mc5 - AVMA Take 2

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AVMA Take 2

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Yes, it's another round of that classic guessing game - Animal, Vegetable, Mineral, Abstract [or any combination thereof]. This effort - '03/'04 should address any queries, but then again, may just serve to confuse and baffle which some might say is the point of the game. Patience, integrity and a decent search engine may be useful ....

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[INJ] YES and NO; however again NO is more helpful.

Begins with P?

Is the mineral liquid?

[Tuj] P-to the rest of it? NO
[INJ] Liquidity? NO

Is the Abstract a quality ascribable to humans?

[Rosie] Quality of humanity? NO

Is the animal a single identifiable person?

[INJ] A single identity? VERY NO.

A single-word answer?

A particular battle?

[Tuj] One word? To be honest it depends on whether you're being definitive, in which case the answer is YES, or whether you're being more abstract, in which case NO. Either way you won't get a very helpful answer.
[Dujon] A battle? Some could call it a battle, but it's going to help more if I say NO

A riot or similar unruly assembly?

A cause? (e.g. Suffragettes)

[Rosie] I predict a riot? NO
[Dujon] Group with a common goal? NO

Any chance of a clue?

[Tuj] I don't see why not.
A run through of what you know:
It is fictional
Involves humans in some way
The mineral can be metal at times
Not a weapon but the audience seemed to like the word
Nowhere near a single person

If I had to give an extra clue: it is a game. I can't get more blunt than that.

Does or has the game exist(ed) in the real world as well as the fictional one?

Is it something akin to chess pieces?

Lewis Carroll connection?

[Rosie] I'm not quite sure what you mean. Could you please elaborate?
[Dujon] Chess pieces? NO
[irach] Alice related? NO

Nought's and Crosses?

(tic-tac-toe to our American Morniversers)

[Software] O&X? NO

Boardo?

(Kinrah) You say it's a game and is fictional, which to me could mean it only takes place in a story and could be a game that does not exist in the real world (e.g. competitive vole-polishing). Or it could be a known game between fictional contestants, such as Melchester Rovers etc.

[GL] Checkmate, I'll take that card? NO some whisperings from audience
[Rosie] Ohh. I meant fictional as in the story behind the game is fictional, as opposed to something based on a true story. I apologise if you didn't read it that way. Yes, the game exists in the real world, whether the players are fictional or not is entirely up to a writer's discretion.

Is the result of the game significant to the story?

Nonsense - is it?

Fantasy Football?

[Rosie] Result significant? YES
[Software] Gobbeldegook? NO
[Kim] Fan Made Foot Sports? NO

Ok, since this doesn't seem to be going anywhere, I'm going to reveal the answer and pass the baton to somebody else.

I was thinking of the game of Cluedo (or I believe it's called Clue in the US). Hence:
Fictional
Animal connection human
There have been books and films made on the subject
Pieces can be made of metal or other minerals
Involves weapons (see audience reaction)
Many identities
A one or multi-word answer depending on whether you say 'A Game of Cluedo' or 'Cluedo'
The end of the game is significant in that the true murderer is locked up

In any case, a candlestick-shaped baton handed to whoever wants to take it.

Well, reading back, I think that Tuj actually won the round at 3:48 pm on the 2nd of March. So it must be his turn.

[CdM] Very generous ;) I'll have to decline as this is about the busiest period of my life, certainly thus far. Baton, anyone?

I'll take the baton if no one is using it. MINERAL

Metal?

Stone?

[Rosie] Metal? No.
[Software] Stone? No.

liquid?

Gaseous?

Excluding flatus, obviously

[INJ] liquid? No, is the most useful answer. Partly, is more accurate.
[Rosie] Gas? Yes

Is the mineral water?

In whatever state.

[INJ] water? Not to any significant extent, no.

Found in the home?

[Software] Found in the home? No (Sounds of mirth from the audience).

meteorological/atmospheric?

[INJ] meteorological or atmospheric? Technically no, but it may be related.

Flammable?

