explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1698: Theft Quadrants

2016-11-02T16:14:44Z

Greatfermat: Interpretation of “printed publication”.

Come to think of it, I haven't accidentally hit a porn site in years. Is Randall even referring to a real problem? Anyone remember whitehouse dot com? And for the record, kids, [http://purl.net/net/tbc/writing/xxx.htm don't do porn]. ''— [[User:Tbc|tbc]] ([[User talk:Tbc|talk]]) 12:27, 24 June 2016 (UTC)''

I think the sentences "It is hard to steal nuclear launch codes. And a good thing too since they could be used to start a nuclear war." are weird... to me on the first read it sounded like it is a good thing to steal them... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.85.63|162.158.85.63]]

What is it with Randall and stealing wienermobiles? [http://www.xkcd.com/935/ xkcd 935] [[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.62|173.245.52.62]] 15:12, 24 June 2016 (UTC)
:I added it to the explanation, thanks! [[User:Elipongo|Elipongo]] ([[User talk:Elipongo|talk]]) 16:16, 24 June 2016 (UTC)
:There's also a wienermobile in xkcd 1110 parked to the right of the Burj. [[Special:Contributions/198.41.239.33|198.41.239.33]] 11:03, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

A somewhat similar thing really happened in one of the URL shortening services in Taiwan. This case is not that the domain is stolen; the problem is that its database storing shortened URL mappings, because of some mis-operation in converting database data, is rolled back and some shortened URLs are "double-booked." According to the announcement of the service, this affects over 234 thousand entries in the database. This leads to PTT, the largest terminal-based bulletin board system in Taiwan, bans shortened URLs from this service. --[[Special:Contributions/108.162.222.40|108.162.222.40]] 20:21, 24 June 2016 (UTC)

''sites can be particularly vulnerable if they do not maintain their web site'' - what? You can have domain name without ANY web site at all. "lapse" likely refers to owners stopping paying. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 11:09, 25 June 2016 (UTC)

(Trying again... the CAPTCHA is glitching out on me.) "It is also hard to steal the {{w|Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom|Crown Jewels}}, since they are protected by a [http://yeomenoftheguard.com/Windsor%20Castle.jpg complex security system]." - The items that are the first linked items are not at the location the second link points to... [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.131|141.101.98.131]] 16:20, 25 June 2016 (UTC)

In line with the above comments: the whole section on the crown jewels and the wienermobile seem to miss the point and get hung up on very minor details. Stealing the crown jewels would make a few people fabulously rich, a few people significantly poorer (or jailed, or court-martialled, depending), but would hardly affect anyone else in real terms other than making millions of people - all around the world - very upset. Saying that ''Randall erroneously assumes'' that there would be little consequence to stealing the wienermobile is just silly: there is nothing erroneous about it since it could never have a material effect on more than a few individuals, and the possibility of someone being injured or killed during the robbery is irrelevant since it applies equally well to the nuclear or crown jewels options. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.229.44|108.162.229.44]] 16:12, 26 June 2016 (UTC)

In regards to stealing tinyurl.com, I don't think it would actually be that easy. In the title text Randall suggests picking up the domain name when it expires. Because some domains were stolen that way in the past, ICANN has changed the rules for the major top-level-domains, including .com. Now, after a domain name expires, the original register has a 45 day auto-renew grace period where they can re-register it without penalty. If they miss that period, they have an additional 30 day grace period where it can be re-registered with a penalty. The domain name stops working when it initially expires so it would be nearly impossible for a company like tinyurl to get to the end of both grace periods without noticing and fixing the problem. These new rules make it effectively impossible for an organization to lose its domain name by failing to renew on a timely basis. [https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/expired-2013-05-03-en Reference]

Since Randall only mentioned domain expiration as the way it might be stolen, it is unclear whether or not he was considering a more direct domain name hijacking. I'm less familiar with how easy domain hijacking might be but considering that their entire business depends on their domain name, I can't imagine it would actually be that easy.

Regarding the current explanation (and has been pointed out already), saying that "sites can be particularly vulnerable if they do not maintain their web site" is very wrong. This has nothing to do with maintaining a website, and only has to do with maintaining thei domain name. The website and domain name are two very different things, so this isn't just a matter of nitpicking. However, as I have explained above, the entire concept is no longer correct. There is now a grace period up to 75 days long for .com domains during which registrars are not allowed to sell the domain name to another third party. {{unsigned|Cmancone}}

It might be a lot easier than you think to steal the launch codes. For nearly 20 years the USA's launch code was 00000000. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.135|162.158.255.135]] 22:51, 27 June 2016 (UTC)

:Be honest: if you were to guess the launch codes, would you have guessed that? [[User:Phineas81707|Phineas81707]] ([[User talk:Phineas81707|talk]]) 14:11, 28 June 2016 (UTC)

This is a bit of a style guide comment: can we please leave the Citation Needed Joke out of "nuclear war is bad"? The joke worked in our explanation of [[180: Canada]] because it was related to the comic itself. Here, not so much. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.127|162.158.255.127]] 01:43, 30 June 2016 (UTC)

The description seems to assume that “printed publication” means “offline articles”. It also means “scientific article which passed peer-review”, hence a joke as serious scientific paper may be discredited as potentially redirecting to porn websites. Does anyone also share my interpretation? [[User:Greatfermat|Greatfermat]] ([[User talk:Greatfermat|talk]]) 16:14, 2 November 2016 (UTC)

1715: Household Tips

2016-08-03T15:31:37Z

Greatfermat: /* Explanation */ Adding an interpretation of the fresh air.

{{comic
| number = 1715
| date = August 3, 2016
| title = Household Tips
| image = household_tips.png
| titletext = To make your shoes feel more comfortable, smell better, and last longer, try taking them off before you shower.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Missing title text explanation and needs elaboration. Also the thing about smashing windows is only one theory. Please add more.}}

This comic shows a person explaining many things one should already know. This is a continuation of [[1567: Kitchen Tips]].

Below is a table:

'''To conserve water try turning off your shower before leaving home''': Implies that the shower would "normally" be on at all times, which would be very wasteful, since any excess water (or if the bath tub plug is not in place or in a shower stall, all water) would be drained away. The [[what if?]] article "{{what if|91|Faucet Power}}" illustrates similar wasteful and destructive water use.

'''Sick of changing those smoke detector batteries? Eliminate any fires in your home and the batteries can last for months or years!''': A smoke detector on standby consumes much less power than one constantly ringing, since standing by only requires that a detection circuit (which draws little current) be on and and an LED (which also consumes little power) flashes, while a buzzer used to sound the alarm uses much energy by comparison. Of course, keeping your house fire-free at (mostly) all times is an easy task.

'''Tired of clogged toilets? Try leaving the lid on the upper chamber and use only the lower bowl!''': The upper chamber delivers water to the lower bowl at speed to flush the latter. As such, the pipes that direct the water down are not wide enough for waste to pass. The lower bowl, on the other hand, is connected to the plumbing by pipes wide enough for this purpose.

'''Fresh air doesn't have to be expensive. Many windows can be slid up to create a temporary hole without the usual cost and cleanup!''': This suggests that the people he appeals to typically smash a window to get fresh air or to dig a whole hole into their walls, hence the expensive clean up.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

User:Greatfermat

2014-04-03T16:34:54Z

Greatfermat: Just adding a pointer.

Hi there ☺

If you want to contact me, better use [http://people.irisa.fr/Martin.Bodin/ this page].

Thanks,
Martin.

1350: Lorenz

2014-04-03T16:30:19Z

Greatfermat: /* Transcript */ Reaching the relativity question strip.

{{comic
| number = 1350
| date = April 1, 2014
| title = Lorenz
| image = 1350_lorenz_loop.png
| titletext = Every choice, no matter how small, begins a new story
}}

{{incomplete|Should the image not just be the first frame wit four of the most common options. This image now gives way too much credit to the politican line of the story - which is less than a fifth of the total... Also all possible dialogues are not yet accounted for (and may never be?)}}

==Images==
For the images that appear in this comic, see [[1350: Lorenz/Images]].

