explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1547: Solar System Questions

2015-07-06T17:14:43Z

108.162.238.144: Add link to Lakes of Titan

{{comic
| number = 1547
| date = July 6, 2015
| title = Solar System Questions
| image = solar_system_questions.png
| titletext = My country's World Cup win was exciting and all, but c'mon, what if the players wore nylon wings and COULD LITERALLY FLY?
}}

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

This comic is a list of questions which Randall has about the Solar System, which at first glance may appear to be things that Randall would like to learn about.
In actual fact most of the questions have not been satisfactorily answered or proven by anyone in the scientific community.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Question given
! Answer given by Randall (in Red)
! Comments
|-
| Why is the the Moon so blotchy?
| Lava
| "the the" could be a Randallism (intended or unintended).
|-
| Why are all the blotches on the near side?
| ...
| The nearside of the Moon is dominated by the blotchy 'seas' (volcanic flats), the far side by craters. Possibly an overabundance of craters obliterate the blotches, and the far side was always more 'exposed' to impacts. Another plausible theory advanced by [http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Compelling-Evidence-Creation-Flood/dp/1878026097/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436200872&sr=1-1&keywords=In+the+Beginning+book Dr. Walt Brown] is that approximately 6000 years ago most of earth's water was subterranean, and at one point the crust cracked, then split. The force of all the continents squeezing water through the relatively small gap expelled water at such a high volume and velocity that rocks and ice could have easily been blasted out of the atmosphere. This explanation also accounts for many of the icy comets orbiting in the solar system.
|-
| Did Mars have seas?
| Yes (briefly?)
| Recent explorations have confirmed there was once standing water (not just occasional flowing water), but not yet how long, save that it created the sedimentary layers that we have seen.
|-
| Was there life on Mars?
| ...
| One of the big mysteries, not yet answered.
|-
| What's Titan like?
| Cold, yellow, lakes + rivers (methane)
|
|-
| What was Earth like during the Hadean?
| ...
| {{w|Hadean}}
|-
| Is the Oort Cloud a real thing?
| ...
| The {{w|Oort Cloud}} is a theoretical spherical cloud of icy planetsimals centred around our sun.
|-
| Why is the Sun's corona so hot?
| Something about magnets?
| The {{w|corona}} of the sun is hotter than it theoretically should be. The looping magnetic fields in this area could be responsible.
|-
| What are comets like?
| Precipitous
| The {{w|Philae (spacecraft)|Philae lander}} is next to a cliff...
|-
| Where's Philae, exactly?
| ...
| ...but we're not sure ''which'' cliff.
|-
| What's Pluto like?
| rowspan="2" | [Soon!]
| rowspan="2" | A probe may be about to answer both of these questions.
|-
| What's Charon like?
|-
| Why don't we have in-between-sized planets?
| ...
| There is a size-gap between the rocky planets (up to Earth size) and the gas giants
|-
| What's Ceres like?
| [Working on it!]
| Another probe
|-
| Why is Europa so wierd-looking and pretty?
| Ice over a water ocean
|
|-
| Why is Io so weird-looking?
| Sulfur volcanoes (? in the wrong places?)
|
|-
| Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red?
| ...
| {{w|Kuiper Belt}}
|-
| What are those spots on Ceres?
| ...
| {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}
|-
| What's in the seas under Europa's ice?
| ...
| {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}}
|-
| Which of the other moons have seas?
| Several
| (Partial/initial list possible? Definition of 'seas' would affect this.)
|-
| What are the big white things in Titan's Lakes?
| ...
| {{w|Lakes of Titan}}
|-
| What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close?
| ...
|
|-
| What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot?
| ...
|
|-
| What's pushing the Pioneer Probes?
| Heat from the RTG
| Discussed as the {{w|Pioneer anomaly}}. RTG stands for {{w|Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator}}.
|-
| What pushes spacecraft slightly during flybys?
| ...
| The related {{w|Flyby anomaly}}.
|-
| Where are all the Sun's Neutrinos?
| Oscillating
|
|-
| Why is there so much air on Titan?
| ...
|
|-
| Why <sic? Where?> does the Kuiper Belt Stop?
| ...
| A reference to the {{w|Kuiper Cliff}}.
|-
| Why is Iapetus weird-colored?
| ...
|
|-
| Why does iapetus have a belt?
| ...
|
|-
| What's the deal with Miranda?
| ...
| Miranda is the smallest of Uranus's five round satellites. Possibly also a [[Category:Firefly|Firefly reference]] since Miranda is the name of a planet in ''Serenity'', a film in the ''Firefly'' series.
|-
| Did Uranus and Neptune change places?
| ...
| The {{w|Nice model}} is a theory of how our solar system formed, which suggested the possibility of Uranus and Neptune having swapped places before reaching their current positions. Work by Professor S. Desch [http://dusty.la.asu.edu/~desch/publications/2007/Desch2007.pdf| also came to this result].
|-
| Did the Late Heavy Bombardment happen?
| ...
|
|-
| Did life start before it?
| ...
|
|-
| Is Europa covered in Ice Spikes?
| ...
|
|-
| Why haven't we build a big inflatable Extreme Sports Complex on The Moon?
| ...
|
|-
| (Titletext) My country's World Cup win was exciting and all, but c'mon, what if the players wore nylon wings and COULD LITERALLY FLY?
| ...
| {{w|2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1547: Solar System Questions

2015-07-06T17:06:53Z

108.162.238.144: Add alternative explanation for question 2

{{comic
| number = 1547
| date = July 6, 2015
| title = Solar System Questions
| image = solar_system_questions.png
| titletext = My country's World Cup win was exciting and all, but c'mon, what if the players wore nylon wings and COULD LITERALLY FLY?
}}

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

This comic is a list of questions which Randall has about the Solar System, which at first glance may appear to be things that Randall would like to learn about.
In actual fact most of the questions have not been satisfactorily answered or proven by anyone in the scientific community.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Question given
! Answer given by Randall (in Red)
! Comments
|-
| Why is the the Moon so blotchy?
| Lava
| "the the" could be a Randallism (intended or unintended).
|-
| Why are all the blotches on the near side?
| ...
| The nearside of the Moon is dominated by the blotchy 'seas' (volcanic flats), the far side by craters. Possibly an overabundance of craters obliterate the blotches, and the far side was always more 'exposed' to impacts. Another plausible theory advanced by [http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Compelling-Evidence-Creation-Flood/dp/1878026097/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436200872&sr=1-1&keywords=In+the+Beginning+book Dr. Walt Brown] is that approximately 6000 years ago most of earth's water was subterranean, and at one point the crust cracked, then split. The force of all the continents squeezing water through the relatively small gap expelled water at such a high volume and velocity that rocks and ice could have easily been blasted out of the atmosphere. This explanation also accounts for many of the icy comets orbiting in the solar system.
|-
| Did Mars have seas?
| Yes (briefly?)
| Recent explorations have confirmed there was once standing water (not just occasional flowing water), but not yet how long, save that it created the sedimentary layers that we have seen.
|-
| Was there life on Mars?
| ...
| One of the big mysteries, not yet answered.
|-
| What's Titan like?
| Cold, yellow, lakes + rivers (methane)
|
|-
| What was Earth like during the Hadean?
| ...
| {{w|Hadean}}
|-
| Is the Oort Cloud a real thing?
| ...
| The {{w|Oort Cloud}} is a theoretical spherical cloud of icy planetsimals centred around our sun.
|-
| Why is the Sun's corona so hot?
| Something about magnets?
| The {{w|corona}} of the sun is hotter than it theoretically should be. The looping magnetic fields in this area could be responsible.
|-
| What are comets like?
| Precipitous
| The {{w|Philae (spacecraft)|Philae lander}} is next to a cliff...
|-
| Where's Philae, exactly?
| ...
| ...but we're not sure ''which'' cliff.
|-
| What's Pluto like?
| rowspan="2" | [Soon!]
| rowspan="2" | A probe may be about to answer both of these questions.
|-
| What's Charon like?
|-
| Why don't we have in-between-sized planets?
| ...
| There is a size-gap between the rocky planets (up to Earth size) and the gas giants
|-
| What's Ceres like?
| [Working on it!]
| Another probe
|-
| Why is Europa so wierd-looking and pretty?
| Ice over a water ocean
|
|-
| Why is Io so weird-looking?
| Sulfur volcanoes (? in the wrong places?)
|
|-
| Why are so many Kuiper Belt objects red?
| ...
| {{w|Kuiper Belt}}
|-
| What are those spots on Ceres?
| ...
| {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}
|-
| What's in the seas under Europa's ice?
| ...
| {{w|Europa (moon)|Europa}}
|-
| Which of the other moons have seas?
| Several
| (Partial/initial list possible? Definition of 'seas' would affect this.)
|-
| What are the big white things in Titan's Lakes?
| ...
|
|-
| What do Jupiter's clouds look like up close?
| ...
|
|-
| What's all that red stuff in the Great Red Spot?
| ...
|
|-
| What's pushing the Pioneer Probes?
| Heat from the RTG
| Discussed as the {{w|Pioneer anomaly}}. RTG stands for {{w|Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator}}.
|-
| What pushes spacecraft slightly during flybys?
| ...
| The related {{w|Flyby anomaly}}.
|-
| Where are all the Sun's Neutrinos?
| Oscillating
|
|-
| Why is there so much air on Titan?
| ...
|
|-
| Why <sic? Where?> does the Kuiper Belt Stop?
| ...
| A reference to the {{w|Kuiper Cliff}}.
|-
| Why is Iapetus weird-colored?
| ...
|
|-
| Why does iapetus have a belt?
| ...
|
|-
| What's the deal with Miranda?
| ...
| Miranda is the smallest of Uranus's five round satellites. Also possibly a [Category:Firefly|''Firefly'' reference] since Miranda is a planet in ''Serenity''.
|-
| Did Uranus and Neptune change places?
| ...
| The {{w|Nice model}} is a theory of how our solar system formed, which suggested the possibility of Uranus and Neptune having swapped places before reaching their current positions. Work by Professor S. Desch [http://dusty.la.asu.edu/~desch/publications/2007/Desch2007.pdf| also came to this result].
|-
| Did the Late Heavy Bombardment happen?
| ...
|
|-
| Did life start before it?
| ...
|
|-
| Is Europa covered in Ice Spikes?
| ...
|
|-
| Why haven't we build a big inflatable Extreme Sports Complex on The Moon?
| ...
|
|-
| (Titletext) My country's World Cup win was exciting and all, but c'mon, what if the players wore nylon wings and COULD LITERALLY FLY?
| ...
| {{w|2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1009: Sigh

2015-06-19T02:15:37Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1009
| date = January 27, 2012
| title = Sigh
| image = sigh.png
| titletext = If you're annoying enough, you can get them to respond with an involuntary second sigh and get a rhythm going.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] is mispronouncing the name of the British TV show, that is also currently shown in the US, which is {{w|Downton Abbey}}. Mispronouncing the title as DownTOWN Abbey causes Megan to sigh because it is such a common and stupid mistake (to fans of the show at least). Mispronouncing the title changes the meaning from being about the eponymous {{w|Yorkshire}} {{w|Country Estate}} (pronounced ''doun''-tuhn ''ab''-ee) to being about a monastery in the midst of a large city (incorrectly pronounced ''doun-toun ab''-ee).

{{w|LMFAO}} is a ubiquitous group in the US on radio, TV and even strange commercials with [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zJWA3Vo6TU rodents riding in cars with their song, Party Rock Anthem]. However, this comic is a reference to another one of their songs, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyx6JDQCslE "Sexy And I Know It."] The relevant lyrics go something like this:

:''sigh''… girl look at that body
:''sigh''… girl look at that body
:''sigh''… girl look at that body
:ah-ah, I work out!

The title text is pretty self-explanatory, especially if the person already knows the music.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is standing behind Megan, who's sitting and watching TV.]
:Cueball: Hey, is that ''Downtown Abbey''? What town is it in the downtown of, anyway?
:Megan: ''*siiiiiiigh*''
:Cueball: —''girl look at that body.''
:We should thank ''LMFAO'' for giving us such a great way to respond to exasperated sighs.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Music]]

1493: Meeting

2015-06-19T00:26:07Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1493
| date = March 2, 2015
| title = Meeting
| image = meeting.png
| titletext = Here at CompanyName.website, our three main strengths are our web-facing chairs, our huge collection of white papers, and the fact that we physically cannot die.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Beret Guy]]'s business, as previously seen in [[1032: Networking]] and [[1293: Job Interview]], is going well, although it is unclear why. The common theme in these three comics is that Beret Guy misuses common business cliches. The following are examples and phrases that [[Randall]] is likely making a joke about:

*"If you're reading this, the webserver was installed correctly." When a web server is installed automatically (like apache through a package manager), it typically comes with a minimal configuration meant to deliver a single page saying all is working fine. Usually, a company will then configure the web server to provide actual meaningful content. It appears that in this case Beret Guy's company kept the page as is, but also trademarked the sentence as the company's motto, and proudly displays it under the company logo.

*"CompanyName.website": Companies are usually given descriptive or evocative names; Beret Guy's company, meanwhile, has been given a generic placeholder name that explains nothing about the company or website except that it is a company with a website. In 2015, almost every middle-sized company runs a website, so it doesn't mean Beret Guy's company is in the information technology business (but many elements are specifically parodying Google).

*"Welcome to a meeting!" The usual way to start a meeting is to welcome the participants by telling them in which meeting they are (e.g. "Welcome to the meeting on ..."). Here, the complete lack of specifics in this sentence is an indication that the meeting has, in fact, no purpose at all, except to be just "A meeting". It could also mean that Beret Guy does not know the proper way to welcome people to a meeting.

*"I'm almost out of words so I'll keep this short." A common theme in the busy world of business is lack of time, so "I'm almost out of time" would be a valid reason for keeping a meeting short, rather than a finite quantity of words. Aside from the fiction movie {{w|A Thousand Words (film)|A Thousand Words}} or people taking a {{w|Vow of Silence}}, people usually don't have a particular quota on the number of words they have or can use.

*"Just wanna touch bases." Often business professions will contact a customer to "touch base," meaning to check in for a status update. The use of the plural "bases" suggests Beret Guy does not know what this means. This could also be a word play on the expression "Cover some bases".

*"Self-driving car project" Google has been working on self-driving cars, which usually shouldn't be lost track of and found by the police. The fact that it was launched "by accident" is concerning. It could mean the car was turned on by mistake and then left unattended, or perhaps that a driver of one of their cars fell asleep or otherwise stopped controlling the vehicle, but it is not clear because the accidental launch may refer to the project itself rather than the car. The involvement of the police implies that the car crashed or otherwise obstructed traffic. That said, 90 miles before crash is a good result for a self-driving car, especially when you didn't even know you built a self-driving car. What's especially ironic is the implication that the employees were carpooling (sharing a single vehicle for their commute, for reasons of efficiency/economy) in the self-driving car, and yet this carpool activity ended with the car setting off with nobody in it at all.

*"Sales, any luck figuring out who our customers are?" In the real world, when companies want to find out "who [their] customers are", they are talking about learning more about their existing customers in order to more closely match these customers' needs, and to discover ways to attract more of them. Here, Beret Guy and [[Ponytail]] apparently use the phrase literally - they have no records of making any sales. In a normal enterprise money doesn't usually appear from nowhere, and most businesses would be very unsettled if their cash flow was from an unknown source. Additionally, the company would not be able to comply with government regulations that require it to report information regarding its income for tax purposes. In addition to being fined for failure to properly report its income, the company would be investigated as a suspected money laundering enterprise.