Connected with transport?

Composed primarily of a single element?

[Rosie] Flammable? Depends what you do with it, but normally probably not.
[Software] Transport? No.
[INJ] Single element? Yes. (More than 75%)

Compressed air?

[Rosie] Compressed air? No

One of the Inert Gases?

[Rosie] Inert gas? No

Correction: [INJ] I have double checked and it might be slightly less than 75% composed of a single element.

Anaesthetic?

[Rosie] Anaesthetic? No.

The sun?

Not the penny dreadful.

*Smattering of applause from the audience*
[Rosie] Sol? No.

Some other star?

Is the single 75%ish element hydrogen?

Helium?

[Software] Helium? No.
[CdM] 70-75% Hydrogen? Yes.
[Rosie] A Star? No.

Jupiter?

By Jove, that had better be right.

[Rosie] Jupiter? YES. Have a baton.

Well, that was quick, and this may also be not too difficult .
It's ABSTRACT

A pseudonym?

Don't ask, I don't know.

(Dujon) - Not a pseudonym.

A human concept?

(Softers) - Human concept? - YES

Specifically European?

Does it begin with P?

(Softers) - Specifically European - NO. *one or two sniggers from the audience*
(Gusset Login) Pinitialism? - NO. Not in English, at any rate.

Specific to some particular culture or place?

Related to language?

(CdM) - Specific to some particular culture or place? - YES, but only in terms of the actual word (s) on the card.
(Dujon) - NOT language-related.

Any political connection?

(Softers) - Political connection? - YES, very much so, Gary. *vigorous audience applause*

Pertaining to the erstwhile Soviet Union?

The Great Firewall of China?

(irach) - NO, not pertaining specifically to the USSR.
(INJ) - Good thinking but NO, alas.
Clarification regarding CDM's query - the best answer is really a straightforward NO. Anything else may be misleading.

A joke of some kind?

(Dujon) - A joke? NO, far from it.

Anything to do with expenses?

Although they are far from abstract.

(Softers) - Expenses? - YES, though not exclusively. *vigorous applause*

An Election?

Obviously not imaginary duck houses??

(INJ) - NO, not an election.
(Softers) - Mallard's engine shed? - NO, but *further mild applause.*

Corruption?

(CdM) - Corruption? Getting very warm. *more audience applause*

A quango?

(Dujon) - A quango? NO.

Fictious parliamentary expenses?

(Softers) - One ball of string, one skewer, one pair of scissors as Representative of the All-Party Conker Committee? - NO, but that's part of it.

An inquiry of some sort?

Obviously dancing around it ...

(Softers) - An inquiry? - NO. Dancing round it is the very phrase. :-)

A government policy of some kind (e.g. the budget)?

(Dujon) - NO, not government policy at all, at least as they see it.

A Leak?

(INJ) - NO, not a leak.
This is a rather general term.

Sleaze?

SLEAZE it is! Well done GL. Over to you.

Oh, OK my turn, I guess.... ANIMAL

Human?

Alive?

[INJ] Human? Yes
[CdM] Alive? At one time, but not now.

Famous individual?

European?

[Softie] Individual of note? Yes
[INJ] European? Yes

Male?

[i,rach] Male? Yes

British?

[Rosie] British? Yes

In the entertainment field?

Artistic?

In a broad sense

[irach] An Entertainer? Yes
[INJ] Artistic? That's a matter of personal opinion. Some would say he was and some that he wasn't, I suspect.

Born in the 20th century?

[Rosé] A 20th Century Boy? Yes

A banjo/banjolele/ukelele player?

[Dujon] A banjo/banjolele/ukelele player? That's three questions. At least one of which would have the answer yes.

George Formby?

[Software] Ooh, mother. Turned out nice again? YES have this baton that was leaning on a lamppost at the corner of the street.

*Blushes as that certain little lady passes by*

Dammit, now I have to think ...

I know - ABSTRACT with ANIMAL Connections

A fictional character?

More than one animal involved?

