explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2316: Hair Growth Rate

2020-06-06T11:57:48Z

162.158.154.121: /* Sound Effect Words */

Based on the rate at which I shed hair, mine must be growing at an above average rate or I'd be completely bald by now.
[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 19:23, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

Is this a Dr. Seuss reference? The [https://seuss.fandom.com/wiki/Zed Zed] "all have one strand of hair up on each of their heads, their hair grows very fast, so fast, people say that they need a haircut everyday" [[User:Usernaminator|Usernaminator]] ([[User talk:Usernaminator|talk]]) 21:18, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

So, anybody have some idea how is this related to covid? :-) -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 22:30, 5 June 2020 (UTC)
: The link is clearly that there are no open barbers now! (THIS IS A JOKE) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.80|162.158.155.80]] 22:54, 5 June 2020 (UTC)
: i was like omigod a normal xkcd they freed randall celebrate celebrate!!!! [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.52|108.162.216.52]] 22:38, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

Unrelated to the comic, but I just want to point out that (at least on my monitor), the kerning for "LIVES" in the new header is less than ideal. The "I" and the "V" blend together, looking like an "N" -- at least at the resolution displayed and the distance I view from -- so my mind reads "LNES" and fills in the missing "I" as "black lines matter." Which, for stick figures generally drawn in black on a white background is true, but....[[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.61|162.158.74.61]] 23:01, 5 June 2020 (UTC)

==Sound Effect Words==
*ZIIIP. A [https://www.google.com/search?q=%22ziiip%22+sound Google search] finds multiple uses of this sound.
*PWIFF. Off-topic. At [https://code.google.com/archive/p/pwiff/ Google Code Archive] ''pwiff'' is a library written in PHP that allows you to generate [https://www.google.com/search?q=swf+file SWF files].
*FWIP. At [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Fwip urban dictionary] ''fwip'' is a sound effect commonly used in [https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=BL BL manga].
*BLIP. At [https://www.google.com/search?q=blip Oxford Dictionaries] ''blip'' is a short high-pitched sound made by an electronic device.
*ZHOOOP. A [https://www.google.com/search?q=%22zhooop%22+sound Google search] finds multiple uses of this sound.
*PEW. At [https://www.google.com/search?q=pew+pew Oxford Dictionaries] ''pew pew'' is the sound made by a laser gun.
--[[User:JohnB|JohnB]] ([[User talk:JohnB|talk]]) 08:58, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
:...while PewPewPewPewPew is the sound of a clerical error, when you have far too much seating to comfortably fit inside the church and end up with zero leg-room. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 11:57, 6 June 2020 (UTC)

2312: mbmbam

2020-05-28T17:35:12Z

162.158.154.121:

{{comic
| number = 2312
| date = May 27, 2020
| title = mbmbam
| image = mbmbam.png
| titletext = Hello and welcome to Millibar Millibarn Attometer, an advice show for the Planck era.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by 10^-47 BROTHERS. Missing calculation details for third panel. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

In part, this comic is an homage to the referenced podcast, ''{{w|My Brother, My Brother, and Me}}'', which often features rapid garden-path conversations and puns and double entendres that are at once groan-worthy and delightfully witty. "MBMBAM" is an acryonym of "'''M'''y '''B'''rother, '''M'''y '''B'''rother, '''A'''nd '''M'''e".

The millibar is a metric unit of pressure (force per unit area), equal to a thousandth of a {{w|Bar (unit)|bar}}, or 100 {{w|Pascal_(unit)|Pa}}. It is slightly less than one-thousandth of sea-level atmospheric pressure on Earth.

The millibarn is a metric unit of area, equal to a thousandth of a {{w|Barn (unit)|barn}} (a humorously-named unit approximately equal to the cross-sectional area of a uranium nucleus), or 10^-31 m^2. Both units would theoretically have the symbol '''mb'''. Hence '''mbmb''' (the pressure unit multiplied by the area unit) would be a unit of force. This can be seen by applying dimensional analysis; pressure x area = (force/area) x area = force. Nobody in the comic strip discusses the magnitude of this force, but it would be 100 Pa x 10^-31 m^2 = 10^-29 newtons, or about the weight of an electron under Earth's gravity.

'''am''' would be the symbol of an {{w|Atto-|atto}}meter, or 10^-18 meters. Multiply that to create the unit '''mbmbam''', which would be a unit of energy. Specifically, it would be a unit of work: the energy expended to move an object. More dimensional analysis: force x distance = (work/distance) x distance = work. The actual value of 1 mbmbam is correctly calculated in the comic: 100 Pa x 10^-31 m^2 x 10^-18 m = 10^-47 joules. White Hat dubs this unit "one podcast".

The final panel is an extended series of puns: 'rise' referring to physically moving upward as well as biologically growing (expanding and becoming lighter and softer) as yeasts do; 'foam' referring to both {{w|quantum foam}} (the fluctuation of spacetime on very small scales due to quantum mechanics) as well as the foam generated by yeast fermenting; 'unleavened dimensions' punning on the eleven dimensions of spacetime in {{w|string theory}} (actually, ten—{{w|M theory}} says eleven), while continuing to play on the theme of yeast--in this case, the universe is presumably flat because some of its dimensions lack the Planck yeast that would make them rise.

