explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2710: Hydropower Breakthrough

2024-04-24T18:50:35Z

141.101.99.19: /* Explanation */ Correcting (though two so close together looks too much, to me).

{{comic
| number = 2710
| date = December 12, 2022
| title = Hydropower Breakthrough
| image = hydropower_breakthrough_2x.png
| imagesize = 261x303px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = A hydroelectric dam is also known as a heavy water reactor.
}}

==Explanation==
In this comic, [[Beret Guy]] announces that a {{w|hydroelectric dam}} has reached "Q > 1". This has two possible meanings, and the humour comes from their juxtaposition.

In fluid dynamics, the letter Q represents the {{w|volumetric flow rate}}, or volume of fluid per unit time, e.g. m³/s. Depending on the units chosen, it would not be at all surprising for this number to be greater than 1 for a hydroelectric dam.

However, Beret Guy's clarification, that the meaning of this is that the dam is producing more water than was fed into it, suggests that he is interpreting the letter Q in a manner similar to its use in {{w|fusion power}}, where it represents the ratio of output power to input power. Typically fusion reactors require more power than they generate, but on the day after this comic was released, the US National Ignition Facility [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/11/fusion-nuclear-energy-breakthrough/ announced] the first Q > 1 fusion reaction. However, hydroelectric dams work quite differently from fusion reactors,{{Citation needed}} and (despite frequent comparisons) water is different from electricity.{{Citation needed}}

If a dam were indeed producing more water than came into it from the reservoir and other sources, especially on a consistent basis (and not just because of water that had been stored somehow inside the dam) it would be a violation of the law of conservation of mass. It appears that one of the audience members is oblivious to this fact, joining in Beret Guy's celebration, while another audience member is more effectively applying their critical thinking skills.

Alternatively, it is possible that Beret Guy is suggesting that the amount of water coming out of the dam is greater than the amount travelling into it via the {{w|penstock}}. If so, this indicates that water is finding other paths through the dam (a literal "breakthrough"), which is a very dangerous situation and would also be a cause for concern, not celebration.

The title text further confuses the issue by equating the hydroelectric dam with a {{w|heavy water reactor}}, which is a type of nuclear fission (not fusion) reactor that uses deuterium oxide, or "heavy water", as a moderator. A hydroelectric dam is powered by the weight of water, but it is not a reactor.

==Transcript==
:[Beret Guy is standing on a podium behind a lectern. He is gesturing with his hand, palm up, towards a poster hanging behind him. On it is a picture of a tall dam, with a lake behind, and water coming out at the foot of the dam in the valley on the other side. Two voices reacts to Beret Guy's statement from off-panel.]
:Beret Guy: We are pleased to announce that our hydroelectric dam has achieved Q>1, producing more water than we fed into it!
:Off-panel voice 1: Hooray!
:Off-panel voice 2: Wait.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Public speaking]]
[[Category:Physics]]

Talk:102: Back to the Future

2021-06-06T10:08:44Z

141.101.99.19:

I noticed the character on the right has hair in the first two frames, but is bald in the last frame... Two persons? [[User:Rikthoff|Rikthoff]] ([[User talk:Rikthoff|talk]])

I believe that this is the same person because otherwise it seems that Megan didn't tell the character on the right with hair (presumably Marty McFly) about her father therefore diminishing the humor.

:I agree with Rikthoff, I don't think this is Cueball. Being bald is one of his main features and this guy definately has hair.--[[User:Popuppete|Popuppete]] ([[User talk:Popuppete|talk]]) 13:42, 12 September 2012 (UTC)

The issue date might be off. All files since #101 have been created on April 11th, 2006. Anyone with an actual issue date? [[User:Rikthoff|Rikthoff]] ([[User talk:Rikthoff|talk]])

Could it be possible that Megan's dad died because of something the other character (let's not call him Cueball until we know for sure) did in the future to "make sure his parents got together and helped his dad to be less of a loser"? [[User:tesshavon|tesshavon]]

:It's more likely to have been the result of a airliner full of jet fuel crashing into the tower, causing it to burn and collapse. Megan is probably thinking that Cueball (I'm still going to call him Cueball, sorry) could maybe have alerted somebody that this was going to happen. In the past. Him having access to a time machine and all. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.58|108.162.219.58]] 20:31, 24 January 2014 (UTC)

Why do we take for granted alt text refers to the Cueball/Hairy and not the father? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.89.210|141.101.89.210]] 21:55, 29 March 2014 (UTC)

What if the alt text refers to Marty McFly and not Cueball/Hairy? You don't have to think about the comic very hard to know C/H was an asshole, but I think the implication is that Marty could have taken the DeLorean and done less petty, personal things with it. --[[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.47|173.245.54.47]] 21:51, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

:If it did refer to MM, Randall's interpretation of the movie is skewed. MM only did what he needed to do to repair the damage he unintentionally did. There was no personal benefit intended other than saving his own life, and that of his siblings. Randall has taken some creative license with the way C/H explains the plot.[[Special:Contributions/172.69.70.251|172.69.70.251]] 07:52, 25 January 2018 (UTC)

