# You're in a desert, walking along in the sand, when all of a sudden you look down... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 3, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246 "2011-06-03T21:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Noel\_Prosequi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b19c9b/32.png) [@Noel\_Prosequi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noel_Prosequi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/61 "2011-06-05T13:03:08Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > It was a six-fingered tortoise? :o Hello. My name is Deckard. You killed Tyrell. Prepare to die. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/62 "2011-06-05T13:25:06Z")
Because the proper way to get to all that yummy tortoise meat is by separating the plastron from the carapace. You have to cut through some boney ridges along the sides that join the two. Then you can pull the plastron right off. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/63 "2011-06-05T14:53:42Z")
We were at open house at my son’s middle school yesterday and one of the turtles in a classroom tank was on its back. I said a modified version of the Blade Runner line to my wife, and got a laugh out of the math teacher who happened to overhear me. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/64 "2011-06-05T15:54:20Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Because the second part of the puzzle is to turn the tortoise back into it’s original position in exactly _three_ flips, and I have to show my work in terms of quaternions. Or maybe you’re Allan Quaternion, hunting for the Lost City of Division Rings. ---
**Author:** ![desert29rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@desert29rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/desert29rat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2011, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/65 "2011-06-05T22:28:51Z")
> [@Marlitharn](#): > > I flipped a tortoise in Reno just to watch it die. > [@lukeinva](#): > > You all failed to realize that there is not going to be a tortoise in the middle of the desert. It’s a trick question. No, not anymore. They’re almost gone; people keep flipping them over to watch them die. If they can’t upright themselves fast enough, they suffocate while the sun bakes them. This is the creepiest thread I’ve seen on this site. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/66 "2011-06-06T00:21:39Z")
“Mario…!?” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/67 "2011-06-06T00:33:15Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > I’m gazing into the sun. With a gun in your hand? You’re alive; you’re dead. You’re the stranger - not-flipping a tortoise! ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/68 "2011-06-06T17:52:29Z")
And here I was thinking this was going to be about Tom Joad. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/69 "2011-06-06T18:05:15Z")
More importantly, Priss or Rachael? Which crazy do you stick it to? ---
**Author:** ![Damfino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Damfino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damfino)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/70 "2011-06-06T18:14:50Z")
Was the tortoise buttered on one side? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/71 "2011-06-06T18:17:02Z")
Sorry, my department uses the Bonelli Test. ---
**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:** [June 6, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/72 "2011-06-06T22:29:42Z")
Then the tortoise replied to the bartender, “You have a drink named Bob?” ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/73 "2011-06-06T23:39:08Z")
But if the tortoise doesn’t stay on its back, how will it keep holding the desert down? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/74 "2011-06-07T09:10:28Z")
[Wha…_I don’t know!_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpx6XnankZ8#t=3m05s) ::swoosh:: aaaaaaaah…! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/75 "2011-06-07T09:34:35Z")
Hodor! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/76 "2011-06-07T13:25:50Z")
That’s the spirit! ---
**Author:** ![Smurfie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@Smurfie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smurfie)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/77 "2011-06-07T20:26:32Z")
Is this just a question? ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/78 "2011-06-08T13:09:46Z")
It’s too bad it won’t live. But then again, who does? > [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > More importantly, Priss or Rachael? Which crazy do you stick it to? Oh definitely Priss. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/79 "2011-06-08T14:12:31Z")
[QUOTE=Unintentionally Blank] More importantly, Priss or Rachael? Which crazy do you stick it to? [/QUOTE] Is this part of the test? The correct answer is Rachael… [Do you like our owl?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3JfjMdOzr0) ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246/80 "2011-06-08T14:30:29Z")
I don’t want to ruin the [trick.](http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1991-05-20/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-in-a-desert-walking-along-in-the-sand-when-all-of-a-sudden-you-look-down/584246.md?page=5)