https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=108.162.216.28&feedformat=atomexplain xkcd - User contributions [en]2024-03-19T01:03:50ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1876:_Eclipse_Searches&diff=144373Talk:1876: Eclipse Searches2017-08-22T01:49:11Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~ and don't delete this text. New comments should be added at the bottom.--><br />
<br />
I don't get it. - BK {{unsigned ip|108.162.216.16}}<br />
<br />
Because people are apparently (according to the Google-search data, anyways) more excited about the upcoming eclipse than they were about the election, Cueball is predicting that society is going to go a little crazy when the eclipse actually happens. Megan adds that the traffic jams will likely be insurmountable and "if you're planning to be on the road, bring water"--i.e., don't expect to go anywhere fast. In the title text Mr. Munroe further explains this statement, noting that past eclipses have generated bad traffic jams and those were before the days of widespread social media networking, which will certainly make matters much worse. [[User:Berets|Berets]] ([[User talk:Berets|talk]]) 17:21, 14 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
::To be fair, not that many of us were excited for election day. The Trumpists were excited. The #imwithheriguess weren't. We wanted Clinton because she wasn't Trump. Nervous about the insanity that would occur if Trump won, but not excited about the mediocrity that would happen if Clinton won. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.88|108.162.245.88]] 21:43, 14 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:::Don't forget the sizeable number of people who had the same opinions, but with the roles reversed (wanting Trump because he wasn't Hillary). Most of the people I know who wanted Trump were in that group. [[User:Mulan15262|Mulan15262]] ([[User talk:Mulan15262|talk]]) 04:02, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:I guess the association with traffic jams is that in the USofA, people are used to stand for hours in line to vote. --[[Special:Contributions/198.41.242.29|198.41.242.29]] 17:47, 14 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I remember the 1970 eclipse! Here in Northern Virginia, it was nearly total. I was nine and my dad made us a pinhole camera. Now I'm gonna have to make one for my kids, since it looks like the goggles are pretty much sold out. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.118|162.158.255.118]] 19:08, 14 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
I understand this XKCD differently. The fact that no one looks up "eclipse" is that something bad will happen during it, that's why Cueball is urged to bring water, as in essential survival gear. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.106|108.162.216.106]] 20:12, 14 August 2017 (UTC) AM<br />
:Yeah, and the Moon will fall into the Sun like the ISS did before: [[1830: ISS Solar Transit 2]] --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:26, 14 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
: Sounds more like 1868 (shouldn't that be linked in the explanation?) :) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 05:29, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: Not sure what you mean by “The fact that no one looks up "eclipse"” … the graph in the comic shows that ''loads'' of people are looking up "eclipse". [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.11|141.101.99.11]] 13:16, 16 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
What's funny to me is that this growing interest is completely fictitious within the context of my experience, LOL! I have LITERALLY only heard about this eclipse on XKCD, if it were any other comic I would never even have the thought that an eclipse might really be coming. :) I've really seen and heard no mention anywhere else (all I can think right now is that this explanation talks about it crossing the States, maybe it'll be too south to see here in Canada, therefore nobody around here is interested?). It also mystifies me how this and 1868 (again, shouldn't it be linked here?) seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill. An eclipse isn't this weird, uncommon, unheard-of phenomenon, why the big deal???!?! [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 05:29, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
: Because Eclipses are awesome. Its like a good song on the radio it passes quickly but sticks with you for days (or weeks) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.250|141.101.98.250]] 07:29, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:: Good songs on radio? I heard about these, but I doubt such mystical thing exists. As for the eclipse: I guess I'll watch the live stream. Or sleep. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:45, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
: Yes, eclipses are not too uncommon, but you still have to be lucky to experience one first hand. "Watching a live stream" of an eclipse is like watching porn: Both can be entertaining, but it's nothing like the real thing. [[User:LordHorst|LordHorst]] ([[User talk:LordHorst|talk]]) 08:52, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I've heard talk about it outside of XKCD, but I live and work in the 90% band so I think that you are correct about the local variation in how much people care.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.232|108.162.237.232]] 14:04, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:This eclipse will have a nearly 70 mile wide path of totality cross the entire continental US. The next major eclipse in the US will be in 2024, but it will cross from Mexico through the Great Lakes and New England. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.36|172.68.65.36]] 17:44, 15 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I have seen two total eclipses and I am really sad I could not fit it into my plans to be in the totality band in the US this Monday. There is no reason to watch it live streamed, you could see one of the old any time you like. It has nothing on a real Eclipse. There is no doubt in my mind that experiencing those two total eclipses are the most crazy and beautiful nature experiences I have ever had. The one you are going to see this Monday is part of a long series. Each series of eclipses reappear every 18 years 1/3 around the globe to the west. So this eclipse is the next in the series of the first I saw in Europe (I was in Hungary) in August 1999. And the one mentioned in 2024 was the one I say in 2006 in Turkey. I live in Denmark so I had to travel further for those two than most of the people in the US has to, and they even can travel domestic. Go there and have an experience of a life time. And hope that Trump do not cancel the Eclipse... See title text of both [[1302: Year in Review]] and [[1779: 2017]]... Enjoy it you lucky people living right next to the totality! ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:25, 16 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:This is the first total eclipse visible in the continental US since 1979. About half the current US population wasn't even born then. That totality was visible in a much smaller and mostly sparsely-populated part of the US. The last eclipse with totality visible near a significant percentage of the US population was in 1970. It's a pretty safe bet that >80% of the US population has never seen a total eclipse in person. So, while perhaps eclipses are an ordinary event for Canadians, the 2017 eclipse is indeed a "weird, uncommon, unheard-of phenomenon".[[Special:Contributions/162.158.78.226|162.158.78.226]] 18:17, 16 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
:: My reaction is more along the lines of the next xkcd, that it isn't mysterious or once-in-a-lifetime (except perhaps being located conveniently to see the full effects). Though come to think of it, I might never have seen an eclipse myself, or if so YEARS ago when I was young (you referenced one in 1979, maybe I saw that one). I actually wonder if it's like tornados, that we simply don't see them this far north? Really, it's just that it seems like I'm hearing a bigger deal here than makes sense. Cool experience if you can get it, but that's it. :) "Weird", no, completely normal and expected. Hell, this discussion only can exist because it's predicted. "Uncommon", certainly not. A Google search I did just now to try to see if there were any I might have seen led to a page about eclipses visible in Canada in the 20th century, which says there were something like 270. That's approaching an average of 3 per year, just from Canada, while this one seems like it won't even partially be visible to my area. "Unheard Of", definitely not. It would take an incredibly sheltered life to have not heard of eclipses, to know what they are. Sheltered with irresponsible parents. So I stand by that statement. :) [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 06:32, 18 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
[http://kron4.com/2017/08/14/eclipse-traffic-jam-may-be-greatest-in-oregon-history/ Eclipse may cause greatest traffic jam in Oregon history.] [http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article166570472.html A million out-of-state travelers expected to pack Missouri roads for solar eclipse.] [http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/08/solar_eclipse_2017_how_to_driv.html Solar eclipse 2017: How to drive during Aug. 21 eclipse.] [http://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/north-georgia-towns-brace-for-huge-crowds-for-solar-eclipse/1CNySlBBpxuN9VQKXAzTlJ/ North Georgia towns brace for huge crowds for eclipse.] There has been a lot of online activity related to the eclipse in the past few weeks. [[User:Amdir|Amdir]] ([[User talk:Amdir|talk]]) 21:38, 16 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
It is unlikely that the volume of Google searches will reach the same ultimate height as election searches do in the second graph. After all, the result is a forgone conclusion. Right? [[User:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For]] ([[User talk:These Are Not The Comments You Are Looking For|talk]]) 01:54, 20 August 2017 (UTC)<br />
<br />
Are there any usefully updated trackers of the search/in comparison to the election search? The linked WaPo article doesn't seem to include it.</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1839:_Doctor_Visit&diff=1410911839: Doctor Visit2017-06-09T20:35:37Z<p>108.162.216.28: /* Explanation */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1839<br />
| date = May 19, 2017<br />
| title = Doctor Visit<br />
| image = doctor_visit.png<br />
| titletext = According to these blood tests, you're like 30% cereal.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
[[Cueball]] is visiting his doctor [[Ponytail]], apparently for a general medical checkup.<br />
<br />
While there is nothing wrong with him medically, the doctor wonders why he has continued to work for many years despite his body parts' individual fragility. Compared to man-made structures - like the USB cables mentioned by Ponytail, which quickly begin to fray - it's surprising that the body can survive for so long while sustaining so much wear and tear. Actually the body gets stronger and more fit the more it is used (an example of antifragility[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragility]), in contrast to USB cables, which tend to wear out with use.<br />
<br />
Ponytail specifically mentions his eyes which are so fragile and exposed. Yet most people go through a whole life with both eyes intact, although the vision itself may be impaired. The human reflexes and the shape of the skull around the eyes has a lot to do with the fact that it is possible to protect such fragile structures for a lifetime.<br />
<br />
Ponytail also remarks that the body is composed of high pressure fluids (particularly blood, intracellular and extracellular fluids) and intricate parts (like the nervous system and the heart). If the fluids stopped flowing or the intricate parts stopped working, the entire body would fail, killing Cueball.<br />
<br />
It should be noted that the human body is constantly replacing dead/injured cells and proteins. In a young human body, everything in the body is continually refurbished, and nothing is able to become old enough to deteriorate unintentionally; this requires a constant supply of energy and nutrients to keep this process going. As the body ages, these self-repair mechanisms eventually slow and can no longer keep up with the required repairs; this manifests as the various symptoms of old age (wrinkled skin, graying and balding hair, worsening eyesight and hearing, etc.) and eventual death.<br />
