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| title    = Horoscopes
 
| title    = Horoscopes
 
| image    = horoscopes.png
 
| image    = horoscopes.png
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| titletext = If you live in the Northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, due to the coriolis effect, babies are born nine months BEFORE they're conceived.
+
| titletext = If you live in the Northern hemisphere, anyway. In the southern hemisphere, due to the coriolis effect, babies are born nine months BEFORE they're conceived.
 
}}
 
}}
 
==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
−
{{w|Horoscopes}} purport to predict someone's personality or future, based on the position of planets and stars at the time of their birth and at present. Horoscopes commonly group people into twelve groups based on {{w|zodiac signs}}. The names of the horoscope Zodiac signs are based on the names of twelve constellations that were the backdrop for the path of the sun in the ancient times when the rules of settings horoscopes were originally developed. Today, due to precession of the Earth's axis of rotation (and to a lesser degree due to the modern formal definitions of constellations), the Zodiac signs do not correspond fully to the names of actual constellations in the path of the Sun. One's zodiac sign is determined by the position of the sun on their birthday, with each sign representing a specific 30.4 day period (1/12th of a year), starting from the {{w|equinox|First point of Aries}}.
+
{{w|Horoscopes}} are supposed to predict someones personality, or future, depending on the position of planets and stars at the time of their birth and now, especially based on their ({{w|zodiac signs}}). Today, horoscopes are admitted to be {{w|pseudoscience}} which is why the comic jokes about the fact that it's horoscopes at least ''may'' be true (at least for someone born in {{w|The United States}}, aftre a full term pregnancy). "Real" horoscopes are typically so vague that they could be true for anyone regardless of their sign.
  
−
Modern science has found {{w|Astrology and science|no basis for horoscopes}}. As with many unscientific claims and mythologies, [[Randall]] doesn't seem to care for the beliefs, and has more fun gently mocking them. The joke of this strip is that the only thing you can calculate from your astrological sign is the period of the year during which you were {{w|Fertilisation|conceived}}. The average human is born 38 weeks after conception. There's enough variation in the length of pregnancies that this can vary by as much as several months, but for the majority of people, the date of their conception can be calculated from their birthday, within a week or two.
+
Since the 12 category zodiac signs in horoscopes are based on birthday dates, [[Randall]] can do some informed guess about the context of someone's {{w|Fertilisation|conception}} (i.e., what was happening nine months before they were born), depending on the sign. For example, {{w|Virgo (astrology)|Virgo}} are born mostly in September, so they were conceived shortly before Christmas, leading to the guess "You may have been {{w|Fertilisation|conceived}} while a Christmas song played". So Randall's "predictions" are possible, if not useful. Contrary to popular horoscopes, here there is an actual reason why for instance the horoscope for Virgo is most likely true for Virgos and so on. See detailed description in the [[#Table of Astrological signs|table]] below.
  
−
This can be a slightly uncomfortable topic, because most humans were conceived by their parents having sexual intercourse, which is a topic that many people find uncomfortable to think about. The premise of this strip is that, based on the time you were born, you can make a guess at the circumstances under which you were conceived. Such guesses wouldn't be universally accurate, of course, but the notion that you could make a decent guess of the circumstances of someone's conception feels almost transgressive.  
+
The title text refers to the {{w|Coriolis effect}} which occurs to a body that is moving on an object that is spinning. Since the Earth is rotating this leads to the fact that something that is moving on Earth feels a force (the Coriolis force) which causes the moving object to be deflected to the right in the {{w|northern hemisphere}} and to the left in the {{w|southern hemisphere}}. This effect is the reason that {{w|Coriolis_effect#Meteorology|weather systems}} (most clearly seen for {{w|hurricanes}}) rotates in one direction in the northern hemisphere and in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. There is also a common {{w|Coriolis_effect#Draining_in_bathtubs_and_toilets|misconception}} that water will spin down a plug hole in a different direction in the two hemispheres (see also [[843: Misconceptions]]). The Coriolis force can also be experienced on a much smaller scale, for instance if you try to walk on a spinning carousel.  
  
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Randall phrases his "predictions" as possibilities ("you may have") rather than declarations, acknowledging that it is a guess, and that it, unlike actual horoscopes, doesn't necessarily apply to everyone.  
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Randall plays on misconceptions regarding this {{w|fictitious force}} to make a joke involving reversing the flow of time. So whereas babies are born nine months '''after''' conception in the northern hemisphere (clockwise) the Coriolis effect is the reason why babies are being born nine months '''before''' in the southern hemisphere (counterclockwise).
  
