explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2882: Net Rotations

2024-01-18T13:13:11Z

TomW1605:

Wait, so I'm not the only one who thinks about this? [[Special:Contributions/172.71.167.177|172.71.167.177]] 23:28, 17 January 2024 (UTC)

Second! Still, I'm surprised that there are no edits yet. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.210.160|172.70.210.160]] 23:58, 17 January 2024 (UTC)

This sounds like the premise of the 1966 sci-fi story The Revolving Boy by Gertrude Friedberg. I recall reading it sometime in the 1960s or ’70s. I wonder whether Randall has read the book too — https://solarbridge.wordpress.com/2011/05/19/the-revolving-boy-gertrude-friedberg/
I'm drawing a blank. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.68|162.158.158.68]] 01:05, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

I feel like the "worldline torsion" line needs to be explained moreso than the OCD thing, since "worldline" is a word people might not know and it's the crux of the joke. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.62.50|162.158.62.50]] 02:47, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

:A worldline is a relativistic concept, the track of a particle (or anything, by extension) through 4D spacetime. Randall is imagining it as a physical object (not a mathematical abstraction) and thus whenever the actual object rotates, its worldline is twisted. Presumably these physical worldlines would build up torsional potential energy as they twisted, and could eventually be damaged if too many twists/year were present.[[User:Nitpicking|Nitpicking]] ([[User talk:Nitpicking|talk]]) 02:57, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
:: Yeah - something like that needs to go in the explanation.[[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.47|172.70.85.47]] 09:44, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

I would love to know what my net rotations is. Not enough to actually keep track, mind you. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.178.126|172.70.178.126]] 02:53, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
:I had a season pass to an amusement park a few years ago, and the time I spent on the Scrambler would probably make mine quite difficult to calculate, even if I knew how many times I rode it. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.247.57|172.69.247.57]] 04:41, 18 January 2024 (UTC)
: Probably depends a lot on whether you suffer from Zoolander's Syndrome. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.91.62|172.70.91.62]] 09:48, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

isn't this a refernce to spacetime torsion and the einstien-cartan theory? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein%E2%80%93Cartan_theory

When I used to do plasma donations (they draw blood, centrifuge it, extract the plasma/platelet fraction and return the red and white cells) I would, when telling someone about it, jokingly say that the only side effect was, then I would jump and spin. [[User:RIIW - Ponder it|RIIW - Ponder it]] ([[User talk:RIIW - Ponder it|talk]]) 08:17, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

This comic makes sense in 2D because the space of rotations has fundamental group ℤ, but in 3D wouldn't you have at most ℤ/2ℤ corrections to make, since SU(2) double-covers SO(3)? cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_trick [[User:Ncf|Ncf]] ([[User talk:Ncf|talk]]) 09:27, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

Is it worth mentioning the real medical conditions of torsion, e. . a torsion fracture (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsion_fracture)? [[User:Nitpicking|Nitpicking]] ([[User talk:Nitpicking|talk]]) 12:43, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

Remember that, to do it properly, any turns made in your car also have to be reversed in your car, to account for the rotation of the car's atoms. Go do a full loop through a counterclockwise cloverleaf! (Finding one is left as an exercise to the reader.) [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.82|108.162.238.82]] 13:05, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

Don't think it’s worth adding to the article but thought I would mention it here, anyone who has experience spending a long time in a VR headset will almost certainly have had to do this at some point to untwist the tether. To the point that there are apps you can run that show you how much your rotation has changed from the set 0 orientation. [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 13:13, 18 January 2024 (UTC)

2851: Messier Objects

2023-11-07T03:50:41Z

TomW1605: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2851
| date = November 6, 2023
| title = Messier Objects
| image = messier_objects_2x.png
| imagesize = 293x294px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The debate over the correct Messier number for the Ship of Theseus is ongoing.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a BUNCH OF PEOPLE ARGUING OVER WHAT TO LABEL THE SHIP OF THESEUS - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

