Editing 2349: Rabbit Introduction

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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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[[Cueball]] is giving a presentation on the {{w|pygmy rabbit}} to a group of panelists, requesting a grant to introduce the species to the eastern United States. The head of the panel, [[Blondie]], asks about typical reasons for introducing a species. If they were native to an area, but had been locally depopulated, re-introduction can help to restore the local ecosystem, but Cueball admits this is not the case.  Another reason animal populations may be introduced is to control a local pest. Cueball seems to have no idea what the impact on the local ecosystem would be. In fact, he makes quite clear that his reasoning is simply that the creatures are tiny and cute, and he wants to spread them. He also appears to be entirely perplexed that the panel doesn't feel the same way.  
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{{incomplete|Created by a RABBIT RESEARCH GRANT COMMITTEE. More needed on the title text. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
  
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Blondie, very reasonably, immediately moves to deny the request. Not only would such a grant expend funds for no legitimate scientific or ecological purpose, but it would risk serious and unstudied impacts on the local ecosystem ({{w|Rabbits in Australia#Effects on Australia's ecology|especially considering that this very thing has happened with rabbits before}}). However, at this point, the other three panelists - [[White Hat]], [[Megan]] and [[Hairy]] - have been swayed by Cueball's unconventional argument. All three of them are visibly entranced by the cuteness of the rabbits, and appear willing to fund the request purely based on affection for the animals. This is sort of the opposite of the "{{w|charismatic megafauna}}" method of conservation - charismatic ''minifauna'': the more mini, the more charismatic.
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[[Cueball]] is giving a presentation on the {{w|pygmy rabbit}} to a group of panelists whom Cueball tries to convince to give a grant so they can be introduced into the east (as the eastern part of the US). The head of the panel, [[Blondie]], asks if they are native there, since he did not say re-introduce the rabbits. But they are not... Then she asks if they might help control some invasive pest. But that is not something Cueball knows anything about.
  
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The title text mentions [https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/columbia-basin-pygmy-rabbits-washington the effort] to reintroduce the {{w|Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit}} into their native area of the {{w|Columbia River drainage basin}}. It refers to an "Interstate Bun Gap", suggesting a competition between states over which has the most and/or cutest rabbits.  That phrase is a ''reductio ad absurdum'' of other gaps in capabilities between states and nations, such as the {{w|bomber gap}} and {{w|missile gap}} (widely-publicized shortages - later revealed to be fictional - of the respective nuclear arsenals of the United States compared to the Soviet Union), perhaps similar to the satirical "mine shaft gap" from the 1964 film ''{{w|Dr. Strangelove}}''.
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So she then asks why he wish this grant. Cueball cannot understand why they have any second thoughts about this, now that he has shown how small and cute they are.
  
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This comic continues an xkcd tradition of dealing with the subjective cuteness of rabbits as a scientific discipline ([[1682: Bun]]). [[Randall]] seems fascinated with the cuteness of lagomorphs, as it is a  [[:Category:Buns|recurring subject]].
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Once Blondie has this confirmation, that Cueball only wants to introduce the species to a new area for because he finds it adorable, [[Blondie]] moves to deny his grant requests (probably recalling [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbits_in_Australia#Effects_on_Australia's_ecology another episode of history where the reintroduction of rabbits was a VERY BAD IDEA]). However, at this point, the other three panelists [[White Hat]], [[Megan]] and [[Hairy]] have been swayed by this unconventional argument. Megan even has to pull he hair with both hands, as she finds their small feet so adorable, and Hairy instantly moves to vote for funding Cueball's rabbit introduction.
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Thematically, this comic continues the argument from [[1682: Bun]] that the tinier a rabbit is, the greater its esteem.
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See this article: [https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/columbia-basin-pygmy-rabbits-washington After Nearly Going Extinct, Washington’s Pygmy Rabbits Need Room to Grow]. They are native to {{w|Washington (state)|Washington}}, but were nearly extinct.
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The title text mentions the effort to reintroduce the {{w|Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit}} back into their native area of {{w|Columbia River drainage basin}}. And makes a pun on bun.
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[Cueball is standing in front of a screen and pointing at it with a stick. On the screen is a rabbit shown next to a smartphone, some keys on a key-chain, and two coins. The phone is larger than the rabbit.]
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:[Cueball is standing in front of a screen and pointing at it with a stick. On the screen is a rabbit shown next to a smartphone, some keys on a key-chain, and two coins The phone is lager than the rabbit.]
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:Cueball: The US's smallest rabbit species is the pygmy rabbit from the Great Basin area.
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:Cueball: The US's smallest rabbit species is the Pygmy Rabbit from Great Basin area.
 
:Cueball: We're seeking a grant to introduce them into the east.
 
:Cueball: We're seeking a grant to introduce them into the east.
  
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:[Blondie, White Hat, Megan and Hairy sit behind a long table. Blondie leans both her arms on the table. Hairy has one arm on the table. The other two have their arms down. Cueball replies to Blondie's question from off-panel.]
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:[Blondie, White Hat, Megan and Hairy sits behind a long table. Blondie leans both her arms on the table. Hairy has one arm on the table. The other two have their arms down. Cueball replies to Blondie's question from off-panel.]
 
:Blondie: Are they native here?
 
:Blondie: Are they native here?
 
:Cueball (off-panel): No.
 
:Cueball (off-panel): No.
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:Blondie: Then...Why would you do this?
 
:Blondie: Then...Why would you do this?
  
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:[In a frameless panel Cueball is seen in front of the screen, which is seen from the side. He points to something on the screen with the pointer, while looking over his shoulder.]
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:[In a frame-less panel Cueball is seen in front of the screen, which is seen from the side. He points to something on the screen with the pointer, while looking over his shoulder.]
 
:Cueball: I don't understand.
 
:Cueball: I don't understand.
 
:Cueball: Did you '''''see''''' how small they are?
 
:Cueball: Did you '''''see''''' how small they are?
 
:Cueball: They're so round!
 
:Cueball: They're so round!
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:Cueball: ''Those tiny ears!''
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:Cueball: Those ''tiny'' ears.
  
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:[Back to the four people behind the desk. Blondie and White Hat are in the same positions but Megan has both her hands up into her hair, and Hairy has one arm on the table, and the other is held up high with a finger pointing up.]
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:[Back to the four people behind the desk. Blondie and White Hat in the same positions but Megan has both her hands up into her hair, and Hairy has one arm on the table, and the other is held up high with a finger pointing up.]
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:Blondie: I see. I'm afraid we'll be denying your grant.
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:Blondie: I see. I'm afraid we'll by denying your grant.
 
:White Hat: Hang on. He '''''is''''' right about their ears...
 
:White Hat: Hang on. He '''''is''''' right about their ears...
 
:Megan: The little feet!
 
:Megan: The little feet!
 
:Hairy: I vote we fund them!
 
:Hairy: I vote we fund them!
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{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}

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