explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2126: Google Trends Maps

2019-03-20T11:42:26Z

141.101.77.128: fun typo

{{comic
| number = 2126
| date = March 20, 2019
| title = Google Trends Maps
| image = google_trends_maps.png
| titletext = It's early 2020. The entire country is gripped with Marco Rubio fever except for Alaska, which is freaking out. You're frantically studying up on etiquette and/or sexting.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an ALLIGATOR. Each map needs to be individually explained. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[https://trends.google.com/ Google Trends] is a website for visualizing Google search activity by date and region. Used properly, it can give a picture of what topics people are interested in (as evidenced by what they search for) at particular times and in different places. Used improperly, it can simply [[1845:_State Word Map|amplify random noise]].

[[Randall]] has created several Google Trends maps of search activity in the US. Each map colors in states according to which of two (or more) search queries was more popular. As noted at the top of the comic, all of these based on real queries (though not reflecting the same time period across all maps). However, none of them seem to show any especially ''useful'' comparisons.

* "Frostbite" vs "heat stroke": This is probably the most sensible comparison of the lot, showing which of these two risks of exposure people search up more often. However, the results are fairly obvious: in the colder northern and eastern states, "frostbite" is the more common search, while across the south and west, it's "heat stroke".
* "Best church" vs "best strip club": This map would seem to indicate people in Nevada (and only in Nevada) are more interested in strip clubs than religion.
* "Bigfoot" vs "Mike Pence": Apparently, everywhere except for Indiana, people in the US are more interested in a fictitious hairy creature than in the current (at the time of this comic) Vice President of the United States.
* "Etiquette" vs "sexting": Similar to the church/strip club example, this map contrasts search interest in polite behavior against risqué behavior.
* "Little dog" vs "big cat": "Little Dog" is a television series. "Big cat" is a term for the largest members of the cat family (Felidae). Though the names are made up of opposites, there is no actual connection evident between these two things.
* "Shark attack" vs "childbirth": While both of these things might be considered risky, there is not much of a relationship between them. As might be expected, the "shark attack" search is more common in most coastal states (and, for some reason, Kentucky).
* "Snakes" vs "ants" vs "bees" vs "alligators": These are all dangerous animals that cause occasional human fatalities (mainly from allergic reactions for ants and bees). There is no noticeable pattern in which animal is searched most often, though only Florida has alligators as the most common search of the four.
* "Retirement planning" vs "bungee jumping": The implication here is that people in some states are more concerned with short-term fun rather than long-term planning.
* "Super bowl" vs "funeral home": This is amusing in contrasting a popular sports (and media) event against a rather somber topic.
* "Resume tips" vs "skateboard tricks": Another comparison between learning a "serious", goal-oriented skill (career advancement) and a "silly", fun skill (skateboarding).
* "Donald Trump" vs "What do I do": The implication here seems to be that people in some states are more likely to ask Google "what do I do?", either in panic or in ignorance, than they are to look up the latest doings of the US President. The split shown is not too different to the actual split between states voting for Trump and for his opponent, Hillary Clinton.
* "Existential crisis" vs "Marco Rubio": Senator Marco Rubio was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Everywhere but Alaska, people were more likely to look up his name than to search for "existential crisis".

The title text uses two of these maps to paint a picture of the year 2020 (implying that these search patterns are both meaningful and likely to continue into the future). In this scenario, most of the country continues to read about Marco Rubio (except for Alaskans, still searching for help with their existential crises), and individuals are trying to learn about etiquette, sexting, or both, depending on their location.

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

{{comic discussion}}

2112: Night Shift

2019-02-17T19:50:19Z

141.101.77.128: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2112
| date = February 15, 2019
| title = Night Shift
| image = night_shift.png
| titletext = Help, I set my white balance wrong and suddenly everyone is screaming at each other about whether they've been to Colorado.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BORED SCREAMING RESIDENT OF COLORADO (YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO COLORADO). Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Many electronic devices have display settings that allow them to control the color and intensity of white, black, and other colors. After research that blue hues of light can keep people awake, among other things, it has become common to offer a "night shift" mode that makes the screen appear less blue and more red when one might want to sleep. This comic imagines such a mode as influencing the messages received from friends to encourage sleepiness—or, at least, to dampen [[386: Duty Calls|the emotional response that might keep someone up too late at night]].

In the title text, the reverse has occurred. By setting his {{w|Color balance|white balance}} incorrectly (perhaps more blue and less red), the opinions that Randall is reading are more intense, even about "simple" things as having visited Colorado or not.

This strip then references the fact that on the internet, very few people answer in the singulars of 'Yes' or 'No' or another equally short and definable answer. This is probably primarily due to the point that there is little perceived value in such a short but factual answer, when you have the opportunity to voice your opinion, sometimes at length.