==Explanation==
This is a dynamic comic with crowd-sourced content. In honor of {{w|April Fools' Day}} the comic was posted a day early, on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday.

The title 'Lorenz' is referring to {{w|Edward Norton Lorenz}} who among other subjects was famous for {{w|Chaos theory}}. The title is a reference to that the story line of today's comic will include most (all?) of the user submitted dialogue and hence will in nature be chaotic. In addition, the title text, "Every choice, no matter how small", is a reference to the butterfly effect, a phrase coined by Edward Lorenz to describe how a small initial change can lead to wide variations in outcome in a chaotic system.

This comic is an example of a {{w|Choose Your Own Adventure}} story.

===Functionality and bugs===
The reader is initially presented with only one panel where Knit Cap Guy is sitting in front of his computer. The reader is given multiple choices concerning what exactly Knit Cap Guy is thinking. Upon choosing any option, a second panel appears, to give continuity to the story. Each new panel may have a new set of options or just the button "Continue" to see the next panel without making any choice in particular. Eventually, one may reach a dead end in which the story is interrupted and reader is presented with a text box to suggest how it should continue. Some of the suggestions given should eventually become available as new options.

It appears that new panels may be generated by Randall in near real time as user suggestions to dialog is submitted. The dialogue options are likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over day based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques..}} This will mean that the most popular choices for dialogue line will prevail as the statistics build up. In some cases, dialogue line options do not depend on the continuity of the storyline followed, suggesting that some parts of the story are planned. For example, do several of the storylines involve one of the two main characters waking up and for instance telling the other character, “I had the strangest dream…” or even reliving the dream again. This may be due to common submissions across storylines as well.

Normally, there is a total of 4 options to make: a/b/c/d. Their order changes constantly. Sometimes, there are 3 or fewer options, with the text box to suggest an alternative option. Sometimes, a given panel actually has 5 or more available options, although even in this case only 4 options appear at a time. Refreshing the comic changes randomly which of the available options are visible and which are hidden. As of April 2nd 2014, the existence of 5 or more options seems to occur only in a few rare cases, including the first panel itself.

The last panel always has a "permalink" option which generates a unique URL for all the choices made by the reader -- so for example http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:26c8dcea-b9aa-11e3-8002-002590d77bdd will take you to a particular place in the selected choices.

{{w|HTTP cookie|Cookies}} are required to see this page properly. Without cookies, the next panel will not render.

If you do not have {{w|Javascript}} enabled or visiting the mobile version of the site, you re shown the [[1349|previous page's comic]]. Said comic is visible before Javascript activates.

====Buttons====
Instead of clicking with the mouse you can move more quickly through the panels using the keyboard:
* Up/Down - navigate options
* Enter/Right - choose option after navigating with Up/Down
* Left - go back one panel
* a/b/c/d - choose any option directly

====Bugs====
There seems to be a bug, where <nowiki>xkcd.com</nowiki> (http and https) are the only functioning URLs that display this comic. The URLs <nowiki>www.xkcd.org</nowiki> and <nowiki>m.xkcd.com</nowiki>, don't seem to work, instead displaying the previous comic, [[1349: Shouldn%27t Be Hard]]

As of April 3rd 2014, sometimes an option seemed to disappear completely, cutting off the all the branches of the story it might lead to. When the comic was first published, "Refresh... No new email... Refresh .. No new tweets... Refresh..." was available as one option of the first panel, but not only it became unavailable temporarily, permalinks to it (http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:6479d184-b9a0-11e3-b947-94de80a03a39) ceased to work. This option has since been fixed. However, permalinks to "These stupid tiles... i'll just play one more game." (with a lowercase "i'll") are broken, too, at the moment. ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:ffdd8916-b9a7-11e3-8001-002590d77bdd permalink])

===Themes===

====Miscellaneous====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Arguing [[image:lorenz - discuss.png]]
| The two characters argue with each other
|-
! Boomerang [[image:lorenz - boomerang 1.png]]
| The lone character finds a boomerang on the ground and throws it. The story ends with the boomerang crashing into something off panel, the space rocket from another story branch getting hit, the character getting hit in the face with the boomerang rebound, or the character putting the boomerang down on the ground.
|-
! Computer problems [[Image:lorenz - laptop 1.png]]
| The laptop has an unspecified problem. The two characters attempt to fix it. The story either ends with the two randomly floating in the ocean (with or without circling sharks) or with the laptop being melted using a blowtorch (a reference to the previous day's strip, [[1349]]).
|-
! Debate [[File:lorenz - debate 1.png]]
| Knit Cap Guy uses his laptop to watch a debate online between the Politician 1 (on the left) and the Politician 2 ([[Cueball]], on the right), the subject and the actual conversation of which varies according to the storyline. Eventually, they fight each other, the Politician 2 using a lightsaber and the Politician 1 using his bare fists. Subjects debated:
* Politician 1 questions Politician 2's project of tying multiple birds to a car as fuel replacement, which would require some method to make the birds take off in unison. The solutions mentioned are opening and closing an umbrella near them, using a predatory bird to the car to scare them, putting resources in the hands of bird educators for the purpose of training them and employing fiscal hawks. If the Politician 1 points out some problem with the reasoning, often the solution proposed by the Politician 2 would be doing the same in a larger scale. In the end, Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy and points out something happening near involving birds as a direct result of Politician 2's project.
|-
! Dinosaur interruption [[image:lorenz - dinosaur 1.png]]
| A green T-rex interrupts the story and proceeds to stamp on the house the main characters are in. (These are frames borrowed from {{w|Dinosaur Comics}}, a clip-art-based webcomic that uses the same artwork with different captions for every strip.)
|-
! Dreams [[File:lorenz - wake up 1.png]]
| Sometimes, Knit Cap Guy or Hairy find themselves waking from a dream, suggesting that all prior events were just part of they dreaming. Often, in the storylines they fall in the big hole outside Knit Cap Guy's house, they wake up from a dream. Knit Cap Guy also wakes up after watching the debate, in some storylines. Often, the dream loops upon itself, as the characters wake up multiple times in the same storyline
|-
! Space planet [[image:lorenz - rocket 21.png]]
| Eventually the space rocket meets a guy on a very tiny planet. (The Little Prince)
|-
! Space rocket [[Image:lorenz - rocket 1.png]]
| There is a rocket on the ground just outside of the building. The rocket either explodes (with a screenshot from Kerbal Space Program), fails to launch or goes off into space.
|-
! Relativistic encounter [[Image:lorenz - rocket 16.png]]
| The space rocket meets another space rocket that asks a question about relativity. The other space rocket will shoot and destroy the main rocket if the question isn't answered satisfactory. Otherwise the two rockets fly past each other.
|-
! Salesman [[image:lorenz - sale 1.png]]
| Hairy meets [[White Hat]], a salesman with a small stand.
|-
! Thinking [[image:lorenz - thinking.png]]
| One of the characters take a panel or two to think about something.
|}

====Geography====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Hole in the ground [[Image:lorenz - gap.png]]
| Hairy spots a hole in the ground and leans over it to make a comment
|-
! Huge hole on the lawn [[image:lorenz - hole.png]]
| There is a huge hole in the ground just outside of the building. The two characters always end up falling into it and awakening from a dream.
|-
! Tree [[image:lorenz - tree.png]]
| The characters walk past a tree.
|}

====Literature====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! LORT
|
|-
! The Little Prince
| Eventually, if the rocket is not destroyed, it may pass by the asteroid of The Little Prince and they have a quick conversation.
|}

====Movies====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! Frozen
| In one storyline, Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy and asks him "Wanna build a snowman?", a line from the movie. Possible answers also come from the movie, such as "It doesn't have to be a snowman..."
|-
! Matrix
| In one storyline, Hairy remarks that the gap in the ground is like a glitch in the matrix.
|}

====Video games====
{| class="wikitable" |
! Name + Example image
! Description
|-
! 2048
| A number of storylines begin because Knit Cap Guy is playing {{w|2048}} on his computer. Often, Hairy invites him to go outside to do something related to the game, such as hunting for tiles somewhere.
|-
! Mario
| In the dialogue, Hairy asks Knit Cap Guy "Is this 1-1 from Mario?" upon seeing the gap in the ground. In the platform game {{w|Super Mario Bros.}} for {{w|NES}}, the levels are numbered 1-1, 1-2 and so on. In one branch, he says "Actually, it's the final castle. Grab your Fire Flower!"
|-
! Pokémon [[File:lorenz - pikachu theft.png]]
| Some of the storylines involve Pokémon battles featuring Pikachu, a very popular Pokémon. The battles are drawn in the style of the video games. (A trainer in the left-bottom corner facing the foe in the right-top corner, with a narration box below the scene and the trainer's Pokéballs visible, although some elements are missing, such as the level, gender and HP bar.)

