https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=108.162.221.88&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T10:58:03ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1093:_Forget&diff=1420711093: Forget2017-06-28T15:07:38Z<p>108.162.221.88: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1093<br />
| date = August 10, 2012<br />
| title = Forget<br />
| image = forget.png<br />
| titletext = 'Baby Got Back' turned 20 this year. My favorite nostalgia show is VH1's 'I Love The Inexorable March of Time Toward the Grave That Awaits Us All.'<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The median age in {{w|USA}} is currently about 37 years. Assuming that you must be at least five years old to remember a cultural event later, this means that anything that happened more than thirty-two years ago is remembered by a minority of people today. This applies to any event prior to 1980, so here in 2012, the majority of Americans are too young to remember the Seventies. However, according to census estimation the median will raise in the future, so instead of a 32 years gap between event and the moment when most people can't remember it, the gap becomes 35 years (implying a median of some 40 years).<br />
<br />
'''2013: The Carter presidency''' {{w|Jimmy Carter}} was the {{w|President of the United States}} from 1977-1981. He lost all popularity after he was viewed as mishandling several crises during his presidency, including the {{w|Three Mile Island accident}}, the {{w|Iran Hostage crisis}}, and the "{{w|stagflation}}" of the late 1970s. According to Wikipedia, his decisions to reinstate registration for the draft and his decision to boycott the {{w|1980 Summer Olympics}} in Moscow (over the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan) helped contribute to his defeat in the 1980 Presidential campaign.<br />
<br />
'''2014: The Reagan shooting''' References the 1981 {{w|Reagan assassination attempt|assassination attempt}} on the then American president, {{w|Ronald Reagan}}.<br />
<br />
'''2015: The Falkland Islands War''' This is in reference to the {{w|Falklands War|brief outbreak of hostilities}} between the {{w|UK}} and {{w|Argentina}} over the {{w|Falkland Islands|Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)}} located off the shore of Argentina claimed by both but controlled by the UK. Even to this date, tensions remain high over the ownership of these islands, and while many people alive today weren't alive to witness it, it nevertheless remains present in the collective psyche of both nations.<br />
<br />
'''2017: The first Apple Macintosh''' The {{w|Macintosh}} was a line of computers created by {{w|Apple Inc.|Apple}}, first introduced in 1984, with the {{w|Macintosh 128K}}.<br />
<br />
'''2018: New Coke''' References a public relations blunder that the Coca Cola corporation undertook in attempting to reformulate its cola recipe, the new formula called {{w|New Coke}} popularly. The public backlash so shook the company that they reintroduced the original recipe as {{w|Coca-Cola Classic}} within 3 months. New Coke was eventually rebranded from Coca-Cola to Coke II, and then discontinued. Coca-Cola Classic has quietly been rebranded back to simply Coca-Cola, as it originally was. The "New Coke" introduction is considered one of the biggest PR blunders from a major company ever.<br />
<br />
'''2019: Challenger''' The {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger}} was a {{w|NASA}} space shuttle, which was launched in 1986, but {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|exploded}} 72 seconds into its flight, killing everyone aboard, including {{w|Christa McAuliffe}}, a teacher selected to be the first teacher in space.<br />
<br />
'''2020: Chernobyl''' Refers to the 1986 meltdown of a {{w|Chernobyl|nuclear power plant}} in the {{w|Ukranian SSR}} (then a part of the Soviet Union). The meltdown forced the nearby city of {{w|Pripyat}} to be abandoned, and it remains a ghost town today.<br />
<br />
'''2021: Black Monday''' Refers to the 1987 {{w|Black Monday (1987)|day}} of the largest one-day {{w|stock market}} drop in history.<br />
<br />
'''2022: The Reagan presidency''' {{w|Ronald Reagan}} was an American president from 1981 to 1989, and was a generally well received president known for ending the Cold War, oversaw the {{w|Iran–Contra affair}}, {{w|Invasion of Grenada|invading Grenada}}, and issuing forth a number of new {{w|Reaganomics|economic policies}}.<br />
<br />