::Exactly — Marty McFly ''could'' have (for example) saved many people's lives, but instead he only saved "his own life, and that of his siblings," so Marty McFly ''is'' "kind of an asshole, when you think about it." [[User:Yfmcpxpj|Yfmcpxpj]] ([[User talk:Yfmcpxpj|talk]]) 11:18, 1 December 2019 (UTC)

Have people forgotten? The DeLorean time machine was destroyed at the end of the third film - it spent less than a day in total in 1985 (first used 1.20 am, destroyed by a train c. midafternoon). Cueball even references this in the comic. {{unsigned ip|108.162.250.223}}

:Megan can still contact the friend and get her own time machine... maybe. [[User:Greyson|Greyson]] ([[User talk:Greyson|talk]]) 05:11, 22 October 2015 (UTC)

:The DeLorean that Marty used to travel from 1885 to 1985 was, indeed, destroyed (somewhat ironically by a fast-moving, modern train). But what of the DeLorean Doc stashed in the cave in 1885? That's what he used to create the flying train. [[User:PoconoChuck|PoconoChuck]] ([[User talk:PoconoChuck|talk]]) 20:19, 9 May 2016 (UTC)

::Actually, that cave DeLorean had to stay there after Doc buried it in 1885, or else 1955 Doc and Marty couldn't dig it out to go back to 1885 to get Doc. It is surmised that parts from the hoverboard (that remained in 1885 with Doc and Clara) were used in the making of the Time Train. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.70.251|172.69.70.251]] 07:52, 25 January 2018 (UTC)

:The conversation in the comic occurs some time after September 11, 2001, and Hairy/Cueball says "''this weekend'', my professor friend built a time machine," so the DeLorean in this comic could be a completely different DeLorean than the one in the movies. But either way, it can travel through time, so it could be present at any point in time, regardless of if/when it was destroyed, yes? [[User:Yfmcpxpj|Yfmcpxpj]] ([[User talk:Yfmcpxpj|talk]]) 11:42, 1 December 2019 (UTC)

'He' could also be her father, thus explaining why he wasn't saved. --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.47.132|172.68.47.132]] 06:14, 27 August 2018 (UTC)

I think that the title text can't possibly be referring to Megan's father. First of all, Cueball/Hairy and Megan seem to be close friends, since Megan saying "you remember" implies that she brought it up previously. Most people don't call their friend's father an asshole to justify letting them die. Also, Hairy/Cueball seems to genuinely not get what Megan said. And the title text is in present tense, while we tend to talk about deceased people in past tense. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.63|162.158.62.63]] 00:38, 21 February 2021 (UTC)

2472: Fuzzy Blob

2021-06-06T10:02:16Z

141.101.99.19: /* Transcript */

{{comic
| number = 2472
| date = June 4, 2021
| title = Fuzzy Blob
| image = fuzzy_blob.png
| titletext = If there's no dome, how do you explain the irregularities the board discovered in the zoning permits issued in that area!?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an UNIDENTIFIED FUZZY BLOB. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Cueball is taking a picture of his house, but sees a large fuzzy blob on the side of the picture. This blob likely comes from Cueball making the mistake of putting one of his fingers partially in front of the lens. This is a common enough occurrence with smartphones or compact cameras that an ordinary user should immediately be able to identify the problem; however, the comic derives humor from having neither Cueball nor anyone else come to this conclusion.

Likely, this comic stems from the resurgent talk of {{w|Unidentified Flying Objects}}, (UFO) now dubbed "{{w|Unidentified Aerial Phenomena}}", or UAP. The topic regained popularity after the {{w|Department of Defense}}, (DoD,) recently [https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/04/politics/pentagon-ufo-enquiry/index.html confirmed the authenticity of 3 videos] taken by {{w|United States Navy | US Naval}} personnel. It has been much discussed in mainstream news, not just among {{w|extraterrestrial}} enthusiasts or {{w|conspiracy theorists}}, some of whom have created {{w|QAnon}} spin-off theories.

Randall likely wished to clarify that UAP are probably not of alien origin, and appears to be suggesting that there is a simple and obvious explanation for the objects, such as birds or dirt on the navy's camera lenses, that most people in the general public are missing and that [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2359:_Evidence_of_Alien_Life any definitive conclusion of aliens is overhyped].

The tendency to make unwarranted connections to unrelated but synchronous 'evidence' is shown in the title text. Investigation of this phenomena has brought to light 'irregularities' in the local {{w|Zoning|zoning permits}}, which are almost certainly just instances of mundane corruption, incompetence or inconsistency such as might be revealed in many such places once you put extra resources into investigating every aspect of an area.

An alternate intention of the word 'irregularities' might be due to the necessarily zig-zaggy nature of defining a 'circular' zone footprint by drawing best-fit boundary lines only along streets, within any established grid-based system of city 'blocks'. The interpretation of why any zone is a complex and crinkly shape, rather than a strictly utilitarian rectangle, may not be so obvious from an overview that does not take into account geological or political restrictions such as the curve of a watercourse in a valley or a mandate against hi-rise buildings within a certain radius of a monument.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball takes picture of his house from a distance great enough to get the whole house in the picture. He holds the camera (or smartphone) in both hands. The shutter makes a sound:]
:Click

:[The picture he has taken is shown below. The picture is lying tilted compared to the panel, and shows the house but with a fuzzy skin colored blob covering the left part of the picture, just touching the left side of the house. Above and partly over the picture is a small frame with Cueball's response when he sees the picture:]
:What the...

