474: Turn-On

2014-10-27T14:34:11Z

Timrs2998: /* Explanation */ Changed misspelled 'have already ben bombarding' to 'have already been bombarding'

{{comic
| number = 474
| date = September 10, 2008
| title = Turn-On
| image = turn-on.png
| titletext = Supercollider? I 'ardly know 'er!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the first start up (Turn-On) of {{w|CERN|CERN's}} {{w|Large Hadron Collider}} (LHC). There was a theoretical concern that that the LHC experiments could create a {{w|black hole}} which would suck in our planet.

[[Cueball]] uses this concern when telling [[Megan]] this could be their last night on Earth, but since the scene is in a bar this is just another lame entry he uses because he just wants to stay the next night together with her.

Megan answers as a physicist and explains that first of all they will not start colliding particles just because they actually turn-on the collider. That will take a while during which everything needs to be checked. Secondly scientists have determined that the fears are unfounded - amongst other because cosmic rays have already been bombarding the earth with particles even more energetic than those created by the LHC. Thus if the LHC could create a black hole that would suck up the earth, then that would have happened long ago due to the cosmic rays! (At present time the collider has been colliding particles for years, and we are still here!)

Cueball feels rejected by her answer and turns away to leave her, but she calls him back explaining very directly that she did not say "no" to his request (to try to stay a night with her). Also as she is a physics grad student she needs an excuse to party - the excuse being that the LHC is turned-on.

Cueball feels encouraged and continues his attempt to get her in to bed. But in his next sentence he involuntarily uses three of the six {{w|Quark}} flavors ({{w|Up quark}}, {{w|Charm quark}}, and {{w|Strange quark}}). Megan continues to be very direct when asking if she has to be on top or bottom (when they are going to have sex). But this is also a sentence she chooses so she can continue using quark flavors ({{w|Top quark}} and {{w|Bottom quark}}). Cueball is flustered and complains that she is assuming to much since he hasn't even bought her a drink. Megan then makes it even worse when she does the order of two {{w|Whiskey sour|Whiskey sours}} just straight down - to use the finale flavor ({{w|Down quark}}).

Maybe she just teases Cueball (with her knowledge about the LHC and quarks), or else she is actually so turned-on by the LHC Turn-On that she wishes to have sex with Cueball as soon as possible.

The quarks are some fundamental particles the LHC is generating. All six {{w|Flavour (particle physics)|flavors}} of quarks are in the last panel: Up, Down, Top, Bottom, Charm and Strange.

Yet another joke is hidden in the identity of the barkeeper. Given [[Beret Guy]]'s strange behavior, "two whiskey sours, straight down" could be interpreted in a range of ways. This, however, is left to the reader's overactive imagination.

The title text is of course a very old joke "[http://da.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=I+Hardly+Know+Her I 'ardly know 'er!]". In this case Supercollider (another name for the LHC) should be misunderstood as "(Did you) Supercollide her?", which you could put into a (nasty?) sexual context. Using this sentence at the wrong moment could be bad for a nice romance. This could be a reference to the {{w|Futurama}} episode {{w|That's Lobstertainment!}}, in which Humorbot 5.0 tells a similar supercollider joke.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball walks up to Megan sitting at bar.]
:Cueball: So, the LHC's turning on. This could be our last night on earth.
:[While Beret Guy as a bartender walks into the frame Megan replies without turning]
:Megan: Gimme a break. They're not even colliding yet, and it won't do anything cosmic rays haven't.
:[Cueball turns and walks away. But then Megan turns towards him and says:]
:Megan: Hey, I didn't say no.
:Megan: I'm a physics grad student. I need the excuse to party.
:[Cueball turns back and they talk:]
:Cueball: So, you're up for a night with a charming stranger?
:Megan: Depends. Top or bottom?
:Cueball: Hey, I haven't even bought you a drink.
:Megan: Barkeep, two whiskey sours, straight down.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Sex]]

146: Join Myspace

2014-10-23T15:20:35Z

Timrs2998: Fixed spelling of Cueball's name from Cuball to Cueball

{{comic
| number = 146
| date = August 21, 2006
| title = Join Myspace
| image = join_myspace.png
| titletext = I really shouldn't abuse that power so heavily.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to the 1980s TV-comicseries (and Greeting Card subjects) {{w|Care Bears|"Care Bears"}} in which various cuddly bears in rainbow colors go on missions to save the world. The characters' ultimate weapon is the "Care Bear Stare," in which the Bears stand together and radiate light from their respective tummy symbols. These combine to form a ray of love and good cheer which could bring care and joy into the target's heart.

"Myspace" is the social networking site {{w|MySpace|myspace.com}}. [[Cueball]] is convincing [[Black Hat]] to create an account at this networking site, but Black Hat isn't interested. Then, when Black Hat gets annoyed by Cueball's persuasions, he activates his "carebearstare", thus overthrowing Cueball's request to be friends only.

One possible explanation for Black Hat's odd choice of weaponry is that he is mocking Cueball. The phrase "Please? I'll friend you" sounds like an average preschooler's coaxing (along the lines of "Please? I'll be your friend!"). Therefore, Black Hat may feel that Cueball's remarks seem childish and deserve a childish backlash.

On a nostalgic note, considering the state of social media in the 2010th, Black Hat is just really good at foreshadowing.

In the title text, Black Hat reflects that he uses his carebearstare power too much, possibly as a form of apology to Cueball.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is talking to Black Hat.]
:Cueball: Dude, you should get on MySpace.
:Black Hat: Eh, I don't think so.

:Cueball: C'mon. There's no real reason not to except snobbiness. It's the new social scene.
:Black Hat: I know. I'm just not interested.

:Cueball: Please? I'll friend you.
:Black Hat: Carebearstare.
:Cueball: What?

:[Black Hat shoots a rainbow colored ray from his chest - the Care Bear Stare. It throws Cueball to the edge of the panel, pinned to the wall.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Black Hat]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Social networking]]

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

474: Turn-On

146: Join Myspace