*"Cool red beetle in the hallway" Beret Guy might be referring to seeing an insect. But given his continually surreal world, he might have instead seen a red Volkswagen Beetle, meaning there is an actual car in the hallway. This also matches with the "self-driving car project", potentially explaining why the car is inside the building. Randall's all-caps lettering hides the "beetle" versus "Beetle" distinction.

*"Bug tracker" usually refers to systems for tracking discovery, analysis, and fixing of software bugs (errors and problems), not the location of physical objects (be they insects or Volkswagen Beetles which are nicknamed "bugs").

*"Web-facing" (title text) usually refers to software or a server that is connected to the internet using a web interface. However, in this case the term is applied to chairs placed in front of a computer with internet browsing capability.

*"White papers" (title text) are usually policy recommendations, but here Beret Guy is likely talking about actual (near-worthless) blank white pieces of paper.

*"Main strengths" (title text) typically refer to one's skills, but "we physically cannot die" refers to the fact that incorporated companies are in a sense anthropomorphised—they're legally treated as "persons", with the ability to sue and be sued in civil courts. Or that Beret Guy is literally immortal, in which case that would indeed be a great asset which could be used in a variety of ways, from things like making a one man army (though he could still be captured or incapacitated) to investing for a long long time. On that note, if Beret Guy IS immortal, perhaps many (many) years ago (before his mind got wonky?) he might have invested a lot of money and is finally noticing the large amount of interest that has accrued. This would partly explain why there is lots of money coming in without any customers.

There is an alternative explanation for the company portrayed: it is run by computers. This explains the misinterpretations of language, the empty chair, the non-traceable money (perhaps from other computers) and the self-driving car project.

==Transcript==
:[Beret Guy is shown in silhouette. Above Beret Guy there is a black sign with white (and grey) text. Above this is his address to those in the meeting:]
:Beret Guy: Welcome to a meeting! I'm almost out of words, so I'll keep this short. Just wanna touch bases.
:[White text in the black sign (''.website'' in grey):]
:CompanyName.website
:''If you're reading this, the web''
:''server was installed correctly.™''

:[Beret Guy stands in front of an office chair and a table talking.]
:Beret Guy: First, a few updates. We've learned from the state police that the self-driving car project we launched by accident during this morning's carpool has come to an end about 90 miles outside of town. Very exciting!

:[Pony tail sits at the table.]
:Beret Guy [off-panel]: Profits are up. Sales, any luck figuring out who our customers are?
:Ponytail: Nope. Money keeps appearing, but we have no idea how or why.
:Beret Guy [off-panel]: Great!

:[Back to the situation from frame two.]
:Beret Guy: Oh, and one last thing— I saw a cool red beetle in the hall. Can someone add it to the bug tracker?
:[person off-panel]: Just did!
:Beret Guy: Thanks!

==Trivia==
"CompanyName.website" is actually a domain name that was registered on 2014-11-20 and [http://companyname.website which redirects to xkcd.com]. Presumably, it is owned by Randall, for the same reason as in [[305]].

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Beret Guy's Business]]

1482: NowPlaying

2015-06-17T22:13:51Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

<noinclude>:''The correct title of this page is '''1482: #NowPlaying'''. It appears incorrectly here because of {{w|mw:Manual:Page title|technical restrictions}}.''</noinclude>
{{comic
| number = 1482
| date = February 4, 2015
| title = #NowPlaying
| image = nowplaying.png
| titletext = If you click on the post, it takes you to search results for the note on various online music stores.
}}

==Explanation==
There are a variety of applications that post a user's music-listening habits on their preferred social network. In this comic, [[Randall]] takes that notion to its extreme, envisioning a program that does this note-by-note, rather than just song-by-song. As notes are much shorter than songs{{Citation needed}}, this would lead to the flooding of friends' notification streams. In the example, the software is sharing the notes that Brian is listening to; and his friends Mike and Caitlin are getting annoyed with the number of posts they are receiving.

There are typically many hundreds of notes in any song. Any song with more than a single line of music contains multiple different {{w|Note|notes}} whose names according to the English convention are communicated here. All but the slowest songs will require reporting dozens to hundreds of notes every minute (a single {{w|glissando}} may cover a dozen or more notes in less than a second), meaning that anyone who can see your stream of posts will be [[Literally|literally]] inundated by posts from the service. Even if you could keep up with the speed of the posted notes that someone is listening to, the similarity in {{w|Phrase_(music)|phrases}} in many songs (especially pop songs eg: [http://youtu.be/JdxkVQy7QLM Pachelbel's Rant]) means that many different songs may include the same sequence of notes, though possibly in different {{w|Octave|octaves}} or at different speeds.

The comic's title alludes to the fact that you can "play a song" but can also "play a note." It may also allude to the visual similarities between the hash/pound/{{w|number sign}} (#) and the {{w|Sharp (music)|sharp sign}} (♯). ''C sharp'', above Mike's comment, is the only note not given by a single letter (after the correction - see [[#Trivia|Trivia]]).

The title text continues the joke of this new musical service: ''If you click on the post, it takes you to search results for the note on various online music store.'' Since many songs in similar {{w|Key (music)|keys}} contain at least some of the notes posted, you would be given a list of a large part of the music you can buy in any on-line music stores. Of course this is at least as useless as being told which note someone is listening to.

Here are some synthesized versions of the notes in the order they appear in the comic:
*[https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1079661/65467.ogg OGG]
*[https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1079661/65467.mid MIDI]

They appear to be the beginning of ''{{w|I'll Be There for You (The Rembrandts song)|I'll Be There For You}}'' by {{w|The Rembrandts}}, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-9kPks0IfE title music] of the TV series "{{w|Friends}}". This could be an internal reference to the idea that it "notifies" (converts into musical notes) your "friends" of the notes (a {{w|Pun|play on words}}). Alternatively it could simply be an instance of effective [[356: Nerd Sniping|nerd sniping]].

==Transcript==
:[A social network news feed with user images for each of the three different contributors. The top of the first post is partly obscured, and for the last post only half of the first line is visible.]

:''[Partially Visible]'' '''Brian''' is now listening to: E
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: A
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: B
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: D
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: C sharp
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Mike''' What the hell
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: B
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: A
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Caitlin''' Can someone call him?
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: A
:Today • 3:28 PM

:'''Brian''' is now listening to: E
:Today • 3:29 PM

:''[Partially Visible]'' '''Brian''' is now listening to: A

:My new social music service notifies your friends about what notes you're listening to.

==Trivia==
*In the [[Media:OriginalNowPlaying.png|original]] comic there were a few errors/mistakes that were corrected later the same day:
**One of the messages was out of order. The instance where "Brian is now listening to A" above Caitlin's post was {{w|timestamp}}ed at 3:29, but the next two posts were timestamped at 3:28. Now this timestamp has been corrected to 3:28 so only the last timestamp reads 3:29, the rest 3:28.
**The first partially visible "note" post was "{{w|E major}}". This is not a single note but rather a chord or {{w|major scale|scale}}. The "major" was removed from the comic so it now reads simply "E".

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Social networking]]
[[Category:Music]]
[[Category:Puns]]

864: Flying Cars

2015-06-17T20:34:14Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 864
| date = February 23, 2011
| title = Flying Cars
| image = flying_cars.png
| titletext = It's hard to fit in the backseat of my flying car with my android Realdoll when we're both wearing jetpacks.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Cueball]] is complaining to [[Megan]] over the phone about the lack of flying cars even though it is the year 2011. Megan counters that phone technology has taken off. For example, in the past it was predicted that we would have flying cars and two-way wrist radios by today.{w|Citation needed} The flying car is still not perfected (although there are some awesome prototypes flying today) but the two way wrist radio pales in comparison to the current state of smart phones.

He chooses to be resentful about the lack of flying cars rather than be amazed at the current state of computers and communication technology. Like many people, he is missing the forest while looking for a particular tree.

The title text references Realdoll, known as "the world's finest lovedoll", and jetpacks, another invention that many people were expecting to have by this point in time.

This strip is quoted at the top of the TvTope article [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IWantMyJetpack I Want My Jetpack], having a similar theme to the strip.

==Transcript==
:Cueball (on telephone): It's 2011. I want my flying car.
:Answer from telephone: Dude.
:Megan (on telephone): You're complaining to me using a phone on which you buy and read books, and which you were using to play a 3D shooter until I interrupted you with what would be a video call if I were wearing a shirt.
:Cueball: Can't I have flying cars, too?
:Answer from telephone: You'd crash it while texting and playing angry birds.

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

1185: Ineffective Sorts

2015-06-07T19:15:42Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1185
| date = March 13, 2013
| title = Ineffective Sorts
| image = ineffective_sorts.png
| titletext = StackSort connects to StackOverflow, searches for 'sort a list', and downloads and runs code snippets until the list is sorted.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic gives examples of four non-functional {{w|sorting algorithm}}s written in {{w|Pseudocode|pseudo}}-{{w|Python (programming language)|Python}}.

The first sort is an unfinished {{w|merge sort}}. The merge sort works recursively by dividing a list in half and performing a merge sort to each half. After the two halves are sorted, they are merged, taking advantage of the fact that the two halves are now in correct order and thus the merge can be done efficiently. The author of the merge sort in the comic appears to have given up on writing the sorted-merge part of the sort, which is why it's a ''[[wiktionary:half-hearted|half-hearted]]'' merge sort, but instead concatenates the halves without sorting. In its current state, the sort would divide the list into elements of size one, then recombine them in their original unsorted order, but in nested lists - making the original data more difficult to work with. The author acknowledges this failing with the comment "Ummmmm... Here. Sorry."

The second sort is an "optimized" variant of {{w|bogosort}}. A standard bogosort works by randomly shuffling the elements in the list until they are sorted. In a comment, the author points out that this variant of bogosort runs in O(n log(n)), whereas standard bogosorts actually run in expected O(n·n!) time but may never finish. This variant of bogosort finishes so much faster because in most cases it does not actually sort the list, instead reporting a fictitious error in the operating system (a "kernel page fault") if the list isn't ordered after shuffling log(n) times. The bogosort is "optimized" because no comparison sort algorithm can possibly do better than O(n log(n)) in the worst case.

The third sort parodies a programmer explaining a {{w|quicksort}} during a job interview. The quicksort works by choosing an index as a pivot value and sorting all elements less than the pivot before the pivot and all the elements greater than the pivot after the pivot. It then does a quicksort to the section less than the pivot and the section greater than the pivot until the whole list is sorted. The interviewee flounders for a little while, then asks whether they can use the standard libraries to call a quicksort. Using the standard library's quicksort would allow the programmer to successfully execute a quicksort, but would not demonstrate that they understand how it works.

The final sort is just a mess. First it checks to see if the list is sorted, and exits if it is. Then it rotates the list by a random amount 10,000 times (as if cutting a deck of cards) and exits if the list is ever sorted. Next, in desperation, it checks if the list is sorted three times. Finally, realizing that they have no chance of success, the author performs the computer equivalent of a [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RageQuit Rage Quit] and attempts to destroy the computer rather than admit defeat. First, the program attempts to schedule a shutdown of the computer in five seconds, then attempts to delete the current directory, then attempts to delete the user's home directory (presumably the grader's files), and finally all the files on the computer. {{w|rm (Unix)|rm}} is a POSIX command; the -r and -f flags mean that the remove command will remove all contents of the specified directories and will not prompt the user beforehand. Under the guise of "{{w|Software portability|portability}}", the program runs the equivalent Windows {{w|rmdir|rd}} command with switches to delete all files from the "C:" drive without prompting. Finally, the program returns a list containing the numbers one through five in order.

In the title text, {{w|StackOverflow}} ([http://stackoverflow.com/ link]) is a question-and-answer site where programmers can ask and answer questions on programming. The author of this code takes advantage of the hopes that someone on StackOverflow knows what they are doing and has posted code to sort a list... ''and somebody [http://gkoberger.github.com/stacksort/ implemented stacksort]; well, sort of.''

==Transcript==
:'''Ineffective sorts'''
define HalfheartedMergeSort(list):
if length(list)<2:
return list
pivot=int(length(list)/2)
a=HalfheartedMergeSort(list[:pivot])
b=HalfheartedMergeSort(list[pivot:])
// ummmmm
return [a,b] // Here. Sorry.

define FastBogoSort(list):
// An optimized BogoSort
// Runs in O(n log n)
for n from 1 to log(length(list)):
shuffle(list):
if isSorted(list):
return list
return "Kernel Page Fault (Error code: 2)"

define JobInterviewQuicksort(list):
Ok so you choose a pivot
Then divide the list in half
for each half:
check to see if it's sorted
no, wait, it doesn't matter
compare each element to the pivot
the bigger ones go in a new list
the equal ones go into, uh
the second list from before
hang on, let me name the lists
this is list A
the new one is list B
put the big ones into list B
now take the second list
call it list, uh, A2
which one was the pivot in?
scratch all that
it just recursively calls itself
until both lists are empty
right?
not empty, but you know what I mean
am I allowed to use the standard libraries?

define PanicSort(list):
if isSorted(list):
return list
for n from 1 to 10000:
pivot=random(0,length(list))
list=list[pivot:]+list[:pivot]
if isSorted(list):
return list
if isSorted(list):
return list:
if isSorted(list): //this can't be happening
return list
if isSorted(list): //come on come on
return list
// oh jeez
// i'm gonna be in so much trouble
list=[]
system("shutdown -h +5")
system("rm -rf ./")
system("rm -rf ~/*")
system("rm -rf /")
system("rd /s /q C:\*") //portability
return [1,2,3,4,5]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Programming]]

Talk:1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T21:49:04Z

108.162.238.144: /* Distance? */

Anyone know why the text on the comic was heavily aliased (pixelated edges), although it's since been fixed on the xkcd website? [[User:Keavon|Keavon]] ([[User talk:Keavon|talk]]) 07:45, 1 June 2015 (UTC)
:Probably a bad setting on the PNG compression by Randall when saving. Maybe he's trying to optimize file size (although in this case, the quality suffered). --BigMal // [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.192|108.162.238.192]] 11:53, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

According to Wikipedia, "in August 2014, astronomers made high-precision measurements of Pluto's location and orbit around the Sun using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to help NASA's New Horizons spacecraft accurately home in on Pluto." Was Steve involved in these measurements too? (And any of the numerous ways by which it can be determined how far away NH is and which way it is travelling!)--[[User:Laverock|Laverock]] ([[User talk:Laverock|talk]]) 12:43, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

This joke appears to be aimed at the implausibility of the Horizon Mission’s concept art, which looks suspiciously like earth. The image shows deserts, mountains and oceans which appear to be “riffs off” of a satellite image of the Horn of Africa, western Asia, and the Indian Ocean.
Examples:
Artist's conception of New Horizons at Pluto. Image Credit: NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/15-011a.jpg
Image usage:
http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/solar-system/new-horizons-starts-first-phase-pluto-encounter/

I do not know if the image is concept art for the New Horizon mission from back in 2006; or if it is a more generic space exploration art work. It is hard to imagine that it is specific to the New Horizon’s Mission.
One should ask New Horizons mission members to comment. There must be an interesting inside story. [[User:Dfh42|Dfh42]] ([[User talk:Dfh42|talk]]) 15:49, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