The example used in the comic of lifting a yeast cell 1 Planck length is one of many possible examples of 1 mbmbam of work. (The {{w|Planck length}}, approximately 1.6×10^−35 m, is how far light travels in one unit of {{w|Planck time}}.) Another interpretation of 1 mbmbam would be the work necessary to pull two socially distancing (6 ft) COVID-19 {{w|Virus|virions}} apart by the thickness of a single strand of hair against the gravity they exert on each other.

The Planck Era (or {{w|Planck_units#Cosmology|Planck Epoch}}) referenced in the title text is the unimaginably short period covering the first 10^-43 s after the Big Bang, when energies were so high that the four fundamental forces were combined into one and ordinary subatomic particles didn't yet exist. It is unlikely there were advice shows during this era{{Citation needed}}, so this would likely be a modern nostalgia show for physicists. The title text is also a play on My Brother, My Brother and Me's tagline: ''An advice show for the modern era.''

==Transcript==

[Cueball, Megan, and White Hat are standing next to each other, talking. Megan has her hands raised to the side, in a shrugging gesture.]
:Megan: Odd how in physics "'''mb'''" is both millibars (pressure) and millibar'''n'''s (area).
:Megan: '''mbmb''' could mean millibar-millibarn, which is a unit of force, strangely.
:White Hat: Units are weird.

[Same scene - Megan is now checking her phone. White Hat is raising his right index finger.]
:Cueball: So what's '''mbmbam''', the My-Brother-My-Brother-And Me unit?
:Megan: Millibar-millibarn-attometer, I guess? That'd be a unit of energy. 10-47 Joules.
:White Hat: "One podcast"

[Same scene in a frameless panel. Megan holds her phone to her side. White Hat has his arms raised to the side, excited.]
:Cueball: 10-47 sounds small.
:Megan: Yeah, it's roughly the energy you'd need to lift one yeast cell by one Planck length in Earth's gravity.
:White Hat: Planck yeast!

[Same scene in a regular panel. Megan has put away her phone, and has her right index finger raised. White Hat has his hands balled into fists, frustrated.]
:Cueball: Doesn't Planck yeast rise on its own?
:Megan: Yeah, that's what makes quantum foam. But data suggests our universe is flat.
:Megan: String theory says it's because spacetime has unleavened dimensions.
:White Hat: ''...I hate you.''

{{comic discussion}}

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

Talk:2263: Cicadas

2020-02-18T13:47:22Z

162.158.154.121:

Okay, now that title text is an exceptional pun. Also, '''First'''. —[[User:Kazvorpal|Kazvorpal]] ([[User talk:Kazvorpal|talk]]) 22:51, 3 February 2020 (UTC)
:[[1258: First]] and [[269: TCMP]] to you too. ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:01, 4 February 2020 (UTC)

I just realized that there is a pun in every punchline, which I find oddly pleasing in this specific context. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.215|141.101.104.215]] 23:48, 3 February 2020 (UTC)

Randall said in an interview that he first makes the entire comic and only comes up with the title text shortly before publishing. So either he broke his own rule or the comic is not a buildup to the punch line in the title text. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 08:24, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
:Quite sure he got the title text first this time and found a way to make a comic that fitted it. But we will never know if he doesn't make a new interview. Would really like to see a link to that interview to add it to the explanation. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:01, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
::Sorry, I only know it from memory, from when I watched about 10 interviews with and talks by him in a day. :D And it was all YouTube recommendations and a few months old, so it's probably not even in my YouTube history anymore. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 22:50, 5 February 2020 (UTC)