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The title text mentions that these predictions only apply to the northern hemisphere. This references both an issue with zodiac signs (as constellations are different in the southern hemisphere), and the fact that his 'predictions' are clearly based on an American context (many of the holiday references are exclusive to America). This idea is then lampooned by attributing it to the Coriolis effect (which has nothing to do with birth dates), and claiming that children in the southern hemisphere are born 9 months ''before'' conception (which is obviously impossible).
+
In reality, the relevant difference between the northern and southern hemispheres is that the meteorological seasons are a half-year out of phase between the two. This renders some of the "predictions" (such as a hot day in August or people trapped by snow in January-February) invalid for the southern hemisphere.
−
 
 
−
The {{w|Coriolis effect}} refers to a phenomenon of motion that occurs relative to a rotating reference frame. Since the Earth is rotating, an apparent force (the Coriolis force) causes objects moving toward the poles to be deflected to right in the northern hemisphere, and to the left in the southern hemisphere. This effect is the reason that {{w|Coriolis effect#Meteorology|weather systems}} (most clearly seen for {{w|hurricanes}}) which rotate in opposite directions, depending the hemisphere.
 
  
 
==Table of Astrological signs==
 
==Table of Astrological signs==
 
Here below is a table with data and explanation of the individual horoscopes:
 
Here below is a table with data and explanation of the individual horoscopes:
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
−
!{{w|Astrological sign}} <br/> (English name)
+
! {{w|Astrological sign}}
−
!{{w|Birthday}} <br/> range
+
! English name
−
!Expected <br/> conception
+
! Date range
−
!Horoscope prediction
+
! 9 months before
−
!Explanation
+
! Horoscope prediction
 +
! Explanation
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♈ {{w|Aries (astrology)|Aries}} <br/>(The Ram)
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|{{w|Aries (astrology)|Aries}}
−
|March 21 – April 21
+
|The Ram
−
|June 28 – July 28
+
|March 21 - April 21
 +
|June 21 - July 21
 
|You may have been conceived after a 4th of July fireworks show
 
|You may have been conceived after a 4th of July fireworks show
−
|In the US the {{w|Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day}} is celebrated on the 4th of July, and this is customarily celebrated with huge fireworks. Fireworks are a common metaphor for the culmination of sex (i.e. the orgasm), and are often the focus of social gatherings that might lead to conception.
+
|In the US the {{w|Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day}} is celebrated on the 4th of July, and this is customarily celebrated with huge fireworks.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♉ {{w|Taurus (astrology)|Taurus}} <br/>(The Bull)
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|{{w|Taurus (astrology)|Taurus}}
−
|April 20 – May 20  
+
|The Bull
−
|July 27 – August 27
+
|April 20 - May 20  
 +
|July 20 - August 20
 
|You may have been conceived on a hot August day
 
|You may have been conceived on a hot August day
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|In most of the northern hemisphere there are many hot days in {{w|August}}. People in hot weather tend to wear less clothing, which might promote sexual attraction.
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|In most of the northern hemisphere there are many hot days in {{w|August}}.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♊ {{w|Gemini (astrology)|Gemini}} <br/>(The Twins)
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|{{w|Gemini (astrology)|Gemini}}
−
|May 21 – June 21
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|The Twins
−
|August 28 – September 28
+
|May 21 - June 21
 +
|August 21 - September 21
 
|You may have been conceived as the leaves began to change
 
|You may have been conceived as the leaves began to change
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|In the northern part of the northern hemisphere the {{w|autumn}} starts at the end of this time period, so the leaves will begin to change color.  
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|In the northern part of the northern hemisphere the {{w|autumn}} starts at the end of this time period, so the leaves will begin to change color.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♋ {{w|Cancer (astrology)|Cancer}} <br/>(The Crab)
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|{{w|Cancer (astrology)|Cancer}}
−
|June 21 – July 21
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|The Crab
−
|September 28 – October 28
+
|June 21 - July 21
 +
|September 21 - October 21
 
|You may have been conceived by people trying on costumes
 
|You may have been conceived by people trying on costumes
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|This period ends a few days before {{w|Halloween}}, so it possible that the people who conceived you (mom and dad) tried on their new costumes when they made you.  Roleplay, enhanced with costumes, can be a way to spice up a relationship and can lead to sex and procreation.
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|This period ends 10 days before {{w|Halloween}}, so it is not unlikely that the people who conceived you (mom and dad) tried on their new costumes when they made you.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♌ {{w|Leo (astrology)|Leo}} <br/>(The Lion)
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|{{w|Leo (astrology)|Leo}}
−
|July 22 – August 23
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|The Lion
−
|October 29 – November 30
+
|July 22 - August 23
−
|You may have been conceived during Thanksgiving
+
|October 22 and November 23
−
|{{w|Thanksgiving}} is celebrated in the US on the fourth Thursday of November.
+
|You may have been conceived during thanksgiving
 +
|{{w|Thanksgiving}} is celebrated in the US on fourth Thursday of November, which for only two out of seven years will lie before the 23rd of November. However many people are born before 9 months so it is not unlikely for someone born as a Leo to be conceived on this day.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♍ {{w|Virgo (astrology)|Virgo}} <br/>(The Maiden)
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|{{w|Virgo (astrology)|Virgo}}
−
|August 23 – September 22
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|The Maiden
−
|November 30 – December 29
+
|August 23 - September 22
 +
|November 23 - December 22
 
