explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2567: Language Development

2022-01-12T18:36:59Z

108.162.221.13:

{{comic
| number = 2567
| date = January 12, 2022
| title = Language Development
| image = language_development.png
| titletext = The worst is the Terrible Twos, when they're always throwing things and shrieking, "forsooth, to bed thou shalt not take me, cur!"
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a AUTOMATON - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
Rather than learning to speak normally, this baby is going through all of the stages of the evolution of the English language, from proto-Indo-European to Germanic to Old English.

In the title text, Randall describes a 2 year old child as speaking Elizabethan English, a dialect of modern English used by Shakespeare more than 400 years ago.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Megan and Cueball stand to the right of the frame, discussing their baby, Hairy. Hairy sits on the left side of a table in an elevated baby chair.]
:Megan: He's only 1, so he still mostly speaks proto-Indo-European.
:Megan: But we've heard a few Germanic words already, so Old English can't be far off.
:Cueball: They progress so fast!
:Baby Hairy: *Melg-
:Baby Hairy: *Pl(e)hk-

{{comic discussion}}

2555: Notifications

2021-12-16T05:40:47Z

108.162.221.13: Name correction: Hat Guy -> Whitehat

{{comic
| number = 2555
| date = December 15, 2021
| title = Notifications
| image = notifications.png
| titletext = It's 10:34 PM for this user. They really need to get going, they have a thing early tomorrow. Are you sure you want to notify?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an autoreplyBOT - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

[Whitehat, Megan and Cueball are standing next to each other. Hat Guy is separated from the other two figures by a small margin.]
:Whitehat: And another thing that annoys me about people is...
:Cueball: This user has notifications turned off.

[The camera zooms in on Megan and Cueball. Megan turns to look at Cueball.]
:Cueball: They will see your messages when they're back. '''Notify anyway?'''

[The camera zooms outward to show Hat Guy. All three figures are silently standing.]

[Megan turns to look at Cueball again.]
:Megan: What are you--
:Cueball: Shhh- It's working.

{{comic discussion}}

1987: Python Environment

2021-11-29T21:22:37Z

108.162.221.13: Explained Homebrew and Cellar pun.

{{comic
| number = 1987
| date = April 30, 2018
| title = Python Environment
| image = python_environment.png
| titletext = The Python environmental protection agency wants to seal it in a cement chamber, with pictoral messages to future civilizations warning them about the danger of using sudo to install random Python packages.
}}

==Explanation==

A development environment is the collection of tools used to create a computer program. It generally includes an {{w|Interpreter_(programming)|interpreter}}, a {{w|package manager}}, and various {{w|Library_(computing)|libraries}} that the project needs. Computer programs often depend on a specific version of these tools, such as a program that only runs on Python 2.7. A badly configured build environment can lead to mysterious errors as the program looks for libraries or features that aren't there, making it hard to develop stable and portable software.

{{w|Python_(programming_language)|Python}} is a {{w|computer}} {{w|programming language}} which has been around for quite a while, especially on {{w|Linux}} platforms. [[Randall]] has shown his fascination with Python [[353: Python|before]]. He has likely used it on his computer for quite a few years, from the early years where it wasn't so easy to install, through newer versions where there is a more defined way to install it. Because standards change over time (in particular, although the newest version of Python is Python 3.x, many people prefer Python 2.x and it's still widely used for backwards-compatibility), and he didn't completely uninstall old versions before installing new versions (likely to not break what was already working), he's ended up with a mess where different pieces and versions of Python and its related components litter his {{w|hard drive}}'s {{w|directory structure}}.

{{w|Superfund}} is a US federal government program created for cleaning up contaminated land. The comic is saying that his computer's Python environment is so messed up that it's comparable to a real-world environmental disaster.

The title text may refer to the philosophical debate surrounding the construction of warning features around the [[wikipedia:Waste_Isolation_Pilot_Plant#Warning_messages_for_future_humans|WIPP]] site in New Mexico, and other nuclear waste disposal sites. In particular, it may refer to [https://web.archive.org/web/20090320054657/http://www.wipp.energy.gov/picsprog/articles/wipp%20exhibit%20message%20to%2012,000%20a_d.htm this article]. These would have to last and be understandable for tens of thousands of years, longer than any known human-made structure or language to date. It also refers to use of `sudo`, a Posix command utility which allows a user to operate with heightened permissions. Using `sudo` to install a Python package may make the package available to the entire system, or, based on the settings of Virtualenv/Anaconda, it may end up installing the package in a user's home directory. This would make it so that the user could not update, edit, or remove the packages.

;$PATH
:$PATH refers to the {{w|PATH (variable)|PATH}} environment variable, which determines where to search for executable files. In this case, it indicates that the pip, Homebrew Python (2.7), and macOS's pre-installed Python are accessible on path, with ~/newenv/ and a mysterious ???? as part of PATH.
;pip
:{{w|pip (package manager)|pip}} is the Python {{w|package management system}}, and is used to install and manage python packages. As it is written in Python, it requires Python to run. It leads to easy_install, Homebrew Python (2.7), "(misc folders owned by root)", and ????.
;Homebrew Python (2.7)
:{{w|Homebrew (package management software)|Homebrew}} is a third-party macOS package manager. Homebrew Python (2.7) is the Python 2 version installed through Homebrew. This leads to Python.org binary (2.6) and /usr/local/Cellar.
;OS Python
:Apple bundles an (out of date) version of Python with macOS. This only leads to ????.
;????
:With so many versions of Python installed and used in the system, it becomes very hard to track which Python program uses which version and environment. The system becomes unpredictable, its working and faults mysterious. All parts of the graph that lead to this point, lead to confusion.
;easy_install
:easy_install, much like pip, is a cpan-like tool to download and install Python packages. As of the creation of the comic, many people discourage its use. (e.g., [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3220404/why-use-pip-over-easy-install this question on stack exchange.]
;Anaconda Python
:{{w|Anaconda (Python distribution)|Anaconda}} is a Python distribution for data science and machine learning related applications.
;Homebrew Python (3.6)
:As of the creation of the comic, Python 3.6 is the current stable version of Python. It can be installed together with Python 2.7 on the same computer. Care must be taken to use an appropriate version for every Python program, however. Homebrew is a `macos` package management utility. Presumably, Randal installed Python 3.6 with Homebrew (as opposed to downloading and compiling the language himself).
;Python.org binary (2.6)
:[http://python.org Python.org] is the home site of the {{w|Python_(programming_language)|Python language}} and provides its reference implementation. Among other stuff, there are downloadable installers that create ready to use Python environments for you (on Windows and macOS only). It makes little sense, however, to use it on a computer where Homebrew, Anaconda and a locally compiled version are already present, since the Python.org version is the baseline one, doesn't give you any benefits, and can't be optimized for your needs. Having an obsolete 2.6 version, when the typically used 2.7 is already on the computer, also doesn't help. Some justified uses do exist (tests, programs that depend on this particular version), but in the end, an extra version of Python just adds to the overall confusion.
;(Misc folders owned by root)
:This suggests that over years [[Randall]] dropped various versions of {{w|Python_(programming_language)|Python}} environments everywhere around his computer, probably by hand without proper installers, and used root privileges to do so. The exact locations either are highly nonstandard, so it makes no sense showing them to us, or have simply been forgotten. Now it's hard to even tell where exactly those Pythons lay, what in the system depends on them, and if it's safe to remove them or not (because if installed by the root, they can integrate into unexpected places in the system; having them can break something, and removing them can break something).
;<code>/usr/local/Cellar</code>
:The default (normal) location of the {{w|Homebrew (package management software)|Homebrew}} Cellar, the directory where Homebrew actually stores the files of the installed packages. It's a storage only location, the files, including Python, will be symlinked from other, more convenient places in the files tree, and should not be used through /usr/local/Cellar path directly. It seems that Randall broke this safety rule in the past, so some stuff of his accesses Python directly in the Cellar. Such setup can break if Homebrew performs automatic maintenance in the Cellar (like removing unneeded versions of the packages). The name cellar is likely a reference to the practice of storing wines and other alcohol in cellars, intended as a pun of homebrew.
;<code>/usr/local/opt</code>
:A folder that is usually created by Homebrew.
;/(A bunch of paths with "Frameworks" in them somewhere)/
:Python on macOS is often distributed as a framework and placed in a "Frameworks" folder. For example, the system-included Python distribution in macOS resides in /System/Library/Frameworks, and many package managers will also install the framework in a folder with this name.
;$PYTHONPATH
:The environment variable PYTHONPATH specifies the search path for Python modules to the Python interpreter. Having it refer to locations controlled by 3 different package managers, each of which is managing software for different versions of Python, as shown, is likely to lead to incompatible software being loaded together.
;Another pip??
:Pip is a {{w|Recursive acronym}} for `Pip Installs Packages`. There should only be one installation of pip (or other package management system) managing any given working environment. Often, additional `pip` executables are installed based on the Anaconda settings for different virtual envs. This often leads to internal contradictions in the software. Randall is confused as to how this other one relates to the rest of the development environments.
;~/python/
:Might be another virtualenv, or, given the absurdity of the rest of the comic, even a manually compiled python installation (many online guides instruct users to extract sources into the home (~) directory).
;~/newenv/
:Probably a virtualenv. Virtualenvs are mechanisms for having Python environments that don't conflict with the system Python. They include the Python interpreter, independent library paths, and usually a copy of pip. The user typically installs packages using the virtualenv's pip such that they can only be accessed by the virtualenv's Python instances, while more common packages are still referenced via the system Python paths.
;/usr/local/lib/python3.6
:The default place under a Unix-like OS for the Python 3.6 standard libraries for a locally compiled Python 3.6 interpreter.
;/usr/local/lib/python2.7
:The default place under a Unix-like OS for the Python 2.7 standard libraries for a locally compiled Python 2.7 interpreter.

==Transcript==
:[A single frame depicting a flowchart is shown. Many chaotic arrows are arranged between the items which are:]
:$PYTHONPATH
:EASY_INSTALL
:ANACONDA PYTHON
:HOMEBREW PYTHON (3.6)
:ANOTHER PIP??
:HOMEBREW PYTHON (2.7)
:PYTHON.ORG BINARY (2.6)
:PIP
:EASY_INSTALL
:$PATH
:(MISC FOLDERS OWNED BY ROOT)
:????

:[The endpoints are:]
:/usr/local/Cellar
:/usr/local/opt
:/(A BUNCH OF PATHS WITH "FRAMEWORKS" IN THEM SOMEWHERE)/
:~/python/
:~/newenv/
:/usr/local/lib/python3.6
:/usr/local/lib/python2.7

:[Caption below the panel:]
:My Python environment has become so degraded that my laptop has been declared a superfund site.

== Trivia ==

* A similar comic is {{xkcd|1654}} which is the same but for multiple languages.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Programming]]
[[Category:Flowcharts]]

1724: Proofs

2016-08-24T12:12:03Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ spelling

{{comic
| number = 1724
| date = August 24, 2016
| title = Proofs
| image = proofs.png
| titletext = Next, let's assume the decision of whether to take the Axiom of Choice is made by a deterministic process ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the match, especially the title text.}}
[[Miss Lenhart]] is back teaching a math class. She begins a proof when one of her students ([[Cueball]]) interrupts her asking if this is one of those {{w|Dark Magic}} proofs. She denies that but it soon turns out that it will be, and Cueball exclaims that he just knew it would be one of those.

If this actually refers to the proof being magical, or just to the fact that many students often feel like the resulting proof just appeared without any reason, i.e. either the teacher did not do it clearly, or the student is not up to the task of understanding proofs of that complexity, is not clear.

The proof she starts setting up resembles a {{w|proof by contradiction}}. These often involve making an assumption that there exists some formula or figure that fulfills the requirements given and plucking that answer out of abstract mathematics, much like summoning of demons is associated with black magic. This is usually done by relying on knowledge of the constraints of the form (for example, having the square root of 2 be a/b where a and b are both integers and have no common factors when proving that the square root of 2 is irrational). This common usage is then shown to be not the case in the comic as the proof then goes to claim that the answer will be written in a specific place (though this could be taken as indicating that the result is finite or has a simple algorithm for continuing it).

In the title text the decision of whether to take the {{w|axiom of choice}} is made by a deterministic process. The {{w|axiom of determinacy}} is {{w|Axiom_of_determinacy#Incompatibility_of_the_axiom_of_determinacy_with_the_axiom_of_choice|incompatibility with the axiom of choice}}, which is the continuation of the joke of these dark magic proofs.

Although Miss Lenhart did retire a year ago after [[1519: Venus]], she seems to have returned here for a math course at university level, but continues the trend she finished with in the her undergraduate class...

==Transcript==
:[Miss Lenhart is standing facing left in front of a whiteboard writing on it. Eleven left aligned lines of writing is shown as unreadable scribbles. A voice interrupts her from off-panel right.]
:Miss Lenhart: ... Let's assume there exists some function ''F''(a,b,c...) which produces the correct answer-
:Cueball (off-panel): Hang on.

:[In a frame-less panel Cueball is sitting on a chair at a desk with a pen in his hand taking notes.]
:Cueball: This is going to be one of those weird, dark magic proofs, isn't it? I can tell.

:[Miss Lenhart has turned right towards Cueball, who is again speaking off-panel. The white board is also off-panel.]
:Miss Lenhart: What? No, no, it's a perfectly sensible chain of reasoning.
:Cueball (off-panel): All right...

:[Miss Lenhart is facing the whiteboard again writing more scribbles behind some of the lines from before (the first line has disappeared). The lines that have more text added are now number three and five (four and six before). Cueball again speaks off-panel.]
:Miss Lenhart: Now, let's assume that the correct answer will eventually be written on the board at (x, y). If we-
:Cueball (off-panel): I ''knew'' it!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Miss Lenhart]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Math]]

Talk:1703: Juno

2016-07-06T15:33:50Z

108.162.221.13:

According to http://www.space.com/18383-how-far-away-is-jupiter.html it is about 600 million miles to Jupiter, and according to http://www.space.com/18477-how-far-away-is-saturn.html it is about 1.7 billion miles to Saturn. So they went the distance to Saturn but ended up in Jupiter. They must have gone i pretty long circles to go 1.7 billion miles to get 600 million miles away. [[User:Aquaplanet|Aquaplanet]] ([[User talk:Aquaplanet|talk]]) 14:46, 6 July 2016 (UTC)

Of course anyone who has bought a used car off Autotrader will know that how far away something is doesn't necessarily correlate particularly well to how far you have to go to get there [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.59|141.101.98.59]] 14:57, 6 July 2016 (UTC)

Several sources have reported that Juno arrived at its Jupiter orbit 1 second off schedule http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2016/07/06/how-juno-arrived-jupiter-one-second-off-schedule/86745128/. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 15:33, 6 July 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1697: Intervocalic Fortition

2016-06-22T22:55:49Z

108.162.221.13:

The idea, stated in the alt-text, that "meh" was created by writers of "The Simpsons", is incorrect. "The Simpsons", however, was responsible for widely popularizing it. See [http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2013/09/06/meh_etymology_tracing_the_yiddish_word_from_leo_rosten_to_auden_to_the_simpsons.html] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meh] [[User:Dubaaron|Dubaaron]] ([[User talk:Dubaaron|talk]]) 04:31, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
:Is it really saying that ''The Simpsons'' created the word? All it says is that it introduced the word, which does not seem to imply that it didn't exist before. If I introduce a friend of mine to another person, I most likely did not just create that other person, and there is no reason to believe that it should be any different for words.[[User:Mulan15262|Mulan15262]] ([[User talk:Mulan15262|talk]]) 13:24, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
::I don't think that "writers on The Simpsons decided to mess with future linguists" means "writers of The Simpsons introduced the word". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 14:25, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

"The" ends in a lax vowel, and it's the most ubiquitous word in the language, so that rule is wrong. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.10|108.162.221.10]] 04:45, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

: I've always seen "lax vowel" referring to full (unreduced) vowels. When unstressed, the vowel in "the" is reduced (/ðə/), and when stressed it's tense (/ði:/). [[Special:Contributions/188.114.109.66|188.114.109.66]] 05:08, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

:: Furthermore, the lax vowel is only used if 'the' is followed by another syllable, and so the utterance will not be lax-vowel-final. {{unsigned ip|162.158.2.219}}

::: How does that matter? The rule as stated was about the ending of words, not of utterances. [[User:Huttarl|Huttarl]] ([[User talk:Huttarl|talk]]) 19:21, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

::::Rules exists in reality, not as statements made by mathematicians or Randall. The actual rule is '' English doesn't allow utterances to end in a lax vowel''. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 22:55, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

:::What the? That can't be right... {{unsigned ip|162.158.83.102}}

Questions. Is this happening in (American) English? is "adverb" becoming /adferb/. Any other examples?[[User:Zeimusu|Zeimusu]] ([[User talk:Zeimusu|talk]]) 05:55, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
: I scanned some 'v' words and didn't see much. A plural of [http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000293.html dwarf] discussion; similarly wharf splits into both wharfs and wharves. 'Halving' might benefit in the sense that the 'l' is silent so it sounds like 'having' and might be more clear as 'halfing'. I've also noticed a smattering of YouTubers writing "could of/should of" instead of contracting 'have', i.e, "could've/should've". [[User:Elvenivle|Elvenivle]] ([[User talk:Elvenivle|talk]]) 06:50, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
::The pronunciation of both ''of'' and ''’ve'' is /əv/. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:35, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
:No, I don't think this is really happening. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.77|141.101.98.77]] 11:22, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
:"Adverb" doesn't have an intervocalic "v". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 14:21, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
::No, but the prank as stated in the comic "V's in the middle of words" applies to "adverb". [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.178|108.162.237.178]] 15:34, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
:Yes, [[1677|absolutely]]. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.220|108.162.237.220]] 19:38, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

It's quite surprising to see Randall misusing apostrophes to form plurals (i.e. V's and F's instead of the correct Vs and Fs).  – [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.41|141.101.98.41]] 19:36, 22 June 2016 (UTC)
:That's one of those gray/grey areas where the "rules" for apostrophes aren't firmly in place. Typographically, the apostrophe is (often) used to form plurals of lower case letters ("i's" and "m's" for clarity over "is" and "ms") and this exception tends to get carried over to capital letters, numbers, and symbols though the need for insuring clarity is reduced. It becomes a matter for style manuals rather than grammar manuals: do you follow the exception -- or the exception to the exception?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.98|108.162.221.98]] 21:07, 22 June 2016 (UTC)

1697: Intervocalic Fortition

2016-06-22T22:52:46Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Better example

{{comic
| number = 1697
| date = June 22, 2016
| title = Intervocalic Fortition
| image = intervocalic_fortition.png
| titletext = These pranks happen all the time. English doesn't allow one-syllable words to end in a lax vowel, so writers on The Simpsons decided to mess with future linguists by introducing the word "meh."
}}

==Explanation==
The linguistic processes of {{w|lenition}} ("weakening") and {{w|fortition}} ("strengthening") refer to a sound becoming, respectively, either more or less vowel-like. {{w|Intervocalic}} means "between two vowels." An unvoiced consonant like ''f'' in between two vowels (which are {{w|Voicelessness#Voiceless_vowels_and_other_sonorants|almost always}} voiced) is more noticeable and takes more effort to pronounce than the voiced version ''v'' of the same sound in that position, so a change from ''v'' to ''f'' in this context would be an example of fortition. As a rule, however, lenition is much more common, and in fact one of the most common regular changes observed across languages is the kind of lenition that is the precise opposite of Cueball's prank: An unvoiced consonant between two vowels comes to be spoken, over time, as a voiced consonant, such as the middle consonant in the word "butter" that in American English is now pronounced as ''d'' rather than ''t''. Observing a pattern of fortition rather than lenition in that position (especially for just one particular consonant) would be a very puzzling phenomenon to future linguists.