I think the current explanation is sufficient and complete - I'd even go so far to remove the part about why there is a 17-year cycle since for the understanding of the comic it's totally irrelevant. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 10:48, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
:No that is very relevant. It is the reason why 17 seconds was chosen and very likely why Randall thinks these cicadas are so interesting that he ended up doing a comic on them. But I agree with the completeness. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:01, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
:: If it was 12 years instead it would be 12 seconds in the comic. Being prime or not doesn't matter at all neither for the comic nor the explanation. It's trivia at best. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 14:04, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
:::Twelve years wouldn't work for cicadas as it's not prime. 17 (or any other prime number of) seconds won't work either because a second is an arbitrary amount of time. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.6|162.158.159.6]] 14:28, 4 February 2020 (UTC)
::::And still it's not relevant for the comic. Look, I get your point but for the sake of understanding the comic it simply doesn't matter if it was 12, 17, 23 or 53 years. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 09:05, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
:::::However, the first question I asked myself when I read the first version of this explanation (without of an explanation of the 17 years), was: why is it 17 years? what weird kind of insect is that? I clicked the wiki link and found out. Therefore it is not necessary to put in here, but very interesting, and I assue finding out about the actual 17 years cicadas is the thing most people need an explanation with. Similar things are done for almost all comics. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 09:29, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
::::::Yeah, that this is done with many other explanations is quite frankly a problem I'm having with those explanations. If some specific knowledge is needed to understand the comic it's fine to include that in the explanation. But if it's not needed to understand then it is to be considered trivia at most. Your question "Why is it 17 years?" leads to the question "What is a prime number?" (I know this is a bad example since it's most likely common knowledge among those who visit this page or XKCD. But what if not?) which may lead to even more basic questions. My point is: Where do you stop? In my opinion a comic's explanation should provide the minimum information needed to explain the comic. Not less but also not more. If you want to know more about a specific "thing" in the comic's explanation just click the link. That's why we provide these links in the first place, isn't it? [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 10:32, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
:::::::I fought the same fight on some comics (e.g. [[2207: Math Work]], where the explanation became very tangential.) I personally prefer concise explanations as well, but it doesn't appear to be the current style of the explanations. Some seem to think: "More means better." - It's really tough to decide where explaining the comic ends and where "further reading" starts. In this comic the excursion on 17 year lifespans is (currently?) quite short, so I do not see it as problematic. Much "worse" is in my opinion the part guessing about the reason of experimenting with cicadas. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 11:24, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
::::::::I agree with Elektrizikekswerk and Lupo. The motivation for the wiki is to explain the comic and possibly help people locate and understand hidden jokes or hints. Non of this requires the information about why the Cicades have a 17 year lifecycle. It is however very interesting and nice to know (I didn't know either) which is in my mind precisely what a trivia section is for. The guessing on why the experiment is performed in the first place is completely unnecessary. In order to understand and appreciate the humour in the comic a simple "because that's what scientists do" would suffice. [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 11:34, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
:::::::::I added the section on prime numbered lifecycles, but I do agree, it is irrelevant to understanding the comic. It's a pretty cool fact, but it is cidada trivia at best. If it breaks the flow of the explanation at present, I'm happy for it to be moved or removed. [[User:Hawthorn|Hawthorn]] ([[User talk:Hawthorn|talk]]) 11:40, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
::::::::::Since there seems to be consesus I just removed the part about the "why did they do the research" and moved the part about the prime numbers to the trivia section. [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 11:56, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
:::::::::::I don't know if it's still Trivial enough to be in Trivia, but I expanded it to (best guess, and I think current) thinking on the background to the septendecenial insect. That the actual proposed mechanism/cause for the 17-year natural Cicada cannot really have anything to do with the fictional reason behind their roughly 31556952-times more frequent offspring (unless someone engineered the lab environment to express seasonal pulses in heat, surrogate root bichemistry, etc, at the faster rate to cue the more vastly more responsive experimental subjects) probably means it should ''stay'' in Trivia rather than form any kind of Explanation (beyond, as it already does, explaining that the original insect actually exists). Or can be reverted, to leave people wondering what the marvel of God Or Nature it is, until they decide to go and look it up themselves. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.117|162.158.158.117]] 19:39, 5 February 2020 (UTC)

::: (reduced the indenting) The process of evolution is that benefits happen '''not for any ultimate purpose''' but are randomly selected by environmental circumstances. If cicadas randomly reproduce on 1 or 2 or 3 or 5 or multiples of those numbers then it is more likely that their predators will be able to match that cycle and it will be less effective. So if the random changes in their maturity cycles happen to hit upon 13 or 17 then it is less likely that the predators will match that cycle. Therefore it becomes a more successful reproductive method and that's how it happens. The prime number is not a '''reason or cause''' of the 17 year cycle. It is a consequence that this particular random change in cycle provides ('''after the fact''') a better survival chance than any other cycle. This is an important distinction in understanding evolution. [[User:Rtanenbaum|Rtanenbaum]] ([[User talk:Rtanenbaum|talk]]) 20:20, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
::: (Yeah, sorry, +1 on indent aain.) Indeed, it's difficult to use the right language to get that point across, though. In my Trivia edit I put in the word "happenstance" at one point. An awkward word, but trying to make that point. Ditto demonstrating why 16 years is 'worse' (while mentioning just one reason why, e.g., 282,589,933−1 would be an impractical choice of Prime, too!). So DNA/etc that ''just happens to'' produce an effective counter-to-N (of external cues indicating another year has passed) before provoking a given stage of life transition is better when that N is 17 (or 13), and other Ns are less advantageous. They may well have arisen, but died out. (As did the 13-year Brood-21, IIRC, for whatever reason, maybe anthropogenic, at the end of the 19thC.) Not that we're entirely sure why 'better' (I would firmly side with it being likely related to predator and/or resource-competitor avoidance, with self-reinforcing temporal divergence from their relatives that chose a different frequency and/or offset, but there could be other advantages not observed), and the cicadas probably don't know or properly appreciate what {{w|Dayworld_(novel_series)|they're doing}}. Their ancestors definitely did not go "Hey, chaps, I've got a ''brilliant'' plan...", just before one of their kind decided to make his inaugural multi-year nap. But something happened, and a fascinating emergent behaviour resulted. Don't you just love the Universe, sometimes? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.118|141.101.98.118]] 22:56, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
::::The intendation gets pretty confusing with my reply below for a comment far above. Anyway, are you sure that 2⁸²⁵⁸⁹⁹³³-1 is a prime number? :D I couldn't even get an online "big number calculator" to just print out the number for me, especially not check for being prime. [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 23:06, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
:::::It actually is the {{w|Largest known prime number}} as of January 2020. It was discovered (according to the linked wiki article) in December 2018. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:40, 6 February 2020 (UTC)

:Why did you make an edit to replace "go so far to remove" with "go so far and remove"? [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 18:47, 5 February 2020 (UTC)
::Because I'm a dumb German and "to" just sounds wrong in my head ;) Reverted it again, thanks :) [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 09:13, 6 February 2020 (UTC)
:::The correct phrase you want is "go so far as to remove". :) You were missing the word "as". The phrase "go so far as" is very common. [[User:NiceGuy1|NiceGuy1]] ([[User talk:NiceGuy1|talk]]) 04:27, 16 February 2020 (UTC)

I used to listen to, a lot to R.E.M.'s 'Daysleeper' where they mention 'circadian rhytm' (at the end of the first verse) - that line I always overheard as 'cicadian rhytm' (the 'r' is disappearing)... wonder if this has something to do with the pun too? Or coincidence? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 13:47, 18 February 2020 (UTC)

Talk:1246: Pale Blue Dot

2020-02-15T21:47:00Z

162.158.154.121:

To call this a "simple call for funding for space exploration" completely misses the point of the Ba'al theology with which it is intertwined.