<br />
USB cables are built to withstand far more wear and tear than the human body. But while this makes them tougher than blood vessels on the outset, they inevitably fray and fail faster than blood vessels because they lack the self-repair mechanisms of organic material.<br />
<br />
The doctor's final remark is that Cueball is mainly made from dissolved bread, which is true from the perspective that the food (bread) he eats is digested in his alimentary system, absorbed into his bloodstream and used as nutrients for growth and repair. Paleontologists use a method called isotopic analysis to determine the diets of ancient people from elements preserved in teeth and bones. Ponytail could have ordered a similar test on Cueball.<br />
<br />
This is taken further in the title text, where she states that the blood tests reveal he is 30% {{w|breakfast cereal}}. This likely comes from the widely-cited but not entirely accurate factoid that the human body is 70% water. The other 30% would then be flesh and other organic matter, or the dissolved bread the doctor described. Breakfast cereal and bread are both products of {{w|cereal}}, the edible part of a grain, making the comparison apt.<br />
<br />
All things taken into consideration, {{tvtropes|BackAlleyDoctor|we don't actually have any confirmation that Ponytail is a real doctor}}. As Randall has stated before, [[699: Trimester|anybody can just buy a lab coat]]. Although Ponytail's answer in the final panel lacks [[1644: Stargazing|the usual "I have no idea" or equivalent non-answer]], it's still somewhat possible she's a real doctor having an existential episode.<br />
<br />
Another explanation, is that Ponytail is possessed by an alien intelligence, which would explain her lack of understanding of human physiology (see https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/1541:_Voice).<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is seated on an medical examination table while Ponytail stands dressed in a doctor's coat holding a file in her right hand.]<br />
:Cueball: Everything look good?<br />
:Ponytail: I don't get how your body has been moving around for years and still works at all. My USB cables fray after like a month.<br />
<br />
:Ponytail: Your heart has been pumping for decades without pausing for even a few minutes.<br />
:Ponytail: And your ''eyes!'' They're so fragile and exposed!<br />
<br />
:[Zoom in on Cueball gazing at his palms.]<br />
:Ponytail (off-panel): You're full of all these high-pressure fluids and intricate parts that could kill you in seconds if they stopped working!<br />
<br />
:[Zoom out again to the entire scene.]<br />
:Cueball: ...can you just tell me whether I'm healthy?<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, you're fine.<br />
:Ponytail: Which is weird, given that your body is basically made from dissolved bread.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1790:_Sad&diff=134177Talk:1790: Sad2017-01-25T17:39:20Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div><!--Please sign your posts with ~~~~--><br />
<br />
My first instinct is that Ponytail is feeling despondent about politics. I am reading too much of myself into it? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.65.72|172.68.65.72]] 17:25, 25 January 2017 (UTC)<br />
The title ("Sad" - a common interjection in Trump's tweets) strengthens this argument.<br />
<br />
As does this being a problem that's been going on for the past few months. Contrary to what the explanation says, a programmer creating functions that don't do anything but return the same data back is not 'semi-common in regular life'. That and the title clearly indicate that this is about more than a programmer subverting complaints about their work. Something very bad is going on that has Ponytail, who also just happens to be a woman, depressed and angry. The election seems like the obvious thing.</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1658:_Estimating_Time&diff=1153541658: Estimating Time2016-03-21T19:05:28Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1658<br />
| date = March 21, 2016<br />
| title = Estimating Time<br />
| image = estimating_time.png<br />
| titletext = Corollary to Hofstadter's Law: Every minute you spend thinking about Hofstadter's Law is a minute you're NOT WORKING AND WILL NEVER FINISH! PAAAAAANIIIIIIC!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|First draft.}}<br />
<br />
Estimation, particularly of the size of IT projects, is difficult; many people seem to greatly underestimate the amount of time or other resources required. <br />
<br />
Ponytail is working at her computer and becomes frustrated as it seems her project will (again) take much longer than she has estimated. She is annoyed with herself for always failing to make a decent guess. [[Danish]] begins to give Ponytail advice on how to estimate the time, starting with the comforting words {{w| Phrases_from_The_Hitchhiker's_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Don.27t_Panic |Don’t panic}} and a common guideline of taking the initial estimate and doubling it. <br />
<br />
However, Danish's true personality appears (and the comic becomes self-referential) as this doubled time would now be her most realistic estimate and Danish thus tells Ponytail she should double this again, and by the way add five minutes. Unless the project to begin with was estimated to somewhat less than an hour, those five minutes will do nothing but confuse Ponytail. But Danish does not stop here, because per the first step, you could always say that your current guess is the most realistic and thus you have to double this and that and so on and so on. Ponytail still doesn’t get where this goes, saying plainly ''okay'' to that. <br />
<br />
But then it turns out that Danish was not at all trying to help, but just mess with Ponytail, as she now tells her that the only thing she has accomplished by listening to her advice is wasting half a minute doubling imaginary numbers, i.e. even her first estimate is just something she has imagined especially since she states herself how bad she is at those kind of estimates.<br />
<br />
Danish completes her frustration of Ponytail by saying ''Paaaniiic!'', negating the initial advice.<br />
<br />
The title text refers to {{w|Hofstadter's law}} which is a non-scientific self-referential time-related adage coined by {{w|Douglas Hofstadter}} and named after him. It states: ''It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.'' The title text is an extra corollary to the law, that states that using the law to estimate anything about the time your project takes is not only wasted time you could have spent working there is a substantial risk that you will conclude that you will never finish, and thus panic instead of just get the job done now.<br />
<br />
Self-reference is a [[:Category:Self-reference|recurring theme]] on xkcd and this comic is quite self-referential both in the comic but also refering to other comics especially to [[917: Hofstadter]]. He is perhaps most famous for his book {{w|Gödel, Escher, Bach}} from where the quote is taken (in a section on {{w|recursion}} and self-reference, rather than estimation). This book has been directly referenced in [[24: Godel, Escher, Kurt Halsey]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Ponytail is sitting back from her a laptop lifting her hands of the keyboard, having presumably just paused work on a project.]<br />
:Ponytail: Aaaa! I'm so bad at estimating how long projects take.<br />
<br />
:[Danish walks into the panel towards Ponytail who seems to relax back against the chair.]<br />
:Danish: Don't panic-there's a simple trick for that:<br />
:Danish: Take your most realistic estimate and double it.<br />
:Ponytail: Okay, but-<br />
<br />
:[A frame less panel with only Danish holding a hand up.]<br />
:Danish: Now double it again. Add five minutes. <br />
:Danish: Double it a third time.<br />
:Ponytail (from off panel): Okay...<br />
<br />
:[Danish raises her arms above her head in mock hysteria. Ponytail runs away from her desk screaming.]<br />
:Danish: 30 seconds have gone by and you've done nothing but double imaginary numbers! You're making no progress and will never finish!<br />
:Ponytail: <big>''Aaaaaa!''</big><br />
:Danish: ''Paaaniic!''<br />
:Ponytail: <big>''Aaaaaaa!''</big><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Danish]]<br />
[[Category:Self-reference]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=826:_Guest_Week:_Zach_Weiner_(SMBC)&diff=100072826: Guest Week: Zach Weiner (SMBC)2015-08-23T19:36:29Z<p>108.162.216.28: /* Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 826<br />
| date = November 26, 2010<br />
| title = Guest Week: Zach Weiner (SMBC)<br />
| before = ''Explainxkcd note: Don't try and click on this image to see the exhibits. Visit [http://www.xkcd.com/826/ the actual comic] instead''<br />
| image = guest week zach weiner smbc.png<br />
| titletext = Guest comic by Zach Weiner of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. When I was stressed out, Zach gave me a talk that was really encouraging and somehow involved nanobots.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
__TOC__<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This comic is drawn by a guest webcomic artist, Zach Weiner, following the theme of "Guest Week". Zach is the author of the webcomic [http://www.smbc-comics.com/ Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal]. The [http://www.xkcd.com/826/ original comic] is interactive. It will show images of the exibits (see below) by clicking on them.<br />
<br />
The entire comic is a hypothetical "{{w|Smithsonian Museum}} of Dad-Trolling, an entire building dedicated to deceiving children for amusement." It is an common occurrence that curious children will ask simple questions about science to their parents, such as, "Daddy, why is the sky blue?" and a parent could respond, "Well Susie, the sky is blue to match your dress."<br />
<br />
''Guest Week'' was a series of five comics written by five other comic authors. They were released over five consecutive days (Monday-Friday); not over the usual Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule.<br><br />
The five comics are:<br />
*[[822: Guest Week: Jeph Jacques (Questionable Content)]]<br />
*[[823: Guest Week: David Troupes (Buttercup Festival)]]<br />
*[[824: Guest Week: Bill Amend (FoxTrot)]]<br />
*[[825: Guest Week: Jeffrey Rowland (Overcompensating)]]<br />
*[[826: Guest Week: Zach Weiner (SMBC)]]<br />
<br />
<br />
===Hall of Misunderstood Science===<br />
Each exhibit is a display set up to reinforce the false, sarcastic, or exaggerated answers to typical questions that children may ask their parents about scientific topics. The answers given involve just enough information that the child may be satisfied with the answer and repeat it to others while maintaining the irony for adults that the answers are obviously misleading or false. These explanations may be given because the parent does not know how to explain the topic.<br />
<br />