'''Examples for the suggested change are:'''
*''"Beafer"'' instead of ''beaver''
*''"Nofember"'' instead of ''November''
*''"Luffing"'' instead of ''loving''

The title text refers to the fact that English {{w|phonotactics}} [http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/169429/are-there-any-words-in-english-pronounced-with-e-at-the-end tend to discourage final or unstressed /ɛ/]. Exceptions tend to be monosyllabic interjections, such as:
* meh
* heh
* eh
* yeh

The word 'meh', is an interjection used to express boredom or indifference. The suggestion that it was originated by the writers of the animated TV show, {{w|The Simpsons}}, [http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2013/09/06/meh_etymology_tracing_the_yiddish_word_from_leo_rosten_to_auden_to_the_simpsons.html is incorrect]. However, its use surged in popularity following its use in various episodes of the show, beginning with the 1994 episode "Sideshow Bob Roberts".

==Transcript==
:[Cueball holding his hands in front of his mouth is whispering into his Cueball-like friend's ear. The friend turns his head towards Cueball.]
:Cueball: Psst - Teach your kids to pronounce V's in the middle of words as F's, but don't write down why you're doing it.
:Cueball: Pass it on.

:[Caption below the panel:]
:My hobby: Playing pranks on future linguists

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:My Hobby]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Language]]

Talk:1697: Intervocalic Fortition

2016-06-22T14:25:19Z

108.162.221.13:

Talk:1697: Intervocalic Fortition

2016-06-22T14:21:57Z

108.162.221.13:

Talk:1697: Intervocalic Fortition

2016-06-22T13:35:34Z

108.162.221.13:

1688: Map Age Guide

2016-06-01T15:09:32Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1688
| date = June 1, 2016
| title = Map Age Guide
| image = map_age_guide.png
| titletext = Does the screeching chill your blood and herald death? If yes, banshee. If no, seagull.
}}

*A [http://xkcd.com/1688/large/ larger version] of this image can be found by clicking the image at xkcd.com - the comic's page can also be accessed by clicking on the comic number above.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Many is still missing.}}
Flowchart depicting various ways to tell what era a map is from based on present country borders and land forms. Most of the options are very serious,with a few bizarre options (mistaking a seagull and breadbox for a map) or references to things like the {{w|Discworld}} books and Middle-earth, the setting of the Lord Of the Rings series. He also mentions US President Jimmy Carter being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit, an event previously referenced by [[204]].

Additionally, (possible) future maps including a "Radioactive Exclusion Zone" in the place of Colorado are mentioned. It predicts that some kind of nuclear incident will occur in Colorado (possibly at Rulison or Rio Blanco nuclear testing sites) in 2022. It also predicts that the area will be infested by radioactive spiders one year later.

The title text continues the path where the user has confused a seagull for a map by inquiring if the (presumed) seagull might be a banshee based on the effect of its screams.

(First Draft, please expand.)

Going through the flowchart, taking the leftmost path first, recursively. See {{w|Depth-first search}}.

'''Istanbul or Constantinople''': The city that is now the capital of Turkey is famous for having different names at different times or to different people. Variations on both names go back at least 1,000 years. Other names have also been used at various points. İstanbul has been the official name since the 1920's, although Western maps often referred to it as Constantinople as late as the 1960's; on the flowchart, the choice of name appears to go with the 1920's date. The name changes are the subject of a [http://mentalfloss.com/article/60314/original-istanbul-not-constantinople song], originally by the Four Lads, but now mainly known for the They Might Be Giants recording.

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / '''Independent Canada - US Territoy or Alaska - Tokyo''' Yes

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / '''Independent Canada - US Territoy or Alaska - Tokyo''' No

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / No / '''The United States'''

Neither / Does the Ottoman Empire exist? / No / '''The Soviet Union?'''

The Soviet Union is one of the largest countries ever to exist consisting of Russia and large portions of eastern Europe and central Asia. It was a major political force from 1922, when several allied soviets republics united, to 1991, when it broke up. Its very simple to find on any map that has it.

Zaire was one of a series of names for what is today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1996 a (successful) revolt began to oust the reigning government from power. As part of this revolution, the country was renamed. The origonal name change away from 'Congo' was part of an 'Africanisation' naming campaign, although 'Congo' is in origin an authentic African name for the river that set the boundaries of the nation.

Serbia and Montenegro were a remnant of Yugoslavia. Montenegro voted to become its own country in 2006.

East Timor is a nation north of Australia and south east of Indonesia. During the dutch colonization of Indonesia east Timor remained in Portuguese hands. While occupied and annexed by Indonesia since 1976, east Timor retained its own culture and voted for independence, then had a nasty militia action that required UN peacekeeping action, and finally become independent in 2002.

In 2011, after a long history of violence between the two portions of the country (which can be characterized as Islamic vs. Christian and Traditional Religions), South Sudan became independent from its northern neighbor.

In 2014, a revolution ousted the current Ukrainian president. The Crimea had its own civil unrest, and Russian troops intervened to restore order. A referendum held during this time has decided in favor of russian annexation. Many nations, including all member states of the EU and the USA, dispute the results of the referendum.

'''Is there a big lake in Southern California? (Created by Mistake)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea Salton Sea] A previously dry lakebed accidentally flooded in 1905 while attempting to increase irrigation to the area from the Colorado River

'''How far East do the American Prairies reach?'''
The Northwest Territory was incorporated in pieces ~1820s, there may be something more relavent to draw the line at Indiana though.

'''Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (Created on Purpose)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Volta Lake Volta]

'''The US's southern border looks'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_Purchase Gadsden Purchase]

'''"Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest#Etymology Buda and Pest] were originally two different cities

'''Does Russia Border the Sea of Japan?''' Russia currently borders the sea of Japan so the 1867 upper limit is because of Tokyo not existing higher in the chain. The 1858 limit is to do with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Aigun Treaty of Aigun]

'''Rhodesia?''' The dates down the chain suggest this is about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia_(region) Rhodesia the Region] not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia Rhodesia the Unrecognized state] nor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia] the British Colony

==Transcript==

Start:
* Istanbul or Constantinople?
** Constantinople:
*** Do any of these exist? Independent Canada; US Territory of Alaska; Tokyo.
**** No:
***** The Holy Roman Empire?
****** Yes:
******* 1805 or earlier (before this point, the modern idea of a complete political map of the world gets hard to apply.)
****** No:
******* The United States?
******** No:
********* How sure are you that this map is in english?
******** Yes:
********* Texas is...
********** Part of Mexico:
*********** Florida is part of...
************ Spain:
************* Paraguay?
************** No: 1806-10
************** Yes: 1811-17
************ The US:
************* Venezuela and/or ecuador?
************** No: 1818-29
************** Yes: 1830-33
********** Independent: 1834-45
********** Part of the US:
*********** Does Russia border the Sea of Japan?
************ No:
************* The US's southern border looks...
************** Weird: 1846-53
************** Normal: 1854-56
************ Yes: 1858-67
**** Yes:
***** South Africa?
****** No:
******* Rhodesia?
******** No:
********* Is Bolivia landlocked?
********** No:
*********** "Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"?
************ Buda and Pest: 1868-72
************ Budapest: 1873-83
********** Yes: 1884-95
******** Yes:
********* Is Norway part of Sweden?
********** Yes: 1896-1905
********** No: 1906-09
****** Yes:
******* Austria-Hungary?
******** Yes:
********* Albania?
********** No: 1910-12
********** Yes: 1913-18
******** No:
********* Leningrad?
********** No: 1919-23
********** Yes: 1924-29
** Neither:
*** Does the Ottoman Empire exist?
**** Yes: [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
**** No:
***** The Soviet Union?
****** Yes:
******* Saudi Arabia?
******** Yes:
********* Is most of West Africa a giant french blob?
********** Yes:
*********** Bangladesh?
************ No:
************* Is the area sout of Lake Victoria...
************** British:
*************** The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is...
**************** Hot Springs: 1948-49
**************** Truth or Consequences: 1950-52
************** Tanganyika: 1961-64
************** Tanzania: 1965-71
************ Yes: 1972-75
********** No:
*********** How many Vietnams are there?
************ Two:
************* [[#bangladesh]]
************ One:
************* Jimmy Carter is...
************** Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit: April 20, 1979
************** Fine:
*************** The Sinai is part of what country?
**************** Israel: 1976-79
**************** Mostly Israel: 1980
**************** Mostly Egypt: 1981
**************** Egypt:
***************** What's the capital of Micronesia?
****************** Kolonia:
******************* Republic of the Upper Volta or Burkina Faso?
******************** Upper Volta: 1982-84
******************** 1985-88
****************** Palikir:
******************* (number of Yemens) + (number of Germanys) = ?
******************** Four: 1989-early 1990
******************** Three: mid-1990
******************** Two: late 1990-1991
******** No: 1922-1932
****** No:
******* North Korea?
******** Yes:
********* Zaire? or: "Hong Kong (UK)"
********** Yes: 1992-96
********** No:
*********** Serbia/Montenegro are...
************ One country:
************* East Timor?
************** No: 1997-2001
************** Yes: 2002-06
************ Two countries:
************* How many Sudans are there?
************** One: 2007-11
************** Two:
************** Is Crimea disputed?
*************** Yes:
**************** "Colorado" or "Danger—Radioactive Exclusion Zone—Avoid"?
***************** Colorado: 2014-21
***************** Danger:
****************** Does the warning mention the spiders?
******************* No: 2022
******************* Yes: 2023 or later
*************** No: 2012-13
******** No:
********* Saint Trimble's Island
********** No:
*********** Is Jan Mayen part of the Kingdom of Norway?
************ Not yet:
************* [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
************ What?
************* Can you see the familiar continents?
************** Yes:
*************** This sounds like a physical map or satellite photo.
**************** Yes, that's it
***************** Is Lake Chad missing?
****************** No:
******************* How far east do the American Prairies reach?
******************** Indiana: before 1830
******************** The Mississippi: 1830s-80s
******************** Nebraska:
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Southern California? (created by mistake)
********************** No: 1860s-1900s
********************** Yes: 1910s
******************** What prairies?
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (created on purpose)
********************** No: 1920s-50s
********************** Yes: 1960s-70s
****************** Yes:
******************* Is the Aral Sea missing?
******************** No: 1970s-90s
******************** Yes: 2000s+
************** No:
*************** Rivers "Sirion" or "Anduin"?
**************** Yes:
***************** Mordor?
****************** No:
******************* Beleriand?
******************** Yes: First Age
******************** No: Early Second Age
****************** Yes:
******************* Númenor?
******************** Yes: Late Second Age
******************** No:
********************* The forest east of the Misty Mountains is...
********************** Greenwood: Early Third Age
********************** Mirkwood: Late Third Age
********************** The Wood of Greenleaves: Fourth Age
**************** No:
***************** Cair Paravel?
****************** Yes:
******************* Calormen?
******************** No:
********************* Lotta Islands?
********************** No:
*********************** Beruna
************************ Ford: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
************************ Bridge:
********************** Yes: Prince Caspian
******************** Yes:
********************* Weird recursive heaven?
********************** No: one of the random later books
********************** Yes: The Last Battle
****************** No:
******************* Mossflower?
******************** Yes:
********************* Redwall
******************** No:
********************* Is the world on the back of a turtle?
********************** Yes: Discworld
********************** No:
*********************** Are you _sure_ this is a map?
************************ Yes:
************************* Did you make it yourself?
************************** Yes:
*************************** It's very nice.
**************************** Thank you!
************************ No:
************************* Is it trying to bite you?
************************** No:
*************************** Is it larger than a breadbox?
**************************** Yes: tuba
**************************** No: stapler
**************************** About the same: breadbox
************************** Yes:
*************************** If you let it go, what does it do?
**************************** Hisses and runs away: cat
**************************** Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things: seagull
************ Yes:
************* Pakistan?
************** No:
*************** How many Germanys are there?
**************** One:
***************** Persia or Iran?
****************** Persia: 1930-34
****************** Iran: 1935-40
**************** One, but it's _huge_: 1941-45
**************** Two: 1946-47
************** Yes:
*************** Cambodia?
**************** No:
***************** Eritrea is part of...
****************** Italy:
******************* Canada is...
******************** Missing a piece: 1948
******************** Fine: 1949-52
****************** Ethiopia: 1952-53
**************** Yes:
***************** The United Arab Republic?
****************** No: 1954-57
****************** Yes: 1958-60
********** Yes: No, I made that one up.
** Istanbul:
*** Does the Soviet Union exist?
**** Yes:
***** [[#west-africa-french-blob]]
**** No:
***** [[#zaire]]

{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Geography]]

1688: Map Age Guide

2016-06-01T15:06:52Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1688
| date = June 1, 2016
| title = Map Age Guide
| image = map_age_guide.png
| titletext = Does the screeching chill your blood and herald death? If yes, banshee. If no, seagull.
}}

*A [http://xkcd.com/1688/large/ larger version] of this image can be found by clicking the image at xkcd.com - the comic's page can also be accessed by clicking on the comic number above.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Many is still missing.}}
Flowchart depicting various ways to tell what era a map is from based on present country borders and land forms. Most of the options are very serious,with a few bizarre options (mistaking a seagull and breadbox for a map) or references to things like the {{w|Discworld}} books and Middle-earth, the setting of the Lord Of the Rings series. He also mentions US President Jimmy Carter being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit, an event previously referenced by [[204]].

Additionally, (possible) future maps including a "Radioactive Exclusion Zone" in the place of Colorado are mentioned. It predicts that some kind of nuclear incident will occur in Colorado (possibly at Rulison or Rio Blanco nuclear testing sites) in 2022. It also predicts that the area will be infested by radioactive spiders one year later.

The title text continues the path where the user has confused a seagull for a map by inquiring if the (presumed) seagull might be a banshee based on the effect of its screams.

(First Draft, please expand.)

Going through the flowchart, taking the leftmost path first, recursively. See {{w|Depth-first search}}.

'''Istanbul or Constantinople''': The city that is now the capital of Turkey is famous for having different names at different times or to different people. Variations on both names go back at least 1,000 years. Other names have also been used at various points. İstanbul has been the official name since the 1920's, although Western maps often referred to it as Constantinople as late as the 1960's; on the flowchart, the choice of name appears to go with the 1920's date. The name changes are the subject of a [http://mentalfloss.com/article/60314/original-istanbul-not-constantinople song], originally by the Four Lads, but now mainly known for the They Might Be Giants recording.

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / '''Independent Canada - US Territoy or Alaska - Tokyo''' Yes

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / '''Independent Canada - US Territoy or Alaska - Tokyo''' No

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / No / '''The United States'''

The Soviet Union is one of the largest countries ever to exist consisting of Russia and large portions of eastern Europe and central Asia. It was a major political force from 1922, when several allied soviets republics united, to 1991, when it broke up. Its very simple to find on any map that has it.

Zaire was one of a series of names for what is today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1996 a (successful) revolt began to oust the reigning government from power. As part of this revolution, the country was renamed. The origonal name change away from 'Congo' was part of an 'Africanisation' naming campaign, although 'Congo' is in origin an authentic African name for the river that set the boundaries of the nation.

Serbia and Montenegro were a remnant of Yugoslavia. Montenegro voted to become its own country in 2006.

East Timor is a nation north of Australia and south east of Indonesia. During the dutch colonization of Indonesia east Timor remained in Portuguese hands. While occupied and annexed by Indonesia since 1976, east Timor retained its own culture and voted for independence, then had a nasty militia action that required UN peacekeeping action, and finally become independent in 2002.

In 2011, after a long history of violence between the two portions of the country (which can be characterized as Islamic vs. Christian and Traditional Religions), South Sudan became independent from its northern neighbor.

In 2014, a revolution ousted the current Ukrainian president. The Crimea had its own civil unrest, and Russian troops intervened to restore order. A referendum held during this time has decided in favor of russian annexation. Many nations, including all member states of the EU and the USA, dispute the results of the referendum.

'''Is there a big lake in Southern California? (Created by Mistake)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea Salton Sea] A previously dry lakebed accidentally flooded in 1905 while attempting to increase irrigation to the area from the Colorado River

'''How far East do the American Prairies reach?'''
The Northwest Territory was incorporated in pieces ~1820s, there may be something more relavent to draw the line at Indiana though.