'''2023: The Berlin Wall''' Refers to the {{w|Berlin Wall|barrier}} surrounding the western-controlled part of {{w|Berlin}}. It was erected by the {{w|East Germany|East German}} Government in 1961 to stop illegal emigration to West Berlin-the western-controlled enclave after the ending of the Second World War. After a friendly revolution in 1989, emigration to West Berlin (and West German in general) was granted suddenly and very surprisingly again on November 9, 1989. The following rush of people to the Wall from East (to cross the border) and from West (to welcome friends and relatives) in that night coined the figurative "Fall of the Wall", preceding the actual reunion of Germany in 1990 and (almost) complete demolition of the Wall.<br />
<br />
'''2024: HammerTime''' Refers to a refrain in {{w|MC Hammer|MC Hammer's}} 1990 hit song {{w|U Can't Touch This}}; [[Randall Munroe]] makes reference to this song elsewhere in his comics, too (specifically [[108: M.C. Hammer Slide]] and [[210: 90's Flowchart]]).<br />
<br />
'''2025: The Soviet Union''' Refers to a country emerging after the end of {{w|World War I}}. It became the cold-war adversary of the United States after the end of {{w|World War II}} and only collapsed in 1991.<br />
<br />
'''2026: The LA Riots''' Refers to the {{w|1992 Los Angeles riots|massive riots}} occurring at the release of the verdict acquitting the officers accused of the {{w|Rodney King}} beatings in 1992.<br />
<br />
'''2027: Lorena Bobbit''' Refers to the {{w|John and Lorena Bobbitt|woman}} who {{w|emasculated}} her husband in 1993.<br />
<br />
'''2028: The Forrest Gump release''' ''{{w|Forrest Gump}}'' was a 1994 drama starring {{w|Tom Hanks}} as a mentally disabled man, telling his spectacular life story. The movie had a highly successful release, and remains one of the greatest films of all time.<br />
<br />
'''2029: The Rwanda Genocide''' Refers to the 1994 {{w|Rwandan genocide}}, where an estimated 800,000 people were killed.<br />
<br />
'''2030: OJ Simpson's Trial''' The {{w|O. J. Simpson murder case|O.J. Simpson trial}} was a famous criminal case during which {{w|O.J. Simpson}}, a professional football player, was {{w|acquitted}} of the murder of {{w|Nicole Simpson}} and {{w|Ronald Goldman}}. He was later arrested and jailed for other crimes, including armed robbery and kidnapping.<br />
<br />
'''2031: Clinton's reelection''' {{w|Bill Clinton}} was the American president from 1993 to 2001. He won his second term in the {{w|United States presidential election, 1996|1996 presidential election}}. During his second term, he faced controversy during an {{w|impeachment}} trial, for which he was acquitted, and a large number of pardons he made on his last day of office. Clinton was a generally favoured president, exiting his presidency with a high approval rate.<br />
<br />
'''2032: Princess Diana''' {{w|Princess Diana}} was a famous {{w|Commonwealth}} princess who made headlines after her 1997 {{w|Death of Diana, Princess of Wales|death}} in a car crash.<br />
<br />
'''2033: Clinton's impeachment''' In 1998, the American {{w|Congress}} voted to {{w|Impeachment of Bill Clinton|impeach}} then-president Clinton, based on allegations that he {{w|Lewinsky scandal|lied}} about relations with a {{w|Monica Lewinsky|White House intern}}. He was later acquitted.<br />
<br />
'''2034: Columbine''' Refers to the 1999 {{w|Columbine High School massacre}}, where 13 people were killed by a {{w|Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold|pair of shooters}}.<br />
<br />
'''2035: Forgot About Dre''' Refers to the {{w|Grammy}} winning 2000 song, "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}," by the rapper {{w|Dr. Dre}}. In it, Dre complains that his accomplishments have been purposefully ignored and forgotten; ironically, at some point in the future Dre's complaints about being forgotten will, themselves, be forgotten.<br />
<br />
'''2036: 9/11''' Refers to the {{w|9/11}} event, in 2001, where terrorists crashed two planes into the {{w|World Trade Center}} towers, in {{w|New York}}. Two other planes crashed that day: one into the {{w|The Pentagon}}, and one in a field outside of {{w|Shanksville, Pennsylvania}} (presumably on its way to crashing into the Capitol Building).<br />
<br />
'''2037: VH1's I love the 80s''' ''{{w|I Love the '80s (U.S. TV series)|I Love the '80s}}'' was a 2002 nostalgia TV series by {{w|VH1}}. This will make the 1980s doubly forgotten; not only will people not remember the decade, they will not remember the famous retrospective of people remembering the decade.<br />
<br />
'''2038: A time before Facebook''' Refers to the online social media site, {{w|Facebook}}, launched in 2004.<br />
<br />
'''2039: VH1's I love the 90s''' ''{{w|I Love the '90s (U.S. TV series)|I Love the '90s}}'' was a TV series airing in 2004.<br />
<br />
'''2040: Hurricane Katrina''' {{w|Hurricane Katrina}} was a devastating 2005 hurricane that hit {{w|New Orleans}}, killing almost 2000 people and causing 81 billion dollars in damage.<br />