This comic is a play on the {{w|Messier Catalog}}, which is a famous list of astronomical objects compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century. The real {{w|Messier object|Messier Catalog}} includes 110 objects, which are all deep-space objects like nebulae and galaxies. Its original aim was to help in comet-hunting by cataloguing fuzzy objects which have the same position in the sky, long before their nature became known, so that nobody looking for comets (a different kind of night-sky mystery) would waste time being drawn in by these initially similar-looking non-stellar objects. Afterwards a lot of other astronomical object catalogues were created, like {{w|New General Catalogue|NGC}} and {{w|Sloan Digital Sky Survey|SDSS}}.

In the comic, it's humorously suggested that the catalog includes not just these distant celestial objects, but also very ordinary things found here on Earth. Each ordinary object is labeled with an "M" followed by a number, just as the real Messier objects are numbered (like M1, M31, etc.). However, the numbers are much higher than the 110 included in the actual catalog, and they point to mundane things such as the Earth, Charles Messier himself, a tree, a butterfly and a squirrel.

The numbers increase as the objects go from large and significant to humans (the Earth, Charles Messier) to those that are smaller and less significant (a tree, a butterfly, and a squirrel). However, this pattern isn't strictly numerical (i.e., there's no clear mathematical sequence), but rather a conceptual one where the numbers arbitrarily become larger for things that are commonly considered less monumental or noteworthy than celestial objects.

So, the comic is a playful take on a piece of astronomical history, suggesting that everything in the universe is part of the Messier Catalog, not just the deep sky objects Messier originally listed. The Messier Catalog was created to help finding comets; these objects appear blurry, much as comets do, but they're permanent and 'unmoving' fixtures in the sky (at least as much as stars, due to the distances involved), while comets are temporary and pass across the 'background' often more so even than the planets ('wanderers', albeit already well documented in their apparent behaviour). There would be no need to include terrestrial objects in the catalog, since they're not likely to be confused for comets.{{Citation needed}}

The title text refers to the {{w|Ship of Theseus}}, which is a thought experiment. If a ship is repaired and/or modified such that it has ''all'' of its parts replaced over the years, is it the same ship as the original? The title text suggests that this leads to a debate as to whether the original ship and the new ship (with all of its parts replaced) should be considered the same object and therefore given the same Messier number, or the two ships should be considered different objects with different Messier numbers, and if so, which of them should retain the original number.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

:[Multiple objects are labelled with M followed by a number.]
:[There is a tree, a butterfly, a squirrel, a man with a powdered wig labeled Charles Messier, a squirrel, and ground.]
:M137 (Earth) (pointing to the ground)
:M205 (Charles Messier) (pointing to Charles Messier)
:M21860 (pointing to a tree on the left of the panel)
:M41592 (pointing to a butterfly above Charles)
:M30712050 (pointing to a squirrel)

:[Caption below the panel:]
:People usually focus on the first 110, but the Messier Catalog actually includes '''''all''''' objects.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Squirrels]]
[[Category:Philosophy]]

Talk:2695: Soil

2022-11-09T00:21:14Z

TomW1605:

Published unusually early? —[[User:While False|While False]] ([[User:While False/explain xkcd museum|'''museum''']] | [[User talk:While False|talk]] | [[special:Contributions/While_False|contributions]] | [[special:Log/While_False|logs]] | [[Special:UserRights/While_False|rights]]) 11:05, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:Lately yes, I usually didn't see the monday comics on monday European time. (Maybe if I would have checked during evenings) - But in the past publishings were often during European daytime. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 13:00, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:And an AM (central Europe; or UK, give or take that hour diffence) is far more rare. Slightly pre/post end-of-day midnight is when I tend to expect anything, early evening being a pleasant surprise. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.91.58|172.70.91.58]] 13:19, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:This is the first time I have seen the Monday comic on Monday in Aus. [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 13:22, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
::(¡ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ ollǝH ...I know, I probably talk to Australians all the time, without knowing it, and have done for years, but it's nice to be told about these things occasionally. ;) ) [[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.24|172.70.85.24]] 13:29, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:::We tend to pop up suprisingly often, i am often suprised to find how many Australians there are in a given small online comunity (happens a lot on discord). [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 13:43, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:::: another Australian here. Just missed seeing his on Monday where I am. When it came up early i thought it might be election related but i guess its only Tuesday for me so not special where Randall is [[User:Boatster|Boatster]] ([[User talk:Boatster|talk]]) 14:05, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:::::Yep im in WA so a bit more time to get it on Monday [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 00:21, 9 November 2022 (UTC)
:::::Tuesday (the 8th) is election day in the US {{Citation needed}} (where Randall is, also {{Citation needed}}) --Darth Kilroy 14:05, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
This is totally a Little Prince reference. Randall has referenced him multiple times before! [[Special:Contributions/172.70.175.115|172.70.175.115]] 15:43, 7 November 2022 (UTC)Bumpf
:I do not see that. Just because the volcano is small. I am aware of Randall being fan of the prince, but no relation seen here. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 12:02, 8 November 2022 (UTC)

Hmmm... volcano seeds, earthquake pills, tornado seeds, machines to create instant icicles or seed snow clouds... It's official. Beret Guy is actually the mastermind behind the Acme Corporation!! [[User:RAGBRAIvet|RAGBRAIvet]] ([[User talk:RAGBRAIvet|talk]]) 16:40, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:If these are things Beret guy did, might be worth linking to example or two. [[Special:Contributions/172.71.146.20|172.71.146.20]] 19:17, 8 November 2022 (UTC)

Talk:2695: Soil

2022-11-08T12:41:24Z

TomW1605:

Published unusually early? —[[User:While False|While False]] ([[User:While False/explain xkcd museum|'''museum''']] | [[User talk:While False|talk]] | [[special:Contributions/While_False|contributions]] | [[special:Log/While_False|logs]] | [[Special:UserRights/While_False|rights]]) 11:05, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:Lately yes, I usually didn't see the monday comics on monday European time. (Maybe if I would have checked during evenings) - But in the past publishings were often during European daytime. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 13:00, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:And an AM (central Europe; or UK, give or take that hour diffence) is far more rare. Slightly pre/post end-of-day midnight is when I tend to expect anything, early evening being a pleasant surprise. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.91.58|172.70.91.58]] 13:19, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:This is the first time I have seen the Monday comic on Monday in Aus. [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 13:22, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
::(¡ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ ollǝH ...I know, I probably talk to Australians all the time, without knowing it, and have done for years, but it's nice to be told about these things occasionally. ;) ) [[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.24|172.70.85.24]] 13:29, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:::We tend to pop up suprisingly often, i am often suprised to find how many Australians there are in a given small online comunity (happens a lot on discord). [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 13:43, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:::: another Australian here. Just missed seeing his on Monday where I am. When it came up early i thought it might be election related but i guess its only Tuesday for me so not special where Randall is [[User:Boatster|Boatster]] ([[User talk:Boatster|talk]]) 14:05, 7 November 2022 (UTC)
:::::Yep im in WA so a bit more time to get it on Monday
This is totally a Little Prince reference. Randall has referenced him multiple times before! [[Special:Contributions/172.70.175.115|172.70.175.115]] 15:43, 7 November 2022 (UTC)Bumpf
:I do not see that. Just because the volcano is small. I am aware of Randall being fan of the prince, but no relation seen here. --[[User:Kynde|Kynde]] ([[User talk:Kynde|talk]]) 12:02, 8 November 2022 (UTC)

Hmmm... volcano seeds, earthquake pills, tornado seeds, machines to create instant icicles or seed snow clouds... It's official. Beret Guy is actually the mastermind behind the Acme Corporation!! [[User:RAGBRAIvet|RAGBRAIvet]] ([[User talk:RAGBRAIvet|talk]]) 16:40, 7 November 2022 (UTC)

Talk:2695: Soil

2022-11-07T13:43:09Z

TomW1605:

Talk:2695: Soil

2022-11-07T13:22:20Z

TomW1605:

Talk:2695: Soil

2022-11-07T13:22:09Z

TomW1605:

Talk:2695: Soil

2022-11-07T13:21:29Z

TomW1605:

Talk:2589: Outlet Denier

2022-03-06T09:21:25Z

TomW1605:

== UK ==

All you need is a US to UK adapter to block three outlets. It is why I bought a US to micky-mouse lead so as not to be greedy.

