explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2293: RIP John Conway

2020-04-13T17:49:55Z

172.69.68.175: This is really impressive.

This is really very impressive. The design of the stick figure to allow it to release a glider that ascends upwards (the "soul" rising to "heaven" or whatever) with the body decaying - that's a hard thing to get right using just the Game of Life rules. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.68.175|172.69.68.175]] 17:49, 13 April 2020 (UTC)

2293: RIP John Conway

2020-04-13T17:47:41Z

172.69.68.175:

{{comic
| number = 2293
| date = April 13, 2020
| title = RIP John Conway
| image = rip_john_conway.gif
| titletext = 1937-2020
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a GLIDER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
{{w|John Horton Conway|John Conway}}, an English mathematician, passed away of {{w|COVID-19}} two days before this comic's release. One of his most famous creations was {{w|Conway's Game of Life}}, which consists of an infinite square grid and rules of how it changes over time. Although the rules are simple, the system supports immense complexity. This comic begins with the shape of a stick figure as the starting configuration, which then evolves according to the rules of the Game of Life.

John Horton Conway was an English mathematician who, among other mathematics studies, created The Game of Life - an automation that, given an initial set of cells in a grid, will create a pattern based on preexisting rules. The core rules are quite simple, but can lead to fairly complex patterns that can move, split apart, and other characteristics of living objects.

This pattern breaks into three parts, two of which stay at the same level as the original figure's feet before rapidly melting away, and a third (called a "glider") that ascends up and to the right. Randall may be suggesting a soul breaking apart from the rapidly disintegrating corporeal remains here.

Conway passed away on April 11, 2020 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. As such, Monroe created this memorial comic of a stick figure fading away, which obeys the rules of the Game of Life.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[A pixelated image of a stick figure. The image is animated, and soon splits into two groups, one of which dissipates. The other becomes a glider and moves off to the top-right corner of the image before repeating the animation. The movements obey Conway's Game of Life]

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Tribute]]

2293: RIP John Conway

2020-04-13T17:45:48Z

172.69.68.175: /* Explanation */ Added that the flying shape is a glider.

{{comic
| number = 2293
| date = April 13, 2020
| title = RIP John Conway
| image = rip_john_conway.gif
| titletext = 1937-2020
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a GLIDER. Please mention here why this explanation isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
{{w|John Horton Conway|John Conway}}, an English mathematician, passed away of {{w|COVID-19}} two days before this comic's release. One of his most famous creations was {{w|Conway's Game of Life}}, which consists of an infinite square grid and rules of how it changes over time. This comic begins with the shape of a stick figure as the starting configuration, which then evolves according to the rules of the Game of Life.

John Horton Conway was an English mathematician who, among other mathematics studies, created The Game of Life - an automation that, given an initial set of cells in a grid, will create a pattern based on preexisting rules. The core rules are quite simple, but can lead to fairly complex patterns that can move, split apart, and other characteristics of living objects.

This pattern breaks into three parts, two of which stay at the same level as the original figure's feet before rapidly melting away, and a third (called a "glider") that ascends up and to the right. Randall may be suggesting a soul breaking apart from the rapidly disintegrating corporeal remains here.

Conway passed away on April 11, 2020 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. As such, Monroe created this memorial comic of a stick figure fading away, which obeys the rules of the Game of Life.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
:[A pixelated image of a stick figure. The image is animated, and soon splits into two groups, one of which dissipates. The other becomes a glider and moves off to the top-right corner of the image before repeating the animation. The movements obey Conway's Game of Life]

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Tribute]]

2290: Homemade Masks

2020-04-08T17:31:42Z

172.69.68.175: restore "in a row"; if the previous comic articles in this series have it, so should this one

{{comic
| number = 2290
| date = April 6, 2020
| title = Homemade Masks
| image = homemade_masks.png
| titletext = I'm going to change the sign so the pole is horizontal and the sign is mounted on the front like a plunger, so I can carry it around like a lance to gently push people back if they try to approach.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a HOMEMADE MASK. Should include refs on why masks are good or bad. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is the 15th comic in a row (not counting the [[2288: Collector's Edition|April Fools' comic]]) in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|2019–20 coronavirus outbreak|2020 pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus}} {{w|SARS-CoV-2}}, which causes {{w|COVID-19}}.

In this comic, Cueball wonders if Megan's homemade {{w|Dust mask|mask}} will be of any use, because he has seen many different points of view and is unsure which one is correct. It is generally agreed that homemade masks will not block particles (including droplets which carry viruses) as effectively as officially-tested {{w|N95 mask|N95-class masks}} or {{w|surgical mask}}s, and possibly confer no benefit at all; however, wearing a homemade mask may reduce contagiousness if the ''wearer'' is infected, by blocking droplets from being expelled. It may also make the wearer less likely to touch his or her face (which is a major vector for catching COVID-19 from contaminated surfaces). On the other hand, there are concerns that it may confer a false sense of security, leading to unsafe behaviors, and that the warm, moist environment produced by the wearer's breath may also ''harbor'' incoming viruses, which may later infect the wearer if the mask is not washed frequently.

