Would you rather?

[Jubal]

Andaman Sea

Tang Dynasty or Song Dynasty?

[Tusky]

Tang. From what little I have read the general consensus seems to be that China under the Tang dynasty heralded a period described as "glistening" and "glorious".

Successful completion of ITER (or Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak or other promising startups) and widespread adoption of  fusion reaction energy... or ubiquitous replacement of traditional combustion engine vehicle manufacturing and use, with electric.

[Jubal]

I think I've got to go for fusion power. Much larger long term solution, and ultimately will underpin eventually achieving the second part and also make rail cleaner and much much more besides.

Be governed by the parliament of a randomly selected country from among the UN member states, or be governed by a parliament of owls?

[Tusky]

I must go with owls, since the UN member states includes the UK and there is a chance that we might pick them. If you meant after the election - when presumably the new government is formed parliament is reconvened, then I also go with owls

Boneitis or spontaneous dental hydroplosion

[Jubal]

The latter, I think?

Paris or Rouen?

[Tusky]

Rouen, since I don't think I have been there.

Ghosts or Gremlins

[Jubal]

Gremlins

Pullman's Iorek Byrnison, or Tolkien's North Polar Bear?

[Tusky]

I had more enjoyment hearing about Iorek Byrnison, I have to admit.

John Denver or Lynard Skynard?

[Jubal]

John Denver because he seems to be spelt right.

Own a tiny, house-trained woolly mammoth, or a capybara big enough to ride upon?

[Tusky]

I think I am obliged to opt for the mammoth. That would be a very awesome pet.

You find yourself abandoned and lost in the yukon. Would you rather have a rubiks cube or a 3 juggling balls?

[Jubal]

Rubiks cube, given my lack of hand-eye coordination that's the one I'm more likely to be able to learn.

Have to wear a full medieval jester costume one day a week, or have to wear a medieval forester/more everyday costume for six days a week?

[Tusky]

Full medieval jester costume one day a week. Then it fits in to my usual plans

Go for a milkshake with Donald Trump or smoothie with George Bush Jr.

[Jubal]

Smoothie with Dubya is a win-win - I like smoothies much more than milkshakes, and, as much as I don't think I ever imagined saying this in 08/09, Dubya was actually a better president than his GOP successor, which given how low he set the bar is really pretty eye-opening.


You will get an unspecified quantity of coins, and must choose whether to get chocolate coins or real coins. The value of the coins will be the same monetarily whatever you select: you don't know how many coins you will get, or any further details about type, chocolate variety, denomination, or currency. Chocolate or real?

[Tusky]

Given the chance that there might be loads of coins, I would opt for real. I would not want warehouses stuffed with chocolate coins I couldn't shift before they went mouldy...

Flip Flops or Sandals?

[Jubal]

Sandals, they might stay on at least and the bit between your toes in flip-flops is odd at times.

Feed the crows or feed the fishes?