explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:1479: Troubleshooting

2015-01-28T16:17:54Z

Mgh:

You could also move the off-scrren window back in view by Alt+Space, M to initiate window move, then press any arrow key and your mouse will then be able to move the window back into view. {{unsigned ip|108.162.249.223}}

As a matter of fact this is a common problem if you often use a dual screen setup with a laptop when you use it on the move without the second screen. If you just want to close the windows, a Esc on a alert windows or alt+F4 (or your system equivalent)will usually solve this problem. For resizeable windows, Windows offers the Win+left/right combination to move a window to specific parts of the screen. I don7t think you really need to change the resolution for this all the time, it's clearly overkill. [[User:Meneldal|Meneldal]] ([[User talk:Meneldal|talk]]) 06:40, 28 January 2015 (UTC)meneldal

:On a dual screen setup you can use 'Win key + Shift + Left/Right key' to shift the window left or right between monitors. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 09:37, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

::Note that the Win-left/right and Win-Shift-left/right key combinations are only supported in Windows 7 or later versions. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.27|173.245.55.27]] 13:17, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Yes, I'm also familiar with this kind of thing (the strip, I mean, not specifically the last comment). The general form is that a casual (or even expert!) user expects something from the interface but some historic programmer (of UI or application) has caused the 'obvious' continuity to fail, either by ommission (e.g. checking the placement bounds of a popover window) or by being ''too'' clever in some manner. The 'stupid knowledge expert' has encountered the problem enough times to: a) find a common root to the issues, and b) stumble upon a solution. (Like the "unstick the Windows-key flag" solution to suddenly getting Run dialogues, Explorer windows and sudden minimising-all to Desktop, seemingly randomly.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.120|141.101.99.120]] 08:29, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

It amazes me how many people assume Microsoft Windows. If you aren't using MS-Windows, the key combinations suggested in the discussion so far are useless. If you are using the X Window System, you might also be seeing a system modal dialog instead of an application modal dialog, in which case, you won't be able anything but talk to that window. (System modal dialogs are usually used for very transient things like popup menus.) Using X, the "cleanup" behavior also depends on the window manager, and neither X or the window manager are part of the operating system (that abomination is now pretty much just an MS-Windows thing). --[[User:Divad27182|Divad27182]] ([[User talk:Divad27182|talk]]) 10:39, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

: People tend to assume Windows because in the majority of cases that assumption is correct. In the minority of cases where the user isn't on Windows, those asking the question nearly always mention the fact in their question, or direct their question at an OS-specific topic/forum/website. --[[User:Pudder|Pudder]] ([[User talk:Pudder|talk]]) 11:21, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

: Mac OS X also uses a baked-in window manager. There are a bunch of apps on OS X that brand themselves as `alternative WMs', but they're usually just a contrived way of tiling windows across the screen somehow (using the built-in WM). Wanting to use a proper tiling WM was what originally drove me to GNU/Linux, long live i3wm! Anyway, this comic could possibly be construed as being related to xkcd.com/934/, which complains about browsers implementing internal WMs in the alt-text. [[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.103|141.101.99.103]] 11:45, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

:I think the first option (ALT-SPACE to access the window menu, M for the move option, arrow key, mouse movement) has a near-equivalent in pretty much any OS. [[Special:Contributions/173.245.55.27|173.245.55.27]] 13:21, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Someone competent in web programming, please write an explanation of the title text [[User:Nyq|Nyq]] ([[User talk:Nyq|talk]]) 13:58, 28 January 2015 (UTC)
:If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not an expert), a Chrome App is some sort of program (eg Flash based) that runs in the normal "browser space" - the area where you normally see web pages, and which can use Chrome features and controls. A Chrome Extension is a a program which runs in the background and can act on the browser space or the browser itself (eg open your downloads folder in a new tab with one click of a button). Extensions can also use Chrome features and controls. Sound about right? [[User:Jarod997|Jarod997]] ([[User talk:Jarod997|talk]]) 14:34, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Most likely he is on a laptop with an NVidia gpu which in recent driver versions often believe something is connected to the VGA port when this is not the case. The desktop will then think this area is valid, and allow windows to be opened there, in fact it is likely to be opened there because that part of the desktop is clean for windows and looks optimal for placing a new one. At least that is what has been happening to me for the last few months until I forced the VGA port off rather than wait for NVidia to fix their drivers or rolling them back to versions that would misrender recent games (both Windows and Linux drivers did this).[[Special:Contributions/108.162.254.98|108.162.254.98]] 15:41, 28 January 2015 (UTC)

