1835: Random Obsessions

2017-05-12T06:06:14Z

162.158.46.46: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1835
| date = May 10, 2017
| title = Random Obsessions
| image = random obsessions.png
| titletext = I take the view that "open-faced sandwiches" are not sandwiches, but all other physical objects are.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page, what sandwich debate? What is "bacon" referring to?}}

This comic is formatted as a graph showing various internet trends over the years. The caption states that these "random obsessions," as stated in the title, have 9-10 year cycles, and so predicts that the sandwich debate will be over by around 2024.

Discussion about the definition of a sandwich is common on the web, like "Is hot dog a sandwich?" (See this [https://www.reddit.com/r/Sandwiches/comments/6587ub/what_is_a_sandwich_debate/ discussion] on Reddit)

The title text a joke on the debate over the definition of a sandwich, first starting with a common topic in the said debate - whether or not open-faced sandwiches are, in fact, sandwiches - and makes an absurd argument by stating that "I," presumably Randall Munroe, believes that open-faced sandwiches are the only physical objects that would not be considered sandwiches.

The other obsessions mentioned are, in order: robot monkeys, pirates vs ninjas, zombies, and bacon.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:1830: ISS Solar Transit 2

2017-04-29T08:46:47Z

162.158.46.46:

Gees Randal, that's actually really dark.

Attempted explaining. It is not real, ... I hope {{[[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.250|108.162.229.250]] 05:03, 28 April 2017 (UTC)}}

costs would be astronomical. I see what you did there and I approve. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.118|162.158.92.118]] 07:23, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

:astronomical, good joke [[Special:Contributions/141.101.105.216|141.101.105.216]] 09:35, 28 April 2017 (UTC)
: +1 [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 11:28, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

:Yeah, I was amused by that too. But looks like someone removed it. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.154.109|162.158.154.109]] 17:06, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

Have to disagree on the Pink Floyd joke. I don't see it. [[User:Xseo|Xseo]] ([[User talk:Xseo|talk]]) 11:43, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

The diameter of the sun is 864,575.9 mi. In the first panel the ISS is about that far away. Second panel is about halfway, so 432,287.95 miles. According to [http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-07/how-close-could-person-get-sun-and-survive Popular Science], the ISS could probably make it to just over a million miles away before burning up (seeing as how the shuttle could make it ~1.3 million and I think the ISS has more protection), the "fwoosh" should be in the first panel. And in any matter, the sound effect should be a "sploosh" sound with the splashing visuals. [[User:OldCorps|OldCorps]] ([[User talk:OldCorps|talk]]) 13:22, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

If the impact were to really happen as shown, then one of two things must be true, either:
1) The ISS is really really large (eyeballing it as about 4x the size of the Earth vs. the size of the Sun as shown) or
2) The Sun is really smaller than we think and as close as the ISS's orbit.
In either case, the ISS would be likely to survive entry into the Sun's surface. If the former is true, this also makes replacing it twice a month all the more impressive. Go NASA!.[[User:Harodotus|Harodotus]] ([[User talk:Harodotus|talk]]) 16:48, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

:Obviously, the Sun is really smaller and as close as the ISS's orbit and it orbits Earth which is flat and in the center of Universe as Bible says. What else would you expect from the conspiracy theory? -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 22:12, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

Anyone want to try explaining limb darkening (as drawn in the comic)? [[Special:Contributions/198.41.238.40|198.41.238.40]] 18:28, 28 April 2017 (UTC)

Is there a reason Randall has done two IIS Solar Transit comics this week? Are these transits rare and one is happening around now or something? --[[User:Pascal|Pascal]] ([[User talk:Pascal|talk]]) 01:14, 29 April 2017 (UTC)

Please recalculate the speed of ISS with an orbital distance of 1 AU. Then the fwoosh could be realistic to be in the third panel and to be as large as depicted? Sebastian --[[Special:Contributions/172.68.110.82|172.68.110.82]] 07:26, 29 April 2017 (UTC)

Maybe we should put the astronomical joke back? It's not too bad. <[[Special:Contributions/162.158.46.46|162.158.46.46]] 08:46, 29 April 2017 (UTC)>

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1835: Random Obsessions

Talk:1830: ISS Solar Transit 2