Check out last week’s results and then head to The Final Guessdown

—————–WEEK NINE—————————–

1st: Mom Mohling – “My guess is that she is angry because she’s tired of drawing a diagram of her American ice cream scoop, or because her bag of Scotcheroos from home is empty.”

2nd: Adam – “She is at the desk… so it is probably related to something in her hands. Maybe she is mad that you erased her “hand model” hands with a giant question mark. I will have to guess that her madness is due to the food in her hands.”

3rd: Mom Ciecior – “Katherine does not want to clean up after those pesky teenage girls that she lives with. Just remember Katherine, only 11 more days! She is donning a large scrubber for the counter.”

4th: Grandma – “Mystery picture nine looks like Katherine stuck her hand in a hot pad and found some yuck left in it by some careless slob.
Other than that, I have no idea what that black thing is, this must have been pretty bad by the look on her face.”

5th: Aaron – “The look on her face is truly a look of disgust, as well as rage, so I’m supposing that she’s holding something particularly icky. Also, I’m pretty sure that it’s not the temperature of the apartment because she’s in a t-shirt. The table and the cabinet in the background (which appears to be holding something other than clothes) make me think that she’s in the kitchen, which probably means that she found some sort of disgusting food item . . . perhaps a disgusting food item that’s a bit too old?”

6th: Brent – “im gonna guess shes mad because shes wearing that hidioius iowa state shirt. and she just found out that nebraska beat iowa state 35-7 in ames. GO BIG RED!!”

Brent was the first to guess this week and the first to lose.  While most Iowans aren’t very proud of the 2-10 Cyclone Football team this year, rubbing it in didn’t help his case.  I like seeing the Huskers have a winning record as much as the next Nebraskan, but 8 home games in a season?  That’s kind of ridiculous.

Aaron had a bit of a misread this week by suggesting that Katherine’s wardrobe didn’t hold any clothes.  This was, unfortunately, blatantly incorrect.

Mom C. and Grandma had extremely similar answers this week.  The deciding factor was Mom’s reminder that we’ll be home in a few more days.

Adam’s guess wasn’t much better than the 3rd-5th place answers, but he did mention a desk instead of a table or other surface.  That alone is enough for second place this week.

Mom Mohling won it all this week with an answer that had nothing to do with Controls Engineering but everything to do with silly homework here at UL.  For those that don’t know, Katherine has spent the last 8 weeks modeling an ice cream scoop in AutoCAD 2006.  Not only is this a painfully inefficient program, but nobody in the workplace uses it anymore.

Week 9’s picture was of Katherine and her notes for her Controls Engineering class.  We have both come to hate Controls Engineering very much in the last few weeks.  Many of you saw disgust on Katherine’s face, but she’s actually quite angry in this picture because her notes don’t make any sense.  Then I step in and find that the notes don’t make sense because the math is made up!  Always remember: A/(B+C) does not equal A/B + A/C.  This is true in both Ireland and America.  Also, there is no distributive law for exponents.

Week nine means there are only 15 days left.  Get those guesses in now!

Katherine is angry about something.  Tell us what she’s angry about (by leaving a comment below) and you could be on your way to Mystery Picture glory.

—————–WEEK EIGHT—————————-

1st: Nicki – “This looks like a solar panel of some type. The metal rods are holding other solar panels. Venice is starting to go green!”

2nd: Aaron – “This is a solar panel, but the question is . . . what is it powering? My assumption would be that it is powering some sort of lighting fixture, but not a standard street lamp. It probably is some sort of lighting device for boats, so that they don’t run into the shore . . .or maybe mounted to a boat so others can see it at night. If this is the case, there’s probably a battery somewhere.”

3rd: Adam – “This is another piece of art, with a solar panel. The solar panel, from just pure speculation, powers the underground bowling alley at which you two got married in Vegas-style chapel with Mark dressed as Luke Skywalker and Katherine dressed as Shaft. Just a hunch.”

Nicki’s been in a drought since week 2, but she came back strongly this week with an environmentally friendly answer.  Aaron remained near the top with his detailed yet incorrect answer.  Adam seems to have gone for the creative answer this week.  Unfortunately for him, Katherine has never worn a Shaft costume.

Week 8’s picture was an energy-efficient piece of art in one of Venice’s parks.  The ten solar powered lights were meant to function as a standard street light while blending in with their surroundings.

Week 8 already?!?!  Here’s a tricky one for you.  This picture is from Venice, but it’s not Venetian.  What could it be?  And, how would/could it benefit you?  Leave your answers to these questions as a comment below.

—————–WEEK SEVEN—————————-

1st: Adam – click here (the greek symbols won’t display properly)

2nd: Mom M. – “I think it looks like a giant chair, upside down, tied with a big rope to a mossy rock statue, (sorry – Internet Explorer only gives you so much resolution). I would say this is a statue somewhere in Berlin.”

3rd: Nicholas – “I think it is a big pile of chairs or something in a junk yard.”

