explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2331: Hamster Ball 2

2020-07-12T21:07:40Z

Physicalattraction: Acknowledge Ocean's point

Whoa. {{w|Hamster ball}}s are more popular than I thought ... also, surprisingly, not recommended for guinea pigs. -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 22:24, 10 July 2020 (UTC)

{{w|The_Avengers_(1998_film)|The Avengers}} (not {{w|The_Avengers_(2012_film)|''those'' Avengers}}, though, that I know) used Human Hamster-Balls to cross a lake. Trying to google-fu a clip of it while excluding the other upstarts from a search has so far been impossible, though. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.76|162.158.159.76]] 23:53, 10 July 2020 (UTC)

A two second Google search got me https://primaryimmune.org/story-david who I recall as 'bubble boy' and living in a plastic bubble. I note that the bubble did not contain a toilet or kitchen and this was most likely his transpo and not his life. Perhaps the article says. BTW, this is a covid19 entry. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.112|108.162.216.112]] 05:21, 11 July 2020 (UTC)

Should we point out explicitly that the original hamster ball was 14 years ago, so the "same people" cannot be neighborhood kids? [[User:Physicalattraction|Physicalattraction]] ([[User talk:Physicalattraction|talk]]) 10:35, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

:that could still be their collective identity from Cueball's perspective. [[User:Ocæon|ocæon]] ([[User talk:Ocæon|talk]]) 20:35, 12 July 2020 (UTC)
:true, that is a valid point. [[User:Physicalattraction|Physicalattraction]] ([[User talk:Physicalattraction|talk]]) 21:07, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

i wonder if Randall's been zorbing yet⸮ [[User:Ocæon|ocæon]] ([[User talk:Ocæon|talk]]) 20:35, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Talk:2331: Hamster Ball 2

2020-07-12T10:35:11Z

Physicalattraction: Same people are neighborhood kids?

Talk:1872: Backup Batteries

2017-08-06T11:04:17Z

Physicalattraction: Add comment about 20% full backpack

This actually sounds like the classic provisioning situation. How many spares do you require, and when do you require additional spares. One of the things that he doesn't mention is whether he carries a USB cord for his phone and USB power supplies for auto and wall outlet use. ( For iPhones, you need one cord for charging the phone and a different cord for charging the power pack.) I have three power packs in my bag normally. When one of the power packs is low on power, I plug it into an electrical outlet while using the phone. I also plug the phone into an electrical outlet when available to prevent the battery from running down. If at home or a hotel room, I can also have one or two power packs charging while I travel with the phone and the third power pack. I also charge the phone overnight. Having multiple power packs doesn't do any good without a means of maintaining them in a charged state. I typically start the day carrying a charged phone and three charged power packs, which is enough to let me use the phone all day. At night, I plug all of the devices into electric power. If I really wanted 24 hour usage or a lot of gaming (games use up the batter faster), I could use six power packs but only carry three with me at a time. The other three would be charging at a base location.

Having too many redundant backup devices can actually reduce the up time of the system. This was seen at the Superbowl in New Orleans. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9082144/relay-device-malfunction-caused-super-bowl-xlvii-power-outage-according-expert It is also very dangerous to assume that your backups are adequate and that you don't have to watch the log files. If somebody had been reading the logs, they would have seen the message that essentially said: "I have reported two power surges and you haven't told me what to do. Although these are not individually dangerous, one more power surge before somebody talks to me and I shut down the entire stadium."

What if the backup batteries are actual removable batteries? [[Special:Contributions/141.101.76.226|141.101.76.226]] 05:03, 6 August 2017 (UTC)
An optimist states that the water glass is half full, while a pessimist states that the water glass is half empty. What an engineer really does is find out where the water faucet is so that he can refill the glass as needed. (The original joke says that the engineer states that the glass is twice as large as needed. This is ridiculous unless he knows how much water is needed and how much is available at the faucet. The size of this glass is irrelevant unless it is too large to be handled easily or too small to transport water at the required rate.)

[[User:BradleyRoss|BradleyRoss]] ([[User talk:BradleyRoss|talk]]) 17:21, 4 August 2017 (UTC)

Assuming he charges the batteries in series (i.e. the second backup charges the first backup which charges the phone, etc.) I wonder how many batteries he'd be able to go through, before the charging/discharging inefficiency (heat generation etc.) meant none of the original power would get to the phone?
Also I can relate to this comic, when traveling I may bring 2-3 batteries, even though in practice I rarely need more than one 😝😂. 18:58, 4 August 2017 (UTC) {{unsigned ip|108.162.246.11}}
:EDIT: Replying to below comments, I have a power bank that allows simultaneous discharging and charging. Also I really meant to say it as them being charged/drained in sequence, rather than all simultaneously. {{unsigned ip|108.162.221.244}}

Maybe the bag turns red when it falls below 20% batteries...[[User:Jamgard|Jamgard]] ([[User talk:Jamgard|talk]]) 19:20, 4 August 2017 (UTC)