:I think it completely misses all the points of the comic. --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 11:44, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

:This comic makes philosophical claims that cannot be falsified. Randall can't be serious about the soul eater. That's so dark. Theology? Sort of. But quite undeveloped. More like mythology. Does make one wonder: Why is there ''really'' something rather than nothing? ''— [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)''

:Took at shot at adding something on this. (Long-time reader, first-time editor. Will create account at some point.) --[[Special:Contributions/173.13.203.241|173.13.203.241]] 14:58, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

:(I wrote the following this morning, before anyone else had made any Talk/Discussion points, but then rushed out without saving it properly. Probably now not relevent, but here you are anyway...)
:"This is a simple call for funding of space exploration."??? I'd say that (whatever Randall, and I, think about the importance of funding space research) it's more an affectionate parody of the "Consider this pale blue dot..." speech, which it subverts by suggesting that arguably the ''most'' intellectually interesting image of the planet is indistinguishable from a manufacturing error in a LCD array (presumably in a computer projector) ''or'' from the kind of photo you get when you don't take the lens-cap off of a digital camera. Or so my take on it, is... [[Special:Contributions/178.98.215.19|178.98.215.19]] 18:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)
::I did a deeper explain later, but Ba'an connects to this sentence. So that has to be explained, too. But in general you are correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)

I'm sure Randall is talking about Stargate and the character {{w|Ba'al_(Stargate)#Ba.27al|Ba'al (Stargate)}}. This even does make more sense on the last sentence at the title text. While we have two theories on this the comic is incomplete.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 17:05, 2 August 2013 (UTC)
: I disagree. I don't believe Ba'al from Stargate was ever called "Ba'al the Annihilator" or "Ba'al, the Eater of Souls". I think Randall's just making up it up. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 17:25, 2 August 2013 (UTC)
: I also disagree, though the description as stands is currently incorrect. "Ba'al" is not a specific deity in the Northwest Semitic pantheon, certainly not one "associated with demonic or otherwise evil forces", it's a title that had been used for several different deities. However the name is often included in Jewish and Christian demonology where it probably got its "evil" connotation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 18:30, 2 August 2013 (UTC)
::I absolutely disagree to you. Randall calls the US Congress for a higher budget, just to enhance our level on space technology. This really does not map to historical religions. And: Ba'an at Stargate is also a Lord. My two NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:19, 2 August 2013 (UTC)
::: My disagreement with your suggestion didn't owe anything to the objections I raised about the historicity of the term "Ba'al". I don't think that his reference was to any specific deity in any particular pantheon, fictional or otherwise. The whole point of the alt-text is an ironic context for the motivation for space exploration; Sagan especially was an advocate of space exploration for the sake of knowledge and human progress, so the quasi-religious/mystical and nihilistic mantra here is in stark contrast to that (expected) rationale for exploration, and I think it's fitting given the initial premise: the insignificance of Earth against the cosmos. I really don't see the clause "to join with Ba'al" having anything to do with 'leading humans to the same technology level Ba'al' since it assumes Ba'al is a technological entity which only stems from the Stargate interpretation. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 20:23, 2 August 2013 (UTC)
::: ^ +1. About Stargate, I can't claim to know what happens in season 9 and 10, but I've seen every episode in 1-8 and I've never seen him referred to as "Ba'al the Annihilator" or "Ba'al, Eater of Souls". I grant that the Ba'al from Stargate is a System Lord, and a pretty badass one, but how does that help you prove your point? If Randall was trying to allude to Stargate, I think it would be much more obvious, like "Lord Ba'al" or something. The name "Ba'al" has been present in mythology long before Stargate used it. [[Special:Contributions/76.64.65.200|76.64.65.200]] 01:21, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
::::"Annihilator" and "Eater of Souls" is an invention by Randall, it also does not really match to your mystics. Further more the last sentence of the title text is not about a god, it's about technology we do not have right now. OK, the very last sentence is: Thank you. My 1337 NASA budget cents.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 16:40, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
::::: It sounds like you are admitting that the only grounds for attributing the reference to Stargate is your interpretation of the penultimate sentence, which as I said before [your interpretation] only makes sense if you believe the reference is to Stargate. I don't find that very convincing. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 21:42, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
::::::First: Sign on here, so I can talk to you!
::::::Second: I do focus on science, like Randall does, looking for a NASA budget for real exploration.
::::::Randall is frustrated, like me, about the current funds and policies on space exploration.
::::::If you don't know {{w|Voyager program|Voyager}}, I can help. My 18 billions NASA budget hell.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:39, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
:::::::We are talking. Yes, I agree that Randall is an advocate for space exploration (though I don't think that's his point here) and I know all about the Voyager program, but I don't see how any of this makes your Stargate interpretation any more valid. [[Special:Contributions/69.28.44.231|69.28.44.231]] 23:24, 3 August 2013 (UTC)
::::::::God shave the Queen, I lost my cents. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:53, 3 August 2013 (UTC)