== undersde ==

A missing i in the title text
[[User:While False|While False]] ([[User talk:While False|talk]]) 21:47, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
:It's fixed now. I'm not sure what the policy is about updating here, I think we try to keep the original in a history page. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 22:46, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
:Try a Trivia? As last seen [[2587:_For_the_Sake_of_Simplicity#Trivia]], for reference.
:(Hmmm, I wonder how many (noticed!) re-edits there are. Not all will be exactly so marked, but every Trivia section can be checked - when someone has time.) [[Special:Contributions/172.70.86.64|172.70.86.64]] 02:46, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
The cursed connectors series is alive again! [[User:GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e|GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e]] ([[User talk:GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e|talk]]) 06:05, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

== Actually exists ==

Outlet deniers are a real thing. For example, the Instant Pot air fryer attachment has one of these on its plug to discourage people from using it at the same time as the main pot (which would be bad). Photo here: https://www.adventurousway.com/images/i/fzjll58c5a77/1536w/gear-reviews/instant-pot-air-fryer-lid-review/air-fryer-lid-plug.webp

: Came her to say this. But, it's also to keep anything from using the second outlet, as the air fryer lid is 1500W, and just about anything else would trip a breaker. -- [[User:Dtgriscom|Dtgriscom]] ([[User talk:Dtgriscom|talk]]) 18:25, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

== D shape? ==

Any idea what the D shape might be? Is it to deny some specific shape of power connection I'm having trouble visualizing, or simply a handle (though I also have trouble visualizing the designers of this adding such a convenient feature). [[Special:Contributions/172.70.135.78|172.70.135.78]] 23:32, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

:It might be the way to block the other outlet on a wall plug. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.114.253|172.70.114.253]] 00:01, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

::Wouldn't the long bars on the top and bottom already do that? [[User:N-eh|N-eh]] ([[User talk:N-eh|talk]]) 01:12, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

:I'm amused by the plug orientation. Over here, I'm used to 'horizontal spread' configuration, [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Protected-Extension-Socket-Electric-Protection-White/dp/B08R2ZMJNY like this], with the occasional rare [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invero%C2%AE-Extension-Adapter-British-Approved-White/dp/B01NASNRLT diagonally-skewed vertical assembly].
:But the 'Denier' seems to be only marginally-denying (possibly the D-handle will be awkward, but not more than the straight edge is a basic trip-hazard or full preventer of using 'badly'-placed sockets because of the floor).
:Of the three plugs currently in the 5-way I've got sitting flat on the bench next to me, one has the USB-charger-cable poking straight up (coaxial to the pins), one has the USB cable jutting out of the 'top' of the plug (towards me, as the strip has its Earth slots towards me) and the third is a standard pre-moulded plug (leading to a cloverleaf end plugged in a laptop power-supply module) and so the cable nuts out of the bottom (away from me) - this all being BS1363-compatible.
:But although there might be tricky situations for each plug (the coax-out wouldn't plug so easily into the socket on the wall in the other room, with the sofa up against it, though the up/down-cabled ones don't have problems.
:This denier (assuming UK-standard pins, but same orientation as shown) would actually plug into just ''one'' of my household wall-sockets (either of the two switched outlets it has, though it might block one of them if I choose the wrong one to plug to) because that's half way up a wall. I could probably get three of them in this 5-way 'extension strip' I mentioned, certainly two (and one other plug?). Depends upon the size of the D bit.
::''edit, for something other than a typo/misformat: ...the 'T-bar' would actually deny the half-up-wall-double-socket-unit's second socket, I realise, , though I may be able to put my coax-USB-plug through the D-hole. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.147|172.70.162.147]] 03:29, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
:But obviously there are weird things with US sockets. I've been to the states, and also know the plugs from the ones that sometimes come in boxed goods - usually supplemented with a UK version ''as well'', by the official distributor in this country. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.147|172.70.162.147]] 03:20, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
The D shape might be to even defeat something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Protector-Outlets-Office-Travel/dp/B07T83PY3F?th=1 [[Special:Contributions/172.70.131.122|172.70.131.122]] 12:36, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