This earlier mission art is probably closer to what Randall would consider plausible:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_267.html [[User:Dfh42|Dfh42]] ([[User talk:Dfh42|talk]]) 16:29, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Waitasec, wouldn't the people on the ground know pretty much the exact position of this probe at all times? If nothing else they know its direction and distance from earth just by monitoring their communications with it. [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 17:45, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

== Slingshot maneuver ==

It uses the gravity of a planet to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_assist Reference] I guess Steve miscalculated the maneuver. --[[User:Arturotena|Arturotena]] ([[User talk:Arturotena|talk]]) 06:41, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

== References ==

# Related tweet: [https://twitter.com/NASANewHorizons/status/603652798622920704 As @NASANewHorizons gets closer, our view of #Pluto gets better and better!].
# Related link: [http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-horizons-sees-more-detail-as-it-draws-closer-to-pluto NASA’s New Horizons Sees More Detail as It Draws Closer to Pluto].
# [http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/team/ NASA Dawn Team]
--[[User:Arturotena|Arturotena]] ([[User talk:Arturotena|talk]]) 06:34, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

== Distance? ==

If Pluto is 39.26 AU from the Sun, how can New Horizons be 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.64.35|141.101.64.35]] 20:54, 1 June 2015 (UTC)
:I reinserted the sentence semi-major axis, and I added a Wikipedia link: {{w|semi-major axis}}. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.144|108.162.238.144]] 21:47, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T21:48:46Z

108.162.238.144: Format

Anyone know why the text on the comic was heavily aliased (pixelated edges), although it's since been fixed on the xkcd website? [[User:Keavon|Keavon]] ([[User talk:Keavon|talk]]) 07:45, 1 June 2015 (UTC)
:Probably a bad setting on the PNG compression by Randall when saving. Maybe he's trying to optimize file size (although in this case, the quality suffered). --BigMal // [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.192|108.162.238.192]] 11:53, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

According to Wikipedia, "in August 2014, astronomers made high-precision measurements of Pluto's location and orbit around the Sun using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to help NASA's New Horizons spacecraft accurately home in on Pluto." Was Steve involved in these measurements too? (And any of the numerous ways by which it can be determined how far away NH is and which way it is travelling!)--[[User:Laverock|Laverock]] ([[User talk:Laverock|talk]]) 12:43, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

This joke appears to be aimed at the implausibility of the Horizon Mission’s concept art, which looks suspiciously like earth. The image shows deserts, mountains and oceans which appear to be “riffs off” of a satellite image of the Horn of Africa, western Asia, and the Indian Ocean.
Examples:
Artist's conception of New Horizons at Pluto. Image Credit: NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/15-011a.jpg
Image usage:
http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/solar-system/new-horizons-starts-first-phase-pluto-encounter/

I do not know if the image is concept art for the New Horizon mission from back in 2006; or if it is a more generic space exploration art work. It is hard to imagine that it is specific to the New Horizon’s Mission.
One should ask New Horizons mission members to comment. There must be an interesting inside story. [[User:Dfh42|Dfh42]] ([[User talk:Dfh42|talk]]) 15:49, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

This earlier mission art is probably closer to what Randall would consider plausible:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_267.html [[User:Dfh42|Dfh42]] ([[User talk:Dfh42|talk]]) 16:29, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Waitasec, wouldn't the people on the ground know pretty much the exact position of this probe at all times? If nothing else they know its direction and distance from earth just by monitoring their communications with it. [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 17:45, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

== Slingshot maneuver ==

It uses the gravity of a planet to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_assist Reference] I guess Steve miscalculated the maneuver. --[[User:Arturotena|Arturotena]] ([[User talk:Arturotena|talk]]) 06:41, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

== References ==

# Related tweet: [https://twitter.com/NASANewHorizons/status/603652798622920704 As @NASANewHorizons gets closer, our view of #Pluto gets better and better!].
# Related link: [http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-horizons-sees-more-detail-as-it-draws-closer-to-pluto NASA’s New Horizons Sees More Detail as It Draws Closer to Pluto].
# [http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/team/ NASA Dawn Team]
--[[User:Arturotena|Arturotena]] ([[User talk:Arturotena|talk]]) 06:34, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

== Distance? ==

If Pluto is 39.26 AU from the Sun, how can New Horizons be 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.64.35|141.101.64.35]] 20:54, 1 June 2015 (UTC)
:I reinserted the sentence semi-major axis, and I added a Wikipoedia link: {{w|semi-major axis}}. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.144|108.162.238.144]] 21:47, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T21:47:38Z

108.162.238.144:

Anyone know why the text on the comic was heavily aliased (pixelated edges), although it's since been fixed on the xkcd website? [[User:Keavon|Keavon]] ([[User talk:Keavon|talk]]) 07:45, 1 June 2015 (UTC)
:Probably a bad setting on the PNG compression by Randall when saving. Maybe he's trying to optimize file size (although in this case, the quality suffered). --BigMal // [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.192|108.162.238.192]] 11:53, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

According to Wikipedia, "in August 2014, astronomers made high-precision measurements of Pluto's location and orbit around the Sun using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to help NASA's New Horizons spacecraft accurately home in on Pluto." Was Steve involved in these measurements too? (And any of the numerous ways by which it can be determined how far away NH is and which way it is travelling!)--[[User:Laverock|Laverock]] ([[User talk:Laverock|talk]]) 12:43, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

This joke appears to be aimed at the implausibility of the Horizon Mission’s concept art, which looks suspiciously like earth. The image shows deserts, mountains and oceans which appear to be “riffs off” of a satellite image of the Horn of Africa, western Asia, and the Indian Ocean.
Examples:
Artist's conception of New Horizons at Pluto. Image Credit: NASA
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/15-011a.jpg
Image usage:
http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/solar-system/new-horizons-starts-first-phase-pluto-encounter/

I do not know if the image is concept art for the New Horizon mission from back in 2006; or if it is a more generic space exploration art work. It is hard to imagine that it is specific to the New Horizon’s Mission.
One should ask New Horizons mission members to comment. There must be an interesting inside story. [[User:Dfh42|Dfh42]] ([[User talk:Dfh42|talk]]) 15:49, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

This earlier mission art is probably closer to what Randall would consider plausible:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_267.html [[User:Dfh42|Dfh42]] ([[User talk:Dfh42|talk]]) 16:29, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

Waitasec, wouldn't the people on the ground know pretty much the exact position of this probe at all times? If nothing else they know its direction and distance from earth just by monitoring their communications with it. [[User:Odysseus654|Odysseus654]] ([[User talk:Odysseus654|talk]]) 17:45, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

= Slingshot maneuver

It uses the gravity of a planet to alter the path and speed of a spacecraft. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_assist Reference] I guess Steve miscalculated the maneuver. --[[User:Arturotena|Arturotena]] ([[User talk:Arturotena|talk]]) 06:41, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

= References

# Related tweet: [https://twitter.com/NASANewHorizons/status/603652798622920704 As @NASANewHorizons gets closer, our view of #Pluto gets better and better!].
# Related link: [http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-horizons-sees-more-detail-as-it-draws-closer-to-pluto NASA’s New Horizons Sees More Detail as It Draws Closer to Pluto].
# [http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/team/ NASA Dawn Team]
--[[User:Arturotena|Arturotena]] ([[User talk:Arturotena|talk]]) 06:34, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

= Distance?

If Pluto is 39.26 AU from the Sun, how can New Horizons be 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.64.35|141.101.64.35]] 20:54, 1 June 2015 (UTC)
:I reinserted the sentence semi-major axis, and I added a Wikipoedia link: {{w|semi-major axis}}. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.144|108.162.238.144]] 21:47, 1 June 2015 (UTC)

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T21:46:12Z

108.162.238.144: Wikipedia link

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons. Its closest approach to Pluto will be on July 14, 2015 [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html]. In April and May 2015, it captured the first images of Pluto with enough resolution to see some details on Pluto's surface [http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-horizons-sees-more-detail-as-it-draws-closer-to-pluto]. These images are similar to the second pane of the comic, with Pluto shown as a gray dot only a few pixels wide.

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}. Its closest approach to Vesta began on July 16, 2011 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)#Vesta_approach].

On the day this comic was published, ''New Horizons'' was at 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun [http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/Where-is-New-Horizons/index.php]. One AU ({{w|Astronomical unit}}) is the approximate distance of Earth from the Sun, or about 150 million kilometers.

Distances from the Sun ({{w|semi-major axis}}): Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU.

A {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is a technique where a spacecraft is maneuvered or accelerated with the help of a gravitational field. In the comic, presumably someone named Steve made the calculations for the New Horizons spacecraft to accelerate toward Pluto using {{w|Jupiter}}'s gravity.

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a computer monitor and observing a series of images sent back from ''New Horizons'' as it approaches the planet. As the image resolution increases, it's obvious that the spacecraft is in fact approaching Earth, not Pluto. They blame this unexpected result on Steve, who apparently miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver, leading the probe to slingshot back on an incorrect trajectory towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests the team is considering crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]] (set in 1945), given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T21:43:22Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ "semi-major axis" needs to be there

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons. Its closest approach to Pluto will be on July 14, 2015 [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html]. In April and May 2015, it captured the first images of Pluto with enough resolution to see some details on Pluto's surface [http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-new-horizons-sees-more-detail-as-it-draws-closer-to-pluto]. These images are similar to the second pane of the comic, with Pluto shown as a gray dot only a few pixels wide.

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}. Its closest approach to Vesta began on July 16, 2011 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)#Vesta_approach].

On the day this comic was published, ''New Horizons'' was at 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun [http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/Where-is-New-Horizons/index.php]. One AU ({{w|Astronomical unit}}) is the approximate distance of Earth from the Sun, or about 150 million kilometers.

Distances from the Sun (semi-major axis): Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU.

A {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is a technique where a spacecraft is maneuvered or accelerated with the help of a gravitational field. In the comic, presumably someone named Steve made the calculations for the New Horizons spacecraft to accelerate toward Pluto using {{w|Jupiter}}'s gravity.

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a computer monitor and observing a series of images sent back from ''New Horizons'' as it approaches the planet. As the image resolution increases, it's obvious that the spacecraft is in fact approaching Earth, not Pluto. They blame this unexpected result on Steve, who apparently miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver, leading the probe to slingshot back on an incorrect trajectory towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests the team is considering crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]] (set in 1945), given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1244: Six Words

2015-06-01T15:03:36Z

108.162.238.144: The six words are "It works in Kerbal Space Program"

{{comic
| number = 1244
| date = July 29, 2013
| title = Six Words
| image = six words.png
| titletext = Ahem. We are STRICTLY an Orbiter shop.
}}

==Explanation==
The six words are "It works in ''Kerbal Space Program''".

The {{w|Kuiper Belt}} is a region of the outer Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune consisting of numerous small icy bodies, including the dwarf planets {{w|Pluto}} and {{w|Eris (dwarf planet)|Eris}}. An {{w|Oberth effect|Oberth maneuver}} is a spaceflight maneuver, specifically an engine burn performed during the flyby of a celestial body. The point of this is to optimize usable energy, because rocket burns are more effective to perform at high speeds than at low speeds. The more massive the body and the lower the altitude, the higher the flyby speed will be, and the greater the performance gain due to the Oberth effect. The theoretical way to use rocket fuel most efficiently is therefore to execute the burn during a flyby of the most massive celestial body available, as close as possible.

Cueball is proposing to implement an "Oberth Kuiper Maneuver", and the proposal diagram shows the spacecraft using {{w|Gravity assist|gravity assists}} to travel first towards (presumably) {{w|Venus}} for a first boost, then towards a distant planetary object for another swing by, aiming it back towards the {{w|Sun}}, the most massive Solar System body, to perform an Oberth maneuver at the point of closest approach, as indicated by a small dot along the spacecraft trajectory. (The objects in the diagram are unmarked, and the identity of the distant planetary object is controversial. One possible interpretation is that it is a Kuiper Belt object, referred to by the word "Kuiper" in the name of the proposal. Another possible interpretation is that it is {{w|Jupiter}}, and the word "Kuiper" references the Kuiper Belt as the intended destination of the spacecraft after the maneuver. (See the discussion for arguments for either interpretation.) Also, because the proposed trajectory from Earth to Venus is impossible for unpowered flight, as it does not close on itself after a full orbit, and a single gravity assist from Venus would not suffice to reach either the Kuiper Belt or Jupiter, it is possible that the diagram might only be a simplified outline of a more complex flight plan. Alternatively, Cueball may have gotten it wrong, or [[Randall]] may simply not have concerned himself with such things for the purpose of a webcomic sketch.

An Oberth maneuver in the close vicinity of the Sun, while theoretically possible and extraordinarily effective at the speeds the spacecraft would reach, would however be very difficult to carry out in real life, because the neighborhood of the Sun is an extremely hostile environment and the spacecraft could be incinerated during a too-close flyby.

Cueball's argument for why the maneuver will work in real life is that it works in ''{{w|Kerbal Space Program}}'', a sandbox spaceflight simulator. While it does take into account quite a bit of the physics in a space flight, many liberties were taken in its production, such as a very simple relationship between mass and drag, and the heat and radiation stress the spacecraft would experience in close proximity of the Sun is not simulated either. The humour in referencing it lies in using a simple game program to simulate programs which take a great number of experts to implement. Use of ''Kerbal Space Program'' alone isn't a good enough argument for NASA to agree to implement the proposal; therefore one should not say it at NASA.

The title text refers to ''{{w|Orbiter (simulator)|Orbiter}}'', which is another spaceflight simulator program. The title text suggests that the argument doesn't work for NASA, not because it's not scientifically sound, but because NASA relies on the ''Orbiter'' simulator rather than the ''Kerbal'' simulator (although the proposed maneuver would appear to work in both). Note, however, that [http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57495117-93/mars-curiosity-rover-team-prefers-macs-to-pcs/ a few team members "love" to play ''Kerbal''].

==Transcript==
:The six words you ''never'' say at NASA:
:[A trajectory path involving multiple slingshots around Earth, Jupiter, and the Sun labeled "Oberth Kuiper Maneuver" is being presented by Cueball for a crowd. Behind him is Ponytail, who appears to be disgusted.]
:Cueball: And besides— it works in Kerbal Space Program.

==Trivia==
*{{w|NASA}} is planning a mission to the sun at a closest distance of only 8.5 solar radii. The {{w|Solar Probe Plus}} will use seven Venus flybys to reach its [http://solarprobe.jhuapl.edu/index.php first close approach]. The maneuvers will last nearly seven years, before the real mission does start.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Video games]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:56:30Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ italics

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons. Its closest approach to Pluto will be on July 14, 2015 [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html].

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}. Its closest approach to Vesta began on July 16, 2011 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)#Vesta_approach].

{{w|Jupiter}} {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is using Jupiter's gravity to accelerate the spacecraft in its journey to Pluto.

Distances from the Sun (semi-major axis): Earth (1.00 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU}}); Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU; The day of publication of this comic ''New Horizons'' was at 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun [http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/Where-is-New-Horizons/index.php].

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a large computer monitor, waiting for ''New Horizons'' to approach Pluto, turn communications on, and give them their first image of the planet's surface. Apparently a rocket scientist named Steve miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver for NASA's ''New Horizons'' mission, leading the probe to slingshot back towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]] (set in 1945), given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:53:13Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Dates of closest approach to targets

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons. Its closest approach to Pluto will be on July 14, 2015 [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html].

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}. Its closest approach to Vesta began on July 16, 2011 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_(spacecraft)#Vesta_approach].

