explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1381: Margin

2014-06-13T06:16:33Z

Buggz:

Isn't it possible that a mathematician knows about the existance or the proof of something, but doen't know how to technically do it? In this case, the margin remark would be accurate and not so funny. They have found a proof of existance for infinite information compression, but not yet discovered an actual method to do it. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.56|141.101.104.56]] 05:32, 13 June 2014 (UTC)
:Yes, when there's no example, it's called a {{w|pure existence theorem}}. If you actually demonstrate an example, that is a {{w|constructive proof}}. [[User:Mattflaschen|Mattflaschen]] ([[User talk:Mattflaschen|talk]]) 05:38, 13 June 2014 (UTC)
Setting font-size to 0 would be the same as not ''printing'' any information at all, you'll still use the same number of bits and be able to send the text to other computers which can read the information. The Shannon-Hartley theorem is, as far as I can see from the wikipedia article, about analogue channels anyway. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 06:16, 13 June 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1374: Urn

2014-05-28T09:44:54Z

Buggz:

I interpreted the "with replacement" part of the title text as Megan wanting to have her grandfather back.--[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:31, 28 May 2014 (UTC)
: I now realize she just wants to put the ashes back, it's so obvious it hurts. #overthinkingit --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 09:44, 28 May 2014 (UTC)
The calculation for "with replacement" is substantially shorter (and thus easier and less tedious) than without. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.218|108.162.237.218]] 09:14, 28 May 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1374: Urn

2014-05-28T08:31:57Z

Buggz: Created page with "I interpreted the "with replacement" part of the title text as Megan wanting to have her grandfather back.--~~~~"

I interpreted the "with replacement" part of the title text as Megan wanting to have her grandfather back.--[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:31, 28 May 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1324: Weather

2014-01-31T07:28:07Z

Buggz: Created page with "So, how 'bout that local sports team eh? --~~~~"

So, how 'bout that local sports team eh? --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 07:28, 31 January 2014 (UTC)

Talk:1260: LD50

2013-09-04T08:53:33Z

Buggz:

There's one toxicology paper that's facing us instead of laying flat. Is it just me, or is there a funny "concerned" face on it? --[[User:Druid816|Druid816]] ([[User talk:Druid816|talk]]) 05:58, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Oh my, when I checked the comic this morning I didn't even see Cueball lying underneath the stack of toxicology papers... --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 06:17, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Is there any way to move this page from LD50 to LD50? [[Special:Contributions/208.120.153.144|208.120.153.144]] 06:31, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
:We try to stay as faithful to the main xkcd comics as possible when referencing xkcd materials. If the comic title on xkcd.com is LD50, it's LD50 here too. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 06:51, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1260: LD50

2013-09-04T06:17:57Z

Buggz:

:There's one toxicology paper that's facing us instead of laying flat. Is it just me, or is there a funny "concerned" face on it? --[[User:Druid816|Druid816]] ([[User talk:Druid816|talk]]) 05:58, 4 September 2013 (UTC)
:Oh my, when I checked the comic this morning I didn't even see Cueball lying underneath the stack of toxicology papers... --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 06:17, 4 September 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1216: Sticks and Stones

2013-05-24T06:04:05Z

Buggz: Created page with "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will hurt forever. --~~~~"

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will hurt forever. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 06:04, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1212: Interstellar Memes

2013-05-15T11:49:29Z

Buggz:

I'm surprised ponies didn't make the list given how massively and completely they took over the Internet in recent years. Then again, xkcd hasn't made any mention of the phenomenon, which is pretty nice, I guess. [[Special:Contributions/76.106.251.87|76.106.251.87]] 04:35, 15 May 2013 (UTC)
:Given that the closest one, "I'm on a boat," predates the first episode of MLP:FiM by more than a year (the brony phenomenon by even more), it's safe to say that ponies have not reached the nearest star yet. --[[Special:Contributions/24.145.230.202|24.145.230.202]] 04:42, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

It would be great to have the distances (in light years) of the stars as a fourth column. This would also provide a chronological order. --[[Special:Contributions/84.75.61.103|84.75.61.103]] 08:06, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

If I look at the page source, there is no transcript this time... [[User:Kaa-ching|Kaa-ching]] ([[User talk:Kaa-ching|talk]]) 08:41, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

anyone else notice Sirius is getting the Bellatrix one? [[User:Xseo|Xseo]] ([[User talk:Xseo|talk]]) 08:49, 15 May 2013 (UTC)
:Yeah, it was funny :D [[User:Zakator|Zakator]] ([[User talk:Zakator|talk]]) 10:55, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

If any civilization have nothing better to do that repeating our memes, there is no need to apologize to them: they will obviously be glad they have at least something. How many people on our planet are repeating memes from other civilizations? None. (The circles in crop doesn't count, they are not send by radio.) -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:51, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

