Just as the deadly heel swings down, the roach will make a sudden rotation, then scurry, and that quick swivel is his vital secret. The turn will position him in one of four orientations: he’ll point himself roughly 90, 120, 150 or 180 degrees away from the wind your shoe creates. But which of the four will it be? Aye, there’s the rub. For that, it turns out, is highly unpredictable.
打小強時，小強會因為拖鞋或高根鞋的空氣振動而轉換方向。但方向轉換並不是十分有邏輯的，而是「偶然的」。作者認為，這是因為邏輯的轉向早晚會被精準預測，等到被預測的那一天，就是小強的末日了。所以與其發展出精準預測拖鞋拍打的能力，還不如將之隨機化，至少還有四分之三的生存機會(如果小強真的只選擇隨機轉換四個角度)。作者認為，這也是一種適應能力，符合天擇說。 還有，也是最重要的，這個專欄主筆Olivia Judson很正。