A human construct?

A G-string?

[Gusset Login] I'm ever so pleased. ;-)

[GL] - Bugs Bunny? NO
[irach] The Herd? - YES
[Rosie] Imagination? YES
[Duj] Airy stuff? NO

An organisation of like-minded individuals?

Would Calgary be related?

[Rosie] affiliation? NO * spattering of applause from audience *
[Duj] Stampede? Not sure what you mean but NO is probably the answer.

A fictional group of humans?

Any connection with sports?

[GL] Imaginary? NO. * chuckling from audience *
[Juxta] Fitness? NO.

Any connections with politics?

[Rosie] Collective decision making? YES!

A general election?

A marginal constituency?

[Pro] Current mêlée? - NO. * some laughter and applause from audience *
[Rosie] Tactical territory? - NO.

Some kind of discussion?

A hung parliament

Or a hanged parliament, if you prefer that idea.

[Pro] Debate? - NO.
[INJ] Strung-up? (They should be). -NO.

Democracy?

[FGZ] Choosability? NO * laughter from audience *

A type of government?

[INJ] Party specific? NO.

A method of voting?

The House of Lords?

[FGZ] Ballot? - NO.
[Rosie] Feudalism?- NO.

Is it related to a change in government?

[GL] Selection - YES. * some applause from audience *

A coup?

[Duj] Junta? - NO. nothing so dramatic.
Hint: two words on card.

Regime Change?

Conservative government?

To do with totalitarianism?

[GL] Revolution? - NO.
[FGZ] Toryism? - NO.
[Pro] Stalin and his mates? - NO.
Hint: Remember this is largely ABSTRACT!

Is it a political term of phrase?

Dissolution of Parliament?

[FGZ] Spin? - YES! (although not always what politicians themselves want to convey)
[Rosie] End of Term? - NO.

The truth?

Campaign Promises?

A sudden shift in the structure of a hill?

[Pro] Veracity - NO (certainly virtual in the case of politicians)
[Duj] Lib-Dem revival? - NO
[FGZ] Promises, promises? - YES!
FGZ has it! I pass on the over-egged baton and may the best man win!

Thanks, Software, I dunno how to do the big letters thing, so here goes...

ANIMAL

Animal = human?

[Software] Homo Sapiens? NO

Four legs?

Quadroped? NO

Alive?

A bird?

[GL] Animate? YES
[Rosie] Ornithological? YES

A particular species?

Specific? YES Just to warn you guys that i have started travelling again, so I may not be on as often to answer questions. I'll try to get on as often as I can.

Extant?

Sorry, I don't quite follow, please rephrase.

Phraseology for Dummies

Extant (adj.) - A species which isn't extinct

Currently in existance? - YES

[FGZ*] PfD is quite correct (Thank you PfD). I might stress that I am not PfD but also that this site does include a wide variety of pedants with an equal proportion of grammarians, lexicographers, etymologists and other related types - each of which insists on proving their existence.

A bird of prey?

[GL] Predatory? - No

Found in Europe?

European? NO

A flightless bird?

North America?

Endemic to North America? NO
Flightless? YES

An ostrich?

A Penguin?

Kiwi?

[Rosie][Duj][GL] All incorrect

Emu?

[GL] Nope.

Penguin?

not a Linux fan by any chance?

Cassowary?

Kakapo?

All still incorrect so far... [Software] I take it that's not an AMVA question, and no, sadly I have never actually tried linux. I am currently windows only.

Silkie?

Any relevance to current events?

[GL] Nope [Rosie]Relevant? - no

Is it a member of the crane family?

Gruiformes.

A Chook?

Rhea?

[GL] Crane? NO
[Duj, Soft] NO
sorry guys but I've been stuck in Invercargill with no internet. Definitely not a great situation

Found primarily in Africa?

Kakapo?

Should I be trembling?

[INJ] African? No
[GL] Nope, as I told Juxtapose earlier
[Dujon] If you did, I would laugh at you

So far there have been some close guesses, but none spot on yet

A sub-species of a current guess?