Pikachu uses a number of different moves, though these are mostly made up and are not from the Pokémon games. Pikachu's moves are almost invariably remarked by the narrator as "It's not very effective...", but "It's super effective!" is also possible to appear. In the video games, a move is "not very effective" when the opponent's type resists the attacking move's type and "super effective" when the opponent's type is weak to the attacking move's type. Normally after a few failed attempts, there is an uncomfortable silence as the Pikachu says "Um..." and Knit Cap Guy and Hairy walk away. Pikachu is left in the grass and has time to make his final remarks as the two leave him. Rarely, a suggested move knocks Pikachu out.

One narration line is "Where's Twitch when I need help?", a reference to {{w|Twitch Plays Pokémon}} which was also covered by comic [[1333: First Date]].

Another narration line is: "Google Maps didn't warn me of this.", a reference to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YMD6xELI_k Google Maps: Pokémon Challenge].

Pikachu's moves:
* Abandonment - Pikachu disappears completely.
* Anguish - Pikachu is sad.
* Ant Colony - Pikachu is covered in ants.
* Cute Face
* Crowdsource
* The Discrete Metric
* Ethylene Dichloride - Nothing seems to happen, but Ethylene Dichloride is a toxic chemical, so there may be future consequences for the characters.
* Extrude - Pikachu's head moves away from his body as his neck becomes long and malleable.
* Faceless - Pikachu's face disappears.
* Friendship - Pikachu is on Knit Cap Guy's head, signifying they are now friends. Friendship, though not a move, is a game mechanic in the video games.
* Granite - Pikachu is atop a block of granite.
* Graph Theory
* Ink Cloud - Pikachu is covered in ink. In the storyline Pikachu uses it, there is the option to "gather" the ink.
* Radicality - Pikachu is on a skateboard.
* Struggle - In one storyline, after Pikachu uses a number of moves, it says: "Now I only have Struggle left. Tie?" In the Pokémon games, when a Pokémon runs out of PP (Power Points, the energy required to use each of its moves) for all its moves, it may only use Struggle, a weak move, indefinitely reusable, that harms not only the opponent but the user as well.
* Theft - Pikachu wears Knit Cap Guy's hat. Pikachu seems to be using "Thief", a similarly-named actual move from the games, that is used to steal the foe's item and use it as its own.
* Uplift - Pikachu's head goes upward, separated from its body, showing a long, thick cable still connecting the head and the body.
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:[An accurate transcript will be impossible to create because the comic changes over time..]

There are many options. Not everyone will see the same options. We are trying to capture as many options as possible in the transcript below. '''The order and options has changed since the transcripter captured the dialogue'''....The dialogue is likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over time based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques..}}

Often, when a panel is without any choices to make, there is only the option "Continue" to see the next panel.

'''1st Pane:''' ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:be7a3304-b685-11e3-8001-94de80a03a29 permalink]) 
Knit Cap Guy:
* Refresh... No new email... Refresh... No new tweets... Refresh...
* These stupid tiles... I'll just play one more game.
* These stupid tiles... I'll just play one more game. [There are two completely separate branches with this same text. In one of them, it's written "i'll" in lowercase rather than "I'll".]
* Oh. Hey. There's some kind of political thing going on.
* Let's see if BSD is any easier to install nowadays.
* Gravity. Lots of it.
* Hurry! We're in talks with facebook.

:'''2nd Pane: Refresh Branch''' ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:6479d184-b9a0-11e3-b947-94de80a03a39 permalink]) 
:Hairy:
:* So you're still refusing to use Facebook?
:* Wanna build a snowman?
:* Hey. I hear Godot is in town. Wanna try to meet him?
:* You know. Your car's on fire.

:'''2nd Pane: Stupid Tiles Branch''' ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:79f036ac-b9a0-11e3-9003-94de80a03a39 permalink]) 
:[Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy.]
:Hairy:
:* There's something weird out on the lawn.
:* There's a dinosaur at the door.
:* I heard Home Depot has 1024 bathroom tiles.
:* I think I saw a "4096" tile outside somewhere.

::'''3rd Pane: Something Weird Branch''' 
::Knit Cap Guy:
::* This is an apartment. We don't have a lawn.
::* I have a lawn?
::* I hope it's not a bobcat this time.
::* If you reprogrammed the squirrel laser to target hipsters again...

:::'''4th-5th Panes: Apartment Branch''' 
:::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy leave the house. They pass by a moat.]
:::Hairy:
:::* OK, two weird things.
:::* I can see a creeper down there.
:::* Is this 1-1 from Mario?
:::* See? It's like a glitch in the Matrix.
:::* This isn't where I left that...

::::'''6th Pane: Two Weird Things Branch''' 
::::Hairy:
::::* I count three.
::::* Why is there a gap here?
::::* Who tiled the moat?

::::'''6th Pane: Creeper Branch''' 
::::Knit Cap Guy: Damn Griefers.

::::'''6th Pane: Mario Branch''' 
::::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy pass by a tree.]
::::Hairy:
::::* Why does that tree looks fake?
::::* Actually, it's the final castle. Grab your Fire Flower!
::::* It's over this way.
::::* I've never been this far before!

:::::'''7th-11th Panes: Fake Tree Branch''' 
:::::Narrator: A wild Pikachu appeared!
:::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Theft"!
:::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
:::::Narrator: ...
:::::Pikachu: Um...

:::::'''7th Pane: Never This Far Branch''' 
:::::Hairy: Are you going insane again?

::::'''6th Pane: Matrix Glitch Branch''' 
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* How far can we go?
::::* What the fuck?!
::::* How... How do we get everything back?

:::'''4th-5th Panes: Lawn Question Branch''' 
:::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy leave the house. They pass by a moat.]
:::Hairy:
:::* Hmmm, did you order a moat?
:::* I don't remember this being here.
:::* Look how deep it goes!
:::* It looks like I can see Moria from here.

::::'''6th Pane: Order Moat Branch''' 
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* It helps keep bobcats out.
::::* Of course. All cool kids have moats in their yards.
::::* I don't have the best rerlationship with my mailman.
::::* Yep. Delivered in two days, courtesy of Amazon Prime.

::::'''6th Pane: Don't Remember Branch''' 
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* It has begun! That's one of the first holes in reality.
::::* I wanted to jump over the massive sinkhole, but nooo, someone just had to find out what was down there.
::::* Oh, I had the moving company install it last week.
::::* We poop in it.
::::* Finally got you out of the damn house.

:::::'''7th Pane: Hole in Reality Branch''' 
:::::Knit Cap Guy:
:::::* I've been working on a theory that 2048 is a tool for the old ones to open up portals to this reality.
:::::* What about black holes? Those don't count?
:::::* We must go deeper.

::::::'''7th-13th Panes: Damn House Branch''' 
::::::Narrator: A wild Pikachu appeared!
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Ink Cloud"!
::::::Narrator: ...
::::::Pikachu: Um...
::::::Pikachu: Well then.
::::::Pikachu: I might have left surprises in that direction.

