https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=89.176.80.165 2026-07-10T15:43:24Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=679:_Christmas_Plans&diff=35449 2013-04-28T21:12:41Z

<p>89.176.80.165: /* Explanation */</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 679<br /> | date = December 23, 2009<br /> | title = Christmas Plans<br /> | image = christmas_plans.png<br /> | titletext = Physicists who want to protect traditional Christmas realize that the only way to keep from changing Christmas is not to observe it.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> This comic centers around a joke about {{w|Quantum Entanglement}} in physics - if you don't observe something, it has all possible states, not a specific one. It is a double-entendre with the word ''observe'' meaning both &quot;look at&quot; (physics sense) and &quot;celebrate&quot; (a holiday)<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> :[Character A is standing behind Character B, who is sitting at a computer.]<br /> :Character A: Hey, will you be in town the day after Christmas?<br /> :Character B: Couldn't say— <br /> :Character B: I'm Jewish.<br /> <br /> :Character A: But... how does being Jewish keep you from knowing your plans?<br /> :Character B: I know my plans— <br /> :Character B: I just don't know when Christmas is.<br /> <br /> :Character A: Really? Why not look it up?<br /> :Character B: Well, I'm also a physicist.<br /> <br /> :Character A: So?<br /> :Character B: I believe that since I don't observe Christmas, it can't ''have'' a definite date.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Physics]]</div>

89.176.80.165