Judging by https://www.amazon.com/What-charge-discharge-Astro-time/forum/FxE1RP8KJUY0ED/TxVACXPN7AJZ1D/1?_encoding=UTF8&asin=B00M3073L4 and a number of similar entries, charging and discharging a metal hydride battery at the same time seems to be highly undesirable. Remember that these batteries have a bad habit of exploding if the charging and discharging rates aren't correct. If there were two batteries in series as you discuss, I believe that my best approach would be to be in another building and have the fire department on speed dial. [[User:BradleyRoss|BradleyRoss]] ([[User talk:BradleyRoss|talk]]) 22:00, 4 August 2017 (UTC)

:The phone itself is constructed in way which allow it to run while being charged - likely by operating directly from external power instead of from battery. It would be theoretically possible for the backup batteries to be constructed the same way - although unlikely, as it's not something people would normally do. Also note that those backup batteries might be really just backup batteries (to be switched with device battery), not power banks (capable of charging the device). -- [[User:Hkmaly|Hkmaly]] ([[User talk:Hkmaly|talk]]) 03:14, 5 August 2017 (UTC)

I bet Cueball carries recursive battery backpacks as well, as well as recursive battery backpack backpacks, and recursive battery backpack backpack backpacks, and recursive battery backpack backpack backpack backpacks, and recursive battery backpack backpack backpack backpack backpacks, and recursive battery backpack backpack backpack backpack backpack backpacks, and... [[User:OriginalName|OriginalName]] ([[User talk:OriginalName|talk]]) 18:17, 5 August 2017 (UTC)

I think the 20% full doesn't mean the energy capacity of the backpack, but the actual contents of the backpack. If it is less than 20% (charged) backup battery, he panics. [[User:Physicalattraction|Physicalattraction]] ([[User talk:Physicalattraction|talk]]) 11:04, 6 August 2017 (UTC)

Talk:1713: 50 ccs

2016-07-30T08:48:47Z

Physicalattraction: Hiccups remedy

I don't fully get this joke but I do get that people do all sorts of strange things to cure hiccups so I think it has to do with that but I don't understand the title text at all [[User:MrEnder|MrEnder]] ([[User talk:MrEnder|talk]]) 05:26, 29 July 2016 (UTC)

Thinking more CCs is a measurement of medicine usually referring to pain killers. Maybe people are coming in with the hiccups and the doctor is going to hand out pain killers (or just sugar pills) saying they are a hiccup vaccine and is annoyed at having to do so. So this could be a joke about placebo drugs. [[User:MrEnder|MrEnder]] ([[User talk:MrEnder|talk]]) 05:33, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
:No, 1 cc here literally mean "cc" which is egnogh c's to spell va'''cc'''ination -- so 25 cc's is literally "cccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc" [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.113|162.158.255.113]] 13:53, 29 July 2016 (UTC)

50cc is a volume measurement typically used to measure injectible dosages. A metric measure meaning "cubic centimetre" it is equivalent to 1 millilitre. Thus, the title is referring to volume of injection. However, the words hiccup and vaccine both include the letter combination "cc", hence writing them down 25 times each will be a total of 50 "cc" words. This is supported by the additional "cc" words in the mouseover text
[[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.78|141.101.98.78]] 05:36, 29 July 2016 (UTC)

Folks, it's a matter of spelling: it takes 50 pieces of the letters "cc" to write "hiccup vaccine" 25 times {{unsigned ip|162.158.85.141}}

Could it be related to http://xkcd.com/1383/ ? [[Special:Contributions/198.41.242.241|198.41.242.241]] 05:45, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
:No I see no connection. This is about words with cc and the volume cm^3 as cc, whereas the [[1383: Magic Words]] is about language and sex... --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 14:24, 29 July 2016 (UTC)

Just noticed something else! maybe coincidence! But raccoons are known to have rabies. If you read the title texts first letters of the description of what happened fuck you get R A A A A B (could be pronounced Ray Bee) because accordions have nothing to do with women's roman drinking and ecstasy parties as far as I can tell [[User:MrEnder|MrEnder]] ([[User talk:MrEnder|talk]]) 05:47, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
: #overthinking [[Special:Contributions/141.101.104.115|141.101.104.115]] 11:10, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
::Agree ;-) --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 14:24, 29 July 2016 (UTC)

Y'all are making this too complicated. It's the classic garden-path joke which says something simple and obvious, then says something that completely changes the meaning of what went before. "I shot a n----- in my pajamas. I don't know how he got into my woodpile." [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.136|108.162.237.136]] 14:17, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
:That joke makes no sense; maybe you meant to use the slur "coon" instead...?[[Special:Contributions/108.162.244.6|108.162.244.6]] 17:40, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
:Is that not what the explanation says? --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 14:24, 29 July 2016 (UTC)
:Felt obliged to edit above - Being born & raised in MS, I have no tolerance for the word. The pajamas / woodpile joke is presumably familiar enough, or findable. [[User:Miamiclay|Miamiclay]] ([[User talk:Miamiclay|talk]]) 08:35, 30 July 2016 (UTC)

Drinking has been known to cause hiccups. Do you think the raccoons from the bacchanalia are the ones who need the hiccup vaccine? [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.51|173.245.54.51]] 16:19, 29 July 2016 (UTC)

1713 cc also means carbon copy. So 50 carbon copies of either of those words could be called for. {{unsigned ip|108.162.215.146}}

If the distraction already works against hiccups, it's a hiccups remedy, not a hiccups vaccine. [[User:Physicalattraction|Physicalattraction]] ([[User talk:Physicalattraction|talk]]) 08:48, 30 July 2016 (UTC)

1531: The BDLPSWDKS Effect

2015-05-29T08:04:00Z

Physicalattraction: /* Explanation */ Bernoulli's principle is not the reason that airplanes work.