{{w|Jupiter}} {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is using Jupiter's gravity to accelerate the spacecraft in its journey to Pluto.

Distances from the Sun (semi-major axis): Earth (1.00 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU}}); Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU; The day of publication of this comic ''New Horizons'' was at 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun [http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/Where-is-New-Horizons/index.php].

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a large computer monitor, waiting for New Horizons to approach Pluto, turn communications on, and give them their first image of the planet's surface. Apparently a rocket scientist named Steve miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver for NASA's New Horizons mission, leading the probe to slingshot back towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]] (set in 1945), given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:21:10Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ The day of publication of this comic ''New Horizons'' was at 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons.

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}.

{{w|Jupiter}} {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is using Jupiter's gravity to accelerate the spacecraft in its journey to Pluto.

Distances from the Sun (semi-major axis): Earth (1.00 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU}}); Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU; The day of publication of this comic ''New Horizons'' was at 0.34 AU from Pluto and 32.55 AU from the Sun [http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/Mission/Where-is-New-Horizons/index.php].

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a large computer monitor, waiting for New Horizons to approach Pluto, turn communications on, and give them their first image of the planet's surface. Apparently a rocket scientist named Steve miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver for NASA's New Horizons mission, leading the probe to slingshot back towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]] (set in 1945), given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:15:04Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons.

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}.

{{w|Jupiter}} {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is using Jupiter's gravity to accelerate the spacecraft in its journey to Pluto.

Distances from the Sun (semi-major axis): Earth (1.00 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU}}); Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU;

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a large computer monitor, waiting for New Horizons to approach Pluto, turn communications on, and give them their first image of the planet's surface. Apparently a rocket scientist named Steve miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver for NASA's New Horizons mission, leading the probe to slingshot back towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]] (set in 1945), given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:13:19Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Explanation at the beginning

{{comic
| number = 1532
| date = June 1, 2015
| title = New Horizons
| image = new_horizons.png
| titletext = Last-minute course change: Let's see if we can hit Steve's house.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
''{{w|New Horizons}}'' is a NASA mission launched on 2006 to study the dwarf planet {{w|Pluto}} and its moons.

''{{w|Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn}}'' is a NASA mission launched in September 2007 to study the protoplanets {{w|4 Vesta|Vesta}} and {{w|Ceres (dwarf planet)|Ceres}}.

{{w|Jupiter}} {{w|Gravity assist|slingshot maneuver}} is using Jupiter's gravity to accelerate the spacecraft in its journey to Pluto.

Distances from the Sun (semi-major axis): Earth (1.00 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU}}); Vesta 2.36 AU; Ceres 2.77 AU; Jupiter 5.20 AU; Pluto 39.26 AU;

In the first panel we see Cueball and Ponytail standing in front of a large computer monitor, waiting for New Horizons to approach Pluto, turn communications on, and give them their first image of the planet's surface. Apparently a rocket scientist named Steve miscalculated the Jupiter slingshot maneuver for NASA's New Horizons mission, leading the probe to slingshot back towards Earth instead of towards Pluto. Needless to say, this is a huge embarrassment, especially in front of the successful ''Dawn'' team, who were the first to get a probe to visit a dwarf planet.

The title text suggests crashing the probe into Steve's house as punishment for his errors.

This is likely the same Steve from [[809: Los Alamos]], given the similar contexts. If so, his calculations may be even more erroneous due to senile dementia.

==Transcript==
:<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] and [[Ponytail]] are standing in front of a large computer console. Cueball's hands are on the keyboard; both are looking at the screen.<nowiki>]</nowiki>
:Cueball: We made it! After all these years, ''New Horizons'' is finally revealing the surface of Pluto!
:Ponytail: Take ''that'', ''Dawn'' team.

:<nowiki>[</nowiki>In the next four frames, we see photos, entirely black except for a circle in the middle. The circle is initially small, indistinct and appears in shades of grey; the successive circles are larger showing more color and shade variation. In the last, we see a blurry but recognizable outline of Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Asia, along with some clouds. The lighting pattern suggests that it is daytime in Africa, sometime in the northern summer.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

:Cueball: OK, who did the calculations for the Jupiter slingshot maneuver?
:Ponytail: (facing away from the computer console) Dammit, Steve...

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Space]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:09:59Z

108.162.238.144: /* Transcript */ American spelling; summer in lowercase

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T14:01:17Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Distances from the Sun

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T13:35:01Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Explanation at the beginning

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T13:30:46Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ better links

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T13:29:03Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Who's Steve?

809: Los Alamos

2015-06-01T13:26:05Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ lowercase

{{comic
| number = 809
| date = October 22, 2010
| title = Los Alamos
| image = los_alamos.png
| titletext = The test didn't (spoiler alert) destroy the world, but the fact that they were even doing those calculations makes theirs the coolest jobs ever.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the {{w|Manhattan Project}} at {{w|Los Alamos, New Mexico}}, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going explode "The Gadget" at {{w|Trinity Site}}. There was genuine concern that some unexpected result was possible, including the scenario about the atmosphere igniting. The scientists were almost certain that it would either work as expected, or just be a dud, but were unable to rule out several other scenarios. The test proceeded, and it worked as expected.

The joke part at the end is a reference to a common {{w|mnemonic}} device for basic {{w|trigonometric}} functions, namely identifying the relationships of ''sine'', ''cosine'', and ''tangent'' with respect to the lengths of a right triangle's edges: '''s'''in = '''o'''pposite over '''h'''ypotenuse, '''c'''os = '''a'''djacent over '''h'''ypotenuse, and '''t'''an = '''o'''pposite over '''a'''djacent (in other words, SOH CAH TOA.) "Steve" becomes concerned by the seriousness of the situation, and wants to make sure that he has not made a mistake on stuff that should be ''very'' elementary to a scientist in his position. (To our knowledge, "Steve" is not a reference to any specific scientist in the real life Manhattan Project)

"Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." – {{w|Robert Oppenheimer}}, Lead scientist on bomb project, quoting Hindu scripture after the successful test. There are very few jobs where one can say that with seriousness, as pointed out in the title text.

==Transcript==
:[Three stick figures stand in front of a few graphs and scientific looking pictures. One of them has hair.]
:Los Alamos, 1945...
:Cueball: We have a decision. If we've done our math right, this test will unleash heaven's fire and make us as gods.

:Cueball: But it's possible we made a mistake, and the heat will ignite the atmosphere, destroying the planet in a cleansing conflagration.

:Steve: Wow. Um. Question: Just to double-check— although I'm 99% sure—

:Steve: Is it "SOH CAH TOA" or "COH SAH TOA"?
:Cueball: ''Oh, for the love of...'' can someone redo Steve's work?
:Hairy: I don't want to do the test anymore.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Math]]
[[Category:Physics]]

1532: New Horizons

2015-06-01T13:24:26Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

1530: Keyboard Mash

2015-05-28T19:47:00Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1530
| date = May 27, 2015
| title = Keyboard Mash
| image = keyboard mash.png
| titletext = WHY DON'T YOU COME HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE. WE CAN COOK BREAD AND CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Could be more concise, more citations please.}}

[[Cueball]] is chatting online (supposedly) with [[White Hat]], who says he is frustrated because a barking dog is preventing him from sleeping. White Hat apparently mashes the keyboard to show his frustration. Keyboard mashing is often used in this way where the user makes their hands spasm across the keyboard, creating a line of text that can be compared to an angry groan in real life. Cueball is about to give some advice, but is confused by a quirk in what White Hat typed. Most of the characters he typed were on the home row of the QWERTY keyboard, (the middle set of letters on the keyboard, starting with the letters A, S, D, and F on a QWERTY keyboard) the letters A, S, D, F, J, K, and L are scattered throughout the text, but there is a 7 in the middle of this text. Cueball, (being himself) wonders how White Hat put a seven in there, because if White Hat was keyboard mashing and touched the 7 key, he likely would have hit any of the QWERTY row keys because of keyboard mashing hand spasms, but he didn't. All the other characters were on the home row. White Hat berates Cueball for always focusing on strange, tiny details. When the final panel shows what's going on where White Hat is, we see that a giant spider (possibly a joke about the spider "on the Web" here) has imprisoned him in a web and is talking to Cueball, which explains how the keyboard mashing "White Hat" did was strange.

The reason the dog was barking appears to be because the giant spider was lurking nearby. Little did White Hat know that the dog was alerting him of the spider. When the spider notices that White Hat mentions the barking dog to Cueball, the spider apparently restrains White Hat and takes over typing. Another possibility is that the "dog" barking is actually White Hat, as he is seen making grunts from beneath the spider's silk. It can be seen in the last panel that the spider is typing with 3 legs, which explains how the 7 key would have been pressed.

The statement "I am a normal human typing with my human hands" is [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SuspiciouslySpecificDenial an oddly specific assertion] from the giant spider that it is actually a human, a claim that would normally be taken for granted and had not really been cast into doubt by Cueball's inquiries about how "7" got into a string of home-row keystrokes. The title text invitation ends with a similar statement, suggesting that they "...CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS", a subject that would not normally come up in conversation (except for fans of the Pierce Quincuncial projection, as detailed in xkcd [[977]]) but is being offered as more evidence that the typist is most certainly not a giant spider.
The title text implies that the spider also wants to trap (and possibly eat) Cueball as well, or actually hang out with him in an attempt to make friends. "...HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE" may also have a double meaning, as White Hat is actually "hanging" from the ceiling inside his house. Also another oddity is that the spider asks Cueball to cook bread, although bread is actually baked, and in any case this isn't a common pastime during the night.

The central theme of the comic is a vindication of Cueball's world-view, wherein tiny oddities such as the appearance of a numeral in a keyboard mash merit investigation.

==Transcript==
:Cueball approaches his desktop computer, which has emitted a "NEW CHAT MESSAGE" from seemingly White Hat as it displays a picture of him.

:[Chat log (all in uppercase)]:
:White Hat: CAN'T SLEEP. STUPID DOG KEEPS BARKING.
:White Hat: SO FRUSTRATING. FJAFJKLDSKF7JKFDJ
:Cueball: UGH, I'M SORRY. MAYBE YOU COULD...
:Cueball: ... OKAY, WAIT. I HAVE TO ASK.
:Cueball: HOW DID YOU HIT A "7" IN THE MIDDLE THERE?
:White Hat: HUH?
:White Hat: I WAS JUST RANDOMLY KEYBOARD MASHING.
:Cueball: SORRY, RIGHT.
:White Hat: ANYWAY,
:Cueball: I KNOW THIS IS SILLY, BUT LIKE ... ALL YOUR HANDS WERE CLEARLY RIGHT ON THE HOME ROW.
:Cueball: I DON'T GET HOW ONE FINGER COULD HAVE STRETCHED UP TO THE "7".
:White Hat: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS FIXATE ON THESE BIZARRE DETAILS?
:Cueball: I DON'T KNOW.
:Cueball: SORRY.
:White Hat: IT'S WEIRD, IS ALL.

:[Chat transcript continues, but now we see a human-sized spider suspended from the ceiling by web is using three of its legs to type on a laptop computer. Behind the spider, White Hat is upside down, almost totally encased in spider web, also suspended from the ceiling, verbalising MMM!! MMPH!!! Between them, a chair has been knocked over onto its back.]
:Spider (while the chat dialogue shows White Hat's picture): I AM A NORMAL HUMAN TYPING WITH MY HUMAN HANDS.
:Cueball: YEAH, OF COURSE. I KNOW.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

882: Significant

2015-05-28T18:32:51Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Deleting false sentence: In this case they find that green jelly beans do cause acne.

{{comic
| number = 882
| date = April 6, 2011
| title = Significant
| image = significant.png
| titletext = So, uh, we did the green study again and got no link. It was probably a-- "RESEARCH CONFLICTED ON GREEN JELLY BEAN/ACNE LINK; MORE STUDY RECOMMENDED!"
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is about {{w|Data dredging}} (aka p-hacking), and the misrepresentation of science and statistics in the media. [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] commission some research on the link between jelly beans and acne, and the result is bad news reporting.

First some basic statistical theory. Let's imagine you are trying to find out if jelly beans cause acne. To do this you could find a group of people and randomly split them into two groups - one group who you get to eat lots of jelly beans and a second group who are banned from eating jelly beans. After some time you compare whether the group that eat jelly beans have more acne than those who do not. If more people in the group that eat jelly beans have acne then you might think that jelly beans cause acne. However, there is a problem.

Some people will suffer from acne whether they eat jelly beans or not and some will never have acne even if they do eat jelly beans. There is an element of chance in how many people prone to acne are in each group. What if, purely by chance, all the group we selected to eat jelly beans would have had acne anyway while those who didn't eat jelly beans were the lucky sort of people who never get spots? Then, even if jelly beans did not cause acne, we would conclude that jelly beans did cause acne. Of course it is very unlikely that all the acne prone people end up in one group by chance, especially if we have enough people in each group. However, to give more confidence in the result of this type of experiment, scientists use statistics to see how likely it is that the result they find is purely by chance. This is known as {{w|statistical hypothesis testing}}. Before we start the experiment, we choose a threshold known as the significance level. In the comic the scientists choose a threshold of 5%. If they find that more of the people who ate jelly beans had acne and the chance it was a purely random result is less than 1 in 20, they will say that jelly beans do cause acne. If however, the chance that their result was purely by random chance is greater than 5% they will say they have found no evidence of a link. The important point is this - '''there could still be a 1 in 20 chance that this result was purely a statistical fluke'''.

At first the scientists do not want to stop playing the addictive game {{w|Minecraft}} (which has been referenced in a [[861|previous xkcd]]), but they do eventually start.

The scientists find no link between jelly beans and acne (the probability that the result is by chance is more than 5% i.e. p > 0.05) but then Megan and Cueball ask them to see if only one colour of jelly beans is responsible. They test 20 different colors each at a significance level of 5%. If the probability that each trial gives a false positive result is 1 in 20, then by testing 20 different colors it is now likely that at least one jelly bean test will give a false positive. To be precise, the probability of having ''no'' false positive in 20 tests is (0.95)^20 = 35.85%. Probability of having ''no'' false positive in 21 tests (counting the test without color discrimination) is (0.95)^21 = 34.06%.

This leads to a big newspaper headline saying '''GREEN JELLY BEANS CAUSE ACNE''' but when the scientists {{w|Reproducibility|repeat the experiment}} (another key part of the scientific method) they find no evidence for a link. They try to tell the reporter that it was probably a coincidence but that is not news. Instead it leads to another major headline saying '''RESEARCH CONFLICTED'''.

This can be an issue with more serious matters than jelly beans and acne - at any one time there are many studies about possible links between substances (e.g. red wine) and illness (e.g. cancer). Because only the positive results get reported, this limits the value any single study has - especially if the mechanism linking the two things is not known.

=== p-hacking and bad news reporting in real life ===
In 2015 some journalists demonstrated the same problem: just how gullible other news outlets are with the same sort of flawed "experimental design": [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/05/28/how-and-why-a-journalist-tricked-news-outlets-into-thinking-chocolate-makes-you-thin/?hpid=z5 How, and why, a journalist tricked news outlets into thinking chocolate makes you thin - The Washington Post]

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail runs up to another person, who subsequently points off-panel where there are presumably scientists.]
:Ponytail: Jelly beans cause acne!
:Another: Scientists! Investigate!
:Scientists: But we're playing Minecraft! ...Fine.