[Software] Not that close

Australasian?

[INJ] Yes

Is it a kind of duck?

Begins with a P?

[GL] No [Tuj] No

Specific to New Zealand? (e.g. the Takahe)

[Duj] Certainly

[GL] My apologies, but I have answered a previous question incorrectly. Upon further research the animal in question belongs to the family of gruiformes. I am sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause, but Wikipedia has let me down.

Takhe?

If it is Dujon deserves the win.

[GL] Not the takahe, or he would have won.

Endemic only to the South Island?

This could turn into a guessing game. ZL has a significant number of gruiformes so I am trying my best to start a narrowing down of the possibilities.

Weka?

And with that, the well contested baton is passed to Gusset Login. Well done and good luck to all. I am not sure if it is endemic only to the SI, Dujon, but that was the only place I saw them.

OK, time for another ANIMAL

Human?

Used as a mascot?

[Rosie] Human? Sometimes.
[Juxtapose] Mascot? Almost everything has been used as a mascot at sometime, I don't believe that this is the exception.

A part of an animal?

[CdM] A chunk of someone? YES

Is this literal 'chunk' used as a description of a human (e.g. He was built like the back end of an elephant)?

[Dujon] Describing a human? I can't think of a time I have heard it used in that way, but I guess it's possible.

A particular animal or human?

An organ?

A werewolf?

Begins with P?

[Rosie] Particular? No
[Juxtapose] Organ? {Smattering of applause} No
[Dujon] Lycanthrope? No
[Tuj] P***? Not in english

A gland, perhaps?

[Juxtapose] A gland, perhaps? perhaps not

Relative to cardiology?

[Dujon] Cardiac relativity? No

Begins with P (to your knowledge) in some other language?

A head?

(CdM) Pen in Welsh, so Yes. :-)

[CdM] P-ing in foreign? I think it might in Czech but I'm far from an expert
[Rosie] A head? {Much applause} No

Physiognomy?

Amygdala?

[INJ] Studying Bumps? Would be abstract
[CdM] Amygdala? No

A skull?

[Juxtapose] skull? YES Have a juxtaposed baton.

Minor pedantry

Physiognomy = the face
Phrenology = determining the character by studying the lumps & bumps of the skull
Retro-phrenology = hitting the skull precisely with a hammer in order to achieve the configuration that gives the required character traits.

Sorry NotJohn

You're right, I misread. It was still wrong, if anything wrongerer.

Ooh, only my second baton-receiving. How exciting!

Alright-ah. This time we shall say: MINERAL.

Is it valuable?

[FGZ] Valuable? Yes.

Begins with P?

An object or objects?

More than 50% metal?

Unique?

Stone?

Is it radioactive?

Second letter A?

Last letter Y?

[Tuj] /^P/ No.
[Rosie] An object or objects? Yes.
[GL] More than 50% metal? Yes.
[Dujon] Unique? Typically no.
[Software] Stone? Stone is often involved.
[CdM] Radioactive No.
[Tuj2] /^.a/ No.
[GL2] /y$/ No.

A machine?

[Rosie] A machine? No.

Decorative?

A letter opener?

[GL] Decorative? I'm going to say Yes, though it's debatable.
[Softers] A letter opener? No.

Smaller than a toaster?

Bigger than a bread van?

[Tuj] <"toaster" Yes!
[GL] >"bread van" Nop.

A depositary of some kind?

A Ring?

[Dujon] depositary - a facility where things can be deposited for storage or safekeeping? No.
[FGZ] A ring? Yes. *much expectant applause*

A millstone?

An engagement ring?

[Softers] A millstone? Not quite...
[CdM] An engagement ring? YES! Well deduced, all. As it turns out, I am soon to be one half of "Mr. and Mrs. Juxtapose". The Mr. half, specifically. Have a ludicrously overpriced hand-made wedding baton.

Almost a lurker's victory, there. And congratulations, Juxtapose! All right, this one is

ANIMAL with ABSTRACT connections

Conservatism?