'''Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (Created on Purpose)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Volta Lake Volta]

'''The US's southern border looks'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_Purchase Gadsden Purchase]

'''"Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest#Etymology Buda and Pest] were originally two different cities

'''Does Russia Border the Sea of Japan?''' Russia currently borders the sea of Japan so the 1867 upper limit is because of Tokyo not existing higher in the chain. The 1858 limit is to do with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Aigun Treaty of Aigun]

'''Rhodesia?''' The dates down the chain suggest this is about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia_(region) Rhodesia the Region] not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia Rhodesia the Unrecognized state] nor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia] the British Colony

==Transcript==

Start:
* Istanbul or Constantinople?
** Constantinople:
*** Do any of these exist? Independent Canada; US Territory of Alaska; Tokyo.
**** No:
***** The Holy Roman Empire?
****** Yes:
******* 1805 or earlier (before this point, the modern idea of a complete political map of the world gets hard to apply.)
****** No:
******* The United States?
******** No:
********* How sure are you that this map is in english?
******** Yes:
********* Texas is...
********** Part of Mexico:
*********** Florida is part of...
************ Spain:
************* Paraguay?
************** No: 1806-10
************** Yes: 1811-17
************ The US:
************* Venezuela and/or ecuador?
************** No: 1818-29
************** Yes: 1830-33
********** Independent: 1834-45
********** Part of the US:
*********** Does Russia border the Sea of Japan?
************ No:
************* The US's southern border looks...
************** Weird: 1846-53
************** Normal: 1854-56
************ Yes: 1858-67
**** Yes:
***** South Africa?
****** No:
******* Rhodesia?
******** No:
********* Is Bolivia landlocked?
********** No:
*********** "Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"?
************ Buda and Pest: 1868-72
************ Budapest: 1873-83
********** Yes: 1884-95
******** Yes:
********* Is Norway part of Sweden?
********** Yes: 1896-1905
********** No: 1906-09
****** Yes:
******* Austria-Hungary?
******** Yes:
********* Albania?
********** No: 1910-12
********** Yes: 1913-18
******** No:
********* Leningrad?
********** No: 1919-23
********** Yes: 1924-29
** Neither:
*** Does the Ottoman Empire exist?
**** Yes: [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
**** No:
***** The Soviet Union?
****** Yes:
******* Saudi Arabia?
******** Yes:
********* Is most of West Africa a giant french blob?
********** Yes:
*********** Bangladesh?
************ No:
************* Is the area sout of Lake Victoria...
************** British:
*************** The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is...
**************** Hot Springs: 1948-49
**************** Truth or Consequences: 1950-52
************** Tanganyika: 1961-64
************** Tanzania: 1965-71
************ Yes: 1972-75
********** No:
*********** How many Vietnams are there?
************ Two:
************* [[#bangladesh]]
************ One:
************* Jimmy Carter is...
************** Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit: April 20, 1979
************** Fine:
*************** The Sinai is part of what country?
**************** Israel: 1976-79
**************** Mostly Israel: 1980
**************** Mostly Egypt: 1981
**************** Egypt:
***************** What's the capital of Micronesia?
****************** Kolonia:
******************* Republic of the Upper Volta or Burkina Faso?
******************** Upper Volta: 1982-84
******************** 1985-88
****************** Palikir:
******************* (number of Yemens) + (number of Germanys) = ?
******************** Four: 1989-early 1990
******************** Three: mid-1990
******************** Two: late 1990-1991
******** No: 1922-1932
****** No:
******* North Korea?
******** Yes:
********* Zaire? or: "Hong Kong (UK)"
********** Yes: 1992-96
********** No:
*********** Serbia/Montenegro are...
************ One country:
************* East Timor?
************** No: 1997-2001
************** Yes: 2002-06
************ Two countries:
************* How many Sudans are there?
************** One: 2007-11
************** Two:
************** Is Crimea disputed?
*************** Yes:
**************** "Colorado" or "Danger—Radioactive Exclusion Zone—Avoid"?
***************** Colorado: 2014-21
***************** Danger:
****************** Does the warning mention the spiders?
******************* No: 2022
******************* Yes: 2023 or later
*************** No: 2012-13
******** No:
********* Saint Trimble's Island
********** No:
*********** Is Jan Mayen part of the Kingdom of Norway?
************ Not yet:
************* [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
************ What?
************* Can you see the familiar continents?
************** Yes:
*************** This sounds like a physical map or satellite photo.
**************** Yes, that's it
***************** Is Lake Chad missing?
****************** No:
******************* How far east do the American Prairies reach?
******************** Indiana: before 1830
******************** The Mississippi: 1830s-80s
******************** Nebraska:
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Southern California? (created by mistake)
********************** No: 1860s-1900s
********************** Yes: 1910s
******************** What prairies?
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (created on purpose)
********************** No: 1920s-50s
********************** Yes: 1960s-70s
****************** Yes:
******************* Is the Aral Sea missing?
******************** No: 1970s-90s
******************** Yes: 2000s+
************** No:
*************** Rivers "Sirion" or "Anduin"?
**************** Yes:
***************** Mordor?
****************** No:
******************* Beleriand?
******************** Yes: First Age
******************** No: Early Second Age
****************** Yes:
******************* Númenor?
******************** Yes: Late Second Age
******************** No:
********************* The forest east of the Misty Mountains is...
********************** Greenwood: Early Third Age
********************** Mirkwood: Late Third Age
********************** The Wood of Greenleaves: Fourth Age
**************** No:
***************** Cair Paravel?
****************** Yes:
******************* Calormen?
******************** No:
********************* Lotta Islands?
********************** No:
*********************** Beruna
************************ Ford: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
************************ Bridge:
********************** Yes: Prince Caspian
******************** Yes:
********************* Weird recursive heaven?
********************** No: one of the random later books
********************** Yes: The Last Battle
****************** No:
******************* Mossflower?
******************** Yes:
********************* Redwall
******************** No:
********************* Is the world on the back of a turtle?
********************** Yes: Discworld
********************** No:
*********************** Are you _sure_ this is a map?
************************ Yes:
************************* Did you make it yourself?
************************** Yes:
*************************** It's very nice.
**************************** Thank you!
************************ No:
************************* Is it trying to bite you?
************************** No:
*************************** Is it larger than a breadbox?
**************************** Yes: tuba
**************************** No: stapler
**************************** About the same: breadbox
************************** Yes:
*************************** If you let it go, what does it do?
**************************** Hisses and runs away: cat
**************************** Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things: seagull
************ Yes:
************* Pakistan?
************** No:
*************** How many Germanys are there?
**************** One:
***************** Persia or Iran?
****************** Persia: 1930-34
****************** Iran: 1935-40
**************** One, but it's _huge_: 1941-45
**************** Two: 1946-47
************** Yes:
*************** Cambodia?
**************** No:
***************** Eritrea is part of...
****************** Italy:
******************* Canada is...
******************** Missing a piece: 1948
******************** Fine: 1949-52
****************** Ethiopia: 1952-53
**************** Yes:
***************** The United Arab Republic?
****************** No: 1954-57
****************** Yes: 1958-60
********** Yes: No, I made that one up.
** Istanbul:
*** Does the Soviet Union exist?
**** Yes:
***** [[#west-africa-french-blob]]
**** No:
***** [[#zaire]]

{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Geography]]

1688: Map Age Guide

2016-06-01T15:05:31Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1688
| date = June 1, 2016
| title = Map Age Guide
| image = map_age_guide.png
| titletext = Does the screeching chill your blood and herald death? If yes, banshee. If no, seagull.
}}

*A [http://xkcd.com/1688/large/ larger version] of this image can be found by clicking the image at xkcd.com - the comic's page can also be accessed by clicking on the comic number above.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Many is still missing.}}
Flowchart depicting various ways to tell what era a map is from based on present country borders and land forms. Most of the options are very serious,with a few bizarre options (mistaking a seagull and breadbox for a map) or references to things like the {{w|Discworld}} books and Middle-earth, the setting of the Lord Of the Rings series. He also mentions US President Jimmy Carter being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit, an event previously referenced by [[204]].

Additionally, (possible) future maps including a "Radioactive Exclusion Zone" in the place of Colorado are mentioned. It predicts that some kind of nuclear incident will occur in Colorado (possibly at Rulison or Rio Blanco nuclear testing sites) in 2022. It also predicts that the area will be infested by radioactive spiders one year later.

The title text continues the path where the user has confused a seagull for a map by inquiring if the (presumed) seagull might be a banshee based on the effect of its screams.

(First Draft, please expand.)

Going through the flowchart, taking the leftmost path first, recursively. See {{w|Depth-first search}}.

'''Istanbul or Constantinople''': The city that is now the capital of Turkey is famous for having different names at different times or to different people. Variations on both names go back at least 1,000 years. Other names have also been used at various points. İstanbul has been the official name since the 1920's, although Western maps often referred to it as Constantinople as late as the 1960's; on the flowchart, the choice of name appears to go with the 1920's date. The name changes are the subject of a [http://mentalfloss.com/article/60314/original-istanbul-not-constantinople song], originally by the Four Lads, but now mainly known for the They Might Be Giants recording.

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / '''Independent Canada - US Territoy or Alaska - Tokyo''' Yes

Constantinople / Do any of these exist? / '''Independent Canada - US Territoy or Alaska - Tokyo''' No

The Soviet Union is one of the largest countries ever to exist consisting of Russia and large portions of eastern Europe and central Asia. It was a major political force from 1922, when several allied soviets republics united, to 1991, when it broke up. Its very simple to find on any map that has it.

Zaire was one of a series of names for what is today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1996 a (successful) revolt began to oust the reigning government from power. As part of this revolution, the country was renamed. The origonal name change away from 'Congo' was part of an 'Africanisation' naming campaign, although 'Congo' is in origin an authentic African name for the river that set the boundaries of the nation.

Serbia and Montenegro were a remnant of Yugoslavia. Montenegro voted to become its own country in 2006.

East Timor is a nation north of Australia and south east of Indonesia. During the dutch colonization of Indonesia east Timor remained in Portuguese hands. While occupied and annexed by Indonesia since 1976, east Timor retained its own culture and voted for independence, then had a nasty militia action that required UN peacekeeping action, and finally become independent in 2002.

In 2011, after a long history of violence between the two portions of the country (which can be characterized as Islamic vs. Christian and Traditional Religions), South Sudan became independent from its northern neighbor.

In 2014, a revolution ousted the current Ukrainian president. The Crimea had its own civil unrest, and Russian troops intervened to restore order. A referendum held during this time has decided in favor of russian annexation. Many nations, including all member states of the EU and the USA, dispute the results of the referendum.

'''Is there a big lake in Southern California? (Created by Mistake)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea Salton Sea] A previously dry lakebed accidentally flooded in 1905 while attempting to increase irrigation to the area from the Colorado River

'''How far East do the American Prairies reach?'''
The Northwest Territory was incorporated in pieces ~1820s, there may be something more relavent to draw the line at Indiana though.

'''Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (Created on Purpose)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Volta Lake Volta]

'''The US's southern border looks'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_Purchase Gadsden Purchase]

'''"Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest#Etymology Buda and Pest] were originally two different cities

'''Does Russia Border the Sea of Japan?''' Russia currently borders the sea of Japan so the 1867 upper limit is because of Tokyo not existing higher in the chain. The 1858 limit is to do with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Aigun Treaty of Aigun]

'''Rhodesia?''' The dates down the chain suggest this is about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia_(region) Rhodesia the Region] not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia Rhodesia the Unrecognized state] nor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia] the British Colony

==Transcript==

Start:
* Istanbul or Constantinople?
** Constantinople:
*** Do any of these exist? Independent Canada; US Territory of Alaska; Tokyo.
**** No:
***** The Holy Roman Empire?
****** Yes:
******* 1805 or earlier (before this point, the modern idea of a complete political map of the world gets hard to apply.)
****** No:
******* The United States?
******** No:
********* How sure are you that this map is in english?
******** Yes:
********* Texas is...
********** Part of Mexico:
*********** Florida is part of...
************ Spain:
************* Paraguay?
************** No: 1806-10
************** Yes: 1811-17
************ The US:
************* Venezuela and/or ecuador?
************** No: 1818-29
************** Yes: 1830-33
********** Independent: 1834-45
********** Part of the US:
*********** Does Russia border the Sea of Japan?
************ No:
************* The US's southern border looks...
************** Weird: 1846-53
************** Normal: 1854-56
************ Yes: 1858-67
**** Yes:
***** South Africa?
****** No:
******* Rhodesia?
******** No:
********* Is Bolivia landlocked?
********** No:
*********** "Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"?
************ Buda and Pest: 1868-72
************ Budapest: 1873-83
********** Yes: 1884-95
******** Yes:
********* Is Norway part of Sweden?
********** Yes: 1896-1905
********** No: 1906-09
****** Yes:
******* Austria-Hungary?
******** Yes:
********* Albania?
********** No: 1910-12
********** Yes: 1913-18
******** No:
********* Leningrad?
********** No: 1919-23
********** Yes: 1924-29
** Neither:
*** Does the Ottoman Empire exist?
**** Yes: [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
**** No:
***** The Soviet Union?
****** Yes:
******* Saudi Arabia?
******** Yes:
********* Is most of West Africa a giant french blob?
********** Yes:
*********** Bangladesh?
************ No:
************* Is the area sout of Lake Victoria...
************** British:
*************** The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is...
**************** Hot Springs: 1948-49
**************** Truth or Consequences: 1950-52
************** Tanganyika: 1961-64
************** Tanzania: 1965-71
************ Yes: 1972-75
********** No:
*********** How many Vietnams are there?
************ Two:
************* [[#bangladesh]]
************ One:
************* Jimmy Carter is...
************** Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit: April 20, 1979
************** Fine:
*************** The Sinai is part of what country?
**************** Israel: 1976-79
**************** Mostly Israel: 1980
**************** Mostly Egypt: 1981
**************** Egypt:
***************** What's the capital of Micronesia?
****************** Kolonia:
******************* Republic of the Upper Volta or Burkina Faso?
******************** Upper Volta: 1982-84
******************** 1985-88
****************** Palikir:
******************* (number of Yemens) + (number of Germanys) = ?
******************** Four: 1989-early 1990
******************** Three: mid-1990
******************** Two: late 1990-1991
******** No: 1922-1932
****** No:
******* North Korea?
******** Yes:
********* Zaire? or: "Hong Kong (UK)"
********** Yes: 1992-96
********** No:
*********** Serbia/Montenegro are...
************ One country:
************* East Timor?
************** No: 1997-2001
************** Yes: 2002-06
************ Two countries:
************* How many Sudans are there?
************** One: 2007-11
************** Two:
************** Is Crimea disputed?
*************** Yes:
**************** "Colorado" or "Danger—Radioactive Exclusion Zone—Avoid"?
***************** Colorado: 2014-21
***************** Danger:
****************** Does the warning mention the spiders?
******************* No: 2022
******************* Yes: 2023 or later
*************** No: 2012-13
******** No:
********* Saint Trimble's Island
********** No:
*********** Is Jan Mayen part of the Kingdom of Norway?
************ Not yet:
************* [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
************ What?
************* Can you see the familiar continents?
************** Yes:
*************** This sounds like a physical map or satellite photo.
**************** Yes, that's it
***************** Is Lake Chad missing?
****************** No:
******************* How far east do the American Prairies reach?
******************** Indiana: before 1830
******************** The Mississippi: 1830s-80s
******************** Nebraska:
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Southern California? (created by mistake)
********************** No: 1860s-1900s
********************** Yes: 1910s
******************** What prairies?
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (created on purpose)
********************** No: 1920s-50s
********************** Yes: 1960s-70s
****************** Yes:
******************* Is the Aral Sea missing?
******************** No: 1970s-90s
******************** Yes: 2000s+
************** No:
*************** Rivers "Sirion" or "Anduin"?
**************** Yes:
***************** Mordor?
****************** No:
******************* Beleriand?
******************** Yes: First Age
******************** No: Early Second Age
****************** Yes:
******************* Númenor?
******************** Yes: Late Second Age
******************** No:
********************* The forest east of the Misty Mountains is...
********************** Greenwood: Early Third Age
********************** Mirkwood: Late Third Age
********************** The Wood of Greenleaves: Fourth Age
**************** No:
***************** Cair Paravel?
****************** Yes:
******************* Calormen?
******************** No:
********************* Lotta Islands?
********************** No:
*********************** Beruna
************************ Ford: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
************************ Bridge:
********************** Yes: Prince Caspian
******************** Yes:
********************* Weird recursive heaven?
********************** No: one of the random later books
********************** Yes: The Last Battle
****************** No:
******************* Mossflower?
******************** Yes:
********************* Redwall
******************** No:
********************* Is the world on the back of a turtle?
********************** Yes: Discworld
********************** No:
*********************** Are you _sure_ this is a map?
************************ Yes:
************************* Did you make it yourself?
************************** Yes:
*************************** It's very nice.
**************************** Thank you!
************************ No:
************************* Is it trying to bite you?
************************** No:
*************************** Is it larger than a breadbox?
**************************** Yes: tuba
**************************** No: stapler
**************************** About the same: breadbox
************************** Yes:
*************************** If you let it go, what does it do?
**************************** Hisses and runs away: cat
**************************** Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things: seagull
************ Yes:
************* Pakistan?
************** No:
*************** How many Germanys are there?
**************** One:
***************** Persia or Iran?
****************** Persia: 1930-34
****************** Iran: 1935-40
**************** One, but it's _huge_: 1941-45
**************** Two: 1946-47
************** Yes:
*************** Cambodia?
**************** No:
***************** Eritrea is part of...
****************** Italy:
******************* Canada is...
******************** Missing a piece: 1948
******************** Fine: 1949-52
****************** Ethiopia: 1952-53
**************** Yes:
***************** The United Arab Republic?
****************** No: 1954-57
****************** Yes: 1958-60
********** Yes: No, I made that one up.
** Istanbul:
*** Does the Soviet Union exist?
**** Yes:
***** [[#west-africa-french-blob]]
**** No:
***** [[#zaire]]

{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Geography]]

1688: Map Age Guide

2016-06-01T14:53:38Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Please use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth-first_search

{{comic
| number = 1688
| date = June 1, 2016
| title = Map Age Guide
| image = map_age_guide.png
| titletext = Does the screeching chill your blood and herald death? If yes, banshee. If no, seagull.
}}

*A [http://xkcd.com/1688/large/ larger version] of this image can be found by clicking the image at xkcd.com - the comic's page can also be accessed by clicking on the comic number above.

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Many is still missing.}}
Flowchart depicting various ways to tell what era a map is from based on present country borders and land forms. Most of the options are very serious,with a few bizarre options (mistaking a seagull and breadbox for a map) or references to things like the {{w|Discworld}} books and Middle-earth, the setting of the Lord Of the Rings series. He also mentions US President Jimmy Carter being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit, an event previously referenced by [[204]].

Additionally, (possible) future maps including a "Radioactive Exclusion Zone" in the place of Colorado are mentioned.

The title text continues the path where the user has confused a seagull for a map by inquiring if the (presumed) seagull might be a banshee based on the effect of its screams.

(First Draft, please expand.)

Going through the flowchart, taking the leftmost path first, recursively. See {{w|Depth-first search}}.

'''Istanbul or Constantinople''': The city that is now the capital of Turkey is famous for having different names at different times or to different people. Variations on both names go back at least 1,000 years. Other names have also been used at various points. İstanbul has been the official name since the 1920's, although Western maps often referred to it as Constantinople as late as the 1960's; on the flowchart, the choice of name appears to go with the 1920's date. The name changes are the subject of a [http://mentalfloss.com/article/60314/original-istanbul-not-constantinople song], originally by the Four Lads, but now mainly known for the They Might Be Giants recording.

(rightmost path first)

The Soviet Union is one of the largest countries ever to exist consisting of Russia and large portions of eastern Europe and central Asia. It was a major political force from 1922, when several allied soviets republics united, to 1991, when it broke up. Its very simple to find on any map that has it.