Talk:1479: Troubleshooting

2015-01-28T16:17:22Z

Mgh:

1195: Flowchart

2013-04-05T14:26:53Z

Mgh: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1195
| date = April 5, 2013
| title = Flowchart
| image = flowchart.png
| titletext = The way out is to use the marker you have to add a box that says 'get a marker' to the line between you and 'start', then add a 'no' line from the trap box to 'end'.
}}

==Explanation==
[[Wikipedia:Flowchart|Flowcharts]] are diagrams used to show the logical flow of an algorithm or program. In this comic, Randall uses the fact that flowcharts can indeed be used to show a loop in the procedure: in this case, the reader will theoretically become trapped in a loop of reading the text in the diamond, following the line marked "YES," and ending back up in the diamond. Those familiar with flowcharts will notice though that, while diamonds usually contain decision questions (which can be answered multiple ways), the diamond here actually includes a statement instead.

The title text suggests that the only way to escape the loop is to fetch a maker and add an additional "NO" arrow proceeding from the diamond to a rounded box labeled "END" before you start the algorithm at "START." Of course, this changes the algorithm completely, but it releases the reader from the infinite loop.

Randall has made use of [[:Category:Flowcharts|flowcharts]] before.

==Transcript==

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Flowcharts]]

Talk:1117: My Sky

2012-10-08T14:27:29Z

Mgh:

I wonder if the "It's not the same color as anything" line is a reference to Microsoft's cloud service which is named "Azure". "Azure" in conventional speech, is a color. Properly, is a shade of Sky Blue. However, the HTML color Azure is incorrect (propagated from an error in the Linux source code), and is set to a shade of Off-White, coincidentally making it the color of clouds. [[User:jamescurran|James Curran]]

:Any reference to that? Specifically the Linux and Microsoft connection? #F0FFFF does looks blue to me ... -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 08:31, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

Why was the comment taken out about how "WOW" upside down is "MOM"? I thought it was incredibly clever. http://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=1117:_My_Sky&oldid=13991 [[User:Jillysky|Jillysky]] ([[User talk:Jillysky|talk]]) 19:06, 5 October 2012 (UTC)
:No worries. I just added it back. [[User:Mgh|Mgh]] ([[User talk:Mgh|talk]]) 14:27, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

Jeff suggested that I post it again down here, to see if anyone knew why it was removed.

An alternate explanation for the Title Text is that, if he was hanging upside-down from the earth, then Randall's actual first word would have been "Mom!".

--[[User:Carlneely|Carlneely]] ([[User talk:Carlneely|talk]]) 20:41, 5 October 2012 (UTC)

*Well you'd have to flip over the exclamation mark, too (all or nothing). "iMom". [[Special:Contributions/76.122.5.96|76.122.5.96]] 02:16, 6 October 2012 (UTC)
I do think that was the point of the title text. The current "explanation" on this part in place is hardly an explanation, as all it does is define "wow". As this (and 1115) have been about perspective on the sky, that would explain it. And the most common word word is "mom," after all. [[User:Bobidou23|Bobidou23]] ([[User talk:Bobidou23|talk]]) 22:27, 6 October 2012 (UTC)

*I think it should go back up. Nobody *says* "exclamation point", and wow->mom is very much in line with Randall's type of sneakiness. Almost nothing he does is ever on accident or by chance, and since "mom" is definitely one of the top baby words... Put it back up, Carlneely. You have the right, and even the first page says nothing is set in stone. If someone disagrees with it, too bad for them. [[User:Jillysky|Jillysky]] ([[User talk:Jillysky|talk]]) 17:13, 7 October 2012 (UTC)