:[Two scientists. Cueball has safety goggles, Megan has a sheet of notes.]
:Cueball: We found no link between jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:[Back to the original two.]
:Another: That settles that.
:Ponytail: I hear it's only a certain color that causes it.
:Another: Scientists!
:Scientists: But Miiiinecraft!

:[20 near identical small panels follow, 4 rows 5 columns.]
:Cueball: We found no link between purple jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between brown jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between pink jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between blue jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between teal jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between salmon jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between red jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between turquoise jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between magenta jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between yellow jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between grey jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between tan jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between cyan jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found a link between green jelly beans and acne (p < 0.05).
:Off-panel: ''WHOA!''

:Cueball: We found no link between mauve jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between beige jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between lilac jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between black jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between peach jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:Cueball: We found no link between orange jelly beans and acne (p > 0.05).

:[Newspaper front page.]
:NEWS Green Jelly Beans Linked To Acne! 95% Confidence
:[There is a picture of 3 green jelly beans.]
:Only 5% chance of coincidence!
:Scientists...

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

1503: Squirrel Plan

2015-05-27T20:18:20Z

108.162.238.144: Deleting redundant category

{{comic
| number = 1503
| date = March 25, 2015
| title = Squirrel Plan
| image = squirrel plan.png
| titletext = [Halfway to the Sun ...] Heyyyy ... what if this BALLOON is full of acorns?!
}}

==Explanation==
These particular squirrels are ambitious but misguided, like the characters in the myth of {{w|Icarus}} and {{w|Daedalus}}, or the {{w|Tower of Babel}}. The squirrels' understanding of astrophysics is lacking, regarding the distance to the sun and appropriate transportation to reach it in addition to the need to resist the sun's heat and exist in the vacuum of space. It can be seen as a joke about how limited the knowledge of humans still is regarding many advanced topics of science. The idea of taking a balloon to the moon or the sun might not have been immediately rejected even a few hundred years ago. And the fanciful notion of a sun filled with acorns (the ultimate object in a squirrel's reality) is reminiscent of many early human ideas about heaven and celestial objects, even the common old myth that the moon might be made out of cheese.

The title text reveals that "halfway to the sun," 75 million kilometers from all known acorns in our universe, the airborne squirrel seems to jeopardize the entire mission because he wants to test if the balloon itself is full of acorns. Basic observational skills will tell anyone that acorns do not float, but the idea follows the logic stated by the squirrels: If the sun, being so magnificent, must be full of acorns, then a balloon powerful enough to take a squirrel to the sun must also be powered by something amazing, like acorns.

In the real world [http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=1020.0 helium balloons cannot escape the stratosphere.] Perhaps the squirrel only ''thinks'' he's halfway to the sun. Or maybe the acorns in the balloon are pushing on the [[1404:_Quantum_Vacuum_Virtual_Plasma|quantum vacuum virtual plasma]].

Alternate hypothesis: this scene is almost identical to a scene found in the recent movie Kingsman: TSS.

===Squirrels in xkcd===
Squirrels are often used in xkcd and ''What if?'' comics as a way of avoiding reality. Maybe [[Randall]] is going through a tough time this week.

'''Comics:'''
*[[635: Locke and Demosthenes]]
*[[776: Still No Sleep]]
*[[1156: Conditioning]]

'''What if?:'''
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/21/ Machine Gun Jetpack]
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/98/ Blood Alcohol]
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/102/ Keyboard Power]
*[http://what-if.xkcd.com/105/ Cannibalism]

'''Blag:'''
*[http://blog.xkcd.com/2008/02/15/the-laser-elevator/ The Laser Elevator]

==Transcript==
:[There are three squirrels. One is suspended from a balloon. The other two are sitting on the ground, looking up at it.]

:Squirrel to the right: Once you've chewed a hole in the sun, shoot the balloon to fall back to earth, then pull the parachute ripcord to land.

:Squirrel tied to balloon: Are you '''''sure''''' it's full of acorns?

:Squirrel to the right: Look how bright and magnificent it is! What ''else'' could be in there?
==Trivia==
It is commonly believed that real squirrels use their ''tails'' as parachutes, although as yet [http://io9.com/5946627/squirrel-hurls-itself-through-a-fourth-story-window-scampers-off-unscathed "there have been no observational studies on the aerodynamics of free-falling squirrels."]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Squirrels]]

Category:Red Spiders

2015-05-27T20:16:47Z

108.162.238.144: Suppressing redundant category

{{Infobox character 2
| image = 442_Red_Spider.png
| caption = A close-up of a Red Spider from [[442: xkcd Loves the Discovery Channel]]
| first_appearance = [[8: Red spiders]]
}}

Red spiders (with six legs) were a recurring theme in early [[xkcd]] comics. They appear in at least 7 different comics, although not many recently.

{{navbox-characters}}
[[Category:Comic series]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

1415: Ballooning

2015-05-27T20:14:59Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Spiders

{{comic
| number = 1415
| date = September 1, 2014
| title = Ballooning
| image = ballooning.png
| titletext = Time to dance in front of Mary Jane! If I'm lucky, she'll turn out not to practice pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism!
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Spider-Man}} is a fictional superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics, and has been the star of a number of television shows and film. The {{w|Spider-Man theme song}}, first used for the 1967 cartoon show, includes the words, "Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can". However, at other points, the theme song explains some things Spider-Man can do that a real spider obviously couldn't, such as crime-fighting. Randall is pointing out that while the abilities attributed to Spider-Man make a good superhero story [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=user_review&id=4947 Spider-Men #3], they are not real abilities of a spider.

This comic depicts [[Cueball]] as a far more realistic Spider-Man, behaving and thinking much more closely to a real spider than the Spider-Man from the comics. Cueball is shown {{w|Ballooning (spider)|ballooning}}[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai3gTAwssxQ], a trait used by spiders to move between locations, rather than swinging on web cords as in the comics and films. As he is floating, he sees a good spot to land, eat some bugs and make an egg sac. Again this contrasts the real life of a spider with Spider-Man, who would doubtless be rushing to fight crime or save a pretty girl.

Only female spiders create an egg sac. Male spiders spin a sperm web in order to transfer their sperm from their {{w|epigastric furrow}} into their {{w|pedipalp}}s (reproductive organ located on the front two appendages, in the position where a scorpion would have pincers), which will then be used to transfer the sperm into the female during copulation. Cueball/Spider-Man, being nominally male, should in fact be looking for a place to create a sperm web, not an egg sac. However, thanks to being featured in childrens books, the actions of female spiders are much more widely known.

The title text refers to the mating ritual of some spiders, in which the male performs a dance to court the female. Mary-Jane is the third love interest and Peter's eventual wife in the Spider-Man stories, and so Cueball is planning to court her by dancing in front of her. In doing so he hopes that he is lucky, and she doesn't eat him before copulating with him, as {{w|sexual cannibalism}} is a trait associated with spiders.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is shown floating on the wind, attached to a large balloon. The balloon is made of spider silk.]
:Cueball: Ooh, that looks like a good spot to land, eat some bugs, and make an egg sac!
:♫ ''Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can'' ♪
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

790: Control

2015-05-27T20:12:17Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Spiders

{{comic
| number = 790
| date = September 8, 2010
| title = Control
| image = control.png
| titletext = Which, at one point, led to a study showing that LSD produces no more hallucinations than a placebo.
}}

==Explanation==
In a product experiment, two groups of people are given a certain pill or lotion. Some people are given the product to be tested, while others (the control group) are given a placebo; nobody is told which group they belong to. The control group acts as a norm for comparison against the others.

Randall has messed with this process by giving LSD ({{w|lysergic acid diethylamide}}) to the control group. LSD is a drug that causes hallucinations and distortions in the perception of time and space. [[Megan]], apparently a control, is experiencing spiders in her hallucinations. Since the control group is supposed to reflect what "normally" happens, this is indeed very confusing to the scientists.

The title text suggests that, in a different study, this substitution was performed when the product being tested was itself LSD. This lead to the conclusion that LSD is no more likely to cause hallucinations than a placebo, somehow implying that LSD is safe. We can only hope they were able to redo the test, as in layman's terms "Nonsense MUST be wrong".

==Transcript==
:My Hobby:

:[Cueball looks down at his arm calmly, while next to him Megan is violently flailing around in terror. In the foreground, two scientists, one holding a clipboard, look on in puzzlement.]
:Cueball: My rash seems to have shrunk by about 20% today.
:Megan: OH GOD SPIDERS
:Scientists: ???

:Sneaking into experiments and giving LSD to the control group.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:My Hobby]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

1135: Arachnoneurology

2015-05-27T20:11:43Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Spiders

{{comic
| number = 1135
| date = November 16, 2012
| title = Arachnoneurology
| image = arachnoneurology.png
| titletext = SPIDER PSYCHOLOGY (21st Ed.) is a comprehensive overview of arachnoneurology, neuro-arachnology, forensic arachnology, neuro-arachnoneurology (the study of the brains of spider neurology experts), and arachnoarachnology (the study of too many spiders).
}}

==Explanation==
[[Beret Guy]] uses spider {{w|psychology}} (that he has obviously learned from the heavy volume of a book lying on the table with that title), to engineer a forked object in such a way that {{w|spiders}} will weave a silk shirt around it. After six week he can take the finished shirt off the "rack" and after removing some stray spiders it should be ready for use.

Usually extracting {{w|spider silk}} is a complicated process and getting enough to weave a shirt would take very long (and be very expensive). But making such an impossible project work is a typical behavioral pattern for Beret Guy, who continues to do amazing things with nature etc.

The prefix arachno- means "(related to) spiders". {{w|Arachnology}} for example is the scientific study of spiders. {{w|Neurology}} is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the {{w|nervous system}} which include the {{w|brain}}. So the title of the comic can be translated into ''the scientific study of spider brains''.

The title text mentions the book lying on the table, giving not only the title and the edition (21st). It also sums up some more (non-existent and increasingly far-fetched) fields of science related to spiders, which may as well exist if spider psychology has such a big standard work. Apart from adding the word forensic in one case, all five fields come from combining only the same two words "arachno" and "neuro" (sometimes one of them more than once) and ending any combination with "-ology". Especially funny is the neuro-arachnoneurology which is explained to be the field where it is the brains of the scientist, who study spiders brains, that are examined. The last one seems to be related to {{w|arachnophobia}}, the fear of spiders, as arachnoarachnology is spiders with spiders on top - i.e. too many spiders.

Arachnophobia seems to be a problem for [[Randall]] himself, according to the What if? [http://what-if.xkcd.com/136/ Spiders vs. the Sun]. In this he links to an [http://www.entsoc.org/PDF/2010/Orb-weaving-spiders.pdf article] about a factory that was covered in plenty enough spider web silk to make shirts to a whole regiment of soldiers...

==Transcript==
:[Beret Guy holding a protractor and handling a fork-like stand with black knobbly protrusions. On the table is some sticks, a set square and a ruler. There is also a large book titled:
:Spider Psychology
:[Beret Guy places his creation in a cobwebbed corner.]
:[Spiders weave webs around Beret Guy's creation. One of them hangs down above it from the ceiling.]
:[Beret Guy pulls a shirt made of spider silk away from his creation. At the top of the panel is a frame that breaks the main panels frame. Inside this it says:]
:Six weeks later:

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

1530: Keyboard Mash

2015-05-27T20:09:36Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Spiders

{{comic
| number = 1530
| date = May 27, 2015
| title = Keyboard Mash
| image = keyboard mash.png
| titletext = WHY DON'T YOU COME HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE. WE CAN COOK BREAD AND CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Too chatty and wordy. Cut to 1/3 in size}}

[[Cueball]] is chatting online (supposedly) with [[White Hat]], who says he is frustrated because a barking dog is preventing him from sleeping. White Hat apparently mashes the keyboard to show his frustration. Keyboard mashing is often used in this way where the user makes their hands spasm across the keyboard, creating a line of text that can be compared to an angry groan in real life. Cueball is about to give some advice, but is confused by a quirk in what White Hat typed. Most of the characters he typed were on the home row of the QWERTY keyboard, (the middle set of letters on the keyboard, starting with the letters A, S, D, and F on a QWERTY keyboard) the letters A, S, D, F, J, K, and L are scattered throughout the text, but there is a 7 in the middle of this text. Cueball, (being himself) wonders why White Hat put a seven in there, because if White Hat was keyboard mashing and touched the 7 key, he likely would have hit any of the QWERTY row keys because of keyboard mashing hand spasms, but he didn't. All the other characters were on the home row. White Hat berates Cueball for always focusing on strange, tiny details. When the final panel shows what's going on where White Hat is, we see that a giant spider (possibly a joke about the spider "on the Web" here) has imprisoned him in a web and is talking to Cueball, which explains how the keyboard mashing "White Hat" did was strange.

The reason the dog was barking appears to be because the giant spider was lurking nearby. Little did White Hat know that the dog was alerting him of the spider. When the spider notices that White Hat mentions the barking dog to Cueball, the spider apparently restrains White Hat and takes over typing. It can be seen in the last panel that the spider is typing with 3 legs, which explains how the 7 key would have been pressed.

The title text implies that the spider also wants to trap (and possibly eat) Cueball as well, or actually hang out with him in an attempt to make friends. "HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE" may also have a double meaning, as White Hat is actually "hanging" from the ceiling inside his house.

The statement "I am a normal human typing with my human hands" is [https://allthetropes.orain.org/wiki/Suspiciously_Specific_Denial an oddly specific assertion] from the giant spider that it is actually a human, a claim that would normally be taken for granted and had not really been cast into doubt by Cueball's inquiries about how "7" got into a string of home-row keystrokes. The title text invitation ends with a similar statement, suggesting that they "CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS", a subject that would not normally come up in conversation (except for fans of the Pierce Quincuncial projection, as detailed in xkcd [[977]]) but is being offered as more evidence that the typist is most certainly not a giant spider.

==Transcript==
<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] approaches his desktop computer, which has emitted a "NEW CHAT MESSAGE" from seemingly [[White Hat]] as it displays a picture of him<nowiki>]</nowiki>

<nowiki>[</nowiki>Chat log is in all uppercase:<nowiki>]</nowiki> 
White Hat: CAN'T SLEEP. STUPID DOG KEEPS BARKING. 
White Hat: SO FRUSTRATING. FJAFJKLDSKF7JKFDJ 
Cueball: UGH, I'M SORRY. MAYBE YOU COULD... 
Cueball: ... OKAY, WAIT. I HAVE TO ASK. 
Cueball: HOW DID YOU HIT A "7" IN THE MIDDLE THERE? 
White Hat: HUH? 
White Hat: I WAS JUST RANDOMLY KEYBOARD MASHING. 
Cueball: SORRY, RIGHT. 
White Hat: ANYWAY, 
Cueball: I KNOW THIS IS SILLY, BUT LIKE ... ALL YOUR HANDS WERE CLEARLY RIGHT ON THE HOME ROW. 
Cueball: I DON'T GET HOW ONE FINGER COULD HAVE STRETCHED UP TO THE "7". 
White Hat: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS FIXATE ON THESE BIZARRE DETAILS? 
Cueball: I DON'T KNOW. 
Cueball: SORRY. 
White Hat: IT'S WEIRD, IS ALL. 

<nowiki>[</nowiki>Chat transcript continues, but now we see a human-sized spider suspended from the ceiling by web is using three of its legs to type on a laptop computer. Behind the spider, White Hat is upside down, almost totally encased in spider web, also suspended from the ceiling, verbalising MMM!! MMPH!!! Between them, a chair has been knocked over onto its back.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

Spider (chat dialogue shows White Hat's picture): I AM A NORMAL HUMAN TYPING WITH MY HUMAN HANDS. 
Cueball: YEAH, OF COURSE. I KNOW. 