Given that the Rick Astley one is on the same star as Portal, which came out in 2007, it's probably meant to refer to rickrolling (and thus the date should also be 2007 for that one). [[User:Zakator|Zakator]] ([[User talk:Zakator|talk]]) 10:55, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

All your base are belong to us didn't start as a meme in the 1970. I don't have precise data right now but I'm pretty sure it was 1997-99 when it first appeared on the internet. Also, what is the Sun doing? [[Special:Contributions/195.32.50.126|195.32.50.126]] 11:14, 15 May 2013 (UTC)
:1998 according to knowyourmeme. And I think the Sun is probably sending out all those radio waves for the aliens to listen to, or something? But I couldn't find an accurate way to portray it, so I just left it at that. [[User:Zakator|Zakator]] ([[User talk:Zakator|talk]]) 11:18, 15 May 2013 (UTC)
:: The map only shows stars, or rather star systems. We live in the sol system, where all these memes originate from, hence the sun is shown as the origin of the "radio waves". In the same fashion, these supposed aliens don't actually live on the stars themselves, but rather on planets (or maybe moons?) around the stars. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:49, 15 May 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1179: ISO 8601

2013-02-27T14:15:53Z

Buggz:

Apparently there are some mistakes in the Roman numerals in the comic, the year MMXII is 2012. Also LVII/CCLXV = 57/265, whereas February 27th is the 58th day of the year (which has 365 days). --[[User:Ulm|ulm]] ([[User talk:Ulm|talk]]) 07:55, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:Just guessing, but could this have something to do with the divergence of various Roman calendars, e.g. Julian vs. Gregorian? [[Special:Contributions/98.122.166.235|98.122.166.235]] 13:55, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:Another error: Obviously 1330300800 is intended to be Unix time, but it corresponds to 2012-02-27 00:00:00 UTC. --[[User:Ulm|ulm]] ([[User talk:Ulm|talk]]) 08:10, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:The day part "57" is not wrong: Since Feb 27 is the 58th day of the year, at the beginning of that day, 57 days have gone by since the year started. (At the end of the day, 58 days have gone by) Since we associate days with their beginning (like we do with e.g. hours and minutes), 57 is the correct number (or else Dec 31 would be 2013+365/365 = 2014, and therefore in the wrong year) -- [[User:Xorg|Xorg]] ([[User talk:Xorg|talk]]) 13:53, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Can anyone explain 01237 (last interpretation before the cat)? Thanks [[Special:Contributions/68.230.38.154|68.230.38.154]] 08:04, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:The small numbers above and below the larger ones show which digit is used where. For example, the 2nd and 5th digit is a 0, the 3rd digit is a 1 etc. [[Special:Contributions/82.115.151.1|82.115.151.1]] 08:15, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:01237 are the digits used in the date, and the numbers above and below them reflect the order in which they are written; 0 is the second and fifth digit, 1 is the third digit, 2 is the first, sixth and seventh digit, 3 is the fourth digit, and 7 is the eighth digit: 20130227 [[User:Bdemirci|Bdemirci]] ([[User talk:Bdemirci|talk]]) 08:15, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Someone can explain me what means: ((3+3)×(111+1)-1)×3/3-1/33? {{unsigned|95.23.147.48}}
:Read the comic explanation. '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 10:58, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

A strange thing is that he forgot the form mostly used in Europe: 27.01.2013. --[[User:DaB.|DaB.]] ([[User talk:DaB.|talk]]) 12:44, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:: That form is mostly used in Germany. Belgium and France use 27/01/2013 more, Netherlands use 27-01-2013. No idea what the UK prefers although I could imagine 01.27.2013.[[Special:Contributions/62.159.14.62|62.159.14.62]] 12:58, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
::: The UK prefers 27/02/2013 --[[User:H|H]] ([[User talk:H|talk]]) 13:20, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
::: That form (27.02.2013) is also common in all of Scandinavia. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 14:15, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1179: ISO 8601

2013-02-27T14:15:29Z

Buggz:

Apparently there are some mistakes in the Roman numerals in the comic, the year MMXII is 2012. Also LVII/CCLXV = 57/265, whereas February 27th is the 58th day of the year (which has 365 days). --[[User:Ulm|ulm]] ([[User talk:Ulm|talk]]) 07:55, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:Just guessing, but could this have something to do with the divergence of various Roman calendars, e.g. Julian vs. Gregorian? [[Special:Contributions/98.122.166.235|98.122.166.235]] 13:55, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:Another error: Obviously 1330300800 is intended to be Unix time, but it corresponds to 2012-02-27 00:00:00 UTC. --[[User:Ulm|ulm]] ([[User talk:Ulm|talk]]) 08:10, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:The day part "57" is not wrong: Since Feb 27 is the 58th day of the year, at the beginning of that day, 57 days have gone by since the year started. (At the end of the day, 58 days have gone by) Since we associate days with their beginning (like we do with e.g. hours and minutes), 57 is the correct number (or else Dec 31 would be 2013+365/365 = 2014, and therefore in the wrong year) -- [[User:Xorg|Xorg]] ([[User talk:Xorg|talk]]) 13:53, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Can anyone explain 01237 (last interpretation before the cat)? Thanks [[Special:Contributions/68.230.38.154|68.230.38.154]] 08:04, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:The small numbers above and below the larger ones show which digit is used where. For example, the 2nd and 5th digit is a 0, the 3rd digit is a 1 etc. [[Special:Contributions/82.115.151.1|82.115.151.1]] 08:15, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:01237 are the digits used in the date, and the numbers above and below them reflect the order in which they are written; 0 is the second and fifth digit, 1 is the third digit, 2 is the first, sixth and seventh digit, 3 is the fourth digit, and 7 is the eighth digit: 20130227 [[User:Bdemirci|Bdemirci]] ([[User talk:Bdemirci|talk]]) 08:15, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Someone can explain me what means: ((3+3)×(111+1)-1)×3/3-1/33? {{unsigned|95.23.147.48}}
:Read the comic explanation. '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 10:58, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

A strange thing is that he forgot the form mostly used in Europe: 27.01.2013. --[[User:DaB.|DaB.]] ([[User talk:DaB.|talk]]) 12:44, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
:: That form is mostly used in Germany. Belgium and France use 27/01/2013 more, Netherlands use 27-01-2013. No idea what the UK prefers although I could imagine 01.27.2013.[[Special:Contributions/62.159.14.62|62.159.14.62]] 12:58, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
::: The UK prefers 27/02/2013 --[[User:H|H]] ([[User talk:H|talk]]) 13:20, 27 February 2013 (UTC)
::: That form is also common in all of Scandinavia. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 14:15, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1174: App

2013-02-15T11:00:35Z

Buggz:

Interestingly, Scott Hanselman just made a [http://www.hanselman.com/blog/IdLikeToUseTheWebMyWayThankYouVeryMuchQuora.aspx blog post about this very issue]. Note how the page in its entirety was downloaded using his mobile data plan, but it's still in no way viewable. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:27, 15 February 2013 (UTC)

:By "in no way viewable" you mean mobile browsers don't support editing page's DOM like Chrome does out of the box and Firefox do with FireBug extension? (Try pressing F12). Not to speaking about the javascript-in-location-bar tricks someone already started posting on the blog post you mentioned. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:29, 15 February 2013 (UTC)
:: I was talking about how the website is done by design. Since the whole page is downloaded you can of course start "hacking" your way through to the content, but that's besides the point. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:00, 15 February 2013 (UTC)

Talk:1174: App

2013-02-15T08:27:37Z

Buggz: Created page with "Interestingly, Scott Hanselman just made a [http://www.hanselman.com/blog/IdLikeToUseTheWebMyWayThankYouVeryMuchQuora.aspx blog post about this very issue]. Note how the page ..."

Talk:1148: Nothing to Offer

2012-12-19T08:25:11Z

Buggz: indentation

As I was reading the comic today, I saw the joke, but didn't really find it funny. Then I burst out laughing when I finally got to the word "gin". [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 06:36, 17 December 2012 (UTC)

I'm thinking the "CHLY" cut off behind the radio might be a typo, meant to be "CHYL(E)"? "...a milky bodily fluid consisting of lymph and emulsified fats". [[User:Sokak|Sokak]] ([[User talk:Sokak|talk]]) 11:24, 17 December 2012 (UTC)

What is 'toil'? English is not my native language, and I heard before "blood, sweat and tears" but never heard before about 'toil'. Also, it's conviniently missing from the ordered list. Is it related to toilets? [[Special:Contributions/189.123.133.2|189.123.133.2]] 03:16, 19 December 2012 (UTC)

:Toil simply means struggle or laborious effort. It's the only thing that is breaking the pattern of the bodily fluids but is part of the original quote from Churchill. --[[Special:Contributions/184.36.97.155|184.36.97.155]] 04:42, 19 December 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1148: Nothing to Offer

2012-12-17T14:17:02Z

Buggz:

:As I was reading the comic today, I saw the joke, but didn't really find it funny. Then I burst out laughing when I finally got to the word "gin". [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 06:36, 17 December 2012 (UTC)
:I'm thinking the "CHLY" cut off behind the radio might be a typo, mean't to be "CHYL(E)"? "...a milky bodily fluid consisting of lymph and emulsified fats". [[User:Sokak|Sokak]] ([[User talk:Sokak|talk]]) 11:24, 17 December 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1129: Cell Number

2012-11-02T08:31:06Z

Buggz: Created page with ": I guess this has something to do with keeping your phone number even when switching providers? We got a law in Norway around that time, which says you're able to keep your p..."

