explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:992: Mnemonics

2014-09-11T14:29:24Z

Cflare:

The most memorable resistor code mnemonics I know are not...politically correct, shall we say. But they are memorable. [[User:Blaisepascal|Blaisepascal]] ([[User talk:Blaisepascal|talk]]) 19:55, 27 August 2012 (UTC)

I feel like he got lazy at the end and didn't provide an "or" to the Jesus one mnemonic. Also, why is mnemonic often pronounced "new-monic" ?

Mnemonic is supposed to be pronounced "nim-monic"; "new-monic" is rather a malapropism, given that is a correct pronunciation of "pneumonic" (meaning related to lungs or to pneumonia"), similar to how some people pronounce "nuclear" as "nu-kyoo-lar" (reminiscent of "-cular"-ending words, such as: perpendicular, particular, jocular, etc.).
:I pronounce it as written, same for "gnome" - keeps those muscles going. (Try it with "knight", you'll get an approximation of Chaucer. Seriously.) --[[User:Qwach|Qwach]] ([[User talk:Qwach|talk]]) 02:39, 1 September 2013 (UTC)
:My dictionary says it's a schwa sound. Both "nim" and "new" are putting too much emphasis on the first syllable. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.202|108.162.219.202]] 06:46, 30 December 2013 (UTC)

Mnemonics are actually counter-productive. They claim to help you remember something but, in actuality, they replace what you're supposed to remember with something useless, thus causing you to FAIL to remember.[[Special:Contributions/76.29.225.28|76.29.225.28]] 03:32, 4 July 2013 (UTC)

"Mnemonics are actually counter-productive." I disagree. They provide the '''order''' to the list of already known, or mostly known, words. They provide a little extra help.--DrMath 20:50, 30 August 2013 (UTC)

Big Brother Reptilian Overlors. This aren't Raptors or Tyranosaurs?? I remmeber any 'fear' from Monroe to they -- {{unsigned ip|108.162.210.252}}

Has anyone noticed the Order of Operations is Out of Order? Please Email Dad & Mum A Shark? - Apostrophyx ([[Special:Contributions/108.162.249.221|108.162.249.221]] 03:17, 15 July 2014 (UTC))
:It's not out of order, multiplication and division are one tier together. 6 x 5 / 2 and 6 / 2 x 5 have the same result. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:29, 11 September 2014 (UTC)

I learned "Kahn's Hot Dogs Use Dead Cow Meat" as a mnemonic for SI prefixes. Covers all the common ones, but leaves out extreme ones like Giga or Zepto.--[[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.64|173.245.55.64]] 20:13, 17 July 2014 (UTC)

Talk:978: Citogenesis

2014-09-09T18:56:23Z

Cflare:

Bonus points if the editor citing the work is also the person who created the fake source!'''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 06:59, 2 February 2013 (UTC)

The title text is not addressed in the explanation. I've read some popular science books, but they do not seem to suffer the problem cited there. Maybe there's a particular brand of pop science that is very susceptible to that sort of problem? --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 17:48, 17 August 2013 (UTC)
:We probably never will know, but as the comic itself says: Google is your friend! I found a nice story at the [http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?t=76475 xkcd forum] belonging to the German minister {{w|Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg}}. I have added this to the trivia section.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 12:00, 18 August 2013 (UTC)

On a more amusing note, it is impossible to actually verify half of the obscure references on Wikipedia, as they are often magazines or books unlikely to be kept by typical libraries. One could easily fake an obscure reference if you know of a book with a title that seemingly pertains to the subject matter, but you know that the book had a printing run of less then 10,000 copies.
[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.63|108.162.215.63]] 18:09, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

This article doesn't actually explain the self-sustaining cycle that is the point of the article. It references citogenesis and where the word was derived, and references wikipedia. None of that explains the "fake article" -> "news writer references article" -> "wiki editor adds citation of news writer" -> "fake article referenced in other news". [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 18:56, 9 September 2014 (UTC)

Talk:918: Google+

2014-08-19T16:16:23Z

Cflare:

I really don't mind Facebook. It's not like they look at my data specifically, they're just using my data in an aggregate to better target adverts at me, and I don't have any issue with receiving ads that I actually care about. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 01:23, 17 April 2013 (UTC)
:Is that you, Mark?? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 06:49, 21 January 2014 (UTC)
::99.99999% of facebook's problems are PR. They take the "you're holding it wrong" approach, and this is what creates a spiral. Sorry, if you're online, it's public. If facebook simply said that it had to do this for the features to work, allowed people the ability to disable any feature, and geared features so that they aren't co-dependent (or if they are dependent, the setting cascades) then they'd be fine. The, it's our way or the highway approach is effective because, who's not going to use facebook, but it's derogatory and creates demagoguery and unnecessary panic. This is bad for the public, and for no reason at all. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 16:16, 19 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:907: Ages

2014-08-18T21:51:17Z

Cflare:

I don't know how Randall knows about the 55+ range, but ok. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 01:44, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