In short, on the internet, we probably talk too much and don't cut to the chase enough.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Comments with peoples' profile pictures in front of them are shown in white comment boxes on a gray background.]
: Cueball: The Atlantic Ocean is big
:: Ponytail: The Pacific is even bigger
:: Cueball With Full Body Profile Picture (WFBPP): They're both very big

: Megan: A lot of people have TVs
:: Hairbun: Some people don't
:: Megan: Yeah, that's true

: Cueball: 24 isn't a prime number
:: Cueball WFBPP: Neither is 25

: Hairbun: Have you ever been to Colorado?
:: Megan: No
:: Cueball WFBPP: No
:: Cueball: Yeah
:: Ponytail: No

:[Caption below the panel:]
:My phone has a night shift mode to help me sleep, but instead of reducing the intensity of blue light, it reduces the intensity of opinions.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Social networking]]

2106: Sharing Options

2019-02-02T19:54:05Z

141.101.77.128: Replaced content with " == SOON THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED == == SOON THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED ==..."

== SOON THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED ==

== SOON THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED ==

== SOON THE TRUTH WILL BE REVEALED ==

Talk:2098: Magnetic Pole

2019-01-15T16:37:07Z

141.101.77.128:

GPS relies on satellites not the magnetic pole, so it wouldn't be affected.
: I originally mentioned that modern GPS receivers like in smartphones may integrate the compass, gyro, and GPS to provide higher-quality location data using heuristics, which may get fouled-up if the pole moves too far, but I wrote it in too playful a manner and it has been deleted since. There was no citation anyway; it was just a vague memory. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.245|162.158.79.245]] 06:08, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

So, GPS ''receivers'' don't need magnetic poles... but what about the GPS ''satellites''? GPS works being them transmitting their exact location, so they need so way of knowing what that is. [[User:JamesCurran|JamesCurran]] ([[User talk:JamesCurran|talk]]) 22:58, 14 January 2019 (UTC)

I was wondering about that. Just added {{Citation needed}} to that and a couple of other alleged facts that should really be cited if true, and removed if not. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.208|108.162.216.208]] 20:35, 14 January 2019 (UTC)

It was speculated that reversals were linked to mass extinctions. This would make the alt-text appear to be a bit blase - but " Statistical analysis shows no evidence for a correlation between reversals and extinctions." so it seems we will probably be OK.
It does seem odd that GPS wouldn't be calibrated against fixed ground positions. [[User:Baldrickk|Baldrickk]] ([[User talk:Baldrickk|talk]]) 22:06, 14 January 2019 (UTC)

I expect we'll be fine, but don't a lot of migratory critters use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation over very long distances? I mean, it's not as though they check a calendar and say, "Oh, hey, winter's coming, I guess I'd better head North." They just go in the direction they are 'programmed' to go when they start to feel the urge to do so. So... If the poles reverse (or whatever else) aren't they going to go the wrong direction? There are lots of other species that rely on those migratory species for their lunch. Yeah, I can imagine that there could be a lot of problems. Assuming, of course, that what I read about migratory species using the magnetic field of the Earth for navigation is true.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.143|162.158.79.143]] 02:39, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

I don't believe any "location systems" depend on magnetic field for their accuracy, other than a magnetic compass. As noted above, GPS is calculated numerically from signals received from satellites, so the only effect the magnetic field could have on that is if it somehow disrupts the broadcast of the satellite radio signals. Similarly, LORAN calculates location based on radio signal, from towers on land. There are others as well, and I'm pretty sure none that depend on the location of the magnetic pole. GPS in general is not calibrated to fixed ground positions, but there are enhancements to GPS that do. But those still use radio broadcasts from towers whose locations are known, and don't need to take into account the location of magnetic north.
[[User:Lnthomp|Lnthomp]] ([[User talk:Lnthomp|talk]]) 22:28, 14 January 2019 (UTC)

I agree that the way it is currently phrased is misleading (to the point of being wrong), but some "location systems" use multiple factors to increase their accuracy. A good smartphone will use GPS together with signal strengths to wifi routers with known locations together with its compass to increase accuracy above that which it could obtain from GPS alone. I've only taken little glimpses into the issue professionally but if I were making an algorithm for such a thing I'd also use input from the accelerometers. In any event, I'd most certainly use the built-in compass. Cheap estimation of direction of travel. Of course I'm just being pedantic with all of that. The difference in accuracy for such a scenario would most likely be minor to the point that nobody would notice. I just kind of think the algorithms that try to combine all that sensor data are cool. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.51|162.158.62.51]] 01:24, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
:It's navigation systems rather than location/positioning systems that rely on magnetic field (although both are often combined). You need a compass to know which direction your are facing and how to go to your destination.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.11|141.101.104.11]] 11:32, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