<gallery widths=432px heights=285px><br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_27.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that basilisks exist, and that they live under your bed. The basilisk is a mythological reptilian monster that was described as having the ability to turn other living things to stone with its gaze. This story might be believed by children because children often imagine that a monster or a dangerous creature is hiding under the bed at night, and verifying that the basilisk is under the bed might turn the child to stone. <br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_26.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that "In my day" molecules did not exist, and everything was just atoms. Molecules are chains of atoms, and therefore more complex than atoms. This story might be believed by children because old people often tell unbelievable and questionably credible "In my day" stories about how different, or in this case less complicated, things when they where younger. This story may sound no less credible then these stories to a child. Like most "In my day" stories there is at least a grain of truth. The word atom has changed its meaning over time; at one time all discovered molecules were called {{w|atomism|atoms}}, as when they were modified their properties change. Also, according to the {{w|Big Bang}} theory, there was a period billions of years ago when the universe contained no molecules, yet still contained atoms.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_25.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that magnets are only attracted to each other when they are teenagers. This is a inside joke that the child is not in on about how there is a loss of sexual desire in adults. This story might be believed because magnets are seen as mysterious and possibly magical by children.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_24.png|In this exhibit the plaque on the statue of Jesus claims that {{w|snow}} is composed of Jesus' {{w|dandruff}}. This story might be believed because some children take the expression that {{w|rain}} is "God's tears", and this would be a logical extension.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_20.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that the reason that there are only four components of {{w|DNA}} is because there where only four letters back then. The following letters describe the {{w|nucleotides}} that make up DNA chains: "G" {{w|guanine}}, "A" {{w|adenine}}, "T" {{w|thymine}}, and "C" {{w|cytosine}}. This story might be believed by children as DNA can be thought as an instruction set to build life. Instructions contain words, and therefore the letters G, A, T, and C can be thought of as the letters that the words in the instructions are made from.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_23.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that you are more vulnerable to the {{w|Bogeyman|boogie man}} when you are sleeping. "The Boogie Man" is a common legend used to scare young kids; he typically hides in closets and underneath beds, and attacks sleeping children. This story might be believed by children as some believe in the boogie man.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_22.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that water increases its size to frighten {{w|predator|predators}}. {{w|Ice}} is less dense than liquid {{w|water}}. This is an unusual property as most materials are more dense in solid form. This might be believed by a child because many animals appear to increase their size to frighten away other threatening animals. A {{w|rhinoceros}}, although not traditionally a predator, would be a predator of water.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_21.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that {{w|antimatter|anti-matter}} is composed of half ant and half matter. The prefix anti means "the opposite of", but sounds similar to the word ant. This story might be believed by children because a hyphen is often used to combine two words together with different meanings to create a word with the meaning of both. Combining the words ants and matter could produce a word meaning something composed of both ants and matter.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
===Regrettable Pranks: An Interactive Experience===<br />
This section holds falsehoods that a dad might use to frighten his children. Fear is often used to discourage children from disobeying their parents. It is an interactive experience, so visitors can try something for themselves, then learn the frightening fact it indicates.<br />
<br />
<gallery class=center widths=432px heights=285px><br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_19.png|In this exhibit the sign claims that helium makes your voice higher because you are about to explode. Helium makes your voice high-pitched, because sound travels faster in helium than in air (79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen), and it does not explode because it is a noble gas; although it could rupture containers in accordance with the {{w|combined gas law}}, which governs the relationship between pressure, temperature and volume: i.e. if a balloon is over-inflated or exposed to heat, it will burst. This story might be used by parents to discourage children from inhaling helium. This story might regrettably convince a child that they are dying after they inhale helium. On the other hand it can be dangerous to inhale helium from a gas container if the pressure is too high. So maybe better scared than dead.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_18.png|In this exhibit the sign claims that if your middle finger is longer than all the others, you are an alien half-breed. For almost all people the middle finger is longer than all the others. This story might be used by parents to tease their children. This story might regrettably convince a child that one of their parents is a alien, and therefore not to be trusted.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_16.png|In this exhibit the sign claims that one of the cups of {{w|Jell-O|Jello}} had a rabbit brain instead of a cherry. Cherries are a common ingredient in gelatin based deserts. One cup is missing and in the hands of the child, possibly eaten. This story might be used by parents to tease their children, or discourage them from eating more dessert. This story might regrettably convince a child that they ate the brain of a small cute fluffy animal.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_17.png|In this exhibit the sign claims that monsters will eat you if you do not make your bed. In some stories monsters specifically prey on children. This story might be used by parents to encourage children to make their beds. This story might regrettably convince a child that there are monsters under their beds and frighten them so they can not sleep.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
===Concessions===<br />
This area holds concession stands, which sell food. There are misleading names on each stand. The pop-outs in this section are based on jokes parents tell their children to frighten them about food.<br />
<br />
<gallery class=center widths=432px heights=285px><br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_15.png|In this exhibit the marquee announces the name of the concession stand as KFP. The parent claims that the "P" stands for phoenix, and the operator adds "also ponies". KFP is a parody of Kentucky Fried Chicken ({{w|KFC}}), a popular fast food chain which specializes in fried chicken. A phoenix is a mythical bird that throws it self into a fire and later rises from the ashes. This story might be believed by children because phoenixes are birds and a fried one may look similar to a chicken. It could be even worse for many My Little Pony fans if they believed they just ate a pony.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_14.png|In this exhibit the marquee announces that the concession stand sells {{w|ground beef}} and further enplanes that ground beef is beef that is found on the ground. The word "ground" here refers to the floor or dirt, but can also be the past tense of the word "grind". This story might be believed by children because the words are spelled and pronounced the same.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_13.png|In this exhibit the marquee announces that the concession stand sells {{w|ice cream}} and claims that ice cream is really spelled eyes cream, and always composed of eyeballs. This story might be believed by children because the words "eyes cream" sounds similar to "ice cream".<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
===Conservatory of Poorly Remembered History===<br />
Each exhibit is a display set up to reinforce the false, sarcastic, or exaggerated answers to typical questions that children may ask their parents about history. The answers given involve just enough information that the child may be satisfied with the answer and repeat it to others while maintaining the irony for adults that the answers are obviously misleading or false. These explanations may be given because the parent does not know how to explain the topic.<br />
<br />
<gallery class=center widths=432px heights=285px><br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_11.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that {{w|Genghis Khan}} achieved his victories by using dragons. Genghis Khan was a Mongolian conqueror who conquered almost all of Asia and much of Europe founding the {{w|Mongol Empire}}, and creating the largest continuous land empire in history. This story might be believed by children because some children associate magical and other fantastic elements with the past instead of fantasy.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_12.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that the {{w|Crimean War}} was a war on crime. The Crimean War is an often forgotten Eastern European conflict between Russia and a European coalition with aims to stop Russia's expansion. This story might be believed by children because adding an "a" to a people group sometimes is used to create a country name, making Crimea sounds similar to a nation of criminals. Also worth noting is that the criminal depicted in the mural appears to the {{w|The Hamburgler}}, a McDonalds mascot. <br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_10.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that wizards where in control during {{w|The Renaissance}}. The Renaissance is a cultural movement in Europe that took place after the Dark ages. This story might be believed by children because some children associate magical and other fantastic elements with the past instead of fantasy.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_3.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that {{w|Star Wars}} is actual history. Star Wars is a fantastical science fiction movie. This story might be believed by children because the movie begins "a long time ago in a galaxy far away", and some children associate magical and other fantastic elements with the past instead of fantasy.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_9.png|In this exhibit the poster claims that {{w|France}} does not exist. The adult in the comic continues to attempt to convince the children that France does not exist. This is supposed to be funny because the knowledge of France as a country is common. This may be parodying the global warming debate, a common theme in both XKCD and SMBC.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
===Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics===<br />
Each exhibit is a display set up to explain uncomfortable topics that children may ask their parents about. The answers given so that the children do not ask further questions.<br />
<br />
<gallery class=center widths=432px heights=285px><br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_8.png|In this exhibit the sign on the box covering up a couple in bed claims that naked wrestling is perfectly normal, but kids should never engage in it. "Naked wrestling" is a euphemism for sex. A parent may give this explanation if a child walks in on their parents having sex and they have to come up with an explanation on the spot, or they feel that the children are too young to know about sex.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_7.png|In this exhibit the sign over the stand claims your parents drink alcohol to prevent you from drinking it as alcohol is a poison. This is technically true, as alcohol is a toxin. A parent may give this explanation to a child who asks their parents why they drink alcohol if it is bad for you, and did not want to explain the pleasurable experience of alcohol because it might encourage children to drink.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_5.png|In this exhibit the banner claims that mommies have big tummies because storks like chubby girls. According to some childhood stories storks deliver babies. Also, there are men who prefer heavy women; these men are often called chubby chasers. A parent may give this explanation to a child who asks why, if a stork delivers babies, their mother is changing while she is pregnant, and the parent continues to try to avoid the topic of sex.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_6.png|In this exhibit the sign claims that grandma did not die, but is going back to Saturn. Some parents tell their children that their loved ones have gone away instead of telling them the truth, that their loved ones are dead. Going to Saturn "for revenge" is added for comic value. A parent may give this explanation to a avoid causing their child pain.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
===Miscellaneous===<br />