Zaire was one of a series of names for what is today called the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 1996 a (successful) revolt began to oust the reigning government from power. As part of this revolution, the country was renamed. The origonal name change away from 'Congo' was part of an 'Africanisation' naming campaign, although 'Congo' is in origin an authentic African name for the river that set the boundaries of the nation.

Serbia and Montenegro were a remnant of Yugoslavia. Montenegro voted to become its own country in 2006.

East Timor is a nation north of Australia and south east of Indonesia. During the dutch colonization of Indonesia east Timor remained in Portuguese hands. While occupied and annexed by Indonesia since 1976, east Timor retained its own culture and voted for independence, then had a nasty militia action that required UN peacekeeping action, and finally become independent in 2002.

In 2011, after a long history of violence between the two portions of the country (which can be characterized as Islamic vs. Christian and Traditional Religions), South Sudan became independent from its northern neighbor.

'''Is there a big lake in Southern California? (Created by Mistake)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salton_Sea Salton Sea] A previously dry lakebed accidentally flooded in 1905 while attempting to increase irrigation to the area from the Colorado River

'''How far East do the American Prairies reach?'''
The Northwest Territory was incorporated in pieces ~1820s, there may be something more relavent to draw the line at Indiana though.

'''Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (Created on Purpose)'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Volta Lake Volta]

'''The US's southern border looks'''
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_Purchase Gadsden Purchase]

'''"Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"''' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest#Etymology Buda and Pest] were originally two different cities

'''Does Russia Border the Sea of Japan?''' Russia currently borders the sea of Japan so the 1867 upper limit is because of Tokyo not existing higher in the chain. The 1858 limit is to do with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Aigun Treaty of Aigun]

'''Rhodesia?''' The dates down the chain suggest this is about [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia_(region) Rhodesia the Region] not [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodesia Rhodesia the Unrecognized state] nor [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia] the British Colony

==Transcript==

Start:
* Istanbul or Constantinople?
** Constantinople:
*** Do any of these exist? Independent Canada; US Territory of Alaska; Tokyo.
**** No:
***** The Holy Roman Empire?
****** Yes:
******* 1805 or earlier (before this point, the modern idea of a complete political map of the world gets hard to apply.)
****** No:
******* The United States?
******** No:
********* How sure are you that this map is in english?
******** Yes:
********* Texas is...
********** Part of Mexico:
*********** Florida is part of...
************ Spain:
************* Paraguay?
************** No: 1806-10
************** Yes: 1811-17
************ The US:
************* Venezuela and/or ecuador?
************** No: 1818-29
************** Yes: 1830-33
********** Independent: 1834-45
********** Part of the US:
*********** Does Russia border the Sea of Japan?
************ No:
************* The US's southern border looks...
************** Weird: 1846-53
************** Normal: 1854-56
************ Yes: 1858-67
**** Yes:
***** South Africa?
****** No:
******* Rhodesia?
******** No:
********* Is Bolivia landlocked?
********** No:
*********** "Buda" and "Pest" or "Budapest"?
************ Buda and Pest: 1868-72
************ Budapest: 1873-83
********** Yes: 1884-95
******** Yes:
********* Is Norway part of Sweden?
********** Yes: 1896-1905
********** No: 1906-09
****** Yes:
******* Austria-Hungary?
******** Yes:
********* Albania?
********** No: 1910-12
********** Yes: 1913-18
******** No:
********* Leningrad?
********** No: 1919-23
********** Yes: 1924-29
** Neither:
*** Does the Ottoman Empire exist?
**** Yes: [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
**** No:
***** The Soviet Union?
****** Yes:
******* Saudi Arabia?
******** Yes:
********* Is most of West Africa a giant french blob?
********** Yes:
*********** Bangladesh?
************ No:
************* Is the area sout of Lake Victoria...
************** British:
*************** The town on I-25 between Albuquerque and El Paso is...
**************** Hot Springs: 1948-49
**************** Truth or Consequences: 1950-52
************** Tanganyika: 1961-64
************** Tanzania: 1965-71
************ Yes: 1972-75
********** No:
*********** How many Vietnams are there?
************ Two:
************* [[#bangladesh]]
************ One:
************* Jimmy Carter is...
************** Being attacked by a giant swimming rabbit: April 20, 1979
************** Fine:
*************** The Sinai is part of what country?
**************** Israel: 1976-79
**************** Mostly Israel: 1980
**************** Mostly Egypt: 1981
**************** Egypt:
***************** What's the capital of Micronesia?
****************** Kolonia:
******************* Republic of the Upper Volta or Burkina Faso?
******************** Upper Volta: 1982-84
******************** 1985-88
****************** Palikir:
******************* (number of Yemens) + (number of Germanys) = ?
******************** Four: 1989-early 1990
******************** Three: mid-1990
******************** Two: late 1990-1991
******** No: 1922-1932
****** No:
******* North Korea?
******** Yes:
********* Zaire? or: "Hong Kong (UK)"
********** Yes: 1992-96
********** No:
*********** Serbia/Montenegro are...
************ One country:
************* East Timor?
************** No: 1997-2001
************** Yes: 2002-06
************ Two countries:
************* How many Sudans are there?
************** One: 2007-11
************** Two:
************** Is Crimea disputed?
*************** Yes:
**************** "Colorado" or "Danger—Radioactive Exclusion Zone—Avoid"?
***************** Colorado: 2014-21
***************** Danger:
****************** Does the warning mention the spiders?
******************* No: 2022
******************* Yes: 2023 or later
*************** No: 2012-13
******** No:
********* Saint Trimble's Island
********** No:
*********** Is Jan Mayen part of the Kingdom of Norway?
************ Not yet:
************* [[#canada-alaska-tokyo]]
************ What?
************* Can you see the familiar continents?
************** Yes:
*************** This sounds like a physical map or satellite photo.
**************** Yes, that's it
***************** Is Lake Chad missing?
****************** No:
******************* How far east do the American Prairies reach?
******************** Indiana: before 1830
******************** The Mississippi: 1830s-80s
******************** Nebraska:
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Southern California? (created by mistake)
********************** No: 1860s-1900s
********************** Yes: 1910s
******************** What prairies?
********************* Is there a big lake in the middle of Ghana? (created on purpose)
********************** No: 1920s-50s
********************** Yes: 1960s-70s
****************** Yes:
******************* Is the Aral Sea missing?
******************** No: 1970s-90s
******************** Yes: 2000s+
************** No:
*************** Rivers "Sirion" or "Anduin"?
**************** Yes:
***************** Mordor?
****************** No:
******************* Beleriand?
******************** Yes: First Age
******************** No: Early Second Age
****************** Yes:
******************* Númenor?
******************** Yes: Late Second Age
******************** No:
********************* The forest east of the Misty Mountains is...
********************** Greenwood: Early Third Age
********************** Mirkwood: Late Third Age
********************** The Wood of Greenleaves: Fourth Age
**************** No:
***************** Cair Paravel?
****************** Yes:
******************* Calormen?
******************** No:
********************* Lotta Islands?
********************** No:
*********************** Beruna
************************ Ford: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
************************ Bridge:
********************** Yes: Prince Caspian
******************** Yes:
********************* Weird recursive heaven?
********************** No: one of the random later books
********************** Yes: The Last Battle
****************** No:
******************* Mossflower?
******************** Yes:
********************* Redwall
******************** No:
********************* Is the world on the back of a turtle?
********************** Yes: Discworld
********************** No:
*********************** Are you _sure_ this is a map?
************************ Yes:
************************* Did you make it yourself?
************************** Yes:
*************************** It's very nice.
**************************** Thank you!
************************ No:
************************* Is it trying to bite you?
************************** No:
*************************** Is it larger than a breadbox?
**************************** Yes: tuba
**************************** No: stapler
**************************** About the same: breadbox
************************** Yes:
*************************** If you let it go, what does it do?
**************************** Hisses and runs away: cat
**************************** Screeches and flaps around the room breaking things: seagull
************ Yes:
************* Pakistan?
************** No:
*************** How many Germanys are there?
**************** One:
***************** Persia or Iran?
****************** Persia: 1930-34
****************** Iran: 1935-40
**************** One, but it's _huge_: 1941-45
**************** Two: 1946-47
************** Yes:
*************** Cambodia?
**************** No:
***************** Eritrea is part of...
****************** Italy:
******************* Canada is...
******************** Missing a piece: 1948
******************** Fine: 1949-52
****************** Ethiopia: 1952-53
**************** Yes:
***************** The United Arab Republic?
****************** No: 1954-57
****************** Yes: 1958-60
********** Yes: No, I made that one up.
** Istanbul:
*** Does the Soviet Union exist?
**** Yes:
***** [[#west-africa-french-blob]]
**** No:
***** [[#zaire]]

{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Large drawings]]
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Time]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Geography]]

29: Hitler

2016-06-01T03:36:27Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 29
| date = November 11, 2005
| title = Hitler
| image = hitler.jpg
| titletext = So he's saying that God thought Hitler's art was so bad that the Holocaust was an acceptable alternative. It's no secret that the hat guy is closely based on Aram, from Men in Hats.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] speaks to an early version of [[Black Hat]] (with more of a top hat than his later "boater" hat style) about the {{w|Holocaust}} and {{w|Adolf Hitler}}. Hitler was the leader of {{w|Nazi}} Germany beginning 1933 and starting {{w|World War II}} in 1939 by attacking Poland. During that war the Germans (under Hitler's leadership) killed millions of people; most of them were Jews, but other ethnic groups, homosexuals, and the mentally disabled were all targeted as well. This has come to be known as the Holocaust.

Black Hat's comment that Hitler wanted to be a painter, but did not get into art school is historically accurate. He applied to the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts twice. In any event, Cueball implies in the second frame that had Hitler been accepted into art school, the course of history might have changed and the Holocaust might never have occurred. Black Hat suggests that perhaps God intentionally prevented Hitler from becoming an artist because God is an "art lover" and Hitler's art was terrible.

As with other early comics, the title text explains the comic for us: this implies that God would have preferred the Holocaust to have occurred rather than allow Hitler to make some bad paintings. Such a comment that God could be so callous would surely be offensive to many people. Cueball's reaction to this shocking statement is relatively mild and suggests that Black Hat has made such controversial statements before. He will make a similarly controversial and Nazi-related statement again in [[984: Space Launch System]].

The title text also informs the reader that Black Hat is based on a character named Aram from a now-defunct comic strip entitled [http://www.meninhats.com/ ''Men in Hats'']. In the original quote when this comic were posted on [[LiveJournal]] (see [[#Trivia|Trivia]]) [[Randall]] directed the user to a specific ''Men in Hats'' comic about [http://meninhats.com/d/20040225.html parenting]. Like Black Hat, Aram seems to have frequently made judgmental, insulting or controversial comments in a very emotionless manner. Aram wore a grey (perhaps intended to be black) suit with a red bowtie and a black top hat with white strip above the brim. Black Hat's hat clearly evolved from the top hat design later in xkcd.

This may be the comic where Black Hat truly comes into existence for the first time. He appears earlier in [[12: Poisson]], but that was actually first released more than a month later. Then there is also [[24: Godel, Escher, Kurt Halsey]], released a good month earlier. But here Black Hat does not really resemble his later appearances.

==Transcript==
:[Black Hat and Cueball are talking together in the same position in all four panels.]
:Cueball: Learning about the Holocaust has really shaken my belief in God.

:Black Hat: You know, as a young man, Hitler was rejected from art school.
:Cueball: Yeah... shame he didn't get in

:Black Hat: Well, have you seen any of his paintings? They're awful. Defy all rules of composition.
:Cueball: What are you suggesting?

:Black Hat: Maybe there is a god, but he's a real art lover.
:Cueball: This is why I don't go out in public with you.

==Trivia==
*This was the 31th comic originally posted to [[LiveJournal]].
**The previous was [[34: Flowers]].
**The next was [[28: Elefino]].
*Original title: "Friday's Drawing - Hitler"
*Original quote from [[Randall]]: "Yes, it's entirely possible that those two are [http://meninhats.com/d/20040225.html Aram and Gamal]."
**The link is to a specific comic from the comic ''Men in Hats''.
*This comic was posted on [[xkcd]] when the web site opened on Sunday the 1st of January 2006.
**It was posted along [[:Category:First day on xkcd|with all 41 comics]] posted before that on LiveJournal as well as a few others.
**The latter explaining why the numbers of these 41 LiveJournal comics ranges from 1-44.
*One of the original drawings drawn on [[:Category:Checkered paper|checkered paper]].

{{Comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics posted on livejournal| 31]]
[[Category:First day on xkcd]]
[[Category:Checkered paper]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hitler]]
[[Category:Religion]]

Talk:1680: Black Hole

2016-05-13T13:42:29Z

108.162.221.13: /* Worst explanation ever */

IF the explanation of "Milkshake" being a coded message is correct, then I like how Melis plays with it. I always thought the more sexual way, Milkshake meaning shaking her milk bags. Sure, that brings boys to the yard.... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.151|141.101.104.151]]

It's not clear what exactly in the comic is a reference to the Big Lebowski movie. This needs clarification. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 06:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:In the Big Lebowski, The Dude's reasoning for wanting the rug replaced was that "It really tied the room together" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.80|108.162.219.80]] 07:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The event horizon of the black hole in the cartoon appears to be roughly an inch across, which using the formula linking Schwarzschild radius to mass (r = 2MG/c^2) gives a black hole of about 3 earth masses. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.138|162.158.34.138]] 08:06, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:OMG. That would mean it also excerts 3 times the gravitational force of earth. As a result people near (also as far away as earth orbits) would only be comfortable standing at a significant angle. Time may also appear to progress slower near the black hole due to the time dilation effect. But I am unsure how pronounced this effect will be from a black hole that size. Audible and visible effects of this would be people talking slower (but not lower as you have with the doppler effect, i beleive that to be a sci-fi misconception), and peoples movements seeming slower. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 08:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:That strong a pull would mean the hole would not only collect air and particles, but also pull furniture into it. Seing as both people are standing upright I'm guessing the pull can not be more than say one fifth of earths. Maybe it has a visible accretion disc? If you were to run the formula in reverse what diameter would that give you of the hole itself? [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:23, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

There's only 5 years between the Big Lebowski and Milkshake (1998 vs 2003) so while "more contemporary" is technically correct, I think it underestimates how old Milkshake is. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.21|141.101.98.21]] 08:15, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Perhaps this comic is in reference to [http://gizmodo.com/were-one-step-closer-to-better-tabletop-particle-accele-1775501374 this article referencing tabletop particle accelerators]? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.74|141.101.104.74]] 08:38, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

I once read a short story about this situation where the hole kept feeding and eventually swallowed the whole Galaxy. I thought it was a Stephen King, but my Google Fu can't find it... [[User:Supachris28|Supachris28]] ([[User talk:Supachris28|talk]]) 09:22, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:It was one of the scare-stories surrounding the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where a micro-black hole would form and end-of-the-world scenario would ensue. Apparently such a hole could form but would immediately destabilize. On a related note, this brings into question as to how stable the hole in the comic would be, since it seems rather small. If it were to destabilize it would have enough energy to blow the earth to pieces, despite its deceivingly innocent size. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Was I right to add a little about hawking radiation?[[User:Transuranium|Transuranium]] ([[User talk:Transuranium|talk]]) 10:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)Transuranium

: Hawking radiation from a black hole with "neutron bullet" mass (equivalent to the Empire State Building) would be ''vicious'', equivalent to .78 megatons of TNT per second. However, it could spew out increasingly intense radiation for ''96 years''. [http://xaonon.dyndns.org/hawking/] A lunar mass black hole would be colder than interstellar space and could outlive most of the universe. [[User:.42|.42]] ([[User talk:.42|talk]]) 10:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

::As deduced above I guess the hole would not be strong enough to pull them in. But you're saying a black hole with a mass smaller than earth would essentially fry them both and set their house on fire IRL? And that would only be if it was stable enough not to destabilize and blow up. Some best-case scenario that is. :) [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 11:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHBGFKLHZQ effects of a small black hole] the size of a coin, animation by "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell" [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.154|141.101.104.154]] 11:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

== Worst explanation ever ==

I came here for an explanation and I have so many questions.
*<s>What's 'The Dude's' rug in the film "The Big Lebowski"?</s> Answer below says it has no relationship to the comic.
*What about the song "Milkshake" by Kelis?
*What about the discrimination?
*What about "Neutron Bullet" chapter of the ''what if?'' book?
*What about Black Hole Moon in that book?

And related to the comic itself
*What's the mass of a miniature blackhole?
*What are its effects?
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:31, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

'''''The Big Lebowski'''''

I'll answer my own question. In ''The Big Lebowski'' the sentence is "That rug really tied the room together." [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu]. I assume that ''to '''bring''' something together'' means to make it more agreeable. I deleted the reference. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:40, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1680: Black Hole

2016-05-13T13:41:25Z

108.162.221.13: /* Worst explanation ever */

IF the explanation of "Milkshake" being a coded message is correct, then I like how Melis plays with it. I always thought the more sexual way, Milkshake meaning shaking her milk bags. Sure, that brings boys to the yard.... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.151|141.101.104.151]]

It's not clear what exactly in the comic is a reference to the Big Lebowski movie. This needs clarification. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 06:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:In the Big Lebowski, The Dude's reasoning for wanting the rug replaced was that "It really tied the room together" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.80|108.162.219.80]] 07:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The event horizon of the black hole in the cartoon appears to be roughly an inch across, which using the formula linking Schwarzschild radius to mass (r = 2MG/c^2) gives a black hole of about 3 earth masses. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.138|162.158.34.138]] 08:06, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:OMG. That would mean it also excerts 3 times the gravitational force of earth. As a result people near (also as far away as earth orbits) would only be comfortable standing at a significant angle. Time may also appear to progress slower near the black hole due to the time dilation effect. But I am unsure how pronounced this effect will be from a black hole that size. Audible and visible effects of this would be people talking slower (but not lower as you have with the doppler effect, i beleive that to be a sci-fi misconception), and peoples movements seeming slower. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 08:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:That strong a pull would mean the hole would not only collect air and particles, but also pull furniture into it. Seing as both people are standing upright I'm guessing the pull can not be more than say one fifth of earths. Maybe it has a visible accretion disc? If you were to run the formula in reverse what diameter would that give you of the hole itself? [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:23, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

There's only 5 years between the Big Lebowski and Milkshake (1998 vs 2003) so while "more contemporary" is technically correct, I think it underestimates how old Milkshake is. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.21|141.101.98.21]] 08:15, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Perhaps this comic is in reference to [http://gizmodo.com/were-one-step-closer-to-better-tabletop-particle-accele-1775501374 this article referencing tabletop particle accelerators]? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.74|141.101.104.74]] 08:38, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

I once read a short story about this situation where the hole kept feeding and eventually swallowed the whole Galaxy. I thought it was a Stephen King, but my Google Fu can't find it... [[User:Supachris28|Supachris28]] ([[User talk:Supachris28|talk]]) 09:22, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:It was one of the scare-stories surrounding the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where a micro-black hole would form and end-of-the-world scenario would ensue. Apparently such a hole could form but would immediately destabilize. On a related note, this brings into question as to how stable the hole in the comic would be, since it seems rather small. If it were to destabilize it would have enough energy to blow the earth to pieces, despite its deceivingly innocent size. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Was I right to add a little about hawking radiation?[[User:Transuranium|Transuranium]] ([[User talk:Transuranium|talk]]) 10:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)Transuranium

: Hawking radiation from a black hole with "neutron bullet" mass (equivalent to the Empire State Building) would be ''vicious'', equivalent to .78 megatons of TNT per second. However, it could spew out increasingly intense radiation for ''96 years''. [http://xaonon.dyndns.org/hawking/] A lunar mass black hole would be colder than interstellar space and could outlive most of the universe. [[User:.42|.42]] ([[User talk:.42|talk]]) 10:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

::As deduced above I guess the hole would not be strong enough to pull them in. But you're saying a black hole with a mass smaller than earth would essentially fry them both and set their house on fire IRL? And that would only be if it was stable enough not to destabilize and blow up. Some best-case scenario that is. :) [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 11:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHBGFKLHZQ effects of a small black hole] the size of a coin, animation by "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell" [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.154|141.101.104.154]] 11:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

== Worst explanation ever ==

I came here for an explanation and I have so many questions.
*<s>What's 'The Dude's' rug in the film "The Big Lebowski"?</s> Answer below says it has no relationship to the comic-
*What about the song "Milkshake" by Kelis?
*What about the discrimination?
*What about "Neutron Bullet" chapter of the ''what if?'' book?
*What about Black Hole Moon in that book?

