explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1518: Typical Morning Routine

2015-04-29T16:43:07Z

199.27.128.211: /* Air Vent */ Fixed typo in my previous comment.

If he has hair, shouldn't he be called Hairy by definition?
Sidenote: Did I really just use the word whence?[[Special:Contributions/199.27.130.228|199.27.130.228]] 05:57, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

Added first draft for the transcript. This is my first edit here, so feel free to clean it up. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.158|173.245.56.158]] 06:02, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I think that this is still Cueball because his hair isn't a different colour to his head. The only reason we can see it is because it's bed hair, and he hasn't combed it down yet. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.172|141.101.98.172]] 06:06, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:It is not [[Cueball]] when he has hair. It is not hair enough to call him [[Hairy]]. He has obviously still hair in the last panel, where it is less morning hair, and it is now clearly black (as Hairys). But there is too little air for it to be Hairy in my opinion. However, if it should be either of the two it would be Hairy. Makes no sense to call a guy with hair (any hair) Cueball. I have removed all reference to Cueball and the hairy category that was also added. Since we do not know who is lying beside him, we cannot even use this to say anything about him. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:27, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
::Someone has changed it to Hairy. See further comment below. So lets call him that. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:44, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I don't see how this comic is about <strike>sarcasm</strike> or language. It ''contains'' language, but it isn't ''about'' language.<br>'''Update''': Oh, right, the title text ends with a sarcastic comment.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.158|173.245.56.158]] 06:17, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I think that the character should be [[Hairy]], as the name is "used by xkcd explainers to describe male characters with hair and no other distinguishing features."--[[User:17jiangz1|17jiangz1]] ([[User talk:17jiangz1|talk]]) 07:31, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Well then lets call him Hairy then - see discussion above though... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:44, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I would like to be the first to point out similarities between this comic and [[349: Success]]. He starts with hitting snooze (easy) then needs to switch applications (not really worse yet, bear with me), remove battery (losing whatever is unsaved in RAM), bricking the phone (losing it, though maybe just until he has time to reinstall the OS) and finally is willing to fill the flat with mercury vapours (which is a major health hazard). [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.136|141.101.104.136]] 11:32, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I am not so sure that metallic mercury is "extremely toxic"; of course, some mercury-containing compounds are. "Extremely expensive"? Yes, compared to what one usually throws into an air vent, but many metals are far more expensive per kg than mercury.
[[User:Jkrstrt|Jkrstrt]] ([[User talk:Jkrstrt|talk]]) 15:15, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:For sure, but in the amounts they would need it would be quite an expense, not to say heavy burden to get back home with. The vapours from the mercury would be flowing into the apartment from the vent and it is not something you wish to get inside. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 16:00, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

== Air Vent ==

Is having an air vent in your floor something common? o.o [[User:Pinkishu|Pinkishu]] ([[User talk:Pinkishu|talk]]) 09:28, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Yes, but I had the same question. See wiki links in the updated explanation. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:21, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

Also, pouring water in the vent will short-circuit the smart-phone which gives us the same result as bricking a smart-phone. [[User:SirKitKat|sirKitKat]] ([[User talk:SirKitKat|talk]]) 09:55, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:I also though of that and added it. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:21, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Adding enough water to drown the speaker should drown the noise? [[User:Puggan|Puggan]] ([[User talk:Puggan|talk]]) 12:43, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

:And pouring mercury will dissolve some of the metals in the phone. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.94|141.101.104.94]] 10:01, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
::Not necessarily if it actually floats on-top. But I'm questioning if a smartphone lies flat on a surface, would the mercury then actually get beneath it? I would not be surprised if it would make it stick to this surface. Of course if you put the phone on top of a pool of mercury, it would not think. Not much would! But this is a different story. Hopefully they just move out instead ;-) Or maybe get really awake and start to think. Will add this last part to the explain --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:21, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I think [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced-air "Forced-air Central Heating"] is a better explanation for Hairy's vent than [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfloor_air_distribution "Underfloor air distribution"]. Forced-air heat/cooling is very common in the US, and the Wikipedia entry has a good picture of a floor vent. --[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.211|199.27.128.211]] 16:41, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

== Noise and battery ==

How much effective are today's phones in making noise? If they use the same circuits as for playing music (which I suspect most do), I don't think they will be able to do it for weeks, even in airplane mode ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:30, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

== Spelling and Commentary ==

There are a couple spelling mistakes. 'hos' in the first sentence, 'cold' instead of 'could'. Probably more.

