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| ==Explanation== | | ==Explanation== |
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− | The apple falling on Cueball's head is a reference to the folk tale about the inspiration for {{W|Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation}}. [https://www.newtonproject.ox.ac.uk/view/texts/normalized/OTHE00001 One of Isaac Newton's biographers] reported that his inquiries into the nature of gravity were "occasion'd by the fall of an apple" as he sat under a tree. Over time, this evolved into the story that a falling apple struck Newton on the head. Some versions of the story imagine him gazing at the moon when the apple hits him, and having the revelation that the force pulling the apple toward the earth was the same force that kept the moon in orbit.
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− | In this strip, Cueball (or {{W|Issac Newton}}) is similarly struck by a falling apple, while gazing at the moon. But rather than an insight about gravity, he makes a different connection, that of starting an apple orchard on the Moon. This would, of course, require some form of massive terraforming project (or at least the construction of a large, pressurized dome), since the airless environment of the moon wouldn't allow any plants to survive. It's not entirely ridiculous that the contrast between the lifeless moon and the lush landscape of an apple orchard would inspire someone to seek to plant life on the moon.
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− | The title text claims that Newton thought that the Moon was in fact a tasty apple, but the {{w|Apollo program}} proved it was a {{w|Red Delicious}} apple. This is a jab at Randall's least favorite type of apple, as has been [[388|previously]] [[1766|noted]]. That apple variety became the most popular variety in the USA after its introduction but, to satisfy market demand, growers began selecting for storage and cosmetic appeal over flavor and palatability. Popularity has declined significantly in recent decades. "Desolate and bland" echoes Apollo astronaut {{w|Buzz Aldrin}} describing the moonscape as "magnificent desolation".
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− | The tale of Newton and the apple was previously mentioned in [[1584: Moments of Inspiration]].
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| ==Transcript== | | ==Transcript== |
− | :[Cueball sits under a tree. An apple falls from the tree and hits him on the head, then arcs towards the ground.] | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
− | :''Bonk'' | + | :[Cueball sits under a tree. An apple falls from the tree and hits him on the head.] |
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− | :[The view zooms out, showing the moon, which Cueball looks up at. The apple lies at Cueball’s feet.] | + | :[The view zooms out, showing the moon, which Cueball looks up at.] |
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| :[Closeup on Cueball.] | | :[Closeup on Cueball.] |
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| {{comic discussion}} | | {{comic discussion}} |
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− | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
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− | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
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− | [[Category:Astronomy]]
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− | [[Category:Physics]]
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− | [[Category:Food]]
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