And related to the comic itself
*What's the mass of a miniature blackhole?
*What are its effects?
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:31, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

'''''The Big Lebowski'''''

I'll answer my own question. In ''The Big Lebowski'' the sentence is "That rug really tied the room together." [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu]. I assume that ''to '''bring''' something together'' means to make it more agreeable. I deleted the reference. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:40, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1680: Black Hole

2016-05-13T13:40:06Z

108.162.221.13: /* Worst explanation ever */

IF the explanation of "Milkshake" being a coded message is correct, then I like how Melis plays with it. I always thought the more sexual way, Milkshake meaning shaking her milk bags. Sure, that brings boys to the yard.... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.151|141.101.104.151]]

It's not clear what exactly in the comic is a reference to the Big Lebowski movie. This needs clarification. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 06:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:In the Big Lebowski, The Dude's reasoning for wanting the rug replaced was that "It really tied the room together" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.80|108.162.219.80]] 07:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The event horizon of the black hole in the cartoon appears to be roughly an inch across, which using the formula linking Schwarzschild radius to mass (r = 2MG/c^2) gives a black hole of about 3 earth masses. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.138|162.158.34.138]] 08:06, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:OMG. That would mean it also excerts 3 times the gravitational force of earth. As a result people near (also as far away as earth orbits) would only be comfortable standing at a significant angle. Time may also appear to progress slower near the black hole due to the time dilation effect. But I am unsure how pronounced this effect will be from a black hole that size. Audible and visible effects of this would be people talking slower (but not lower as you have with the doppler effect, i beleive that to be a sci-fi misconception), and peoples movements seeming slower. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 08:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:That strong a pull would mean the hole would not only collect air and particles, but also pull furniture into it. Seing as both people are standing upright I'm guessing the pull can not be more than say one fifth of earths. Maybe it has a visible accretion disc? If you were to run the formula in reverse what diameter would that give you of the hole itself? [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:23, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

There's only 5 years between the Big Lebowski and Milkshake (1998 vs 2003) so while "more contemporary" is technically correct, I think it underestimates how old Milkshake is. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.21|141.101.98.21]] 08:15, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Perhaps this comic is in reference to [http://gizmodo.com/were-one-step-closer-to-better-tabletop-particle-accele-1775501374 this article referencing tabletop particle accelerators]? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.74|141.101.104.74]] 08:38, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

I once read a short story about this situation where the hole kept feeding and eventually swallowed the whole Galaxy. I thought it was a Stephen King, but my Google Fu can't find it... [[User:Supachris28|Supachris28]] ([[User talk:Supachris28|talk]]) 09:22, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:It was one of the scare-stories surrounding the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where a micro-black hole would form and end-of-the-world scenario would ensue. Apparently such a hole could form but would immediately destabilize. On a related note, this brings into question as to how stable the hole in the comic would be, since it seems rather small. If it were to destabilize it would have enough energy to blow the earth to pieces, despite its deceivingly innocent size. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Was I right to add a little about hawking radiation?[[User:Transuranium|Transuranium]] ([[User talk:Transuranium|talk]]) 10:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)Transuranium

: Hawking radiation from a black hole with "neutron bullet" mass (equivalent to the Empire State Building) would be ''vicious'', equivalent to .78 megatons of TNT per second. However, it could spew out increasingly intense radiation for ''96 years''. [http://xaonon.dyndns.org/hawking/] A lunar mass black hole would be colder than interstellar space and could outlive most of the universe. [[User:.42|.42]] ([[User talk:.42|talk]]) 10:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

::As deduced above I guess the hole would not be strong enough to pull them in. But you're saying a black hole with a mass smaller than earth would essentially fry them both and set their house on fire IRL? And that would only be if it was stable enough not to destabilize and blow up. Some best-case scenario that is. :) [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 11:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHBGFKLHZQ effects of a small black hole] the size of a coin, animation by "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell" [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.154|141.101.104.154]] 11:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

== Worst explanation ever ==

I came here for an explanation and I have so many questions.
*What's 'The Dude's' rug in the film "The Big Lebowski"?
*What about the song "Milkshake" by Kelis?
*What about the discrimination?
*What about "Neutron Bullet" chapter of the ''what if?'' book?
*What about Black Hole Moon in that book?

And related to the comic itself
*What's the mass of a miniature blackhole?
*What are its effects?
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:31, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

'''''The Big Lebowski'''''

I'll answer my own question. In ''The Big Lebowski'' the sentence is "That rug really tied the room together." [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118715/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu]. I assume that ''to '''bring''' something together'' means to make it more agreeable. I deleted the reference. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:40, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

1680: Black Hole

2016-05-13T13:35:47Z

108.162.221.13: Big Lebowsky quote is "tied the room together"

{{comic
| number = 1680
| date = May 13, 2016
| title = Black Hole
| image = black_hole.png
| titletext = It also brings all the boys, and everything else, to the yard.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More details... What would happen if a black hole like this was in a living room.}}
[[Cueball]] is curious as to why [[Black Hat]] has a miniature {{w|black hole}} on his table; Black Hat responds that it "really brings the room together", making a pun on both the black hole aesthetically completing the room as well as it literally "bringing the room together" through its gravitational pull. Evidently the black hole is massive enough to bring the room together optically into visible {{w|Einstein ring}}s by {{w|gravitational lensing}}.

The expression that something "bring the room together" (135,000 results on Google) means that something gives unity to the room.

The title text makes a more contemporary cultural reference to a well-known song lyric from the song "{{w|Milkshake (song)|Milkshake}}" by {{w|Kelis}} (pending explanation); however, in this case, since {{w|gravity}} does not discriminate between which things it will attract{{Citation needed}} (according to the {{w|equivalence principle}}), it brings "the boys, and everything else", to Black Hat's yard.

[[Randall]] describes a similar scenario in the "Neutron Bullet" chapter of the [http://whatif.xkcd.com/book/ what if? book], and a black hole of similar dimensions in the [[what if?]] ''{{what if|129|Black Hole Moon}}''.

As depicted, the black hole is inconsistent with some aspect of physics:
* A large black hole would bring the room together... in less time than Cueball could converse with Black Hat.
* A small black hole could have {{w|tidal force}}s weak enough to permit Cueball to stand near it. However, unlike the scenario in "Neutron Bullet", it would emit {{w|Hawking radiation}} powerful enough to tear the room apart.
* A neutrally charged black hole would fall through the coffee table and burrow to Earth's core.
* This black hole appears to be about the size of a marble. A marble size is approximately earth's {{w|Schwarzschild radius}}, suggesting this black hole to have earth-like mass. [Since Cueball and Black hat are able to stand upright, it suggests the gravitational pull is a fraction of earth's. Making the black hole's mass also a fraction of earth's. The black hole may appear visibly larger due to having a visible accretion disc.]

==Transcript==

:[Cueball is standing near a coffee table as Black Hat approaches. They are presumably in Black Hat's living room. The coffee table has a miniature black hole on top of it, resting on a small pedestal.]
:Cueball: Why do you have a miniature black hole on your coffee table?
:Black Hat: It really brings the room together.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]

Talk:1680: Black Hole

2016-05-13T13:31:27Z

108.162.221.13: /* Worst explanation ever */ new section

IF the explanation of "Milkshake" being a coded message is correct, then I like how Melis plays with it. I always thought the more sexual way, Milkshake meaning shaking her milk bags. Sure, that brings boys to the yard.... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.151|141.101.104.151]]

It's not clear what exactly in the comic is a reference to the Big Lebowski movie. This needs clarification. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 06:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:In the Big Lebowski, The Dude's reasoning for wanting the rug replaced was that "It really tied the room together" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.80|108.162.219.80]] 07:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The event horizon of the black hole in the cartoon appears to be roughly an inch across, which using the formula linking Schwarzschild radius to mass (r = 2MG/c^2) gives a black hole of about 3 earth masses. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.138|162.158.34.138]] 08:06, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:OMG. That would mean it also excerts 3 times the gravitational force of earth. As a result people near (also as far away as earth orbits) would only be comfortable standing at a significant angle. Time may also appear to progress slower near the black hole due to the time dilation effect. But I am unsure how pronounced this effect will be from a black hole that size. Audible and visible effects of this would be people talking slower (but not lower as you have with the doppler effect, i beleive that to be a sci-fi misconception), and peoples movements seeming slower. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 08:50, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:That strong a pull would mean the hole would not only collect air and particles, but also pull furniture into it. Seing as both people are standing upright I'm guessing the pull can not be more than say one fifth of earths. Maybe it has a visible accretion disc? If you were to run the formula in reverse what diameter would that give you of the hole itself? [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:23, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

There's only 5 years between the Big Lebowski and Milkshake (1998 vs 2003) so while "more contemporary" is technically correct, I think it underestimates how old Milkshake is. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.21|141.101.98.21]] 08:15, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Perhaps this comic is in reference to [http://gizmodo.com/were-one-step-closer-to-better-tabletop-particle-accele-1775501374 this article referencing tabletop particle accelerators]? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.74|141.101.104.74]] 08:38, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

I once read a short story about this situation where the hole kept feeding and eventually swallowed the whole Galaxy. I thought it was a Stephen King, but my Google Fu can't find it... [[User:Supachris28|Supachris28]] ([[User talk:Supachris28|talk]]) 09:22, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

:It was one of the scare-stories surrounding the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where a micro-black hole would form and end-of-the-world scenario would ensue. Apparently such a hole could form but would immediately destabilize. On a related note, this brings into question as to how stable the hole in the comic would be, since it seems rather small. If it were to destabilize it would have enough energy to blow the earth to pieces, despite its deceivingly innocent size. [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 09:48, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

Was I right to add a little about hawking radiation?[[User:Transuranium|Transuranium]] ([[User talk:Transuranium|talk]]) 10:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)Transuranium

: Hawking radiation from a black hole with "neutron bullet" mass (equivalent to the Empire State Building) would be ''vicious'', equivalent to .78 megatons of TNT per second. However, it could spew out increasingly intense radiation for ''96 years''. [http://xaonon.dyndns.org/hawking/] A lunar mass black hole would be colder than interstellar space and could outlive most of the universe. [[User:.42|.42]] ([[User talk:.42|talk]]) 10:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

::As deduced above I guess the hole would not be strong enough to pull them in. But you're saying a black hole with a mass smaller than earth would essentially fry them both and set their house on fire IRL? And that would only be if it was stable enough not to destabilize and blow up. Some best-case scenario that is. :) [[User:Todor|Todor]] ([[User talk:Todor|talk]]) 11:07, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

The [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nHBGFKLHZQ effects of a small black hole] the size of a coin, animation by "Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell" [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.154|141.101.104.154]] 11:28, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

== Worst explanation ever ==

I came here for an explanation and I have so many questions.
*What's 'The Dude's' rug in the film "The Big Lebowski"?
*What about the song "Milkshake" by Kelis?
*What about the discrimination?
*What about "Neutron Bullet" chapter of the ''what if?'' book?
*What about Black Hole Moon in that book?

And related to the comic itself
*What's the mass of a miniature blackhole?
*What are its effects?
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:31, 13 May 2016 (UTC)

1679: Substitutions 3

2016-05-11T13:32:23Z

108.162.221.13: /* See also */ 1625: Substitutions 2

{{comic
| number = 1679
| date = May 11, 2016
| title = Substitutions 3
| image = substitutions_3.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Channing Tatum and his friends explore haunted city
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BOT - Please change this comment when editing this page.}}

Real examples:

*Japan's Sincerity in Improving Bilateral Ties Will Never Be Known [http://english.cri.cn/12394/2016/04/30/4203s926079.htm]
*London Jews Delusional About First-Ever Muslim Mayor [http://jewishvoiceny.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14455:london-jews-cautiously-optimistic-about-first-ever-muslim-mayor&catid=106:international&Itemid=289]

==See also==
*[[1288: Substitutions]]
*[[1625: Substitutions 2]]

==Transcript==
:[Caption above the panel:]
:Even More
:'''Substitutions'''
:That make reading the news more fun

:[A table of words/sentences on the left that change in to those on the left. Between each set of words there is a gray arrow pointing from right.]
:{|
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Gaffe
| ➜
| Magic spell
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Ancient
| ➜
| Haunted
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Remains to be seen
| ➜
| Will never be known
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Silver bullet
| ➜
| Way to kill werewolves
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Subway system
| ➜
| Tunnels I found
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Surprising
| ➜
| Surprising (But not to me)
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | War of Words
| ➜
| Interplanetary war
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Tension
| ➜
| Sexual Tension
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Cautiously optimistic
| ➜
| Delusional
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Doctor Who
| ➜
| The Big Bang Theory
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Email, Facebook Post, Tweet
| ➜
| Poem
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Facebook CEO
| ➜
| This guy
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Latest
| ➜
| Final
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Disrupt
| ➜
| Destroy
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Meeting
| ➜
| Menage a troi
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | Scientists
| ➜
| Channing Tatum and his friends
|-
| style="text-align:right;" | You won't believe
| ➜
| I'm really sad about
|}

{{comic discussion}}

1679: Substitutions 3

2016-05-11T13:30:55Z

108.162.221.13: See also

1679: Substitutions 3

2016-05-11T13:29:10Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

1677: Contrails

2016-05-06T12:43:48Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ astrology is a pseudoscience

{{comic
| number = 1677
| date = May 6, 2016
| title = Contrails
| image = contrails.png
| titletext = Astronomy (or "astrology" in British English) is the study of ...
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Seems like the entire comic is described twice with different levels of information in both parts. Should be possible to merge them together into one better flowing explanation.}}

{{w|Contrail}}s (short for "condensation trails") are trails of vapor produced by aircraft exhaust, and are composed primarily of water. The {{w|chemtrail conspiracy theory}} claims that contrails lasting unusually long are actually chemical or biological agents sprayed into the air for sinister purposes. Here, [[White Hat]] notices that there are a lot of contrails in the air. [[Cueball]] corrects him, saying that in {{w|American English}}, contrails are called chemtrails. This, however, is incorrect.

This is another comic in the [[:Category:My Hobby|My Hobby]] series. Many of these comics involve [[Cueball]] giving misleading information about pedantic terms, such as [[1405: Meteor]].

The title text implies that {{w|astronomy}} and {{w|astrology}} are synonymous, though astrology is used in British English. However, this is incorrect. Though both involve studying celestial objects, astrology is the pseudoscience that interprets positions of celestial objects as having influences on human affairs, while astronomy is the scientific study of celestial objects on a universal scale.

Contrail stands for “condensation trail”, which is the trailing cloud often found after jet planes that fly by. Itʼs formed from water sublimating on jet fuel exhaustions, some impurities of which provide bases for ice crystals to cumulate on. Some would dissipate in minutes, but others can last for hours or even longer.

Chemtrail, specifically referring to contrails that last for very long, is a conspiracist term that states such clouds can last so long because there are other chemicals added in jet fuel, thus achieving malicious results. Itʼs not approved by scientific community.

The joke is that British English and American English often call the same object with different terms, and one can often learn new words for a simple thing. This, however is not the case in this comic; contrail and chemtrail do not refer to the same thing, the latter being only a part of the former. And it being xkcd, we can assume that chemtrail is a term that is frowned upon. Thus the comic states it as misinformation.

The title text includes a similar situation: astronomy is serious study about things in outer space, like stars, planets, and galaxies. Astrology, however, is a system that infers one’s personalities and characteristics from zodiacs of her date of birth, which is a constellation assigned to a period of time in a year. The same system can also derive predictions about future, especially that of a relationship. Some would argue that astrology shows statistical values, but itʼs hardly science as by the standard of scientific community.

Given that the "American English" version is the conspiracy theory one for contrails/chemtrails, while who confuses astronomy and astrology is not fully clear, it is possible that the rest of the explanation of the astronomy vs astrology text would describe astrology. In that case, this could be a comment on the educational status in US vs UK, where the conspiracy theories and superstition (astrology) are much more visble in the US that in the UK (or Europe in general).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and a White Hat are walking. White Hat is looking up to the sky while Cueball, walking in front holds out one arm towards him.]
:White Hat: Lots of contrails today.
:Cueball: Oh, you must be from the UK. In American English it's "Chemtrail".