== Anti-expander? ==

This is basically the opposite of an outlet expander. Is that worth mentioning? [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 23:51, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

== Rocker Switch ==

in the article it says "Many (most?) power strips have a rocker-style power switch at one end". this might be the case in the US but it is definitely not a global thing. whole power board switches are pretty uncommon here in Australia where most of them have switches per socket or none at all. would it make sense and be correct to edit this to say something like "It is common in the US have a rocker-style power switch at one end of a powerboard"? [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]])

:Rocker switchs are very common all over the world with the exception of the commonwealth, where most (all?) countries require switches on the sockets. But e.g. in continental Europe, USA and all Asian and Middle Eastern countries I have visited so far, sockets with integrated switches do not exist at all. So you either have none or one on the power strips, making the latter option very common. (Though of course rockerless exist for all applications where you totally do not need a switch and want to save half a buck or 3 cm of length.)

:: It's not uncommon in the US to see a switch that controls an outlet. You can also get an outlet/switch combo (one of the outlets is replaced with a standard switch), which can be - but aren't necessarily - used to control the connected outlet. And then there are outlets (typically required outdoors or near taps) that have cutoff switches to prevent shorts. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.238.22|108.162.238.22]] 19:56, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

::: Of Course you can always install a switch an have it control a socket. Comined panels with switches and sockets are common all over the world. I have one in half of my rooms, but the switch is always used for lighting and doing otherwise is much, much rarer and not standard at all whereever I've been so far. With exception of UK and Malta (have not been to Australia so far), where almost every socket has a switch directly integrated (and those who do not seemed pretty old). With such solutions beeing the norm on every outlet it is of course unecessary to have switches on power strips, making this type rare. But most parts of the world I know off have exactly the opposing relation: Switch on socket very rare, switch on power strips very common. Stores around here often offer 20 types of strips with switch to any 1 type without. Personally, I only buy the latter because the switches usually lit up when on and that sucks.
:::: ok i didn't know there are so common in europe. i simply think that making a blanket statement that "Many (most?)" have the switch is wrong. simply saying "Many" would be better. [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 09:21, 6 March 2022 (UTC)

Talk:2589: Outlet Denier

2022-03-05T10:57:51Z

TomW1605: /* Rocker Switch */ new section

== undersde ==

A missing i in the title text
[[User:While False|While False]] ([[User talk:While False|talk]]) 21:47, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
:It's fixed now. I'm not sure what the policy is about updating here, I think we try to keep the original in a history page. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 22:46, 4 March 2022 (UTC)
:Try a Trivia? As last seen [[2587:_For_the_Sake_of_Simplicity#Trivia]], for reference.
:(Hmmm, I wonder how many (noticed!) re-edits there are. Not all will be exactly so marked, but every Trivia section can be checked - when someone has time.) [[Special:Contributions/172.70.86.64|172.70.86.64]] 02:46, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
The cursed connectors series is alive again! [[User:GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e|GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e]] ([[User talk:GcGYSF(asterisk)P(vertical line)e|talk]]) 06:05, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