On a completely different track, as is often the case, the main text can work in a contemporary way, as well as with knowledge of the historical reference: In this case, the publication by NASA of shots of Earth from Saturn and Mercury, in a conscious homage to the original "blue spot" picture. Eg [http://www.space.com/22076-earth-photos-saturn-mercury-offer-perspective.html] --[[User:FractalgeekUK|FractalgeekUK]]
:Oh, yeah. I am sure Randall was inspired by this pictures.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:17, 3 August 2013 (UTC)

I have removed the last sentence again which refers to the author calling for the government of the United States of America to increase funding for their space program as part of the explanation of the comic. There is no such text in comic. Some editors of this page have insisted that the author has written this comic to propose or support policy change regarding actual funding for space exploration. Raising awareness for the subject of space exploration may be a motivator for the author to write this comic but I have not spoken with him on the matter and cannot claim to explain his motivations. Without any direct statement from the author regarding his intent I propose that discussion of the author's possible desire for increased spending on actual space exploration be contained here in the discussion page. The explanation as written clearly explains the information contained in the comic and the reader can make their own inference regarding the author's position on space exploration. {{unsigned|Mrarch}}

;"I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration..."
I did add the incomplete tag because this part of the title text still has to be explained.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:55, 10 December 2013 (UTC)

::This sentence is explained already. I will attempt clarify the explanation further. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:16, 10 December 2013 (UTC)

:::Now, as I suggested earlier, please let us resolve any additional concerns you have here before we make any further edits to the page. Please let me know if there is anything else you find unclear about the explanation and we can arrive at an agreement on if any more explanation is required. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:25, 10 December 2013 (UTC)
::::First, please do only one indent at each reply, reading is and editing is easier in that way. Second, please do not delete an incomplete tag while you do know other people disagree on this. Third: And that's my point, the Congress is the US-Congress, THANK YOU.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 22:34, 10 December 2013 (UTC)
:::::THANK YOU for the advice on indentation. I will in the future make sure to make my edits with ease of reading in mind. We can leave the entry incomplete if you insist. You will not be able to convince anyone by simple repetition of your opinion. Please provide the evidence that I have obviously missed in the comic which shows that the congress mentioned is not the congress of Mexico, Albania, Peru, Micronesia, Ecuador or Bolivia or any other country which has a congress. Please, if you are able, also provide evidence that the congress is not the congress of an imaginary country, organization, or planet. Finally maybe you can illustrate for me what part of the comic any of that information helps to clarify and why you feel the explanation is not complete. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 00:09, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
::::::Helping on indents again..., and [[Randall]] is a citizen of Albania??? YES??? NO, he is just annoyed about some things happen at the Unites States. And I will send this ''two cents'' to NASA, I'm sure Randall does like.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 01:21, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
:::::::The citizenship of the author does not determine the setting of any written work. Did you know that one of Shakespeare's most famous plays was set in Italy though he was a citizen of England? My point is that the specific congress and space program is left off the comic purposefully. I believe that the author would not specifically limit his desire for further space exploration to one nation and would welcome other nations funding space exploration. By not specifying the nationality of the speaker or the audience the comic is more inclusive. If the author was not specific in the comic than perhaps he was purposefully general. We would be '''interpreting''' the comic and not explaining the comic if we include any discussion of what nation to which he may be referring. That is why I proposed that you outline your '''interpretation''' that this is specific to NASA and The U.S., which is a perfectly valid '''interpretation''', in the discussion page. You have yet even attempted to explain why you feel the explanation is incomplete. Instead you have chosen to include some strange statement about sending coins to NASA and your belief that Randall would enjoy such a thing. I do not understand your point in this. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 18:32, 11 December 2013 (UTC)

;Since we will never come up to an end on this trolling
Any Idea? I don't know.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 01:21, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
:Again I am trying to have a legitimate discussion on this and you are trying to dismiss my efforts as "trolling". I do not appreciate your implications and will refer this matter to the admins if you continue. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 18:32, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
::I wanted to give this a day before I checked in again, but it seems things are going to go sour faster than that. Dgbrt, I already said that further offenses will be met with a short block, and you accuse Mrarch of trolling again. Have a day to cool off. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 18:39, 11 December 2013 (UTC)
Uhh, you both misunderstood me. I just did try to stop this meaningless discussion, but I'm sorry, the words I did choose were not proper. And an other strange thing is that nobody else does participate this discussion. The major question is still: Is Randall talking about NASA fundings or not? ''"I therefore call on Congress to fully fund space exploration, and to join with Ba'al, the Eater of Souls. Thank you."'' My 2ct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:59, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
:Its clear that you are not even reading my posts. In order to end what is surely a meaningless discussion if you will not participate I have edited the explanation to be as clear as I can make it. The comic is purposefully general and so am I. I believe that our discussion here presents the matter of specificity in the forum that is most appropriate. If you feel you need to add something about NASA and the U.S. congress it will be to the detriment of the explanation. I will ask that if you do please use the phrase "may be referring to" which is often used in English to show consideration for the value of other interpretations. I will review what you edit and may revise for clarity as you have said that you are not a native English speaker. Then you may remove the incomplete tag whenever you feel ready. [[User:Mrarch|Mrarch]] ([[User talk:Mrarch|talk]]) 21:28, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
::No MEGA discussion again. My point is Randall calls for more funds for NASA, you disagree. And I really did read your posts.
::We are still not on a war (don't like that), even when you did force the ban of my account. I just want to get the explain correct.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 23:04, 12 December 2013 (UTC)
:::Dgbrt, no one forced you to exhibit the behavior that got you banned. You chose to continue to unjustifiably accuse Mrarch of trolling even after a warning had been issued, and you continued to focus the discussion on the conflict instead of the subject matter being discussed. Also, Mrarch raises a valid concern; he has said multiple times that the comic never specifies the US, which you have yet to address in any substantial matter. As for the lack of involvement from other editors, editors will choose to participate in the discussions that interest them; I fully intended on ignoring this discussion, and would have continued to do so if the argument had not turned personal fast. I would advise that you attempt to keep discussion civil if you wish to avoid a longer block. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 00:08, 13 December 2013 (UTC)
::::Please read my posts: I did use a word like SORRY, that was honest. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 00:58, 13 December 2013 (UTC)