{{comic discussion}}


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

Category:Spiders

2015-05-27T20:08:16Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Animals

[[Category:Animals]]

1087: Cirith Ungol

2015-05-27T20:07:40Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Spiders

{{comic
| number = 1087
| date = July 27, 2012
| title = Cirith Ungol
| image = cirith_ungol.png
| titletext = My all-time favorite example of syntactic ambiguity comes from Wikipedia: 'Charlotte's Web is a children's novel by American author E. B. White, about a pig named Wilbur who is saved from being slaughtered by an intelligent spider named Charlotte.'
}}

==Explanation==
The comic here is a mash up between the ''{{w|Lord of the Rings}}'' trilogy and the novel ''{{w|Charlotte's Web}}''.

The title Cirith Ungol is a reference to ''Lord of the Rings'' where Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee were led to Cirith Ungol by Gollum and to the lair of the ancient spider Shelob.

And therefore in this comic, Frodo (by himself) is being led into the lair of the spider, Charlotte. We can tell by the "Some Pig" writing in the spider web on the lower right hand corner which is a direct reference to the story of ''Charlotte's Web'', in which a spider named Charlotte writes the very same text in her web.

Syntactic ambiguity is a property of sentences which may be reasonably interpreted in more than one way, or reasonably interpreted to mean more than one thing. This allows us to derive two different meanings from the same sentence.

The second part of the quote in the title text, taken from Wikipedia, can be logically interpreted in either of the following ways:
*Charlotte the spider saves Wilbur from slaughter.
*Charlotte the spider attempts to slaughter Wilbur, but he is saved.

A similar ambiguity explicitly discussed in the title text of [[1004: Batman ]].

== Transcript ==
:[A character in a long flowing robe holds up the Phial of Galadriel in one hand; the One Ring is dangling from a necklace in the other. The scene is a cave, profuse with spiderwebs, bones hanging in some of them. On one of the webs are words, presumably written by the spider.]

:SOME PIG

==Trivia==
*This comic caused a minor edit war on Wikipedia's [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlotte%27s_Web&diff=504553453&oldid=504551496 Charlotte's Web] article.

{{Comic discussion}}
[[Category:LOTR]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]
[[Category:Spiders]]

Category:Red Spiders

2015-05-27T20:06:20Z

108.162.238.144: Category:Spiders

1530: Keyboard Mash

2015-05-27T14:16:46Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ The dog is not a reference to the "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog" joke.

{{comic
| number = 1530
| date = May 27, 2015
| title = Keyboard Mash
| image = keyboard mash.png
| titletext = WHY DON'T YOU COME HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE. WE CAN COOK BREAD AND CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS.
}}

==Explanation==

[[Cueball]] is chatting online (supposedly) with [[White Hat]], who says he is frustrated because a barking dog is preventing him from sleeping. White Hat apparently mashes the keyboard to show his frustration. Keyboard mashing is often used in this way where the user makes their hands spasm across the keyboard, creating a line of text that can be compared to an angry groan in real life. Cueball is about to give some advice, but is confused by a quirk in what White Hat
typed. Most of the characters he typed were on the home row of the QWERTY keyboard, (the middle set of letters on the keyboard, starting with the letters A, S, D, and F on a QWERTY keyboard) there are F, J, A, F, K, L and D, scattered in the text, but there is a 7 in the middle of this text. Cueball, (being himself) wonders why White Hat put a seven in there, because if White Hat was keyboard mashing and touched the 7 key, he likely would have hit any of the QWERTY row keys because of keyboard mashing hand spasms, but he didn't. All the other characters were on the home row. White Hat berates Cueball for always focusing on strange, tiny details. When the final panel shows what's going on where White Hat is, we see that a giant spider (possibly a joke about the spider "on the Web" here) has imprisoned him in a web and is talking to Cueball, which explains how the keyboard mashing "White Hat" did was strange.

The title text implies that the spider also wants to trap and (possibly eat) Cueball as well, or actually hang out with him in an attempt to make friends. "HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE" may also have a double meaning, as White Hat is actually "hanging" from the ceiling inside his house.

The statement "I am a normal human typing with my human hands" is [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SuspiciouslySpecificDenial an oddly specific] assertion from the giant spider that it is actually a human, a claim that would normally be taken for granted and had not really been cast into doubt by Cueball's inquiries about how "7" got into a string of home-row keystrokes. The title text invitation ends with a similar statement, suggesting that they "CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS", a subject that would not normally come up in conversation (except for fans of the Pierce Quincuncial projection, as detailed in xkcd [[977]]) but is being offered as more evidence that the typist is most certainly not a giant spider.

==Transcript==
<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] approaches his desktop computer, which has emitted a "NEW CHAT MESSAGE" from seemingly [[White Hat]] as it displays a picture of him<nowiki>]</nowiki>

<nowiki>[</nowiki>Chat log is in all uppercase:<nowiki>]</nowiki> 
White Hat: CAN'T SLEEP. STUPID DOG KEEPS BARKING. 
White Hat: SO FRUSTRATING. FJAFJKLDSKF7JKFDJ 
Cueball: UGH, I'M SORRY. MAYBE YOU COULD... 
Cueball: ... OKAY, WAIT. I HAVE TO ASK. 
Cueball: HOW DID YOU HIT A "7" IN THE MIDDLE THERE? 
White Hat: HUH? 
White Hat: I WAS JUST RANDOMLY KEYBOARD MASHING. 
Cueball: SORRY, RIGHT. 
White Hat: ANYWAY, 
Cueball: I KNOW THIS IS SILLY, BUT LIKE ... ALL YOUR HANDS WERE CLEARLY RIGHT ON THE HOME ROW. 
Cueball: I DON'T GET HOW ONE FINGER COULD HAVE STRETCHED UP TO THE "7". 
White Hat: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS FIXATE ON THESE BIZARRE DETAILS? 
Cueball: I DON'T KNOW. 
Cueball: SORRY. 
White Hat: IT'S WEIRD, IS ALL. 

<nowiki>[</nowiki>Chat transcript continues, but now we see a human-sized spider suspended from the ceiling by web is using three of its legs to type on a laptop computer. Behind the spider, White Hat is upside down, almost totally encased in spider web, also suspended from the ceiling, verbalising MMM!! MMPH!!! Between them, a chair has been knocked over onto its back.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

Spider (chat dialogue shows White Hat's picture): I AM A NORMAL HUMAN TYPING WITH MY HUMAN HANDS. 
Cueball: YEAH, OF COURSE. I KNOW. 

{{comic discussion}}


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

1530: Keyboard Mash

2015-05-27T14:15:00Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ The spider wrote all the dialog

{{comic
| number = 1530
| date = May 27, 2015
| title = Keyboard Mash
| image = keyboard mash.png
| titletext = WHY DON'T YOU COME HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE. WE CAN COOK BREAD AND CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS.
}}

==Explanation==

[[Cueball]] is chatting online (supposedly) with [[White Hat]], who says he is frustrated because a barking dog is preventing him from sleeping. White Hat apparently mashes the keyboard to show his frustration. Keyboard mashing is often used in this way where the user makes their hands spasm across the keyboard, creating a line of text that can be compared to an angry groan in real life. Cueball is about to give some advice, but is confused by a quirk in what White Hat
typed. Most of the characters he typed were on the home row of the QWERTY keyboard, (the middle set of letters on the keyboard, starting with the letters A, S, D, and F on a QWERTY keyboard) there are F, J, A, F, K, L and D, scattered in the text, but there is a 7 in the middle of this text. Cueball, (being himself) wonders why White Hat put a seven in there, because if White Hat was keyboard mashing and touched the 7 key, he likely would have hit any of the QWERTY row keys because of keyboard mashing hand spasms, but he didn't. All the other characters were on the home row. White Hat berates Cueball for always focusing on strange, tiny details. When the final panel shows what's going on where White Hat is, we see that a giant spider (possibly a joke about the spider "on the Web" here) has imprisoned him in a web and is talking to Cueball, which explains how the keyboard mashing "White Hat" did was strange.

The title text implies that the spider also wants to trap and (possibly eat) Cueball as well, or actually hang out with him in an attempt to make friends. "HANG OUT INSIDE MY HOUSE" may also have a double meaning, as White Hat is actually "hanging" from the ceiling inside his house.

The statement "I am a normal human typing with my human hands" is [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SuspiciouslySpecificDenial an oddly specific] assertion from the giant spider that it is actually a human, a claim that would normally be taken for granted and had not really been cast into doubt by Cueball's inquiries about how "7" got into a string of home-row keystrokes. The title text invitation ends with a similar statement, suggesting that they "CHAT ABOUT OUR INTERNAL SKELETONS", a subject that would not normally come up in conversation (except for fans of the Pierce Quincuncial projection, as detailed in xkcd [[977]]) but is being offered as more evidence that the typist is most certainly not a giant spider.

The dog might be a reference to the "[http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/on-the-internet-nobody-knows-youre-a-dog On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog]" joke.

==Transcript==
<nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Cueball]] approaches his desktop computer, which has emitted a "NEW CHAT MESSAGE" from seemingly [[White Hat]] as it displays a picture of him<nowiki>]</nowiki>

<nowiki>[</nowiki>Chat log is in all uppercase:<nowiki>]</nowiki> 
White Hat: CAN'T SLEEP. STUPID DOG KEEPS BARKING. 
White Hat: SO FRUSTRATING. FJAFJKLDSKF7JKFDJ 
Cueball: UGH, I'M SORRY. MAYBE YOU COULD... 
Cueball: ... OKAY, WAIT. I HAVE TO ASK. 
Cueball: HOW DID YOU HIT A "7" IN THE MIDDLE THERE? 
White Hat: HUH? 
White Hat: I WAS JUST RANDOMLY KEYBOARD MASHING. 
Cueball: SORRY, RIGHT. 
White Hat: ANYWAY, 
Cueball: I KNOW THIS IS SILLY, BUT LIKE ... ALL YOUR HANDS WERE CLEARLY RIGHT ON THE HOME ROW. 
Cueball: I DON'T GET HOW ONE FINGER COULD HAVE STRETCHED UP TO THE "7". 
White Hat: WHY DO YOU ALWAYS FIXATE ON THESE BIZARRE DETAILS? 
Cueball: I DON'T KNOW. 
Cueball: SORRY. 
White Hat: IT'S WEIRD, IS ALL. 

<nowiki>[</nowiki>Chat transcript continues, but now we see a human-sized spider suspended from the ceiling by web is using three of its legs to type on a laptop computer. Behind the spider, White Hat is upside down, almost totally encased in spider web, also suspended from the ceiling, verbalising MMM!! MMPH!!! Between them, a chair has been knocked over onto its back.<nowiki>]</nowiki>

Spider (chat dialogue shows White Hat's picture): I AM A NORMAL HUMAN TYPING WITH MY HUMAN HANDS. 
Cueball: YEAH, OF COURSE. I KNOW. 

{{comic discussion}}


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

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T15:15:18Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ typo

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of games in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

{{w|Shallots}} (small onions), {{w|scallops}} (bivalve mollusks), and {{w|scallions}} (green onions) are similar sounding words, therefore may be confusing for some individuals. They are not people, but other life forms. This probably hints that [[Randall]] probably confuses the three.

The [[title text]] is possibly talking about {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}}. (Or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?) Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or ''{{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Star Trek: Voyager character}}''. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname "Armstrong":
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (first human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}} (action figure)

Men with given name Jeff, without surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

Male given names with surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Men with surname Welles:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

Other names with character string W-E-L-L:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

Men with name "Russell" (first name or surname):
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

Men with surname Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

Men with surnames that end ...ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Men with given name Alan:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

Names containing "McCarthy", "Eugene" or both:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

Persons with surnames containing string "Wilde":
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Men with names that begin "Oscar De La...":
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Men with given name Jack:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

Men with string "ickel" in their surnames:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

Men with names ending "...yan Adams":
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Men with surnames that in plural are also names of games
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board games)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos]) is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Men named Colin:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

Men with names that begin with F and include the string r-r-e-l-l:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

Persons with an initial L and a name ending "itt":
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

Men with surname Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

Men with surname Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Men with given name Mark:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname Pullman or given name Bill:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Men with no obvious connection in their names:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

Persons with surname Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with Fred Astaire)
:{{w|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}} (Confusing reference to "Mister Rogers" [Fred Rogers] and Fred Astaire])

Men named "Spock" or "Doctor":
{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

More men named Doctor:
:{{w|Doctor Manhattan}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More men with "Doctor" in their names:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

Men with given name Jerry and surname Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Persons named Chris, surnames not starting P:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Persons named Chris, with last initial P:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Food:
:{{w|Shallots}} (small onions)
:{{w|Scallops}} (bivalve mollusks)
:{{w|Scallions}} (green onions)

Persons with first initial S:
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Persons named Arnold or Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Persons named Wes:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

Persons with first initial P and surname Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Knights (men with title "Sir") with given name Walter:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

Men with first initial F and surname Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Names that begin Van:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

Male figures with surname Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Unknown connection:
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Business with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T15:12:41Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Shallots and scallions are not seafood

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of games in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

{{w|Shallots}} (small onions), {{w|scallops}} (bivalve mollusks), and {{w|scallions}} (green onions) are similar sounding words, therefore may be confusing for some individuals. They are not people, but other life forms. This probably hints that [[Randall]] probably confuses the three.

The [[title text]] is possibly talking about {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}}. (Or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?) Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or ''{{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Star Trek: Voyager character}}''. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname "Armstrong":
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (first human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}} (action figure)

Men with given name Jeff, without surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

Male given names with surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Men with surname Welles:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

Other names with character string W-E-L-L:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

Men with name "Russell" (first name or surname):
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

Men with surname Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

Men with surnames that end ...ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Men with given name Alan:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

Names containing "McCarthy", "Eugene" or both:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

Persons with surnames containing string "Wilde":
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Men with names that begin "Oscar De La...":
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Men with given name Jack:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

Men with string "ickel" in their surnames:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

Men with names ending "...yan Adams":
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Men with surnames that in plural are also names of games
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board games)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos]) is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Men named Colin:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

Men with names that begin with F and include the string r-r-e-l-l:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

Persons with an initial L and a name ending "itt":
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

Men with surname Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

Men with surname Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Men with given name Mark:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname Pullman or given name Bill:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Men with no obvious connection in their names:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

Persons with surname Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with Fred Astaire)
:{{w|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}} (Confusing reference to "Mister Rogers" [Fred Rogers] and Fred Astaire])

Men named "Spock" or "Doctor":
{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

More men named Doctor:
:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More men with "Doctor" in their names:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

Men with given name Jerry and surname Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Persons named Chris, surnames not starting P:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Persons named Chris, with last initial P:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Food:
:{{w|Shallots}} (small onions)
:{{w|Scallops}} (bivalve mollusks)
:{{w|Scallions}} (green onions)

Persons with first initial S:
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Persons named Arnold or Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Persons named Wes:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

Persons with first initial P and surname Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Knights (men with title "Sir") with given name Walter:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

Men with first initial F and surname Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Names that begin Van:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

Male figures with surname Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Unknown connection:
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Business with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T15:11:11Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of games in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

{{w|Shallots}} (small onions), {{w|scallops}} (bivalve mollusks), and {{w|scallions}} (green onions) are similar sounding words, therefore may be confusing for some individuals. They are not people, but other life forms. This probably hints that [[Randall]] probably confuses the three.