== Actually exists ==

Outlet deniers are a real thing. For example, the Instant Pot air fryer attachment has one of these on its plug to discourage people from using it at the same time as the main pot (which would be bad). Photo here: https://www.adventurousway.com/images/i/fzjll58c5a77/1536w/gear-reviews/instant-pot-air-fryer-lid-review/air-fryer-lid-plug.webp

== D shape? ==

Any idea what the D shape might be? Is it to deny some specific shape of power connection I'm having trouble visualizing, or simply a handle (though I also have trouble visualizing the designers of this adding such a convenient feature). [[Special:Contributions/172.70.135.78|172.70.135.78]] 23:32, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

:It might be the way to block the other outlet on a wall plug. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.114.253|172.70.114.253]] 00:01, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

::Wouldn't the long bars on the top and bottom already do that? [[User:N-eh|N-eh]] ([[User talk:N-eh|talk]]) 01:12, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

:I'm amused by the plug orientation. Over here, I'm used to 'horizontal spread' configuration, [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Protected-Extension-Socket-Electric-Protection-White/dp/B08R2ZMJNY like this], with the occasional rare [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invero%C2%AE-Extension-Adapter-British-Approved-White/dp/B01NASNRLT diagonally-skewed vertical assembly].
:But the 'Denier' seems to be only marginally-denying (possibly the D-handle will be awkward, but not more than the straight edge is a basic trip-hazard or full preventer of using 'badly'-placed sockets because of the floor).
:Of the three plugs currently in the 5-way I've got sitting flat on the bench next to me, one has the USB-charger-cable poking straight up (coaxial to the pins), one has the USB cable jutting out of the 'top' of the plug (towards me, as the strip has its Earth slots towards me) and the third is a standard pre-moulded plug (leading to a cloverleaf end plugged in a laptop power-supply module) and so the cable nuts out of the bottom (away from me) - this all being BS1363-compatible.
:But although there might be tricky situations for each plug (the coax-out wouldn't plug so easily into the socket on the wall in the other room, with the sofa up against it, though the up/down-cabled ones don't have problems.
:This denier (assuming UK-standard pins, but same orientation as shown) would actually plug into just ''one'' of my household wall-sockets (either of the two switched outlets it has, though it might block one of them if I choose the wrong one to plug to) because that's half way up a wall. I could probably get three of them in this 5-way 'extension strip' I mentioned, certainly two (and one other plug?). Depends upon the size of the D bit.
::''edit, for something other than a typo/misformat: ...the 'T-bar' would actually deny the half-up-wall-double-socket-unit's second socket, I realise, , though I may be able to put my coax-USB-plug through the D-hole. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.147|172.70.162.147]] 03:29, 5 March 2022 (UTC)
:But obviously there are weird things with US sockets. I've been to the states, and also know the plugs from the ones that sometimes come in boxed goods - usually supplemented with a UK version ''as well'', by the official distributor in this country. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.162.147|172.70.162.147]] 03:20, 5 March 2022 (UTC)

== Anti-expander? ==

This is basically the opposite of an outlet expander. Is that worth mentioning? [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 23:51, 4 March 2022 (UTC)

== Rocker Switch ==

in the article it says "Many (most?) power strips have a rocker-style power switch at one end". this might be the case in the US but it is definitely not a global thing. whole power board switches are pretty uncommon here in Australia where most of them have switches per socket or none at all. would it make sense and be correct to edit this to say something like "It is common in the US have a rocker-style power switch at one end of a powerboard"? [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]])

Talk:2533: Slope Hypothesis Testing

2021-10-26T06:45:31Z

TomW1605:

I love it. [[User:Fwacer|Fwacer]] ([[User talk:Fwacer|talk]]) 02:52, 26 October 2021 (UTC)

