ripple of applause from audience
[Kim] Pluto, no
[GL] Astronomical, no
A mountain?
Is the animal connection figurative, eg The Old Man of Hoy?
The Cerne Abbas Giant?
Is the animal reference human?
[Projoy] mountain, no - applause from audience
[Rosie] Figurative animal connection, yes - considerable applause from audience
[GL] Cerne Abbas Giant, no
[irach] human reference, yes
Is it in Britain?
[GL] in Britain, yes
Is the human reference a name?
[CdM] Name, yes - applause
The Old Man of Hoy?
Forget that, not really a person's name. How about Arthur's Seat?
[Raak] Hoy, no
[Raak - take 2] YES Didn't think that would go so fast.
V. bsy atm so may only lk in cpl times a day.
M I N E R A L with V E G E T A B L E connections
Bonsai Mountain?
[GL] Molehill? No.
Natural feature?
You nicked my "intellectual property", y' bastard. You'll be hearing from Messrs. Sue, Grabbit and Runne. :-)
[Rosie] Not natural.
A mostly metallic object?
[Rosie] Mostly metallic? Tricky. By weight, yes, by volume, no.
Is it one single object?
[I] Single object? No (in the sense that there are many of these).
Can this be consumed?
[Chalky] Cannot be consumed.
It is bigger than a 'phone box?
Is the vegetable part alive?
[Kim] Not bigger than a phone box.
[GL] Not alive.
Is the vegetable wood?
Is the metallic part a sort of framework?
Is it bigger than a breadbox?
[I] (slight murmurings from the audience) No.
[R] No.
[GL] Usually.
Is the vegatable paper?
[Kim] Yes! applause
Is it something to do with money?
[I] Nothing to do with money.
Is it a decoration?
[Rosie] Not a decoration.
A filing cabinet (full)?
An Underground Map?
[Dandalf] No.
[Phil] No, not much metal in one of those.
I was thinking of the sort on display on a tube station, but was wrong anyway.
Is the paper for writing on?
[Rosie] (a ripple of interest) Er, yes and no. (the audience appreciates the questionmaster's Solomonic wisdom)
Is the paper for printing on?
[Kim] Er, yes and no. (the audience responds in the same way)
Is the mineral the bit that does the printing/writing?
Is the paper actually part of the object on the card or is it used in connection with the object?
[Dandalf] In connection with. Vegetable connections, remember.
Please may I have a reply to my last question?
A pen?
A fax machine?
[Chalky] No.
[Chalky] Yes.
[GL] no.
[R] No (but the audience have woken up again).
Toner?
Photocopier?
[GL] No.
[all] No. (the audience eagerly anticipate the final chase)
Laser Printer?
Typewriter?
[GL] No.
[Dandalf] No.
A Printing Press?
[Phil] No.
Stereotype?
A scanner?
[Projoy] No.
[Rosie] No.
Polaroid camera?
Invisible Ink?
Shurely not a Gestetner?
A dot-matrix printer?
Mimeograph?
(although in that case, Rosie already got it. All hail Corflu!)
A shredder?
[all] No.
[Chalky] No.
[Rosie] No.
[I] No.
[Néa] No.
[Phil] YES. A paper shredder.
Well, I seem to be getting rather fluky at these lately. OK, I'll try and think up one that could have no ambiguous answers - or could it?

Vegetable

Edible, in the normal sense?
Alive?
[Rosie] Edible? Yes
[GL] Alive? No
Processed?
Is it normally eaten raw?
Bigger than a breadboard?
A carrot?
A nut?
A bread roll?
[Dandalf] Processed? Yes
[Kim] Raw? No
[GL] >Breadboard? No
[Néa] Carrot? No
[Inkspot] Nut? No
[all] Bread Roll? A careful No - enthusiastic applause
Is bread involved in some way?
A loaf of bread?
A bagel?
[all] bread? yes - more applause
[GL] Loaf of bread? No
Breadcrumbs?
A gingerbread house?
Toast?
A slice of bread?
A Sandwich?
[Tuj] breadcrumb? No
[GL] Gingerbread house? No
[Kim] Toast? No
[all] Slice of bread? Another careful No
[GL] Sandwich? No
Audience starts to doubt that the players will pin this down with wild guesses
I have to go out in an hour or so, but should be back for 9:30pm (GMT)
Was my bagel mouldy?
What is the meaning of life?
Bread and Butter Pudding?
[Raak] Mouldy Bagel? Don't know
[all] Meaning of life? Not sure, but I know the ultimate answer.
[GL] B&B Pud? No
Is it a particular variety of bread?
Is the bread associated with a particular culture?
[Raak] Particular variety? Yes - Audience spontaneously combusts with excitement
[Inkspot] Particular culture? Yes - Audience reaches critical mass
Does this culturally significant variety of bread contain NO *animal* substances?
[Chalky] No animal substances? Hmmm...I'll have to find out...ok, there may be an animal substance, but I have found recipes that exclude it. Apologies to anyone who may have assumed there was no animal involved whatsoever.
Unleavened bread?
Bruschetta?
Pita?
Bara brith?
Ciabatta?
Naan bread?
[all] Unleavened? No
[irach] Bruschetta/pita? No
[Rosie] Bara brith? No, but I can see the logic :-)
[Chalky] Ciabatta? No
[GL] Naan bread? YES
Again, sorry about forgetting the animal content, but well done, Gusset Login!
Gosh I finally got one right.

