explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1609: Food Combinations

2021-11-17T19:58:40Z

Hi: These taste good, some are exotic ice cream flavors in ice cream trucks

{{comic
| number = 1609
| date = November 27, 2015
| title = Food Combinations
| image = food_combinations.png
| titletext = If anyone tries this on you, the best reply is a deadpan "Oh yeah, that's a common potato chip flavor in Canada."
}}

==Explanation==
[http://www.rd.com/funny/21-weird-food-combinations-and-obsessions/ Unusual food combinations] are often counter-intuitive and can vary wildly by individual taste. Real-world examples of unusual food pairings, such as [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/dining/making-a-meal-out-of-peanut-butter-and-pickles.html pickles and peanut butter], French fries in chocolate shake, or even the comfort-food pairing of {{w|chicken and waffles}}, pair sweet, sour, or salty foods with a food or condiment from a different group. In many "normal" food pairings, though, the cross-over between sweet, savory and salty foods also exists, such as ketchup, a very sweet condiment being regularly applied to hamburgers and French fries, both savory and salty foods.

In this comic, [[Randall]] lists twelve somewhat random food items. Below these [[Megan]] says a line to [[Ponytail]] and [[Cueball]] where she claims that two items of food from the list above (pick any) would be a great combination. Some of these are obviously great together (and much depends on personal taste) but many combination will definitely not be enjoyed by ''most'' people living for instance in the US (where Randall is situated). Say ketchup and ice cream or hot chocolate and avocado. But no matter which two Megan chooses the response from Cueball (or anyone else) would be the same - he can see what she means with this combination.

Randall suggests, in the caption below, that by using the right tone of voice, you can put any pair of these food items together as an "actually really good" food combination, and no one will challenge you on it. This can either be because they have likely heard, or tried other unexpected combinations that are highly recommended or liked. But it could also just be because they are polite, or did not really think about what you said due to your tone of voice. Cueball's agreement could also be due to some social pressure in this situation, the same reason he will drink beer even though he does not enjoy the taste, as in [[1534: Beer]]. Or maybe they are like {{w|Joey Tribbiani|Joey}} from {{w|Friends}} who love any combination of food, as long as it is something he think is good by itself - see [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSFgDZJVYbo this clip].

The title text extends the joke by recommending countering such a bizarre proposal with an assertion that the random pairing announced is an actual potato chip flavor popular in Canada. This plays on the fact that in different countries and regions, cultural tastes can vary wildly. For instance, [http://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/americans-taste-canadian-ketchup-all-dressed-chips ketchup flavored potato chips] are quite popular in Canada, but are almost never offered in US markets. {{w|Loblaws}} and {{w|Lay's}} have run potato chips flavor competition in Canada in 2013-15 with flavors such as Maple Moose, Bacon Poutine, Jalapeño Mac N' Cheese, Cowboy BBQ Beans. Similar strange combinations of potato chips are run, either temporarily or permanently, in other countries including the [http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/04/british-crisps/ United Kingdom]. In addition, some parts of Canada are used as experimental markets to test new flavors of potato chips.

===Table of traditional pairings===
*There are 12 items and they can be combined in a total of 66 different ways.
**The 66 fields above the blue fields are the same as those below - of course it does not matter which order you put them in.
*As of writing this 24 of these 66 has been made green (aka being tasty) (36,4%).
**But this has much to do with individual taste.
**Since the comic is made in the US, it should mainly be combinations that are common in the US.
**Also remember that even though you personally may not like avocado or relish (etc.), all food items on on the list are something that many people enjoy eating.
**They are thus NOT disgusting!
**Do not take personal taste into account when changing the list below!

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Traditional pairings found in the list of combinations
!
! Ice Cream
! Ham
! Relish
! Pancakes
! Ketchup
! Cheese
! Eggs
! Cupcakes
! Sour Cream
! Hot Chocolate
! Avocado
! Skittles
|-
| {{w|Ice Cream}}
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
|-
| {{w|Ham}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Relish}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Pancakes}}
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
|-
| {{w|Ketchup}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Cheese}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Egg (food)|Eggs}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Cupcakes}}
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
|-
| {{w|Sour Cream}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Hot Chocolate}}
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Avocado}}
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
|-
| {{w|Skittles (confectionery)|Skittles}}
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#8CFF74;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#FF748C;"|
| style="background-color:#748cff;"|
|}

==Transcript==
:[Megan is talking with Ponytail and Cueball, who has his hand to his chin. Above them in 4x3 black boxes different kind of food is written in white text].

:{| class="wikitable"
|style="background-color:black;"| Ice cream
|style="background-color:black;"| Ham
|style="background-color:black;"| Relish
|-
|style="background-color:black;"| Pancakes
|style="background-color:black;"| Ketchup
|style="background-color:black;"| Cheese
|-
|style="background-color:black;"| Eggs
|style="background-color:black;"| Cupcakes
|style="background-color:black;"| Sour cream
|-
|style="background-color:black;"| Hot chocolate
|style="background-color:black;"| Avocado
|style="background-color:black;"| Skittles
|}

:Megan: You know what's actually really good?
:Megan: ____ and ____.
:Megan: food and food

:Cueball: Huh. I Guess I can see it.