Instead of correcting the spelling, I was wondering about the tone of the explanation. Specifically, shouldn't this be written in a more neutral tone without the side commentary?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the contribution. Just curious.

[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.101|108.162.221.101]] 11:36, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Please just correct spelling if you find errors. Not everyone who contributes are native English speakers. So bear with them and help by just correcting spelling and grammar. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:37, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1518: Typical Morning Routine

2015-04-29T16:41:22Z

199.27.128.211: /* Air Vent */

If he has hair, shouldn't he be called Hairy by definition?
Sidenote: Did I really just use the word whence?[[Special:Contributions/199.27.130.228|199.27.130.228]] 05:57, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

Added first draft for the transcript. This is my first edit here, so feel free to clean it up. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.158|173.245.56.158]] 06:02, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I think that this is still Cueball because his hair isn't a different colour to his head. The only reason we can see it is because it's bed hair, and he hasn't combed it down yet. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.172|141.101.98.172]] 06:06, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:It is not [[Cueball]] when he has hair. It is not hair enough to call him [[Hairy]]. He has obviously still hair in the last panel, where it is less morning hair, and it is now clearly black (as Hairys). But there is too little air for it to be Hairy in my opinion. However, if it should be either of the two it would be Hairy. Makes no sense to call a guy with hair (any hair) Cueball. I have removed all reference to Cueball and the hairy category that was also added. Since we do not know who is lying beside him, we cannot even use this to say anything about him. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:27, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
::Someone has changed it to Hairy. See further comment below. So lets call him that. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:44, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I don't see how this comic is about <strike>sarcasm</strike> or language. It ''contains'' language, but it isn't ''about'' language.<br>'''Update''': Oh, right, the title text ends with a sarcastic comment.[[Special:Contributions/173.245.56.158|173.245.56.158]] 06:17, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I think that the character should be [[Hairy]], as the name is "used by xkcd explainers to describe male characters with hair and no other distinguishing features."--[[User:17jiangz1|17jiangz1]] ([[User talk:17jiangz1|talk]]) 07:31, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Well then lets call him Hairy then - see discussion above though... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 07:44, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I would like to be the first to point out similarities between this comic and [[349: Success]]. He starts with hitting snooze (easy) then needs to switch applications (not really worse yet, bear with me), remove battery (losing whatever is unsaved in RAM), bricking the phone (losing it, though maybe just until he has time to reinstall the OS) and finally is willing to fill the flat with mercury vapours (which is a major health hazard). [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.136|141.101.104.136]] 11:32, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I am not so sure that metallic mercury is "extremely toxic"; of course, some mercury-containing compounds are. "Extremely expensive"? Yes, compared to what one usually throws into an air vent, but many metals are far more expensive per kg than mercury.
[[User:Jkrstrt|Jkrstrt]] ([[User talk:Jkrstrt|talk]]) 15:15, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:For sure, but in the amounts they would need it would be quite an expense, not to say heavy burden to get back home with. The vapours from the mercury would be flowing into the apartment from the vent and it is not something you wish to get inside. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 16:00, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

== Air Vent ==

Is having an air vent in your floor something common? o.o [[User:Pinkishu|Pinkishu]] ([[User talk:Pinkishu|talk]]) 09:28, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Yes, but I had the same question. See wiki links in the updated explanation. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:21, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

Also, pouring water in the vent will short-circuit the smart-phone which gives us the same result as bricking a smart-phone. [[User:SirKitKat|sirKitKat]] ([[User talk:SirKitKat|talk]]) 09:55, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:I also though of that and added it. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:21, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Adding enough water to drown the speaker should drown the noise? [[User:Puggan|Puggan]] ([[User talk:Puggan|talk]]) 12:43, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