<br />
'''2041: The planet Pluto''' {{w|Pluto}} is a {{w|dwarf planet}} in our solar system. Up until 2006, Pluto was considered to be a planet.<br />
<br />
'''2042: The first iPhone''' {{w|Apple}}'s first iPhone was released in 2007.<br />
<br />
'''2043: The Bush presidency''' {{w|George W. Bush}} was the American presidency from 2001 to 2009. He was criticized for the wars on {{w|War in Afghanistan (2001%E2%80%93present)|Afghanistan}} and {{w|Iraq War|Iraq}}, poor handling of Hurricane Katrina, and seeing the United States enter a recession. His approval peaked after the 9/11 attacks, but had fallen to historical lows by the end of his second term, making him one of the least liked US presidents.<br />
<br />
'''2044: Michael Jackson''' Refers to the {{w|Michael Jackson|pop singer}} who died of drug overdose in 2009.<br />
<br />
'''2045: Trying to say Eyjafjallajökull''' Is a reference to a volcano in {{w|Iceland}} that {{w|Eyjafjallajökull#2010 eruptions|erupted}} in 2010. The eruption threw volcanic ash several kilometres up in the atmosphere, which led to air travel disruption in northwest Europe for six days.<br />
<br />
'''2046: The Arab Spring''' Refers to the {{w|Arab Spring|wave of revolutions}} that began in late 2010, where many Arabic nations overthrew leaders and started civil wars, with many nations converting to democracies.<br />
<br />
'''2047: Anything embarrassing you do today''' Refers to the fact that in 35 years, the majority of Americans will not have been around on this date.<br />
<br />
The title text is in reference to the vastly over-saturated programming on VH1 dedicated to the history of the TV universe.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:'''When Will We Forget?'''<br />
:Based on US Census Bureau ''National Population Projections''<br />
:Assuming we don't remember cultural events from before age 5 or 6<br />
<br />
:By this year: The majority of Americans will be too young to remember:<br />
:2012: The seventies<br />
:2013: The Carter presidency<br />
:2014: The Reagan shooting<br />
:2015: The Falkland Islands war<br />
:2016: ''The return of the Jedi''release<br />
:2017: The first Apple Macintosh<br />
:2018: New Coke<br />
:2019: ''Challenger''<br />
:2020: Chernobyl<br />
:2021: Black Monday<br />
:2022: The Reagan presidency<br />
:2023: The Berlin Wall<br />
:2024: HammerTime<br />
:2025: The Soviet Union<br />
:2026: The LA Riots<br />
:2027: Lorena Bobbit<br />
:2028: The ''Forrest Gump'' release<br />
:2029: The Rwanda Genocide<br />
:2030: OJ Simpson's Trial<br />
:2031: Clinton's reelection<br />
:2032: Princess Diana<br />
:2033: Clinton's impeachment<br />
:2034: Columbine<br />
:2035: ''Forgot About Dre''<br />
:2036: 9/11<br />
:2037: VH1's ''I love the 80s''<br />
:2038: A time before Facebook<br />
:2039: VH1's ''I love the 90s''<br />
:2040: Hurricane Katrina<br />
:2041: The planet Pluto<br />
:2042: The first iPhone<br />
:2043: The Bush presidency<br />
:2044: Michael Jackson<br />
:2045: Trying to say ´´Eyjafjallajökull``<br />
:2046: The Arab Spring<br />
:2047: Anything embarrassing you do today<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Comics to make one feel old]]</div>108.162.221.88https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1707:_xkcd_Phone_4&diff=123555Talk:1707: xkcd Phone 42016-07-18T17:49:20Z<p>108.162.221.88: Added comment</p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
The current explanation seems to assume a constant current draw of 1A without explicitly stating it.<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.95.117|141.101.95.117]] 14:04, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The 12 headphone jacks is probably referring to the rumor that the iPhone 7 may not have a headphone jack. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.90|141.101.104.90]] 14:58, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The 12 Jacks will support Dolby Surroundissimo. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.86.11|162.158.86.11]] 10:57, 17 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Fun fact: the Walkman II (the most popular variant) had 2 headphone jacks, so that two people could listen to music at the same time, but the second jack was removed from later designs. This has a few more than that, perhaps there is one for each voice assistant to make it "usable". {{unsigned ip|141.101.98.119}}<br />
<br />
<br />