<gallery class=center widths=432px heights=285px><br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_4.png|In this exhibit the marquee claims that {{w|dinosaur|dinosaurs}} are made of bones only. The fossil record includes the imprints of the other tissues of dinosaurs including skin, nails, teeth, and feathers. This story might be believed by children because the majority of all displays of dinosaurs in museums only include bones.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_2.png|The restrooms have 3 doors. Clicking reveals that there the two standard gendered restrooms found in the majority of public buildings, and another one for "Korgmen & Spangs" which does not correspond to any known human trait. This is most likely a reference to the Marvel alien species {{w|Korg_(comics)|the Korg}}.<br />
<br />
File:guest_comic_week_zach_weiner_smbc_1.png|In this exhibit the sign (which the children can not see) explains that the "{{w|Magic Eye}} poster" contains no hidden images. Magic Eye is a company that sells {{w|autostereogram}}s in books. Autostereograms contain a "hidden" three-dimensional image that can only be seen by focusing one's eyes at a point other than the poster itself. This takes time and many people find it difficult or impossible to do.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:In the spirit of xkcd I present a proposal for a new Smithsonian museum:<br />
:The Smithsonian Museum Of Dad-Trolling<br />
:An entire building dedicated to deceiving children for amusement<br />
<br />
:(Click to view exhibits!)<br />
<br />
:The top left room is 'The Hall of Misunderstood Science'. It contains six exhibits.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A giant basilisk looms over children.<br />
:Exhibit label: BASILISKS: Real, deadly, under your bed.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: Four magnets hang from a square arch. A child is touching two of them together.<br />
:Text on the arch: Magnets only leap at each other when they're teenagers. Later, they lose interest.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A child on his dad's shoulders looks up at a looming statue of Jesus behind a lectern. There are flakes falling from Jesus onto them both.<br />
:Exhibit label: Snow is Jesus' dandruff. His scalp gets dry when it's cold.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A child lies asleep, while hands and a scary face reach up around the bed toward him.<br />
:Exhibit label: Sleep: Now you're vulnerable to the boogie man!<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: An ice block sits on a stand in front of pictures of a wolf and rhinoceros looking frightened.<br />
:Exhibit label: Freezing water: Expands to frighten predators.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: An insect on a stick is orbited by a small sphere.<br />
:Exhibit label: Anti-matter: Matter that is more than 50% ants.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A DNA strand with the letters T, A, C, and G hanging around it.<br />
:Exhibit label: DNA only has four letters because the alphabet was smaller back then.<br />
:Dad, to child: Told you so.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A bunch of molecules hang from the ceiling.<br />
:Exhibit label: Molecules? In my day, we only had atoms!<br />
<br />
:The top right room is 'Regrettable Pranks: An Interactive Experience'. There are four exhibits.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: Five balloons float tethered to a table. A child is holding a sixth balloon. The Dad looks alarmed.<br />
:Sign on exhibit: If this helium makes your voice go higher, it's because you're ten seconds from exploding.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: An alien face is shown above an outline of several hands next to a ruler. A child holds his hand up to it.<br />
:Sign on exhibit: Measure your middle finger. If it's longer than the others, you're an alien halfbreed.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: Three cups are on a table. A child is walking away with a fourth cup, the dad's arm around the child's shoulder.<br />
:Exhibit label: Has anyone seen my rabbit brain? It looks like a cherry, and I dropped it in a Jello cup.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A monstrous set of jaws open upward around a bed.<br />
:Sign on exhibit: Make your bed or monsters will know a kid lives there.<br />
<br />
:The center right room is 'Concessions'. There are three booths.<br />
<br />
:Booth: A concession stand is labeled 'KFP', and displays a KFC-style bucket. A dad and child are eating.<br />
:Dad: The "P" is for "phoenix".<br />
<br />
:Booth: A concession stand.<br />
:Sign on stand: Ground beef: Beef we found on the ground.<br />
:Dad, to child: Told you.<br />
<br />
:Booth: A stand shaped like a giant eye.<br />
:Booth label: EYES CREAM<br />
:Subtitle: How did you think it was spelled?<br />
:Sign on booth: Now with more of the goo in your eyes. Same as every other creamery.<br />
<br />
:The lower left room is 'Conservatory of Poorly Remembered History'. There are five exhibits.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A man is riding a dragon.<br />
:Exhibit label: Genghis Khan: victory through dragons.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A criminal in front of some windows.<br />
:Exhibit label: The Crimean War: The first war against crime.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A castle with flags hanging on it.<br />
:Exhibit label: The Renaissance<br />
:Subtitle: Long story short, the wizards were in control.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit:A man in Jedi-style robes with a fake beard.<br />
:Exhibit label: Star Wars is a documentary. No, seriously.<br />
:Dad, to children: Kids, this man is a veteran.<br />
<br />
:The lower right room is 'Rotunda of Uncomfortable Topics'. There are five exhibits.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A wrestling ring, with a man and woman mostly obscured by the exhibit label.<br />
:Exhibit label: Naked wrestling: perfectly normal. NEVER DO IT.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: a figure sits at a booth in front of a bowl of food. The dad is holding a bottle.<br />
:Exhibit label: Alcohol is poison. I drink to save you from it.<br />
:Dad: You're welcome.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A large bird.<br />
:Exhibit label: Mommies get big tummies before babies come because the stork likes chubby girls.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A rocket ship.<br />
:Sign on exhibit: Grandma's not dead. She just returned to Saturn. For REVENGE.<br />
<br />
:In the areas outside the rooms, there are two more exhibits and restrooms, all clickable.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A dinosaur skeleton.<br />
:Exhibit label: That's right. Dinosaurs were made entirely of BONES.<br />
:Dad, to kid: If you think about it, it makes sense.<br />
<br />
:Exhibit: A large image hangs on the wall. It is a dense squiggly jumble of lines.<br />
:Dad, to kids: You gotta squint juuust right.<br />
:Sign on exhibit: Magic eye trick that doesn't actually work.<br />
<br />
:Restrooms: There are three doors, each with a sign.<br />
:First door (male logo): Men & Boys<br />
:Second door (female logo): Women & Girls<br />
:Third door (unrecognizable logo): Korgmen & Spangs<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cory Doctorow]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Ferret]]<br />
[[Category:Guest Week]]<br />
[[Category:Interactive comics]]<br />
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]<br />
[[Category:LOTR]]<br />
[[Category:Religion]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]<br />
[[Category:Star Wars]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=820:_Five-Minute_Comics:_Part_2&diff=100070820: Five-Minute Comics: Part 22015-08-23T19:04:07Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 820<br />
| date = November 17, 2010<br />
| title = Five-Minute Comics: Part 2<br />
| image = five_minute_comics_part_2.png<br />
| titletext = Dear Wiccan readers: I understand modern Wiccans are not usually all about the curses and hexes. But Darth Vader was recently converted from Episcopalianism and he's still figuring it all out.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is the second of three "five-minute comics" posts Randall made during November 2010. The introduction to the comic explains everything you need to know about the circumstances behind it.<br />
<br />
*The first comic pokes fun at improbable conspiracy theories. {{w|Dealey Plaza#Grassy knoll|The grassy knoll}} is a location famous among conspiracy theorists who believe it to be the location of an unknown accomplice in the {{w|assassination of John F. Kennedy}}.<br />
:It turns out that, somehow, this will all lead up to a theory that perfectly explains the {{w|September 11 attacks}}.<br />
<br />
*When a woman described as having a "glow" about them, it's usually just a vague sentiment of attractiveness, specifically during pregnancy, which very suddenly reaches its conclusion as a baby is unceremoniously plopped into the world.<br />
<br />
*"{{w|Cogito ergo sum}}" is philosophical statement in Latin, formulated by {{w|René Descartes}}, translated as "I think, therefore I am". Descartes wanted to build a philosophy from scratch, starting with something he could be absolutely certain of. "Cogito ergo cogito", is Latin for "I think, therefore I think." This can even beat "cogito ergo sum" in uncontroversiality; it is a {{w|tautology}}, which is why Cueball describes it as "playing it safe."<br />
<br />
*The comic on the far right is a reference to {{w|trick or treating}}, a major part of the modern {{w|Halloween}} holiday. Children go from door to door saying, "Trick or treat?". The ''trick'' is a non-serious threat to play a trick on the person if no treat is provided (but see also {{w|Mischief Night}}). Normally, the person at the home then gives them candy (a ''treat'') as a response. Here, Megan instead plays a trick ''on them'', magically filling one of the candy bags with blood.<br />
<br />
*To bail out of a plane means to escape the plane, usually via the cockpit's eject mechanism. To bail out a boat means to manually drain water coming onto the ship with buckets. The pilots here have confused the two, although if a plane was somehow taking on a large amount of water, bailing out that water would be a reasonable course of action.<br />
<br />
*Sometimes, TV shows will tell true stories while playing up the drama angle for ratings purposes. In these cases, they will often air a notice similar to "The following program is a dramatization of real events" before the show, to indicate that the story they're about to tell is true, albeit not as a literally accurate retelling of events. But how do your dramatize the utterly mundane - say, making a sandwich? The answer is screaming. Senseless, inexplicable screaming.<br />
<br />
*{{w|Black light}}s are a kind of lamp that filters out sub-purple light. This means that the only light it gives off is a small amount of purple light, plus plenty of ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet light is invisible to humans, but it is noticeable in a few ways; it hurts the eyes, which is why it's hard to focus on things under a black light; it causes sunburns, although the amount given off by a black light is far too insignificant to do this in a realistic time; and it causes a fluorescence reaction in some some food stains and dust making them appear to glow, which is why the robes look dirty. As such, a "{{w|Lightsaber|blacklightsaber}}" would, indeed, be a bad idea.<br />
**It also causes a fluorescent reaction in several types of cloth - which is why it has been used in discotheques, because of the way people in white t-shirts will light up.<br />
<br />
*Most judicial systems have a {{w|jury}}, a panel of impartial laymen that, primarily, determines the guilt or innocence of a suspected criminal. "Ladies and gentlemen" is a formal way of addressing a crowd, and so Cueball addresses the jury as "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury."<br />
:However, it turns out the jury consists only of women, so the "gentlemen" part is not needed. This poses a problem to Cueball's defense, which apparently relied on somewhat sexist tactics. This, sadly, is not too uncommon in real life.<br />
<br />
*The commander's first line is a line from ''{{w|Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope}}''. In the original film, the commander was cut off by {{w|Darth Vader}} using {{w|Force_(Star_Wars)|the Force}} to strangle him, delivering the rebuttal "I find your lack of faith disturbing."<br />