:And pouring mercury will dissolve some of the metals in the phone. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.94|141.101.104.94]] 10:01, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
::Not necessarily if it actually floats on-top. But I'm questioning if a smartphone lies flat on a surface, would the mercury then actually get beneath it? I would not be surprised if it would make it stick to this surface. Of course if you put the phone on top of a pool of mercury, it would not think. Not much would! But this is a different story. Hopefully they just move out instead ;-) Or maybe get really awake and start to think. Will add this last part to the explain --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 10:21, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

I think [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced-air "Forced-air Central Heating"] is a better explanation for Hairy's vent than [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underfloor_air_distribution "Underfloor air distribution"]. Forced-air heat/cooling is very common in the US, and the Widipedia entry has a good picture of a floor vent. --[[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.211|199.27.128.211]] 16:41, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

== Noise and battery ==

How much effective are today's phones in making noise? If they use the same circuits as for playing music (which I suspect most do), I don't think they will be able to do it for weeks, even in airplane mode ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:30, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

== Spelling and Commentary ==

There are a couple spelling mistakes. 'hos' in the first sentence, 'cold' instead of 'could'. Probably more.

Instead of correcting the spelling, I was wondering about the tone of the explanation. Specifically, shouldn't this be written in a more neutral tone without the side commentary?

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the contribution. Just curious.

[[Special:Contributions/108.162.221.101|108.162.221.101]] 11:36, 29 April 2015 (UTC)
:Please just correct spelling if you find errors. Not everyone who contributes are native English speakers. So bear with them and help by just correcting spelling and grammar. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 13:37, 29 April 2015 (UTC)

1512: Horoscopes

2015-04-16T05:17:51Z

199.27.128.211: /* Table of Astrological signs */

{{comic
| number = 1512
| date = April 15, 2015
| title = Horoscopes
| image = horoscopes.png
| titletext = If you live in the Northern hemisphere, anyway. In the southern hemisphere, due to the coriolis effect, babies are born nine months BEFORE they're conceived.
}}
==Explanation==
{{w|Horoscopes}} purport to predict someone's personality or future, depending on the position of planets and stars at the time of their birth and at present. Horoscopes commonly group people into twelve groups based on {{w|zodiac signs}}. The Zodiac signs are based on twelve constellations that follow the approximate path of the sun in our night sky. One's zodiac sign is determined by the position of the sun on their birthday, with each sign representing a specific approximately one-month period.

Today, horoscopes are admitted to be {{w|pseudoscience}} which is why the comic jokes about the fact that its horoscopes at least ''may'' be true (at least for someone born in the {{w|United States}}, after a full term pregnancy). Actual horoscopes are typically so vague that they could be true for almost anyone regardless of their sign.

Since the 12 category zodiac signs in horoscopes are based on birthday dates, [[Randall]] can do some informed guess about the context of someone's {{w|Fertilisation|conception}} (i.e., what was happening nine months before they were born, apart from the {{w|Sexual intercourse|obvious}}), depending on the sign. For example, {{w|Virgo (astrology)|Virgo}} are born between August 23 and September 22, so based on a 9-month gestational period, they were likely {{w|Fertilisation|conceived}} shortly before Christmas, leading to the guess "You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played". Randall also phrases his "predictions" as possibilities ("you may have") rather than declarations, acknowledging that unlike actual horoscopes, his don't necessarily apply to everyone. See detailed description in the [[#Table of Astrological signs|table]] below.