Granted no one has ever experienced and documented a magnetic reversal event, however, would it be possible for the magnetic flux to cause errors on magnetic media? (eg HDD, credit cards, floppies, cassette, VHS, etc) If it were a cause for alarm, would a faraday cage be useful in protecting against the effects? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.34.34|172.68.34.34]] 23:05, 14 January 2019 (UTC)
: Faraday cages attenuate electric, not magnetic, fields. I think magnetic shielding involves thick, rounded material with high permeability such as iron, steel, mu-metal, often placed inside a faraday cage to prevent RF signals from saturating the permeability; never done it myself though. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.245|162.158.79.245]] 06:13, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

No. Magnetic media would not be affected. Geomagnetic field strengths are orders of magnitude weaker than those used to write to magnetic media. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.51|162.158.62.51]] 01:27, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

The biggest issue during a magnetic pole reversal will be the loss of the Van Allen belt, frying all of us. [[User:RandalSchwartz|RandalSchwartz]] ([[User talk:RandalSchwartz|talk]]) 02:39, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
:Unlikely to literally fry us, but there could definitely be damages on the electrical grids around the world as the magnetic field is weakened during the transition. Probably also a rise in radiation-induced cancers.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.11|141.101.104.11]] 11:32, 15 January 2019 (UTC).

GPS and Solar weather [https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/impacts/space-weather-and-gps-systems citation ] - worth a read. Basically, the ionosphere disturbance from a changing Earth field (analogous to a changing solar wind) leads to notable inaccuracy and service disruption. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.167|108.162.221.167]] 23:12, 14 January 2019 (UTC)

We'll have to renumber all our runways, which will be annoying. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.58.111|162.158.58.111]] 04:27, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
:actually, several runways have already had to have been renumbered because of change in the magnetic poles.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.143|162.158.79.143]] 05:19, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

Wait, "geomagnetic reversal in the next few decades"? Last I checked, it was scheduled to happen in the next few ''millennia''. Have there been new data? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.131|141.101.104.131]] 09:00, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
:Reversals appear to happen randomly, so there's no way to know when the next one will happen. Even if the last one happened about 800 000 years ago, there have been periods of tens of millions of years without reversal.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.11|141.101.104.11]] 11:32, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
::800 000 = 0. [[User:Lysdexia|Lysdexia]] ([[User talk:Lysdexia|talk]]) 16:08, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
:::Not when the fields can reverse as often as 5 times in a million years.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.77.128|141.101.77.128]] 16:37, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121016084936.htm might shed some light on things. In any case, “scheduled” is definitely the wrong word. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.142.77|172.68.142.77]] 13:49, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

What about the SOUTH magnetic pole?
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.54|162.158.186.54]] 15:29, 15 January 2019 (UTC)

966: Jet Fuel

2018-03-30T09:34:28Z

141.101.77.128: /* Explanation */ Added link to related comic

{{comic
| number = 966
| date = October 19, 2011
| title = Jet Fuel
| image = jet_fuel.png
| titletext = The 'controlled demolition' theory was concocted by the government to distract us. '9/11 was an inside job' was an inside job!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is a reference to the "{{w|9/11}} {{w|9/11 truther|Was An Inside Job}}" theory that the {{w|World Trade Center}} in {{w|New York City}} was blown up by a "controlled demolition". [[Hairy]] uses the typical argument and [[Cueball]] one ups the craziness and of course Hairy eats it up. The {{w|Chemtrail}}s conspiracy theory is (one form of) a completely different conspiracy theory which says that (exactly as Cueball does) the US Government puts chemicals and mind control agents in jets and airliners to subtly have US citizens ingest the agents.

And the title text is the natural "double down" on a theory which says that the conspiracy theory itself was concocted by the government and was supposed to distract from the truth, a parodic theory already seen in ''South Park'' episode {{w|Mystery of the Urinal Deuce}}.

For those wondering: it is true that kerosene does not burn hot enough in air to ''melt'' steel, but it does burn hot enough to cut the steel's supporting strength roughly in half, which is more than enough to collapse a building weighing thousands of tons. (Although standard engineering practice is to use a safety factor of three, and a safety factor of two is sufficient to allow for a 50% reduction in strength, over half of the columns in the two towers were severed in the initial impact, increasing the stress on the remaining columns.)

Cueball messing with 9/11 truther conspiracy theorists was also the subject of [[690: Semicontrolled Demolition]], and in [[496: Secretary: Part 3]] Black Hat claims the Twin Towers never actually collapsed. Chemtrails are mentioned again later in [[1677: Contrails]] and [[1803: Location Reviews]].

==Transcript==
:[Hairy throws his arms out as he talks to Cueball, who answers while lifting a hand palm up.]
:Hairy: 9/11 was an inside job! Jet fuel can't burn hot enough to melt steel!
:Cueball: Well, remember — jet fuel wasn't the only thing on those planes. They would've also carried tanks full of the mind-control agents airliners use to make chemtrails.
:Cueball: Who ''knows'' what temperature that stuff burns at!
:Hairy: Whoa.
:Hairy: Good point!

:[Caption below the panel:]
:My Hobby: Playing conspiracy theories off against each other.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:My Hobby]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theory]]