An alternative explanation of "onboard cloud" could be a file server that serves over WIFI, Bluetooth, and NFC, turning the phone into an effective NAS sneakernet [[User:Seebert|Seebert]] ([[User talk:Seebert|talk]]) 15:30, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The "certified" feature probably refers to various certifications being used as marketing features. [[User:Joedetode|Joedetode]] ([[User talk:Joedetode|talk]]) 15:33, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The Julian calendar is used by Orthodox Christians, but not astronomers. Astronomers use something called {{w|Julian day}}. --[[User:Mlv|Mlv]] ([[User talk:Mlv|talk]]) 16:27, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
:Its also used in banking and finance. I have to do the conversion every time we do a direct debit collection at work to verify that the dates in the file are what we need, so that switch would actually be useful to me. {{unsigned ip|141.101.70.103}}<br />
<br />
"Did you know '4' is 'IV' in Roman numerals?" is probably a dig on "Mac OS X", which is supposed to be pronounced "Mac OS 10". Apparently it used to annoy Steve Jobs that it was pronounced "Mac OS EX" by many people. {{unsigned ip|108.162.210.214}}<br />
<br />
It could be also a reference to the Samsung Galaxy Smartphones, as they were called Galaxy S (1st Version), Galaxy S II (2nd Version), Galaxy S III (3rd Version) and Galaxy S4 (fourth version, which does not use Roman numerals anymore) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.85.249|162.158.85.249]]<br />
<br />
"The nickel–iron battery does exist, but it's terrible for most applications. Worse, this battery is non-rechargeable, meaning that it would have to be replaced to use the phone again after it is exhausted." is not supported by the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel%E2%80%93iron_battery. The first line of which begins "The nickel–iron battery (NiFe battery) is a rechargeable battery ... ".--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.11|108.162.219.11]] 17:11, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The comment about the Nickel-Iron battery being non-rechargable is referring not to the Wikipedia article, but the battery annotation on the picture, which states clearly that the included battery is non-rechargable. Perhaps the explanation should be amended to clear up this ambiguity. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.132|141.101.98.132]] 18:07, 15 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This explanation would be easier to read if put in a table, with the term on the left and description on the right {{unsigned|4jonah}}<br />
<br />
The drawing may be interpreted as if "software defined" applies to part of the case (or the whole case). That would be... interesting, if useless. Doable - although probably impractical and not worth the price - with e-paper for graphical motives, for actual textures or other material characteristics maybe Nobel-worthy (and still quite useless in this application). {{unsigned ip|162.158.201.6}}<br />
<br />
The inclusion of a parallel port may be a stab at Apple products such as iPhones. Apple seems to insist on avoiding otherwise standard connectors such as Micro USB, in favor of their own proprietary ones. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.168|108.162.237.168]] 06:02, 16 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Note that the parallel port on image doesn't look at all like {{w|Parallel port}} (IEEE 1284). Of course, it can still be parallel port in general sense, similarly as {{w|USB}} is serial (that's what the S in USB stands for) without being {{w|Serial port}} (RS-232). -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:57, 16 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
: It does look like "micro-centronics" (IEEE 1284 type C) female connector used on some printers - my old good Laserjet 1100 has such a connector. It may indicate that XKCD Phone 4 may be used as a printer by connecting it to a (fairly old) computer. What the phone would do with the data sent to it in this way is a mystery. [[User:Malgond|Malgond]] ([[User talk:Malgond|talk]]) 18:28, 16 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Judging by the connectors present on the lower edge the xkcd Phone 4 is a fairly large device, like a tablet - 3.5 mm headphone jacks shall be spaced about 1 cm apart or a typical plugs won't fit into neighbouring jacks. This makes ~13 cm edge space. The micro-Centronics connector (parallel port) is approx. 4.5 by 1 cm. So I would say the shorter edge of the phone is at least 18 cm and the longer edge may be 24 cm or longer. {{unsigned|Malgond}}<br />
<br />
It seems as if "Certified" may be a reference to [https://xkcd.com/1096/ #1096]<br />
