https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2601%3A147%3A4900%3ADB80%3A4991%3A5E27%3A55A6%3ADDD7 2026-05-23T10:09:30Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3153:_Hot_Water_Balloon&diff=388616 2025-10-11T02:41:38Z

<p>2601:147:4900:DB80:4991:5E27:55A6:DDD7: /* Explanation */ added link</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3153<br /> | date = October 10, 2025<br /> | title = Hot Water Balloon<br /> | image = hot_water_balloon_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 484x232px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = Despite a reputation for safety, the temperatures and surprisingly high pressures make them even more dangerous than the air kind, but the NTSB refuses to investigate accidents because they insist there is no 'transportation' involved.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This page was created during a romantic water balloon ride. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> <br /> {{w|Hot air balloons}} are an [[2940|inconvenient and dangerous]] form of novelty transport in which riders float into the sky in a basket suspended from a large balloon filled with hot air. Considering that the majority of passenger-carrying balloons use hot air, the specificity of the term “air balloon” implies that there is another variant that uses something other than air, as with helium-filled balloons (which float) and water balloons (which don't). {{w|Water balloons}} are typically relatively small, sealed (unlike hot air balloons, which are open at the base), full of cold water, and intended to be thrown in a water balloon fight, a common way to have fun and cool down during hot weather. This comic combines the hot air balloon and the water balloon to create a “vehicle” consisting of a basket attached to a large balloon of heated water. Since hot water, unlike hot air, produces no lift, the vehicle is entirely useless.<br /> <br /> The title text clarifies that the hot water balloon is not just useless, but actually dangerous, as it has a large container full of hot, pressurized water, naturally leading to accidents. However, the {{w|National Transportation Safety Board}} (NTSB) doesn’t consider the stationary hot water balloon to be a form of {{w|transportation}} since it doesn't move, and thus they claim any hot water balloon accidents should not fall under their purview.<br /> <br /> The concept of a hot water balloon derives additional humor because it reminds the reader of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_water_bottle hot water bottles].<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> [A large water balloon is sitting on the ground, with cords connected to a basket nearby with Cueball and Megan inside. The water balloon's color patterns are like a hot air balloon's. Ponytail pokes the balloon with a finger, and a squirrel is on the ground looking at the basket.]<br /> <br /> [There are squiggly heat lines ({{w|The_Lexicon_of_Comicana#Examples|indotherms}}) emanating from the balloon, as well as movement lines ({{w|The_Lexicon_of_Comicana#Examples|agitrons}}) above the balloon. Above them it says:]<br /> <br /> bloop bloop<br /> <br /> [Text below panel]<br /> Hot water balloon rides turn out to be significantly less romantic than the air kind.<br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;</div>

2601:147:4900:DB80:4991:5E27:55A6:DDD7 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3153:_Hot_Water_Balloon&diff=388614 2025-10-11T02:34:36Z

<p>2601:147:4900:DB80:4991:5E27:55A6:DDD7: /* Explanation */ added links</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3153<br /> | date = October 10, 2025<br /> | title = Hot Water Balloon<br /> | image = hot_water_balloon_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 484x232px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = Despite a reputation for safety, the temperatures and surprisingly high pressures make them even more dangerous than the air kind, but the NTSB refuses to investigate accidents because they insist there is no 'transportation' involved.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This page was created during a romantic water balloon ride. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> <br /> {{w|Hot air balloons}} are an [[2940|inconvenient and dangerous]] form of novelty transport in which riders float into the sky in a basket suspended from a large balloon filled with hot air. Considering that the majority of passenger-carrying balloons use hot air, the specificity of the term “air balloon” implies that there is another variant that uses something other than air, as with helium-filled balloons (which float) and water balloons (which don't). {{w|Water balloons}} are typically relatively small, sealed (unlike hot air balloons, which are open at the base), full of cold water, and intended to be thrown in a water balloon fight, a common way to have fun and cool down during hot weather. This comic combines the hot air balloon and the water balloon to create a “vehicle” consisting of a basket attached to a large balloon of heated water. Since hot water, unlike hot air, produces no lift, the vehicle is entirely useless.<br /> <br /> The title text clarifies that the hot water balloon is not just useless, but actually dangerous, as it has a large container full of hot, pressurized water, naturally leading to accidents. However, the {{w|National Transportation Safety Board}} (NTSB) doesn’t consider the stationary hot water balloon to be a form of transportation since it doesn't move, and thus they claim any hot water balloon accidents should not fall under their purview.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> [A large water balloon is sitting on the ground, with cords connected to a basket nearby with Cueball and Megan inside. The water balloon's color patterns are like a hot air balloon's. Ponytail pokes the balloon with a finger, and a squirrel is on the ground looking at the basket.]<br /> <br /> [There are squiggly heat lines ({{w|The_Lexicon_of_Comicana#Examples|indotherms}}) emanating from the balloon, as well as movement lines ({{w|The_Lexicon_of_Comicana#Examples|agitrons}}) above the balloon. Above them it says:]<br /> <br /> bloop bloop<br /> <br /> [Text below panel]<br /> Hot water balloon rides turn out to be significantly less romantic than the air kind.<br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;</div>

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