:Perhaps he is dating an older lady... [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 02:47, 26 August 2013 (UTC)

:The fact that STDs among the elderly are going rampant {{unsigned|Lackadaisical}}

"0-3 - babies/toddlers are not self-sufficient and not intelligently communicative." Babies at age 2 can communicate pretty good.(And some older people cannot "intelligently communicate". ''Kickasl''[[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.40|108.162.229.40]] 18:52, 20 March 2014 (UTC)

: I believe the idea is that most 2-to-3-year-olds are only capable of communicating things that could be boiled down essentially to either "I want that" or "I don't want that" (at varying levels of intensity and repetition). This is not generally considered "intelligent" communication - indeed most of the phylum chordata is capable of this level of communication. -- [[User:Brettpeirce|Brettpeirce]] ([[User talk:Brettpeirce|talk]]) 14:33, 21 March 2014 (UTC)

:: As a father. That's just BS. Or I have a genius baby. At 3 she is communicating more than just needs. She communicates fears, dreams, imagines she's a superhero, can count to 20, and can point out logical fallacies. She understands when I'm away on business, and can understand that I cannot interact with her physically. However, right afterwards she'll pretend I can interact with her and will run from the phone. She is sentient. I have reason to believe they are capable of these thoughts at even younger age, just unable to speak their minds. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 21:51, 18 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:906: Advertising Discovery

2014-08-18T21:47:03Z

Cflare:

It's only trained Wikipedia veterans who believe that. Most people have no idea what the square brackets mean. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 01:45, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

:[citation needed] [[User:Promethean|Promethean]] ([[User talk:Promethean|talk]]) 02:17, 24 April 2013 (UTC)

:[Dubious:Discuss] [[Special:Contributions/120.145.27.228|120.145.27.228]] 17:23, 13 October 2013 (UTC)

:This just in. Wikipedia veterans are gullible idiots.
:: I knew it all along. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 21:47, 18 August 2014 (UTC)

900: Religions

2014-08-18T20:51:35Z

Cflare: /* Clarified recantation. It was unclear how much of his beliefs were recanted */

{{comic
| number = 900
| date = May 18, 2011
| title = Religions
| image = religions.png
| titletext = But to us there is but one God, plus or minus one. —1 Corinthians 8:6±2.
}}

==Explanation==
The late {{w|Harold Camping}}, a Christian pastor, falsely predicted that the world would end in May 21, 2011. After that prediction failed, he moved the date to October 21 of that year, and when that passed uneventfully, he recanted his belief that the end time could be calculated. In the Christian mythos, the end of the world is called "the second coming" (referencing the return of Jesus) or "the Rapture."

The first frame is a reference to raptors in {{w|Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park}}, and certainly not Randall's first raptor joke. In this film, the raptor dinosaurs get much more dangerous once they learn how to open doors. Cueball mishears Megan, which is why he thinks she said "raptors" instead of "Rapture".

In the second frame, Cueball references three major religions. Christian and church for {{w|Christianity}}, Mosque for {{w|Islam}} and Rabbi for {{w|Judaism}}.

The third frame is a math joke in which Megan references error bars which are used on graphs to indicate the uncertainty. So, Megan believes in one God (monotheism), as she says in the comic. But if she is still trying to find the error bars, and from the title text it is "one, plus or minus one", that could be in the range of zero ({{w|Atheism}}) to two ({{w|Dualism|Bitheism}}).

The title text is a supposed excerpt from the holy text of experimental monotheism. {{w|First Epistle to the Corinthians|First Corinthians}} is a book of the {{w|Christian biblical canons|Christian Bible}}. Megan refers to chapter 8 verse 6 (±2), which would be [http://www.bibleserver.com/text/ESV/1%20Corinthians8:4-8 verses 4–8]. In the actual bible text, this section refers to idols and "so called gods", but also states "There is no God but one."

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan talking.]
:Megan: So are you worried about the rapture?
:Cueball: No, unless it figures out how to open doors.
:Megan: I said ''rapture.''

:Cueball: Oh, I'm not really into that. I'm the kind of christian who only goes to church on Christmas and Easter, and then spends the other 363 days at the mosque.
:Megan: ...I don't think that's a thing.
:Cueball: Our rabbi swears it's legit.

:Cueball: What religion are you?
:Megan: Experimentalist Monotheism.
:Cueball: Which is?
:Megan: We believe there's one god, but we're trying to find the error bars on that number.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]
[[Category:Math]]

Talk:882: Significant

2014-08-15T13:57:25Z

Cflare:

Those lazy scientists are playing minecraft instead of curing cancer! Lynch 'em! '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 00:35, 11 January 2013 (UTC)
:But I heard that Minecraft cures cancer... Scientists! Investigate! <off: cheers from active group, boos from the control group> [[Special:Contributions/178.99.81.144|178.99.81.144]] 19:31, 30 April 2013 (UTC)
::You know this experiment isn't conducted properly when you know you're in the control group. [[User:Troy|Troy]] ([[User talk:Troy|talk]]) 05:24, 4 March 2014 (UTC)
:::So you have to somehow convince them they are playing Minecraft, when in fact they are not. That's easy, select people who have never played the game. But what if KNOWING the game is Minecraft is what cures cancer? Oh boy... [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 13:57, 15 August 2014 (UTC)

