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Reinforced Snail Shells

So that no one gets hurt.
  (+6, -5)
(+6, -5)
  [vote for,

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'.

dbmag9, Dec 22 2005

Editted image http://www.caedes.n...icky-1080316887.jpg
[fridge duck, Dec 22 2005]


       Um... Teflon's not actually very strong.
moomintroll, Dec 22 2005

       I guess maybe the foot will slide right off it.
notmarkflynn, Dec 22 2005

       Sorry, I just picked the first thing that came out of my head. Edited to something meaningless yet strong.
dbmag9, Dec 22 2005

       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". [-]
sophocles, Dec 22 2005

       I feel the guilt, too. It's like, "SCORE!! oops, can't walk into the house until I cleanse my sole"
lurch, Dec 22 2005

       + 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.   

       mind you, fly-moing a frog is even worse.
po, Dec 22 2005

       Strontium carbonate should do the trick.
ldischler, Dec 22 2005

       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.
dbmag9, Dec 23 2005

       Sure, fit 'em with airbags too, in case they're involved in high speed incidents, as [po] pointed out.   

       Some already have hi-vi shells, but for those who don't, that'd be an improvement [slimy ammonite shaped bun]
Dub, Dec 23 2005

       super snails? - starving songbirds!
rainbow, Dec 25 2005

       [fridge duck's link]Ah, the famous Tuscan Battle Snail
Dub, Dec 26 2005

zigness, Dec 29 2005

       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...
Ling, Dec 29 2005

       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.
bungston, Dec 29 2005

       ...the alarm clock rings. You wake up.   

       That would not be very comfortable. One would either need strange, dome-bottomed feet, or one would need very high (well, snail-height) soles.
dbmag9, Feb 12 2006


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