An anarcho-syndicalist rabbit?

Making a welcome return.

Supermouse?

Conservatism? No. (Is that an animal?)
Picketing Bunny? No.
Supermouse? No.

Is the animal human?

Human? No.

Starts with P?

David Cameron?

Mind if I join you?

Living creature(s)?

Is it a mascot of some sort?

OK, scratch that last one. David Cameron is human, as far as anyone knows.

P-begun? No.
The beast Cameron? No.
Alive? No.
Mascottish? Yes.

A cartoon character?

Cartoon character? No.

Represents a nation or geographical area?

National Geographic? No.

Is it associated with a particular company or product?

Symbolic?

Extinct?

Also making a (hopefully) welcome return.

Of the feline ilk?

Associated with company or product? Yes *applause*
Symbolic? Yes, in the mascottish sense already noted. Did you have something more specific in mind?
Extinct? No (or perhaps not applicable would be better)
Catty? Yes.

Is it Tony the Tiger?

The British Lion?

The Wild Haggis?

Familiar to a resident of America?

British company or product?

Tony? Wrrrrrrrrrrrrong.
British Lion? No.
Wild Haggis? No.
Familiar from California to the New York islands? Yes.
British company or product? No.

US company or product?

To get the obvious follow-up out of the way...

A product more than a company?

US company or product? Yes.
Product more than company? No.

Morris the Cat?

Morris the Cat? No.

The paddle pop lion?

Very similar to the Merlion in Singapore

Paddle Pop Lion? I think you will find that begins with P. Therefore, No.

The MGM roaring lion?

MGM lion? Close enough for a Yes! The words on the card were, strictly, The Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Lions (plural), with the answer referring to the actual animals. (Not all the lions actually roared, by the way.) At least in my question-setting world, many of the guesses that people gave would be Abstract with animal connections, as opposed to the Animal with abstract connections that I specified.

One celluloid representation of a baton passed on to irach.

This next one is just ANIMAL.

Unique?

Human?

Symbolic?

[CdM]Yes, unique.
[GL]Yes, human.
[Software] Hmmm... I presume could be considered a symbol of sorts.

Alive now?

[jim] No, but in a sense will always be alive.

Ronnie James Dio?

[jim] No, not RJ Dio.

Did they die before 17th May 1983?

[GL] The person in question was reported to have died prior to 17 May 1983, but will likely always be immortal.

An entertainer?

[INJ] No, not an entertainer.

Jesus Christ?

No, not Jesus Christ.

Fictional?

[Juxtapose] Yes, fictional.

When you speak of this fictional human as "always being alive" and "immortal", do you mean that there is something about this particular character that is immortal, as opposed to the character being immortal simply by virtue of being fictional? If you see what I mean.

[CdM] Mostly just by being fictional, but perhaps a little more than just a character in this case.

Did the character originally appear in a book?

[jim] Yes, the person first appeared in a book.,

Main character in a book?

Does the person's name appear in the title?

[Juxtapose] Yes, the person's name is in the book title.
[Software] Yes, the person is the main character in the book.

Was the book in question published prior to the year 1900?

[Juxtapose] The book was first pubished prior to 1900.

Was this person a mariner?

Does this person appear in more than one book?

By the way -- not as criticism, just as observation -- I would classify any fictional character (or place, or thing) as primarily abstract, with xxx connections as appropriate. Is that how others also think about these classifications?

[CdM] Research indicates that it was one book, published in two parts.

Is the person female?

[Juxtapose] The person is male.

British or Irish author?

[jim] Neither British or Irish author.

Originally written in English?

Oedipus?

[jim] Not originally written in English.
[GLogin] Not Oedipus.

Begins with P?

[CdM] I concur

[Tuj] Not beginning with "P".

The Count of Monte Cristo?

You missed Dujon's "mariner" question, by the way.

[Dujon] The person was not a mariner.

[CdM] Not "The Count of Monte Cristo"

Hercules?