: I guess this has something to do with keeping your phone number even when switching providers? We got a law in Norway around that time, which says you're able to keep your phone number while switching. Only difference is that here you can only tell, from the first two of eight digits, which ''provider'' you had in 2005 (or whenever it took effect). --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:31, 2 November 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1123: The Universal Label

2012-10-22T08:39:06Z

Buggz:

I think Randall may be going for another pun with the title text, as "H" is the chemical symbol for hydrogen.--[[User:Dangerkeith3000|Dangerkeith3000]] ([[User talk:Dangerkeith3000|talk]]) 15:42, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
----
I suspect that without Helium and a little Lithium we wouldn't even be here discussing this. These were both formed independently of Hydrogen shortly after the BB and without them the first stars would have been huge and short-lived...[[Special:Contributions/62.255.252.76|62.255.252.76]] 14:34, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
: ... in other words, with the addition of time... -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 13:44, 20 October 2012 (UTC)
----
But you can make matter using energy, therefore, you only need energy and time! Ray
----
The label's missing energy. Just saying. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 04:34, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
:But isn't it somehow contained in the hydrogen? I don't know squat about quantum physics, so I'm probably wrong. [[Special:Contributions/108.233.253.211|108.233.253.211]] 04:49, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

::Actually, the amount of energy in any grocery or non-grocery (even in explosives) is significally lower that the amount of energy in hydrogen used for their creation. Sure, you need energy to grow crops, but where does that energy come from? Hydrogen fusion in Sun - which is first step of creating the carbon the crop is from (not the same crop, of course). -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 09:12, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
----
So when [http://xkcd.com/282/ Mussolini made the trains run on thyme] he was really making them run on hydrogen '''and''' time?--[[User:Pmakholm|Pmakholm]] ([[User talk:Pmakholm|talk]]) 08:18, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
----
I think this is the smallest xkcd comic ever. :-)
--[[Special:Contributions/85.159.196.21|85.159.196.21]] 09:43, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

It's also the first in a long time to make me laugh out loud! Steve B.
----
I suspect Randall was influenced by this quote: "Given enough time, hydrogen starts to wonder where it came from, and where it is going", attributed to Edward R. Harrison. --[[User:Prooffreader|Prooffreader]] ([[User talk:Prooffreader|talk]]) 10:58, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
----
Actually, I'm not sure you can make antimatter with just regular hydrogen.

--[[Special:Contributions/85.159.196.21|85.159.196.21]] 11:24, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

:Why would food contain antimatter? --[[User:Kronf|Kronf]] ([[User talk:Kronf|talk]]) 12:21, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
----
I think I've spotted my first Randall mistake. Using this ingredient list, The amount of time must exceed the amount of hydrogen (unless the product is hydrogen) thus Time should be listed first on the label. — Comment by [[User:14:09, 19 October 2012|14:09, 19 October 2012]] ([[User talk:14:09, 19 October 2012|talk]]) Anthingy ''(please sign your comments)''

:Which units are you using? How do you relate a cup full of Time and a day full of Hydrogen? [[Special:Contributions/67.51.59.66|67.51.59.66]] 18:20, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

:In Norway (and I guess most other countries where producers must list them) ingredients are sorted by weight, and I guess time doesn't weigh anything but in a metaphorical sense. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:39, 22 October 2012 (UTC)
----
Yes, that may be a mistake, but the FDA website mentions "predominance by weight." I'm not sure how time would compare to hydrogen in that respect. Also I translated thyme = H+time = tHime. --[[Special:Contributions/207.170.250.186|207.170.250.186]] 14:25, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
:Also, it's not Randall's first mistake, he made some in the last comic. [[User:???|?]][[User talk:???|?]][[Special:Contributions/???|?]] 14:31, 19 October 2012 (UTC)
::Implying the above commentor is Randall. [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 15:15, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

Time is not a proper ingredient like hydrogen. It is permitted in Randall's ingredient list by cartoon license.
----
"Because all matter was originally created through stellar nuclear fusion from hydrogen over time"
Nuclear fusion only explains the creation of all elements up to iron. Heavier elements are created by other processes:
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_nucleosynthesis]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-process]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-process]
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-process]
:The fusion of heavier elements is still fusion, even if it takes a supernova to make it happen. Nothing in the cartoon suggests that only the fusion reactions found in stable stars apply, and even more complicated processes (fusion+fission, whatever) involves matter that ultimately has a hydrogen pedigree. (I am, however, intrigued by the comment about helium and lithium in the early universe. I have some of those around here somewhere.) [[Special:Contributions/208.54.40.210|208.54.40.210]] 21:02, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

----

At the risk of nitpicking: The present composition of the universe is about 75% dark energy, 20% dark matter, and 5% baryons, i. e., hydrogen, helium, and everything else. In the early universe, the dark energy was less important. And in the very early universe, before the formation of elements or even subnuclear particles, there were just quantum fluctuations of some primordial field. Space, time, and energy are related by gravity. So maybe, if quantum gravity is ever figured out, it will turn out all you need is a fluctuation in time. But all this spoils the herbal pun.