:[Caption under the panel]
:My hobby: Spreading linguistic misinformation

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:My Hobby]]
[[Category:Language]]

Talk:1676: Full-Width Justification

2016-05-05T13:24:30Z

108.162.221.13:

I added the emoji snake. Is emoji snake the same as a Unicode snake would be? [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 05:46, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:I assumed Unicode snakes would use three different characters: a head, a body segment, and a tail. Your solution is good, but objectively not perfect compared to what's shown in the comic.
:So what ''would'' be the optimal snake transcription method here? A parenthetical aside saying "''A drawing of a snake stretches to the right end of the line.''"? Or should we just blackmail the Unicode consortium again? [[User talk:AgentMuffin|~AgentMuffin]]
::The correct solution is obviously to include a 16 Mpixel image of a snake.[[User:Henke37|Henke37]] ([[User talk:Henke37|talk]]) 07:41, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:::Emoji full snake is already in Unicode as Azule knows. &#x1f40d = 🐍
:::Segmented snake needs at least three characteres: head, e.g. °, body e.g ~ and tail, e.g. ◝.
:::Three segment snake °~◝
:::Four segment snake: °~~◝
:::[[User:Demro|Demro]] ([[User talk:Demro|talk]]) 12:45, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Could the title text also be a reference to the snake in umwelt? [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 05:46, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Amazon is notorious for being bad at this. Here's a somewhat related [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzdugwr4Fgk Computerphile video]. [[User:Eno|Eno]] ([[User talk:Eno|talk]]) 06:32, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Also, funnily enough, the filler text and the snakes were used in medieval (hand-written) manuscripts. Although it's not a snake but usually a nondescript wriggle that could only pass as a snake when you're squinting really hard. For filler text it's usually low-content words like "truly", "verily", "indeed", "without fail", "in truth" or stuff like that. So it's really an old problem with no satisfactory solution developed in hundreds of years... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.85.93|162.158.85.93]] 08:19, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:This practice of filling the line with a dingbat carried on into the days of handset letterpress (i.e. up until the early 1900's), although it gradually became more whimsical and so less frequent in serious works.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.123|108.162.241.123]] 12:28, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

In practice you reformulate. Not necessarily insert filler words, but just reorder the sentence enough that justification works. That is assuming the automated justification doesn't work, which will try a combination of multiple methods like word-spacing, letter-spacing and hyphenation. Imagine hyphenating at "de-" instead, but adding a little bit extra letter space in "between", and almost double normal word space between "between" and "de-".[[Special:Contributions/162.158.114.222|162.158.114.222]] 08:20, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:Reformulating can only be done with the (tacit or explicit) permission of the author. There are situations where rewording would not be allowed.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.123|108.162.241.123]] 12:28, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

While the arabic part is interesting, I don't feel it to be very relevant here. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.156|108.162.249.156]] 09:11, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:It is relevant because is yet another solution (useful only in Arabic). [[User:Demro|Demro]] ([[User talk:Demro|talk]]) 12:47, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Sorry- how do add a [citation needed] in superscript? [[User:Transuranium|Transuranium]] ([[User talk:Transuranium|talk]])Transuranium

The "snake" option is actually less out there than the current explanation indicates. Snakes proper were not necessarily the go-to, but the same general strategy (decorative filling) was used heavily in illuminated manuscripts in the medieval period.
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.217|162.158.214.217]] 14:36, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:Came here just to say that. The current explanation needs reworking because that's actually one of the oldest ways of dealing with text justification. Check for example [https://nelabligh.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/book-of-kells-1.jpg the Book of Kells] [[Special:Contributions/162.158.203.141|162.158.203.141]] 20:15, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

:Modified the explanation accordingly.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.217|162.158.214.217]] 21:44, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

"the Unicode consortium is very specific about which characters are added[citation needed], and always require a good reason[citation needed] before adding a character or set of characters to the standard." Seriously? Then what are all the emoji pages added for? U+1F459 (Bikini) 👙, for example... [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.98|108.162.221.98]] 04:05, 5 May 2016 (UTC)

I changed "'''Hyphenation''' is also confusing as it often leaves two partial non-words" with "'''Hyphenation''' is confusing in English because its spelling requires full-word recognition". In many (if not most) languages two partial non-words can be easily read. The hyphenation problem is probably unique to English. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:06, 5 May 2016 (UTC)

Talk:1676: Full-Width Justification

2016-05-05T13:06:32Z

108.162.221.13:

I added the emoji snake. Is emoji snake the same as a Unicode snake would be? [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 05:46, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:I assumed Unicode snakes would use three different characters: a head, a body segment, and a tail. Your solution is good, but objectively not perfect compared to what's shown in the comic.
:So what ''would'' be the optimal snake transcription method here? A parenthetical aside saying "''A drawing of a snake stretches to the right end of the line.''"? Or should we just blackmail the Unicode consortium again? [[User talk:AgentMuffin|~AgentMuffin]]
::The correct solution is obviously to include a 16 Mpixel image of a snake.[[User:Henke37|Henke37]] ([[User talk:Henke37|talk]]) 07:41, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:::Emoji full snake is already in Unicode as Azule knows. &#x1f40d = 🐍
:::Segmented snake needs at least three characteres: head, e.g. °, body e.g ~ and tail, e.g. ◝.
:::Three segment snake °~◝
:::Four segment snake: °~~◝
:::[[User:Demro|Demro]] ([[User talk:Demro|talk]]) 12:45, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Could the title text also be a reference to the snake in umwelt? [[User:Azule|Azule]] ([[User talk:Azule|talk]]) 05:46, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Amazon is notorious for being bad at this. Here's a somewhat related [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzdugwr4Fgk Computerphile video]. [[User:Eno|Eno]] ([[User talk:Eno|talk]]) 06:32, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Also, funnily enough, the filler text and the snakes were used in medieval (hand-written) manuscripts. Although it's not a snake but usually a nondescript wriggle that could only pass as a snake when you're squinting really hard. For filler text it's usually low-content words like "truly", "verily", "indeed", "without fail", "in truth" or stuff like that. So it's really an old problem with no satisfactory solution developed in hundreds of years... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.85.93|162.158.85.93]] 08:19, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:This practice of filling the line with a dingbat carried on into the days of handset letterpress (i.e. up until the early 1900's), although it gradually became more whimsical and so less frequent in serious works.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.123|108.162.241.123]] 12:28, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

In practice you reformulate. Not necessarily insert filler words, but just reorder the sentence enough that justification works. That is assuming the automated justification doesn't work, which will try a combination of multiple methods like word-spacing, letter-spacing and hyphenation. Imagine hyphenating at "de-" instead, but adding a little bit extra letter space in "between", and almost double normal word space between "between" and "de-".[[Special:Contributions/162.158.114.222|162.158.114.222]] 08:20, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:Reformulating can only be done with the (tacit or explicit) permission of the author. There are situations where rewording would not be allowed.[[Special:Contributions/108.162.241.123|108.162.241.123]] 12:28, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

While the arabic part is interesting, I don't feel it to be very relevant here. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.156|108.162.249.156]] 09:11, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:It is relevant because is yet another solution (useful only in Arabic). [[User:Demro|Demro]] ([[User talk:Demro|talk]]) 12:47, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

Sorry- how do add a [citation needed] in superscript? [[User:Transuranium|Transuranium]] ([[User talk:Transuranium|talk]])Transuranium

The "snake" option is actually less out there than the current explanation indicates. Snakes proper were not necessarily the go-to, but the same general strategy (decorative filling) was used heavily in illuminated manuscripts in the medieval period.
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.217|162.158.214.217]] 14:36, 4 May 2016 (UTC)
:Came here just to say that. The current explanation needs reworking because that's actually one of the oldest ways of dealing with text justification. Check for example [https://nelabligh.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/book-of-kells-1.jpg the Book of Kells] [[Special:Contributions/162.158.203.141|162.158.203.141]] 20:15, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

:Modified the explanation accordingly.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.214.217|162.158.214.217]] 21:44, 4 May 2016 (UTC)

"the Unicode consortium is very specific about which characters are added[citation needed], and always require a good reason[citation needed] before adding a character or set of characters to the standard." Seriously? Then what are all the emoji pages added for? U+1F459 (Bikini) 👙, for example... [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.98|108.162.221.98]] 04:05, 5 May 2016 (UTC)

I changed "'''Hyphenation''' is also confusing as it often leaves two partial non-words" with "'''Hyphenation''' is confusing in English because its spelling requires full-word recognition". In many languages two partial non-words can be easily read. The hyphenation problem is probably unique to English. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:06, 5 May 2016 (UTC)

1676: Full-Width Justification

2016-05-05T13:01:39Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ hyphenating is reasonable for many languages

{{comic
| number = 1676
| date = May 4, 2016
| title = Full-Width Justification
| image = full_width_justification.png
| titletext = Gonna start bugging the Unicode consortium to add snake segment characters that can be combined into an arbitrary-length non-breaking snake.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|hasty & impatient placeholder. Still an early draft; needs citations, fact-checking, and it also needs the Wikipedia links to be fixed.}}
The comic refers to an irritating problem in laying out text to fit from margin to margin, the problem of {{w|justification (typesetting)|justification}}, where you want multiple-line text to line up on the left side (common), the right side (less common), or both sides, which is commonly called full justification. This strip is dealing with how to make text fit such that it lines up on both sides while still looking good. Sometimes, as before a long word like "[[:wikt:deindustrialization|deindustrialization]]," there's no universal good way to make the typography work. It is a difficult problem to make text look good and be easily legible especially in a narrow space, with the biggest issue being how to handle words that are too long to fit nicely.

The comic shows several solutions to this problem, some realistic and others less so, but each unsatisfying. "'''Giving up'''" is ugly, leaving a line break which doesn't fit with the rest. "'''Letter spacing'''" looks pretty confusing as people may think it is an acronym. "'''Hyphenation'''" is confusing in English because its spelling requires full-word recognition ("deindus-" looks like an independent, unfamiliar word, pronounced "dayn-duss", whereas "trialization" seems like something having to do with trials, whether legal or tests), it requires more work on the reader's end to mentally recombine it into one word, and there are rules to follow on exactly where it is acceptable to split a word; nevertheless, this is the most common way of handling those extreme cases. "'''Stretching'''" is unnatural, probably hard to code or render, unfamiliar and quite ugly. Adding "'''Filler'''" words, a radical solution, could easily make the writing worse (in the case of the example, making the tone too informal), however it might be reasonable if the filler words are added by a human rather than by an automated process, especially if that human is the same one that wrote the original words. Finally, adding a decorative image like "'''Snakes'''" (but not necessarily snakes in particular) to fill the extra space is a justification practice of significant historical interest (it was particularly common for illuminated manuscripts in the medieval era and remained prominent until the invention of the printing press) but little modern relevance.

The title text suggests that in order to facilitate this last method of "solving" the problem, the {{w|Unicode Consortium}}, the organization in charge of the common text standard {{w|Unicode}}, should add "snake-building characters" (similar in concept to the existing {{w|Box Drawing}} block), to allow variable-length snake images to be used as filling. Currently, there are four snake characters in Unicode: [http://unicode-search.net/unicode-namesearch.pl?term=SNAKE]
*[https://codepoints.net/U+1DC2 U+1DC2]   <big>᷂</big>   <big>[S᷂]</big>
**A diacritical {{w|combining character}} used in Americanist phonetic notation to indicate lenis (weak) articulation.
*[https://codepoints.net/U+2E92 U+2E92]   <big>⺒</big>
**A {{w|CJK character}} which might be interpreted as "snake".
*[https://codepoints.net/U+1D9DC U+1D9DC]   <big>𝧜</big>
**One of the poorly-supported characters in the {{w|signWriting|signwriting block}}.
*[https://codepoints.net/U+1F40D U+1F40D]   <big>🐍</big>
**An {{w|emoji}} snake.

The use of the phrase "non-breaking" in the title text is a play on {{w|non-breaking space}} and implies that an automatic line break could not be inserted after a snake segment; the whole snake would shift down if it were too wide to fit on a given line. This suggestion would likely be rejected; the Unicode consortium is very specific about which characters are added{{Citation needed}}, and always require a good reason{{Citation needed}} before adding a character or set of characters to the standard. Strange decisions by the consortium have previously been referenced in [[1253: Exoplanet Names]], [[1513: Code Quality]], and [[1525: Emojic 8 Ball]].

==Transcript==
:[Caption above the panels:]
:Strategies for full-width justification

:[Below the caption is a column with six boxes, each showing a different "strategy" for justification which is annotated beside it. Here the annotation is written at the top and the text below. The top and bottom of the text is cut of in the middle, but as it can be "read" this is written anyway. Only for hyphenation does an extra word appear at the end. In the last with snakes, a snake is drawn to cover the entire space from the end of between to the right border.]

:Giving up
::their famous paper
::on the relationship
::between
::deindustrialization
::and the growth of

:Letter spacing
::their famous paper
::on the relationship
::b  e   t   w   e  e   n
::deindustrialization
::and the growth of

:Hyphenation
::their famous paper
::on the relationship
::between deindus-
::trialization and the
::growth of ecological

:Stretching
::their famous paper
::on the relationship
::<big><big><big>between</big></big></big>
::deindustrialization
::and the growth of

:Filler
::their famous paper
::on the relationship
::between crap like
::deindustrialization
::and the growth of

:Snakes
::their famous paper
::on the relationship
::between 🐍 [a snake filling the gap]
::deindustrialization
::and the growth of

==Trivia==
*The full text (with alternate changes) reads:
::''...their famous paper on the relationship between [crap like]/[ 🐍 ] deindustrialization and the growth of [ecological]...''
*An approach not depicted is to treat justification as part of a global typesetting strategy which allows words to move between lines even where this is not locally optimal. This approach is used by {{w|TeX}}.
*In Arabic, it is common to stretch the lines connecting letters as a relatively elegant and satisfying resolution to this problem. This trick is called "{{w|kashida}}" (كشيدة). There does in fact exist a Unicode character, U+0640: (ـ), to help with this: using it to extend "كشيدة" would result in something like "كشـــــــــــيدة" (which, incidentally, looks a lot like a snake).
*Jim Chapman, developer of Windows 10 e-reader app Freda, [http://www.teleread.com/xkcd-and-full-justification-by-snake/#comment-62118 has announced] the next version of Freda will incorporate snake-justification.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Animals]]

1676: Full-Width Justification

2016-05-04T12:03:52Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ hyphenating is reasonable for many languages

1664: Mycology

2016-04-06T17:13:00Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Corn was known in South America before Columbus

{{comic
| number = 1664
| date = April 6, 2016
| title = Mycology
| image = mycology.png
| titletext = Conspiracy theory: There's no such thing as corn. Those fields you see are just the stalks of a fungus that's controlling our brains to make us want to spread it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First cut, please help with explanation and definition of mycology..}}

[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are studying a {{w|fungus}} that takes over the brains of mammals and makes them want to study the fungus. This is a reproductive tactic by the fungus, since the fungus makes the mammal whose brain it took over want to study the fungus, which means that mammal will need to produce more of the fungus to study it. Cueball and Megan are most likely themselves being controlled by the fungus, since they tell [[Ponytail]] that they want to cultivate the fungus as much as possible.

The title of the comic refers to {{w|Mycology}}, the study of fungi.

This is likely a reference to various species of ''{{w|Cordyceps}}'' fungi, which can infect the brains of insects causing behavior advantageous to the reproduction or spread of the fungus. This also may be an allusion to another fungus, ''{{w|Ophiocordyceps unilateralis}}'', which manipulates its hosts to aid its propagation.

The title text parodies numerous {{w|Conspiracy_theory|conspiracy theories}}, by suggesting that {{w|corn}}, which has been propagated by humans throughout much of the Americas, is actually just a fungus that has used humans, and is not a vegetable at all. This type of theory is remarkably similar to the {{w|Brain in a Vat}} thought experiment, and to the {{w|Isaac Asimov}} short story {{w|Each an Explorer}}. In both cases something has affected the perception of the mind itself, making it impossible to discern the true reality of something.

In practical terms, there would be little difference between this conspiracy theory and the reality, as it posits the fungus-corn would be the same food that humans have already been cultivating for food for millennia.

==Transcript==
:[Megan and Cueball are talking to Ponytail.]
:Megan: Our lab is studying a fungus that takes over mammal brains and makes them want to study fungi.
:Cueball: It's very promising! We're opening a whole new wing of the lab just to cultivate it!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

1664: Mycology

2016-04-06T17:10:48Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ italics for scientific names

{{comic
| number = 1664
| date = April 6, 2016
| title = Mycology
| image = mycology.png
| titletext = Conspiracy theory: There's no such thing as corn. Those fields you see are just the stalks of a fungus that's controlling our brains to make us want to spread it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First cut, please help with explanation and definition of mycology..}}

[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are studying a {{w|fungus}} that takes over the brains of mammals and makes them want to study the fungus. This is a reproductive tactic by the fungus, since the fungus makes the mammal whose brain it took over want to study the fungus, which means that mammal will need to produce more of the fungus to study it. Cueball and Megan are most likely themselves being controlled by the fungus, since they tell [[Ponytail]] that they want to cultivate the fungus as much as possible.

The title of the comic refers to {{w|Mycology}}, the study of fungi.

This is likely a reference to various species of ''{{w|Cordyceps}}'' fungi, which can infect the brains of insects causing behavior advantageous to the reproduction or spread of the fungus. This also may be an allusion to another fungus, ''{{w|Ophiocordyceps unilateralis}}'', which manipulates its hosts to aid its propagation.

The title text parodies numerous {{w|Conspiracy_theory|conspiracy theories}}, by suggesting that {{w|corn}}, which has been propagated by humans throughout much of the Americas, particularly the U.S. Midwest and in parts of Central America, is actually just a fungus that has used humans, and is not a vegetable at all. This type of theory is remarkably similar to the {{w|Brain in a Vat}} thought experiment, and to the {{w|Isaac Asimov}} short story {{w|Each an Explorer}}. In both cases something has affected the perception of the mind itself, making it impossible to discern the true reality of something.

In practical terms, there would be little difference between this conspiracy theory and the reality, as it posits the fungus-corn would be the same food that humans have already been cultivating for food for millennia.

==Transcript==
:[Megan and Cueball are talking to Ponytail.]
:Megan: Our lab is studying a fungus that takes over mammal brains and makes them want to study fungi.
:Cueball: It's very promising! We're opening a whole new wing of the lab just to cultivate it!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

1664: Mycology

2016-04-06T17:09:29Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Correct link and italics

{{comic
| number = 1664
| date = April 6, 2016
| title = Mycology
| image = mycology.png
| titletext = Conspiracy theory: There's no such thing as corn. Those fields you see are just the stalks of a fungus that's controlling our brains to make us want to spread it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First cut, please help with explanation and definition of mycology..}}

[[Cueball]] and [[Megan]] are studying a {{w|fungus}} that takes over the brains of mammals and makes them want to study the fungus. This is a reproductive tactic by the fungus, since the fungus makes the mammal whose brain it took over want to study the fungus, which means that mammal will need to produce more of the fungus to study it. Cueball and Megan are most likely themselves being controlled by the fungus, since they tell [[Ponytail]] that they want to cultivate the fungus as much as possible.

The title of the comic refers to {{w|Mycology}}, the study of fungi.

This is likely a reference to various species of ''{{w|Cordyceps}}'' fungi, which can infect the brains of insects causing behavior advantageous to the reproduction or spread of the fungus. This also may be an allusion to another fungus, {{w|Ophiocordyceps unilateralis}}, which manipulates its hosts to aid its propagation.