The [[title text]] is possibly talking about {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}}. (Or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?) Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or ''{{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Star Trek: Voyager character}}''. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname "Armstrong":
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (first human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}} (action figure)

Men with given name Jeff, without surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

Male given names with surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Men with surname Welles:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

Other names with character string W-E-L-L:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

Men with name "Russell" (first name or surname):
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

Men with surname Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

Men with surnames that end ...ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Men with given name Alan:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

Names containing "McCarthy", "Eugene" or both:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

Persons with surnames containing string "Wilde":
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Men with names that begin "Oscar De La...":
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Men with given name Jack:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

Men with string "ickel" in their surnames:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

Men with names ending "...yan Adams":
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Men with surnames that in plural are also names of games
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board games)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos]) is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Men named Colin:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

Men with names that begin with F and include the string r-r-e-l-l:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

Persons with an initial L and a name ending "itt":
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

Men with surname Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

Men with surname Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Men with given name Mark:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname Pullman or given name Bill:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Men with no obvious connection in their names:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

Persons with surname Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with Fred Astaire)
:{{w|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}} (Confusing reference to "Mister Rogers" [Fred Rogers] and Fred Astaire])

Men named "Spock" or "Doctor":
{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

More men named Doctor:
:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More men with "Doctor" in their names:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

Men with given name Jerry and surname Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Persons named Chris, surnames not starting P:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Persons named Chris, with last initial P:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Seafood:
:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

Persons with first initial S:
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Persons named Arnold or Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Persons named Wes:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

Persons with first initial P and surname Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Knights (men with title "Sir") with given name Walter:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

Men with first initial F and surname Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Names that begin Van:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

Male figures with surname Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Unknown connection:
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Business with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1529: Bracket

2015-05-25T15:10:08Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1529
| date = May 25, 2015
| title = Bracket
| image = bracket.png
| titletext = I'm staring at the "doctor" section, and I can't help but feel like I've forgotten someone.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Explain the specific groupings.}}
A {{w|Bracket (tournament)|tournament bracket}} shows the planned series of games in a tournament. In this comic Randall has shown a plan for a tournament between a wide range of cultural icons, both real and fictional, based mostly on similarities in their names. Various internet groups have speculated on who would win in a fight between characters from different films. It may be relevant that the film {{w|Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice}} is soon to be released where the two namesake {{w|superheros}}, {{w|Batman}} and {{w|Superman}} fight against each other.

{{w|Shallots}} (small onions), {{w|scallops}} (bivalve mollusks), and {{w|scallions}} (green onions) are similar sounding words, therefore may be confusing for some individuals. They are not people, but other life forms. This probably hints that [[Randall]] probably confuses the three.

The [[title text]] is possibly talking about {{w|Dr. Dre}}, particularly as a reference to his 2001 song "{{w|Forgot About Dre}}". Alternatively, the title text could simply be a reference to the large number of pop culture personas that include the word "Doctor", such as {{w|Doctor Who}}, {{w|Gregory House|Doctor House}}, {{w|Mehmet Oz|Dr. Oz}}, {{w|Phil McGraw|Dr. Phil}}, {{w|Dr. Watson}}, {{w|Emmett Brown|"Doc" Brown}}, {{w|Dr. Seuss}}, {{w|Dr Pepper}}, {{w|Doctor Doom}}, and {{w|List of fictional doctors|many others}}. (Or, in fact, [http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/futurama-zoidberg-why-not-zoidberg why not Dr. Zoidberg]?) Another possibility is that the [[title text]] is supposed to make the readers ask themselves "{{w|Doctor who}}?" Though "The Doctor" is already listed, this could refer to either ''Doctor Who'' or ''{{w|Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Star Trek: Voyager character}}''. Notably, while the Doctor in "Doctor Who" is technically one character, the Doctor has currently been played by 13 different actors. The mythos of the Doctor Who even includes individual incarnations of the Doctor interacting with each other; knowing they are the same person, yet often expressing annoyance when grouped together. So perhaps Randall is implying that to just include the Doctor as one individual is not an accurate representation of this character.

The names and other entries in the bracket are:
{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname "Armstrong":
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}} (Musician)
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}} (First human on the moon)
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}} (Bicyclist)
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

Men with given name Jeff, without surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}} (Actor)

Male given names with surname Daniels:
:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}} (Alcoholic beverage)

Men with surname Welles:
:{{w|Orson Welles}} (Known for "The War of the Worlds")
:{{w|H.G. Wells}} (Known for "The Time Machine")

Other names with character string W-E-L-L:
:{{w|George Orwell}} (Author of "1984" and "Animal Farm")
:{{w|Wells Fargo}} (Bank and stage coach company)

Men with name "Russell" (first name or surname):
:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

Men with surname Simmons:
:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

Men with surnames that end ...ckman:
:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

Men with given name Alan:
:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

Names containing "McCarthy", "Eugene" or both:
:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}} (Senator known for anti-communist witchhunt)
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}} (labor leader)

Persons with surnames containing string "Wilde":
:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

Men with names that begin "Oscar De La...":
:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

Men with given name Jack:
:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}} (Golf player)
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}} (Actor)

Men with string "ickel" in their surnames:
:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

Men with names ending "...yan Adams":
:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

Men with surnames that in plural are also names of games
:{{w|Chubby Checker}} (Checkers is a board games)
:{{w|Fats Domino}} (Dominoes [or dominos]) is a game. Domino's is a pizza chain.)

Men named Colin:
:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

Men with names that begin with F and include the string r-r-e-l-l:
:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

Persons with an initial L and a name ending "itt":
:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

Men with surname Glover:
:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

Men with surname Wahlberg:
:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

Men with given name Mark:
:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
Men with surname Pullman or given name Bill:
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

Men with no obvious connection in their names:
:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

Persons with surname Rogers:
:{{w|Ginger Rogers}} (Woman known for dancing with Fred Astaire)
:{{w|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}} (Confusing reference to "Mister Rogers" [Fred Rogers] and Fred Astaire])

Men named "Spock" or "Doctor":
{{w|Mister Spock}} (Character on Star Trek)
:{{w|Doctor Spock}} (Author of book on childcare)
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

More men named Doctor:
:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}} (Character based on Henry Kissinger in movie about nuclear war)
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

More men with "Doctor" in their names:
:{{w|Dr. No}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|The Doctor}} (Science fiction character)
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}} (Real person)

Men with given name Jerry and surname Lewis:
:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

Others with initial J:
:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

Persons named Chris, surnames not starting P:
:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

Persons named Chris, with last initial P:
:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

Seafood:
:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

Persons with first initial S:
:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

Persons named Arnold or Palmer:
:{{w|Tom Arnold}} (ex-husband of Roseanne Barr)
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

Persons named Wes:
:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

Persons with first initial P and surname Anderson:
:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

Knights (men with title "Sir") with given name Walter:
:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

Men with first initial F and surname Drake:
:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

Names that begin Van:
:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

Male figures with surname Van Winkle:
:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}} (fictional character)

Unknown connection:
:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

Business with the word "Body" in their name:
:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

Things with the word "Beyond" in their name:
:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

Beyoncé
:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

:[A tournament bracket with the following:]

{| class="wikitable" style="background:transparent;border:none;width:100%;"
| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Louis Armstrong}}
:{{w|Neil Armstrong}}
:{{w|Lance Armstrong}}
:{{w|Stretch Armstrong}}

:{{w|Jeff Gordan}}
:{{w|Jeff Bridges}}

:{{w|Jeff Daniels}}
:{{w|Jack Daniels}}

:{{w|Orson Welles}}
:{{w|H.G. Wells}}

:{{w|George Orwell}}
:{{w|Wells Fargo}}

:{{w|Kurt Russell}}
:{{w|Russell Brand}}
:{{w|Russell Crowe}}
:{{w|Russell Simmons}}

:{{w|Richard Simmons}}
:{{w|Gene Simmons}}

:{{w|Gene Hackman}}
:{{w|Hugh Jackman}}
:{{w|Alan Rickman}}

:{{w|Alan Parsons}}
:{{w|Alan Partridge}}

:{{w|Jenny McCarthy}}
:{{w|Joseph McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene McCarthy}}
:{{w|Eugene V. Debs}}

:{{w|Gene Wilder}}
:{{w|Olivia Wilde}}
:{{w|Oscar Wilde}}

:{{w|Oscar De La Renta}}
:{{w|Oscar De La Hoya}}

:{{w|Jack Nicklaus}}
:{{w|Jack Nicholson}}

:{{w|Phil Mickelson}}
:{{w|Nicholas Nickelby}}

:{{w|Ryan Adams}}
:{{w|Bryan Adams}}

:{{w|Chubby Checker}}
:{{w|Fats Domino}}

:{{w|Colin Firth}}
:{{w|Colin Farrell}}

:{{w|Will Ferrell}}
:{{w|The Farrelly Brothers}}

:{{w|Joseph Gordon-Levitt}}
:{{w|Jennifer Love Hewitt}}

:{{w|Danny Glover}}
:{{w|Donald Glover}}

:{{w|Donnie Wahlberg}}
:{{w|Mark Wahlberg}}

:{{w|Mark Ruffalo}}
:{{w|Mark Shuttleworth}}

| style="background:transparent;border:none;"|
:{{w|Philip Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Pullman}}
:{{w|Bill Paxton}}

:{{w|Bill Murray}}
:{{w|Dan Aykroyd}}

:{{w|Ginger Rogers}}
:{{w|Fred Rogers|Mister/Fred Astaire/Rogers}}

:{{w|Mister Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Spock}}
:{{w|Doctor Octopus}}

:{{w|Doctor Manhatten}}
:{{w|Doctor Strangelove}}
:{{w|Doctor Strange}}

:{{w|Dr. No}}
:{{w|The Doctor}}
:{{w|Cory Doctorow}}

:{{w|Jerry Lee Lewis}}
:{{w|Jerry Lewis}}

:{{w|Jenny Lewis}}
:{{w|Xeni Jardin}}

:{{w|Chris Evans}}
:{{w|Chris Hemsworth}}

:{{w|Chris Pine}}
:{{w|Chris Pratt}}

:{{w|Shallots}}
:{{w|Scallops}}
:{{w|Scallions}}

:{{w|Siouxie Sioux}}
:{{w|Suzanne Vega}}

:{{w|Tom Arnold}}
:{{w|Arnold Palmer}}
:{{w|Amanda Palmer}}

:{{w|Wes Craven}}
:{{w|Wes Anderson}}

:{{w|Paul Thomas Anderson}}
:{{w|Poul Anderson}}

:{{w|Sir Walter Scott}}
:{{w|Sir Walter Raleigh}}

:{{w|Sir Francis Drake}}
:{{w|Frank Drake}}

:{{w|Van Halen}}
:{{w|Van Morrison}}
:{{w|Van Wilder}}

:{{w|Robert Van Winkle}}
:{{w|Rip Van Winkle}}

:{{w|Rip Torn}}
:{{w|Natalie Imbruglia}}

:{{w|The Body Shop}}
:{{w|Bath and Body Works}}

:{{w|Bed Bath and Beyond}}
:{{w|Beyond Thunderdome}}

:{{w|Beyoncé}}
|}

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]

1528: Vodka

2015-05-22T14:11:05Z

108.162.238.144: /* Transcript */ grammar

{{comic
| number = 1528
| date = May 22, 2015
| title = Vodka
| image = vodka.png
| titletext = Or whatever's handy! I'm pretty much pure alcohol and water, so it doesn't really matter!
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Probably needs some more distillation, ha ha. But also an explanation on what heads and tails means in the title text explanation}}
{{w|Vodka}} is a {{w|distilled beverage}} composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of {{w|fermented}} {{w|cereal}} grains or {{w|potatoes}}, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

When most people say "maybe it's the vodka talking" (or similar phrases), they mean that they are speaking under the influence of alcohol and are saying things they probably wouldn't say when sober. This is similar to the Latin saying ''in vino veritas'' (there is truth in wine).
However, in this comic, it is as if the substance of vodka itself is talking, and discussing its origin (potatoes).

The title text gives the impression that the vodka isn't really sure it's made from potatoes. However, vodkas are often repeatedly distilled to remove the "foreshots" (the first few ounces of alcohol that drip from the condenser), "heads" and "tails," which contain flavor compounds. Removal of these leaves a clear solution consisting almost entirely of ethanol and water. This is in contrast to other distilled beverages like {{w|whiskey}}, {{w|brandy}} and {{w|rum}}.

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail and Megan sit together at a table with two small shot glasses on the table. Ponytail holds a large almost full bottle with label near to her mouth, while Megan's hand lies close to a larger glass, filled with liquid and an ice cube, close to her end of the table.]

:Ponytail: Maybe this is the vodka talking, but:
:Ponytail: ''Hi! I'm made from potatoes!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

1528: Vodka

2015-05-22T14:09:56Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Google shows 666 instances of "it's the vodka talking" and 4030 of "maybe it's the vodka talking"

{{comic
| number = 1528
| date = May 22, 2015
| title = Vodka
| image = vodka.png
| titletext = Or whatever's handy! I'm pretty much pure alcohol and water, so it doesn't really matter!
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Probably needs some more distillation, ha ha. But also an explanation on what heads and tails means in the title text explanation}}
{{w|Vodka}} is a {{w|distilled beverage}} composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of {{w|fermented}} {{w|cereal}} grains or {{w|potatoes}}, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

When most people say "maybe it's the vodka talking" (or similar phrases), they mean that they are speaking under the influence of alcohol and are saying things they probably wouldn't say when sober. This is similar to the Latin saying ''in vino veritas'' (there is truth in wine).
However, in this comic, it is as if the substance of vodka itself is talking, and discussing its origin (potatoes).

The title text gives the impression that the vodka isn't really sure it's made from potatoes. However, vodkas are often repeatedly distilled to remove the "foreshots" (the first few ounces of alcohol that drip from the condenser), "heads" and "tails," which contain flavor compounds. Removal of these leaves a clear solution consisting almost entirely of ethanol and water. This is in contrast to other distilled beverages like {{w|whiskey}}, {{w|brandy}} and {{w|rum}}.

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail and Megan sits together at a table with two small shots glass on the table. Ponytail holds a large almost full bottle with label near to her mouth, while Megan's hand lies close to a larger glass, filled with liquid and an ice cube, close to her end of the table.]

:Ponytail: Maybe this is the vodka talking, but:
:Ponytail: ''Hi! I'm made from potatoes!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

1528: Vodka

2015-05-22T14:06:39Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ Foreshot (from Wikipedia) the first few ounces of alcohol that drip from the condenser

{{comic
| number = 1528
| date = May 22, 2015
| title = Vodka
| image = vodka.png
| titletext = Or whatever's handy! I'm pretty much pure alcohol and water, so it doesn't really matter!
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Probably needs some more distillation, ha ha. But also an explanation on what heads and tails means in the title text explanation}}
{{w|Vodka}} is a {{w|distilled beverage}} composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of {{w|fermented}} {{w|cereal}} grains or {{w|potatoes}}, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

When most people say "it's the vodka talking" (or similar phrases), they mean that they are speaking under the influence of alcohol and are saying things they probably wouldn't say when sober. This is similar to the Latin saying ''in vino veritas'' (there is truth in wine).
However, in this comic, it is as if the substance of vodka itself is talking, and discussing its origin (potatoes).