Megan replies that she originally carried a sign warning people to keep their distance, but people needed to get close to her to read it, making it counterproductive. The implication is that Megan's primary purpose in wearing the mask is to signal to other people that's she's concerned about spreading COVID-19, and remind them to keep their distance. Whether or not the mask has any direct benefits in blocking virus transmission, Megan apparently feels that the social impact of seeing someone in a face mask is likely to change behaviors, making transmission less likely.

The title text indicates an alternate method, where Megan could change the sign into a device for pushing people back in order to maintain distance. Holding the sign out in front of her (instead of over her head) would also let people get close to the sign to read it, without getting in her face.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball stands at a distance from Megan, who is wearing a face mask]
:Cueball: Homemade mask, huh? You think they help?
:Cueball: I've read so many conflicting things.

:[Flashback to when Megan was not wearing a mask but carrying a large sign, with Cueball and Ponytail approaching her from both sides. It is not possible to read what is on the sign. Masked Megan is pictured in an inset panel.]
:Megan (narrating): Well, what I was doing before was carrying around a big sign that said "There's a pandemic so please give me space because I don't want to get sick or make anyone else sick!"

:[Same as first panel]
:Megan: The problem was, I had to write small to fit, so people kept walking closer to read it.
:Cueball: Oops.
:Megan: Yeah, the mask gets it across better.

== Trivia ==
* Cueball has previously encountered signs that are so interesting that they lead people into peril in [[356: Nerd Sniping]], although in that comic strip, [[Black Hat]] was specifically designing his signs with the intent to cause harm.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:COVID-19]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

2290: Homemade Masks

2020-04-07T16:40:24Z

172.69.68.175: verbiage from previous comic article

{{comic
| number = 2290
| date = April 7, 2020
| title = Homemade Masks
| image = homemade_masks.png
| titletext = I'm going to change the sign so the pole is horizontal and the sign is mounted on the front like a plunger, so I can carry it around like a lance to gently push people back if they try to approach.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a HOMEMADE MASK. Should include refs on why masks are good or bad. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is the 15th comic in a row (not counting the [[2288: Collector's Edition|April Fools' comic]]) in a [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] related to the {{w|2019–20 coronavirus outbreak|2020 pandemic}} of the {{w|coronavirus}} {{w|SARS-CoV-2}}, which causes {{w|COVID-19}}.

In this comic, Cueball wonders if Megan's mask will be of any use, because he has seen many different points of view and is unsure which one is correct. It is generally agreed that homemade masks will not block particles (including droplets which carry viruses) as effectively as officially-tested N95-class masks, and possibly confer no benefit at all; however, wearing a homemade mask may reduce contagiousness if the ''wearer'' is infected, by blocking droplets from being expelled. It may also make the wearer less likely to touch his or her face (which is a major vector for catching COVID-19 from contaminated surfaces). On the other hand, there are concerns that it may confer a false sense of security, leading to unsafe behaviors, and the warm, moist environment produced by the wearer's breath may also ''harbor'' incoming viruses, which may later infect the wearer if the mask is not washed frequently.

Megan replies that she originally carried a sign warning people to keep their distance, but people needed to get close to her to read it, making it counterproductive. The implication is that Megan's primary purpose in wearing the mask is to signal to other people that's she's concerned about spreading COVID-19, and remind them to keep their distance. Whether or not the mask has any direct benefits in blocking virus transmission, Megan apparently feels that the social impact of seeing someone in a face mask is likely to change behaviors, making transmission less likely.

The title text indicates an alternate method, where Megan could change the sign into a device for pushing people back in order to maintain distance. Readers should be advised that anyone who actually does this could be charged with assault.

Cueball has previously encountered signs that are so interesting that they lead people into peril in [[356: Nerd Sniping]], although in that comic strip, [[Black Hat]] was specifically designing his signs with the intent to cause harm.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
[Cueball stands at a distance from Megan, who is wearing a face mask]
:Cueball: Homemade mask, huh? You think they help?
:Cueball: I've read so many conflicting things.
[Flashback to when Megan was not wearing a mask but carrying a sign, with 2 people around her. We can't read what's on the sign. Masked Megan is pictured in an inset panel.]
:Megan (narrating): Well, what I was doing before was carrying around a big sign that said "There's a pandemic so please give me space because I don't want to get sick or make anyone else sick!"
[Same as first panel]
:Megan: The problem was, I had to write small to fit, so people kept walking closer to read it.
:Cueball: Oops.
:Megan: Yeah, the mask gets it across better.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:COVID-19]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]