::::'''6th Pane: Look How Deep Branch''' 
::::Hairy:
::::* I wonder if we can get someone to fall in?
::::* I'm going in. You can come if you want to. I think I see stars down there.
::::* That was a missing opportunity.
::::* I should come outside more often.

::::'''6th Pane: Moria Branch''' 
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* You see Moria from everywhere, Hairy.
::::* Yeah, who did you think gave them a balrog?
::::* Moria is an anagram of Mario!

:::::'''7th-10th Panes: Moria Everywhere Branch''' 
:::::Narrator: A wild Pikachu appeared!
:::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Ink Cloud"!
:::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
:::::Narrator:
:::::* Google Maps didn't warn me of this.
:::::* Enemy Pikachu used "The Discrete Metric"!
:::::* Gathered the ink!

::::::'''11th-21th Panes: Google Maps Branch''' 
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Uplift!"
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Cute Face!"
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Faceless"!
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Where's Twitch when I need help?
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Abandonment"!
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...

::::::'''11th-15th Panes: Discrete Metric Branch''' 
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Extrude"!
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: ...
::::::Pikachu: Um...
::::::Pikachu:
::::::* Now I only have Struggle left. Tie?
::::::* We are the knights who say Ni!
::::::* What is even going on here?

:::::::'''16th Pane: Struggle Branch''' 
:::::::Pikachu: No fair!

::::::'''11th-13th Panes: Gathered Ink Branch''' 
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...
::::::Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Granite"!
::::::Narrator: It's not very effective...

:::::'''7th-10th Panes: Balrog Branch''' 
:::::Knit Cap Guy:
:::::* One does not simple "give" a balrog.
:::::* What? You weren't using it!
:::::* Gift-wrapping's the hardest part.

:::::'''7th Pane: Anagram Branch''' 
:::::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy pass by a tree.]
:::::Hairy: Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.

:::'''4th-12th Panes: Bobcat Branch''' 
:::[A giant hole appears and they fall into it.]
:::Knit Cap Guy and Hairy: Aaaaa...
:::[Knit Cap Guy wakes up.]
:::Knit Cap Guy: Gasp [Goes to his desk.]
:::Knit Cap Guy: Yawn [Sits at his desk.]
:::Knit Cap Guy:
:::* Might as well clear more tiles.
:::* Definitely not going outside today.
:::* Thank God it wasn't a bobcat.
:::* Hmmm... I should buy a shovel.

::::'''13th Pane: Clear More Tiles Branch''' 
::::[Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy again.]
::::Hairy:
::::* Um, there's a hole in your lawn...
::::* There's someone at the door looking for you.
::::* I made an apple pie.
::::* If you want to do that, I'm rebuilding my bathroom this afternoon.

:::::'''14th Pane: Hole in the Lawn Branch''' 
:::::Knit Cap Guy:
:::::* If it doesn't lead to a 1024 tile, I'm leaving.
:::::* Damn bobcats.
:::::* I just had a dream about that.

::::::'''15th-16th Panes: Damn Bobcats Branch''' 
::::::Hairy:
::::::* Well it was here...
::::::* I don't think it was bobcats this time. Unless they have backshoes...

::::::'''15th-22th Panes: Dream Branch''' 
::::::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy go outside again and fall in the hole again~.]
::::::Knit Cap Guy and Hairy: Aaaaa...
::::::[Knit Cap Guy wakes up, leaves the bed and finds a boomerang.]
::::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::::* It looks like is [sic] fell from space.
::::::* I hope this isn't just another one of those dreams that keeps coming back at you.
::::::* I hope this was not thrown by a bobcat.

:::::::'''23th-26th Panes: Space Branch''' 
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy throwns the boomerang away and it hits something.]
:::::::Crash!
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy runs away.]

:::::::'''23th-34th Panes: Coming Back Branch''' 
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy throws the boomerang twice, only for it to return to him both times.]
:::::::Knit Cap Guy: Hm. I was expecting a shark.
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy throwns the boomerang again, and it returns to him again.]

:::::::'''23th-30th Panes: Thrown by Bobcat Branch''' 
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy throws the boomerang, only for it to return to him .]
:::::::Knit Cap Guy: There's a mesage written on it.
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy throws the boomerang again. It hits something.]
:::::::Crash!
:::::::[Knit Cap Guy runs away.]

::::'''13th Pane: Thank God Branch''' 
::::Hairy:
::::* You just got a package. It's by the door.
::::* Why is there a bobcat on your lawn?
::::* There's somewhere [sic] weird out on the lawn.
::::* Hey do you know why there's a giant hole in the yard?

::::'''14th Pane: Something Weird Branch''' 
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* This seems familiar.
::::* Hold up. I need to get my wingsuit first.
::::* I hope it's not a giant hole.
::::* I have a bad feeling about this.

::::'''15th-18th Pane: Familiar Branch''' 
::::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy go outside.]
::::Knit Cap Guy: I hope it's not a velociraptor.

::::'''15th-18th Pane: Hope Branch''' 
::::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy go outside. They pass by a tree.]
::::Hairy: How disappointed are you?
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* I was expecting a bobcat.
::::* Oh? That's the other tree.
::::* Eh, not that much.

::::'''14th-16th Panes: Do You Know Why Branch''' 
::::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy go outside.]
::::Knit Cap Guy: I swear if it's a bobcat.
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* Why did you bring me here?
::::* This dream has been looping for years, and yet we never tire of it. Why is that?

:::::'''17th Pane: Dream Loop Branch''' 
:::::[There is a gap in the ground. Knit Cap Guy jumps over it, Hairy looks into it.]

::::'''13th-14th Panes: Buy Shovel Branch''' 
::::[Knit Cap Guy looks at his screen wondering.]
::::Knit Cap Guy:
::::* Wow! Shovels sure are expensive!
::::* Shovels can't be actually made out of two sticks and a row of rocks?
::::* How can there be 36 types of shovel??!
::::* These prices are insane! I wonder if you can rent a shovel...

:::::'''15th-18th Panes: Sticks and Rocks Branch''' 
:::::[Knit Cap Guy is wondering more. Hairy comes. They connect their laptops. Hairy is wondering. Knit Cap Guy tries something at Hairy's laptop.]

:::'''4th-5th Panes: Squirrel Laser Branch''' 
:::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy go outside.]
:::Knit Cap Guy:
:::* Let's just say we won't have to worry about parking.
:::* No, now they're just wearing wigs ironically.
:::* Things may have gotten out of control a little.
:::* At least it improved their haircuts.

::'''3rd Pane: Bathroom Tiles Branch''' 
::Knit Cap Guy:
::* But how many bathrooms?
::* That's 2^5 more than Ikea, I need to see for myself.
::* Let's go, I can keep playing on my phone on the drive.
::* Pfft. Amateurs. Let's go mock them.

::'''3rd Pane: Dinosaur Branch''' 
::T-Rex:
::* Self-doubt crippled my arms. Can I have yours?
::* I need a hand!
::* Did you think he was joking?
::* Sorry for just barging in, I couldn't reach the doorbell.

:::'''4th Pane: Crippled Arms Branch''' 
:::T-Rex:
:::* Never answer your mobile phone while I am addressing you!
:::* Also, have you heard about Tumblr?
:::* Also I have some trenchant observations on language and philosophy to make.
:::* It's not like you're using them.

::::'''5th Pane: Mobile Phone Branch''' 
::::[T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
::::T-Rex:
::::* I think you just entered a dead zone.
::::* Kids these days.
::::* Die you monster.

:::::'''6th Pane: Dead Zone Branch''' 
:::::[Knit Cap Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, goes outside and finds a boomerang.]

:::::'''6th Pane: Kids These Days Branch''' 
:::::[Knit Cap Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and goes back to his computer.]

:::::'''6th Pane: Die You Monster Branch''' 
:::::[Hairy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and starts singing.]
:::::Hairy: [Singing] ''I woke up like this.''

