h a l f b a k e r yI never imagined it would be edible.
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I don't know about you, but every time I step on a snail, I get a horrible feeling of guilt. The snail doesn't come much better of either.
I propose developing a form of something which is edible by snails, and will be formed into their shells to strengthen them. Let's call it SuperSnail. It should
be relatively harmless to other animals, and will not harm the snail, but will give it a superstrong shell.
It will be introduced as a powder on areas where snails are plentiful. The ones which eat the powder will become stronger than the others, and will produce more offspring. These offspring will also eat the powder, after copying their parents (note: I am not suggesting that the snails get the powder genetically). Gradually, the urge to eat the powder will become an instinct, like the cute baby turtles finding their way to the ocean.
After many snail generations, almost all will have SuperSnail shells, rendering them virtually indestructible. No more crushing!
Of course, this idea relies heavily on the goodwill of all people to give out the powder. But we could pay religious leaders to tell their congregation to, lest they go to hell.
EDIT: Changed 'Teflon (tm)' to 'SuperSnail'.
Editted image
http://www.caedes.n...icky-1080316887.jpg
[fridge duck, Dec 22 2005]
[link]
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Um... Teflon's not actually very strong. |
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I guess maybe the foot will slide right off it. |
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Sorry, I just picked the first thing that came out of my head. Edited to something meaningless yet strong. |
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Snails are a pest. People spend lots of effort, money, resources trying to kill them. You'd save more snails if you could change this attitude, and you'd save no snails with any GM or other methods until/unless you do. So, I see this as "reinforced cockroach shell". [-] |
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I feel the guilt, too. It's like, "SCORE!! oops, can't walk into the house until I cleanse my sole" |
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+ for the sentiment. I wish I had a pound for every time I fell over as I half crunched a snail and took my foot off at speed. |
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mind you, fly-moing a frog is even worse. |
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Strontium carbonate should do the trick. |
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In response to [sophocles]'s argument, if we put the powdered SuperSnail (which will probably be strontium carbonate) in areas were people are not growing fruit/veg/flowers/other which they will want to protect, the snails will go to those places and not bother anyone. |
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Sure, fit 'em with airbags too, in case they're involved in high speed incidents, as [po] pointed out. |
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Some already have hi-vi shells, but for those who don't, that'd be an improvement [slimy ammonite shaped bun] |
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super snails? - starving songbirds! |
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[fridge duck's link]Ah, the famous Tuscan Battle Snail |
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I agree, rainbow:
Super snails = Thrushes with more powerful beaks and neck muscles
Bigger Thrushes = bigger cats
Bigger cats = bigger claws
Bigger claws = more footwear protection for humans
More footwear protection = easier to crush snails...
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I propose that rather than a global program to change thesnail, you develop for yourself a set of special shoes. These shoes would be like an inverted cup. On stepping on a snail, it would likely be completely under the shoe and in the cup, unharmed. If caught by the edge it would be pushed either into the cup or outside the shoe. You sigh with pleasure and relief! The sun rises. |
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...the alarm clock rings. You wake up. |
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That would not be very comfortable. One would either need strange, dome-bottomed feet, or one would need very high (well, snail-height) soles. |
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