Should someone also write something about what a "Lens Cap Picture" is?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.104|108.162.2

/* Referencing Ba'al as the eater of souls may be a reference to the lost gate by orsan scott card. */ [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.58|108.162.219.58]] 15:50, 26 August 2016 (UTC)

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51491471 NASA 're-masters' classic Pale Blue Dot image of Earth] - or else they just finally RTBed the display with the dead(/hot) pixel... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 21:47, 15 February 2020 (UTC)

Talk:2015: New Phone Thread

2018-07-04T11:20:58Z

162.158.154.121: Cumment on the story.

I feel the explanation could possibly give a sample text of what the person is actually trying to say [[Special:Contributions/172.68.46.113|172.68.46.113]] 05:13, 4 July 2018 (UTC)Innertuber40

I have an alternate interpretation: The first thing I thought this comic was about is all the people who are typing on phones and the messages actually sent contain weird words any typos because of the phone's autocorrection feature (or swipe keyboards which are accurate most of the time but error prone nevertheless). So this particular phone actually is sending what the user is writing (or wants to write) and does not change the message. Examples: http://barabare.blogspot.com/2011/05/funny-phone-t9-typo-errors.html [edit:] I mean, this goes so far that occasionally on online forums you see people with the message "Writing from phone, message may contaion errors. Sorry" or something like that in their signature. So a phone that actually writes what you are typing (or what you thought you were typing) might actually be a good thing. Cueball is just astonished that his new phone does exactly that. [edit2:] But then again, some of the messages in the comic really indicate in the direction the current explanantion is going. So, nevermind :) [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 07:30, 4 July 2018 (UTC)
:When I read it I also had that idea (being impressed by accurate typing) but it seemed too odd so I came to explain xkcd to look it up. I'm not convinced of either explanation at this point. For the current explanation (that the phone is autocorrecting to say spam) one would expect there to be a phone in the news doing something like that. This could be a hyperbole version of a phone is doing inserting product names like with BlackBerry expanding the acronym BB to their name on some phones. But I haven't heard of that anywhere and blackberry is not news. If someone knows of a current phone this behaviour is referencing please post a link? Thanks, rusl[[Special:Contributions/108.162.246.113|108.162.246.113]] 07:48, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

Putting the "artifice" into "artificial intelligence". I too didn't understand the strip at first... briefly considered reading it from bottom to top. Now I agree that the user's phone is censoring and rewriting everything, and we're seeing the censored version. Another real world reference: a forum where your posts are blocked without telling you; you see your posts in place but no one else does. I've used forums where some imbecile moderator blocked me that way from spite... of course THIS site's moderators wouldn't do that! (You don't like words in capital letters?? Uhoh.) Robert Carnegie rja.carnegie@excite.com [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 11:20, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

== possibly connected to just announced Google "Smart Replies"? ==

Google lately announced new function to their keyboard on Android: reading messages on others communicator (like Facebook Messanger) and suggesting several short replies to choose from. It might be connected. pm7 [[Special:Contributions/162.158.88.140|162.158.88.140]] 10:24, 4 July 2018 (UTC)
:I suspect that it's rather referencing the recent case of phones clandestinely sending random gallery images to ppl in the addressbook.[[Special:Contributions/141.101.96.196|141.101.96.196]] 11:20, 4 July 2018 (UTC)

2006: Customer Rewards

2018-06-13T15:42:47Z

162.158.154.121: its not a book /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2006
| date = June 13, 2018
| title = Customer Rewards
| image = customer_rewards.png
| titletext = We'll pay you $1.47 to post on social media about our products, $2.05 to mention it in any group chats you're in, and 11 cents per passenger each time you drive your office carpool past one of our billboards.
}}

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

Many supermarkets offer customers “{{w|Loyalty programs}}” that give discounts. To join one of these programs you often need to give various personal data, such as your name, or download an app that can access your facebook account. The supermarket gets lots of valuable marketing data, and this is why it is able to offer a discount to members of the program.

This comic imagines the exchange of data for a discount as the store clerk offering cash at the point of sale, to emphasise how odd this exchange is. The title text continues this by considering how companies will also find ways to incentivise positive viral marketing or offer services in exchange for viewing adverts. By imagining these situations as if they were cash transactions makes them seem ridiculous.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Cueball with a baseball hat and curball with no hat are standing opposite over a sales desk.]
:Cueball with hat: That will be $23.03.
:Cueball with hat: Also, I will pay you 24 cents for your last name, 35 cents for a list of your family members, 79 cents for your cell number, and $1.20 if you let me have you phone and scroll through your facebook posts.