4th: Aaron – “This was probably all of the possessions of some bum, bundled up in a wrap of cheesecloth. He even has a chair, from the European version of the Little Tykes kitchen set that we all either had (or wanted badly) when we were young’uns.”

Week 7 was notable for the small number of guessers.  However, yesterday this page received the most number of views in any single day since September – so I’m expecting record numbers for next week.

Mom Mohling gave a very succinct, very precise guess that won her second place.  Nicholas moved up the ladder this week with his reference to a junkyard.  Since everyone in Europe smokes, this reference isn’t entirely inaccurate.  Aaron fell to fourth place this week.  His answer wasn’t any worse than past guesses, but the competition was stiffer this week.  It also shows how fast this roller coaster ride of a competition can turn.  Speaking of turning, Adam soared to the top this week (for his first ever victory!) with a guess that could not be beaten.  Yes, it was a bit excessive.  No, we don’t want to read that much every week.  But we all have to marvel at the sheer power of his answer.

What could this possibly be?  Do you know?  Leave your guess as a comment below.

If the last six weeks have shown anything, it is that detailed answers do better than the rest…

The playing field will be level this week, no more information concerning this picture will be posted.

—————–WEEK SIX—————————-

1st: Grandma – “One you took in a distillery that you visited. It probably has to do with the fermenting process and release of the gases from fermenting.”

2nd: Aaron – “This picture is from your travels to the “Old Jameson Distillery.” It is a “bierkessel” in German, but I don’t know exactly what it’s called in English. A beer-boiler, perhaps? Since it is outside, as evidenced by the power lines in the background, it is probably no longer in use, but rather a display item.”

3rd: Adam – “Hmmmm… this picture is outdoors… i know that…This appears that it is an exhaust, could be on top of a distillery or maybe on top of a train.  Or — it could be a robot.  I think I’ll go with exhaust system.”

4th: Mom M. – “My guess is that it’s a steam whistle on your campus, although it does look like a giant teapot. It probably blows on the hour to keep all of the studious Irish students from being late to class.”

5th (tie): Nicholas – “It’s something that squirts out something at the top. It’s on the top of a building that you pass on the way to class.”

5th (tie): Brent – “Well it is obviously some copper thing.  I’m gonna guess that was on top of a train or something.”

Honorable Mention: Mom C. – “I know because I took the picture!”

Week 6 saw a considerable jump in accuracy after we made a post about visiting the Old Jameson Distillery.  Both Aaron and Grandma did very well in this regard. However, the mystery picture judges at this site give preferential treatment to grandmothers meaning grandma gets the gold on her first try!  Aaron, with his very detailed answer, gets the silver medal this week.  It should be noted that Adam was the first to use the word ‘distillery’ in his answer – and before we posted about our trip to the Jameson Distillery.  Unfortunately we gave out additional information halfway through the competition and the tables turned.  Sorry, Adam.  Mom Mohling came in fourth because of her optimistic (but not entirely accurate) portrayal of Irish students.  There was a tie for fifth place this week.  Both Brent and Nicholas gave answers that could apply to just one-too-many entities.  Finally, Mom Ciecior was ineligible because she took the picture but everyone gets a prize here.  She earned herself honorable mention.
What are you looking at? How is this related to our travels? As always, leave your guess as a comment below.

—————–WEEK FIVE—————————

1st: Aaron – “The mystery picture is from the safety card in the airplane you took to Paris. It is demonstrating how one (the woman, pictured) should have a closed body position when using the emergency slide in the airplane.”

2nd: Nicki – “I think it was on one of the travel brochures on one of your modes of transportation. It is instructing you to cross your arms and hold on to your legs as you slide down the inflatable ramp off the plane if it were to crash, or something of that nature.”

3rd: Caroline – “It is a picture of how to properly be ejected from an airplane on impact with land. I’m guessing it was in the airplane seat in front of you’s pocket. And its purpose is to help people’s self esteem, in that if you were to grab your opposite knees with your mitten hands you will obviously survive an airplane crash.”

4th: Derek – “The picture is a person sitting with their legs outstretched and their arms crossed, with their hands on their thighs. You saw it on the bus and it was demonstrating the most uncomfortable sitting position.”

5th: Nicholas – “Someone in a dress (no head) with their hands on their knees or something. You saw it on earth, the purpose is….it’s just a picture.”

6th: Adam – “This looks like a tattoo, and if that is correct… then the answer as to where you saw it would be on a human. Therefore my answer cannot possibly be correct because question three would be a ridiculous question to ask of a tattoo. But since I have absolutely no idea, that’s what I will stick with. The answer to question three is for pleasure and directions to a secret party. Like in the Matrix… “Follow the rabbit…” This is curious that this is what your mystery picture would be, but i always assumed that you two celebrated your engagement with a late night rave.”

Week 5’s picture was not nearly as tough as we thought.  Aaron was the first to answer and he was so precisely accurate with his answer it was hard not to call the competition off early.  We did, however, wait for additional guesses and got some good ones.