Written before 1800?

[FGZstar] Not Hercules.
[INJ] Yes, written before 1800.

Written before 1700?

Original question, I know. Though irach did say "published in two parts", and we can't go too much further back before "published" stops being a meaningful concept.

[jim] Yes, both parts first came out in print prior to 1700.

Don Quixote?

Just a wild stab at a windmill in the dark...

[jim] The baton...or lance in this case is passed to you...Don Quixote it is! The books Part I, El Ingenioso Hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha and its sequel were published for Cervantes ten years apart, in 1604 and 1614 by publisher Francisco de Robles. Incidentally, Don Quixote was one of the first bestseller books for which pirated editions soon appeared in the marketplace. The fact that I considered Don Quixote as being a little more immortal than just famous for being a fictional character (in response to CdM's question) is that the personality trait adjective "quixotic" has also been derived from his name.

Takes lance with extreme caution

Thank you, thank you. Another result of the first book's being so popular was a rash of what you might call "unofficial sequels", of rather poor quality. The second book was written in part as a response to these.
I hope it's not considered too much bad form to guess like that straight after having a question answered. Actually, I couldn't think of any two-part foreign language books of that sort of antiquity, and was about to guess the Bible, although certain that wasn't it, just to eliminate the possibility, when another candidate suddenly struck me.

Anyway, I am now thinking of an ABSTRACT, with ANIMAL and VEGETABLE connections. Game on.

Is the animal human?

'En un lugar de La Mancha, de cuyo nombre no quiero recordarme...' - I've always liked that as an opening line - it's the 'no quiero' that gives it its interest.

[Animal human] In one connection, specifically yes. In another connection, yes, but not specifically so. In a sense, specifically no.

Does the answer contain a verb?

Is it a well known phrase or saying?

[Contains a verb] No verb.
[Well known phrase] No. That is, the name of the thing is certainly well known, and you might make a case for its being a phrase or saying, but the thing itself is not one.

Minotaur?

[Minotaur] No.

Character in a book?

[Character] No.

Does the human animal connection refer to a specific individual?

[Individual] The "specifically human" connection is to a specific individual human, yes.

Begins with P?

Ends with Y?

[Tuj] Pno.
[Gusset] Noy.

A general reference to an unspecified constituent of a group (e.g. 'one of the mob', 'a club member')?

[General reference] No. There's a sense in which the AOTC could be said to refer to a group of closely related entities, but it would usually be considered as a single specific thing.

Is the answer a mythical creature?

[Mythical creature] No.

Does the name of the human connection appear on the card?

Is the specific human a man?

[Name on card] No.
[Male human] Yes.

A leader?

Does the vegetable connection refer to a specific vegetable (such as a single identified tree, for example)?

[Leader] The person in question could certainly be considered a leader, but if you mean to ask if he is principally known as the leader of some group, nation, army etc., the answer is no.
[Specific vegetable] No.
I should clarify that when I say that the name of the human does not appear on the card, I mean precisely that. It would not be unnatural to describe the thing in terms of the person, but the name of the thing as I am envisaging it on the card does not contain the person's name.

IS it relating to a specific type of vegetable?

Is the human fictional?

[Specific type of vegetable] No.
[Fictional human] No.

Was the human involved in the invention or creation of the thing?

Was this thing invented?

(rather than, say, discovered)

[Human involved] Yes. Some murmurs of appreciation from the crowd
[Invented] I'm not sure "invented" is the right word, but it was more invented than discovered, although there is a strong connection to discovery.

Is the vegetable connection in regards to its shape?

[Shaped like a vegetable] No.

(In the sense that the thing can be said to have a shape, which is debatable.)

Was it "invented" in the last century?

(assuming that question makes sense)

[Last century] It did not come into being during the 20th century.

Are we broadly in the realm of science?

[Science] Yes. Audience applauds

Is the science in question astronomy?

Mathematical?

Newton's Law of Gravity?

[Astronomy] No.
[Mathematics] No.
[What goes up...] Nope.

