# I hope there's a factual answer to whatever the heck this is?? (pics) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813 "2007-09-20T00:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/21 "2007-09-20T02:42:55Z")
No need to use another song; Irving Berlin already wrote one (from the show _“Call Me Madam.”)_ "Dance to the music of the ocarina Ocarina, ocarina Gretchen and Otto, Hans and Wilhelmina Dance to the ocarina dance Dance to the music of the sweet potata Sweet potata, sweet potata Cheeks gettin’ redder than a ripe tomata Dance to the ocarina dance Etc., etc., etc.," Fortunately, Berlin’s reputation isn’t based on this song. ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/22 "2007-09-20T03:08:31Z")
The ocarina is also often called a sweet potato, that’s what I first heard one named as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/23 "2007-09-20T03:21:36Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.] Have we figured out what it is yet? [/QUOTE] Our best people are working on it. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/24 "2007-09-20T03:36:23Z")
Yes, yes—of course—but is it _Le Petomane’s_ ocarina? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/25 "2007-09-20T03:42:13Z")
[QUOTE=Washoe] Yes, yes—of course—but is it _Le Petomane’s_ ocarina? [/QUOTE] Are there fittings for the hose? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/26 "2007-09-20T07:46:02Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] Our best people are working on it. [/QUOTE] And our worst. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/27 "2007-09-20T07:53:23Z")
Be _very_ careful about playing mysterious, antique instruments. They are often inhabited by ghosts, sometimes friendly but typically antagonistic. ---
**Author:** ![Fetchund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b2d939/32.png) [@Fetchund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fetchund)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/28 "2007-09-20T11:29:08Z")
Yeah, well, I wanna point out that _I got it first!_ (hadn’t happened yet, and I need the points!) (to pay off the goat, ya’ know…) ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/29 "2007-09-20T11:40:43Z")
It’s most definately a trombone. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/30 "2007-09-20T11:45:45Z")
Or some other kind of bone. ---
**Author:** ![tanstaafl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/31 "2007-09-20T12:16:20Z")
There’s someone named Link here and he’s looking for a musical instrument that looks something like that. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/32 "2007-09-20T12:38:32Z")
What’s the trombone connected to? ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/33 "2007-09-20T12:40:55Z")
I’m inferring that the OP is not a fan of Zelda games. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/34 "2007-09-20T12:42:26Z")
I have it on good authority that the object in question is in fact, not an ocarina but a butt flute. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/35 "2007-09-20T12:54:31Z")
Well I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this old-ish Ocarina. Maybe sell it. MAybe put it on a book case. But play it I will not. Read the afore mentioned letting loose of spirits if it is played - I’m not too keen on that 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/36 "2007-09-20T12:56:12Z")
[QUOTE=A.R. Cane] The ocarina is also often called a sweet potato, that’s what I first heard one named as a kid. [/QUOTE] Where I come from, you could get shot calling a fellow’s ocarina a sweet potato. To the OP: Not sure about the first two pics, but the third could be an ocarina. The fourth pic is a sweet potato. ETA: Where I come from, a sweet potato is sometimes called a _yam_, but _never_ an ocarina. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_Fun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a9adbd/32.png) [@Mike\_Fun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Fun)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/37 "2007-09-20T13:28:35Z")
Submarine? With holes in it? Are you sure it’s Italian and not from a different country from northern central Europe? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/38 "2007-09-20T13:46:35Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Be _very_ careful about playing mysterious, antique instruments. They are often inhabited by ghosts, sometimes friendly but typically antagonistic. [/QUOTE] Perhaps, but I find spiders and other creepy crawlies of the physical realm to be more immediately hazardous and squick-worthy. Ocarinas make good nests. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/39 "2007-09-20T13:48:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mike Fun] Submarine? With holes in it? Are you sure it’s Italian and not from a different country from northern central Europe? [/QUOTE] Watch out there are a lot of Poles on these Boards. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813/40 "2007-09-20T13:55:56Z")
So that thing plays music, eh? Looks more like something you’d find in the toilet after a night of Thai food and rice wine. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-hope-theres-a-factual-answer-to-whatever-the-heck-this-is-pics/419813.md?page=3)