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.91.223|141.101.91.223]] 13:49, 16 July 2016 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I'm surprised there is no mention of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel%E2%80%93cadmium_battery Nickel–cadmium] (a fairly common rechargeable type) as a possible component for the nickel-lithium-iron combination. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.88|108.162.221.88]] 17:49, 18 July 2016 (UTC)</div>108.162.221.88https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1238:_Enlightenment&diff=966541238: Enlightenment2015-06-29T14:57:32Z<p>108.162.221.88: fixing a typo--"heabily" instead of "heavily"--just in case the explanation would cause someone to smash their computer</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1238<br />
| date = July 15, 2013<br />
| title = Enlightenment<br />
| image = enlightenment.png<br />
| titletext = But the rules of writing are like magic spells. If you never acquire them, then not using them says nothing.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is a reference to a scene from {{w|Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace}} in which {{w|Yoda}} expresses doubt in a young {{w|Anakin Skywalker|Anakin}}'s potential to join the {{w|Jedi}} order. Yoda delivers a speech similar to the one that [[Ponytail]] gives here, except that the end of the sequence he presents is "{{w|Dark side (Star Wars)|the dark side}}" instead of "being an asshole". Yoda is ultimately correct; Anakin's fears lead him to join the dark side so that he may keep his loved ones from dying; this is at the expense of the stability of the galaxy, however, and his actions are in vain, as {{w|Padmé Amidala|his wife}} dies nonetheless. The circle on the ground is also taken from the ''Star Wars'' scene, and [[Cueball]] is presumably in the {{w|Mace Windu}} role.<br />
<br />
Here, [[Randall]] compares Anakin's decision to join the dark side to the propensity of many Internet commenters to correct others on their spelling and grammar, and to the extreme prevalence of criticism over commendation or confirmation. Randall's point is that correcting people, like joining the dark side, ultimately stems from insecurity.<br />
<br />
Ponytail and Cueball challenge [[Megan]] to type the sentence "I heard you're idea's and their definately good", which contains four {{w|Commonly misspelled words|common misspellings}} (''{{w|wikt:you're|you'''&#39;re'''}}'' instead of ''{{w|wikt:your|you'''r'''}}'', ''{{w|possessive|idea'''&#39;'''s}}'' instead of ''{{w|wikt:ideas|ideas}}'' [see {{w|greengrocers' apostrophe}}], ''{{w|wikt:their|the'''ir'''}}'' instead of ''{{w|wikt:they're|the'''y're'''}}'', and ''{{w|wikt:definately|defin'''a'''tely}}'' instead of ''{{w|wikt:definitely|defin'''i'''tely}}'').<br />
Regarding the content, this sentence is one that is highly unlikely to be ever read in an internet argument, as almost every time people still have things they claim to know better about.<br />
Megan thus can't bring herself to typing this sentence, having spent so much time judging others for their trivial errors, even when they're saying helpful things like the sentence in question. Instead, it is strongly implied that she smashes the computer and runs away — demonstrating the sort of anger that [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Grammar%20Nazi "Grammar Nazis"] and internet wiseacres like her can feel about punctuation and spelling errors, and about content-related errors respectively. Cueball and Ponytail remark on this, both failing to use {{w|apostrophe}}s.<br />
<br />
The title text specifically refers to {{w|Terry Pratchett}}'s novel {{w|Equal Rites}}, in which the characters discover that the most powerful magic is not using magic — with the distinction that not using magic because you don't know how is not the same as choosing to refrain from using magic when you do know how. Randall is comparing this with use or misuse of the rules of Standard English: not even knowing the rules is not admirable, whereas knowing the rules but choosing to disregard them is.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[The two Internet Bodhisattvas Ponytail and Cueball lecture Megan encircled by a wheel placed upon the ground.]<br />
:Ponytail: To achieve '''internet enlightenment''', you must free yourself from insecurity.<br />
:Megan: But insecurity keeps me humble!<br />
:Ponytail: No. Insecurity leads to conceit. Conceit leads to judgment. Judgment leads to being an asshole.<br />
:[A laptop is placed on a stand in front of Megan.]<br />
:Megan: I'm ready. How do I begin?<br />
:Ponytail: Type this sentence.<br />
:[White text on black background.]<br />
:I heard you're idea's and their definately good.<br />
:[The laptop has been smashed to the floor. The circle, once full of hope and excitement, is now full of despair and no Megan.]<br />
:Ponytail: She wasnt ready.<br />
