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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Still missing a couple of explanations under "Consequences". Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
+ | [[Randall]] presents what appears to be a generator of 156,000 facts [20 x 13 x (8 + 6 x 7) x 12], about calendars, most of which are false or have little meaning{{Citation needed}}. The facts are seeded by a mishmash of common tidbits about the time of year. | ||
− | + | The formula for each generated fact goes as follows: "Did you know that '''[a recurring event]''' '''[occurs in an unusual manner]''' because of '''[phenomena or political decisions]'''? Apparently '''[wild card statement]'''." | |
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− | The formula for each generated fact goes as follows: "Did you know that '''[a recurring event]''' '''[occurs in an unusual manner]''' because of '''[phenomena or political decisions]'''? Apparently '''[wild card statement | ||
This is [[:Category:Supermoon|the fifth time]] that Randall has referred to the phenomenon of a {{w|supermoon}}, which he typically makes fun of, most prominently in [[1394: Superm*n]]. | This is [[:Category:Supermoon|the fifth time]] that Randall has referred to the phenomenon of a {{w|supermoon}}, which he typically makes fun of, most prominently in [[1394: Superm*n]]. | ||
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The title text continues the chart with supposed real-life consequences of the trivia in the comic. | The title text continues the chart with supposed real-life consequences of the trivia in the comic. | ||
− | There are multiple online generators of Calendar 'facts' using this formula [https:// | + | There are multiple online generators of Calendar 'facts' using this formula [https://www.pibweb.com/xkcd_calendar.php here] and [http://yahel.com/calendarfacts/ here]. |
− | + | ==Table== | |
− | |||
− | = | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! Entry | ! Entry | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| {{w|Easter}} | | {{w|Easter}} | ||
− | | Easter is a holiday celebrating the death and resurrection of {{w|Jesus}}. | + | | Easter is a holiday celebrating the death and resurrection of {{w|Jesus}}. It is defined as the Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This complicated formula has a long tradition behind it, known as {{w|Computus}}. |
| When Pope Gregory decided to change the calendar in 1582, it was because the spring equinox was putting Easter on unexpectedly early dates. | | When Pope Gregory decided to change the calendar in 1582, it was because the spring equinox was putting Easter on unexpectedly early dates. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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*The {{w|Gregorian calendar}} is a solar calendar with a mean calendar year length of 365.2425 days. | *The {{w|Gregorian calendar}} is a solar calendar with a mean calendar year length of 365.2425 days. | ||
*The {{w|Mayan calendar}} is based on two cycles or counts, with a 260-day count combined with a 365-day "vague" solar year. | *The {{w|Mayan calendar}} is based on two cycles or counts, with a 260-day count combined with a 365-day "vague" solar year. | ||
− | *A {{w|lunar calendar}} is based on Moon's phases, with each {{w|lunation}} being approximately 29.5 days, and a lunar year lasting roughly 354 days. An example of a lunar calendar is the {{w| | + | *A {{w|lunar calendar}} is based on Moon's phases, with each {{w|lunation}} being approximately 29.5 days, and a lunar year lasting roughly 354 days. An example of a lunar calendar is the {{w|Islamic calendar}}. |
*The {{w|iPhone calendar}} is listed humorously due to its data synchronization issues. | *The {{w|iPhone calendar}} is listed humorously due to its data synchronization issues. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| might [not happen/happen twice] this year | | might [not happen/happen twice] this year | ||
− | | colspan="2" | Some events may have a period of slightly more or slightly less than one year. If an event has a period of slightly less than one year (e.g. the Islamic calendar), it can occur twice in the same | + | | colspan="2" | Some events may have a period of slightly more or slightly less than one year. If an event has a period of slightly less than one year (e.g. the Islamic calendar), it can occur twice in the same year (e.g. the year 2000 had two {{w|Eid al-Fitr}}s—one on January 8, and one on December 28). If an event has a period of slightly more than one year, there can be a year in which it does not occur at all, instead occurring near the end of the previous year and the beginning of the next. |
|- | |- | ||
! colspan="3" | Cause (phenomena or political decisions) | ! colspan="3" | Cause (phenomena or political decisions) | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| an arbitrary decision by Isaac Newton | | an arbitrary decision by Isaac Newton | ||
− | | Possibly a reference to how Newton divided the | + | | Possibly a reference to how Newton divided the colour spectrum into the now-familiar seven colours of the rainbow, on a somewhat arbitrary basis. Newton did spend time working on the problem of calendar reform, but it's unlikely that any decisions he made as a result would affect anything, since he never published his work, and by the time it gained attention the Gregorian Calendar had been widely adopted. |