--[[Special:Contributions/128.171.86.198|128.171.86.198]] 21:29, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

== Universe / Universal ==

I also think universal is the adjective for universe.

So the label has universal use and specifies universal origin.
Another pun?
--[[Special:Contributions/178.26.107.37|178.26.107.37]] 23:08, 19 October 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1122: Electoral Precedent

2012-10-17T14:33:57Z

Buggz:

My research tells me that Jefferson won 1800. Error on Randall's part? [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 08:52, 17 October 2012 (UTC)

I'm a bit confused by 1792 vs. 1804: The latter is "No incumbent has beaten a challenger", but didn't Washington face any challenger when he was re-elected in 1792? [[User:Jolindbe|Jolindbe]] ([[User talk:Jolindbe|talk]]) 14:19, 17 October 2012 (UTC)
: {{w|United_States_presidential_election,_1792|He ran unopposed}} --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 14:33, 17 October 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1114: Metallurgy

2012-09-28T08:59:50Z

Buggz:

"extraterrestrial metal was often more refined and plentiful than man-made metal ingots." -I'd love to read about this. Citation needed! --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:59, 28 September 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1114: Metallurgy

2012-09-28T08:59:05Z

Buggz: Created page with ""extraterrestrial metal was often more refined and plentiful than man-made metal ingots." -I'd love to read about this. Got any sources? --~~~~"

"extraterrestrial metal was often more refined and plentiful than man-made metal ingots." -I'd love to read about this. Got any sources? --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 08:59, 28 September 2012 (UTC)

Talk:1113: Killed in Action

2012-09-26T10:34:06Z

Buggz:

The title text is essentially the beginning of the hanging paradox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unexpected_hanging_paradox
:It's not quite the same thing. The unexpected hanging paradox only applies when you have a measure of foreknowledge. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]] ([[User talk:Davidy22|talk]]) 05:50, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

I think there's also a strong indication that this is mocking cop films from the 80's/90's, such as Lethal Weapon, where a character would always die just before retirement.
--[[Special:Contributions/46.246.31.111|46.246.31.111]] 07:08, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

This one is a variant of the old Czech joke: "The study has proved that statistically the most casualties happen in the last car of a train. Therefore the committee suggests to make all trains one car shorter." --[[User:Mity|Mity]] ([[User talk:Mity|talk]]) 09:59, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

This comics's explanation is complete bollocks, I think. Of course it is NOT a "fact that such a room exists". This comics parodies trope often used in cop movies - an elderly cop goes to work for the last time before his retirement, packs things, plans fishing the next day ... only to be called to one more case (possibly with a new, young and brash partner). And despites his efforts not to screw anything and stay clear of danger, he is either mortally wounded or screws big time and is degraded. So much clichè, that if someone says "It's my last day or service", you might be sure one of the two options above happens. See http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Retirony for all the use cases and examples. [[User:Edheldil|Edheldil]] ([[User talk:Edheldil|talk]]) 10:25, 26 September 2012 (UTC)
:I added the tv trope to the explanation. Didn't even see your comment at first, but why didn't you just change and add to the explanation yourself? That would be the whole point of the wiki. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 10:34, 26 September 2012 (UTC)

1113: Killed in Action

2012-09-26T10:28:48Z

Buggz: Retirony TV trope

{{comic
| number = 1113
| date = September 26, 2012
| title = Killed in Action
| image = killed in action.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = We can't let this happen again. We need to build a secure TWO-day-before-retirement safe room.
}}

==Explanation==
The comic plays with the TV tropes [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Retirony Retirony], in which one cop is killed in action only a short time before retirement. The humor arises from the fact that such a room exists for such a rare occasion as a cop retiring, and the irony in the cop dying before he could be safely stowed away to avoid retirony.

The title text is a reference to the reactionary nature of security procedures put in place in the aftermath of an incident, and how they typically fail to address the cause of the problem.

The comic also illustrates some variation of Murphy's law - if a desired situation has lasted for a long time and there is only one chance left for it to go wrong, it will go wrong. Police officers, having put their lives at risk every day for years, apparently used to die on the last day of their service. Therefore, a secure room has been built for them to survive this day. But this solution only shifted the last day before being safe for the earlier day, and therefore the policeman whose funeral we see, died a day before being locked in the safe room.

If the advice from the title text is followed, the number of days police officers spend in the secure room will eventually encompass their whole service.

==Transcript==
:[Old lady, woman and Cueball are standing in the background by a coffin. Two police are standing in the forground]
:Policewoman: Good cop.
:Policewoman: It's a real shame—
:Policewoman: He was just one day away from getting put in the locked, heavily guarded room where all cops stay for the last day before they retire.