The title text gives the impression that the vodka isn't really sure it's made from potatoes. However, vodkas are often repeatedly distilled to remove the "foreshots" (the first few ounces of alcohol that drip from the condenser), "heads" and "tails," which contain flavor compounds. Removal of these leaves a clear solution consisting almost entirely of ethanol and water. This is in contrast to other distilled beverages like {{w|whiskey}}, {{w|brandy}} and {{w|rum}}.

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail and Megan sits together at a table with two small shots glass on the table. Ponytail holds a large almost full bottle with label near to her mouth, while Megan's hand lies close to a larger glass, filled with liquid and an ice cube, close to her end of the table.]

:Ponytail: Maybe this is the vodka talking, but:
:Ponytail: ''Hi! I'm made from potatoes!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

1528: Vodka

2015-05-22T13:19:45Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ typo

{{comic
| number = 1528
| date = May 22, 2015
| title = Vodka
| image = vodka.png
| titletext = Or whatever's handy! I'm pretty much pure alcohol and water, so it doesn't really matter!
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Probably needs some more distillation, ha ha. But also an explanation on what fore-shots, heads and tails means in the title text explanation}}
{{w|Vodka}} is a {{w|distilled beverage}} composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of {{w|fermented}} {{w|cereal}} grains or {{w|potatoes}}, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

When most people say "it's the vodka talking" (or similar phrases), they mean that they are speaking under the influence of alcohol and are saying things they probably wouldn't say when sober. This is similar to the Latin saying ''in vino veritas'' (there is truth in wine).
However, in this comic, it is as if the substance of vodka itself is talking, and discussing its origin (potatoes).

The title text gives the impression that the vodka isn't really sure it's made from potatoes. However, vodkas are often repeatedly distilled to remove the "fore-shots", "heads" and "tails," which contain flavor compounds. Removal of these leaves a clear solution consisting almost entirely of ethanol and water. This is in contrast to other distilled beverages like {{w|whiskey}}, {{w|brandy}} and {{w|rum}}.

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail and Megan sits together at a table with two small shots glass on the table. Ponytail holds a large almost full bottle with label near to her mouth, while Megan's hand lies close to a larger glass, filled with liquid and an ice cube, close to her end of the table.]

:Ponytail: Maybe this is the vodka talking, but:
:Ponytail: ''Hi! I'm made from potatoes!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

1528: Vodka

2015-05-22T13:16:35Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ This is similar to the Latin saying ''in vino veritas'' (there is truth in wine).

{{comic
| number = 1528
| date = May 22, 2015
| title = Vodka
| image = vodka.png
| titletext = Or whatever's handy! I'm pretty much pure alcohol and water, so it doesn't really matter!
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Probably needs some more distillation, ha ha. But also an explanation on what fore-shots, heads and tails means in the title text explanation}}
{{w|Vodka}} is a {{w|distilled beverage}} composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings. Traditionally, vodka is made by the distillation of {{w|fermented}} {{w|cereal}} grains or {{w|potatoes}}, though some modern brands use other substances, such as fruits or sugar.

When most people say "it's the vodka talking" (or similar phrases), they mean that they are speaking under the influence of alcohol and are saying things they probably wouldn't say when sober. This is similar to the Lating saying ''in vino veritas'' (there is truth in wine).
However, in this comic, it is as if the substance of vodka itself is talking, and discussing its origin (potatoes).

The title text gives the impression that the vodka isn't really sure it's made from potatoes. However, vodkas are often repeatedly distilled to remove the "fore-shots", "heads" and "tails," which contain flavor compounds. Removal of these leaves a clear solution consisting almost entirely of ethanol and water. This is in contrast to other distilled beverages like {{w|whiskey}}, {{w|brandy}} and {{w|rum}}.

==Transcript==

:[Ponytail and Megan sits together at a table with two small shots glass on the table. Ponytail holds a large almost full bottle with label near to her mouth, while Megan's hand lies close to a larger glass, filled with liquid and an ice cube, close to her end of the table.]

:Ponytail: Maybe this is the vodka talking, but:
:Ponytail: ''Hi! I'm made from potatoes!''

{{comic discussion}}

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

Talk:1527: Humans

2015-05-20T15:04:20Z

108.162.238.144: format

Yes! Preach it, Randall! [[Special:Contributions/188.114.106.23|188.114.106.23]] 08:23, 20 May 2015 (UTC)
:Everyone knows they're more akin to big cows, anyway. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.106.143|141.101.106.143]] 09:33, 20 May 2015 (UTC)
::Big ''spherical'' cows. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 10:22, 20 May 2015 (UTC)

Robots complaining about science is like humans complaining about evolution. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.231.60|108.162.231.60]] 09:49, 20 May 2015 (UTC)
:Great line :) --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.118|108.162.215.118]] 10:51, 20 May 2015 (UTC)

Given the title text, the reference to movie humans makes this cartoon likely an oblique commentary on the upcoming film ''Jurassic World'' where the dinosaurs remain featherless. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.162|108.162.237.162]] 10:54, 20 May 2015 (UTC)

I don't really want to see a sequal criticized for maintaining continuity. Think of what it would be like if someone made a 2001 movie where instead of traveling to Jupiter, Hal orchistrated the invasion of Iraq. Wait a second, that would make for an awesome movie.--Dave[[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.183|108.162.237.183]] 13:36, 20 May 2015 (UTC)

Personally, I wouldn't like being chased with Aepyornis either, and noone ever doubted Aepyornis had feathers. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:45, 20 May 2015 (UTC)

I wonder which movie Robot #2 is referring to. Something with a crowned monarch and lots of (almost) naked warriors. ''300'' perhaps? [[User:Smperron|Smperron]] ([[User talk:Smperron|talk]]) 12:47, 20 May 2015 (UTC)
:I'm pretty sure their talking about future films, we make films about prehistoric dinosaurs, so the robots make films about prehistoric humans(pre robot history) --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.24|141.101.99.24]] 13:36, 20 May 2015 (UTC)
:: except for the use of "their", I'm in complete agreement. I'm gonna make a few tweaks, accordingly - [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:18, 20 May 2015 (UTC)

1527: Humans

2015-05-20T13:14:00Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ There is no mention to bones in the comic

{{comic
| number = 1527
| date = May 20, 2015
| title = Humans
| image = humans.png
| titletext = At this point, if we're going to keep insisting on portraying dinosaurs as featherless because it's "cooler", it's time to apply that same logic to art involving bald eagles.
}}

==Explanation==
{{Incomplete|Title text explanation needs improvement. Cleaning up required.}}
The comic is set in the future, with two hovering robot 'beings' discussing ancient history, in particular the clothing styles of kings and queens of the now extinct human race. It appears that robot archeologists have unearthed the remains of human civilization, including movies.

When {{w|dinosaur}} bones were first dug up, the idea that dinosaurs were scaly, reptilian-like creatures was developed with the information available at the time. In recent times, it's been discovered that most dinosaurs actually had feathers (checking the bones carefully shows shafts where the feathers would have attached.)

As this runs counter to the widespread and long-held image of dinosaurs as these dramatic reptiles, the public has been reluctant to accept this new discovery, especially as the addition of feathers conjures up the image of a giant chicken. Had it been discovered that dinosaurs were in fact covered with 6" long razor tipped spikes, people would probably have accepted this immediately as it conforms to the sterotypical dinosaurs as a killing machine.
There have even been attempts to claim that the feathers did not exist.

In the same way, the new information on kings and queens being covered in fabric runs counter to the movie inspired image that the robot on the right had about humans, picturing them as being pink warriors and that they had a leader who could grow metal out of his or her head. This probably comes around because they have found the tombs of kings and queens with their crowns lying on top of their skulls. Then it would just look like another part of their skeleton, if they do not know enough about our anatomy. Since they themselves are made of metal (maybe by humans who created their original AI), it may be easy to accept that humans also were part metal.

Shown the truth, that humans did typically wear clothing, and that a monarch's crown is not part of his or her body, but just a signifying clothing, the robot is disappointed. Humans wearing clothing reduces them, in his opinion, to big silly pillows. Something made of cloth cannot, in this robot's mind, be a significant actor in history.
The robot fails to reason (insofar as a robot can reason) that, among other things, history was what it was, and its wanting things to have been a certain way does not make it so. In addition, just as the clothing-wearing human is more than a mere pillow, a feathered dinosaur is not necessarily merely a giant chicken.

The title text references our failure to change the popular image of dinosaurs to reflect the way they truthfully once were. Randall jokingly suggests that we should apply the same "featherless is cooler" logic to popular images of Bald Eagles (the name says they're bald!), and remove their feathers, leaving them bald and horrible-looking.

==Transcript==
:[Two robots are hovering in mid-air in the comic]
:Robot 1: You know, new research suggests ancient human kings and queens were covered in colorful fabric.
:Robot 2: Ugh, I like '''movie''' humans more. Screaming pink warriors with metal crowns poking through the skin on their heads!
:Robot 2: Now they're, what, big pillows?
:Robot 2: Science ruins everything.
{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Robots]]
[[Category:Science]]

1525: Emojic 8 Ball

2015-05-18T13:28:24Z

108.162.238.144: /* Explanation */ "Emojic" is a portmanteau of "emoji" and "magic".

{{comic
| number = 1525
| date = May 15, 2015
| title = Emojic 8 Ball
| image = emojic 8 ball.png
}}
<div class="toclimit-3" style="float:right; margin-left: 10px;">__TOC__</div>
*To experience the interactivity, visit the {{xkcd|1525|original comic}}.
*To see an example of what the comic looks like after you ask a question see this [[media:emojic 8 ball with answer.png|answer]].

==Explanation==
Emojic 8 Ball is a parody of the {{w|Magic 8-Ball}} using {{w|emoji}} instead of words. "Emojic" is a portmanteau of "emoji" and "magic".

A real Magic 8 Ball is a toy designed to visually resemble a real {{w|billiard_ball#International_pool|pool ball}}, which responds to questions (best posed as yes or no questions) asked of it, ostensibly by magic. The responses are provided through a window on one face that displays text phrases printed on a triangular shape as depicted in this comic. Vintage balls contained a die with multiple triangular facets suspended in a dark fluid, while modern balls feature an electronic screen.

The ball in this comic provides responses in the form of graphical {{w|Unicode}} "text" (which this comic is suggesting are {{w|emoji}}).

It is possible that this may be commentary on the inclusion of such "meaningless" symbols into Unicode. Ask a question and get a meaningless reply, even more meaningless than the answers given by a Magic 8 Ball.

It could also be commentary about the ambiguous nature of advice from fortune tellers, horoscopes, etc. Each emoji has an ambiguous meaning (for example, depending on context, the cow symbol 🐄 could refer to beef or farming). The interpretation has more to do with the person receiving the fortune than anything given by the so-called fortune reader.

With the default question being "How will I die?", this may also be partially a reference to "{{w|Machine of Death}}". This book from 2010 is a collection of short stories edited by amongst other {{w|Ryan North}} (of {{w|Dinosaur Comics}}) mentioned here since the idea was based on one of [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=675 his comics]. Since [[Randall Munroe]] wrote one of the stories the reference is very likely. All the stories are based around a device, the "Machine of Death", that can predict, with 100% accuracy though generally with extreme ambiguity, how people die from a drop of their blood. In many of the stories very unusual deaths are predicted, often in a very literal way, but not so you know when or where you will die. From the [http://machineofdeath.net/ official home page] the entire book can be downloaded for free as a [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4648190/MachineofDeath_FINAL_SPREADS.pdf PDF file]. (Randall's story begins on page 421 - or page 218 of the two sided PDF file. It is simply called "?"). The "Machine of Death" may also have been referenced in the fourth panel of [[1341: Types of Editors]].

Emoji were previously referenced in [[1513: Code Quality]].

===Permalink===
*After the first time you ask a question a permalink will appear below the panel in gray letters.
*The "permalink" is an actual link of the type that is called a "'''{{w|permalink}}'''", a portmanteau of "permanent-link".
*If you wish to "save" any given question and combination of emojis for future reference (for instance one where you think the combo makes sense to your question) you can do so by copying down this link.
*The last two years [[:Category:April fools' comics|April Fools' Day]] comics, [[1350: Lorenz]] and [[1506: xkcloud]] also used the [[1350: Lorenz#Permalink|concept of a permalink]].
*The permalink option did not appear in the comic when it was first posted. This has been seen before.
*Here a three examples with one, two and three emojis is the reply
**[http://xkcd.com/1525/#eyJxIjoiV2h5IGFtIEkgc28gc2FkPyIsImEiOlsiJiN4MjY3RjsiXX0= permalink with 1 emoji].
***Question: ''Why am I so sad?''.
***The answer is one emoji [♿ (Wheelchair symbol)] (A reply that actually makes sense as to why you might feel sad)
**[https://xkcd.com/1525/#eyJxIjoiV2hhdCBzaG91bGQgSSB3ZWFyIHRvbW9ycm93PyIsImEiOlsiJiN4MUYzRTY7IiwiJiN4MUYzNTY7Il19 permalink with 2 emojis].
***Question: ''What should I wear tomorrow?''.
***The answer is two emoji [🏦 (bank) and 🍖 (meat on bone)]
**[https://xkcd.com/1525/#eyJxIjoiV2hlcmUgd2lsbCBJIGJlIGFmdGVyIHRvbW9ycm93PyIsImEiOlsiJiN4MUYzRUY7IiwiJiN4MUYzQTk7IiwiJiN4MUY0MjE7Il19 permalink with 3 emojis].
***Question: ''Where will I be after tomorrow?''.
***The answer is three emoji [🏯 (Japanese castle), 🎩 ‎(top hat) and 🐡 ‎(blowfish)].
***This is also available as a [[media:emojic 8 ball with answer.png|picture]] - it is the picture linked to above the explanation.

===Bugs===
Note: if you see mostly squares (possibly with six numbers/letters inside) in the 8 Ball instead of actual symbols or pictures, it means your system doesn't have fonts that support the Emoji unicode characters. Scroll down to [[#Discussion|the discussion section]] below for suggestions on how to get and install the right font for your system, as well as to see a list of emoji characters so you can easily see if they're working or not.

==Transcript==
:[An image of a shiny black ball with a white circle forming a black window at its center. Above the image is a title where the number 8 is written in a black circle, making it look like an 8-ball.]
:'''Emojic 8 Ball'''

:[Below the title is an input field with a placeholder text in grayed out text:]
:How will I die?

:[Below is a gray submit button]
:Ask

:[The Emojic 8 Ball is below the ask button. The text in the input field can be changed be the user before pressing the ask button. After the submit button is pressed, 1 to 3 emoji symbols appear in the black window, framed inside a light blue equilateral triangle with one end pointing straight up. Once this has been done once, then link appears below the panel with this text: Permalink].

==Trivia==

* The 8-ball randomly returns between one and three emoji characters. The source code reveals there is 42.1% chance of getting one character, 52.6% chance of getting two characters, and 5.3% chance of getting three.
* The source code contains 507 different emoji characters. For a full list of the supported characters, see [[1525:_Emojic_8_Ball/List_of_emoji|List of emoji]].
* This is the second comic without title text. The first was [[1506: xkcloud]].
* The [http://xkcd.com/1525/info.0.json official transcript] of the comic says:
**"Sorry blind people. There is no title text, even. Just a text box, an \"ask\" button, and a graphic that changes to a random emojii.\n\nThis one doesn't seem to be for you."
**This is one of the few comics with [[:Category:No title text|no title text]].
**This is also one of the few recent comics with an official transcript.

{{comic discussion}}

<noinclude>
[[Category:Interactive comics]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:No title text]]
</noinclude>