Animal

Human?
[Kim] Yes
Living?
[Chalky] Living? No
Died in the last 100 years?
A religious figure?
[Projoy] Died since 1906? Yes
[Raak] Religious figure? No
Born in the C20th?
Female?
[Projoy] Born between 1901 and 2000? No
[CdM] Female? No
A scientific figure?
[Irouléguy] Scientific figure? No
Died before 1930?
A performer, of any kind?
[all] Dead by 1930? No
[Rosie] Performer? No
Is he to be found on imdb.com?
Politician?
[Phil] imdb.com? No
[irach] Politician? No
Writer?
European?
[Dandalf] Writer? No.
[Irouléguy] European? Yes.
A sportsman?
Artist?
Any military connections?
Royalty?
[Phil] Sportsman? No
[Dandalf] Artist? No, but he has artistic connections - Audience mummers approval
[Irouléguy] Military? No
[irach] Royal? No
Designer?
Is music a connection?
Film maker?
[Phil] Designer? Yes
[carew] Music connection? No. (But he probably listened to it and I think was mentioned in a song once)
[irach] Film maker? Still no, stop asking
In the world of fashion?
Architect?
[Raak] Fashion? No
[CdM] Architect? Yes - Applause from the audience
Le Corbusier?
[Raak] Le Corbusier? No
Sir Christopher Wren?
[Phil] Wren? No

Summary so far: Human, Male, Architect, Died between 1906 and 2006, born prior to 1901, European, not a film maker.


Correction: Died between 1930 and 2006
Died before 1960?
[Phil] Died before 1960? No
Spanish?
[Raak] Spanish? No
Mies van der Rohe?
Bauhaus school?
[Irouléguy] Mies van der Rohe? No
[Raak] Bauhaus school? Yes - Much applause
Ernst May?
Forget that (sketchy research). Was it Gropius?
[Projoy] Ernst May? No
[Projoy] Walter Gropius? YES

I'd hoped that would take longer to guess, well done Projoy

Rats - I was trying to eliminate Gropius, but mis-read the date. Congrats, Projoy.
Oh damn. Sorry, haven't looked in much today - wasn't expecting to get that one. ** sounds of thinkage **

MINERAL

Man made?
Begins with a P?
Eiffel Tower?
A mechanical device?
Fifth letter is a W?
Three words?
Valuable?
Is there only one of these?
A Bungalow?
Salt?
[GL] man-made, NO
[Tuj] "P...", NO
[irach] Eyeful Tower, NO
[Rosie] Mechanical, NO
[CdM] Fifth letter a "W", NO *titters from audience*
[Ig] Three Words, Depends how articulate you are
[Dandalf] Valuable, NO (subjectively)
[Kim] Only one of these, YES
[Botherer] Bungalow, NO
[all] Salt, NO *the gentlest murmur of interest from just a few members of the audience, as if a light breeze had blown over a doormat*
Ice?
A natural object?
[Raak] Ice, NO.
[Ink] Natural object, YES
The sea?
(more answers this evening, as I'm away from internet this arvo)
[GL] The Sea, NO *some applause*
A body of water?
Is it an ocean?
OK, now I'm *really* going until this evening.
[Ig] body of water, NO
[GL] an ocean, NO
*(but some scattered applause at ocean)*
The White Cliffs of Dover?
The English Channel?
Something on the edge of an ocean?
An island?
Sand?
Coastal wetlands?
The Gulf Stream?
[all] White cliffs, NO
[Ink] Island, NO * a little laughter *
[irach] sand, NO
[Rosie] costal wetlands, NO
[Ig] Gulf Stream, NO *two members of the audience start paying attention again*
Mariana Trench?
Something on the edge of an ocean?
[GL] edge of the ocean, NO, but
[Dandalf] Wow! Excellent bit of intuition. It was indeed the Mariana Trench.
The renewed interest when gulf stream was mentioned somehow triggerred off Mariana Trench. So Ig deserves a share of the Wow! And now for something completely different.....ANIMAL
Michael Palin?
Human?
Alive?
Male?
Mythical?
Palin - NO
Human - YES
Alive - YES
Male - YES
Mythical - NO
Involved with the arts?
European?
Born before 10th March 1976?
Welsh Rugby player?
Arts? NO
European? YES (A slight murmur from the audience)
pre 10/3/76?
Welsh Rugby player? NO
Scientist?
British?
You didn't answer GL's question, by the way. Thanks for the share of the 'wow' - nearest I've come in this game for some time.
Sportsman?
Wayne Rooney?
GL sorry Born pre 10/3/76? YES
Scientist? NO
British? YES
SPORTSMAN? NO
WR NO
Sorry about the poor formatting.
Of a non-European ethnic origin?
(for a value of "ethnic" that might extend to his great-grandparents, say)
Born before 10 March 1956?
[Projoy] non-European ethnic? YES *ripples of applause as audience sits up*
[GL] pre-10/3/56? NO
Paul Boateng?
Appears on TV regularly?
Musician?
[Raak] Boateng? NO
[Projoy] YES *round of applause from audience*
[Inkspot] Musician? NO
Lenny Henry?
[Rosie] LH? NO ripple of applause
A comedian?
Ainsley Harriet
[PJ] Comedian/ -hmmmm
[Phil] Ainsley? Ready, Steady.... YES! Well done and sorry for delay!
I wish I could explain how the name popped into my head - I think it was the "always on tv" aspect with a round of applause. OK, time to think of another.