::For this comic, the title text doesn't seem to be a statement from Beret Guy. Beret Guy usually expresses his feelings in a more abstract way. On the other hand, recently, Randall has been posting many inspirational comics, that are awe-inspiring about the world, so it makes sense that a direct awe-inspired comment would be from him. In the comic, by the time Beret Guy says "wow" he standing "upright" again. The title text doesn't say that he was upside-down, just looking at the sky. Being horizontal doesn't count as being upside-down. Now, if the title text said that he was doing hand-stands, and said wow, absolutely, then the wow-mom joke would work. On a more technical note, it is not a right to edit a wiki, it is a privilege, and other editors have the privilege to go back and edit your work. Let's not {{w|feature creep|feature-creep}} the definition of the word 'right'. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 20:49, 7 October 2012 (UTC)

::: He doesn't need to be doing a handstand; these two comics are about perspectives, right? If the image of his saying "mom" were depicted as in the first panel here (i.e. with the earth towards the top), if would be "wow", wouldn't it? And the profound statement also works, but isn't a double meaning plausible? — Comment by [[User:Bobidou23|Bobidou23]] ([[User talk:Bobidou23|talk]]) ''(please sign your comments)''

::::I'm not arguing that there are different perspectives in these two comics. I'm saying that you can't attribute a statement made by one character, to the actions of another. Beret Guy is the one upside-down, Randall is the one saying "wow" with a reference to his mother. If you have a gluten intolerance, it does not mean that your cousin will throw up after eating a slice of bread, that is a logical fallacy, it's a version of {{w|post hoc ergo propter hoc}}. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 02:41, 8 October 2012 (UTC)

:Explanations do not need to be wordy to be complete. Being overly wordy is the sign that you are trying too hard, and probably missing the point. That said, this is a wiki, anyone can edit the explanation as they wish to. Sometimes it may spark an edit war, but if you think the explanation is insufficient, if someone who came here for help in understanding this joke still wouldn't get it, then please, flesh out the explanation. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]] ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 20:49, 7 October 2012 (UTC)

1117: My Sky

2012-10-08T14:26:21Z

Mgh: refined WOW-MOM

{{comic
| number = 1117
| date = October 5, 2012
| title = My Sky
| image = my_sky.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = According to my mom, my first word was (looking up at the sky) 'Wow!'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic seems to be a follow up to [[1115: Sky]].

Last panel refers to {{w|cloud computing}} and specifically {{w|cloud storage}}, and looks like a follow up to [[1032: Networking]]. The obvious joke is that, instead of storing data in "the cloud", [[Beret Guy]] is storing clouds in "his sky".

The title text is a statement from [[Randall]], that his first words came while looking up at the sky. Randall has a good grasp on what in this universe is awe-inspiring. Also, "WOW" upside down reads "MOM", one of the first words a baby usually utters. That means if he was hanging upside-down from the earth, then his actual first word would have been "Mom".

==Transcript==
:[The panel is upside-down. Beret Guy is holding onto the "ceiling", there is an upside-down cloud at the bottom of the panel.]
:Beret guy [to the solitary cumulus cloud]: Oh—Hello down there! Welcome to My Sky!

:[The panel is now oriented in the conventional sense with the ground at the bottom. Beret Guy is standing on his feet too, and the sky now shows a second cloud.]
:Beret guy [continuing to talk to the cloud]: It's pretty good. I like it. It's not the same color as ''anything''.

:[The sky is now blanketed by alto-cirrus clouds]
:Beret guy: "Wow! There are a ''lot'' of you! Good thing it's so big.

:[The scene now depicts a party, where Beret Guy is talking to a girl]
:Ponytail: "And what do ''you'' do?"
:Beret Guy: "I'm in the cloud storage business."