The title text parodies numerous {{w|Conspiracy_theory|conspiracy theories}}, by suggesting that {{w|corn}}, which has been propagated by humans throughout much of the Americas, particularly the U.S. Midwest and in parts of Central America, is actually just a fungus that has used humans, and is not a vegetable at all. This type of theory is remarkably similar to the {{w|Brain in a Vat}} thought experiment, and to the {{w|Isaac Asimov}} short story {{w|Each an Explorer}}. In both cases something has affected the perception of the mind itself, making it impossible to discern the true reality of something.

In practical terms, there would be little difference between this conspiracy theory and the reality, as it posits the fungus-corn would be the same food that humans have already been cultivating for food for millennia.

==Transcript==
:[Megan and Cueball are talking to Ponytail.]
:Megan: Our lab is studying a fungus that takes over mammal brains and makes them want to study fungi.
:Cueball: It's very promising! We're opening a whole new wing of the lab just to cultivate it!

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

1637: Salt Mine

2016-04-01T22:02:34Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Summarizing absurdly long explanation

{{comic
| number = 1637
| date = February 1, 2016
| title = Salt Mine
| image = salt_mine.png
| titletext = This one is a little bland. Pass the saltshaker?
}}

==Explanation==
[[Ponytail]] has built a {{w|particle detector}} (an expensive device used in experimental {{w|particle physics}}) in a {{w|salt mine}}. [[Hairbun]] assumes that this is to block out {{w|cosmic rays}}, as is the case with the real life {{w|Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven (detector)|Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven}} (IMB) detector, started in {{w|Lake Erie}} in 1979, or the {{w|Enriched Xenon Observatory}} (EXO), placed in the {{w|Waste Isolation Pilot Plant}} (WIPP) salt mine in 2007.

The IMB detector was initially used to search for {{w|proton decay}} in very pure water kept in the mine, and it was thus important to keep out cosmic rays that would create the same type of signal as a decaying proton. Although the IMB became famous for detecting {{w|neutrinos}} from {{w|supernova 1987a}} (which pass through virtually all materials, salt or lead etc. with only the smallest fraction of them interacting), it never observed a single proton decay out of the 1031 protons present in the water of the detector. If it had detected even a single positive observation it would have contributed to the ratification of the {{w|Grand Unified Theory}}, which predicts that protons eventually decay. At the time of this comic the lower limits for proton half-life from {{w|Proton decay#Experimental evidence|experimental evidence}} is of the order 1034 year.

Ponytail affirms Hairbun's assumption; however, based on the wording of her response, it is clear that Ponytail and her colleagues, [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]], have an ulterior motive of using the mine to get access to an enormous supply of {{w|salt}} for eating. This is absurd, since salt is already plentifully available in grocery stores, the cost of the particle detector far exceeds the value of the salt and their intake appears to be ''far'' beyond any medically-advised healthy limit (and likely to be sickening in other regards).

In the comic, when Ponytail says "Yes, That's definitely why" it is obvious that when queried about the reason for building the detector, apparently to gain access to large quantities of salt, Ponytail is quick to leap on Hairbun's more scientific-sounding explanation, in an attempt to save face and appear professional.

The title text is intended to be absurd. Salt is normally used to add flavor to otherwise {{w|Bland diet|bland foods}}. However, the "bland" food that the speaker is eating is itself a chunk of salt, and they wish to season their salt with yet more salt. Additionally, the title text's wording is a bit ambiguous; "this one" could refer to the comic itself, and [[Randall]] is calling the comic bland. And, in keeping with the subject, is asking for salt to spruce it up.

This was the first of two comic this week that concerns one of the basic {{w|condiments}} for food, and also regards one of the five {{w|Taste#Basic_tastes|basic tastes}}. The second, about sugar was [[1639: To Taste]]. Lately Randall has made several [[:Category:Food|food related comics]].

==Transcript==
:[Hairbun (with glasses), Ponytail, Megan and Cueball are in a salt mine. Hairbun and Ponytail talk in front of what appears to be a control console for a particle detector with a chair on each side. To the right Megan and Cueball are eating salt in large amounts straight of the rocks in the mine. They are eating so fast that salt spills from their hands and falls to the ground.]
:Hairbun: So you've built this particle detector in a salt mine to block out cosmic rays?
:Ponytail: Yes.
:Ponytail: That is definitely why.
:Cueball and Megan [eating salt]: Homf nomf nomf

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Food]]

1637: Salt Mine

2016-04-01T22:00:32Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Salt from your own mine is not comparable with apple from your own tree

{{comic
| number = 1637
| date = February 1, 2016
| title = Salt Mine
| image = salt_mine.png
| titletext = This one is a little bland. Pass the saltshaker?
}}

==Explanation==
[[Ponytail]] has built a {{w|particle detector}} (an expensive device used in experimental {{w|particle physics}}) in a {{w|salt mine}}. [[Hairbun]] assumes that this is to block out {{w|cosmic rays}}, as is the case with the real life {{w|Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven (detector)|Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven}} (IMB) detector, started in {{w|Lake Erie}} in 1979, or the {{w|Enriched Xenon Observatory}} (EXO), placed in the {{w|Waste Isolation Pilot Plant}} (WIPP) salt mine in 2007.

The IMB detector was initially used to search for {{w|proton decay}} in very pure water kept in the mine, and it was thus important to keep out cosmic rays that would create the same type of signal as a decaying proton. Although the IMB became famous for detecting {{w|neutrinos}} from {{w|supernova 1987a}} (which pass through virtually all materials, salt or lead etc. with only the smallest fraction of them interacting), it never observed a single proton decay out of the 1031 protons present in the water of the detector. If it had detected even a single positive observation it would have contributed to the ratification of the {{w|Grand Unified Theory}}, which predicts that protons eventually decay. At the time of this comic the lower limits for proton half-life from {{w|Proton decay#Experimental evidence|experimental evidence}} is of the order 1034 year.

Ponytail affirms Hairbun's assumption; however, based on the wording of her response, it is clear that Ponytail and her colleagues, [[Cueball]] and [[Megan]], have an ulterior motive of using the mine to get access to an enormous supply of {{w|salt}} for eating. This is absurd, since salt is already plentifully available in grocery stores, the cost of the particle detector far exceeds the value of the salt and their intake appears to be ''far'' beyond any medically-advised healthy limit (and likely to be sickening in other regards).

In the comic, when Ponytail says "Yes, That's definitely why" it could refer to the large expectations that such detectors had promised when first devised and created. In the comic, Cueball and Megan are shown as possible employees of the particle detector, but are instead shown eating salt with salt, which could be a humorous reference to the lack of proton decay results. However, it is more likely to refer to the fact that when queried about the reason for building the detector, apparently to gain access to large quantities of salt, Ponytail is quick to leap on Hairbun's more scientific-sounding explanation, in an attempt to save face and appear professional.

The title text is intended to be absurd. Salt is normally used to add flavor to otherwise {{w|Bland diet|bland foods}}. However, the "bland" food that the speaker is eating is itself a chunk of salt, and they wish to season their salt with yet more salt. Additionally, the title text's wording is a bit ambiguous; "this one" could refer to the comic itself, and [[Randall]] is calling the comic bland. And, in keeping with the subject, is asking for salt to spruce it up.

This was the first of two comic this week that concerns one of the basic {{w|condiments}} for food, and also regards one of the five {{w|Taste#Basic_tastes|basic tastes}}. The second, about sugar was [[1639: To Taste]]. Lately Randall has made several [[:Category:Food|food related comics]].

==Transcript==
:[Hairbun (with glasses), Ponytail, Megan and Cueball are in a salt mine. Hairbun and Ponytail talk in front of what appears to be a control console for a particle detector with a chair on each side. To the right Megan and Cueball are eating salt in large amounts straight of the rocks in the mine. They are eating so fast that salt spills from their hands and falls to the ground.]
:Hairbun: So you've built this particle detector in a salt mine to block out cosmic rays?
:Ponytail: Yes.
:Ponytail: That is definitely why.
:Cueball and Megan [eating salt]: Homf nomf nomf

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Science]]
[[Category:Food]]

1639: To Taste

2016-04-01T18:15:03Z

108.162.221.13: /* Trivia */

{{comic
| number = 1639
| date = February 5, 2016
| title = To Taste
| image = to_taste.png
| titletext = Look, recipe, if I knew how much was gonna taste good, I wouldn't need you.
}}

==Explanation==
The imprecision of {{w|recipes}} is often a source of frustration to culinary novices, especially the more analytically-minded. [[Cueball]] expects a recipe to provide instructions precise enough that by following them carefully, a cook can create a dish exactly as the recipe author intended. Unfortunately, exact replication is impossible in cooking because of the natural variation of ingredients as well as differences in equipment. In addition, most home cooks lack the tools needed to make precise measurements, such as scales and thermometers. Thus, a recipe for strawberry {{w|smoothies}} might read "add sugar '''to taste'''" because the recipe-writer can't specify precisely how ripe the strawberries are to begin with. In addition, a smoothie recipe would typically specify imprecise quantities of fruit such as "1 banana" or "1 cup of strawberries" (much less precise than specifying the weight). Thus, it is impossible for the cook to determine the correct amount of {{w|sugar}} without actually tasting the drink.

The instruction "to {{w|taste}}" can also be used for ingredients that alter a simple aspect of the food's flavor, such as {{w|sweetness}}, {{w|Taste#Sourness|sourness}}, {{w|Taste#Saltiness|saltiness}} or {{w|Taste#Bitterness|bitterness}} without affecting the quality of the overall dish. Individual preferences can vary wildly and it's not possible for a recipe's author to predict how much the reader will want. Specifying any exact amount in these cases will inevitably lead to the food being too {{w|Bland diet|bland}} for some, while being too {{w|Pungency|strong}} for others.

In this comic, Cueball is shown as having no idea how to cook (or having a ridiculously large sweet tooth), and the suggestion that he is going to add large crates of sugar to a small pot is, of course, silly. This would ruin the dish, as whatever was in the pot would be drowned out by the sugar. Alternatively, he could simply bring in enough sugar to make sure he will not run out of this particular ingredient before it reaches the correct level of sweetness for his taste. This too would display a complete lack of understanding about what it is to cook; even a beginner cook should be able to logically deduce that this is far too much sugar.

The title text is [[Randall|Randall's]] (and Cueball's) personal comment on what he thinks a recipe should do to fulfill his needs. If he knew how much of each ingredient would be appropriate for a given dish, then he would not need the recipe in the first place. The title text actually scolds the recipe for being imprecise. In his view, mixing in imprecise or "use your own judgment" language makes it less of a "recipe" for the dish, and thus less suitable for those looking for the specific instructions to make the dish because they either have no cooking experience, feel they don't have the expertise to make their own decisions, or simply want to follow clearly defined steps without any decision making required.

This is the second comic this week that concerns one of the basic {{w|condiments}} for food, and also regards one of the five {{w|Taste#Basic_tastes|basic tastes}}. The first one, about salt, was [[1637: Salt Mine]]. Lately Randall has made several [[:Category:Food|food related comics]].

==Trivia==
This is the official transcript of 1639, as of March 31, 2016, valid for [[1637: Salt Mine]].
:[Three women and a (stick) figure stand in a salt mine. There's a control panel with two benches in the centre, and two piles of salt to the right. Two figures are talking, and two are shovelling salt into their mouths.]
:Woman 1: So you've build this particle detector in a salt mine to block out cosmic rays?
:Woman 2: Yes. That is definitely why.
:Woman 3 and figure: <<Homf nomf nomf>>

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing near a stove holding a pot just above it. He is looking away from the stove, reading the recipe from a piece of paper he is holding in the other hand.]
:Recipe: ...And add sugar to taste.

:[Cueball has placed the pot on the stove looking at it while holding the paper down along his side.]
:Cueball: ??

:[Cueball leaves the pot and stove to walks off-panel left with the recipe.]

:[Cueball returns backing up to the stove with a dolly loaded with three crates with labels. The bottom crate is still not fully inside the panel and the first letter cannot be seen.]
:Sugar
:Sugar
:ugar

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Food]]

1639: To Taste

2016-04-01T18:14:08Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Official (and wrong) transcript

{{comic
| number = 1639
| date = February 5, 2016
| title = To Taste
| image = to_taste.png
| titletext = Look, recipe, if I knew how much was gonna taste good, I wouldn't need you.
}}

==Explanation==
The imprecision of {{w|recipes}} is often a source of frustration to culinary novices, especially the more analytically-minded. [[Cueball]] expects a recipe to provide instructions precise enough that by following them carefully, a cook can create a dish exactly as the recipe author intended. Unfortunately, exact replication is impossible in cooking because of the natural variation of ingredients as well as differences in equipment. In addition, most home cooks lack the tools needed to make precise measurements, such as scales and thermometers. Thus, a recipe for strawberry {{w|smoothies}} might read "add sugar '''to taste'''" because the recipe-writer can't specify precisely how ripe the strawberries are to begin with. In addition, a smoothie recipe would typically specify imprecise quantities of fruit such as "1 banana" or "1 cup of strawberries" (much less precise than specifying the weight). Thus, it is impossible for the cook to determine the correct amount of {{w|sugar}} without actually tasting the drink.

The instruction "to {{w|taste}}" can also be used for ingredients that alter a simple aspect of the food's flavor, such as {{w|sweetness}}, {{w|Taste#Sourness|sourness}}, {{w|Taste#Saltiness|saltiness}} or {{w|Taste#Bitterness|bitterness}} without affecting the quality of the overall dish. Individual preferences can vary wildly and it's not possible for a recipe's author to predict how much the reader will want. Specifying any exact amount in these cases will inevitably lead to the food being too {{w|Bland diet|bland}} for some, while being too {{w|Pungency|strong}} for others.

In this comic, Cueball is shown as having no idea how to cook (or having a ridiculously large sweet tooth), and the suggestion that he is going to add large crates of sugar to a small pot is, of course, silly. This would ruin the dish, as whatever was in the pot would be drowned out by the sugar. Alternatively, he could simply bring in enough sugar to make sure he will not run out of this particular ingredient before it reaches the correct level of sweetness for his taste. This too would display a complete lack of understanding about what it is to cook; even a beginner cook should be able to logically deduce that this is far too much sugar.

The title text is [[Randall|Randall's]] (and Cueball's) personal comment on what he thinks a recipe should do to fulfill his needs. If he knew how much of each ingredient would be appropriate for a given dish, then he would not need the recipe in the first place. The title text actually scolds the recipe for being imprecise. In his view, mixing in imprecise or "use your own judgment" language makes it less of a "recipe" for the dish, and thus less suitable for those looking for the specific instructions to make the dish because they either have no cooking experience, feel they don't have the expertise to make their own decisions, or simply want to follow clearly defined steps without any decision making required.

This is the second comic this week that concerns one of the basic {{w|condiments}} for food, and also regards one of the five {{w|Taste#Basic_tastes|basic tastes}}. The first one, about salt, was [[1637: Salt Mine]]. Lately Randall has made several [[:Category:Food|food related comics]].

==Trivia==
This is the official transcript, as of March 31, 2016, valid for [[1637: Salt Mine]].
:[Three women and a (stick) figure stand in a salt mine. There's a control panel with two benches in the centre, and two piles of salt to the right. Two figures are talking, and two are shovelling salt into their mouths.]
:Woman 1: So you've build this particle detector in a salt mine to block out cosmic rays?
:Woman 2: Yes. That is definitely why.
:Woman 3 and figure: <<Homf nomf nomf>>

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing near a stove holding a pot just above it. He is looking away from the stove, reading the recipe from a piece of paper he is holding in the other hand.]
:Recipe: ...And add sugar to taste.

:[Cueball has placed the pot on the stove looking at it while holding the paper down along his side.]
:Cueball: ??

:[Cueball leaves the pot and stove to walks off-panel left with the recipe.]

:[Cueball returns backing up to the stove with a dolly loaded with three crates with labels. The bottom crate is still not fully inside the panel and the first letter cannot be seen.]
:Sugar
:Sugar
:ugar

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Food]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T14:36:27Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ The prescriptivist position relies on rules rather than on usage. In this case a prescriptivist relies on etymology.

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in all English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] (a senator, according to the title text), but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some American circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}} [http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-should-we-call-stage-furniture-on.html], though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The prescriptivist position relies on rules rather than on usage. In this case a prescriptivist relies on etymology.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T14:02:50Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Cueball is a senator, according to the title text

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in all English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] (a senator, according to the title text), but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some American circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}} [http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-should-we-call-stage-furniture-on.html], though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the proper word to call "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:48:14Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Adding reference

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in all English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] without any features, but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some American circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}} [http://joyfulpublicspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/03/what-should-we-call-stage-furniture-on.html], though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the proper word to call "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:43:56Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in all English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] without any features, but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some American circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}}, though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the proper word to call "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

Talk:1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:38:55Z

108.162.221.13:

Well as a non-english native, I just recently found that the term podium and lectern were used "wrong" on xkcd. Especially because the lectern is often placed on a podium. So when trying to make a description in a transcript of what the scene looks like you would have to write that ''Cueball is standing behind a podium placed on a podium'' if you did not use the correct word of lectern, or be changing both words ''Cueball is standing behind a podium placed on a scene''. So it would be so much easier if people just used lectern, but I guess this is not the way it will be going, maybe except for xkcd readers now? When I found out recently (March 1st) that there were several podiums in explain xkcd where they should have been lecterns I corrected them all. Although I think it is unlikely that Randall would notice this, it is funny for me, that he makes this joke less than a month after I made the correction. And since I did not know about this before, I was not aware that there was these discussions going on ;-) At least it seems that Randall doesn't take sides in this discussion, although he may think it is silly. (Just like using one type of [[1643: Degrees]] rather than another. What is correct and what will be understood). --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 15:43, 28 March 2016 (UTC)
:Do we have any evidence or knowledge that Randall Munroe knows about and/or visits explainxkcd.com? It's not officially connected with him or xkcd.org, as far as I know. [[User:N0lqu|-boB]] ([[User talk:N0lqu|talk]]) 20:51, 28 March 2016 (UTC)

:I agree that "podium" is just wrong. Just because so-called "dictionaries" want to coddle people who use words incorrectly doesn't mean we should allow them to ruin our language. Allowing people to use "podium" to mean a stand for notes is as bad as allowing people to use "explain" to mean to describe or make intelligible. The word "explain" comes from Old French, where it meant "flatten out", as is obvious from the etymology: Latin "ex-" + "plano", or "out-" + "(I) flatten". This is easy to remember because it sounds like "esplanade", a cleared or leveled space, a noun with related etymology. English has a perfectly good verb, "irecchen", with the desired meaning. Clearly, this site is meant to level out XKCD, to make it flat and featureless, not to make it easier to understand, and I applaud it for using the word correctly. However, I would like to take issue with the misuse of the word "discuss" on this site. This word was borrowed from Norman French with the meaning "shaken apart", but is only properly used in medical history and archaeology—and, even then, it is often misused as "discussed", ignoring the fact that it is already a past participle. In the common language of the uneducated, it is nearly always used to mean "converse about", but the Latin etymology as a participle of "dis-" + "quatere", or "apart-" + "shake", should make it clear how ridiculous this is. Even if we were to allow the medieval monastic fad for using "discuss" figuratively to mean sifting the truth out of text by arguing over them vigorously, that still cannot justify the so-called modern meaning that our dictionaries promulgate. Wé mōton standen for Englisc propre! --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.105|162.158.255.105]] 17:45, 28 March 2016 (UTC)

I have huge reference libraries personally, including science and tech, law, medicine, philosophy, arts, etc. I find it a Chinese curse, to need an online subscription for OED 3, after managing to acquire OED 2 v 3 & v4 in forms suitable for both PC and mobile carry, plus Merriam-Webster unabridged as an offline mobile app. Ullman's (industrial chemistry) dwarfs those, however. That noted, dictionaries require active public input, and are plagued by inarticulate speakers. The degradation of "unique" into a comparative is contrary to core etymology. OTOH, "yawl" and "ketch" remain difficult to define as to the basic rigs, while their comparison to each other and "sloop" has been improved as lexicographers have been called out for failing to focus on the key distinction of whether a mizzen mast is stepped fore or aft of the rudder post, not the rudder, or arbitrary relative sail sizes. Nudist and naturist are scrambled by common usage to be both ambiguous, versus to reflect philosophical or religious aspects of naturism versus outward practices or social and business based nudism, while misuse as if conflated with naturalist has decreased, and inclusion of naturist improved. Many dictionaries have recognized schadenfreude as becoming an English word, while despite circa 1981 origins well over the 20 year rule, only a few better dictionaries are yet listing compersion.

