https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Dexterous&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T10:21:52ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1426:_Reduce_Your_Payments&diff=763391426: Reduce Your Payments2014-09-26T06:34:19Z<p>Dexterous: /* Explanation */</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1426<br />
| date = September 26, 2014<br />
| title = Reduce Your Payments<br />
| image = reduce_your_payments.png<br />
| titletext = I tried oxidizing them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This explanation states what is obvious in the comic without explaining. A description of Sodium borohydride's effects on paper are required. }}<br />
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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.<br />
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. <br />
Cueball wants to know how and Blackhat responses by mentioning {{w|Sodium_borohydride|sodium borohydride (NaBH<sub>4</sub>)}}.<br />
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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. <br />
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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.<br />
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The "weird trick" by Blackhat actually works, yet in an unexpected manner, and does not solve the actual problem.<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
[Cueball siting on sofa Blackhat walks into frame from behind]<br />
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Blackhat: I discovered this weird trick for reducing your mortgage payments!<br />
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Cueball: What?<br />
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Blackhat: Sodium borohydride.<br />
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Cueball: ...I hate you.<br />
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I tried to oxidize them, but your bank uses some really weird paper and it wouldn't light.<br />
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{{comic discussion}}</div>Dexteroushttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:927:_Standards&diff=66559Talk:927: Standards2014-05-02T10:19:51Z<p>Dexterous: </p>
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<div>* But this new video codec might just be the one that solves all our problems! You never know until you try it! '''[[User:Davidy22|<u>{{Color|purple|David}}<font color=green size=3px>y</font></u><font color=indigo size=4px>²²</font>]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 09:19, 9 March 2013 (UTC)<br />
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* 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)</div>Dexterous