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Loyalty cards and rewards account offers get way weirder if you think of them as separate transactions.
{{comic discussion}}

2006: Customer Rewards

2018-06-13T15:42:03Z

162.158.154.121: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2006
| date = June 13, 2018
| title = Customer Rewards
| image = customer_rewards.png
| titletext = We'll pay you $1.47 to post on social media about our products, $2.05 to mention it in any group chats you're in, and 11 cents per passenger each time you drive your office carpool past one of our billboards.
}}

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

Many supermarkets offer customers “{{w|Loyalty programs}}” that give discounts. To join one of these programs you often need to give various personal data, such as your name, or download an app that can access your facebook account. The supermarket gets lots of valuable marketing data, and this is why it is able to offer a discount to members of the program.

This comic book imagines the exchange of data for a discount as the store clerk offering cash at the point of sale, to emphasise how odd this exchange is. The title text continues this by considering how companies will also find ways to incentivise positive viral marketing or offer services in exchange for viewing adverts. By imagining these situations as if they were cash transactions makes them seem ridiculous.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[Cueball with a baseball hat and curball with no hat are standing opposite over a sales desk.]
:Cueball with hat: That will be $23.03.
:Cueball with hat: Also, I will pay you 24 cents for your last name, 35 cents for a list of your family members, 79 cents for your cell number, and $1.20 if you let me have you phone and scroll through your facebook posts.

:[Caption below the panel:]
:Loyalty cards and rewards account offers get way weirder if you think of them as separate transactions.
{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1967: Violin Plots

2018-03-15T02:59:35Z

162.158.154.121: A horrible horrible joke.

Wow, a new low for Randall. [[Special:Contributions/198.41.238.70|198.41.238.70]] 10:44, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
:For someone from the other side of the globe this looks like a new high... (posted after I could stop laughing)[[Special:Contributions/172.68.51.10|172.68.51.10]] 11:12, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
::Yes it has been way too long since he last made one of these :D See for instance [[136: Science Fair]], and of course alle these categories: [[:Category:Penis|Penis]], [[:Category:Fleshlights|Fleshlights]] and generally just [[:Category:Sex|Sex]].--[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:21, 14 March 2018 (UTC)
:So you're saying... Randall went down on this one? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 02:59, 15 March 2018 (UTC)

Wonder if Friday's comic (or maybe already a tomorrow Thursday release) will be about the as of today late {{w|Stephen Hawking}}? I hope so considering Randall's earlier [[:Category:Tribute|Tributes]]. Just got a Facebook reminder yesterday that it was three years ago the he posted this comic (and I posted it on Facebook): [[1498: Terry Pratchett]]. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 14:24, 14 March 2018 (UTC)

Is it a coincidence that the Pi day comic refers to Pie Charts? Probably [[User:Kev|Kev]] ([[User talk:Kev|talk]]) 14:32, 14 March 2018 (UTC)

Talk:1884: Ringer Volume/Media Volume

2017-09-02T11:00:18Z

162.158.154.121:

So, is this about the volume buttons controlling all aspects of volume on the phone, and it being difficult to control sometimes (a lot!)? ~Chris {{unsigned ip|108.162.245.220}}
:Yes, but it's strange because the default action of the volume control should be the ''main volume'' and NOT the ''ring tone volume''. Nevertheless a video advertisement is often much louder than the movie where it is embedded. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 14:50, 1 September 2017 (UTC)
Protip: on Android when loading a youtube video, lock your phone and then unlock it. The video will then start paused, allowing you to adjust volume and then press play.[[Special:Contributions/172.68.206.4|172.68.206.4]] 15:06, 1 September 2017 (UTC)

On my Android phone, pressing either volume key results in the ringer volume slider appearing at the top of the screen. To its right is a downward-pointing caret. Pressing that caret adds sliders for media and alarm volumes. These can be moved using the touchscreen or the user can tap to select one to adjust and use the volume keys. [[User:D5xtgr|D5xtgr]] ([[User talk:D5xtgr|talk]]) 16:23, 1 September 2017 (UTC)
: These didn't exist in Android Lollipop, and were presumably added in Marshmallow [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.34|108.162.245.34]] 06:57, 2 September 2017 (UTC)

Don't understand this comic at all... why would you frantically turn your volume up and down like that in the seconds before a video starts? Do other people do this?? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.69.81|141.101.69.81]] 16:24, 1 September 2017 (UTC)
:People aren't intentionally doing that. The viewer is trying to turn down the media volume; however, Android defaults to those buttons adjusting the volume for incoming calls, which people usually leave maxed. The viewer is accidentally decreasing the incoming call volume, but only wants the media volume turned down. [[User:Mulan15262|Mulan15262]] ([[User talk:Mulan15262|talk]]) 00:46, 2 September 2017 (UTC)

Here's my understanding (though I don't have a smart phone and don't have first hand experience): The user has selected the video to start, it is about to begin (loading), and the user wants to turn down the volume on the video, but instead mistakenly turns down the volume on the ringer. Once noticing their mistake, they restore the volume to its original state and try again. Only to fail again. They repeat this cycle again, until the video finishes loading and catches them on the upswing. I believe once the video is loaded the volume controls on the side switch functions from ringer to media. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.238|108.162.216.238]] 16:36, 1 September 2017 (UTC)

Addressing '''"Interestingly, some earlier versions of Windows allow adjusting volume on per-program basis using a single on-screen control. This feature was eventually removed as it was deemed to confusing to users."''', I use Windows 10 on my laptop, and I can right click on the sound manager, open volume mixer, and that allows me to adjust the volume of each active program. So I'm pretty sure this line is incorrect, as it is still a feature. (Alan)
: I think that line is supposed to refer to the quick volume control, rather than the full mixer.