Medical-related?

Biological Evolution related (a la Darwin?)

[Medical] No.
[Biological evolution] Yes. Cheers from the audience

Natural Selection?

Family tree?

[Natural selection] No, but there is a very strong connection. Audience are on the edges of their seats
[Family tree] No. Audience sit back again

The book title, "On the Origin of Species"

Yes! It is the book "On the Origin of Species", or to give it its full title, "On the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life", only that wouldn't fit on the card. Charles Darwin, of course, being the specific named human (not actually named on the card, but could have been); Darwin tactfully refrained from directly addressing human evolution in the book, hence the "specifically non-human" connection. Not that the book wasn't controversial enough anyway. One naturally selected baton goes over to irach.

Holy Galapagos! By the beard of the land iguana! Me again? The next one is quite simply ANIMAL.

Human?

(oblig)

[INJ] Not human.

Skippy the bush kangaroo?

Mammalian?

[jim] Not the aforementioned marsupial, or any other kangaroo.
[GL] Not mammalian.

A fish?

A monotreme?

[GL]Not a fish.
[Dujon] Not a montreme.

A blue-footed booby?

A Bird?

[CdM} Not a booby- blue-footed, or otherwise.
[FGZstar] Not a bird.

An insect?

A reptile?

Begins with P?

Arachnid?

[CdM] Yes, an insect. Audience raises collective antennae attentively...
[GL] Not a reptile.
[Juxtapose] Not an arachnid.

Is it found in New Zealand?

Was it ever hidden in New Zealand?

Is it a beetle?

Because that would really narrow it down. Also, why are you avoiding Tuj's question?

[Tuj] Does not begin with "P".
Yes, it is found in New Zealand.
[all] Hmmm... I don't really know.
[CdM] It is not a beetle.... (Mark...Antennae, no Coleoptera).

A weta?

A form of Stonefly?

[Juxtapose] Not a weta.
[Dujon] Not a stonefly.

Is it poisonous/venomous?

[CdM] Yes, it is poisonous.

A Fire Ant?

[FGZstar] Not a fire ant.

By poisonous, do you mean as in it will poison you if eaten, as opposed to venomous where it will bite you and poison you

[FGZstar] It will poison one if eaten.

Is it endemic only to New Zealand, or is it found in other countries?

[FGZstar] It is also found in other countries.

Is it a caterpillar?

[FGZstar] In one stage of its being it is a caterpillar, yes.

Would this be a butterfly that holds its wings flat when at rest?

If Duj would happen to be wrong, would it be a moth, such as the Hawthorn Caterpillar's moth (can't remember the name)?

[Dujon] Not that I know of.
[FGZstar] Not a moth.

Do the words on the card describe a butterfly?

[CdM] The words on the card refer to a specific butterrfly.

Cabbage White?

I know few others

[Software] Not a Cabbage White.

Is it, broadly speaking, a commonly known butterfly (like, say, Red admiral), or is it sufficiently obscure that we still need to ask other questions to narrow it down?

[CdM] Very commonly known butterfly... (and remember the clue that this species is known to be poisonous if eaten).

Is it a Monarch butterfly?

(shamelessly taking advantage of my time zone to ask two questions in a row)

[CdM] Yes, a Monarch butterfly it is! Monarchs feed on milkweed and sequester the digitalis-like cardiac glycosides from the plant, rendering them poisonous to predators. The range of the species does now extend to New Zealand.

A baton worthy of a monarch, nay... a sceptre... passed on to CdM.

.

MINERAL

Uluru aka Ayers Rock?

Pluto?

Does it gush out of the sea bed in the Gulf of Mexico?

Red rock? No.
Dead rock? No.
Bed rock? No.

Any kind of rock?

Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic, soft, hard, folk, sheet, soap, sham, def, red, 30, cradle will, black, picnic at hanging, school of, jailhouse? No.

Would I be correct in assuming then that it is metallic in composition?

Made by man?

