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 ....
One last thing before I give up, as this thing is an abstract human construction is it a thought process or something like that goes on in someone's head.
[Tuj] Invented in the last thousand years. YES. Some accounts say that this was around a long time before its "official" invention date in the last thousand years, but I'll go with the account that gives a specific date. [Inkspot] Thought process? NOT EXCLUSIVELY, this thing (rather than process) is abstract (i.e. non-tangible), but it is also translated into tangible form and because of that it has a definite effect on people's behaviour in the real world. [flerdle] Proof? NO, although proof (in the informal sense) is often involved.
To the question by Tuj "Linked with a particular culture or country?" you replied "NOT ANY MORE". Does that mean that it began in one country but it is now world wide.
ps if yes, a great clue would be the coutry of origin.
[Inkspot] OK, for nothing I shall reveal that this thing first appeared (according to the account I am following) in Venice first (when Venice was a country). [Phil] Associated with a particular way of life? NOT REALLY (unless you mean particular professions?)
[Projoy] Ayurvedic cuisine? vaguely. [Darren] Curry? NO but ever so close [Raak] found in Indian restaurants outside India? YES [irach] contains mango? YES and no. Depends. [Irouléguy] a chutney or pickle? YES!! *audience cheers wildly, orders takeaway*
Chalky] Is it an activity? *applause* YES Rosie] A game? *louder applause, quite possibly beer-fuelled* YES ImNotJohn] Is the animal connection human? YES Inkspot] Connected to religion? *some sardonic chuckling* NO Raak] Is more than one sort of animal involved? YE-ES, though I don't think that's helpful.
Raak - Football? NO Projoy - Game hunting? NO - the other animals are red herrings Phil - Fuzzy Duck? *the audience break into teams to play* Nice idea, but no. Rosie - Cricket? NO *polite applause* Assuming the ball contains leather - that assumption contains two unasked questions. Darren] Golf? NO
[Raak] Sea water? NO [Inkspot] A drink? NO, unless you have very bizarre tastes...actually, just make that a stright NO [Tuj] Begins with P? Sorry, NO.
Normally found in the home? Hmmmm, how pedantic do I want to be. YES, it could normally be found in a home; NO, a home is not the only place it is normally found.
[Kim] Measurement device? NO [Inkspot] Is the vegetable also part of the fluid? NO I think I need to provide a little guidance/clarification. The "manufactured object" does not contain any fluid.
[Raak] Something that you put into a fluid? NO [Chalky] More likely to have a use in the workplace? Possibly, but I'd say equally useful at home as at work.
A newspaper? (The paper is dead vegetable, the printing ink being a fluid mineral, and newspapers have known to be worn on a couple of occasions, one can use it at home or in the office)