On iPhones, there is an option to have the buttons always control media volume, even when there is no media playing. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.79.119|162.158.79.119]] 19:11, 1 September 2017 (UTC)

The title texts idea of using this phenomena to bring advertisement also in other rooms, reminds me a little of the clever PR idea of Burger King. They asked Google in their TV-spot, what a Whopper is. And since a lot of people have an active Google speaker next to their TV-set, Google started answering with the first lines of the Wikipedia article about the Whopper. Coincidentally somebody has edited the Wiki-article about the Whopper a few days before, so that it sounds much more like advertisement. Mario

My Android phone doesn't behave like that, although I wish it did. If you press the volume buttons before a video starts, and immediately after while the onscreen volume is still visible, it ''continues to adjust the ringer volume''. This fixes the behavior in the comic, kind of, but it means that I ''still'' can't easily adjust the volume even after the video starts. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.111.109|162.158.111.109]] 10:57, 2 September 2017 (UTC)

Per-application volume mixer was new in Windows Vista; XP and previous versions only had the system-wide volume control. --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.121|162.158.154.121]] 11:00, 2 September 2017 (UTC)

984: Space Launch System

2017-02-19T06:10:29Z

162.158.154.121: /* Explanation */ Grammar and Spelling

{{comic
| number = 984
| date = November 30, 2011
| title = Space Launch System
| image = space_launch_system.png
| titletext = The SLS head engineer plans to invite Shania Twain to stand under the completed prototype, then tell her, 'I don't expect you to date me just because I'm a rocket scientist, but you've gotta admit--this is pretty fucking impressive.'
}}

==Explanation==
SLS, which stands for {{w|Space Launch System}} is the new launch program being designed by {{w|NASA}} to replace the retired {{w|Space Shuttle}} launch system. In the first frame, [[Cueball]] is showing [[Black Hat]] something about the SLS, possibly a video on his phone or other portable electronic device.

As usual with his appearances, Black Hat is causing trouble. Here Black Hat would appear to be telling the truth because {{w|Nazi}} scientists like {{w|Wernher von Braun}}, who was one of the developers of the {{w|Saturn V}} launch vehicle, came over to America (from {{w|Germany}}) and helped develop NASA's space program.

Black Hat's assumption in the last frame is obviously a bridge too far (which is where the joke is in the comic), but he gets his desired reaction out of Cueball, who is hanging his head (or staring him down- [[Randall]] has left no details to distinguish). First he makes it clear that the lesson is that you should put the Nazis in charge (and we saw from world war two what that could lead to.) Then when Cueball thinks this is a terrible lesson, he puts salt in to his wound, by suggesting that the only way find a better lesson, is to ask a Nazi for a better one - a consistent move if you apply his lesson, but a logic bomb because he suggests to put a Nazi in charge of finding another lesson other than "put a nazi in charge".

{{w|Shania Twain}} comes into this comic in the title text because in her song "{{w|That Don't Impress Me Much}}", she sings: "Okay, so you're a rocket scientist / That don't impress me much". But, the title text argues that if she stood under the new SLS prototype, she would admit it was in fact, impressive. And it is thus the SLS head engineers plan to invite Shania to do just that. Although he could still understand if she did not wish to date him, but he would be surprised if she was still unimpressed.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball, is holding something up to show it to Black Hat. It is small and rectangular with a black line in the middle (possible a rocket).]
:Cueball: Check out the SLS — 130 tons to orbit. Finally, rockets that improve on the ones we had 40 years ago.
:Black Hat: Are we getting Nazis to build those ones, too?

:[Text is written between two frames, with two smaller frames below. A line comes up to Cueballs first comment, showing that it is still the two from the first frame talking, but off-panel.]
:Cueball (off-panel): What?
:Black Hat (off-panel): When we first captured von Braun and his team, we had our engineers interview them, then ''we'' built the rockets.
:Black Hat (off-panel): But our rockets kept exploding.
:[First small panel below the above text: A soldier with helmet and a machine gun is guarding von Braun who is tied to a chair, while being interviewed by an almost bald scientist (hair along the back of his head), who takes notes on a piece of paper.]
:[Second small panel below the above text: The same scientist standing with the paper, watches as a launching rocket explodes. The landscape behind shows a hill.]

:[A black frame with white text above the white Saturn V rocket flying through space.]
:Black Hat (off-panel): Eventually we gave up and had the German teams do it, and they built us the Saturn V Moon rocket.

:[Cueball is looking down, his hand with the thing he showed to Black Hat in the first panel hanging down. Black Hat looks at Cueball.]
:Cueball: I'm… not sure what lesson to take from that.
:Black Hat: "If you want something done right, learning from the Nazis isn't enough. You have to actually put them in charge."
:Cueball: That's a ''terrible'' lesson.
:Black Hat: Then I guess you should get a Nazi to come up with a better one.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics with inverted brightness]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Space]]