:Instead of belief in the Force as in the movie, the "ancient religion" referred to here is actually {{w|Wicca}}, a modern pagan religion with two deities that is most notable for practicing magic. So, naturally, Darth Vader puts a hex on the commander's family.<br />
:The title text notes that modern Wiccans don't really practice the whole "putting hexes on people" thing, which is true. Episcopalianism probably refers to the {{w|Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church of the United States}}, which was founded during the American Revolution to replace the Church of England in the colonies.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Because of a family illness, instead of regular comics, this week I'll be sharing some strips that I drew as part of a game I played with friends. Each comic had to be written and drawn in five minutes.<br />
<br />
:--Randall<br />
<br />
====Comic #1====<br />
:[A ninja is hiding under a diving board as a man runs along it.]<br />
<br />
:[The man jumps on the end of the board and hits the ninja in the head, knocking him into the pool.]<br />
<br />
:[The ninja floats in the water. A bullet passes through the man's head.]<br />
:''thwipp''<br />
<br />
:[The man is lying bleeding on the diving board, the ninja is still unconscious on the pool.]<br />
<br />
:[A sniper is at the top of a hill. The sign in front of the hill says "Grassy Knoll".]<br />
<br />
:[Someone is pointing at the diagram of the previous panel.]<br />
:Off-panel voice: Wait, so ''what'' does this have to do with 9/11, again?<br />
:Cueball: I ''said'' I'm getting there!<br />
<br />
====Comic #2====<br />
:[Cueball is studying Megan.]<br />
:Cueball: You look different.<br />
<br />
:Cueball: You have this... <u>glow</u> about you.<br />
<br />
:[They stare in silence.]<br />
<br />
:[A baby falls out of Megan.]<br />
:''plop''<br />
<br />
====Comic #3====<br />
:Megan: Cogito ergo cogito.<br />
:Off-panel voice: Playing it safe, huh?<br />
<br />
====Comic #4====<br />
:[Two children dressed up as ghosts are standing in front of Megan at a door, each carrying a bag.]<br />
:Children: Trick or treat!<br />
<br />
:[Megan doesn't move.]<br />
<br />
:Child: Um hi. Why are you just standing there?<br />
:Other Child: Candy?<br />
<br />
:[Another silent panel as the children stare up at Megan.]<br />
<br />
:[The second child looks in their bag.]<br />
:Other Child: Oh God, my bag of candy.<br />
<br />
:Other Child: It's filling with blood.<br />
:Child: We should go.<br />
<br />
====Comic #5====<br />
:[A jet is flying across the panel.]<br />
:Pilot: Bail out! Bail out! Bail out!<br />
<br />
:[The pilot and copilot have buckets, and are bailing water out of the cockpit.]<br />
<br />
====Comic #6====<br />
:The following is a dramatization of real events.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is at a counter, with several jars.]<br />
:Cueball: AAAAAAAAAAAAA I'm making a sandwich! AAAAAAAAAA!<br />
<br />
====Comic #7====<br />
:[Two people are carrying lightsabers and wearing robes.]<br />
:Cueball: Oh God, my eyes won't focus right! And your robe looks... really dirty!<br />
:My blacklightsaber was not a success.<br />
<br />
====Comic #8====<br />
:[Cueball is standing.]<br />
:Cueball: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury...<br />
:Off-screen voice: It seems we happen to be all ladies, actually.<br />
:Cueball: ...in that case, this defense is going to appear <u>extremely</u> ill-advised.<br />
<br />
====Comic #9====<br />
:[Darth Vader is sitting between two people, at a table.]<br />
:Cueball: Your sad devotion to that ancient religion hasn't helped you conjur up the stolen data tapes, or given you—<br />
:Darth Vader: ''HEY.'' Wicca is a legitimate belief system!<br />
<br />
:[Darth Vader is drawing a pentagram on the table.]<br />
:Cueball: What are you—<br />
:Darth Vader: Putting a <u>hex</u> on your family.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Five-minute comics]]<br />
[[Category:Philosophy]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Star Wars]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=451:_Impostor&diff=99859451: Impostor2015-08-19T15:28:51Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 451<br />
| date = July 18, 2008<br />
| title = Impostor<br />
| image = impostor.png <br />
| titletext = If you think this is too hard on literary criticism, read the Wikipedia article on deconstruction.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
While the comic is ostensibly about grad students, it is really [[Randall]]'s way of poking fun at different fields. Given that engineers can detect his {{w|bullshit|bullshit}} quickly suggests he regards engineering with some respect. In other words, he thinks engineering has a low {{w|Bollocks#.22Talking_bollocks.22_and_.22Bollockspeak.22|bullshit quotient}}. Similarly with linguists. He clearly thinks less of sociology, since his bullshit can go undetected for considerably longer. And the field of "Literary Criticism" is something he considers mostly, or entirely, BS, since he claims his BS has repeatedly been published.<br />
<br />
The first panel shows [[Cueball]] discussing an engineering problem with [[Ponytail]]. {{w|logarithm|Logarithms}} are a mathematical tool used for expressing an exponential relationship as a linear one. While this has many uses in a variety of fields, it is not a suitable tool for dissipating excess heat{{Citation needed}}. It might have value in plotting temperature change over time, or temperature over distance, however.<br />
<br />
Since {{w|Klingon language|Klingon}} is a constructed language designed to sound "alien" and which explicitly avoids sounding like any human language, it cannot be part of any real-world linguistic family. Any linguist who knows what a Klingon is would instantly recognize his statement as a joke, so the detection time should be only a few seconds. His assertion that his bullshit went undetected for over a minute either suggests he does not expect linguists to be familiar with Star Trek, or that the panels indicate the moment of detection rather than the beginning of the conversation.<br />
<br />
The third panel is a bit more subtle. While {{w|sociology}} can certainly use ranking as an analytical tool, the trouble lies in the complete lack of meaning in the tags "best" and "worst". Detecting this as BS requires a bit more effort on the part of the sociology grad students.<br />
<br />
Literary criticism, on the other hand, is almost completely written in {{w|buzzword|buzz words}} and {{w|jargon}}, so when Cueball only tells some BS, no one notices. His quip at "deconstructing the self" may be a veiled insult at how the field itself, when analyzed, makes no sense and is pure BS. His assertion that he published 8 papers and 2 books could also be his way of saying that he doesn't believe anyone actually reads any of the stuff published in the field, and/or that the people who would read it are credulous and inept enough to not notice it's garbage.<br />
<br />
The title text challenges the lenient, forgiving souls in the audience to take a look at {{w|deconstruction|the Wikipedia article for literary deconstruction}} and attempt to understand just what the heck the article is trying to talk about. The article in question is almost constantly flagged for "cleanup" on the grounds that it's a jumbled mess.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:My Hobby: Sitting down with grad students and timing how long it takes them to figure out that I'm not actually an expert in their field.<br />
<br />
:Engineering:<br />
:Student: Our big problem is heat dissipation<br />
:Cueball: Have you tried logarithms?<br />
:48 seconds<br />
<br />
:Linguistics:<br />
:Cueball: Ah, so does this Finno-ugric family include, say, Klingon?<br />
:63 Seconds<br />
<br />
:Sociology:<br />
:Cueball: Yeah, my latest work is on ranking people from best to worst.<br />
:4 Minutes<br />
<br />
:Literary Criticism:<br />
:Cueball: You see, the deconstruction is inextricable from not only the text, but also the self.<br />
:Eight papers and two books and they haven't caught on.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:My Hobby]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:246:_Labyrinth_Puzzle&diff=71261Talk:246: Labyrinth Puzzle2014-07-09T15:12:32Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>Just ask which color is the sky.. {{unsigned|175.110.37.200}}<br />
:Oh, although the strip doesn't explicitly say so; in those riddles you can normally only ask one question. --[[User:St.nerol|St.nerol]] ([[User talk:St.nerol|talk]]) 23:00, 27 January 2013 (UTC)<br />
::There's another (more traditional) three-guard variation where one guard always tells the truth, one guard always tells a lie and the third alternates between pure truth and pure lie (and you don't know which flip they're currently flopped upon). But you ''still'' only get to ask one question of one guard. Have fun with that one. My personal solution certainly has a degree of convolution, but I've heard other workable answers. [[Special:Contributions/178.98.31.27|178.98.31.27]] 02:24, 21 June 2013 (UTC)<br />
:::@175.110.37.200, you would know which one lies but you would not know which door leads out. [[User:Tharkon|Tharkon]] ([[User talk:Tharkon|talk]]) 23:13, 10 October 2013 (UTC)<br />
::::Eh, well, even if you had a perfect question to ask in this case, a lot of good would that do you: it'd only reveal the truth behind the setup, that ''none'' of the doors lead out. :p -- [[Special:Contributions/173.245.51.210|173.245.51.210]] 08:20, 8 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
:::::Well yes it says that in the title-text. But good pick-up. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.58|108.162.219.58]] 02:31, 6 February 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
One question, of one guard. I really like the original form of this riddle. It's a bit of a trick, though. It is crucial that the guards "know" each other's rules, but this is not even implied. And if it was stated in the question, that would probably be a good enough clue to get you to the answer. Of course, once you know the answer it seems trivial, but I wonder what percentage of people actually worked it out for themselves? Another good one is Monty Hall, even though that is pure, straightforward probability. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 18:11, 17 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
:I think somebody needs a hug! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 18:11, 17 January 2014 (UTC)<br />
<br />
The whole problem with this entire riddle is that if they are both liars you are screwed! Nothing in the riddle establishes a fact that they aren't liars. Now if there was a known truth teller in the riddle that explains the nature of the guards or the narrator does it, then the above solution works.</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=739:_Malamanteau&diff=63413739: Malamanteau2014-03-26T20:19:06Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 739<br />
| date = May 12, 2010<br />
| title = Malamanteau<br />
| image = malamanteau.png<br />
| titletext = The article has twenty-three citations, one of which is an obscure manuscript from the 1490s and the other twenty-two are arguments on LanguageLog.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|The title text is more or less unreferenced. Although there are links to LanguageLog there is no explanation of what this is or why this is funny}}<br />
This comic is a reference to the large number of Wikipedia pages that start by labeling their subject matter as a "malapropism", a "portmanteau", or a "neologism". A {{w|malapropism}} is the use of an incorrect word in place of a word with a similar sound, resulting in a nonsensical utterance. An example is {{w|Yogi Berra}}'s statement: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes," rather than "electoral votes". A {{w|portmanteau}} is a word made-up of two or more combined words and their definitions. For example, motel is a portmanteau, from the words motor and hotel. A {{w|neologism}} is simply a newly-coined word that is not yet in common use. <br />
<br />
Here, Randall uses the word "malamanteau" which is both a portmanteau of "malapropism" and "portmanteau" and a malapropism of "portmanteau". Finally, "malamanteau" is itself a neologism. The methods used to create this new word are the very words used in the process. This is called a meta or “self-referential” joke.<br />