Um, I take it that whoever explained this comic can't tell the difference between < and >, as the fact that the confidence was changed wasn't mentioned in the article... [[Special:Contributions/76.246.37.141|76.246.37.141]] 23:19, 20 September 2013 (UTC)
:Yes, I also figured out this today, green is lower than 0.05, on other colors there is just a confidence that it's NOT lower than 0.05. The newspaper did add this remaining 19 panels to 95%. The article is marked as incomplete, it needs a major rewrite.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:12, 3 October 2013 (UTC)

This explanation seems to misinterpret α. α is the chance of rejecting a true null hypothesis, a false positive. The 5% here is α. The correct interpretation of it is that if the null hypothesis is true, there is a 5% chance that we will mistakenly reject it. P in "P<0.05" is the chance that, if the null hypothesis is true, a result as extreme as, or more extreme than, the result we get from this experiment. '''α is not the chance that, given our current data, the null hypothsis is true. We wish to know what that is, but we do not know.'''[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.72|108.162.215.72]] 08:52, 16 May 2014 (UTC)

In layman's terms, the comic appears to misrepresent what "95% confidence" (p <0.05) means. The statistic "p < 0.05" means that when we find a correlation based on data, that correlation will be a false positive fewer than 5 percent of the time. In other words, when we observe the correlation in the data, that correlation actually exists in the real world at least 19 out of 20 times. It '''does not''' mean that 1 out of every 20 tests will produce a false positive. This comic displays a pretty significant failure in understanding of Bayesian mathematics. The 5% chance isn't a 5% chance that any test will produce a (false) positive; it's a 5% chance that a statistical positive is a false positive. {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.196}}

Talk:874: Time Management

2014-08-14T14:49:23Z

Cflare: Created page with "The last sentence in the explanation was accidentally. I can't heads or tails out it. ~~~~"

The last sentence in the explanation was accidentally. I can't heads or tails out it. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:49, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:870: Advertising

2014-08-14T14:38:34Z

Cflare:

But the Geico commercial doesn't say up to, it says 15% or more... ~Jfreund
:That may depend on your region. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.30|108.162.216.30]] 03:24, 30 November 2013 (UTC)
:Saying that something "could save you 15% or more" and saying it "could save you ''up to'' 15% or more" are the same thing. Both statements take into account the very real possibility that some percentage less than 15 could be saved.[[User:Orazor|Orazor]] ([[User talk:Orazor|talk]]) 13:37, 21 July 2014 (UTC)

Not to mention that Geico says "'''Could''' save you..." (In combination with "up to", the "could" should be "will".) [[User:Z|Z]] ([[User talk:Z|talk]]) 03:09, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

A justification for "The more you buy, the more you save" is that the more discounted products you buy, the more money you save as opposed to buying them at list price. For things we will buy anyway (e.g. food), it may be true. --[[User:Troy0|Troy0]] ([[User talk:Troy0|talk]]) 20:01, 6 July 2014 (UTC)
:Added to the article. --[[User:Troy0|Troy0]] ([[User talk:Troy0|talk]]) 04:10, 25 July 2014 (UTC)
::It doesn't work when the items can expire. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:38, 14 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:852: Local g

2014-08-13T15:14:40Z

Cflare:

What a coincidence that he just happened to p*** off the one group of athletes that was capable of reaching and meting out retribution on him. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 07:12, 17 April 2013 (UTC)

This explanation is lacking. It does not talk about the joke itself. It is talking about the variation in gravity being significant in interpreting world records. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 05:14, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
:Hi 184.66.160.91, don't criticise but help to explain. Nevertheless I will start to work on this right now.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 20:16, 8 July 2013 (UTC)
::Criticising is helping. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 06:18, 17 July 2013 (UTC)
:::While constructive criticism is helpful, '''anyone can edit'''. If you see problems in the article, click "Edit" and make the improvements yourself. That's what Dgbrt meant by "help to explain". (And yes, I do realize this conversation is a few months old.) [[User:NealCruco|NealCruco]] ([[User talk:NealCruco|talk]]) 22:43, 22 November 2013 (UTC)
:::No, no it's not. Criticizing without offering even a partial solution, is just adding noise to the signal. I don't even believe that stating things without an alternative in mind is criticizing. It's just trolling. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 15:10, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

Well,it doesn't just affect pole vaulters, it affect all sports, like running, less graity makes you run faster. Or maybe slower? ~Jfreund
:The added traction is definitely offset by the increase in force required to maintain height off the ground. So maybe you'd start faster, but you'd definitely end slower. This is why records are a questionable metric. Not only do small things like this completely affect the results, but shifts in these things over time. As well as increases in biotechnology, training, and genetic offerings. It's weird how this has nothing to do with survival on the grand scale, yet we see humans adapt over time like this. Either we are generically becoming better on every metric, or willpower has an effect on offspring. It's possible that athletes find athletes and have kids. I don't know; it is a mystery. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 15:14, 13 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:852: Local g