::::'''5th-11th Panes: Language and Philosophy Branch''' 
::::[T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
::::* T-Rex: Also, your brain is like this house.
:::: [Knit Cap Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream and goes back to his computer.]

:'''2nd Pane: Stupid Tiles Branch''' ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:ffdd8916-b9a7-11e3-8001-002590d77bdd]) 
:[Hairy visits Knit Cap Guy.]
:Hairy:
:* What's with those tiny games you keep playing, anyway?
:* Isn't that sort of meaningless?
:* Up for a dangerous experiment with no pay?
:* You won't believe what just fell off of your roof.

:'''2nd-3rd Panes: Political Thing Branch''' 
:Laptop: "...and let's go live to the debate."
:[Two politicians are debating on TV.]
:Politician 1:
:* In contrast to my oppponent, who I quote, "Never liked Firefly much to begin with."
:* ...but even if you tied enough birds to the car, would you get them to take off in unison?
:* And if elected, I vow to win this war on Christmas once and for all!
:* I agree with my opponent all all [sic] issues and I think his economic plan is fantastic!

::'''4th Pane: Tied Birds Branch''' 
::Politician 2:
::* Tie a predatory bird to the car with a somewhat shorter rope so that it will scare off the rest of the birds without being able to reach them.
::* Training. That's why I support the "Airlift Act", which would put more resources into the hands of bird educators everywhere.
::* By opening and closing an umbrella near them.
::* One word: Fiscal hawks.

:::'''5th Pane: Airlift Act Branch''' 
:::Politician 1:
:::* But is "Airlift" an acronym?
:::* But you must agree that a bitd in the hand is worth more than three educators in the bush.
:::* Incredible!
:::* Wait... Is that like people who educate birds, or birds that teach?

::::'''6th Pane: Airlift an Acronym''' 
::::Hairy:
::::* There are birds outside tied to a car.
::::* The owls in our barn are forming a union.
::::* Or course: Avian Implemented Reuseable Lifter and Ingenuous Flight Technology!

:::::'''7th Pane: Car Branch''' 
:::::Knit Cap Guy:
:::::* Cool, let's see who we should vote for.
:::::* I know who I'm voting for.
:::::* How many birds?

:::::'''8th-9th Panes: How Many Branch''' ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:bb0ca5f6-b9fc-11e3-8016-002590d77bdd permalink]) 
:::::Hairy:
:::::* I call her "Serenity."
:::::* So when you said birds...
:::::* Liquefied bird fuel is the way to the future.
:::::* Well, by “birds” and “car” I really meant a rocket. There’s totally a rocket in your lawn, man.

:::::'''10th-13th Panes: You Said Birds Branch''' 
:::::Knit Cap Guy:
:::::* Wait. The birds are inside!?
:::::* I needed to escape from politics anyway.
:::::* All terms are relative.

::::::'''14th-19th Panes: Birds Inside Branch''' 
::::::White Hat: Want to forget your dreams? There's a pill for that!

::::::'''14th-15th Panes: Escape Politics Branch''' 
::::::* ‘…And let’s go live to the debate’.

:::::::'''16th-26th Panes: Debate Branch''' ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:8c25769e-badf-11e3-8001-002590d77bdd permalink]) 
:::::::We observe your speed to be 38.5%c, and your time is passing at 92.3% the rate of ours. Does this mirror your observations?

:'''2nd-3rd Panes: BSD Branch''' 
:[Knit Cap Guy is confused, staring at his laptop.]
:Knit Cap Guy: ??
:Knit Cap Guy:
:* Now I just need to look up what a "beard error" is...
:* Wait. What's on this other partition?
:* Why is Python importing Skynet?
:* My keyboard has to support SSH over USB?

::'''4th-7th Panes: Beard Error Branch''' 
::[Knit Cap Guy has ?? next to his head to signify confusion. [[Hairy]] walks in. (continue) Hairy is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. The two stop typing. Hairy has ??? next to his head. Hairy had stepped back while the character is checking on Hairy's laptop computer. The character is holding something rectangular.]
::Hairy:
::* The USB cable appears to be mono-directional.
::* Kernel mites?
::* I'm not sure rubbing butter on it will help
::* Yep. It's haunted.

:::'''8th-12th Panes: Rubbing Butter Branch''' 
:::[Hairy and Knit Cap Guy are handling their computers more aggressively.]
:::Knit Cap Guy: ARGH!
:::[They both stop. Knit Cap Guy walks away, his chair turned 180 degrees. Pushing aside the chair, the character returns with a fiery blowtorch while wearing goggles.]
:::Hairy: [holding up a finger] Um.
:::[Knit Cap Guy's computer was so burned, not only steam is coming out of the computer, but even the desk is noticeably burnt. The cable (apparently also burned) hangs from Hairy's laptop computer. The used blowtorch is clumsily laid sideways be the side of the desk. Both Knit Cap Guy (whose goggles are pushed off his eye) and Hairy are looking at the calamity. The chair is almost out of view. The goggles are on the floor while the chair is nowhere to be seen. Hairy and Knit Cap Guy are walking away from the scene.]
:::Hairy:
:::* Are you all of a sudden in the mood for Thai food?
:::* Let's try OpenBSD next time...
:::* If you'd done the other one, maybe the popcorn would have popped.
:::* Let's see if rubbing some bacon on it will work.
:::* Let's try Linux next time...

::::'''13th-14th Panes: OpenBSD Branch''' 
::::[13th panel is of a panned view. Hairy and Knit Cap Guy are walking on a path away from a house.]
::::[14th panel is back to a "normal camera view".]
::::Hairy:
::::* Okay then.
::::* Let's go exploring!
::::* I love Windows.
::::* Guess not.

::'''4th-7th Panes: Other Partition Branch''' 
::[Knit Cap Guy has ??? next to his head to signify confusion. [[Hairy]] walks in. Hairy is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. The two stop typing. Hairy has ??? next to his head. Hairy had stepped back while Knit Cap Guy is checking on Hairy's laptop computer. Knit Cap Guy is holding something rectangular.]
::Hairy:
::* Maybe if you cross connect the serial port to video port you'll be able to send the video directly in as an input for the password
::* What's a segfault?
::* I think the cameras need to face each other.
::* I'm not sure spaghetti works as a USB cable...

::'''8th Pane: Video Password Branch''' 
::[Knit Cap Guy and Hairy are at sea, both emitting ripples. A shark's fin can be seen close to Hairy.]
::Hairy:
::* It worked fine for the shark
::* We're definitely getting closer though
::* That didn't work!
::* It would have worked for Solaris.
::* Look, it made perfect sense at the time.
::* Still simpler than it used to be, I guess.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]
[[Category:April fool's comics]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Bobcats]]
[[Category:Boomerangs]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Velociraptors]]
[[Category:Dreams]]
[[Category:Firefly]]
[[Category:Google Maps]]
[[Category:Linux]]
[[Category:LOTR]]
[[Category:Pokémon]]
[[Category:Politics]]
[[Category:Video games]]
[[Category:Star Wars]]

1350: Lorenz

2014-04-02T15:51:47Z

Greatfermat: /* Transcript */ Adding a new depth first transcript ☺

{{comic
| number = 1350
| date = April 1, 2014
| title = Lorenz
| image = 1350_lorenz_loop.png
| titletext = Every choice, no matter how small, begins a new story
}}

{{incomplete|All possible dialogues are not yet accounted for}}

==Explanation==
This comic is an April fools comic with crowd sourced content. Since April 1st 2014 was a Tuesday, this comic is not in the normal sequence Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

This comic is dynamic and needs interaction by the viewer. Initially there was a bug when using the URL <nowiki>http://www.xkcd.com/</nowiki> or even <nowiki>https://xkcd.com/</nowiki> and only <nowiki>http://xkcd.com/</nowiki> did work. <nowiki>http://xkcd.org/</nowiki> and <nowiki>http://www.xkcd.org/</nowiki>, don't seem to work.