<br />
"Malamanteau" was originally coined in 2007, when it was proposed by user [http://www.metafilter.com/user/17900 ludwig_van] on [http://www.metafilter.com Metafilter] as a term for language errors like "flustrated" (flustered & frustrated) and "misconscrewed" (misconstrued & screwed). [http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=2758 Malamanteau] did not appear on [http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/ LanguageLog] until after this strip.<br />
<br />
In response to this comic, editors at Wikipedia created a malamanteau page. It was deleted multiple times and eventually turned into a redirect to the Wikipedia page for {{w|xkcd}}. Malamanteau and the controversy at Wikipedia got coverage at ''The Economist'' and ''The Boston Globe''.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[The strip is set up as the top of a Wikipedia page.]<br />
:[The Wikipedia logo.]<br />
:Wikipedia<br />
:The free encyclopedia<br />
:[Side navigation options.]<br />
:Navigation<br />
:-Main Page<br />
:-Contents<br />
:-Featured Content<br />
:-Current Events<br />
:[Wikipedia header options.]<br />
:Article Discussion Edit this page History<br />
:[The article itself.]<br />
:Malamanteau<br />
:From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br />
:A malamanteau is a neologism for a portmanteau created by incorrectly combining a malapropism with a neologism. It is itself a portmanteau of [...the article cuts off.]<br />
:[Below the panel.]<br />
:Ever notice how Wikipedia has a few words it ''really'' likes?<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*[http://wiki.xkcd.com/irc/Malamanteau Malamanteau] at the official xkcd wiki<br />
*[http://malamanteaus.blogspot.com/ Malamanteaus], a blog dedicated to the creation and proliferation of malananteaux<br />
*[http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Malamanteau Malamanteau] at urbandictionary.com<br />
*[http://wordsquirt.com/Word/View/Malamanteau/dbb34d48-e565-4012-bcc8-56718f351712 Malamanteau] at wordsquirt.com<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
*[http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/index.php?s=malamanteau Entries referencing "malamanteau"] at LanguageLog.com<br />
*Malamanteau Talk Page Archives [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3AMalamanteau/Archive_1 1][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Malamanteau/Archive_2 2] at Wikipedia.com<br />
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Malamanteau Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Malamanteau]<br />
*[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Malamanteau_page_history.jpg Screen capture] of the deleted history for the "Malamanteau" page from Wikipedia<br />
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Log&page=Malamanteau Wikipedia Log for "Malamanteau"]<br />
*Beutler, William (May 5, 2010) "[http://thewikipedian.net/2010/05/18/much-ado-about-malamanteau/ Much Ado About Malamanteau]". ''The Wikipedian''<br />
*McKean, Erin (May 30, 2010) "[http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/05/30/one_day_wonder/ One Day Wonder]". ''The Boston Globe''<br />
*R.L.G (Nov 4th 2010) "[http://www.economist.com/blogs/johnson/2010/11/neologisms Eggcorn, mashup, malamanteau or other?]". ''The Economonist''<br />
*July 17, 2007 "[http://ask.metafilter.com/67192/How-to-define-this-language-mistake How to define this language mistake?]" - MetaFilter thread with the first usage<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Wikipedia]]<br />
[[Category:CC-BY-SA comics]]<br />
[[Category:Portmanteau]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=704:_Principle_of_Explosion&diff=62767704: Principle of Explosion2014-03-15T22:30:33Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 704<br />
| date = February 19, 2010<br />
| title = Principle of Explosion<br />
| image = principle_of_explosion.png<br />
| titletext = You want me to pick up waffle cones? Oh, right, for the wine. One sec, let me just derive your son's credit card number and I'll be on my way.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|No explanation of the title-text.}}<br />
[[Cueball]] explains the {{w|principle of explosion}}, a classical law of logic, that says that if you start out with premises ({{w|axiom}}s) that are contradictory, it is possible to derive (prove) any statement in the language you are working in, true or false. (In math for example, if you assume that √2 is a rational number, you can prove things that are obviously false. Consequently you draw the conclusion that √2 is an irrational number. This is how {{w|proof by contradiction}} works.)<br />
<br />
His friend misinterprets this to mean that you can derive any fact about the physical world. He starts with a formula of {{w|propositional logic}} that says "P and not-P", where P is a proposition. To say that P is both true and false is a contradiction, it's false regardless of whether P is true or false. To Cueball's bewilderment he then successfully derives his mom's phone number. His mom turns out to be [[Miss Lenhart]] (now a Mrs?), and to his vexation she asks his friend out.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball is talking to his friend.]<br />
:Cueball: If you assume contradictory axioms, you can derive anything. It's called the principle of explosion.<br />
:Friend: ''Anything?'' Lemme try.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball's friend is writing on a piece of paper on a desk.]<br />
<br />
:[Cueball's friend is holding up a piece of paper to Cueball, while holding a phone.]<br />
:Friend: Hey, you're right! I started with '''P∧<sup>¬</sup>P''' and derived your mom's phone number!<br />
:Cueball: That's not how that works.<br />
<br />
:[Cueball is looking at the piece of paper, while his friend is talking to someone on a phone.]<br />
:Friend: Mrs. Lenhart?<br />
:Cueball: Wait, this ''is'' her number! How—<br />
:Friend: Hi, I'm a friend of— Why, yes, I ''am'' free tonight!<br />
:Cueball: ''Mom!''<br />
:Friend: No, box wine sounds lovely!<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Miss Lenhart]]<br />
[[Category:Math]]<br />
[[Category:Logic]]<br />
[[Category:Your Mom]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1007:_Sustainable&diff=627391007: Sustainable2014-03-14T20:48:06Z<p>108.162.216.28: Undo revision 62738 by 108.162.216.28 (talk) - actually, no, never mind.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1007<br />
| date = January 23, 2012<br />
| title = Sustainable<br />
| image = sustainable.png<br />
| titletext = Though 100 years is longer than a lot of our resources.<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is a graph of the usage of the word "Sustainable" in English in the United States each year. And as you can see, [[Randall]] extends the graph to the point where sustainable will be used as every word.<br />
<br />
Sustainable has been increasing in use as people of the US are concerned about making sure that Earth's resources are not totally exhausted in the near future by developing sustainable development. {{w|Sustainable development}} is a pattern of growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.<br />
<br />
As Randall mentions in the title text, the 100 years it takes for the word sustainable to get to 100% usage is a lot longer than most of our non-renewable and non-sustainable resources will last on the Earth.<br />
<br />
The graph is plotted with a logarithmic independent axis, meaning the line depicts exponential growth. Most people aren't used to reading these kind of graphs, so it may look like the increase is linear and one day we will wake up and find that the only word in our vocabulary is the word "Sustainable." More realistically, we are merely in the first phase of logistic growth, where use is rocketing up before leveling off.<br />
<br />
Extrapolation of data has also appeared in the following comics [[605: Extrapolating]], [[1204: Detail]] and [[1281: Minifigs]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Frequency of use of the word "sustainable" in US English text, as a percentage of all words, by year. Source: Google NGrams.<br />
<br />
:[A two-axis graph with percentages increasing logarithmically (from 0.000001% to 1,000%) on the Y-axis, and years progressing linearly (from 1950 to 2140) on the X-axis. Actual data points show a high correlation from 0.00001 at 1950 to 0.001% at present day. Extrapolated data points exist for the future. 2036 (approx. 0.1%): "sustainable" occurs an average of once per page. 2061(approx. 1%): "sustainable" occurs an average of once per sentence. 2109 (approx. 100%) All sentences are just the word "sustainable" over and over.]<br />
<br />
:The word "sustainable" is unsustainable.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Extrapolation]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1007:_Sustainable&diff=627381007: Sustainable2014-03-14T20:47:12Z<p>108.162.216.28: corrected "logistic" to "logarithmic"</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1007<br />
| date = January 23, 2012<br />
| title = Sustainable<br />
| image = sustainable.png<br />
| titletext = Though 100 years is longer than a lot of our resources.<br />
}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
This is a graph of the usage of the word "Sustainable" in English in the United States each year. And as you can see, [[Randall]] extends the graph to the point where sustainable will be used as every word.<br />
<br />
Sustainable has been increasing in use as people of the US are concerned about making sure that Earth's resources are not totally exhausted in the near future by developing sustainable development. {{w|Sustainable development}} is a pattern of growth in which resource use aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.<br />
<br />
As Randall mentions in the title text, the 100 years it takes for the word sustainable to get to 100% usage is a lot longer than most of our non-renewable and non-sustainable resources will last on the Earth.<br />
<br />
The graph is plotted with a logarithmic independent axis, meaning the line depicts exponential growth. Most people aren't used to reading these kind of graphs, so it may look like the increase is linear and one day we will wake up and find that the only word in our vocabulary is the word "Sustainable." More realistically, we are merely in the first phase of logarithmic growth, where use is rocketing up before leveling off.<br />
<br />
Extrapolation of data has also appeared in the following comics [[605: Extrapolating]], [[1204: Detail]] and [[1281: Minifigs]].<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Frequency of use of the word "sustainable" in US English text, as a percentage of all words, by year. Source: Google NGrams.<br />
<br />
:[A two-axis graph with percentages increasing logarithmically (from 0.000001% to 1,000%) on the Y-axis, and years progressing linearly (from 1950 to 2140) on the X-axis. Actual data points show a high correlation from 0.00001 at 1950 to 0.001% at present day. Extrapolated data points exist for the future. 2036 (approx. 0.1%): "sustainable" occurs an average of once per page. 2061(approx. 1%): "sustainable" occurs an average of once per sentence. 2109 (approx. 100%) All sentences are just the word "sustainable" over and over.]<br />
<br />
:The word "sustainable" is unsustainable.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Charts]]<br />
[[Category:Extrapolation]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1011:_Baby_Names&diff=624771011: Baby Names2014-03-11T23:39:44Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1011<br />
| date = February 1, 2012<br />
| title = Baby Names<br />
| image = baby names.png<br />
| titletext = I've been trying for a couple years now but I haven't been able to come up with a name dumber than 'Renesmee'.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete | Not all the names have explanations.}}<br />
The punchline for this one is in the title text as Renesmee is the name of Renesmee Cullen, who is the baby born in the book and movie, {{w|Breaking Dawn}} to parents Edward and Bella. Edward and Bella get "Renesmee" from an amalgamation of the names of Bella's mother, Renée, and Edward's adoptive mother, Esme.<br />
<br />
[[Randall]]'s point above stands. All those names are terrible, but not nearly as terrible as the name Renesmee.<br />
<br />
A further analysis on baby names are presented by Randall at his Blag (Blog) here: [http://blog.xkcd.com/2014/01/31/the-baby-name-wizard/ The Baby Name Wizard].<br />