Vegetable with some Mineral

Ripple of applause for Lenny Henry, might have done it subconsciously, as LH had the title role in CHEF.
Salted peanuts?
Wood that's beginning to petrify?
A club with a nail in it?
Veneered Chipboard?
A household artefact?
A lemon with a sub-machine gun?
Crunchy Nut Cornflakes?
A drink?
Is it edible?
Is it bigger than a box of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes?
Whisky and soda?
A wet towel?
A leek?
[Raak] Peanuts? No
[irach] part-petrified wood? No
[GL] Nailed club? No
[Projoy] veneered chipboard? No
[INJ] household artefact? No
[all] armed lemon? No
[Chalky] CN Cornflakes? No
[Inkspot] A drink? No
[Irouléguy] Edible? No
[Kim] Bigger than box of cornflakes? No
- Audience feels we may be getting somewhere at last
[Raak] W&S? No
[Dandalf] Wet towel? No
[Rosie] Leek? No
- Audience loses optimism
cardboard?
Does it have anything written on it?
Bigger t han a coffee mug?
A container of some sort?
A bowl of cornflakes?
A bowl of cornflakes?
Oops sorry - doubleposted!
Is it made of wood?
Is it designed to contain something?
[Chalky] Cardboard? No
[Projoy] Text thereon? Yes
[GL] Container? No
[Dandalf] Bowl of cornflakes? Nay, and twice nay :-)
[all] Made of wood? No
- Some audience members mutter to each other
[Projoy] Designed to contain something? No
A form of some kind?
I say, Bigger than a coffee mug?
Designed to be written on?
[Raak] Apologies - Bigger than a coffee mug? No
- Audience becomes interested again
[Rosie] A form? No
[INJ] To be written on? No
Made of bamboo?
[Raak] Bamboo? No
Clarification: When I said "it has things written on it", to be utterly precise the word "printed" would be better than "written".
Is it bigger than a box of matches?
A postage stamp?
A coffee mug?
A £10 note?
[Kim] Bigger than a box of matches? In terms of volume, using a Bryant & May matchbox (37x55x17mm). No, but it's a close run thing.
- Audience finds this fascinating, but they are a little nerdy
[Chalky] Postage stamp? No
[all] Mug? No
[Chalky] £10 note? No
Long and thin?
[Projoy] Long & thin? No
Is it made of cotton?
A reel of thread?
[Chalky] Cotton? No
[Raak] Reel of thread? No
Is it made of paper?
[CHalky] Made of paper? No
Audience eagerly awaits Projoy or Kim's next question
A calling card?
A Champagne Cork?
[Inkspot] Calling card? No
[Chalky] Champagne cork? No
A beermat?
Can I confirm that it's not made from wood, cardboard, paper, cotton or cork?
Does it play a part in the preparation of food?
Is it normally hand made?
Is the vegetable part alive?
Is it flat?
[CdM] Beermat? No
[Chalky] Not wood, cardboard, paper, cotton, cork? Correct
[Kim] Food prep? No
[Inkspot] Handmade? No
[GL] Live veg? No
[CdM] Flat? No
Is the mineral part a candle?
A potato print?
[all] Candle? No
[GL] Potato print? No
Is it made from a fruit?
A tin of tobacco?
Is it made of rubber?
[Inkspot] Made of fruit? No
[Rosie] Tin o'baccy? No
[Raak] Made of rubber? YES
- Rapturous applause from audience
The wheel of a Tonka Toy?
[Projoy] Tonka wheel? Alas, no.
Unfortunately, I have to work for the next few hours, but should be able to pop back in a couple of times over the course of the evening.
Squash ball?
A packet of three?
[Dandalf] Squash Ball? YES
[Raak] 12-months supply for a married man? Unfortunately, no.
Congrats to Dandalf!
At last I can share the trivia that the volume of a squash ball is only 3% less than that of a standard box of matches, as its diameter is 40mm, giving a volume of 33510 cubic mm, compared with 34595 cubic mm.