|You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played
 
|You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played
−
|It is very common for {{w|Christmas}} songs to be played in the month of December.
+
|It is very common for {{w|Christmas}} songs to be played in the month before Christmas
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♎ {{w|Libra (astrology)|Libra}} <br/>(The Scales)
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|{{w|Libra (astrology)|Libra}}
−
|September 22 – October 23
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|The Scales
−
|December 29 – January 30
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|September 22 - October 23
−
|You may have been conceived after a New Year's Eve party
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|December 22 - January 23
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|{{w|New Year's Eve}} always falls on December 31. Parties are commonly held to celebrate the new year, which create an ideal circumstance in which to either find a mate, or to celebrate with an existing partner. New Year's parties, by definition, are held late at night, it's common for alcohol to be consumed, and it's become a custom in the US to celebrate the moment of the New Year by kissing someone. All of these factors could contribute to sexual relations during or after such a party.  
+
|You may have been conceived after a new year's eve party
 +
|Since {{w|New Year's Eve}} always falls on December 31, and since the party goes on into the new year this fits with Libra. As it is very likely that people are together in a way that may lead to conception at this type of parties, there may even be rather more than a 30th part of the people that are Libra that are conceived at such a party.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♏ {{w|Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio}} <br/>(The Scorpion)
+
|{{w|Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio}}
−
|October 23 – November 22
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|The Scorpion
−
|January 30 – February&nbsp;29
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|October 23 and November 22
 +
|January 23 - February 22
 
|You may have been conceived by people stuck inside after a long winter
 
|You may have been conceived by people stuck inside after a long winter
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|This period is during the coolest part and towards the end of the {{w|winter}} in the northern hemisphere. People may even be forced to stay at home due to snow. When people have nothing else to do [https://www.google.dk/search?q=babies+9+month+after+snowstorm&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=qzkuVcjAE4qsswGevoC4CQ many babies are born 9 months later]. Interestingly, this period also includes {{w|Valentine's Day}}, which is a famous celebration of love and romance, but isn't mentioned as a potential contributor to potential conceptions.  
+
|This period is during the coolest part and towards the end of the {{w|winter}}. People may even be forced to stay at home due to snow. When people have nothing else to do [https://www.google.dk/search?q=babies+9+month+after+snowstorm&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=qzkuVcjAE4qsswGevoC4CQ many babies are born 9 months later].
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♐ {{w|Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius}} <br/>(The Archer)
+
|{{w|Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius}}
−
|November 22 – December 21
+
|The Archer
−
|February 29 – March 28
+
|November 22 - December 21
−
|You may have been conceived during March Madness
+
|February 22 - March 21
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|Originally {{w|European hare#Mating and reproduction|March madness}} referred to the early part of the mating season for the {{w|European Hare}}, in which females fight off male suitors. Today, in a US context, this is an {{w|NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|American college Basketball tournament}} that started in 1939 and is mainly held in March. It is even covered on TV under the name {{w|NCAA March Madness (CBS/Turner)|NCAA March Madness}}.
+
|You may have been conceived during March madness
 +
|Although originally the early part of the mating season for the {{w|European Hare}}, in which females fight off male suitors, in a US context this is an American college Basketball tournament [http://www.ncaa.com/march-madness].
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♑ {{w|Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn}} <br/>(The Goat)
+
|{{w|Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn}}
−
|December 22 – January 19
+
|The Goat
−
|March 29 – April 28
+
|December 22 - January 19
 +
|March 22 - April 19
 