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

1112: Think Logically

2012-09-24T13:08:09Z

Buggz: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1112
| date = September 24, 2012
| title = Think Logically
| image = think_logically.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = I've developed a more logical set of rules but the people on the chess community have a bunch of stupid emotional biases and won't reply to my posts.
}}

==Explanation==
Chess is a very old board game in which two players take turns moving their 16 pieces, one at a time, to try and capture the other players king. The knight is a piece in chess that can only move in an L-shaped pattern, but compensates by being able to jump over other pieces. The comic highlights two mistakes players often make in chess: complete fixation on the king at the cost of their other pieces, and inability to take advantage of the knights movement patterns.

The comic is primarily a jab at competitive online games whose fans call for "buffs" (power additions) and "nerfs" (power reductions) to characters that they believe to be underpowered or overpowered, often with inadequate knowledge of those characters. Chess is widely agreed upon to be perfectly balanced, and Cueballs criticism of the knights show obvious lack of knowledge of the knights potential. His objections may also be rooted in his reluctance to admit defeat, which leads him to blame the game instead of his own skill.

Cueballs friend proceeds to demonstrate Cueballs lack of knowledge by beating Cueball in four moves.

The title text depicts Cueball trying to suggest revisions to the rules of chess and not understanding why his complaints are being ignored.

==Transcript==
:[Man wearing a hat is sitting down at a computer. Cueball is standing behind him.]
:Keyboard:''Move''
:Cueball: Why'd you move your knight away?

:[Man wearing hat turns around and rests his arm on his chair.]
:Cueball: Just think ''logically''. The goal is checkmate, so you should always move pieces ''toward'' the other player's king.

:[Closeup of Cueball.]
:Cueball: I guess occasionally you need to move backward, but it'd be trivial to make a list of those circumstances and -

:[Man wearing hat is leaning back in chair facing Cueball.]
:Man: Have you ever ''played'' chess?
:Cueball: Not much, but -
:Man: Wanna?
:Cueball: Uh, ok.

:[Man and Cueball playing chess.]
:Man: *Move*
:Cueball: *Move*
:Man: *Move*
:Cueball: *Move*
:Man: *Move*
:Cueball: *Move*
:Man: *Move* Checkmate.

:[Cueball standing and staring at the chess board.]

:[Man returns to his computer.]
:Cueball: This game isn't very well-designed. For starters, knights are too weak...

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

Talk:1100: Vows

2012-08-29T10:52:25Z

Buggz:

Somebody please explain what a "High School Misdirection Play" is. I did my best to explain American Gridiron, but I'm not a sports nut (far from it). [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 16:38, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

::How about now? [[User:TheOriginalSoni|TheOriginalSoni]] ([[User talk:TheOriginalSoni|talk]]) 16:52, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

::I assume that a "Misdirection Play" is where the ball is made to look like it is passed/thrown/handed to one player who then proceeds to run as if they had the ball, attracting the defensive players away from the actual person holding the ball. Highschool football has a tendency to use more "tricky" plays than "higher" levels of play (college, professional) as there is more chance of success for a risky, surprise type of play compared to games with more experienced players. Similarly, there are more "surprise" plays in college ball than in the NFL - I think there are more "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-point_conversion two point conversions]" in college ball. [[User:J-beda|J-beda]] ([[User talk:J-beda|talk]]) 17:04, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

::In American Football, the team on offense must move the ball down the field past the defending team (similar to most field sports, such as football (soccer), rugby, or hockey). In order to do this, sometimes the offensive team will try to trick the defensive team into thinking the ball is, or will be moved, somewhere where it's not. This is called a misdirection. One example of this (the one I'm most familiar with) is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_pass Screen Pass]. In the comic, the "bride" is a member of the offensive team and, it is implied, has courted and promised to wed cueball, who is playing on the defense, in an incredibly elaborate attempt to misdirect him about the intended football play. It is quite absurd. [[Special:Contributions/98.189.235.248|98.189.235.248]]

:Boise State is a team known for their trick plays because they used 3 in a row in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl [[User:Joehammer79|Joehammer79]] ([[User talk:Joehammer79|talk]]) 19:47, 27 August 2012 (UTC)
::This is false. They used 3 trick plays in the fourth quarter & Overtime, but they were not 'in a row.' jjhuddle 19:06, 27 August 2012 (UTC)
:::I stand corrected. 5 years of college football made me forget all the little plays in between. [[User:Joehammer79|Joehammer79]] ([[User talk:Joehammer79|talk]]) 19:47, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

Is anyone else struck by the fact that if there's continuity of stance in panels 1-3, then "Amy" is running backwards through the End Zone? --[[Special:Contributions/98.225.182.131|98.225.182.131]] 20:43, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

:I think in the last panel "Amy" actually has turned around and is running forward, because the veil is then trailing and the ball looks to be in the crook of the arm. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 20:50, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

"...the priest asks (for the sake of formality) if the bride takes the groom to be her husband..." No no no no no. Most of the dialogue during the ceremony is understood to be poetic or discretionary ("obey," anyone?) But, there are a few questions during a wedding ceremony which are legal essentials, NOT formalities. One is to ask each person whether they actually want to marry the other person, that one, there, calling him/herself "Rob" or "Amy." Another is to get each one to explicitly declare there is no legal impediment to them getting married to that there person.