:[White Hat gestures towards Cueball with one hand, while Cueball holds his camera in one hand towards White Hat, with the picture shown on the screen, too small to see though.]
:White Hat: What's that fuzzy blob next to your house? It's huge!
:Cueball: I don't know! I looked up and it was gone!
:White Hat: How can a giant structure vanish?
:Cueball and White Hat: ''...Cloaking device?!!''

:[Blondie is standing at the front of the panel with a microphone in her hand speaking towards the viewer. Behind her is a close up of the Blob (in black and white) on a screen. To the left of the screen is an almost bald man with hair behind his ears, holding a hand to his chin. To the right is Megan, who is holding one hand out palm up, towards the picture, which they are both looking at.]
:Blondie: The fuzzy blob, dubbed "flob" by internet sleuths, has city planners stumped.
:Man: No, that's not any type of building I'm familiar with.
:Megan: Could be an experimental military dome.

:[Hairbun is standing on a podium behind a lectern with a microphone on it. She addresses three people in front of the stage, Cueball, Megan and White Hat. Behind them Blondie is turned the other way speaking to a camera, on a tripod. She has a microphone in her hand.]
:Hairbun: The zoning board investigation has found no evidence of a cloaked dome structure.
:Hairbun: The historical commission will be joining the research into these domes and other unusual buildings, such as the historic 4th Ave Church...
:Blondie: This only raises more questions.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theory]]

2472: Fuzzy Blob

2021-06-05T09:01:32Z

141.101.99.19: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2472
| date = June 5, 2021
| title = Fuzzy Blob
| image = fuzzy_blob.png
| titletext = If there's no dome, how do you explain the irregularities the board discovered in the zoning permits issued in that area!?
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by an UNIDENTIFIED FUZZY BLOB. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Cueball is taking a picture of his house, but sees a large fuzzy blob on the side of the picture. This blob likely comes from Cueball making the mistake of putting one of his fingers partially in front of the lens. This is a common enough occurrence with smartphones or compact cameras that an ordinary user should immediately be able to identify the problem; however, the comic derives humor from having neither Cueball nor anyone else come to this conclusion.

Likely, this comic stems from the resurgent talk of {{w|Unidentified Flying Objects}}, (UFO,) now dubbed "{{w|Unidentified Aerial Phenomena}}", or UAP. The topic regained popularity after the {{w|Department of Defense}}, (DoD,) recently [https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/04/politics/pentagon-ufo-enquiry/index.html confirmed the authenticity of 3 videos] taken by {{w|United States Navy | US Naval}} personnel. It has been much discussed in mainstream news, not just among {{w|extraterrestrial}} enthusiasts or {{w|conspiracy theorists}}, some of whom have created {{w|QAnon}} spin-off theories. (Thankfully, some people do [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FLPLeig95M4 recover].)

Randall likely wished to clarify that UAP are probably not of alien origin, and appears to be suggesting that there is a simple and obvious explanation for the objects, such as birds or dirt on the navy's camera lenses, that most people in the general public are missing and that [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/2359:_Evidence_of_Alien_Life any definitive conclusion of aliens is overhyped].

The tendency to make unwarranted connections to unrelated but synchronous 'evidence' is shown in the Title Text. Investigation of this phenomena has brought to light 'irregularities' in the local {{w|Zoning|zoning permits}}, which are almost certainly just instances of mundane corruption, incompetence or inconsistency such as might be revealed in many such places once you put extra resources into investigating every trivial aspect of an area.

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

:[Cueball takes picture]

:[Below showing an image of a house with a fuzzy blob with a caption "what the..."]

:White Hat: What's that fuzzy blob next to your house? It's huge!

:Cueball: I don't know! I looked up and it was gone!

:White Hat: How can a giant structure vanish?

:White Hat: ...Cloaking device?!!

:Blondie: The fuzzy blob, dubbed "flob" by internet sleuths, has city planners stumped.

:City Planner: No, that's not any type of building I'm familiar with.

:Megan: Could be an experimental military dome.

:Hairbun: The zoning board investigation has found no evidence of a cloaked dome structure. The historical commission will be joining the research into these domes and other unusual buildings, such as the historic 4th ave church...

:Blondie: This only raises more questions.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairbun]]

Talk:2466: In Your Classroom

2021-05-24T14:48:56Z

141.101.99.19:

yay! another one where a table is useful for an explanation! also first ALPHALUL [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.59|162.158.79.59]] 01:01, 22 May 2021 (UTC)Bumpf

Exobiology should not be in the Good area. I've seen those movies, I know what happens next. [[User:Andyd273|Andyd273]] ([[User talk:Andyd273|talk]]) 02:18, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

I'm sort of sad that the the hover text, or perhaps the origin, wasn't simply "Tautology" [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.74|108.162.237.74]] 21:01, 22 May 2021 (UTC)

I think that the scales would be better shown as +/- from a (0,0) point than %'s from the top left. At least for the Good/Bad axis It's really weird to say that "Education" has 10% ''danger'' because it's not quite as good as having an atmosphere. Is it just me? --[[User:Bobson|Bobson]] ([[User talk:Bobson|talk]]) 01:51, 23 May 2021 (UTC)
:Many students consider education - especially tests - dangerous. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 02:26, 23 May 2021 (UTC)