Aaron, a first-time guesser, blew the competition away this week.  Can he continue next week?  Nicki, a long-time guesser, is doing well in the overall standings with a second place finish this week.  Caroline is keeping the competition close with a third place finish this week.  Derek, another first-time guesser, was on the right track but didn’t quite pull it all together.  Nicholas moves up in the standings this week with another solidly applicable answer.  Adam seems to be falling off the pace a bit but his answer is truly a work of creative art.  The judges look forward to his answer next week.

What is this picture? Where did we see it? What is its purpose? Answer all three questions correctly and you could win next week!

Leave your guess as a comment below.

——————-WEEK FOUR————————

1st: Brent – “A bowl of fiber one cereal”

2nd: Mom Mohling – “I think it’s some type of high fiber Irish breakfast cereal, or cat food (but I don’t think you have any cats), so I’ll stick with breakfast cereal.”

3rd: Caroline – “I would have to say that the picture for this week is Ireland’s version of oat bran cereal.”

4th: Chelsea – “Either Chow Mein Noodles or an Irish version of pretzel sticks.  I’m going to go with the Irish version of pretzel sticks.”

5th: Adam – “I was going to guess rug fibers, but I think that I have to say…. carpet fibers…. final answer”

Honorable Mention: Nicholas – “carpet or mold or something”

Week 4’s picture was………Ireland’s own All-Bran Cereal.  I bought it because it looked similar to Cracklin’ Oat Bran.  Unfortunately it’s gross and now sits in my room as a reminder of the poor purchase I made.  The picture was zoomed in really close but it didn’t fool most of you.

Brent, a first-time guesser won this round with his succinct and accurate comparison to America’s Fiber One Cereal.  Mom Mohling came in a close second because of her fiber-filled guess.  Caroline slipped to third this week because Cracklin’ Oat Bran is circular and this picture included no circular objects.  Chelsea got to fourth this week with a reference to Irish food.  Adam continues his roller-coaster performance this week with a reference to floor coverings.  Last, but not least, Nicholas (another first-time guesser) (and youngest guesser ever!) received honorable mention because All-Bran is, in fact, something.

Week 4’s picture is less gross.  Or is it?  Leave your guesses as comments below.

——————-WEEK THREE————————

1st: Caroline – “a dish scrubber with a lot of “guh” in it”

2nd: Adam – “This week’s mystery picture is actually kinda gross looking. Just wanted to point that out. This is a “loofa” or a sponge. It is from the shower… I hope this last place thing is not tradition.”

3rd: Nicki – “It looks like fat caught in fishing line.”

4th (tie): Chelsea – “It looks like an enchilada – with paisley growing out of it.”

4th (tie): Mom – “This is a difficult one to even imagine. The colors remind me of types of mold, but the green filaments appear to be attached to the yellow like doll hair attached to a jaundiced scalp.”

Week 3’s picture was of the sponge we use to clean our sink.  That’s right, our sink doesn’t drain so orange crap builds up around the edge of the sink.  That blue sponge comes in handy in such situations.  So, the winners:

Caroline returns to the top of the standings this week.  Her guess was unequivocally spot on.  Adam came out of nowhere this week to take second place.  He’s obviously been practicing his nasty-picture-identification skills. Nicki took home the bronze medal with an incorrect but innovative answer.  We had two contestants, Mom and Chelsea,  tie for fourth with answers that were gross and blatantly wrong.  But creative.

Here’s week 3’s picture.  As always, leave your guess as a comment below.

—————–WEEK TWO————————–

1st place: Nicki – “Its obviously a deformed Funyon!”

2nd place: Caroline – “its a deformed irish version of a cheese puff/porkrind/fun-ion of some sort”

3rd place: Mom Ciecior – “Ireland’s brand of cheerios”

4th place: Adam – “obviously a cereal version of the “golden snitch” in Harry Potter”

Last week’s picture was a zoomed-in view of Ireland’s own Meanie’s Corn Snacks.  Several of you were on the right track but one answer stood out among the rest.  Nicki’s comparison to America’s Funyun won out. Caroline’s answer was a bit like making a hybrid T/F symbol on a true/false test.  Mom was in the running for a little while and Adam’s vulgarity toward the judges isn’t helping his case.  Again, click your name for a personalized message.

This week we’ve got something new for you.  Leave your answer below as a comment.

—————–WEEK ONE————————–

1st place: Caroline – “this is moss between 2 stones – those tall things are called “sporophytes” they contain the spores necessary for reproduction.”

2nd place: Nicki – “I think this is moss growing between two seams of concrete or a building of some type.”

3rd place: Adam – “That’s easy…some Irish punk obviously tanned one cheek and then flashed you Americans.”

This picture is of some moss growing in Katherine’s window.  Nicki was the definite front-runner until Caroline (at the last minute) used the word “sporophyte” in her answer.  Adam came in a distant third.  Good try, Adam.  Click on your name for a personalized message from us.

For our first mystery picture we’ve got something greenish/blackish/grayish.  Make a guess and leave it in a comment below.