Fuck, gender, and profanity now see around 8,000 combined instances in OED 3, close to ten times their presence in OED 2 v4. Jesse Scheidlower, OED editor at large and author of a single word dictionary of "fuck" variants now up to 320 pages in its 3rd edition, gets some credit for that honesty movement over words some unethical publishers have censored or tampered pandering to crooked bigot infested school boards and legislatures. Theist, atheist, pantheist, polytheist, and similar terms are messier, as their common usage is mangled by prejudice based contexts and eastern and western history getting scrambled. Now test for theology versus thealogy, or etymology and definitions for witch (male and female in modern English) versus misrepresentation of warlock (oathbreaker), or words used by both reclaiming identity movements, and as slurs, eg slants, dyke, redskins, q***r, n*****s, pagan, witch, etc. Quality of both dictionaries, and society itself, can be tested by such comparisons.

By joking about politicians using word issues as evasion, Randall could help promote the values that honest understanding of the nature of language and misconceptions of dictionaries and authorities are important. [[User:Loki57|Loki57]] ([[User talk:Loki57|talk]]) 18:05, 28 March 2016 (UTC)
:I deleted most of your contributions, because they were (in my opinion) unreasonably long and confusing. Sorry, Loki57. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.13|108.162.221.13]] 13:38, 29 March 2016 (UTC)

Isn't this whole stucture with elevation and a barrier called "pulpit"? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.102.222|162.158.102.222]] 07:47, 29 March 2016 (UTC)

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:32:45Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in all English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] without any features, but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}}, though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the proper word to call "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:30:31Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in all English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] without any features, but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}}, though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the meaning of "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:03:03Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ space

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in many English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a ''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] without any features, but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}}, though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the meaning of "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1661: Podium

2016-03-29T13:02:13Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Summarized

{{comic
| number = 1661
| date = March 28, 2016
| title = Podium
| image = podium.png
| titletext = BREAKING: Senator's bold pro-podium stand leads to primary challenge from prescriptivist base.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|More on the info in the title text and links to dictionaries should be real links.}}

A "{{w|podium}}" in most of the world is a small platform like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/podium]. This word originates from Greek ''podion'' meaning ''foot''.

A "{{w|lectern}}" in many English speaking countries is a stand for holding notes, like the one shown in the comic [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern]. In American English this stand may be also called a''podium'' [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/lectern], which is not backed up by etymology.

The comic is playing on a stereotypical politician, without any real beliefs, here represented by [[Cueball]] without any features, but they want to appear to stand for something. Alternatively, this is what might happen if someone like Cueball (or the strip's author Randall), who tend to think literally and who get interested in and distracted by tangents, were running.

Thus, Cueball picks up what is, in some circles, an argument: whether the standing desk used by public speakers should be called a "podium" or a "lectern." This argument is actually common among members of {{w|Toastmasters International}}, though it would usually not rise to the level of needing to be part of a national discourse.

The literal distinction between podium and lectern (or the meaning of "this thing") is not obvious from context, when the meaning of ''podium'' has drifted in American use to refer to the small standing desk, i.e. the lectern.

Sometimes, [http://www.platformgiant.com/podium-vs-lectern people care about this]. The fact is, though the etymological definition is clear (the lectern is the desk that stands on the podium), and the difference might be important if you were setting up an auditorium, in common American usage it really doesn't matter.

The title text implies that Cueball moves ahead with his promised research and ends up coming out on the side of calling it a podium. This leads to the people who follow the prescriptivist position to organize and put forward a political candidate to challenge Cueball in the {{w|primaries}}. In the U.S., the primaries are used to select a single candidate from a particular party to represent that party at final election (whether national or on a state level).

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is speaking at a lectern standing on a podium.]
:Cueball: The American people are tired of politics as usual.
:Cueball: They're tired of-
:Cueball: Okay, brief tangent: is this thing a podium or a lectern? People say "podium" is wrong, but I also see it used that way in pretty formal contexts. Is usage just changing?
:Cueball: If elected, I will get to the bottom of this for once and for all.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Language]]

1105: License Plate

2016-03-22T18:11:34Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ The explanations must be for normal people, who know about cars and license plates

{{comic
| number = 1105
| date = September 7, 2012
| title = License Plate
| image = license_plate.png
| titletext = The next day: 'What? Six bank robberies!? But I just vandalized the library!' 'Nice try. They saw your plate with all the 1's and I's.' 'That's impossible! I've been with my car the whole ti-- ... wait. Ok, wow, that was clever of her.'
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] has obtained a new {{w|Vehicle registration plate|license plate}} The license plate number one receives is often the next in sequence, available at the time and place of registration. However, in many localities, for an additional fee one can select his or her own "personalized" license plate number (called a {{w|vanity plate}}), subject to certain criteria, and availability.

In this comic, Cueball has elected to purchase the personalized license plate number "1I1-III1". He believes the ambiguity between the letter I and digit 1 on the plate will make it very difficult for anyone to correctly identify his vehicle if he commits a crime. Some localities have more distinct "1" and "I" characters in their license plate font than others.

What Cueball does not count on is that there are few, if any, other people who have chosen license numbers made up entirely of the letter I and digit 1. Thus, when witnesses report a vehicle with a license plate of I's and 1's, the police know exactly who the perpetrator is. Given either Cueball's apparent crime sprees or their realizing immediately upon the license plate's registration what Cueball's intent was, the police have written the address on a {{w|Post-it note}} (self-sticking adhesive notes commonly used for quick handy notetaking) in their car.

The title text appears to be a conversation between Cueball and the police as follows: That the police suspect Cueball of six bank robberies because a car with a license plate of all I's and 1's was used. Cueball responds that all he did was vandalize the library. Cueball does not understand because he was with his car the entire time of the robberies. As he says this, he has an epiphany that "that was clever of her". Although somewhat ambiguous, this appears to suggest that [[Megan]], who Cueball told his plan to in the second panel, may have registered a different personalized license plate with a different combination of I's and 1's and has robbed six banks in an attempt to {{w|frameup|frame}} Cueball, knowing that the police will assume the car is his.

[http://imgur.com/jaiblHk Someone in New Hampshire appears to have done this in real life.]

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is holding a license plate up for an out-of-frame Megan to see.]
:Cueball: Check out my personalized license plate!
:Out-of-frame Megan: "1I1-III1"?
:Cueball: It's perfect!

:[Megan is sitting in a chair holding the plate.]
:Cueball: No one will be able to correctly record my plate number!
:I can commit any crime I want!
:Megan: Sounds foolproof.

:[Scene is two police officers (non-descript Cueball-type character holding a notepad, and Ponytail) interviewing a witness wearing glasses. There is a line of yellow police tape behind them.]
:Soon:
:Witness: The thief's license plate was all "1"s or something.
:Cop 1: Oh. ''That'' guy.
:Ponytail cop: His address is on a Post-it in the squad car.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

1657: Insanity

2016-03-18T13:15:00Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1657
| date = March 18, 2016
| title = Insanity
| image = insanity.png
| titletext = I looked up "insanity" in like 10 different dictionaries and none of them said anything like that. Neither did the DSM-4. But I'll keep looking. Maybe it's in the DSM-5!
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic [[White Hat]] quotes a famous "definition of insanity". [[Cueball]]'s answer applies the quote to the action of quoting that quote. White Hat seems to have quoted that quote quite a few times already, expecting people to change their behaviour which hasn't happened so far. So according to that definition of insanity, it is insane to keep quoting the definition of insanity, expecting people to change their behaviour because of that.

The title text says that the author is "insane" according to the quote because he/she has repeatedly searched for a definition of insanity and alwasy gets a negative result.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is walking towards the right of the panel with White Hat, who is holding a finger up as if to recite something.]
:White Hat: They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
:Cueball: You've been quoting that cliché for years. Has it convinced anyone to change their mind yet?
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

1657: Insanity

2016-03-18T12:56:03Z

108.162.221.13: Category:Comics featuring White Hat, Category:Comics featuring Cueball

{{comic
| number = 1657
| date = March 18, 2016
| title = Insanity
| image = insanity.png
| titletext = I looked up "insanity" in like 10 different dictionaries and none of them said anything like that. Neither did the DSM-4. But I'll keep looking. Maybe it's in the DSM-5!
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic [[White Hat]] quotes a famous "definition of insanity". [[Cueball]]'s answer applies the quote to the action of quoting that quote. White Hat seems to have quoted that quote quite a few times already, expecting people to change their behaviour which hasn't happened so far. So according to that definition of insanity, it is insane to keep quoting the definition of insanity, expecting people to change their behaviour because of that.

The title text counters White Hat's statement more directly by saying that the quote is not the literal definition of "insanity" in any official sources.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is walking towards the right of the panel with White Hat, who is holding a finger up as if to recite something.]
:White Hat: They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
:Cueball: You've been quoting that cliché for years. Has it convinced anyone to change their mind yet?
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

White Hat

2016-03-18T12:55:03Z

108.162.221.13: See also: Comics featuring White Hat

{{Infobox character
| image = white_hat.png
| caption = White hat as seen in [[973: MTV Generation]]
| first_appearance = [[260: The Glass Necklace]]
}}
'''White Hat''' or '''White Hat Guy''' is a [[stick figure]] character in [[xkcd]]. He is distinguished by his eponymous white hat which appears to be in the shape and style of a {{w|boater}}. His appearance is identical to that of [[Black Hat]] other than the color of their respective hats. (Interestingly, the two characters have been depicted together only at [[Click and Drag]] and [[1000: 1000 Comics]], still without a real connection between them.)

In early comics, White Hat appeared mostly as a rare secondary character. Starting with comic [[915: Connoisseur]], White Hat started appearing more often and developed more of a personality, often playing the role of a philosophically misguided person. In this way, he's a bit of a {{w|straw man}}, making [[915|logical]] [[973|fallacies]] [[1215|to help]] [[1255|advance]] [[1277|Randall's point]]. Other times, he is simply an alternative to [[Cueball]], [[Hairy]], or [[Megan]].

In [[603: Idiocracy]], he appears to be wearing a hat unlike his usual boater.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Comics featuring White Hat|Comics featuring White Hat]]

{{navbox-characters}}
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters with Hats]]

1657: Insanity

2016-03-18T12:52:06Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Links

1654: Universal Install Script

2016-03-11T19:13:08Z

108.162.221.13: /* Explanation */ Bash, not BASH. Styled as "bash", but we shouldn't do it

{{comic
| number = 1654
| date = March 11, 2016
| title = Universal Install Script
| image = universal_install_script.png
| titletext = The failures usually don't hurt anything, and if it installs several versions, it increases the chance that one of them is right. (Note: The 'yes' command and '2>/dev/null' are recommended additions.)
}}

==Explanation==

Most users of computers today are used to simple, easy installation of programs. You just download a .exe or a .dmg, double click it, and do what it says. Sometimes you don't even have to install anything at all, and it runs without any installation.

However, when things are more "homebrew", for example downloading source code, things are more complicated. Under {{w|Unix-like}} systems, which this universal install script is designed for, you may have to work with "build environments" and "makefiles", and command line tools. To make this process simpler, there exist repositories of programs which host either packages of source code and the things needed to build it or the pre-built programs. When you download the package, it automatically does most of the work of building the code into something executable if necessary and then installing it. However, there are many such repositories, such as "pip" and "brew", among others listed in the comic. If you only know the name of a program or package, you may not know in which repository(ies) it resides.

The script provided in the comic attempts to fix this problem, by giving a "universal install script", which contains a lot of common install commands used in various Unix-like systems. In between each of the install commands in the script is the & character, which in POSIX-compatible shells (including {{w|Bash (Unix shell)|Bash}}, a popular shell scripting language) means it should continue to run the next command without waiting for the first command to finish, and not print any output of the command other than errors. This has the effect of running all the install commands simultaneously; whatever errors each commands would have because of a package not existing in that repository will be mixed together as they are all displaying on the screen around the same time. More about the & below.

The script accepts the name of a program when you run it as an argument. This value is then referenced as "$1" (argument number 1). Everywhere the script says "$1", it substitutes in the name of the package you gave it. The end result is the name being tried against a large number of software repositories and package managers, and hopefully, at least one of them will be appropriate and the program will be successfully installed. Near the end, it even tries changing the current working directory to that which is assumed to hold the package to be installed, and then runs several commands which build the program from source code.

All in all, this script would probably work; it runs many standard popular repository programs and package managers, and runs the nearly-universal commands needed to build a program. Most of the commands would simply give an error and exit, but hopefully the correct one will proceed with the install.

One of the more subtle jokes in the comic is the inclusion of <code>apt-get</code> and <code>sudo apt-get</code> in the same script. In most cases this would be redundant as the <code>sudo</code> command is just to add admin permissions. This could be an allusion to a joke in the Linux community about forgetting to include the sudo command. An example of this joke being used elsewhere was a [https://twitter.com/liamosaur/status/506975850596536320 viral tweet] that showed a workaround for the issue. Sudo has also been used both by [[Randall]] in [[149: Sandwich]] and by Jason Fox to force Randall to let him appear on xkcd with [[824: Guest Week: Bill Amend (FoxTrot)]].

Another explanation for this could be that plain "apt-get" is for Debian, while Ubuntu etc. use sudo.

The tool <code>curl</code> downloads files from the network (e.g., the Internet). Used like <code>curl http://xkcd.com/</code> it downloads the xkcd main page and displays the HTML source code. The pipe <code>|</code> in the script attaches the output of the command before the pipe to the input of the command after the pipe. Both commands are executed concurrently. Bash is a popular shell for Unix-like operating systems. The line <code>curl "$1" | bash</code> tries to download a file from the network and to execute the download directly. 

The use of & at the end of each line causes the shell interpreter to execute the commands in parallel (asynchronously) instead of sequentially. Even if single commands fail, the rest of them will be executed. Note this is even the case for the final commands which attempt to change to the installed package, probably the only reason why this may not work completely for packages that do need compiling after being downloaded. (However, just running this script again would probably do the trick.)

There appears to be a bug with the & at the end of the "git clone" line; since a git repository typically contains program source code, not executables, it may have been intended to retrieve the source code with git and then compile and install the program in the next line. In this case, the single & should be replaced with &&, an operator that will run the second command only if the first one has completed successfully. This plays into a second bug on the "configure" line, where the placement of the & means that only the "make install" command will be run asynchronously after the "configure" and "make" steps have finished in sequence. To make success as likely as possible, the two lines should be like this:

git clone <nowiki>https://github.com/</nowiki>"$1"/"$1" && (cd "$1"; ./configure; make; make install) &

The title text mentions the possibility that the same program may be in multiple repositories, so in this case, the script will download and install several versions, or it may fail on a number of repositories, in which case usually nothing bad happens. Since all the commands come from different operating systems, versions, or distributions, it is not very likely that more than one will work (with the exception of pip/easy_install and the two forms of apt-get) or even exist on the same system. It mentions that adding a way of automatically saying "yes" to questions asked during the different repository-fetching programs' running, by making them read input from another program that writes a (nearly) endless stream of "y"s, could simplify things further. <code>2>/dev/null</code> redirects the second output stream (the "error stream") to the null device driver, which discards all writes to it, meaning errors (the package not existing) will be ignored.

==Transcript==
:[In the panel is a shell script which, unusual for xkcd, uses only lower case. At the top the title of the program is inlaid in the frame, which has been broken here.]
:<big>Install.sh</big>

:<nowiki>#!/bin/bash</nowiki>

:pip install "$1" &
:easy_install "$1" &
:brew install "$1" &
:npm install "$1" &
:yum install "$1" & dnf install "$1" &
:docker run "$1" &
:pkg install "$1" &
:apt-get install "$1" &
:sudo apt-get install "$1" &
:steamcmd +app_update "$1" validate &
:git clone <nowiki>https://github.com/</nowiki>"$1"/"$1" &
:cd "$1";./configure;make;make install &
:curl "$1" | bash &

==Trivia==
*pip and easy install are package managers for Python
*brew is the successor/replacement for MacPorts and a package manager for OS X
*npm is the node package manager that maintains node.js packages
*yum is the package management tool for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and some derivatives.
*dnf is the package management tool for Fedora since version 22.
*pkg is the package management tool on BSD systems
*apt-get is the package management tool of Debian and derivatives (eg Ubuntu)
*steamcmd refers to Steam, the computer game client
*git is the revision control software used for eg. the linux kernel and gained a lot of traction through the github plattform
*configure/make/make install refers to the default way of compiling software from source (on Linux/Unix)
*curl is a tool for loading data via http:// (eg from a website), this data is then pushed to the shell interpreter (in order to install).
**Note: While this is a security nightmare, the Nvidia drivers for Linux were (but no longer are) installed like that

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Programming]]