2014-08-13T15:10:18Z

Cflare:

Talk:791: Leaving

2014-08-07T20:58:28Z

Cflare:

RIP, dearly beloved wife who died in a freak accident with a supermarket shelf while trying to buy spray cleaner. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 02:18, 24 April 2013 (UTC)
:She is survived by lonely dude staring at cat vomit. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 20:58, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:782: Desecration

2014-08-07T17:58:35Z

Cflare:

Oh god, I thought the tombstones were just there for decoration! I didn't think there'd actually be ''people'' buried under them! '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 02:33, 24 April 2013 (UTC)

(Personally I think the real explanation is something of a "Hot Apple Pie may be hot!" nature. While they apparently have no problem with unburrying indian bones from the ground, the realisation that they were in an ''indian burial ground'' (surprise, surprise!) causes them concern. Just like the (semi-mythical?) people who don't realise hot things are... hot. [[Special:Contributions/178.98.77.240|178.98.77.240]] 00:20, 4 May 2013 (UTC) )

Is it too unsafe to assume that because the standard, typically drawn stick figure is referred to as Rob, that the character in most of these strips is named Rob and not Cueball? As I understand it, Cueball was made up on this site and not by Randall. --[[Special:Contributions/98.203.241.55|98.203.241.55]] 22:12, 22 May 2013 (UTC)

I think this is a truth in fiction so to speak. In many story lines there's moments where, "You remember that time we broke all those spiritual laws? Well it appears that [G]od(s) is angry." A secular example, anyone thinking to themselves, "Seriously officer, I only had three or four drinks, and I had to get home." "Well, now you are DUI." *gasp* "Really?!??! Oh no!" [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 17:58, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:747: Geeks and Nerds

2014-08-06T14:58:02Z

Cflare:

If you look at the etymology of the words it is pretty easy to figure out what they mean. Or maybe used to mean, people have the annoying habit of changing the meaning of words. [[User:Tharkon|Tharkon]] ([[User talk:Tharkon|talk]]) 02:03, 23 May 2014 (UTC)
:No, a geek is Glenn's word for a zombie. A nerd is one pieces in the candy box of Nerds. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:58, 6 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:733: Eagle

2014-08-06T14:38:41Z

Cflare:

The one time the biologists are ''actually'' speaking in code, they'll regret having told the people around them to stop misinterpreting everything they say. '''[[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 13:23, 18 February 2013 (UTC)
:Red Raptor leaves nest to hunt for Blue Dragon.

732: HDTV

2014-08-06T14:36:56Z

Cflare: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 732
| date = April 26, 2010
| title = HDTV
| image = hdtv.png
| titletext = We're also stuck with blurry, juddery, slow-panning 24fps movies forever because (thanks to 60fps home video) people associate high framerates with camcorders and cheap sitcoms, and thus think good framerates look fake.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic pokes fun at the differing standard between image quality for television sets and electronic devices, even though both standard are based on essentially the same standards. When rating television sets, a {{w|1080p}} screen, that is, a screen 1,920 pixels wide and 1,080 pixels tall with progressive scan, is considered impressive. In contrast, the same resolution with a computer device is considered standard fare, given that on a 4:3 ratio computer screen 1,024 pixels wide is expected. Widescreen monitors have already surpassed 1,920 pixels wide, and double widescreen monitors have become more common.

The title texts explains another disagreement involving images and popular opinion. The feeling that a viewer gets from watching a film in a theatre is different from the feeling from a home film, or again, between a serialized programme from an international television channel and a locally-broadcast programme. The disparity is that the small-time productions actually implement better-quality equipment than the big-time productions, in terms of higher frame rate (although not in image fidelity or other respects). However the small productions really are cheaper in other respects, and this feeling is transferred to the look of high frame rates, thanks to videotapes often being used instead of film stock. Low frame rates on more big budget films (and all old, nostalgic productions before high frame rates were commercially possible) mean low frame rates are associated with quality, despite not being as able to capture as much motion as better-quality high frame rates. Blur, judder, and slow pans are mostly absent in high-frame rate productions. This is changing, however, since the major films {{w|The Hobbit}} and {{w|Avatar 2}} are/will be be shot with better framerates.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is pointing to a huge flatscreen HDTV on the wall. His friend is holding a cell phone.]
:Cueball (HDTV Owner): Check out my new HDTV-a beautiful, high-def 1080p.
:Friend: Wow, that's over ''TWICE'' the horizontal resolution of my cell phone.
:Friend: In fact, it almost beats the LCD monitor I got in 2004.
:It baffles me that people find HDTV impressive.
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

645: RPS

2014-08-05T14:11:11Z

Cflare: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 645
| date = October 5, 2009
| title = RPS
| image = rps.png
| titletext = It looks good, but it needs more postfixins.
}}

==Explanation==
''{{w|Reverse Polish notation}}'' is a method of writing mathematical expressions, where operators are after their operands, not between. For example, 2 + 2 becomes 2 2 +, and (2 × 2) / 3 becomes 2 2 * 3 /. This comic plays on that, by placing a Polish Sausage (a North American term for {{w|Kielbasa}}) after both halves of the bun instead of between.