<br />
* Ponzi - An Italian surname, most often associated with "Ponzi scheme".<br />
* Eeemily<br />
* Fire Fire<br />
* Chipotla - A reference to chipotle seasoning.<br />
* Astamouthe - Could be pronounced "Ass to mouth"<br />
* Eggsperm - A child is conceived by combining an egg and a sperm, this child's name is conceived by combining the names of the two things.<br />
* [sound of record scratch] - This cannot be spelled or reliably pronounced.<br />
* Parsley - A seasoning<br />
* Hot'n'Juicy Ann -<br />
* Ovari - Female reproductive organ.<br />
* Friendly - When referring to her possessions it would create confusion with the restaurant Friendly's.<br />
* Sean (pronounced "seen") - Defies standard pronunciation.<br />
* Joyst<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[Cueball sits at a desk, thinking with his hand on his chin, his other hand holding a pen over a piece of paper. Megan stands behind him, looking over his shoulder, also with her hand on her chin.]<br />
<br />
:[Above the drawing is the list they are writing by hand.]<br />
<br />
:Names for daughter<br />
<br />
:# Ponzi<br />
:# Eeemily<br />
:# Fire Fire<br />
:# Chipotla<br />
:# Astamouthe<br />
:# Eggsperm<br />
:# [sound of record scratch]<br />
:# Parsley<br />
:# Hot'n'Juicy Ann<br />
:# Ovari<br />
:# Friendly<br />
:# Sean (pronounced "seen")<br />
:# Joyst<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Charts]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=A_Smarter_Planet&diff=62462A Smarter Planet2014-03-11T20:48:48Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div><br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|I found [[http://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet/| this bonus comic]] but it's not mentioned anywhere on the wiki. I wasn't sure how to put multiple images in the comic template.}}<br />
The first of these two strips references a commonly-cited statistic usually used to draw attention to deforestation, but Cueball misunderstands its true importance.<br />
<br />
The second strip is a reference to the stereotype of doctors' handwriting being illegible. Also, the prescription number is given as "THX1138", which is also the name of the first film directed by George Lucas of Star Wars fame.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
===Conservation===<br />
:They say that 400 years ago a squirrel could go from the Atlantic to the Mississippi without touching the ground.<br />
:[Cueball speaking to an audience, under a banner labeled "Conservation Society".]<br />
:Cueball [pointing to a diagram of a helicopter-like device carrying a squirrel]: Which is why I've developed the aerial squirrel transit pod.<br />
:Audience member: Okay, back up.<br />
<br />
===Prescriptions===<br />
:Good news: Doctors are finally learning to use modern security tools.<br />
: Doctor: No need for phone verification. I've digitally signed it.<br />
:Bad news: They've somehow learned to ''type'' with terrible handwriting.<br />
:[The document given to the patient by the doctor]: Prescription THX1138 RSA fingerprint: [unintelligible characters]<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=A_Smarter_Planet&diff=62461A Smarter Planet2014-03-11T20:47:42Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div><br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|I found [http://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet/| this bonus comic] but it's not mentioned anywhere on the wiki. I wasn't sure how to put multiple images in the comic template.}}<br />
The first of these two strips references a commonly-cited statistic usually used to draw attention to deforestation, but Cueball misunderstands its true importance.<br />
<br />
The second strip is a reference to the stereotype of doctors' handwriting being illegible. Also, the prescription number is given as "THX1138", which is also the name of the first film directed by George Lucas of Star Wars fame.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
===Conservation===<br />
:They say that 400 years ago a squirrel could go from the Atlantic to the Mississippi without touching the ground.<br />
:[Cueball speaking to an audience, under a banner labeled "Conservation Society".]<br />
:Cueball [pointing to a diagram of a helicopter-like device carrying a squirrel]: Which is why I've developed the aerial squirrel transit pod.<br />
:Audience member: Okay, back up.<br />
<br />
===Prescriptions===<br />
:Good news: Doctors are finally learning to use modern security tools.<br />
: Doctor: No need for phone verification. I've digitally signed it.<br />
:Bad news: They've somehow learned to ''type'' with terrible handwriting.<br />
:[The document given to the patient by the doctor]: Prescription THX1138 RSA fingerprint: [unintelligible characters]<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=A_Smarter_Planet&diff=62460A Smarter Planet2014-03-11T20:47:02Z<p>108.162.216.28: Created page with " ==Explanation== {{incomplete|I found this bonus comic but it's not mentioned anywhere on the wiki. I wasn't sure how to put multiple image..."</p>
<hr />
<div><br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|I found [[http://xkcd.com/asmarterplanet/|this bonus comic]] but it's not mentioned anywhere on the wiki. I wasn't sure how to put multiple images in the comic template.}}<br />
The first of these two strips references a commonly-cited statistic usually used to draw attention to deforestation, but Cueball misunderstands its true importance.<br />
<br />
The second strip is a reference to the stereotype of doctors' handwriting being illegible. Also, the prescription number is given as "THX1138", which is also the name of the first film directed by George Lucas of Star Wars fame.<br />
<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
===Conservation===<br />
:They say that 400 years ago a squirrel could go from the Atlantic to the Mississippi without touching the ground.<br />
:[Cueball speaking to an audience, under a banner labeled "Conservation Society".]<br />
:Cueball [pointing to a diagram of a helicopter-like device carrying a squirrel]: Which is why I've developed the aerial squirrel transit pod.<br />
:Audience member: Okay, back up.<br />
<br />
===Prescriptions===<br />
:Good news: Doctors are finally learning to use modern security tools.<br />
: Doctor: No need for phone verification. I've digitally signed it.<br />
:Bad news: They've somehow learned to ''type'' with terrible handwriting.<br />
:[The document given to the patient by the doctor]: Prescription THX1138 RSA fingerprint: [unintelligible characters]<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Science]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1292:_Pi_vs._Tau&diff=617701292: Pi vs. Tau2014-03-05T03:35:27Z<p>108.162.216.28: Attempting to explain octal.</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1292<br />
| date = November 18, 2013<br />
| title = Pi vs. Tau<br />
| image = pi vs tau.png<br />
| titletext = Conveniently approximated as e+2, Pau is commonly known as the Devil's Ratio (because in the octal expansion, '666' appears four times in the first 200 digits while no other run of 3+ digits appears more than once.)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|Non Math people should also be able to understand this. Octal expansion has to be explained. Please be serious on removing this tag. This explain needs a proper review. It really needs a review. The error from the title text should be explained just in words, no Math nobody understands.}}<br />
This is yet another of [[Randall]]'s [[:Category:Comics presenting a compromise|compromise comics]]. A few mathematicians argue as to whether to use pi, which is the ratio between a circle's circumference and its diameter, or tau, which is the ratio between a circle's circumference and its radius.<br />
<br />
Most will know π (Pi) by the approximation 3.14, but not knowing τ (tau) which is just twice as large as pi. Randall is suggesting using "pau", which is a portmanteau of "pi" and "tau", as a number situated, appropriately enough, halfway between pi and tau. But of course his number would be inconvenient, as there are currently no commonly used formulas that involve 1.5 pi (or 0.75 tau).<br />
<br />
Some consider pi as being the wrong convention and are in favor of using tau as ''the'' circle constant (see the [http://tauday.com/tau-manifesto Tau Manifesto], which was inspired by the article "[http://www.math.utah.edu/~palais/pi.html Pi is wrong!]" by mathematician Robert Palais). Others consider proponents of tau to be foolish and remain loyal to pi (see the [http://www.thepimanifesto.com Pi Manifesto]). Of course, regardless of which convention is used, the fundamental mathematics will remain unaltered. But the choice of pi vs tau can affect the clarity of equations, analogies between different equations, and how easy various subjects are to teach.<br />
<br />
===Mathematical jargon===<br />
"Octal expansion" refers to writing out the number in base-8. In base-8, only the numerals 0-7 are used to express numbers. This does not mean that values such as 18, 19, 28, 29, and so on do not exist; rather, said values are represented with a more limited range of numerals.<br />
<br />
For the sake of simplicity in this next demonstration, we will only acknowledge whole numbers with positive values.<br />
<br />
In base-8, the numbers 1 through 7 have the same values as in base-10. The next number, eight, is written out as 10. This is because the "ones" digit has run out of unique numerals to express this value, so it rolls over to the "eights" digit. Nine is 11. Ten is 12. Numbering continues in this manner, up to fifteen (17). The "ones" digit must roll over to the "eights" digit again, so sixteen is 20. Seventeen is 21. After twenty-three (27), it rolls over again, giving us twenty-four (30). <br />
<br />
Counting by eights, the next numbers are thirty-two (40), forty (50), forty-eight (60), and fifty-six (70). At sixty-three (77), both the "ones" and "eights" digit has run out of unique numerals, so the excess value must roll over to the "sixty-fours" digit, giving us sixty-four (100). If we keep counting, we will eventually reach five-hundred-eleven (777). A new "five-hundred-twelves" digit is created. The next number is five-hundred-twelve (1000).<br />
<br />
As you can see, numbers written in base-8 tend to be longer and less economical to write than in base-10, but it does serve its purpose. Trust us on this.<br />
<br />
In this next demonstration, we will look at how to write non-integers in base-8. Again, we will acknowledge only positive values.<br />
<br />
In base-8, all the numerals that follow the period are not known as the "decimal", but as the "octal". This is because "decimal" specifically refers to tenths, while "octal" refers to eighths.<br />
<br />
In decimal, the first place after the periods depicts "tenths", the next place "hundredths", the next "thousandths", and so on. In octal, the first place represents "eighths", the next "sixty-fourths", the next "five-hundred-twelfths", etc.<br />
<br />
One eighth is 0.1. Two eighths, or one fourth, is 0.2. Four eighths, or one half, is 0.4.<br />
One sixty-fourth is 0.01. Five sixty-fourths is 0.05. Nine sixty-fourths, or one eighth plus one sixty-fourth, is 0.11.<br />
One five-hundred-twelfth is 0.001. Five-hundred-eleven five-hundred-twelfths is 0.777.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this entire lesson has a very disappointing end. As it turns out, the title text for the comic is incorrect. The first 200 digits of 'pau' in octal are:<br />
<pre><br />
4.5545743763144164432362345144750501224254715730156503147633545270030431677126116550546747570313312523403514716576464333172731124310201076447270723624573721640220437652155065544220143116155742515634462<br />
</pre><br />
The sequence '666' does not occur at all in it.<br />
<br />
Possibly, [[Randall]] used [http://www.wolframalpha.com/ Wolfram|Alpha] to calculate the result (he uses it a lot, for example [http://what-if.xkcd.com/70/ What-if 70: The Constant Groundskeeper] or [http://what-if.xkcd.com/62/ What-if 62: Falling With Helium]).<br />
However, as of November 18, 2013, there's a bug in Wolfram|Alpha so that, when getting 200 octal digits from "pau", it just calculates the decimal value rounded to 15 significant digits (this is 4.71238898038469) and expands that as octal digits as far as needed.<br />
<br />
This gives a periodically repeating number. In the first 200 digits of the octal expansion, the sequences 666 and 6666 do occur, but each only once. There are 4 occurrences, however, in the first 300 digits:<br />