The third essential is the officiant's duty to look at the pair and see if, in his best judgment, they are sober and sane. YMMV, but pronounced intoxication or delirium would make the wedding questionable and a serious officiant would not sign off on the license. The last essential involves the signing of the paperwork by five persons -- the officiant, the bride and groom, and two witnesses.

I've been doing weddings since 1999. Neither footballs nor parachutes have ever been involved, but one ceremony included a kilt and a freshly caught bigmouth bass.[[User:Noni Mausa|Noni Mausa]] ([[User talk:Noni Mausa|talk]]) 14:03, 28 August 2012 (UTC)
:Did anyone ever say no? [[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 10:52, 29 August 2012 (UTC)

1097: A Hypochondriac's Nightmare

2012-08-22T11:50:49Z

Buggz: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1097
| date = August 20, 2012
| title = A Hypochondriac's Nightmare
| image = a_hypochondriacs_nightmare.png
| titletext = BUT WHAT IF I REASSURE MYSELF WITH A JOKE AND THEN DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE RASH AND IT TURNS OUT TO BE DEATH MITES AND I COULD HAVE CAUGHT IT
| imagesize =
}}

== Explanation ==
{{w|Hypochondriac}}s are people who worry obsessively about their health. This is a hypochondriac's nightmare because he always was expecting to die from of a mysterious undiagnosed disease, but instead dies by slipping on a banana and getting sucked into an airplane engine. [[Cueball]] regrets wasting so many hours on {{w|WebMD}} (an online health symptom reference) worrying about a rash on his arm as opposed to looking out for banana peels laying in front of jet engines.

The title text (in ALL CAPS - so shouting in despair) adds another level of hypochondrism. Randall drew this particular joke to soothe his fears and reassure himself that the rash is nothing. But what if that reassurance just makes him not check out the rash, and then it turns out the rash is caused by "death {{w|mite}}s" and ultimately lead to his death?

== Trivia ==
*Hypochondriac used to be wrongly spelled as Hypochrondiac in this comic.

{{Comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

User talk:Buggz

2012-08-21T12:29:29Z

Buggz:

Red link AWAY! 
Feel free to say hi.

Talk:1097: A Hypochondriac's Nightmare

2012-08-21T11:11:36Z

Buggz:

'''Please type <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> at the end of comments to include your signature. Thanks!'''

*I am not sure that hypochondriac is spelled hypochrondiac. According to the dictionary it is hypochondriac. I wonder if RM will fix this. --[[User:Grep|Grep]] ([[User talk:Grep|talk]])
**I think hypochondriac is the right spelling (according to Google and Wikipedia)
**Is it possible that the spelling of hypo'''chron'''diac is on purpose? The timing of the banana and jet engine versus the death mites? [[User:Altor|Altor]] ([[User talk:Altor|talk]]) 12:46, 20 August 2012 (UTC)
*** I doubt that it was intended, as I would think there would still be the r in driac. It has not been changed as of now, so I can't be sure. #TEBOWTIME 14:19, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

*What are "death mites"?
** A {{W|Mite}} is a small arthropod that aren't particularly dangerous to humans, at worst causing allergic reactions. I guess "death mites" is another joke on hypochondriacs. [[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:11, 21 August 2012 (UTC)

*I feel like a Hypochondriac's nightmare would be dying from a disease that they detected at the earilest stage, but could do absolutely nothing about. #TEBOWTIME 10:33, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

*Don't you think the Title Text is more suggesting that Randal has a rash and he made the comic to calm himself down, but then it turns out that he has death mites in real life?
** Using the context clues, it's safe to assume that Cueball is thinking the title-text. #TEBOWTIME 13:24, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

User:Buggz

2012-08-21T08:21:35Z

Buggz:

Greetings! I'm an '85 model software developer from Norway and have been commenting on the blog as Buggz.

User talk:Buggz

2012-08-21T08:20:55Z

Buggz: Created page with " Red link AWAY! Hi! Feel free to say something."

Red link AWAY!
Hi! Feel free to say something.