{{w|HTTP cookie|Cookies}} are required to see this page properly.

It appears that new panels may be generated by Randall in near real time as user suggestions to dialog is submitted. The dialogue options are likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over day based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques..}} This will mean that the most popular choices for dialogue line will prevail as the statistics build up. In some cases, dialogue line options do not depend on the continuity of the storyline followed, suggesting that some parts of the story are planned. For example, most storylines involve [[Cueball]] waking up and telling the character, “I had the strangest dream…” This may be due to common submissions across storylines as well.

Every panel has a "permalink" option which generates a unique URL for all the choices made by the reader -- so for example http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:26c8dcea-b9aa-11e3-8002-002590d77bdd will take you to a particular place in the selected choices.

The title 'Lorenz' is referring to {{w|Edward Norton Lorenz}} who among other subjects was famous for {{w|Chaos theory}}. The title is a reference to that the story line of today's comic will include most (all?) of the user submitted dialogue and hence will in nature be chaotic. In addition, the title text, "Every choice, no matter how small", is a reference to the butterfly effect, a phrase coined by Edward Lorenz to describe how a small initial change can lead to wide variations in outcome in a chaotic system.

This comic is an example of a {{w|Choose Your Own Adventure}} story.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:[A transcript will be difficult to create due to the branching nature of the comic.]

There are many options. Not everyone will see the same options. We are trying to capture as many options as possible in the Transcript below. -- '''the order and options has changed since the transcripter captured the dialogue'''....The dialogue is likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over time based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques..}}

'''First Pane:'''([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:be7a3304-b685-11e3-8001-94de80a03a29 permalink])
* Hat Guy: Refresh... No New Email... Refresh .. No New Tweets... Refresh...
* Hat Guy: These Stupid Tiles... I'll Just Play One More Game
* Hat Guy: Oh. Hey. There's Some Kind Of Political Thing Going On.
* Hat Guy: Let's See If BSD Is Any Easier to Install Nowadays

'''Second Pane: Stupid Tiles Branch''' 
Option 1: ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:79f036ac-b9a0-11e3-9003-94de80a03a39 permalink])
* Dave: There's something weird out on the lawn.
** Hat Guy: This is an apartment. We don't have a lawn.
**: [A moat appears.]
*** Dave: OK, two weird things.
**** Dave: Who tiled the moat?
**** Dave: Why is there a gap here?
**** Dave: I count three.
*** Dave: Is this 1-1 from Mario?
***: [They pass by a tree.]
**** Dave: Why does that tree look fake?
***** Narrator: A wild Pikachu appeared!
****** Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Theft"!
******* Narrator: It's not very effective...
******** Narrator: ...
********* Pikachu: Um...
**** Dave: It's over this way.
**** Dave: Actually, it's the final castle. Grab your fire flower!
**** Dave: I've never been this far before.
***** Hat Guy: Are you going insane again?
*** Dave: I can see a Creeper down there.
**** Hat Guy: Damn Griefers.
*** Dave: See? It's like a glitch in the Matrix.
**** Hat Guy: How far can we go?
**** Hat Guy: What the fuck?!
**** Hat Guy: How... How do we get everything back?
** Hat Guy: I have a lawn?
**: [A moat appears.]
*** It looks like I can see Moria from here.
**** You see Moria from everywhere, Dave.
***** A wild Pikachu appeared! Enemy Pikachu used "Ink Cloud"! It's not very effective...
****** Google Maps didn't warn me of this.
******* It's not very effective...
******** Enemy Pikachu used "Uplift!"
********* It's not very effective...
********** Enemy Pikachu used "Cute Face!"
*********** It's not very effective...
************ Enemy Pikachu used "Faceless"!
************* It's not very effective...
************** Where's Twitch when I need help?
*************** It's not very effective...
**************** Enemy Pikachu used "Abandonment"!
***************** It's not very effective...
****** Enemy Pikachu used "The Discrete Metric"!
******* It's not very effective...
******** Enemy Pikachu used "Extrude"!
********* It's not very effective...
********** Pikachu: Um...
******** What is even going on here?
******** Pikachu: Now I only have Struggle left. Tie?
********* No fair!
******** We are the knights who say Ni!
****** Gathered the Ink!
******* It's not very effective...
******** Enemy Pikachu used "Granite"!
********* It's not very effective...
**** Yeah, who did you think gave them a balrog?
**** Moria is an anagram of Mario!
****: [They pass by a tree]
***** Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
*** Hmm, did you order a moat?
*** Look how deep it goes!
*** I don't remember this being here.
** Hat Guy: I hope it's not a bobcat this time.
*** [A giant hole appears and they fall into it.] Aaaaa... [Hat Guy wakes up.] Gasp [Goes to his desk.] Yawn [Sits at his desk.]
**** Thank God it wasn't a bobcat.
****: [Dave comes.]
***** There's somewhere [sic] weird out on the lawn.
*****: [They go.]
****** I hope it's not a giant hole.
******: [They go outside. They pass a tree.]
******* How disappointed are you?
*******: [They stop and argue.]
******** I was expecting a bobcat
******** Oh? That's the other tree.
******** Eh, not that much
****** I have a bad feeling about this
******: [They go outside.]
****** Hold up. I need to get my wingsuit first.
******: [They go outside.]
****** This seems familiar.
******: [They go outside.]
******* I hope it's not a velociraptor.
***** Why is there a bobcat on your lawn?
*****: [They go.]
***** Hey do you know why there's a giant hole in the yard?
*****: [They go.]
****** I swear if it's a bobcat
******: [They go outside.]
******* Why did you bring me here?
******* This dream has been looping for years, and yet we never tire of it. Why is that?
*******: [There is a gap in the ground. Hat Guy jumps over it, Dave looks into it.]
**** Hmmm... I should buy a shovel.
****: [He looks at his screen wondering.]
***** Shovels can't be actually made out of two sticks and a row of rocks?
*****: [He's wondering more. Dave comes. They connect their laptops. Dave is wondering. Hat Guy tries something at Dave's laptop. Dave says:]
***** Wow! Shovels sure are expensive!
***** How can there be 36 types of shovel??!
***** These prices are insane! I wonder if you can rent a shovel...
**** Might as well clear more tiles
**** Definitely not going outside today.
** Hat Guy: If you reprogrammed the squirrel laser to target hipsters again...
*** Let's just say we won't have to worry about parking.
*** No, now they're just wearing wigs ironically
*** At least it improved their haircuts.
*** Things may have gotten out of control a little.
* I heard Home Depot has 1024 bathroom tiles
* There's a dinosaur at the door
** T-Rex: Self-doubt crippled my arms. Can I have yours?
*** T-Rex: Never answer your mobile phone while I am addressing you!
***: [T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
**** T-Rex: I think you just entered a dead zone.
****: [Hat Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, goes outside and finds a boomerang.]
**** T-Rex: Kids these days.
****: [Hat Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and goes back to his computer.]
**** T-Rex: Die you monster.
****: [Dave is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and starts singing.]
**** [Singing] ''I woke up like this.''
*** T-Rex: Also, have you heard about Tumblr?
*** T-Rex: Also I have some trenchant observations on language and philosophy to make.
***: [T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
**** Also, your brain is like this house.
****: [Hat Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream and goes back to his computer.]
*** T-Rex: It's not like you're using them.
***: [T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
** T-Rex: I need a hand!
** Did you think he was joking?
** Sorry for just barging in, I couldn't reach the doorbell.
* I think I saw a "4096" tile outside somewhere.

'''Second Pane: Refresh Branch''' 
Option 1: ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:6479d184-b9a0-11e3-b947-94de80a03a39 permalink])
* So you're still refusing to use Facebook?
* Wanna build a snowman?
* Hey. I hear Godot is in town. Wanna try to meet him?
* You know. Your car's on fire.

