Editing 1578: Squirrelphone
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | " | + | A "squirrelphone" is a {{w|Compound (linguistics)|compound word}} combining "{{w|squirrel}}" and "{{w|phone}}". |
− | In this comic, we see a squirrel pretend to be a telephone, only to bite [[Cueball]] | + | In this comic, we see a squirrel pretend to be a telephone, only to bite [[Cueball]] who tries to pick it up and use it as one. This is humorous because a living squirrel is not an appropriate creature to maintain a phone call{{Citation needed}}. This could be seen as an example of {{w|mimicry}} in nature, or parasitism where one creature gains a benefit from another. |
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+ | It may be an allusion to the {{w|Tufted ground squirrel|vampire squirrel}} which was [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2015/09/11/vampire-squirrel-caught-on-camera-for-the-first-time-ever/ documented recently] that allegedly 'attacks and kills' deer. The comic follows the absurd conclusion that the squirrel uses mimicry to 'attack and kill' humans. Cueball may be lucky to still be alive. | ||
The sounds the squirrel makes correspond to the tones that the terminals make when you use the POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) in the US: | The sounds the squirrel makes correspond to the tones that the terminals make when you use the POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) in the US: | ||
− | *When someone else calls you and the receiver of your phone is on the hook, the phone makes loud and long "riiing riiiing" tones. This is the case in the first frame of the comic. | + | * When someone else calls you and the receiver of your phone is on the hook, the phone makes loud and long "riiing riiiing" tones. --- This is the case in the first frame of the comic. |
− | *If a phone is left off hook | + | * When you pick the receiver up, the phone call is established and no extra noises are made. |
+ | * When no phone call is established and you pick up, a continuous humming tone is heard, meaning the service is up and you can dial someone else's number. (A {{w|dial tone}}) | ||
+ | * If a phone is left off hook for too long, a loud {{w|Off-hook tone|howler-tone}} is played. This is to alert anyone present that the phone is off-hook. In this case, you should hang up so that you can receive calls. Once on-hook, the receiver can be picked up again to dial. Many cordless phones will also beep if left off their cradles for too long, to warn that their rechargeable batteries are getting drained. | ||
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+ | [[:Category:Squirrels|Squirrels]] has been used frequently in xkcd, also in [[what if?]], where it has for instance been used as a cute animal to replace a drawing of something scary or unpleasant like in [http://what-if.xkcd.com/98/ Blood Alcohol] or [http://what-if.xkcd.com/105/ Cannibalism]. So this is some twist for the cuteness factor of squirrels in xkcd. | ||
− | + | It may also be the case that "squirrelphone" is a reference to the popular web-mail software [http://squirrelmail.org/ SquirrelMail]. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:Squirrel: Riiiiiing | :Squirrel: Riiiiiing | ||
− | :[Cueball has picked up the squirrel and is holding it to his left ear | + | :[Cueball has picked up the squirrel and is holding it to his left ear] |
:Cueball: Hello? | :Cueball: Hello? | ||
− | :[The squirrel bites Cueball's head | + | :[The squirrel bites Cueball's head] |
:Squirrel: Chomp! | :Squirrel: Chomp! | ||
:Cueball: Ow! | :Cueball: Ow! | ||
− | :[Cueball holds his hand to his cheek while the squirrel leaps away, fleeing | + | :[Cueball holds his hand to his cheek while the squirrel leaps away, fleeing] |
:Cueball: ??? | :Cueball: ??? | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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[[Category:Squirrels]] | [[Category:Squirrels]] | ||
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]] | ||
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