The title text is a pun on the fact that ''Reverse Polish Notation'' is also known as ''Postfix notation''. "Fixins" is a Southern US slang for condiments such as mustard, chopped onions, and more. The slang is derived from how you "fix" up, or prepare, your food item whenever you have items that can be customized per person after being cooked.

==Transcript==
:[A sausage is sitting to the right of an empty bun.]
:Reverse Polish Sausage
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Math]]

Talk:641: Free

2014-08-05T14:07:28Z

Cflare:

"it doesn't contain a synthetic, lab-grown building material"

Actually asbestos is a natural material (so some marketers would have you believe it can't be bad). It used to be mined in Quebec.

:That's the danger in associating synthetic as evil. Synthetic oil does better than natural oil, for cars. GMO doesn't necessarily mean something bad. Cross breeding is essentially GMO, if you take the literal definition of the phrase "Genetically Modified Organisms". [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:07, 5 August 2014 (UTC)

----

Modified the above to switch the example from "cholesterol" to "fat". The statement:

:''A more realistic example can be found in various fruit- and vegetable-based foods that advertise themselves as "cholesterol-free," which is exactly what we would expect since cholesterol is only found in animals in nature.''

is false as plants do contain small amounts of cholesterol, although they tend to rely more on phytosterols for cellular function rather than cholesterol which animals rely upon (see [[wikipedia:Cholesterol#Physiology|Cholesterol:Physiology]]). For clarification, the term "cholesterol free" applies when there exists less than 2mg of cholesterol per serving (see [http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.62 FDA CFR Title 21 Subpart D 101.62], under ''(c)Fatty acid content claims''). [[User:Thokling|Thokling]] ([[User talk:Thokling|talk]]) 12:02, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

Talk:608: Form

2014-08-04T21:20:40Z

Cflare:

This space intentionally left without relevant content. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 21:20, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:608: Form

2014-08-04T21:20:24Z

Cflare:

This space left intentionally without relevant content. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 21:20, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:608: Form

2014-08-04T21:20:12Z

Cflare: Created page with "This space intentionally without relevant content. ~~~~"

This space intentionally without relevant content. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 21:20, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:603: Idiocracy

2014-08-04T21:12:31Z

Cflare:

This explanation seems to be incorrect. The key point was that White Hat actually was wrong! The average education has gone up, and the average IQ ''cannot'' sink! By allowing Cueball to agree with clearly false laments, he baits him into revealing his stupidity. --[[User:Quicksilver|Quicksilver]] ([[User talk:Quicksilver|talk]]) 19:58, 20 August 2013 (UTC)
:The title text pretty much spells out that, in Randall's mind, White Hat is correct. [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.66|199.27.128.66]] 06:14, 10 November 2013 (UTC)

I propose that the hatted figure is not in fact [[White_Hat|White Hat]], as neither the hat shape nor the personality are consistent with other appearances. ([[:Category:Comics featuring White Hat‏‎]]) The real White Hat, when he speaks, is generally a bit of a wet blanket or well-meaning buffoon. This one, whom I'll dub [[White_Derby|White Derby]], is speaking counter-buffoonery, what we may reasonably guess to be the actual thoughts of the author. Usually Cueball fills this role (eg [[258:_Conspiracy_Theories]]), and in fact if the roles here were reversed I'd tend to ignore the misshapen hat. But two and two, together, well... --[[Special:Contributions/66.114.70.139|66.114.70.139]] 18:39, 28 October 2013 (UTC)
:Eh. He hasn't appeared in any other strips, and it's not too harmful to put him under the umbrella of the real White Hat. I see your point; White Hat is no longer a generic character like [[Hairy]], but an actual recurring one.
:Also, have Black Hat and White Hat ever appeared in the same comic? (Click and Drag doesn't count.) [[User:Alpha|Alpha]] ([[User talk:Alpha|talk]]) 09:08, 11 November 2013 (UTC)

So, does this page qualify for Complete now? [[Special:Contributions/199.27.128.66|199.27.128.66]] 05:36, 12 November 2013 (UTC)

Sorry Randall. You're wrong here. IQ can change. Just because there is a mean for the IQ of the current population, doesn't mean that average can't shift over time. And if we used to be cavemen then either the IQ did shift, or we've always been this smart, which means we couldn't have evolved.

