1426: Reduce Your Payments

2014-09-26T06:34:19Z

Dexterous: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1426
| date = September 26, 2014
| title = Reduce Your Payments
| image = reduce_your_payments.png
| titletext = I tried oxidizing them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This explanation states what is obvious in the comic without explaining. A description of Sodium borohydride's effects on paper are required. }}

In this comic [[Black Hat]] walks into a room where Cueball is sitting in an armchair. Blackhat says to Cueball that he can reduce his mortgage bills, while holding a docket of paper presumably Cueball's bill.
Black Hat uses the same formulation many internet advertisements use: "Discover this (strange/new/amazing...) trick to (lose weight/reduce your mortgage bills/meet amazing women)" to gather clicks.
Cueball wants to know how and Blackhat responses by mentioning {{w|Sodium_borohydride|sodium borohydride (NaBH4)}}.

In Chemestry sodium borohydride is a strong {{w|Reducing_agent|reducing agent}}, meaning in a chemical reaction it will "reduce" something else, by taking away an oxygen-molecule of it. This comic is a typical switcharound-pun. Cueball expects the value (on a bill) you have to pay reduced, while Blackhat uses the chemical meaning of reducing. Cueball, realizing this, then proceeds to say "I hate you", when he realizes the pun.

The title text implies that Blackhat has attempt to oxidize (as the contrary of the chemical "reduce") the paper mortgage bill by burning it but the paper would not light.

The "weird trick" by Blackhat actually works, yet in an unexpected manner, and does not solve the actual problem.

==Transcript==
[Cueball siting on sofa Blackhat walks into frame from behind]

Blackhat: I discovered this weird trick for reducing your mortgage payments!

Cueball: What?

Blackhat: Sodium borohydride.

Cueball: ...I hate you.

I tried to oxidize them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:927: Standards

2014-05-02T10:19:51Z

Dexterous:

* But this new video codec might just be the one that solves all our problems! You never know until you try it! '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|purple|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 09:19, 9 March 2013 (UTC)

* Is the mini-USB vs micro-USB standards rift a good representative example of what this comic is hinting at? [[User:Dexterous|Dexterous]] ([[User talk:Dexterous|talk]]) 10:19, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1426: Reduce Your Payments

Talk:927: Standards