Editing 1503: Squirrel Plan
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | These particular squirrels are ambitious but misguided, like the characters in the myth of {{w|Icarus}} and {{w|Daedalus}} | + | These particular squirrels are ambitious but misguided, like the characters in the myth of {{w|Icarus}} and {{w|Daedalus}}, or the {{w|Tower of Babel}}. The squirrels' understanding of astrophysics is lacking, regarding the distance to the sun and appropriate transportation to reach it in addition to the need to resist the sun's heat and exist in the vacuum of space. Their belief that the sun is made of acorns reflects their uniquely acorn-focused worldview, a reference to the tendency of real-life squirrels to gather and store acorns as winter food, as well as their relatively low intelligence. |
− | The title text reveals that "halfway to the | + | The title text reveals that "halfway to the sun," 75 million kilometers from all known acorns in our universe, the airborne squirrel seems to jeopardize the entire mission because he wants to test if the balloon itself is full of acorns. Basic observational skills will tell anyone that acorns do not float, but the idea follows the logic stated by the squirrels: If the sun, being so magnificent, must be full of acorns, then a balloon powerful enough to take a squirrel to the sun must also be powered by something amazing, like acorns. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
:[There are three squirrels. One is suspended from a balloon. The other two are sitting on the ground, looking up at it.] | :[There are three squirrels. One is suspended from a balloon. The other two are sitting on the ground, looking up at it.] | ||
− | :Squirrel to the right: Once you've chewed a hole in the | + | :Squirrel to the right: Once you've chewed a hole in the sun, shoot the balloon to fall back to earth, then pull the parachute ripcord to land. |
:Squirrel tied to balloon: Are you '''''sure''''' it's full of acorns? | :Squirrel tied to balloon: Are you '''''sure''''' it's full of acorns? | ||
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==Trivia== | ==Trivia== | ||
*It is commonly believed that real squirrels use their ''tails'' as parachutes, although as yet [http://io9.com/5946627/squirrel-hurls-itself-through-a-fourth-story-window-scampers-off-unscathed "there have been no observational studies on the aerodynamics of free-falling squirrels."] | *It is commonly believed that real squirrels use their ''tails'' as parachutes, although as yet [http://io9.com/5946627/squirrel-hurls-itself-through-a-fourth-story-window-scampers-off-unscathed "there have been no observational studies on the aerodynamics of free-falling squirrels."] | ||
− | *In the real world [http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1020.0 helium balloons cannot escape the stratosphere.] Perhaps the squirrel only ''thinks'' he's halfway to the | + | *In the real world [http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1020.0 helium balloons cannot escape the stratosphere.] Perhaps the squirrel only ''thinks'' he's halfway to the sun. Or maybe the acorns in the balloon are pushing on the [[1404:_Quantum_Vacuum_Virtual_Plasma|quantum vacuum virtual plasma]]. |
− | *The "shooting a hole in the balloon" is based on Larry | + | *The "shooting a hole in the balloon" is based on Larry Waters, who actually flew in a lawn chair suspended below a large cluster of helium balloons, using a pellet gun to shoot out balloons to descend. Featured in [[What If: Falling With Helium]]. |
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Squirrels]] | [[Category:Squirrels]] | ||
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