Not sure how big is smallest quasar, but I suspect one appearing in class would be bad even for Sun and rest of solar system. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 02:29, 23 May 2021 (UTC)

Is vertical axis how dangerous? I read it as either being positive utility (Societal good and bad) or how much Randall likes it? [[User:Kev|Kev]] ([[User talk:Kev|talk]]) 10:19, 23 May 2021 (UTC)

Shouldn't it be vulcanology?[[User:Joem5636|Joem5636]] ([[User talk:Joem5636|talk]]) 12:33, 24 May 2021 (UTC)
:I thought that, but it appears that vulcanology/volcanology are both possibly equally valid (though the 'vulc' definitions point to 'volc' ones almost always in online dictionaries, with the reverse mostly only as 'alternative', and 'vulcanologist' seems less acknowledged than 'volcanogist' in related-words linking). In many ways, that annoys me, but that might be the classicist in me rather than the geographer/geologist who appreciates that "vulcanology" might be a rather more limited field that would require no more travel to extensively study than can be afforded by a handy Sicilian fishing boat or light aircraft. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.19|141.101.99.19]] 14:48, 24 May 2021 (UTC)

2412: 1/100,000th Scale World

2021-01-15T22:52:01Z

141.101.99.19: /* Explanation */ Sprites

{{comic
| number = 2412
| date = January 15, 2021
| title = 1/100,000th Scale World
| image = 1_100000th_scale_world.png
| titletext = The floor should be slightly curved, but we haven't figured out artificial gravity yet, so for now we just added a trace intoxicating gas to the air that messes with your inner ear and gives you a sense that the ground is tilting away from you.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a TOXIC AURORA. Missing an explanation entirely. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is a sequel to the [[2411: 1/10,000th Scale World|previous one]]. There is a 1/100,000th scale world in this comic.

{| class="wikitable"
!Rule
!Reason
!Notes
|-
|Our aurora are probably non-toxic but please stop trying to taste them
| The aurora in the image is now temptingly at head height
| The plural of "{{w|aurora}}" should actually be "auroras" or "aurorae"
|-
|No breaking off pieces of the ice caps to put in your drink
|
|
|-
|Warning: Limited cell network coverage above the ionosphere, crouch down to get more bars
| The ionosphere reflects radio signals, in this case keeping terrestrial cellular phone signals from reaching phones higher up
|
|-
|Do not step on Mt. Everest
| Mt. Everest, the highest peak on Earth, is several inches tall at 1:100,000 scale
|
|-
|Caution! Ocean floor slippery when wet
|
|
|-
|Wear sunscreen; the ozone layer only protects you below the knees.
|
|
|-
|Beware of chest-level meteors
|
|
|-
| -100° mesopause vest recommended
|
|
|-
|If Lake Tahoe or the Dead Sea dries up, refill them with this 5oz wine glass
|
|
|-
|Safety glasses required for protection from reentering spacecraft
|
|
|-
|Do not anger the sprites
| {{w|Sprite (lightning)|Sprites}} are poorly understood electrical phenomena in the upper atmosphere. They are enormous but very short-lived.
| Sprites are also a name given to a form of forest spirit known for mischievous and sometimes harmful behaviour. In some fairy tales a warning would be given to not anger the spirits in case of grave repercussions.
|-
|Please stop digging through the Moho. Staff are tired of cleaning up large igneous provinces.
|Short for the {{w|Mohorovičić discontinuity}}, the Moho is the boundary surface separating the Earth's crust from the mantle. It can be found at a depth of 6-7 miles under the ocean bed, and about 24-30 miles under the continents.
|Using Randall's 1/100,000th scale world, 6-7 miles would be approximately 4 inches, while 24-30 miles would be about 16 inches, making the Moho easily accessible via digging. It would indeed create large igneous provinces, and make a big mess of lava that the staff would have to clean up, which would not be fun. The lava has a decent chance to burn through a mop or something, so it would be pretty tricky to clean up as well, since your cleaning stuff would light on fire unless soaked in water or something.
|-
|ISS (14 feet up) Returns every 90 minutes - Hit it with a nerf dart, win a prize!
| The {{w|International Space Station}} is the largest human-made object in space, and orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes.
|
|}

The title text states that the floor should be slightly curved. In fact, given that the model in the comic is about 10 meters long, it represents about 1000 km of Earth, that spans about 9 degrees of a great circle. Therefore, if the model wasn't larger than the part shown in the panel, its edges would have a very noticeable slope of 4.5 degrees.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
RULES:
Text: For visitors to my 1/100,000th scale world
1 meter = 100 km, 1 ft=100,000ft≈20 miles

Text: ISS (14 feet up)
Returns every 90 minutes
Hit it with a Nerf dart to win a prize!