Talk:1096: Clinically Studied Ingredient

2012-08-20T13:27:26Z

Buggz:

* The 1997 parody film {{w|Plump Fiction}} (an atrocious film from the looks of it) jokingly used the tagline «From the producers who saw "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs" and "Braveheart"» to the same effect. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:53, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
*:It's a similar effect, although in that case, the joke isn't that the tagline doesn't indicate whether the producers liked the other films, the joke there is that normally the tagline would tell you other works the producers had themselves produced. There is no ambiguity in the tagline, as it's pretty clear the producers of that film ''didn't'' produce the other films. [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:30, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
*::I meant to compare the tagline to the title text, not the comic itself. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 13:27, 20 August 2012 (UTC)

* I think the joke isn't just that what Megan was tested for isn't clear, but like the clinically studied compound, she doesn't say if she was found to be healthy or not.
*: I don't think the fact that she doesn't say what she was tested for is part of the joke at all. I think we just come in in the middle of a conversation where the previous line was something like "How do I know you don't have any STDs?". Also, please sign your comments by putting four tildes after it (<nowiki> ~~~~ </nowiki>) [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:30, 17 August 2012 (UTC)

* Longer hair than normal, but maybe it's just too early this morning for me. Tebow Time, Twice a Day. 12:03, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
*: Hmmm... I'm inclined to think it's not Megan, unless she has a perm. (Megan's is consistently spaghetti-straight.) (qv {{explain|1089}}) -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 13:53, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
*:: I'll go on record that this is *not* Megan. We have a few variants of female characters based only on the hair and this is not consistent with her other appearances. --[[User:Jeff|Jeff]] ([[User talk:Jeff|talk]]) 14:29, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
*::: Approve completely; I removed all references to her. - [[User:Cos|Cos]] ([[User talk:Cos|talk]]) 23:35, 19 August 2012 (UTC)

* No matter how I squint at this one, that extra line just doesn't seem to make sense... unless there is a penis in this cartoon.
*: Nope, nothing so bawdy. The left knee is just a little higher than the right. -- [[User:IronyChef|IronyChef]] ([[User talk:IronyChef|talk]]) 13:30, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
*:: I don't even see an extra line. I took the pointed corner Cueball's right arm is on to be the corner of the bed (a stylized slanted bed) with the round line being the covers that don't come to the end. Alternatively, as IronyChef suggests, the round is the end of the bed, and cueball has his right hand on his right leg while his left leg is raised (with his knee around the area of his right wrist) [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:30, 17 August 2012 (UTC)

*Interestingly, a Google search of the subject phrase of this comic brings up this comic as the first (few) results. There are, however, actual product examples that come up. I had never heard the phrase used; but apparently it is, for example, by [https://www.progesic.com/articles/clinically-studied-ingredients.html Progesic] or [http://www.muscletech.com/products/myobuild/index.shtml Myobuild] (note: explainxkcd does not endorse the use of these misleading products) [[User:TheHYPO|TheHYPO]] ([[User talk:TheHYPO|talk]]) 14:30, 17 August 2012 (UTC)
**Other examples include Super CitriMax®, which contains "a clinically studied ingredient for weight management", and UC-II®, which contains an ingredient that has been "clinically studied to support joint comfort, mobility and flexibility". [http://www.interhealthusa.com/ingredients.aspx] ~ [[User:Quackslikeaduck|Quackslikeaduck]] ([[User talk:Quackslikeaduck|talk]]) 18:59, 17 August 2012 (UTC)

*"the phrase is used in shrewd marketing techniques": Not sure that shrewd is correct - deceitful?
*: I've put "elusive" - [[User:Cos|Cos]] ([[User talk:Cos|talk]]) 23:35, 19 August 2012 (UTC)

User:Buggz

2012-08-20T08:27:24Z

Buggz: Created page with "I'm a software developer from Norway and have been commenting on the blog as Buggz."

I'm a software developer from Norway and have been commenting on the blog as Buggz.

Talk:1096: Clinically Studied Ingredient

2012-08-17T11:57:27Z

Buggz:

Talk:1096: Clinically Studied Ingredient

2012-08-17T11:56:23Z

Buggz:

The 1997 parody film {{w|Plump Fiction}} (an atrocious film from the looks of it) jokingly used the tagline «From the producers who saw "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs" and "Braveheart"» to the same effect. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:53, 17 August 2012 (UTC)

I think the joke isn't just that what Megan was tested for isn't clear, but like the clinically studied compound, she doesn't say if she was found to be healthy or not.

Talk:1096: Clinically Studied Ingredient

2012-08-17T11:53:42Z

Buggz:

The 1997 parody film [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117350/ Plump Fiction] (an atrocious film from the looks of it) jokingly used the tagline «From the producers who saw "Pulp Fiction", "Reservoir Dogs" and "Braveheart"» to the same effect. --[[User:Buggz|Buggz]] ([[User talk:Buggz|talk]]) 11:53, 17 August 2012 (UTC)

I think the joke isn't just that what Megan was tested for isn't clear, but like the clinically studied compound, she doesn't say if she was found to be healthy or not.

Talk:1096: Clinically Studied Ingredient

2012-08-17T07:50:45Z

Buggz: Created page with "The 1997 parody film [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117350/ Plump Fiction] (an atrocious film from the looks of it) jokingly used the tagline «From the producers who saw "Pulp..."