I imagine that the problem here is that the errors are not independent. I can't find anything else wrong with this, but I feel like there's something obvious I'm not seeing. They might revoke my statistics degree if I miss something big here, hehe.--[[User:Troy0|Troy0]] ([[User talk:Troy0|talk]]) 03:06, 26 October 2021 (UTC)
:The scores are clearly the one score they originally (sometime prior to the expanded test) received. Either that or multiple tests with the same exam questions without having given them enough feedback to change their answer-scheme at all. The volumes are probably a "good go at screaming" on demand, belying any obvious "test result -> thus intensity of scream" (what might be expected if the scream(s) of shock/joy/frustration were recorded immediately upon hearing a score).
:What they have here is a 1D distribution of scream-ability/tendency (which was originally a single datum), arbitrarily set against test scores. (Could as easily have been against shoe-size, father's income-before-tax, a single dice-roll, etc.)
:Whether there ''was'' an original theory that grades correlated with intensity of vocalisation is perhaps a valid speculation, but clearly the design of the test is wrong. Too few datum points, in the first instance, and the wrong way to increase them when they find out their original failing.
: The true solution is to recruit more subject. (And justify properly if it's intensity of spontaneous result-prompted evocations or merely general ability to be loud that is the quality the wish to measure. Either could be valid, but it's not obvious that the latter is indeed the one that they meant to measure.) [[Special:Contributions/141.101.77.54|141.101.77.54]] 04:21, 26 October 2021 (UTC)

I don't think the title text speakers are unidentified, I'm pretty sure it's a direct continuation of the dialogue in the last panel. [[User:Esogalt|Esogalt]] ([[User talk:Esogalt|talk]]) 04:11, 26 October 2021 (UTC)
:I agree. the second speaker starts to say "I said, are you sure--", this is the start of Cueball's last line. I think this is intended to be Cueball and Megan trying to talk about the results while the students are still screaming. [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 06:45, 26 October 2021 (UTC)

Talk:2309: X

2020-05-22T14:05:32Z

TomW1605: Is this a continuation of the Code Quality series?

id certainly use that language lol ([[User talk:172.69.70.101|172.69.70.101]])

-- haXkell is a X-based dialect of haskell 
X :: Integer -> Integer 
X 0 = 1 
X X = X * X (X-1) 
[[User:Capncanuck|Capncanuck]] ([[User talk:Capncanuck|talk]]) 02:35, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

https://esolangs.org/wiki/X isn't taken. --[[User:Blacksilver|Blacksilver]] ([[User talk:Blacksilver|talk]]) 02:40, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Some unique looking variable names would be X and x in the fonts Webdings, Wingdings, Wingdings 2, and Wingdings 3. 
They are respectively as follows: 
X
x
X
x
X
x
X
x --[[User:Dstrube|Dstrube]] ([[User talk:Dstrube|talk]]) 02:49, 21 May 2020 (UTC) 
:This comment is quite uninformative to someone who doesn't have those fonts installed. [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 09:57, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
:: This comment highlights another issue with Cueball's language. [[User:Mikemk|Mikemk]] ([[User talk:Mikemk|talk]]) 11:22, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

As well as esolangs, among which I would consider the likes of Whitespace and b****fuck as potential inspirations, I think I'm also minded of TempleOS and its creator as vaguer but possibly still related influences... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.158.163|162.158.158.163]] 03:28, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
:I find it ironic that you censored the word "brain" but left in the word "fuck".
:[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 16:09, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

I added an explanation of what a variable is and why it's bad to have every one named X. It's pretty rudimentary though, hope someone more experienced than me will improve it. [[User:Unpopular Opinions|Goodbye, world!]] ([[User talk:Unpopular Opinions|talk]]) 04:39, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

:Forth basically doesn't use variable names. Commands operate on and consume the last number mentioned. A Forth program "1 2 3 . . ." prints 3, then 2, then 1. "2 3 + ." prints 5 I think??
:In Microsoft "Transact-SQL" you can script variables named starting @ and temporary objects starting #. I promise I try to resist naming objects @ or # and especially if @ or # is going to be a different object in each program... or is not. And if someone else needs to reads this (and I don't want to punish them). Not to mention "@ " for instance. Robert Carnegie rja.carnegie@gmail.com [[Special:Contributions/141.101.98.54|141.101.98.54]] 09:21, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Psh you're all chicken. Chicken chicken chicken.