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

[[Category:Comics with color]]

1117: My Sky

2012-10-08T14:23:27Z

Mgh: Added the "wow" "mom" connection

{{comic
| number = 1117
| date = October 5, 2012
| title = My Sky
| image = my_sky.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = According to my mom, my first word was (looking up at the sky) 'Wow!'
}}

==Explanation==
This comic seems to be a follow up to [[1115: Sky]].

Last panel refers to {{w|cloud computing}} and specifically {{w|cloud storage}}, and looks like a follow up to [[1032: Networking]]. The obvious joke is that, instead of storing data in "the cloud", [[Beret Guy]] is storing clouds in "his sky".

The title text is a statement from [[Randall]], that his first words came while looking up at the sky. Randall has a good grasp on what in this universe is awe-inspiring. Also, "Wow" upside down reads "Mom", one of the first words a baby usually utters.

==Transcript==
:[The panel is upside-down. Beret Guy is holding onto the "ceiling", there is an upside-down cloud at the bottom of the panel.]
:Beret guy [to the solitary cumulus cloud]: Oh—Hello down there! Welcome to My Sky!

:[The panel is now oriented in the conventional sense with the ground at the bottom. Beret Guy is standing on his feet too, and the sky now shows a second cloud.]
:Beret guy [continuing to talk to the cloud]: It's pretty good. I like it. It's not the same color as ''anything''.

:[The sky is now blanketed by alto-cirrus clouds]
:Beret guy: "Wow! There are a ''lot'' of you! Good thing it's so big.

:[The scene now depicts a party, where Beret Guy is talking to a girl]
:Ponytail: "And what do ''you'' do?"
:Beret Guy: "I'm in the cloud storage business."

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

[[Category:Comics with color]]

1114: Metallurgy

2012-09-28T13:52:50Z

Mgh: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 1114
| date = September 28, 2012
| title = Metallurgy
| image = metallurgy.png
| titletext = This exotic blade was wrought from a different fallen star. The meteorite was a carbonaceous chondrite, so it's basically a lump of gravel glued into the shape of a sword. A SPACE sword!
| imagesize =
}}

==Explanation==
The comic explains how weapons would really behave if they were made out of unusual materials. In fantasy stories, using unusual materials for weapons traditionally makes the weapons more powerful and cooler despite limited explanation for exactly why materials of extraterrestrial origin are so superior to their earthen counterparts.

On the other hand, iron from meteorites was often mixed with "terrestial" iron in the early stages of human development to create relatively high quality steel for swords. Undeveloped metalworking techniques at the time meant that extraterrestrial metal was often more refined and plentiful than man-made metal ingots.[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0016703767901408 Research] has shown that meteorites have an abundance of the chemical element Antimony (Sb) which by itself is a very brittle metal and therefore swords forged from metals harvested from meteorites are not as strong as lore may make one think.

The second panel is a reference to stories set in Middle Earth and the sword is Sting, which glows blue when Orcs are near. Sting used to belong to Bilbo Baggins, when he grew old he gave it to Frodo Baggins as a gift. The dagger in question, though, glows because of the radioactive properties of Actinium (Ac) which is also highly toxic. Definitely not a dagger you would want to carry around for your every day battles.

The word "Eldritch" in the second panel means sinister, or ghostly.

The fourth panel mentions that the weapon gives a +2 to a player's attribute. This is a reference to role-playing games in which it is common to find items that are able to improve one's character by increasing desirable attributes.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Megan are in a weapon store talking to a bearded salesman wearing a hat.]

:[Salesman holds up a sword]
:Salesman: This sword was forged from a fallen star. Antimony impurities make the blade surpassingly ''brittle'' and ''weak''.

:[Salesman holds up a dagger]
:Salesman: And this dagger is made of metal from a far-off kingdom. It glows blue.
:Off-panel: When orcs are near?

:Salesman: No, always. Radiation from the Actinium content.
:Megan: ...Does it have eldritch powers?

:Salesman: It gives the wearer +2 to cancer risk.
:Cueball: I think we should find another shop.

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