'''Second Pane: Political Thing Branch''' 
The laptop says: "...and let's go live to the debate."
* Continue
:* … but even if you tied enough birds to the car, how would you get them to take off in unison?
::* Training. That’s why I support the “Airlift Act”, which would put more resources into the hand of bird educators everywhere.
:::* But is “Airlift” an acronym?
::::* There are birds outside tied to a car.
:::::* How many birds?
::::::* Continue
:::::::* So, when you said birds…
::::::::* Continue
:::::::::* Continue
::::::::::* Continue
:::::::::::* Wait. The birds are inside!?
::::::::::::* Continue
:::::::::::::* Gasp
::::::::::::::* Continue
:::::::::::::::* Continue
::::::::::::::::* Want to forget your dreams? There’s a pill for that!
:::::::* I needed to escape from politics anyway.
::::::::* Continue

'''Second Pane: BSD Branch''' 
The character has ?? next to his head to signify confusion.
* Continue

* Now I just need to look up what a "beard error" is...
: The character has ??? next to his head to signify confusion. [[Dave]] walks in. (continue)
: Dave is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. (continue)
: The two stop typing. Dave has ??? next to his head. (continue)
: Dave had stepped back while the character is checking on Dave's laptop computer. The character is holding something rectangular. Dave is speaking.
:* The USB cable appears to be mono-directional.
:* Kernel mites?
:* I'm not sure rubbing butter on it will help
:: Dave and the character are handling their computers more aggressively. The Character says "ARGH"
:: They both stop. The character walks away, his chair turned 180 degrees.
:: Pushing aside the chair, the character returns with a fiery blowtorch while wearing goggles. Dave, holding up a finger, says "Um."
:: The character's computer was so burned, not only steam is coming out of the computer, but even the desk is noticeably burnt. The cable (apparently also burned) hangs from Dave's laptop computer. The used blowtorch is clumsily laid sideways be the side of the desk. Both the character (whose goggles are pushed off his eye) and Dave are looking at the calamity. The chair is almost out of view.
:: The goggles are on the floor while the chair is nowhere to be seen. Dave and the character are walking away from the scene. Dave is speaking.
:: * Are you all of a sudden in the mood for Thai food?
:: * Let's try OpenBSD next time...
::: The panel is of a panned view. Dave and the character are walking on a path away from a house.
::: The panel is back to a "normal camera view". Dave and the character are speaking.
::: * Guess not
::: * Let's go exploring!
::: * Okay then
:: * Let's try Linux next time...
:* Yep. It's haunted.
* Why is Python importing Skynet?
* Wait. What's on this other partition?
: The character has ??? next to his head to signify confusion. [[Dave]] walks in. (continue)
: Dave is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. (continue)
: The two stop typing. Dave has ??? next to his head. (continue)
: Dave had stepped back while the character is checking on Dave's laptop computer. The character is holding something rectangular. Dave is speaking.
:* Maybe if you cross connect the serial port to video port you'll be able to send the video directly in as an input for the password
:: The character and Dave are at sea, both emitting ripples. A shark's fin can be seen close to Dave.
::* It worked fine for the shark
::* We're definitely getting closer though
::* That didn't work!
:* What's a segfault?
:* I think the cameras need to face each other.
:* I'm not sure spaghetti works as a USB cable...

* My keyboard has to support SSH over USB?

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]
[[Category:April fool's comics]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Google Maps]]
[[Category:LOTR]]
[[Category:Pokémon]]
[[Category:Video games]]

1350: Lorenz

2014-04-02T15:47:04Z

Greatfermat: /* Transcript */ Adding a new depth first transcript ☺

{{comic
| number = 1350
| date = April 1, 2014
| title = Lorenz
| image = 1350_lorenz_loop.png
| titletext = Every choice, no matter how small, begins a new story
}}

{{incomplete|All possible dialogues are not yet accounted for}}

==Explanation==
This comic is an April fools comic with crowd sourced content. Since April 1st 2014 was a Tuesday, this comic is not in the normal sequence Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

This comic is dynamic and needs interaction by the viewer. Initially there was a bug when using the URL <nowiki>http://www.xkcd.com/</nowiki> or even <nowiki>https://xkcd.com/</nowiki> and only <nowiki>http://xkcd.com/</nowiki> did work. <nowiki>http://xkcd.org/</nowiki> and <nowiki>http://www.xkcd.org/</nowiki>, don't seem to work.

{{w|HTTP cookie|Cookies}} are required to see this page properly.

It appears that new panels may be generated by Randall in near real time as user suggestions to dialog is submitted. The dialogue options are likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over day based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques..}} This will mean that the most popular choices for dialogue line will prevail as the statistics build up. In some cases, dialogue line options do not depend on the continuity of the storyline followed, suggesting that some parts of the story are planned. For example, most storylines involve [[Cueball]] waking up and telling the character, “I had the strangest dream…” This may be due to common submissions across storylines as well.

Every panel has a "permalink" option which generates a unique URL for all the choices made by the reader -- so for example http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:26c8dcea-b9aa-11e3-8002-002590d77bdd will take you to a particular place in the selected choices.

The title 'Lorenz' is referring to {{w|Edward Norton Lorenz}} who among other subjects was famous for {{w|Chaos theory}}. The title is a reference to that the story line of today's comic will include most (all?) of the user submitted dialogue and hence will in nature be chaotic. In addition, the title text, "Every choice, no matter how small", is a reference to the butterfly effect, a phrase coined by Edward Lorenz to describe how a small initial change can lead to wide variations in outcome in a chaotic system.

This comic is an example of a {{w|Choose Your Own Adventure}} story.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}
:[A transcript will be difficult to create due to the branching nature of the comic.]

There are many options. Not everyone will see the same options. We are trying to capture as many options as possible in the Transcript below. -- '''the order and options has changed since the transcripter captured the dialogue'''....The dialogue is likely based on click-through rates and hence will change over time based on which choices are clicked most using {{w|A/B_testing|A/B measurement techniques..}}

'''First Pane:'''([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:be7a3304-b685-11e3-8001-94de80a03a29 permalink])
* Hat Guy: Refresh... No New Email... Refresh .. No New Tweets... Refresh...
* Hat Guy: These Stupid Tiles... I'll Just Play One More Game
* Hat Guy: Oh. Hey. There's Some Kind Of Political Thing Going On.
* Hat Guy: Let's See If BSD Is Any Easier to Install Nowadays