:Cueball: Its a difficult road.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Internet]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Star Wars]]</div>108.162.221.88https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1542:_Scheduling_Conflict&diff=963831542: Scheduling Conflict2015-06-25T16:33:41Z<p>108.162.221.88: minor grammar tweaks</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1542<br />
| date = June 24, 2015<br />
| title = Scheduling Conflict<br />
| image = scheduling_conflict.png<br />
| titletext = Neither a spokesperson for the organization nor the current world champion could be reached for comment.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
The comic shows a newspaper with a large headline:<br />
:National Scheduling Conflict <br />
:'''Championships canceled'''<br />
Assuming that the two lines are each complete phrases, this is interpreted as<br />
:"Certain events across the nation have been scheduled at conflicting times" (presumably these events share competitors, venues, audience or other resources)<br />
:"This means that at least two championship events have had to be cancelled"<br />
This leaves the reader wanting to know which championships have been cancelled, and what the conflict was, what other events may have been involved, and who was stupid enough to allow the schedule conflict to occur in the first place.<br />
<br />
However, there is a {{w|syntactic ambiguity}} in this headline as can be seen in the picture below. Here we see, above an empty lectern, a banner with the text NSCC 2015. This means that the headline should be read like this:<br />
:National Scheduling Conflict Championships (NSCC)<br />
:canceled<br />
<br />
This comic thus envisions a "National Scheduling Conflict Championship" (NSCC), presumably as the culmination of some larger scheduling-conflict competition. It is unclear if the goal of the event is to have a scheduling conflict and miss it, or if there are actual challenges at the event, but this years event has been canceled, most likely due to scheduling conflicts. Whether it is the contestants that miss the event, as it's their nature to always have a scheduling conflict, or if it is the organizers that have an issue is untold. The question is whether the event's cancellation is a success in it self or just a predictable failure of such an event? <br />
<br />
The comic could be a reference to the very common political ploy of using a "scheduling conflict" as an excuse to miss an event where the politician expects to be challenged or questioned on an issue he wishes to avoid. This is so frequent that it has become a cliché in American politics.<br />
<br />
The Abbreviation NSCC is related to many other national sports organizations like {{w|NFL}} and {{w|NBA}}. (The most common use of the NSCC abbreviation on-line seems to be for the {{w|Nova Scotia Community College}}).<br />
<br />
The title text mentions that is was impossible to reach either a spokesperson for the organization (NSCC) or last years world-champ (winner of the NSCC) for a comment. Thus continuing the problem with schedules for people involved in this type of championship. The world-champion could be assumed to be able to comment in this national championship (probably the American championship given that [[Randall]] is American), since the paper is looking for a comment on the national championship. But this proves that at least a world champion was crowned last year, so this type of competition is not always canceled. <br />
<br />
It is not a necessity for a spokesperson for a sports organization to be good at the sport in question. However it will often be former competitors within the sport or at least people with interest in this kind of activity that takes an interest in such an organization, thus making it likely that they would also be good (or like to think they are good) at achieving scheduling conflicts.<br />
<br />
A similar type of competition was mentioned earlier in [[1466: Phone Checking]] in which it was difficult to load the web page with the result of the competition because it was overloaded by all those compulsive phone-checkers that have an interest in such a contest. They continually try to reload the home page of the CPCC (i.e. compulsive phone-checking championship) making the web page go down.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Picture showing a newspaper with a big headline over a picture. In the picture there is a banner over an empty lectern with a microphone. Only the headline and the text on the banner in the picture is readable. All other text in the newspaper is just lines.]<br />
:National Scheduling Conflict <br />
:'''Championships canceled'''<br />
:Banner text: NSCC 2015<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}</div>108.162.221.88