:[Caption below the panel.]
:Fun fact: if you say "you know what's actually really good?" in the right tone of voice, you can name any two individually-good foods here and no one will challenge you one it.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Fun fact]]
[[Category:Food]]

38: Apple Jacks

2021-11-04T19:09:12Z

Hi: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 38
| date = November 30, 2005
| title = Apple Jacks
| image = apple_jacks.jpg
| titletext = There used to be these ads, see...
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Apple Jacks}} is a breakfast cereal produced by {{w|Kellogg's}}. As the title text begins to explain, there was an ad campaign for the cereal in the 1990s that focused on someone (usually someone in authority like a parent) pointing out that Apple Jacks doesn't taste like apples, and one or more kids pointing out that it doesn't matter and that "we eat what we like." However, instead of laughing off his dad's comment and correcting him, as in the campaign, this son responds by simply saying "fuck off, dad."

This could be a commentary on today's youth being far less respectful, as the son is playing video games and seems annoyed at being interrupted, though this does not align with Randall’s public views. It may not be the first time the father has used the line, and the son is irritated by the repetition. It could also be saying that the response in the ads is unrealistic, and this is a much more realistic response.

The same ad campaign was referenced previously in [[27: Meat Cereals]] on a parody cereal labeled Scrapple Jacks.

Cereal advertising was again referenced in [[1470: Kix]].

The title text could be a reference to the fact that this comic requires explanation for those who don't know of the ad (the reason this webpage exists), or it is an addition to the joke.. This is another of the early comics where [[Randall]] felt the need to explain the joke in the title text, see for instance [[30: Donner]].

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing holding a bowl in his hand. His son is sitting on the floor playing video games.]
:Cueball: Hey, these don't taste like apples!
:Son: Fuck off, Dad.

==Trivia==
*This was the 39th comic originally posted to [[LiveJournal]].
**The previous was [[42: Geico]].
**The next was [[43: Red Spiders 2]].
*Original title: "Wednesday's Drawing - Apple Jacks"
*Original [[Randall]] quote: "Who else remembers those commercials?"
*This comic was posted on [[xkcd]] when the web site opened on Sunday the 1st of January 2006.
**It was posted along [[:Category:First day on xkcd|with all 41 comics]] posted before that on LiveJournal as well as a few others.
**The latter explaining why the numbers of these 41 LiveJournal comics ranges from 1-44.

{{Comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal| 39]]
[[Category:First day on xkcd]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]

38: Apple Jacks

2021-11-03T14:57:58Z

Hi: /* Explanation */ fixed a typo

{{comic
| number = 38
| date = November 30, 2005
| title = Apple Jacks
| image = apple_jacks.jpg
| titletext = There used to be these ads, see...
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Apple Jacks}} is a breakfast cereal produced by {{w|Kellogg's}}. As the title text begins to explain, there was an ad campaign for the cereal in the 1990s that focused on someone (usually someone in authority like a parent) pointing out that Apple Jacks doesn't taste like apples, and one or more kids pointing out that it doesn't matter and that "we eat what we like." However, instead of laughing off his dad's comment and correcting him, as in the campaign, this son responds by simply saying "fuck off, dad."

This could be a commentary on today's youth being far less respectful, as the son is playing video games and seems annoyed at being interrupted, though this does not align with Randall’s public views. It may not be the first time the father has used the line, and the son is irritated by the repetition. It could also be saying that the response in the ads is unrealistic, and this is a much more realistic response.

The same ad campaign was referenced previously in [[27: Meat Cereals]] on a parody cereal labeled Scrapple Jacks.

Cereal advertising was again referenced in [[1470: Kix]].

The title text could be a reference to the fact that this comic requires explanation for those who don't know of the ad (the reason this webpage exists). This is another of the early comics where [[Randall]] felt the need to explain the joke in the title text, see for instance [[30: Donner]].

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing holding a bowl in his hand. His son is sitting on the floor playing video games.]
:Cueball: Hey, these don't taste like apples!
:Son: Fuck off, Dad.

==Trivia==
*This was the 39th comic originally posted to [[LiveJournal]].
**The previous was [[42: Geico]].
**The next was [[43: Red Spiders 2]].
*Original title: "Wednesday's Drawing - Apple Jacks"
*Original [[Randall]] quote: "Who else remembers those commercials?"
*This comic was posted on [[xkcd]] when the web site opened on Sunday the 1st of January 2006.
**It was posted along [[:Category:First day on xkcd|with all 41 comics]] posted before that on LiveJournal as well as a few others.
**The latter explaining why the numbers of these 41 LiveJournal comics ranges from 1-44.

{{Comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal| 39]]
[[Category:First day on xkcd]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Food]]
[[Category:Comics with lowercase text]]