The title text refers to the {{w|Coriolis effect}} which occurs to a body that is moving on an object that is spinning. Since the Earth is rotating this leads to the fact that something that is moving on Earth feels a force (the Coriolis force) which causes the moving object to be deflected to the right in the {{w|northern hemisphere}} and to the left in the {{w|southern hemisphere}}. This effect is the reason that {{w|Coriolis_effect#Meteorology|weather systems}} (most clearly seen for {{w|hurricanes}}) rotate in one direction in the northern hemisphere and in the opposite direction in the southern hemisphere. There is also a common {{w|Coriolis_effect#Draining_in_bathtubs_and_toilets|misconception}} that the Coriolis force in respect of the Earth affects objects on a much smaller level, such as the direction water will spin down a drain in the two hemispheres (see also [[843: Misconceptions]]). The Coriolis force ''can'' also be experienced on a much smaller scale, for instance if you try to walk on a spinning carousel.

Randall plays on the misconception to make a joke involving reversing the flow of time. So whereas babies are born nine months '''after''' conception in the northern hemisphere (clockwise) the Coriolis effect is the reason why babies are being born nine months '''before''' in the southern hemisphere (counterclockwise). This may also be a play on the scientifically inaccurate principle used in the first ''{{w|Superman (1978)|Superman}}'' film, in which Superman reverses time by flying around the earth at high speed in the opposite direction of its rotation.

<s>In reality, the relevant difference between the northern and southern hemispheres is that the meteorological seasons are a half-year out of phase between the two. This renders some of the "predictions" (such as a hot day in August or people trapped by snow in January-February) invalid for the southern hemisphere.</s>

The humorously misinterpreted Coriolis effect explanation of a 9 month shift in the other direction actually functions correctly as an offset for the seasonal predictions. An easy way to count backward 9 months is to add three months. Adding 9 months (or going backward three months) will perform the correct seasonal offset for a southern hemisphere birth with respect to a northern hemisphere person's point of view.

Cf. the Weird Al song ''Horoscope for Today'' which also makes vague guesses, only they refer to bizarre events and tasks.