Metallic? No.
Manmade? Yes.
My apologies. I am guilty of too cursory a reading of wikipedia. This is actually MINERAL and (probably) ANIMAL and/or (possibly) VEGETABLE.

A single specific thing?

Begins with P?

Single specific thing? In the sense I think you mean, the answer is No. The card does name some thing, but there is more than one instance of the thing named on the card. If you see what I mean.
Begins with P? Why, yes, yes it does. :-)

Can it be used for constructtion?

Can it be used for construction? *some audience laughter* It really depends what you mean by construction. Can you be more specific?

Plastic?

Judging from the audience laughter, I presume it may be used, for example, for constructing crafts or small objects rather than homes or edifices. Is this presumption correct? [e.g. construction of objects by children with "Plasticine" (which by the way is mainly mineral calcium salts mixed in with plant or animal derived aliphatic fatty acids such as stearic acid, and begins with a "P", and therefore actually fits the bill quite nicely for the object on the card.!)]

Play-doh?

[CdM] Why thanks, it's been a little while =)

And indeed Plasticene is the correct answer! (And I had planned to choose Play-Doh -- which is mineral and vegetable btw -- for my next chance at setting. Oh well.)

One soft and slightly misshapen baton, dirty brown in colour yet still showing traces of the other brighter colours it once comprised, passed to irach.

Once more into the breach... okay, the next one's essentially MINERAL.

Did you mean "Once more unto the beach?" If so, is it oil?

[Rosie] Not an oozing mineral.

Man made?

[G Login] Yes, man-made.

An object, fabricated with some mineral or other?

[Rosie] Yes, an object fabricated with mineral substances.

More than 50% metal?

BP's broken saw blade?

[G Login} Yes, mo than 50% metal.
[FGZstar] Not a BP saw blade.

Works with electricity?

[Rosie] Does not require electricity to operate, but has electrical connections on it.

A missile of some kind?

A generator?

I am thinking this because it doesn't need electricity to operate, rather that it generates it. Unless of course you are generalising with electricity meaning the notion of electricity. Or am I reading far too much into this?

[Dujon] Not a missile.
[FGZstar] It does not need electricity for its basic essential function for a good part of the day; the electrical needs of this object are secondary to its main purpose.

A dial or indicator on a car?

Are the electrical connections related to output from the unit? (e.g. Solar Panel, Thermal Spring . . . )

[Rosie] Not a dial or indicator.
[Dujon] Electrical connections are unrelated to the output from the unit. As indicated, the electrical connections are totally ancillary; not essential for the object on the card's proper functioning for a good part of the 24-hour day, and they are not what is generally thought of by one in connection with the object in question.

Battery operated?

[Software] Not battery operated.

(The game has become side-tracked by everyone focusing on the electrical component. While in response to Rosie's question, I had to answer that there are electrical connections involved with this essentially mineral object, those connections are not what would normally come to mind in relation to the words on the card).

Earth?

[G Login] No, not anywhere as large as Earth, and remember, the object is man-made.

Any plastic content?

[Software] No plastic content.

Bigger than a bread box?

An Oyster Card?

Well, it works on the electrical side of things....

Smaller than a phone box?

[jim] Considerably bigger than a bread box.
[FGZstar] Not an Oyster Card.
[G Login] Considerably larger than a phone box.

Does it move?

Big Ben?

{Software} Its primary purpose is not to move, but depending on environmental conditions it may indeed "move.
[Rosie] Not Big Ben, but inching closer.

A bridge?

Tower Bridge?

[jim] Yes, a bridge! (Audience breaks out humming, "Sur le pont..." in anticipation of someone bridging the remaining gap to the answer.)
[G Login] Not the Tower Bridge, though...

It sounds a bit wiered to me.

[Dujon] ("Wiered" I don't know about, but "wire" is definitely a hint.)

Located in the UK?

The Forth Rail Brige?

Well, it is apparently the 8th wonder of the world...

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge?

The wibbly-wobbly bridge, aka the London Millennium Bridge?

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