Text: Our Aurora are probably non-toxic, but please stop trying to taste them

Text: [one cell bar] Warning: Limited cell network coverage above the ionosphere. Crouch down to get more bars

Text: Safety glasses required for protection from reentering spacecraft
Cueball: OW!
(off-screen): What?
Cueball: I got a Soyuz in my eye

Text: Beware of chest level meteors

Text: -100°C Mesopause vest recommended
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Illustrations of scale]]

Talk:2411: 1/10,000th Scale World

2021-01-14T21:16:43Z

141.101.99.19:

This sounds like a cool theme for a game jam. [[User:Bwisey|Bwisey]] ([[User talk:Bwisey|talk]]) 07:30, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

The comment about airplanes being close to the speed of a bullet in the explanation wouldn't be relevant due to the scale, so they wouldn't be fast compared to the scale of the people here, and with some rough calculations, I think it would take multiple seconds to pass through the thickness of a human body, so if the people were normal properties and the plane moving at its speed being proportional to its scale (thus making its speed seem normal from the perspective of someone shrunk down and on the plane looking at the rate at which it travels compared to its own length or looking at the model surroundings rather than the giant person), it shouldn't cause significant injury. Granted, as such speeds it wouldn't be able to fly, but the same sort of concerns apply to a lot else here, like the thundercloud and the rate the atmosphere gets thinner at altitude.--[[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.207|162.158.74.207]] 07:54, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

"Also, airplane speed very similar to the speed at which a bullet is fired" - That is true for real world aircraft; it is not at all given for the 1/10000th scale world. (It depends on if time is scaled or just spatial dimensions) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.134.84|162.158.134.84]] 09:59, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

The rant about private vs public research seems a tad coat-racky. [[User:Yngvadottir|Yngvadottir]] ([[User talk:Yngvadottir|talk]]) 12:08, 14 January 2021 (UTC)
: I agree, so I removed it. There's no indication that Randall meant anything more by it than the usually fun activity of playing with balloons would be harmful if done to weather balloons. [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 13:45, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

Do disasters in the model have consequences in the real Earth, like in the first row of xkcd #1515? Not being allowed to create megatsunamis or trigger the Yellowstone Supervolcano would support this, but being allowed to step on cities that do not have especially pointy towers would oppose it.[[Special:Contributions/162.158.186.220|162.158.186.220]] 14:07, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

This, ladies, gents, and variations thereupon, is the ''xkcd'' I know and love. [[User:Lightcaller|Lightcaller]] ([[User talk:Lightcaller|talk]]) 14:34, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

I would really like this on a poster. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.57.33|172.68.57.33]] 16:12, 14 January 2021 (UTC)
:That'd be good. In large format. (Though, if it's a 10,000:1 scale printing I see a couple of problems.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.19|141.101.99.19]] 21:16, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

Wouldn't an airplane be to the people about twice the speed of a garden snail? [[User:Sarah the Pie(yes, the food)|Sarah the Pie(yes, the food)]] ([[User talk:Sarah the Pie(yes, the food)|talk]])

: I thought comparisons of scale were an oft-revisited theme for xkcd, so was disappointed not to find a category for them; though I tried to list some of them, I didn't find nearly as many of them as I thought there ought to be. Only just noticed the reference in discussion here to 1515, which kind of supports my suspicion that there are lots I didn't find. --[[User:Pi one|Pi one]] ([[User talk:Pi one|talk]]) 17:06, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

I like how the curvature of the world is drawn to scale as well. IE: imperceptibly curved. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.182|108.162.216.182]] 17:13, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

Probably not actually related to the comic, but the notes in the explanation about how "earth on this scale would be the size of an asteroid" made me think of the Little Prince, which Randall is known to be fond of. -MeZimm [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.85|162.158.74.85]] 18:26, 14 January 2021 (UTC)

Talk:1914: Twitter Verification

2021-01-10T04:19:46Z

141.101.99.19: T****s account got suspended

https://twitter.com/jack/status/928658511311097856 Comic may relate to twitter's usage of the verification symbol. Randall might be mocking Twitter for not realizing how the verification symbol would be thought of as a symbol of importance. Character shown may be Jack Dorsey, Twitter CEO. --[[User:Videblu|Videblu]] ([[User talk:Videblu|talk]]) 05:54, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

Reminds me of when the checkmark emoji on Mastodon (https://joinmastodon.org) was similar to the Twitter "verified" mark and anyone who wanted was a verified user. Then, people moved on to pineapples for whatever reason. -- --[[User:Nialpxe|Nialpxe]], 2017. [[User_talk:Nialpxe|(Arguments welcome)]]

How can a bot write this text? Does it automatically scan the text in the comic, somehow find a news page about the topic and copy its text? If that's the case, that's some pretty advanced AI and it should be applied to more things than this wiki. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 08:42, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

:Nope, the bot only creates a new page with an image and a title text when a new comic goes online. See [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1914:_Twitter_Verification&action=history edit history] and [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/User:DgbrtBOT bot's profile] ;) The incomplete tag is kept even after people start editing the page, until it looks complete. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.96.218|141.101.96.218]] 11:28, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

::As an aside, I tip my hat to Fvalves for [http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1914:_Twitter_Verification&diff=prev&oldid=147658 this edit] to the incomplete template! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.82|162.158.92.82]] 12:24, 10 November 2017 (UTC)
:::For posterity (and so future visitors don't have to wade through the edit history), the page was created by a bot and then edited by a non-bot, a Cylon, and a Verified Twitter User. It was later "verified by a creationist twit." [[Special:Contributions/172.68.54.34|172.68.54.34]] 18:08, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