'''Second Pane: Stupid Tiles Branch''' 
Option 1: ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:79f036ac-b9a0-11e3-9003-94de80a03a39 permalink])
* Dave: There's something weird out on the lawn.
** Hat Guy: This is an apartment. We don't have a lawn.
**: [A moat appears.]
*** Dave: OK, two weird things.
**** Dave: Who tiled the moat?
**** Dave: Why is there a gap here?
**** Dave: I count three.
*** Dave: Is this 1-1 from Mario?
***: [They pass by a tree.]
**** Dave: Why does that tree look fake?
***** Narrator: A wild Pikachu appeared!
****** Narrator: Enemy Pikachu used "Theft"!
******* Narrator: It's not very effective...
******** Narrator: ...
********* Pikachu: Um...
**** Dave: It's over this way.
**** Dave: Actually, it's the final castle. Grab your fire flower!
**** Dave: I've never been this far before.
***** Hat Guy: Are you going insane again?
*** Dave: I can see a Creeper down there.
**** Hat Guy: Damn Griefers.
*** Dave: See? It's like a glitch in the Matrix.
**** Hat Guy: How far can we go?
**** Hat Guy: What the fuck?!
**** Hat Guy: How... How do we get everything back?
** Hat Guy: I have a lawn?
**: [A moat appears.]
*** It looks like I can see Moria from here.
**** You see Moria from everywhere, Dave.
***** A wild Pikachu appeared! Enemy Pikachu used "Ink Cloud"! It's not very effective...
****** Google Maps didn't warn me of this.
******* It's not very effective...
******** Enemy Pikachu used "Uplift!"
********* It's not very effective...
********** Enemy Pikachu used "Cute Face!"
*********** It's not very effective...
************ Enemy Pikachu used "Faceless"!
************* It's not very effective...
************** Where's Twitch when I need help?
*************** It's not very effective...
**************** Enemy Pikachu used "Abandonment"!
***************** It's not very effective...
****** Enemy Pikachu used "The Discrete Metric"!
******* It's not very effective...
******** Enemy Pikachu used "Extrude"!
********* It's not very effective...
********** Pikachu: Um...
******** What is even going on here?
******** Pikachu: Now I only have Struggle left. Tie?
********* No fair!
******** We are the knights who say Ni!
****** Gathered the Ink!
******* It's not very effective...
******** Enemy Pikachu used "Granite"!
********* It's not very effective...
**** Yeah, who did you think gave them a balrog?
**** Moria is an anagram of Mario!
****: [They pass by a tree]
***** Not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall.
*** Hmm, did you order a moat?
*** Look how deep it goes!
*** I don't remember this being here.
** Hat Guy: I hope it's not a bobcat this time.
*** [A giant hole appears and they fall into it.] Aaaaa... [Hat Guy wakes up.] Gasp [Goes to his desk.] Yawn [Sits at his desk.]
**** Thank God it wasn't a bobcat.
****: [Dave comes.]
***** There's somewhere [sic] weird out on the lawn.
*****: [They go.]
****** I hope it's not a giant hole.
******: [They go outside. They pass a tree.]
******* How disappointed are you?
*******: [They stop and argue.]
******** I was expecting a bobcat
******** Oh? That's the other tree.
******** Eh, not that much
****** I have a bad feeling about this
******: [They go outside.]
****** Hold up. I need to get my wingsuit first.
******: [They go outside.]
****** This seems familiar.
******: [They go outside.]
******* I hope it's not a velociraptor.
***** Why is there a bobcat on your lawn?
*****: [They go.]
***** Hey do you know why there's a giant hole in the yard?
*****: [They go.]
****** I swear if it's a bobcat
******: [They go outside.]
******* Why did you bring me here?
******* This dream has been looping for years, and yet we never tire of it. Why is that?
*******: [There is a gap in the ground. Hat Guy jumps over it, Dave looks into it.]
**** Hmmm... I should buy a shovel.
****: [He looks at his screen wondering.]
***** Shovels can't be actually made out of two sticks and a row of rocks?
*****: [He's wondering more. Dave comes. They connect their laptops. Dave is wondering. Hat Guy tries something at Dave's laptop. Dave says:]
***** Wow! Shovels sure are expensive!
***** How can there be 36 types of shovel??!
***** These prices are insane! I wonder if you can rent a shovel...
**** Might as well clear more tiles
**** Definitely not going outside today.
** Hat Guy: If you reprogrammed the squirrel laser to target hipsters again...
*** Let's just say we won't have to worry about parking.
*** No, now they're just wearing wigs ironically
*** At least it improved their haircuts.
*** Things may have gotten out of control a little.
* I heard Home Depot has 1024 bathroom tiles
* There's a dinosaur at the door
** T-Rex: Self-doubt crippled my arms. Can I have yours?
*** T-Rex: Never answer your mobile phone while I am addressing you!
***: [T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
**** T-Rex: I think you just entered a dead zone.
****: [Hat Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, goes outside and finds a boomerang.]
**** T-Rex: Kids these days.
****: [Hat Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and goes back to his computer.]
**** T-Rex: Die you monster.
****: [Dave is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream, and starts singing.]
**** [Singing] ''I woke up like this.''
*** T-Rex: Also, have you heard about Tumblr?
*** T-Rex: Also I have some trenchant observations on language and philosophy to make.
***: [T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
**** Also, your brain is like this house.
****: [Hat Guy is inside the house. He wakes up from a dream and goes back to his computer.]
*** T-Rex: It's not like you're using them.
***: [T-Rex is going to step on a house.]
** T-Rex: I need a hand!
** Did you think he was joking?
** Sorry for just barging in, I couldn't reach the doorbell.
* I think I saw a "4096" tile outside somewhere.

'''Second Pane: Refresh Branch''' 
Option 1: ([http://xkcd.com/1350/#p:6479d184-b9a0-11e3-b947-94de80a03a39 permalink])
* So you're still refusing to use Facebook?
* Wanna build a snowman?
* Hey. I hear Godot is in town. Wanna try to meet him?
* You know. Your car's on fire.

'''Second Pane: Political Thing Branch''' 
The laptop says: "...and let's go live to the debate."
* Continue
:* … but even if you tied enough birds to the car, how would you get them to take off in unison?
::* Training. That’s why I support the “Airlift Act”, which would put more resources into the hand of bird educators everywhere.
:::* But is “Airlift” an acronym?
::::* There are birds outside tied to a car.
:::::* How many birds?
::::::* Continue
:::::::* So, when you said birds…
::::::::* Continue
:::::::::* Continue
::::::::::* Continue
:::::::::::* Wait. The birds are inside!?
::::::::::::* Continue
:::::::::::::* Gasp
::::::::::::::* Continue
:::::::::::::::* Continue
::::::::::::::::* Want to forget your dreams? There’s a pill for that!

'''Second Pane: BSD Branch''' 
The character has ?? next to his head to signify confusion.
* Continue

* Now I just need to look up what a "beard error" is...
: The character has ??? next to his head to signify confusion. [[Dave]] walks in. (continue)
: Dave is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. (continue)
: The two stop typing. Dave has ??? next to his head. (continue)
: Dave had stepped back while the character is checking on Dave's laptop computer. The character is holding something rectangular. Dave is speaking.
:* The USB cable appears to be mono-directional.
:* Kernel mites?
:* I'm not sure rubbing butter on it will help
:: Dave and the character are handling their computers more aggressively. The Character says "ARGH"
:: They both stop. The character walks away, his chair turned 180 degrees.
:: Pushing aside the chair, the character returns with a fiery blowtorch while wearing goggles. Dave, holding up a finger, says "Um."
:: The character's computer was so burned, not only steam is coming out of the computer, but even the desk is noticeably burnt. The cable (apparently also burned) hangs from Dave's laptop computer. The used blowtorch is clumsily laid sideways be the side of the desk. Both the character (whose goggles are pushed off his eye) and Dave are looking at the calamity. The chair is almost out of view.
:: The goggles are on the floor while the chair is nowhere to be seen. Dave and the character are walking away from the scene. Dave is speaking.
:: * Are you all of a sudden in the mood for Thai food?
:: * Let's try OpenBSD next time...
::: The panel is of a panned view. Dave and the character are walking on a path away from a house.
::: The panel is back to a "normal camera view". Dave and the character are speaking.
::: * Guess not
::: * Let's go exploring!
::: * Okay then
:: * Let's try Linux next time...
:* Yep. It's haunted.
* Why is Python importing Skynet?
* Wait. What's on this other partition?
: The character has ??? next to his head to signify confusion. [[Dave]] walks in. (continue)
: Dave is on the other side of the desk with his own laptop computer. Both the computers are connected through Ethernet cable. The two characters are typing on the computer. (continue)
: The two stop typing. Dave has ??? next to his head. (continue)
: Dave had stepped back while the character is checking on Dave's laptop computer. The character is holding something rectangular. Dave is speaking.
:* Maybe if you cross connect the serial port to video port you'll be able to send the video directly in as an input for the password
:: The character and Dave are at sea, both emitting ripples. A shark's fin can be seen close to Dave.
::* It worked fine for the shark
::* We're definitely getting closer though
::* That didn't work!
:* What's a segfault?
:* I think the cameras need to face each other.
:* I'm not sure spaghetti works as a USB cable...

* My keyboard has to support SSH over USB?

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Dynamic comics]]
[[Category:April fool's comics]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Computers]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Google Maps]]
[[Category:LOTR]]
[[Category:Pokémon]]
[[Category:Video games]]