<pre><br />
4.554574376314416445676661714336617116240444076666510533533077631151350452060436452476274022621206136310000177621674175071262255702044274154476005744176002676623042402346036604733130522524127534777714554305412763636566643022106616734723661726160312772574551366370203115523402704104015532221722772357666</pre><br />
Expansion that long indeed does contain 666 (the {{w|Number of the beast|number of the beast}}) four times (with one instance as 6666). It also contains 0000, 222, 444, and 7777, but they only appear once in a run.<br />
<br />
{{w|Mathematical coincidence|Coincidentally}}, e+2 is also very similar to 1.5pi, although only to a few digits.<br />
<pre><br />
1.5π = 4.71238898038...<br />
e+2 = 4.71828182845...<br />
</pre><br />
<br />
The "Devil's Ratio" may be an allusion to the "{{w|Tritone|Devil's Interval}}", aka the "Devil's Chord" or 'Diabolus in Musica' ('The Devil in music'), which is the name sometimes given to the harmony between a root note and its tritone/augmented fourth/diminished fifth. This note is situated halfway between octaves, and is named for its dissonant quality. It is possibly a cross-reference between this and the "{{w|golden ratio}}".<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:[On the left is a "forbidden"-style slashed circle with the π symbol, captioned "Pi". On the right is a "forbidden"-style slashed circle with 2π, captioned "Tau". In the middle it reads 1.5π, captioned "Pau".]<br />
:A compromise solution to the Pi Tau dispute<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
*For Pi the sequence '666' occurs for the first time at position 2440. Many more occurrences can be found here: [http://www.angio.net/pi/ The Pi-Search Page].<br />
* Note that pau is Catalan for peace, which is a good solution for the pi/tau dispute.<br />
* In the discussion it has been theorized that Randall used [[356: Nerd Sniping|Nerd Sniping]]. In which case he was aware of the mistake in Wolfram!<br />
*For an entertaining introduction to the concept, see this [https://www.khanacademy.org/math/recreational-math/vi-hart/pi-tau/v/pi-is--still--wrong Vi Hart video].<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]<br />
[[Category:Math]]<br />
[[Category:Comics presenting a compromise]]</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1289:_Simple_Answers&diff=52560Talk:1289: Simple Answers2013-11-12T14:17:24Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>The title text question is not answered, but I would guess "no", mainly because I don't believe wars would stop even if we understand each other completely. On the other hand, it talks about "make war undesirable" ... isn't "making war undesirable" what nuclear weapons did? -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:26, 11 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
::If nuclear weapons made war undesirable, then what is the US army doing in the middle east? If anything, I think nuclear weapons just caused us to change the mechanics of war, as many weapon advancements have done in the past. And sadly, I suspect that better understanding won't make war any less desirable (as others have said already). =( --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.28|108.162.216.28]] 14:13, 12 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This is just further info on the next-to-last question, and Randall's answer is thus "no". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.157|108.162.254.157]] 12:16, 11 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
One could argue that technology only helps us understand about each other. Technology cannot help us to understand each other in the sense of appreciate each other. And to go further, understanding about each other can increase the likelihood of war. [[User:Grahame|Grahame]] ([[User talk:Grahame|talk]]) 00:39, 12 November 2013 (UTC)Grahame</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:1289:_Simple_Answers&diff=52559Talk:1289: Simple Answers2013-11-12T14:13:44Z<p>108.162.216.28: </p>
<hr />
<div>The title text question is not answered, but I would guess "no", mainly because I don't believe wars would stop even if we understand each other completely. On the other hand, it talks about "make war undesirable" ... isn't "making war undesirable" what nuclear weapons did? -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:26, 11 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
::If nuclear weapons made war undesirable, then what is the US army doing in the middle east? If anything, I think nuclear weapons just caused us to change the mechanics of war, as many weapon advancements have done in the past. And sadly, I suspect that better understanding won't make war any less desirable. =( --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.28|108.162.216.28]] 14:13, 12 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
This is just further info on the next-to-last question, and Randall's answer is thus "no". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.157|108.162.254.157]] 12:16, 11 November 2013 (UTC)<br />
<br />
One could argue that technology only helps us understand about each other. Technology cannot help us to understand each other in the sense of appreciate each other. And to go further, understanding about each other can increase the likelihood of war. [[User:Grahame|Grahame]] ([[User talk:Grahame|talk]]) 00:39, 12 November 2013 (UTC)Grahame</div>108.162.216.28https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1286:_Encryptic&diff=518061286: Encryptic2013-11-04T19:30:12Z<p>108.162.216.28: /* Passwords */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 1286<br />
| date = November 4, 2013<br />
| title = Encryptic<br />
| image = encryptic.png<br />
| titletext = It was bound to happen eventually. This data theft will enable almost limitless [xkcd.com/792]-style password reuse attacks in the coming weeks. There's only one group that comes out of this looking smart: Everyone who pirated Photoshop.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{w|Triple DES}} is an older but still relatively secure encryption algorithm that works on 64-bit (8 character) blocks. Assuming that the passwords are stored in plain ASCII, this means that each sequence of 8 characters on the same position is always encrypted to the same result and therefore two passwords starting with “12345678” would start with the same block after being encrypted. Furthermore, this means that you can actually get a very good idea of the length of the password since anything with only one block is a password with length between 1 and 8 characters, with two blocks it has between 9 and 16 characters etc.<br />
<br />
This way of storing passwords does not follow the recommended way of using a suitable cryptographically-secure {{w|Hash function|hash function}} that yields only a single block so that there is no way to tell the length of the password from the result. It is also a good practice to {{w|Salt (cryptography)|add a salt}} specific to each user (like their username) so that two users with the same password would not have the same hash.<br />
<br />
Adobe also stored hints users created for their passwords. That means that an attacker knows not only if the same 8 characters are used for multiple passwords but also has some hints for guessing them. That means that common password portions should be easy to recover and that any user may be “compromised” by someone else using a part of the same password and providing a good hint. As an example, a password having three hints “Big Apple”, “Twin Towers” and “If you can make it there” is probably “New York”. The weakness here is that no decryption and therefore no hard cracking has to take place, you just group the passwords by their encrypted blocks and try to solve them like a crossword puzzle.<br />
<br />
It seems the examples are not taken from the actual leaked file as that [http://arstechnica.com/security/2013/11/how-an-epic-blunder-by-adobe-could-strengthen-hand-of-password-crackers/ uses a different format].<br />
<br />
The title text makes a reference to [[792|Black Hat’s trouble with what to do with stolen passwords]]. It also states that users of pirated Photoshop are the winners here. This is because in order to make Photoshop pirate-able, it was modified (cracked) by removing the requirement for registration so their passwords were not sent to Adobe and therefore are not present in the leaked file.<br />
<br />
The title itself is a reference to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptic_crossword cryptic crosswords]<br />
<br />
==Passwords==<br />
Note that characters in the passwords could be upper or lower case, the clues do not guarantee the case shown here is correct.<br />
<br />
{|class="wikitable"<br />
! Input<br />
! Hint<br />
! Password<br />
|-<br />
|<tt>4e18acc1ab27a2d6</tt><br />
|weather vane sword<br />
|<tt>matthias</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>4e18acc1ab27a2d6</tt><br />
|<br />
|<tt>matthias</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>4e18acc1ab27a2d6 a0a2876eb1ea1fea</tt><br />
|name1<br />
|<tt>matthias1</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>8babb6299e06eb6d</tt><br />
|duh<br />
|<tt>password</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>8babb6299e06eb6d a0a2876eb1ea1fea</tt><br />
|<br />
|<tt>password1</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>8babb6299e06eb6d 85e9da81a8a78adc</tt><br />
|57<br />
|<tt>password57</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>4e18acc1ab27a2d6</tt><br />
|favorite of 12 apostles<br />
|<tt>matthias</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>1ab29ae86da6e5ca 7a2d6a0a2876eb1e</tt><br />
|with your own hand you have done all this<br />
|<tt>Judith1510</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>a1f9b2b6299e7a2b eadec1e6ab797397</tt><br />
|sexy earlobes<br />
|<tt>Charlie Sheen</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>a1f9b2b6299e7a2b 617ab0277727ad85</tt><br />
|best TOS episode<br />
|<tt>Charlie X</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>39738b7adb0b8af7 617ab0277727ad85</tt><br />
|Sugarland<br />
|<tt>HoustonTX</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>1ab29ae86da6e5ca</tt><br />
|name + jersey#<br />
|<tt>Judith15</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>877ab7889d3862b1</tt><br />
|alpha<br />
|<tt>abc123</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>877ab7889d3862b1</tt><br />
|<br />
|<tt>abc123</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>877ab7889d3862b1</tt><br />
|<br />
|<tt>abc123</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>877ab7889d3862b1</tt><br />
|Michael Jackson<br />
|<tt>abc123</tt><br />
|-<br />
|<tt>38a7c9279cadeb44 9dca1d79d4dec6d5</tt><br />
|<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|<tt>38a7c9279cadeb44 9dca1d79d4dec6d5</tt><br />
|he did the MASH, he did the<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|<tt>38a7c9279cadeb44</tt><br />
|Purloined<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|<tt>a8ae5754a2b7af7a 9dca1d79d4dec6d5</tt><br />
|fav water-3 Pokemon<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
:Hackers recently leaked '''''153 million''''' Adobe user emails, encrypted passwords, and password hints.<br />
:Adobe encrypted the passwords improperly, misusing block-mode 3DES. The result is something wonderful:<br />
<br />
<pre><br />
User password Hint<br />
------------- ----<br />
<br />
4e18acc1ab27a2d6 weather vane sword<br />
4e18acc1ab27a2d6<br />
4e18acc1ab27a2d6 a0a2876eb1ea1fea name1<br />
8babb6299e06eb6d duh<br />
8babb6299e06eb6d a0a2876eb1ea1fea<br />
8babb6299e06eb6d 85e9da81a8a78adc 57<br />
4e18acc1ab27a2d6 favorite of 12 apostles<br />
1ab29ae86da6e5ca 7a2d6a0a2876eb1e with your own hand you<br />
have done all this<br />
a1f9b2b6299e7a2b eadec1e6ab797397 sexy earlobes<br />
a1f9b2b6299e7a2b 617ab0277727ad85 best tos episode<br />
39738b7adb0b8af7 617ab0277727ad85 sugarland<br />
1ab29ae86da6e5ca name + jersey#<br />
877ab7889d3862b1 alpha<br />
877ab7889d3862b1<br />
877ab7889d3862b1<br />
877ab7889d3862b1 obvious<br />
877ab7889d3862b1 Michael Jackson<br />
38a7c9279cadeb44 9dca1d79d4dec6d5<br />
38a7c9279cadeb44 9dca1d79d4dec6d5 he did the MASH, he did the<br />
38a7c9279cadeb44 Purloined<br />
a8ae5754a2b7af7a 9dca1d79d4dec6d5 fav water-3 pokemon<br />
</pre><br />
<br />
:The greatest crossword puzzle in the history of the world<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>108.162.216.28