So how do I get verified on twitter? I'm real I tell you! I'm a real boy! I am Iam! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.69.71|162.158.69.71]] 14:58, 10 November 2017 (UTC) Sam

Twitter should just change the standard for who gets the checkmark to be the same as the Wikipedia notability standard: getting "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject". That seems to create few quarrels. An even easier solution for them is to make the requirement be having a personal Wikipedia page – that way, now it's Wikipedia's problem. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.26.41|172.68.26.41]] 16:36, 10 November 2017 (UTC)
:I'll add that maybe the badge would look less like an "endorsement" if it were just, say, a rectangle with an "R" for "real account", rather than something with such positive implications as a check mark (which you get on your good grades at school for example) [[Special:Contributions/172.68.26.41|172.68.26.41]] 16:40, 10 November 2017 (UTC)
::DOES CAPS ALSO FEEL NATURAL? [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 16:50, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

I think I saw the end of this story on [https://www.fox.com/watch/4e9ac96523b454de771f95a4f775facb/ The Orville]. [[User:Seebert|Seebert]] ([[User talk:Seebert|talk]]) 16:56, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

For some reason, I have always assumed this "verified account" thingy is available to anyone who applies for it and supplies an ID scan or something to prove their identity (not a twitter user, obviously). They just randomly give it to people as they see fit? WTF were they thinking? [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 17:12, 10 November 2017 (UTC)
:As someone who has literally never been on Twitter, this doesn't seem hard. Why doesn't Twitter just give verified status to people who can verify who they are? User sends Twitter proof of their identity, if Twitter finds the proof satisfactory they make that account verified.[[User:HisHighestMinion|HisHighestMinion]] ([[User talk:HisHighestMinion|talk]]) 17:53, 10 November 2017 (UTC)
::Because a lot of actual people do have the same names. There are numerous people with the name William Gibson on Twitter, but when you search William Gibson, the handle @GreatDismal comes up, with his name listed as William Gibson, & a check-mark to indicate that the account belongs to the (most) famous William Gibson, not some random guy with that name.
:::'Some random guy' named William Gibson is no more random than the (most) famous William Gibson. It's certainly no guarantee that it's the person you want to follow. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.18|141.101.105.18]] 12:15, 14 November 2017 (UTC)

Since there are so often multiple people with the same name, & even people who (gasp!) don't use their name as their Twitter handle, I think the verification should be relative to a particular association; People could even attain multiple verifications, such as "Verified author of Neuromancer", "Verified Ford certified mechanic", "Verified resident of Zyzzyx", "Verified president of the United States", etc. (Not that someone as important as the US president would have time to waste writing Tweets.) Just make a list of anything you can verify about them, & let people see that on their profile. Just because she wasn't in Terminator doesn't mean Sarah O'Connor is insignificant; often it can be difficult to tell which profile belongs to someone you know, versus a stranger with that name. They should just verify stated facts about the person, avoiding any judgement of the notability of those facts.
(By the way, "Marina Appaloosa" may potentially be the coolest fictional name I've seen generated by these captchas so far.)
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.4|108.162.216.4]] 22:56, 10 November 2017 (UTC)

"As the internet is populated by various large and strongly opinionated groups [citation not needed]" I strongly disagree with the "citation not needed" tag. Please cite a source! [[Special:Contributions/162.158.63.202|162.158.63.202]] 14:30, 15 November 2017 (UTC)
:I'm honestly having a bit of difficulty figuring out whether that edit was made by someone who didn't understand the inherent sarcasm in {{Citation needed}}, or by someone who ''did'' understand and was trying to make a point. —[[User:CsBlastoise|CsBlastoise]] ([[User talk:CsBlastoise|talk]]) 19:59, 7 December 2017 (UTC)

Twitter also provides additional behind-the-scenes functionality to users with blue ticks which isn't available to regular users. It's not just about marking their profiles with a signifier. It's about allowing them to use the service in a way which hides the contributions of anybody without a tick.

There is no twitter account @realDonaldTrump anymore. --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.19|141.101.99.19]] 04:19, 10 January 2021 (UTC)

2409: Steepen the Curve

2021-01-09T01:48:14Z

141.101.99.19: /* Explanation */ And another. Told ya! Plus an omission added, before I call it a day and let others rewrite it /properly/, no doubt.

{{comic
| number = 2409
| date = January 8, 2021
| title = Steepen the Curve
| image = steepen_the_curve.png
| titletext = 1. Flatten the curve. 2. Steepen the curve. 3. Hang out.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a STEEPENED FLATTEN CURVE. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

In 2020, the main public concern rapidly became that deaths from COVID-19 were escalating. All kinds of political, civic and personal efforts were put towards doing things that would cause the 'curve' (the graph of cumulative deaths, or deaths per period) to flatten and not rise as rapidly as it was feared it would do, unchecked. The graphic drawn in black depicts this statistic - though it is not clear (without proper units or values on either axis) if this is a cumulative one or the initial 'rate' graph for before initial lockdowns started to reduce the initial trajectory for a time.