In this case, IQ is exactly the same as morality. Both shift ever so slightly over time, such that the mean is always the acceptable "norm". You can't feel this shift unless you study it. The difference is that morality exhibits locality, so morality shifts slower or faster depending on the subsection of society. Thus you have people who believe they are more right than others, but no one believes they are outright wrong (as a culture). Proof in the pudding is doing a poll on the population as to how smart they think they are. They always rate themselves such that the mean is shifted 1 or 2 deviations up. Same thing with morality. People all espouse a morality that they think is 1 or 2 deviations greater than the standard, whether they are a religious sect or secularists.

But the short of it, a population mean doesn't imply the mean never changes.[[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 21:12, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:597: Addiction

2014-08-04T17:35:28Z

Cflare:

Or was it just the monitor Megan switches off? That's my take on it, thus leaving the Skype (or similar) connection active for continued two-way audio at the very least... [[Special:Contributions/178.105.100.250|178.105.100.250]] 18:38, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

I think that the hum is actually Tinnitus, as people that use computers a lot tend to get exposed a lot to loud sounds (when playing games or listening to music, or both) or use headphones a lot. I know I have it. {{unsigned ip|173.245.55.73}}

Tinnitus is a low hum or squeal that's always there. You can ignore it when there is other sound, but it always there. This is due to damage to the ear. If they take a hearing test, they will see the damage.
The hum that people hear when it gets quiet is not due to damage. I can go to the doctor right now, and there's no damage. Not everyone hears this.
It's possibly linked to auditory perception disorder. I have that. Occasionally my ability to convert sound to language is stalled. I will suddenly not understand you, then 2-3 seconds later, understand what you said. This is because my mind plays back the sound it remembers until I recognize it. This is a similar experience to not paying attention, with the exception that I am paying attention and it still happens. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 17:35, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:588: Pep Rally

2014-08-04T15:38:56Z

Cflare:

Reminds me of the whole traditional situation that various war leaders would inspire the troops prior to a battle with the whole "I spoke to God(/equivalent), and He is with us!" sort of thing. Presumably similar speeches were being made by his opposing number. And then there's the comedic subversion of "I had a little chat with God, last night and... I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. But you'll still try your best, right chaps?" [[Special:Contributions/178.105.100.250|178.105.100.250]] 00:11, 24 May 2013 (UTC)
: Various times in the Bible, the leader would ask if they'd win this fight. God would say no, and the leader would refuse to fight. They only went headfirst into losing fights when they didn't listen to God. So there wasn't that subversion really. At least, not from their point of view. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 15:38, 4 August 2014 (UTC)

Talk:557: Students

2014-07-31T17:15:47Z

Cflare: Created page with "The project dream is so true. To this day I have dreams where I signed up but didn't even attend a class that was necessary for graduation. I dream that I'll likely fail the c..."

The project dream is so true. To this day I have dreams where I signed up but didn't even attend a class that was necessary for graduation. I dream that I'll likely fail the course and need to attend one more semester. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 17:15, 31 July 2014 (UTC)

333: Getting Out of Hand

2014-07-23T15:16:04Z

Cflare: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 333
| date = October 24, 2007
| title = Getting Out of Hand
| image = getting out of hand.png
| titletext = Wikipedia's role as brain-extension, while a little troubling, is also really cool.
}}

==Explanation==
Given how {{w|Wikipedia}} has an ever-expanding variety of topics, the grand majority of them in great detail, there is a possibility (even a temptation) of relying on Wikipedia to learn from every topic that leaves you confused... even {{w|foreplay}}. ('Bedtime' and 'us time' is not necessarily 'computer time'.)

The title text refers to the fact that many rely on Wikipedia instead of remembering/learning stuff. This was later directly addressed as the subject of [[903: Extended Mind]]

==Transcript==
:[A couple is in bed in the dark, and Cueball reaches out from under the covers to do a Wikipedia search about Foreplay.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Wikipedia]]

Talk:314: Dating Pools

2014-07-21T14:49:19Z

Cflare:

The following text is exactly 160 characters long, which is the maximum length of an SMS:
:(2013-08-17)-(199X-XX-XX)=6XXX days
:(2013-08-17)-(199X-XX-XX)=5XXX days
:7 years=2556.75 days
:6XXX/2+2557=5XXX
:Standard Creepiness Rule: Don't date under age/2+7
Don't ask me how I found it :P (some digits are replaced with X for privacy reasons) --[[User:DiEvAl|DiEvAl]] ([[User talk:DiEvAl|talk]]) 10:08, 17 August 2013 (UTC)

Don't ask you how you found it? I'm a little concerned about that credo...[[Special:Contributions/121.222.232.156|121.222.232.156]] 06:18, 14 September 2013 (UTC)

By this standard, 14 is the minimum dating age. As a father, I approve [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:49, 21 July 2014 (UTC)

Talk:310: Commitment

2014-07-21T14:36:50Z

Cflare:

This is my greatest fear.{{unsigned ip|69.91.105.111 | 00:15, 6 May 2013‎ (UTC)}}

:Totally agree --[[User:SergioCastanneda|SergioCastanneda]] ([[User talk:SergioCastanneda|talk]]) 21:48, 24 May 2013 (UTC)

