Playing a game

In case you don't know, "Twenty Questions" is the simplest of games; I think of something and my opponent asks up to twenty questions to ascertain what it is. Below is a transcript of a recent game between Don and me.

     1. Is it mineral? Yes

     2. Is it in its natural state? No

     3. So it has been manufactured or transformed in some way? Yes

     4. Is it wearable? No

     5. Is it useful? Yes

     6. Would you most likely find this in a home? No

     7. Is it something you'd carry with you frequently? No

     8. Would you likely find it in an office? No

     9. Is it bigger than a breadbox? Yes

   10. Is it bigger than a phone booth? Yes (in at least one dimension)

   11. Is it something that would be mostly used by men? No

   12. Is it all of one mineral? No

   13. Is it metal? No

   14. Is it stone? A qualified Yes

   15. Is its primary purpose to intrigue, attract, entertain or amuse? No

   16. Is it part of some sort of transportation? Yes        

   17. Have you, Walter, used it? Yes

   18. Is it sea based? No

   19. Do you, Walter, have one of these? No

   20. Is it a toll booth? No

Don’s final question was asked after I emailed him the photo below and told him that the blacktop and the paint were clearly fresh, but that what I was looking for was what used to be there.

And what used to be there?

Believe it or not, a speed bump was installed on that spot about three weeks ago . . .

and removed last week!

WTF? Did a powerful New Haven resident complain that he didn’t like having to slow down? Did the city put their speed bump in the wrong place and then come back and get it? Did the People for the Ethical Treatment of Asphalt complain that speed bumps suffer terrible pain?

I have no idea. I only know that one day it appeared and then another day it disappeared.

Strange.