In 2021, the same issues exist (with second or even third 'waves' of resurgence affecting some populations) but now we have a handful of vaccines available. The red overlay intends to update the 'original' graphic to portray the curve of vaccines provided (again, it could easily be either cummulative or rate-wise). This year, the line remains the same but the year, the thing labelled as being represented and the hoped-for outcome are changed accordingly.

Note that, in both cases, there would be an upper limit on the cummulative value, but the ceiling must be well beyond the upper (and timewise) limits of this graph. If this is a rate-graph, it would show a peak and subsequent decline at the same point in time where a cumulative graph would show an inflection in its gradient, but neither are visible here.

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

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:COVID-19]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

2409: Steepen the Curve

2021-01-09T01:45:22Z

141.101.99.19: /* Explanation */ Another one!

{{comic
| number = 2409
| date = January 8, 2021
| title = Steepen the Curve
| image = steepen_the_curve.png
| titletext = 1. Flatten the curve. 2. Steepen the curve. 3. Hang out.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a STEEPENED FLATTEN CURVE. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

In 2020, the main public concern rapidly became that deaths from COVID-19 were escalating. All kinds of political, civic and personal efforts were put towards doing things that would cause the 'curve' (the graph of cumulative deaths, or deaths per period) to flatten and not rise as rapidly as it was feared it would do, unchecked. The graphic drawn in black depicts this statistic - though it is not clear if this is a cumulative one or the initial 'rate' graph for before initial lockdowns started to reduce the initial trajectory for a time.

In 2021, the same issues exist (with second or even third 'waves' of resurgence affecting some populations) but now we have a handful of vaccines available. The red overlay intends to update the 'original' graphic to portray the curve of vaccines provided (again, it could easily be either cummulative or rate-wise). The year, the line remains the same but the year, the thing labelled as being represented and the hoped-for outcome are changed accordingly.

Note that, in both cases, there would be an upper limit on the cummulative value, but the ceiling must be well beyond the upper (and timewise) limits of this graph. If this is a rate-graph, it would show a peak and subsequent decline at the same point in time where a cumulative graph would show an inflection in its gradient, but neither are visible here.

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

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:COVID-19]]
[[Category:Line graphs]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

145: Parody Week: Dinosaur Comics

2014-12-07T23:47:32Z

141.101.99.19: Removed warning - this was fixed on the 6th of December

{{comic
| number = 145
| date = August 18, 2006
| title = Parody Week: Dinosaur Comics
| image = dinosaur_comics.png
| titletext = Guys: while I was writing this, I accidentally swallowed a table-size slab of drywall. I know! Wacky.
}}

==Explanation==
{{w|Dinosaur Comics}} is a webcomic by {{w|Ryan North}}. The artwork never changes, save a few rare exceptions, and only the dialogue is different. [[Randall]] traced the comic's usual artwork, though the drawing of the house about to be squashed in panel 4 is a more rudimentary rendition.

For those who haven't read it, this is a [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=1387 typical strip], and [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2079 here's] a strip dealing with the same subject as the parody (but posted five years after this xkcd comic). See also [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2420 this particular example] where the title text actually refer to Randall and xkcd.

Randall makes several shots at recurring themes in Dinosaur Comics. T-Rex, the green dinosaur, is bold and enthusiastic, discussing various topics, a favorite of which appears to be linguistics. This time, he is talking about {{w|Singular_they| they}} being used as a {{w|Grammatical_person|third person}} singular {{w|Gender-specific_and_gender-neutral_pronouns|gender-free pronoun}} and how it should be more widely used, even though its acceptance varies. Dromiceiomimus, the white dinosaur in the third panel, usually responds calmly to T-Rex's discussions. Utahraptor, the orange dinosaur, typically contradicts T-Rex, but Randall subverts this pattern and has him agree. The comic suggests that the perpetual disagreement stems from a 'rift' in the author's mind, which would be healed if only he lived in a world where there were a land bridge between Asia and North America.

Just like [[xkcd]], Dinosaur Comics also has title texts. Ryan's title texts tend to be bizarre non-sequiturs, and the title text in the parody seems to be a riff on this.

Note that the last word by the T-Rex is split over the last two frames and it is divided in "the wrong" place: ''subc- -onscious''. With the other text above and below "-onscious?" in the last panel this can be rather confusing. Probably something [[Randall]] is very c-onscious about!

There is a reason for this, I believe, but since nobody else has added it, let me do so. This represents Utahraptor reverting to type and interrupting T-Rex, as per normal, after first lulling him (unless T-Rex is a her. But I am going all Utahraptor myself here, and interrupting, because I think this is a perfect counterexample where using 'them' for a singular T-Rex of unknown gender would have been very jarring at best, and downright confusing at worst!), lulling her into a false sense of security by explaining that that is what s/he would normally have done. This suggests that they (see how confusing that sounds?) have no intention of interrupting this time. But it (Utahraptor) still goes ahead and does it (interrupt) to poor it (T-Rex) anyway.
I hope that clarifies both the interruption, and why there remains a rift about singular gender-neutral pronouns. There really are times when they/their doesn't cut it (pretty much always, if you ask me) and when it fails also, because it implies a lack of animation in a 'sentient' actor in a dialogue or scene.