[Phil] Thanks. I actually worked out the volume before guessing! Now I have to think of something else..... what about ABSTRACT with ANIMAL connections
A fictional character?
David Attenborough's 'Planet Earth'?
Is the animal connection human?
[Inkspot] Fictional character? NO
[Iroulegey] Planet Earth? NO
[INJ] Human? YES
A character of legend?
Is the animal connection a particular human?
Any artistic connection?
[Kim} Legend? NO
[CdM] Particular human? NO
[INJ] Artistic connection? NO
God?
Is the human connection a particular nationality?
Is it a bird?
Is it a persons title?
Forget last one, put it down to lack of tea and bicuits
Law?
Is it a collective title?
Is it a category of person?
[Phil] God? God, NO
[Irouleguy]Particular nationality? No (murmurings from the audience)
[Inkspot] bird? NO (happily munching on choc digestive while sipping a cup of Earl Grey :) )
[Raak] Law? NO
[GL]collective title? In the sense that it covers a number of items, YES
[KIM]person category? NO
A human construct?
(welcome return of an old favourite)
A golem?
[INJ] H.C.? YES ( I think!)
[all] Golem? NO
[INJ] H.C.? YES ( I think!)
[all] Golem? NO
Oh No not again! sorry
Does it have something to do with nationalities?
[Raak] Nationalities? YES,partly.
Does it have something to do with a geographical region comprising several counties?
[Kim] YES, but not geographical.
- Audience suddenly wakes up and applauds loudly
A trading cartel of countries?
County Cricket?
Are we talking about counties, not countries?
Typo alert.
(Trying to summarize) Is it a name given to a group of geographically dispersed people with something in common?
[Inkspot] Trading cartel? NO
[Projoy] County cricket? NO
[Rosie] counties/countries? The one with the R.
[CdM] Such a name is one of the words on the card! Loud applause!
Refugees?
A politiocal grouping (in a wide sense - as opposed to say economic)?
Communism?
A racial grouping?
[Inkspot] Refugees? NO
[INJ] Political grouping? YES but that's not the full answer (Applause)
[GL] Communism? NO (some chuckles from audience)
[CdM] Racial grouping? NO
Is it NATO?
Was it created by a treaty?
neo-fascists?
Is it a formal organization?
[Kim] NATO? NO
[Raak] Created by Treaty? NO, but by the ~~~~~~~ Declaration
[IN]neo-fascists? NO
[CdM] Formal organisation? YES
The State/Citizens of Israel
Associated with the UN?
Balfour?
[Projoy] Israel? NO
[INJ] UN? NO
[Raak] The Balfour Declaration? YES (wild applause) but still some way to go.
The Zionist Federation?
unlikely but you never know
Hamas?
[all] Zionist Fed? NO
Hamas? NO
CLARIFICATION: I've just found out that there are two distinct Balfour declarations, one dated 1917 and the other 1926. It is to the latter that I referred in replying to Raak. Get googling!
The British Commonwealth?
[all] B. Commonwealth? YES - but still not the answer on the card.
The Commonwealth Games?
[GL] Commonwealth Games YES Well Done!
Huzzah! Thank you all for the help
I will seek inspiration from the random function of wikipedia

Animal

Human?
Human? - Yes
Alive?
Alive? - Yes
Male?
European?
Sportsman/sportswoman
SPORTSMAN
Currently in the news?
Political figure?
Male? - Yes
European? - No
Sportsman/sportswoman SPORTSMAN? - No
In the news? - Not that I've noticed
Political? - Yes
Middle Eastern?
Is he now retired from the office/position for which he is most famous?
Merkin?
Middle Eastern? - No
Retired? - Yes
American? - No
Butros Butros Ghali?
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