|You may have been conceived during a sexy Easter Egg hunt
 
|You may have been conceived during a sexy Easter Egg hunt
−
|{{w|Easter}} falls between {{w|List of dates for Easter#Earliest Easter|March 22}} and {{w|List of dates for Easter#Latest Easter|April 25}} so most Easter celebrations, (and therefore most {{w|Egg hunt|Easter Egg hunts}}) will occur during this period. Egg hunts are typically activities for children, in which adults hide eggs and treats and children are encouraged to search for them. While Easter is traditionally associated with fertility symbolism, the holiday itself isn't generally associated with notions of romance or sex, making the concept of a "sexy Easter Egg hunt" rather unexpected. It may be playing with ability of people to turn nearly any occasion sexual, with enough creativity.
+
|{{w|Easter}} falls between {{w|List_of_dates_for_Easter#Earliest_Easter|March 22}} and {{w|List_of_dates_for_Easter#Latest_Easter|April 25}} so most {{w|Egg hunt|Easter Egg hunt}}, sexy or nor, will fall in the relevant period to conceive Capricorn children. The goal of an Easter egg hunt can be to find as many eggs in a given time, or find a sequence of eggs, each containing a clue to the next. It is not difficult to think of adult variations on these themes. Most Egg hunts do not involve people who should make them sexy!
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♒ {{w|Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius}} <br/>(The&nbsp;Water&nbsp;Carrier)
+
|{{w|Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius}}
−
|January&nbsp;20 – February&nbsp;18
+
|The Water Carrier
−
|April 27 – May 25
+
|January 20 - February 18
−
|You may have been conceived on Mother's Day
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|April 20 - May 18
−
|{{w|Mother's Day}} in the USA, and some other countries, is on the second Sunday in May, between 8 and 14 May. It's traditional for mothers to receive special recognition and affection on this holiday, and such attention from their partners could potentially lead to sex. (Such recognition generally only happens if a woman is already a mother, which would imply that the person must have older siblings).  
+
|You may have been conceived on Mother's day
 +
|{{w|Mother's Day}} in the USA,and some other countries, is on the second Sunday in May, between the 8th and 14th of May.
 
|-
 
|-
−
|♓ {{w|Pisces (astrology)|Pisces}} <br/>(The Fish)
+
|{{w|Pisces (astrology)|Pisces}}
−
|February&nbsp;19 – March&nbsp;20
+
|The Fishes
−
|May 25 – June 27
+
|February 19 - March 20
 +
|May 21 - June 21
 
|You may have been conceived at someone's wedding
 
|You may have been conceived at someone's wedding
−
|June is widely reported as the [http://www.statista.com/statistics/241231/percentage-of-us-weddings-by-month/ most popular month for weddings in the United States], likely due to a preference for being married in warm weather (particularly if the wedding takes place outdoors). A child might be conceived on their parents' wedding night, but weddings are often large social gatherings, and are generally built around a celebration of love, which can prime people with a romantic mindset. A married or dating couple attending a wedding might might feel particularly amorous, and single people might use the opportunity to spark new relationships. the specific phrase "'''at''' someone's wedding" implies a couple so overcome with love and/or lust they can't even wait until they've left the event.  
+
|It is not uncommon that people meet and even go so far as to risk conceiving a child at someones {{w|wedding}}. The tradition of a June Bride may be an old one and hence explains the reference for Pisces which lies mainly in June. [https://open.abc.net.au/explore/22074 ABC claim] that in the 15th and 16th century, May would have been the month for an "annual bath", and moreover {{w|June}} is named for {{w|Juno (mythology)|Juno}}, goddess of the home and hearth.  
 
|}
 
|}
  
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:'''Horoscopes'''
 
:'''Horoscopes'''
 
:With an actual basis in fact
 
:With an actual basis in fact
−
:[A list with the name of each astrological sign in the first column (in gray) and a horoscope for each sign in the second column. Here given in table form]
+
:[A table with the name of each astrological sign in the first column and a horoscope for each sign in the second column.]
−
:{| class="wikitable"
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
! Aries •
+
! Aries
 
| You may have been conceived after a 4th of July fireworks show
 
| You may have been conceived after a 4th of July fireworks show
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Taurus •
+
! Taurus
 
| You may have been conceived on a hot August day
 
| You may have been conceived on a hot August day
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Gemini •
+
! Gemini
 
| You may have been conceived as the leaves began to change
 
| You may have been conceived as the leaves began to change
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Cancer •
+
! Cancer
 
| You may have been conceived by people trying on costumes
 
| You may have been conceived by people trying on costumes
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Leo •
+
! Leo
−
| You may have been conceived during Thanksgiving
+
| You may have been conceived during thanksgiving
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Virgo •
+
! Virgo
 
| You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played
 
| You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Libra •
+
! Libra
−
| You may have been conceived after a New Year's Eve party
+
| You may have been conceived after a new year's eve party
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Scorpio •
+
! Scorpio
 
| You may have been conceived by people stuck inside after a long winter
 
| You may have been conceived by people stuck inside after a long winter
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Sagittarius •
+
! Sagittarius
−
| You may have been conceived during March Madness
+
| You may have been conceived during March madness
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Capricorn •
+
! Capricorn
−
| You may have been conceived during a sexy Easter egg hunt
+
| You may have been conceived during a sexy Easter Egg hunt
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Aquarius •
+
! Aquarius
 
| You may have been conceived on Mother's day
 
| You may have been conceived on Mother's day
 
|-
 
|-
−
! Pisces •
+
! Pisces
 
| You may have been conceived at someone's wedding
 
| You may have been conceived at someone's wedding
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
−
[[Category:Charts]]
+
<!-- Include any categories below this line. -->
−
[[Category:Sex]]
 
−
[[Category:Christmas]]
 

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