::Disagree. There is no true one. You join in commitment and make it work. Because, even if there was a true one, what if "the one" mucked up, and didn't pick her true one. We'd have to assume that both people would be capable of picking out their true one love. What if yours mucked up and ended up addicted to drugs, went insane, or worse. So, at this point we have to assume that the true one would be good enough to avoid all that. Then, they'd have to be better at us at recognizing their true love. They'd have to better at us at building relationships to make up for our inadequacies. They'd have to be better at us at a lot of stuff. And if they were better than us, then we'd be unequally committed. We'd be the butt of all the screw ups. Everything we did would be wrong. It would be marriage hell. No, I like the idea that me and my wife picked each other, and we are equally inadequate, and that our love for each other is what makes us strive to make it work. That to me, is more romantic than finding a one that I'd always feel inadequate to have. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:36, 21 July 2014 (UTC)

I disagree with the last sentence of the explanation. I think it was not Cueball that was the "last guy in that situation". I think it is Cueball or someone else observing Cueball, and making a comment about a previous person. [[User:Tryc|Tryc]] ([[User talk:Tryc|talk]]) 15:56, 20 June 2013 (UTC)

:In general I do not edit other posts but here was something broken. I am pretty sure this comic refers to the movie {{w|The Graduate}} feat. {{w|Dustin Hoffman}}. Hoffman became very popular after it was released AND the ending of that movie is very similar to this comic. I will add an incomplete tag for further investigations.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 19:05, 20 June 2013 (UTC)

Talk:309: Shopping Teams

2014-07-21T14:29:07Z

Cflare:

The big problem with nerds is that they so frequently fail to place value on their own time. If you search through newspapers to find the best coupons to save a couple of dollars, I highly doubt that the amount of money you are saving is more than minimum wage. This applies to anything nerds end up spending so much time on. If you spend that time shopping around, clipping coupons or trading in TF2 because its fun, fine. But if you are in it for some sort of profit, its probably a waste of time. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.245.217|108.162.245.217]] 06:38, 6 June 2014 (UTC)
::People always do math against the person's earning potential. However, that's such a fallacy. If said person was bored of work after a 40 hour week / 8 hour days, clipping coupons would be a relief. And in this case since their earning potential has been reached (because they are unwilling to work more hours), but they are ok with clipping coupons, this is actually more profitable than watching TV. Also, if the person had a family and managed to turn the activity into a family activity, then not only did they gain bonding time, they are also limited to how much time they can work. Unless you want to assume that some person can work more than 40 hours a week at optimal effort up to the limit which affects their health, no, not every minute is equal in earning potential. [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 14:29, 21 July 2014 (UTC)

;Sysadmin?

Who is Randall's sysadmin? Does he even have one? --[[Special:Contributions/199.27.133.189|199.27.133.189]] 04:48, 25 June 2014 (UTC)
:Quote from the about page: "Server maintenance and most of the coding for these sites is done by my friend davean, who tries hard to remain invisible but can be reached at davean@xkcd.com." '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|#707|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 09:45, 25 June 2014 (UTC)

466: Moving

2014-07-07T16:10:51Z

Cflare: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 466
| date = August 22, 2008
| title = Moving
| image = moving.png
| titletext = We need a special holiday to honor the countless kind souls with unsecured networks named 'linksys'.
}}

==Explanation==
A {{w|cantenna}} is an self-made antenna made from a can, in this case a {{w|pringles}} can. Cueball is pointing his cantenna to the neighbors across the road, which, as he says, will allow him to connect to the {{w|wifi}} network there.

Megan points out that the neighbors themselves don't have Internet access, to which Cueball answers that he thinks that the neighbors will get hooked up to the Internet first.

The narrator notes that very little will stop geeks trying to get Internet in a new apartment.

The title text continues this theme of connecting to other people's networks, noting that we should have a holiday in honour of those people who don't bother reconfiguring their Linksys routers (thus leaving them with the default name of 'linksys'), which allows other people to connect to those networks very easily, as they aren't encrypted by default and don't need a password.

==Transcript==
:There are few forces more powerful than geeks desperately trying to get internet in a new apartment.
:Cueball: Okay, the pringles cantenna has let us patch into the WiFi network across the road.
:Megan: And they have internet?
:Cueball: No, but I think the cable van will hook up their house first.

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

Talk:670: Spinal Tap Amps

2014-06-16T17:14:37Z

Cflare:

Specifically, it's $166.66 recurring per unit of loud. [[User:Thokling|Thokling]] ([[User talk:Thokling|talk]]) 22:49, 29 September 2013 (UTC)

I vote we start using "units of loud" instead of "decibels" {{unsigned ip|149.152.191.2}}
:Aye! [[User:BK201|BK201]] ([[User talk:BK201|talk]]) 16:52, 12 December 2013 (UTC)BK201

I read somewhere that the amps used to have settings up to 10, but then people found ways to turn the knob past 10. It became culturally known as the 11 setting. In response, manufacturers made amps that went to 11, and this predated the movie. The movie just greatly increased the popularity of the idea. Can't find it anymore though. Maybe it was only urban legend [[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 17:14, 16 June 2014 (UTC)

655: Climbing

2014-06-12T18:04:58Z

Cflare: /* Explanation */ There is absolutely no indication for a "That's what she said". Besides, the "Return it there" part wouldn't even make sense.