Although a singular "they" keeps from making assumptions about a person's gender in these politically correct-obsessed times, it can, as mentioned above lead to confusion. Often, there is simply a better way to write any sentence. Consider the following sentences. A pedant will be annoyed by anything he considers "wrong." A pedant will be annoyed by anything they consider "wrong." Pedants will be annoyed by anything they consider "wrong." Simply by generalizing the subject, "they" becomes the proper term. Indeed, Randall may be poking fun at pedantry in general because this topic often annoys pedants when it oughtn't, as there is already correct, gender-neutral phraseology to use. To clarify: the singular "they" isn't a real grammatical issue, since "there is already correct, gender-neutral phraseology to use," and that debate when there shouldn't be one is part of what Randall is parodying by making Utahraptor not debate T-Rex.

In the last panel, the narrator starts with "In a world…", a phrase made famous by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_LaFontaine Don LanFontaine] in movie trailers. The suggestion that "everyone is bicurious" may be a reference to Arthur C. Clarke's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Earth Imperial Earth].

Characters from ''Dinosaur Comics'' later appeared in [[1350: Lorenz]] (see under [[1350:_Lorenz#Dinosaur|Dinosaur]]) and in [[1452: Jurassic World]].

This comic is a part of the Parody Week, just joking about other webcomics.
*[[141: Parody Week: Achewood]]
*[[142: Parody Week: Megatokyo]]
*[[143: Parody Week: TFD and Natalie Dee]]
*[[144: Parody Week: A Softer World]]
*[[145: Parody Week: Dinosaur Comics]]

==Transcript==
:T-Rex: THINGS I AM UPPITY ABOUT: "They" as a third-person singular gender-free pronoun.
:T-Rex: I'm all for it!
:Dromiceiomimus: But isn't that terrible grammar?
:T-Rex: Only by recent convention! It's been in use that way for centuries, and its use is widely accepted! ALSO: this lets us avoid ridiculous constructs like "he/she", "s/he", "xe" or "hirs"!
:Utahraptor: T-Rex, I... agree.
:T-Rex: What?
:Utahraptor: That sounds good to me!
:Utahraptor: Normally I'd jump in with an objection, but I think your point makes sense.
:T-Rex: Could it be that the rift in our author's mind has finally healed? Is he no longer locked in perpetual war with the self-doubt that lurks in his subc-
:Narrator: '''IN A WORLD WHERE THERE IS STILL A LAND BRIDGE BETWEEN ASIA AND NORTH AMERICA FOR SOME REASON:'''
:T-Rex: -onscious?
:Narrator: '''ALSO HOW ABOUT IN THIS WORLD EVERYONE IS BICURIOUS'''

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Parody Week]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Language]]

1302: Year in Review

2014-10-14T15:13:27Z

141.101.99.19: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1302
| date = December 11, 2013
| title = Year in Review
| image = year_in_review.png
| titletext = All in all, I give this year a C-. There were no aurora visible from my house and that comet evaporated. They'd better not cancel the 2017 eclipse.
}}

==Explanation==
Many news organizations will recap the major stories of the past calendar year in late December (typically before the year has actually ended). This includes specialized news outlets such as sports stations which recap major sports stories or best plays of the year. Here, [[Cueball]] expects [[Megan]] to talk about major news stories of 2013 such as the rollout of Obamacare, the election of Pope Francis or the death of Nelson Mandela, as examples. Instead, Megan only recaps one thing which was important to her: She did not see the {{w|Aurora (astronomy)|aurora (Northern Lights)}} in 2013, the dazzling natural geomagnetic light display caused by the {{w|Solar wind}}. In 2013 a solar maximum was expected at its {{w|solar cycle}}, but the activity of the sun wasn't as heavy as before. So, a ''Northern Light'' had been very rare in this year.

The title text refers to {{w|Comet ISON}}. In February, a rough estimate of the comet's behavior predicted that it would become brighter than the full moon, a prediction that was widely reported by the media even though it was based on limited data and astronomers knew that it would not reach this brightness. In the end, although it was visible to the naked eye, it was never as bright as anybody hoped and apparently disintegrated on November 28, 2013 at its close approach to the sun.

The title text also refers to the {{w|2017 total eclipse}}, which will be visible as a partial eclipse for a few hours throughout North America on August 21 Monday, including a 100-mile band across the United States where it will be a total eclipse for a couple of minutes in the early afternoon. Although the weather may be cloudy, eclipses are highly predictable, so Megan is being extremely pessimistic to even suggest that it might not occur.

All in all, the comic suggests that the only events of significance to Megan (and Randall) are astronomical ones; the actions of humanity pale in comparison.

The joke of Megan answering a question in an interview in an unexpected manner has been used before in [[1111: Premiere]].

==Transcript==
:[Cueball, the TV host, introduces Megan, the reporter.]
:Cueball: We go live to our ''2013: Year in Review!''
:Megan: Thanks! In 2013, I didn't see an aurora.
:Cueball: I- what?

:Megan: The northern lights. I thought this would finally be the year. But it didn't happen.

:Cueball: Oh. Uh...what about the rest of the year?
:Megan: What do you mean?
:Cueball: Any big news stories?
:Megan: Oh yeah, tons.

:[Megan looks off screen to her left.]

:Cueball: ...Well, that was ''2013: Year in Review.''
:Megan: The sky's clearing up. I'll be outside.
:[Megan walks off camera.]

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