==Table of Astrological signs==
Here below is a table with data and explanation of the individual horoscopes:
{| class="wikitable"
!{{w|Astrological sign|Astrological sign}}
!English name
!{{w|Birthday}} range
!Expected {{w|Fertilisation|conception}}
!Horoscope prediction
!Explanation
|-
|♈ {{w|Aries (astrology)|Aries}}
|The Ram
|March 21 - April 21
|June 21 - July 21
|You may have been conceived after a 4th of July fireworks show
|In the US the {{w|Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day}} is celebrated on the 4th of July, and this is customarily celebrated with huge fireworks. Fireworks are also often used in movies to depict the culmination of sex (i.e. the orgasm), and hence the potential for conception.
|-
|♉ {{w|Taurus (astrology)|Taurus}}
|The Bull
|April 20 - May 20
|July 20 - August 20
|You may have been conceived on a hot August day
|In most of the northern hemisphere there are many hot days in {{w|August}}. Sometimes hot days increase lust, especially if it's too hot to go out or do anything else.
|-
|♊ {{w|Gemini (astrology)|Gemini}}
|The Twins
|May 21 - June 21
|August 21 - September 21
|You may have been conceived as the leaves began to change
|In the northern part of the northern hemisphere the {{w|autumn}} starts at the end of this time period, so the leaves will begin to change color.
|-
|♋ {{w|Cancer (astrology)|Cancer}}
|The Crab
|June 21 - July 21
|September 21 - October 21
|You may have been conceived by people trying on costumes
|This period ends 10 days before {{w|Halloween}}, so it is not unlikely that the people who conceived you (mom and dad) tried on their new costumes when they made you.
|-
|♌ {{w|Leo (astrology)|Leo}}
|The Lion
|July 22 - August 23
|October 22 - November 23
|You may have been conceived during thanksgiving
|{{w|Thanksgiving}} is celebrated in the US on fourth Thursday of November, which for only two out of seven years will lie before the 23rd of November. However many people are born before 9 months so it is not unlikely for someone born as a Leo to be conceived on this day.
|-
|♍ {{w|Virgo (astrology)|Virgo}}
|The Maiden
|August 23 - September 22
|November 23 - December 22
|You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played
|It is very common for {{w|Christmas}} songs to be played in the month before Christmas
|-
|♎ {{w|Libra (astrology)|Libra}}
|The Scales
|September 22 - October 23
|December 22 - January 23
|You may have been conceived after a new year's eve party
|Since {{w|New Year's Eve}} always falls on December 31, and since the party goes on into the new year this fits with Libra. As it is very likely that people are together in a way that may lead to conception at this type of parties, there may even be rather more than a 30th part of the people that are Libra that are conceived at such a party.
|-
|♏ {{w|Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio}}
|The Scorpion
|October 23 and November 22
|January 23 - February 22
|You may have been conceived by people stuck inside after a long winter
|This period is during the coolest part and towards the end of the {{w|winter}} in the northern hemisphere. People may even be forced to stay at home due to snow. When people have nothing else to do [https://www.google.dk/search?q=babies+9+month+after+snowstorm&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=qzkuVcjAE4qsswGevoC4CQ many babies are born 9 months later].
|-
|♐ {{w|Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius}}
|The Archer
|November 22 - December 21
|February 22 - March 21
|You may have been conceived during March madness
|Although originally the early part of the mating season for the {{w|European Hare}}, in which females fight off male suitors, in a US context this is an American college Basketball tournament [http://www.ncaa.com/march-madness].
|-
|♑ {{w|Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn}}
|The Goat
|December 22 - January 19
|March 22 - April 19
|You may have been conceived during a sexy Easter Egg hunt
|{{w|Easter}} falls between {{w|List_of_dates_for_Easter#Earliest_Easter|March 22}} and {{w|List_of_dates_for_Easter#Latest_Easter|April 25}} so most {{w|Egg hunt|Easter Egg hunt}}, sexy or not, will fall in the relevant period to conceive Capricorn children. The goal of an Easter egg hunt can be to find as many eggs in a given time, or find a sequence of eggs, each containing a clue to the next. It is not difficult to think of adult variations on these themes. Most Egg hunts do not involve people who should make them sexy! On the other hand, the egg itself, as an Easter symbol, is a symbol of fertility.
|-
|♒ {{w|Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius}}
|The Water Carrier
|January 20 - February 18
|April 20 - May 18
|You may have been conceived on Mother's day
|{{w|Mother's Day}} in the USA,and some other countries, is on the second Sunday in May, between the 8th and 14th of May.
|-
|♓ {{w|Pisces (astrology)|Pisces}}
|The Fish
|February 19 - March 20
|May 21 - June 21
|You may have been conceived at someone's wedding
|It is not uncommon that people meet and even go so far as to risk conceiving a child at someones {{w|wedding}}, and June is widely reported as the most popular month for weddings in the United States. The tradition of a June Bride (late spring and beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere) may be an old one and hence explains the reference for Pisces which lies mainly in June. [https://open.abc.net.au/explore/22074 ABC claim] that in the 15th and 16th century, May would have been the month for an "annual bath", and moreover {{w|June}} is named for {{w|Juno (mythology)|Juno}}, goddess of the home and hearth.
|}

==Transcript==
:[Above the frame:]
:'''Horoscopes'''
:With an actual basis in fact
:[A list with the name of each astrological sign in the first column (in gray) and a horoscope for each sign in the second column. Here given in table form]
:{| class="wikitable"
! Aries
| You may have been conceived after a 4th of July fireworks show
|-
! Taurus
| You may have been conceived on a hot August day
|-
! Gemini
| You may have been conceived as the leaves began to change
|-
! Cancer
| You may have been conceived by people trying on costumes
|-
! Leo
| You may have been conceived during Thanksgiving
|-
! Virgo
| You may have been conceived while a Christmas song played
|-
! Libra
| You may have been conceived after a New Year’s Eve party
|-
! Scorpio
| You may have been conceived by people stuck inside after a long winter
|-
! Sagittarius
| You may have been conceived during March Madness
|-
! Capricorn
| You may have been conceived during a sexy Easter egg hunt
|-
! Aquarius
| You may have been conceived on Mother's day
|-
! Pisces
| You may have been conceived at someone's wedding
|}

{{comic discussion}}


[[Category:Chart]]
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Christmas]]