| The spectrum fact is one of those standard bits of trivia of the kind the chart alludes to. Although it has nothing to do with time-keeping, Newton is the sort of person who seems like he should have made decisions like this. | | The spectrum fact is one of those standard bits of trivia of the kind the chart alludes to. Although it has nothing to do with time-keeping, Newton is the sort of person who seems like he should have made decisions like this. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| an arbitrary decision by FDR | | an arbitrary decision by FDR | ||
| Franklin Delano Roosevelt set all time zones one hour ahead year-round during World War II. The law was repealed after the war ended. | | Franklin Delano Roosevelt set all time zones one hour ahead year-round during World War II. The law was repealed after the war ended. | ||
− | Additionally, he changed the date of Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the | + | Additionally, he changed the date of Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday in November as a way to increase the length of the Christmas shopping season in some years. |
| Setting the time permanently one hour ahead would make everything happen at the "wrong" time celestially. | | Setting the time permanently one hour ahead would make everything happen at the "wrong" time celestially. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| It causes a predictable increase in car accidents. | | It causes a predictable increase in car accidents. | ||
− | | colspan="2" | The week following daylight saving time, car accidents increase by about 5-7% | + | | colspan="2" | The week following daylight saving time, car accidents increase by about 5-7%<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/end-of-daylight-saving-time-2015-6-eye-opening-facts-1.3296353</ref>. |
|- | |- | ||
| That's why we have leap seconds. | | That's why we have leap seconds. | ||
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* Reduce the duration of daylight saving time back to its original span, or further. | * Reduce the duration of daylight saving time back to its original span, or further. | ||
* Eliminate daylight saving time altogether, going back to using standard time. | * Eliminate daylight saving time altogether, going back to using standard time. | ||
− | * Abolish daylight saving time but advance the time zone by one hour, effectively instating daylight saving time year round. This was done during World War II | + | * Abolish daylight saving time but advance the time zone by one hour, effectively instating daylight saving time year round. This was done during World War II. |
* Abolish daylight saving time and advance the time zone by 30 minutes, splitting the difference between the current standard time and daylight saving time. | * Abolish daylight saving time and advance the time zone by 30 minutes, splitting the difference between the current standard time and daylight saving time. | ||
− | |||
* Reduce the number of time zones in the United States to two, consolidating Pacific time into Mountain time (UTC-7:00), and Eastern time into Central time (UTC-6:00). This was proposed in a [https://qz.com/142199/the-us-needs-to-retire-daylight-savings-and-just-have-two-time-zones-one-hour-apart/ 2013 article in Quartz] by Allison Schrager. | * Reduce the number of time zones in the United States to two, consolidating Pacific time into Mountain time (UTC-7:00), and Eastern time into Central time (UTC-6:00). This was proposed in a [https://qz.com/142199/the-us-needs-to-retire-daylight-savings-and-just-have-two-time-zones-one-hour-apart/ 2013 article in Quartz] by Allison Schrager. | ||
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
+ | <references /> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Combinations== | ||
+ | All 156 000 possible combinations can be found at this link, lovingly assembled by hand (Ha! I mean by a python script) for your entertainment. (Perhaps someone could upload it to a more permanent location? I'm new here.) | ||
+ | https://www.dropbox.com/s/866fwtpwvd0z9hq/combinations%20xkcd%201930.txt?dl=0 | ||
+ | |||
+ | A random fact generator (including title text), written in Python, can be found here: https://gist.github.com/petersohn/6c8f9d124bd961e909d2dc9a967ade2e | ||
==Examples of true complete statements== | ==Examples of true complete statements== | ||
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# Did you know that '''the spring equinox''' '''drifts out of sync with the zodiac''' because of '''the precession of the Earth's axis'''? Apparently '''it was even more extreme during the Ice Age'''. | # Did you know that '''the spring equinox''' '''drifts out of sync with the zodiac''' because of '''the precession of the Earth's axis'''? Apparently '''it was even more extreme during the Ice Age'''. | ||
# Did you know that '''daylight saving time''' '''might happen twice this year''' because of '''time zone regulation in Russia'''? Apparently '''there's a proposal to fix it, but it actually makes things worse'''. (True in Russia in 1981) | # Did you know that '''daylight saving time''' '''might happen twice this year''' because of '''time zone regulation in Russia'''? Apparently '''there's a proposal to fix it, but it actually makes things worse'''. (True in Russia in 1981) | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:::might be unconstitutional. | :::might be unconstitutional. | ||
::it's getting worse and no one knows why. | ::it's getting worse and no one knows why. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
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[[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | ||
[[Category:Daylight saving time]] | [[Category:Daylight saving time]] | ||
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[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
[[Category:Supermoon]] | [[Category:Supermoon]] | ||
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