explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

297: Lisp Cycles

2013-01-10T20:30:48Z

Ta: created and added explanation

{{comic
| number = 297
| date = August 1, 2007
| title = Lisp Cycles
| image = lisp_cycles.png
| titletext = I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the MIT computer science program permamently.
}}

==Explanation==
Lisp is one of the oldest high level programming language. It was ahead of its times. It never got enough traction and is not widely used. But it is considered to be a very powerful language. [https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Lisp_programming_language Quotes on Lisp] shows that several big names of computer science field hold Lisp in very high esteem. [https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Eric_S._Raymond Eric S. Raymond] goes as far as to say

<blockquote>Lisp is worth learning for the profound enlightenment experience you will have when you finally get it; that experience will make you a better programmer for the rest of your days, even if you never actually use Lisp itself a lot. </blockquote>

Lisp is also famous for its use of fully parenthesized Polish prefix notation.

In the first panel of the comic, guy praises Lisp. Though it's an old language but no other language can still match the awe that it strikes. In the second panel, guy wonders that new programmers will continue learning the ''List art'' that will make them a better programmer.

Third panel is the reference to the Star Wars: A New Hope. Obi Wan Kenobi said these lines when he gave lightsaber to Luke Skywalker.

<blockquote>Your father's lightsaber. This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as random or as clumsy as a blaster; an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.</blockquote>

The title text is also a reference to Star War lines

<blockquote>The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.</blockquote>

==Transcript==
:[Guy sitting at computer. Girl listening]
:Guy: Lisp is over half a century old and it still has this perfect, timeless air about it.
:Guy: I wonder if the cycles will continue forever.
:Guy: A few coders from each new generation rediscovering the Lisp arts.
:[Man in Jedi robes carrying an armload of parentheses, speaking to Guy]
:Jedi: These are your father's parentheses. Elegant weapons. For a more... civilized age.


{{comic discussion}}

451: Impostor

2012-12-14T14:52:06Z

Ta: Created page with "{{comic | number = 451 | date = December 14, 2012 | title = Impostor | image = impostor.png | titletext = If you think this is too hard on literary criticism,..."

{{comic
| number = 451
| date = December 14, 2012
| title = Impostor
| image = impostor.png
| titletext = If you think this is too hard on literary criticism, read the Wikipedia article on deconstruction.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

303: Compiling

2012-12-14T14:50:06Z

Ta: Created page with "{{comic | number = 303 | date = 2007-8-15 | title = Compiling | image = compiling.png | titletext = Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it whil..."

{{comic
| number = 303
| date = 2007-8-15
| title = Compiling
| image = compiling.png
| titletext = Are you stealing those LCDs?' 'Yeah, but I'm doing it while my code compiles.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

401: Large Hadron Collider

2012-12-14T14:47:24Z

Ta: Created page with "{{comic | number = 401 | date = 2008-3-26 | title = Large Hadron Collider | image = large_hadron_collider.png | titletext = When charged particles of more than..."

{{comic
| number = 401
| date = 2008-3-26
| title = Large Hadron Collider
| image = large_hadron_collider.png
| titletext = When charged particles of more than 5 TeV pass through a bubble chamber, they leave a trail of candy.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

353: Python

2012-12-14T14:42:23Z

Ta: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 353
| date = 2007-12-5
| title = Python
| image = python.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = I wrote 20 short programs in Python yesterday. It was wonderful. Perl, I'm leaving you.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete}}

353: Python

2012-12-14T14:40:19Z

Ta:

353: Python

2012-12-14T14:35:09Z

Ta:

353: Python

2012-12-14T14:34:24Z

Ta: Created page with "{{comic | number = 353 | date = Decmeber 5, 2007 | title = Python | image = python.png | imagesize = | titletext = I wrote 20 short programs in Python yester..."

{{comic
| number = 353
| date = Decmeber 5, 2007
| title = Python
| image = python.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = I wrote 20 short programs in Python yesterday. It was wonderful. Perl, I'm leaving you.
}}

==Explanation==

809: Los Alamos

2012-10-20T17:56:53Z

Ta: fixes date

{{comic
| number = 809
| date = October 22, 2010
| title = Los Alamos
| image = los_alamos.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = The test didn't (spoiler alert) destroy the world, but the fact that they were even doing those calculations makes theirs the coolest jobs ever.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going explode "The Gadget" at Trinity Site. There was genuine concern that some unexpected result was possible, including the scenario about the atmosphere igniting. The scientists were almost certain that it would either work as expected, or just be a dud, but were unable to rule out several other scenarios. The test proceeded, and it worked as expected.

The joke part at the end is a reference to a common Mnemonic device for basic Trigonometric functions. Any scientist saying that is likely joking, but if serious would be seriously troubling.

"Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." -- Robert Oppenheimer (Lead scientist on bomb project, quoting Hindu scripture after the successful test)

Much detail may be found at Wikipedia under many of the capitalized topics above, including Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Trinity Site, Mnemonic, Trigonometry, and Robert Oppenheimer. If you get really curious, look up Norris Bradbury and Ed Grothus while you're at it. I knew both of them growing up in Los Alamos.

==Transcript==
{{comic discussion}}

809: Los Alamos

2012-10-20T17:54:43Z

Ta:

{{comic
| number = 809
| date = October 19, 2012
| title = Los Alamos
| image = los_alamos.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = The test didn't (spoiler alert) destroy the world, but the fact that they were even doing those calculations makes theirs the coolest jobs ever.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going explode "The Gadget" at Trinity Site. There was genuine concern that some unexpected result was possible, including the scenario about the atmosphere igniting. The scientists were almost certain that it would either work as expected, or just be a dud, but were unable to rule out several other scenarios. The test proceeded, and it worked as expected.

The joke part at the end is a reference to a common Mnemonic device for basic Trigonometric functions. Any scientist saying that is likely joking, but if serious would be seriously troubling.

"Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." -- Robert Oppenheimer (Lead scientist on bomb project, quoting Hindu scripture after the successful test)

Much detail may be found at Wikipedia under many of the capitalized topics above, including Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Trinity Site, Mnemonic, Trigonometry, and Robert Oppenheimer. If you get really curious, look up Norris Bradbury and Ed Grothus while you're at it. I knew both of them growing up in Los Alamos.

==Transcript==
{{comic discussion}}

809: Los Alamos

2012-10-20T17:53:18Z

Ta: Adds comic title and image.

{{comic
| number = 809
| date = October 19, 2012
| title = Los Alamos
| image = los_alamos.png
| imagesize =
| titletext = The test didn't (spoiler alert) destroy the world, but the fact that they were even doing those calculations makes theirs the coolest jobs ever.
}}

This comic refers to the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos, where in 1945 their development of the first nuclear weapon had progressed to the point that they were going explode "The Gadget" at Trinity Site. There was genuine concern that some unexpected result was possible, including the scenario about the atmosphere igniting. The scientists were almost certain that it would either work as expected, or just be a dud, but were unable to rule out several other scenarios. The test proceeded, and it worked as expected.

The joke part at the end is a reference to a common Mnemonic device for basic Trigonometric functions. Any scientist saying that is likely joking, but if serious would be seriously troubling.

"Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds." -- Robert Oppenheimer (Lead scientist on bomb project, quoting Hindu scripture after the successful test)

Much detail may be found at Wikipedia under many of the capitalized topics above, including Los Alamos, Manhattan Project, Trinity Site, Mnemonic, Trigonometry, and Robert Oppenheimer. If you get really curious, look up Norris Bradbury and Ed Grothus while you're at it. I knew both of them growing up in Los Alamos.