{{comic
| number = 1531
| date = May 29, 2015
| title = The BDLPSWDKS Effect
| image = the bdlpswdks effect.png
| titletext = This well-known effect has of course been replicated in countless experiments.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|New page}}
BDLPSWDKS is an acronym for

The effect mentioned appears to be a mashup of seven scientific principles from different scientific fields, with elements from each principle appearing in the resulting description of the effect:

{{w|Bernoulli's principle}} in fluid dynamics (also mentioned in [[803: Airfoil]]) states that an increase in the speed of a fluid with certain properties occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy, often incorrectly used to explain how an airplane lifts off the ground. This is referenced by the firetruck lifting off.

The {{w|Doppler effect}} in physics refers to the change in a wave's frequency for an observer moving relative to its source. The effect can be observed from the siren sounding in an approaching vehicle. This is referenced by the firetruck moving towards the observer and making noise.

The {{w|Leidenfrost effect}} refers to how liquid will produce an insulating vapor layer when in near contact with an extremely hot surface, causing it to hover over said surface. This is referenced by the firetruck hover on a layer of superheated gas.

The {{w|Peltzman effect}} refers to how regulations intended to increase safety are ineffective or counterproductive. This is likely referenced by the observer responding to a dangerous situation after being warned.

The {{w|Sapir–Whorf hypothesis}} states that a person's world view and cognitive processes are affected by the structure of the language the person speaks. This is referenced by how the observer reacts differently depending on the {{w|Tone (linguistics)|tonality}} of the language in which the warning is uttered and whether or not the language contains the word "firefighter."

The {{w|Dunning–Kruger effect}} refers to unskilled people mistakenly perceive themselves as more skilled than they really are, while skilled people underestimate their own abilities. This is referenced by how observers react differently when they erroneously perceive themselves to be fluent in a language.

The {{w|Stroop effect}} refers to the phenomenon in which it is easier to name the color of the ink in which a word is written when the word refers to the same color as the ink than when the word refers to a different color. This is referenced by the driver shouting the names of different colors. This makes more sense if we assume the firetruck is colored red.

==Transcript==

:Ponytail stands next to a screen displaying a firetruck hurtling toward Cueball on what appears to be a layer of gas.

:Ponytail: The Bernoulli-Doppler-Leidenfrost-Peltzman-Sapir-Whorf-Dunning-Kruger-Stroop Effect states that if a speeding fire truck lifts off and hurtles towards you on a layer of superheated gas, you'll dive out of the way faster if the driver screams ''"RED!"'' in a '''''non'''''-tonal language that '''''has''''' a word for "firefighter" than if they scream ''"GREEN!"'' in a '''''tonal''''' language with '''''no''''' word for "firefighter" which you '''''think''''' you're fluent in but '''''aren't'''''.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]

1473: Location Sharing

2015-01-14T06:35:01Z

Physicalattraction: one cannot know exactly the location and momentum of an electron --> of any particle

{{comic
| number = 1473
| date = January 14, 2015
| title = Location Sharing
| image = location_sharing.png
| titletext = Our phones must have great angular momentum sensors because the compasses really suck.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|First draft.}}

In this comic, Megan is visiting a website on her mobile phone. After loading it, the website asks for her location, which Megan gives. The choice between allowing or denying a website or app access to certain information is common among smartphones. The term "location sharing" specifically refers to when a smartphone user shares her location with such an entity. An example of which is a weather app which would need your location in order to find the correct forecast.

Megan is then asked her momentum, which she denies. The joke is based off of the Uncertainty Principle, which, in physics, states that one cannot know exactly the location and momentum of any particle. This principle was previously referenced directly in XKCD comic [[824]], and as a topic for discussion in XKCD comics [[1404]] and [[1416]]. In the context of the comic, Megan acknowledges the website's attempt to violate the uncertainty principle by saying "nice try".

The title text refers to the inclusion of {{w|accelerometer}}s in modern cell phones, mostly to detect when the phone is tilted, but also used in a few mobile games. Modern phones also include varied technologies (such as GPS) to pinpoint the user's location, with varying degrees of accuracy. Randall suggests this poor accuracy is due to the accelerometers being too good. (If both the accelerometers and the location sensors were completely accurate, it would violate the uncertainty principle.)

==Transcript==
First Slide:
This website wants to know your location
Two buttons: "Allow" on left and "Deny" on right
Allow is highlighted

Second Slide:
No text

Third Slide:
This website wants to know your momentum
Two buttons: "Allow" on left and "Deny" on right
Deny is highlighted

"Nice Try"

{{comic discussion}}