[[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/677507038607048704/706860858587873310/ShapeLikeItSelf_img1.png?width=282&height=209 Language where you can have return keyword in a if condition]],
[[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/677507038607048704/712914169774735441/unknown.png?width=292&height=103 Language that uses unicode symbols for built_in operators]],
[[https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/677507038607048704/712915431446282240/unknown.png?width=396&height=379 Language, I have no words to describe]],
and this this '''X''' thing is winning so far...
[[Special:Contributions/162.158.89.139|162.158.89.139]] 06:35, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

:Yeah, but C++ does that shit either '''unintentionally''' or '''at user demand''' (although, to be clear, I'm not saying it's any good; C++ and Java are possibly the worst programming languages in terms of shoddy design). The X programming language is just the designer being an asshole. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.189.205|172.68.189.205]] 07:04, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
::Those links have nothing to do with C++/Java and you can Not do those things in C++ or Java (except an if in an assignment).[[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.208|162.158.92.208]] 08:02, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
:Those look like pretty sane language features; just looks weird because of the Eliza effect; those keywords don't behave like you'd expect them to based on experience of other languages. In the first example, you can certainly do that in Perl using "if (defined wantarray)"; it's just unusual (but comprehensible) to name the keyword "return". What language is that? [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 09:57, 21 May 2020 (UTC)
::Language is called ShapedLikeItSelf, but it currently has no runner. Documentation is just of images like these on discord server.
::[[https://discord.gg/ercPss9 This is link to it]] if you are intersted. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.89.19|162.158.89.19]] 10:19, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Did Randall refer to this comic? https://xkcd.com/1537/
I vaguely remember another one about an esoteric language. Is there a category of programming languages on explainxkcd?

Am I the only one that tried fiddling the CSS on the page to see if the X would change? Spoiler -> It didn't. [[User:Xseo|Xseo]] ([[User talk:Xseo|talk]]) 08:54, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

If X is the only variable name, can it be omitted? For example, writing a single-argument function name in a different font to imply which X should be treated as its argument. And that gets me wondering how the source is stored; will the IDE allow use of fonts not installed on your system? Will the compiler fail if it can't find the font, requiring you to track down all of the fonts a developer used in order to compile their code? And what would be the legality of mixing open-source code and proprietary fonts? [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 09:57, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

"… and array indices start at 8, because anything smaller than that would be unreadable." [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 10:00, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Who is going to implement this first??[[Special:Contributions/108.162.216.122|108.162.216.122]] 13:03, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Hey guys what coding language did he do to almost be arrested? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.139|162.158.187.139]] 14:18, 21 May 2020 (UTC)Anonymous
:Well, I've got this one with just four operands, everything's a relative address in 4-cored circular memory and there's no paractical differentiation between the packed opcodes, addresses and data (or their 2-bit lower-limit boundaries) when operated upon from elsewhere. Everything suggests it should be be Turing-complete. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.155.242|162.158.155.242]] 11:47, 22 May 2020 (UTC)

Isn't the fixed vs variable width a pun on the variable's internal size, eg. a 64-bit integer [fixed width) vs a string (variable width) ?

I sure hope this new language at least supports indexed tuples. If so, that wouldn't be so bad, unless for some reason I needed more than one tuple in the same scope.[[User:Whiteheadw|Whiteheadw]] ([[User talk:Whiteheadw|talk]]) 23:01, 21 May 2020 (UTC)

Harrumph. I'm sticking with LOLcode http://www.lolcode.org/ and thats an end of it. [[User:Cellocgw|Cellocgw]] ([[User talk:Cellocgw|talk]]) 14:03, 22 May 2020 (UTC)

Is this a continuation of the [[:Category:Code Quality|Code Quality]] series? [[User:TomW1605|TomW1605]] ([[User talk:TomW1605|talk]]) 14:05, 22 May 2020 (UTC)