{{comic
| number = 655
| date = October 28, 2009
| title = Climbing
| image = climbing.png
| titletext = Where did you even get this wall? Return it there and stand it back up right now.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic makes fun of a certain type of images very common on the internet. Those pictures are taken with a camera turned by 90° or rotated later by software, thus creating the illusion of people walking on walls or ceilings. While the original pictures depict the physical impossibility of a rotated {{w|gravitational force}}, Cueball uses the aforementioned technique to create pictures of himself on a {{w|climbing wall}}. Megan approaches him from above the wall, indicating that the climbing wall is in fact lying on the floor. It becomes clear that Cueball was not able to climb a real wall and therefore crawled on the floor with his camera adjusted accordingly.

Her comment is a sideswipe on the practise of self-display on {{w|Facebook}}, which is often done with the help of {{w|image manipulation}}.

The title text implies that Cueball has in fact stolen a real climbing wall.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is apparently ascending a climbing wall.]

:[We see him again in silhouette, as well as the edge of another person standing at a ninety degree angle to him with her feet on the wall above him.]

:[Cueball stops and looks up at Megan, who is standing on the "vertical" wall, looking at him.]

:Megan: Your facebook rock climbing pictures just got a lot less impressive.

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

Talk:164: Playing Devil's Advocate to Win

2014-05-19T15:48:39Z

Cflare:

I'm sure that no matter what scientific evidence about global warming is, the political issue lost contact with science long ago. I mean, do we really need global warming to prove that burning all fossil fuels and deforesting most of planet is bad? Also, our ability to endanger species doesn't seem limited to global warming. And the so-called solutions to global warming? This is not about science. It's a fight between people who are getting rich on oil and people who are getting rich on projects labelled as ecological. And both sides are manipulating science data - one to deny the global warming, one to make it even worse that it is. ... I don't believe anyone have working solution to global warming which doesn't involve at least 3 billions dead humans. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 23:14, 23 May 2013 (UTC)

We have a global warming since the last twenty thousand years. And we are still at a cold period (on long term meanings). A real global warming would bring us back to the conditions of the dinosaur ages.--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:15, 28 July 2013 (UTC)
:Correct. And it would be catastrophic on a global scale. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.64|108.162.237.64]] 17:48, 24 January 2014 (UTC)

They have totally messed with old temperature data. They "adjust" old thermometers to make them fit the data they want. [[Special:Contributions/184.66.160.91|184.66.160.91]] 03:30, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

You don't want to hear this, but my take is:
1. Global warming is probably real.
2. Global warming is probably exacerbated by human activity.
3. There is no possible way of averting global warming by reducing the output of greenhouse gases from human activity. WILL NOT HAPPEN.
Oh well! As Cueball says, it should be a wild ride. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.223|108.162.219.223]] 01:13, 17 January 2014 (UTC)

Note: "if we keep people from understanding just a little longer" ... as if someone need to actively do something to prevent majority of people of understanding hard to explain scientific topic. Most people still didn't accepted the fact that debts are supposed to be paid, and that's simple arithmetics. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 10:11, 24 January 2014 (UTC)
:Actually, debt owed by entities that emit currency is very different from debts owed by other economic entities. It's very far from "simple arithmetics" (and that's the reason there is such a thing as a central bank). {{unsigned ip|173.245.53.197}}

Thanks 199.27.128.144 for your fix on my bad HTML mishap here. If you would have an account here I could talk to you directly. --[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 00:19, 25 January 2014 (UTC)

It's been eight years since this comic, so I guess it ended up being the latter. Except I don't think anyone is embarrassed for the inaccuracies in the climate models. [http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/06/satellites-show-no-global-warming-for-17-years-5-months/ No warming for 17 years 5 months][[Special:Contributions/108.162.219.15|108.162.219.15]] 15:12, 5 March 2014 (UTC)
:The science of global warming is irrelevant. Every posed ecological disaster hasn't been an effort to advert it, but a political ploy to shift money from earners to consumers. Why did plans like putting windmills everywhere (which requires a lot of oil and oil burning, and uses up natural water supplies) get all the government funding, while actual solutions like fuel cells and nuclear got shut down (which CAN solve our dependency on oil if they only had the same funding as the wind/solar groups)? Because the top liberals were heavily invested in wind/solar, and were using politics as a way to give that group more financial success than the market would naturally allow. Why did they invest in such failures? Because they didn't understand the technology and science of the problem. If liberals had invested in fuel cell and nuclear, they would have won.[[User:Cflare|Cflare]] ([[User talk:Cflare|talk]]) 15:48, 19 May 2014 (UTC)